So tempting...

The pretty yarn I received in the recent swap was calling out for a piece of the action.

This stuff is gorgeous with so many shades of green and blue which were not immediately obvious in the hank. 

I had a lot of fun on Friday winding the ball so I could begin work on something other than foot wear!

Not one to be deterred by the lack of implements in the right length, I got to work on a straight needle so I could see how the pattern would look in this yarn. I had only been dreaming about the yarn/pattern combination for 2 weeks.

Sure is shines - that would be the silk.

Saturday there was a shopping expedition to I collect the correct size needle in a circular of a certain length to contain the ever multiplying stitches - look it's working. 

This picture is closest to true colours.

This is a fun and interesting adventure with the beautiful colours in this soft squishy yarn.

Pattern - Mystery Benefactor design by Kelly Brooker
Yarn - Sweetgeorgia - merino/silk fine in the Deep cove colour

I love the way shawls grow at the beginning when working top down so you can see the pretty pattern take shape. Now I'm around halfway through the ball of yarn, with 300 stitches on each row, things have slowed considerably! The instructions are for using the entire hank so this will definitely be a warm layer for when winter visits here again.

Hope your week is full of fun in your favourite colours.

Swapping

I recently participated in a swap over on Ravelry for a little something handmade with yarn. Oh, and some little extras too.

I got lucky with this gorgeous cowl and hat set knit especially for me and some yarn to keep me busy for the next little while, well after I get through some of the current projects.

These are the other goodies that turned up in my box - pretty buttons, a bookmark, lip balm, hand cream and a gorgeous and practical bag.

All of it is lovely!

Of course I had fun putting together a little package too, included were the blanket you've seen here before and the finished Nessy Pecker.

I put my sewing machine to work to make a project bag from some Australiana fabric that was taking up space in the cupboard and made a matching little pouch for keeping the little things all together in there.

Two of the coasters that have been flying off my hook lately also made the trip.

All these goodies are now happily residing in their new home. 

Hope you found a little spot of sunshine today.

Spring is coming

This week was a lot about being out and about...

An excursion to the wool museum at Geelong with friends for the scarf exhibition.

Lots of loveliness to admire there.

On a grey day I visited with the Old people and noticed all the colours in their neighbourhood, as while I live near the beach they live in the hills and the colours are very different there. There is an amazing array of greens in their neighbourhood at present, oh and the wattle is brightening the world too.

The hook has been busy with all the colours making this gorgeous pattern in cotton.

Playing with the special camera effects creating all kinds of fun patterns and getting ideas for future projects.

I made a dent in the basket of colours but now I have small left overs, there may just be more colour play.

I learnt in this project that all the 4 ply cotton yarns are not created the same but they worked together nicely. 

Oh, and the mother generously donated another bag of cotton yarns to the cause! Best get the hook moving faster.

Wishing you all the colours of spring.

Christmas Angel swap sent

to Sandi (no blog)

I gathered all the required goodies - Karen the swap hostess, supplied a list of must haves.

As Sandi indicated her favourite colours as blue and yellow and said her Christmas decorating is limited to red and green, I tried to ensure the gifts fit within these guidelines.

All gathered ready for wrapping and packing.

(In my haste to get the package in the mail I neglected to get a photo of the wrapped goods).

Fabric postcard - using stitchery design from Bronwyn at Red Brolly.

Applique wall hanging - design from Claire Turpin, published in  Australian Homespun No.103 Vol12 No12.

Something yummy - a mini Santa sack with fruit chews and chocolate.

Sandi chose a stocking - front with the naughty elf 

and the other front with Santa - a stitchery design by Bronwyn of Red Brolly teamed with red on red spots.

 

A little mug mat - using a pinwheel and a free gingie design from Michelle Ridgeway.

and on the back this fun stocking print.

A framed stitchery featuring a little tea with friend design from Bronwyn of Red Brolly.

A Christmas tag - design by Vivian Robinson published in Australian Homespun.

Little Decoration - red felt heart with crochet detail and beads.

Something sewing - sprocket pincushion using the pattern from Cluck Cluck sew, reduced a lot.

Candle mat - my own design in Sandi's favourite colours, with a stitched saying and hand appliqued circles. 

The starter kit included some red and green fabric and a pattern for a pin wheel table runner.

I hope Sandi enjoys her goodies as much as I enjoyed creating them for her.

Enjoy the closing days of 2012.

Nearly done

More lovely goodies from Gai in the Advent swap.

Santa tea towels, a pretty bucket, a tin of biscuits and a Christmas tray.

(the paper was looking like Christmas morning, I have dealt with that now)

More deliciousness in fruit chews, a pretty little scissor pocket and scissors, nice Christmas bowls and the Santa candle.

