School holidays

We are in the middle of the school holiday here in Victoria, and the weather has been cooperating. Hurray!! Here's a fun-fast-free project for the little ones:

In case it isn't obvious, I have no idea how to build a tee-pee, but we got there. Three old bamboo canes and a sheet handed down from my parents. The girls had great fun playing in it. Totally worth the 10 minutes I spent building it.


Recently I read the book Pomegranate Soup, and what I loved about the book was that there were recipes at the start of each chapter. One reminded me of my university boyfriend, we used to buy this yogurt drink in bottles in San Jose. I loved it them, I love it now. Here's how I made a single serving, based on the recipe in the book. And, you have to drink it out of a canning jar. Just because. Probably for the same reason I have to drink my iced tea out of one.

Dugh Yogurt Drink
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 cup (or between 3/4 and 1 cup) carbonated water
1/4 tsp salt (or as you like)
1/8 tsp pepper (or as you like)
* if you are so inclined you can also add 3/4 tbs chopped fresh mint. I am still nurturing my garden mint so I didn't use any.

Combine, stir, add ice if you want it to be super refreshing. Enjoy.  

I do also have some WIP's this week. I'm still plugging away on my Creme Brule (hope to have it done for Friday!). I also have started a block from my Nicky Epstein Block by Block book that is layered lace. I'm not even sure what I'm going to do with it, but I wanted to give it a try.

I am also working on a crochet phone case for the girls. I want to make a strap so they can carry it like a purse. We'll see how I go, I'm just experimenting right now. I'm not even sure it is a practical thing to make. It is good to keep practicing my crochet though!

And that's it from me for now. See you later!

This week

Hello and welcome. I've had a pretty slow week, but that could be in part because I haven't felt well. Perkier now though, and the kidlettes are off school for two weeks. I hope the weather improves so we can plan some fun outdoor activities.

I have a couple of small FO's to share this week. The first one I made to put under the Ball canning jar I use to dry long spoons/knives in the kitchen. It just needed a little something to catch any drips.

Pattern: Set of ombre coasters free pattern on Ravelry
Yarn: Lily cotton from my stash.


The next project was purely inspired by a post over at Minding My Own Stitches. The whole time I was crocheting this I kept thinking, "I'm making a stocking for my dog, I'm making a stocking for my dog!" But really, it is very cute. It is also a good way to practise crochet, and I need all the practise I can get!

Pattern: Dog stocking free on Ravelry
Yarn: Jarol Mother of Pearl I've had in my stash for ever. It isn't nice yarn at all, even though it is marketed as baby yarn. It has a sparkley thread running through it that makes it scratchy. It was gifted to me ages ago and I've been trying to use it up since. I held it double for the pattern, and got rid of quite a bit.

Lastly, it was my husbands birthday this week. He is not a birthday-loving guy (gasp) and doesn't even let me make a cake. But I got around that by making Eccles Cakes. If you haven't had these before, go ahead and make a batch right now. I'll wait. Good aren't they?

We used to eat them a lot in Scotland (ok, ok, bought from a bakery and never home made--until now. Home made is so much better). 

These little beauties are puff pastry filled with a currant/candied peel filling. Delicious! I used raisins because that's how I do things around here, and I used more filling that the recipe called for (1 tsp per cake, that is just ridiculous, I must have used 2 tbs each). If you are a fan of mincemeat type flavors, I cannot recommend these enough. VERY easy. VERY tasty.

And that's if from me for this week. Have a great weekend and happy crafting!

A bowl made of yarn

Hurray for the weekend!! I've become one of those people that starts counting down for the weekend on Monday. I'm not proud of the fact, but I might as well own it.

Last week I was off work for a few days with a terrible cold/sinus infection that wouldn't leave me alone. I wanted to do some fiber art, but I couldn't think clearly enough to work on any of my projects I have on the go. I decided that I would use up some stash yarn and attempt to crochet myself a yarn bowl.

The logic behind this is that I knit straight from the ball if it is a store bought mass manufactured skein like the one below. I don't bother to rewind them into a ball. I'm waaaaaaaay too lazy. And the oval shaped ball won't fit in my pottery yarn bowl. And it just wasn't working in the basket. So the yarn-yarn bowl was born.

It is a free pattern on Ravelry. The yarn is held double to make it more sturdy. The green yarn is very sturdy, the blue yarn is not. So there is a lot of give in the bowl, but it still works just fine. I hope you have a lovely weekend with lots of wonderful fiber-filled goodness!

Scrap Blanket

Ever work on a project you didn't expect to like and then didn't want it to end? That's my scrap blanket. It is wonky (I really don't get crochet apparently) and I love it still. It has made me so happy, this blanket, that I'm sad it is done. However I AM excited I can now use it, and so are the girls:

The pattern is free on Ravelry.

Sad girl because her sister is hogging the blanket. Shouldn't have made me smile, but it did.

Also, I wanted to share these fun stained glass cookies. Pretty much just sugar cookies with the centre cut out and boiled sweets melted inside them. A hit at the kids disco this week.

Working on a favorite

Well here we are at WIP Wednesday once again! I've been pretty faithful to my Baby Cables top, and I'm almost ready to divide the sleeves. Progress isn't fast, I'm still trying to adjust to my complete lack of knitting time now that I'm working full time again. I like working, but I still long for the days when I could knit to my hearts content. I do so love the weekend. 

When my brain is too tired to follow a pattern I work on my scrap blanket. I'm glad to be making progress on that too. As an added bonus, it keeps me warm as I work on it as the days grow colder. I love a multi-function project! How will I know when it is done? Well my scrap pile is rapidly dwindling!

It isn't the prettiest thing ever, and I think that makes me love it all the more. This one is already earmarked for the comfy chair in my craft room. Motivation to get it done!

I wish you happy crafting and pleasant weather! Thanks for stopping by.

Keeping busy

This week I have a few random FO's. I finished the Declan hat a few weeks ago, and passed it along to my Dad.  Seeing as how it is 100% wool and we are back in the 70's, I doubt it will get much wear for a while.  It was a very fun knit though.  Because of the yarn and the color striping, it was hard to get a good picture.  Please use your imagination.  It would be nicer in a solid.

I've also been making dish cloths.  For my Aunt.  For my Mom.  For myself.  I'm basically using three patterns at the moment, crochet ripple, bridal lace, and circle cloth.  

This is after a wash, my Mom started using it asap.  This one is also shorter then the yellow and purple, per her request.

My hand is feeling a wee bit better, so hopefully I can finish up a few more cloths and then get tucked into some other projects.  Thanks for your kind words and thoughts! 

Happy Crafting!

Seasons

I have always really loved the autumn.  This year I just haven't been feeling it, until yesterday.  I think I've been too occupied with being cold in this stone castle, and worrying about the cost of heating it. Then yesterday I went outside and the air was cold, and crisp, and the leaves are falling.  And I felt it again, the love the autumn.

This morning as I let the chickens out I was greeted by this view:

Which inspired casting on a new project:

No matter what I tried I could not get a decent picture of this, but trust me when I say they are going to be fetching fingerless gloves.  Partly inspired by cold hands, but mostly inspired by this. I am stash busting on this as well.

I'm still working away on my other two WIP's, Rori's shrug..............

..............and my stress blanket.  I just love how this blanket is turning out, though my stress levels have been down and I've neglected it this past week.

And if I can control myself the rest of the day, that's it for WIP's.  I am really pleased to say that everything I've been knitting has used only the yarn I have in my stash.  I've been trying to thin the herd before we move, and it really has been great fun.  

Happy Crafting!

Stress blanket

Hello friends!  Big news this week--we are moving!!

To cut a long story short, we are moving, again. Abroad, again.  Things are progressing much faster than anticipated, and we will be leaving Scotland at the end of next month.  Suffice to say I am stressed. Seriously stressed.  But in a good way.  I'm really excited about our future, which I'll share with you in good time.  I like things to be fully squared away before I share, I'm just a bit superstitious that way.

I do have a couple of WIP's this week.  I've made progress (ok, a little bit) on Rori's shrug.  It is harder to work on right now because I have to focus on what I'm doing, the sleeves and the back work off different row numbers.  "Ouch" says my over-taxed brain.  But I'm getting there.

I'm also working on what I've dubbed "The Stress Blanket"  We were calling it by all manner of names, and still do, but really it is just a stash busting masterpiece that is lovely for all of its ugliness.  I'm letting my girls pick the yarn as I go, and Isla's already claimed it for future use in front of the tv.  I can't ask for more than that.  It is a super easy pattern, especially for my limited crochet skills, and it eats up the yarn.  I really want to use up any yarn that isn't set aside for future projects.