(those yummies will come in handy for the visitors)

Back there is a little Christmas tree, my own personal light show - very pretty.

Today there has been  a little baking - Gingerbread biscuits - Yummy.

Reindeer before, 

and after cooking.

The recipe is in a Childrens Christmas book and is egg free - it is delicious.

A special package - flying off to a new home - may miss the Christmas deadline!

New to me needles for more sock knitting - picked up at the local oppy for total $1.50.

The red ones replace the one the casualty from when I started the sock knitting frenzy back in June, now I have a spare and an unbreakable metal set.

Hope your weekend includes time for socialising.

Advent swap so far...

and some progress.

Lots of lovely Christmas goodies received from Gai so far in Fees Advent swap.

Love the little countdown board and I have been changing the number every morning.

(there's still time to finish some things)

New emery boards in pretty colours, just the right size for carrying in my bag.

A very cute Angel mug - into circulation already with the other Christmas mugs perfect for a refreshing coffee break.

The cutest little Santa snow globe ornament which lights up and changes colour too.

Love the Santa amd Rudolph hanging ornaments and the door hanger - sure is feeling like Christmas around here.

Just in case I get any of said things finished for presents I'm all set with seasonal tape and Christmas tags.

You can see what Gai has received from me this week over here.

Today a little house has been added to my current project.

So this is how I used the little Ginger Tea stitchery so generously shared by Michelle.

A little tea bag folder.

Time for a cuppa!

Wishing you a relaxing Sunny Sunday,

Summer...

in my mailbox.

Today I received my OASS summer swap package from Carol.

Yippee! Do you see all those goodies there and Carol really did her homework - the stalking kind of course.

She created this fabulous art canvas with the saying 'Keep calm and let's go to the beach'. Perfect for someone like me who walks to the beach daily for a little reflection. I probably should be more sun smart and acquire a hat like that one on the canvas.

This gorgeous tote has an appliqued sunflower - I really admire those who can do the little button hole stitch that Carol has achieved on those petals - Beautiful.

And this little bag is for my knitting needles - the brightly striped part at the top opens and there are lots of little pockets to keep needles in their pairs - I have wanted one of these for some time and even picked out a pattern but had not made it. Now I don't need to, thanks Carol.

Carol also included a set of wine glass charms with a beach theme, Caramello Chocolate and a little cross stitch patchwork kit with everything in it - including the little stand and the backing fabric, too cute. I think this will be a fantastic summer project.

Thanks Carol for all my presents and thanks to Cheryll for hosting this fun swap.

Feels like Christmas here already with all these gifts coming in the mail.

Hope your week is full of fun mail too.

Summer time fun...

All wrapped up and left with the post people earlier this week, now that it has arrived at its new home I can show you the finished hanging. 

If you have been looking here recently you would have seen quite a lot of the parts.

Bathing boxes at the beach

and the whole scene complete with girls playing on the beach.

I used a combination of raw edge machine applique for the larger pieces and buttonhole hand applique for the smaller pieces, I hand quilted clouds and around some of the shapes. The pattern has all of the work done by machine.

Instead of a hanging sleeve I put tabs on the top for hanging - they co-ordinate with the houses.

The design by Carol Turznik was published in Australian Homespun No 103 Vol12 No12. 

This was a very fun piece to work on and it was hard to send it on its way, so I was very happy to learn that Maria has a bit of a fascination with Bathing boxes and she adores her new wall hanging.

I found these turtles on the specials table at Spotty last week and figured they'd be perfect for backing.

While the fabric is a drill it is very soft and worked well for the purpose.

As it is almost time for celebrating the season of Christmas I included this little fellow and some chocolates too.

He is the one with the bead decorations I was working on a few weeks ago.

Thanks to Cheryll the wonderful host of this very fun swap.

Hope you are able to indulge in some Summer time fun this weekend with the beginning of the season here tomorrow.

Naughty Elf...

I'm sure she had her head in the clouds when she turned the trees upside down.

There were no clouds in the sky today when I went out for my walk and the temperature was soaring! A little sit down at the beach was necessary.

And like the big kid that I am I couldn't wait to open my squishy mail package so I ripped in right there on the beach. A cute little package from Kris at TagAlongTeddies, who is one of the hosts of OPAM.

Inside I found a pattern for one of Kris' own gorgeous designs - when I read the words I had a spooky feeling that Kris had been peeking in my windows.

I'd much prefer to craft than clean and tidy, so the words on this little hanging are perfect for me and my humble abode.

There was also a piece of gorgeous fabric (not sure how she parted with that) and some thread for stitching the design.

Thanks Kris it really is very sweet.

A little Santa stitching on this cutie so generously given by Bronwyn Hayes over at Red Brolly - lots of fun Christmas ideas there.

 Enjoy the rest of Thursday - hope you're cool.