Happy Crafting!!

Crochet FO's

I am overly pleased with myself this week, because I have not just one, but two FO's this week to share, and both are crochet.  The first one I have been working on for about a month, so it was a bit over-due.  Without further ado, my market bag:

It is big--there are 3 beach towels in the bag for the picture, and it has a nice shape.  At first I thought it was "too big" but now I just love it.  I can't wait to take it to the beach.  Or a picnic.  Or a farmers market.  Anywhere.  The pattern is free, and the yarn is Lily Sugar'n Cream cotton.  I learned quite a bit with this project, and my crochet skills are steadily improving.  So much so in fact, that I tried this:

A crochet wire and bead bracelet.  It was a bit difficult to use wire, but super fun.  It has given me loads of ideas to try in to future.  You can't see the back but I just added a simple clasp, I think next time I might look into magnetic clasp, as it is a bit tricky to get on/off.  I used a free pattern, and some jewellery wire I picked up in the local craft shop.  Fun stuff!!

That's it for me this week.  Happy Crafting!!

Have needles, will travel

Not a bad view from our holiday cottage, the girls asked if they could stay just a bit longer!

I'm back home from a short holiday on the Isle of Skye, just in time for WIP Wednesday!  Even though I've been doing a bit of sight seeing (nothing like a staycation and dry weather), I've been trying to work on a few projects as well. 

The market bag is getting some sides:

This pattern is free, and actually popped up on my Facebook page yesterday for the Crocheting Club.  For once, I'm ahead of the game.  Ha!

 

I cast on a new pair of socks, with some Paton's yarn my parents brought me.  I love the colours. I know you can't see the pattern in the picture, but I'm only two repeats in so there isn't much to see just yet.  I'm making hermiones everyday socks

I finished that hat I was working on for my Mom, so as soon as I can get a picture of it I'll get it posted.  She looks great in hats!

Lastly, if you would care to see any of my photos from Orkney, you can see them here.  It was incredibly foggy, but still great fun.  Good-bye from me, until next week!

This Week

Hello everyone!  I've decided that I'll just do one post this week, as I have some important visitors coming at the end of the week--my parents!  We are all really excited about their imminent arrival, but I really do need to crack on with the cleaning.  I'm so easily distracted though, because the SUN is out.  It is gorgeous and I'll have to go and sit in it and knit for a while later.  First I really should clean the bathroom though.......

I've been pretty monogamous to my leaf cardigan, though it has been hard.  I've been tempted by all sorts of other projects, but.........I'm making good progress and I really want to finish it.  The back is done, the left front is done, the right front is 80% done!  I hope to be working on the edge ribbing by the weekend.

I've also been working on a bit of crochet.  I'm making another handbag/clutch, with the hopes of listing some in my shop.  They are fun, and great to make while watching t.v.  This one is Girlie Camo, and I'm just finishing up the lining and flower in the next few days.

Lastly, I was working on Isla's quilt again (until I ran out of thread and had to wait for more to arrive..... I'm still waiting).  But I had a bit of the sewing bug so I made a wrist lanyard for my keys.  

I am forever losing my keys in the abyss that is my purse, so I figured this would help me find them.  I keep my car key and my house keys separate (the only way to lock the house door is with they, so it normally just lives in the door until I leave the house) so I'll make another one today I think, for my car key.  I used some fabric that my Grandma tie-dyed, and instead of a D-ring, I just used a regular circular ring, because that is what I had.  This was a fast and satisfying project.

Look, I'm a hand model!

And that's all from me for now!  Take care, happy crafting, see you next week!

Market Bag

You will no doubt be terribly surprised when I tell you it is raining.......again.  And cold......again.  Did someone steal my summer?

On to happier news---I finished my crochet market bag!  It was such fun to make, and really fast.  I love instant gratification. 

You crochet the hexagons, then sew them together.  Then you fold the bag over, and sew the remaining sides together.  Lastly, crochet the handle.  It was easy enough for me--a super novice crochet artist!

Originally I was going to line it, and I still might.  However for right now I like it the way it is.  

Stats:

Pattern: Hexagon Market Bag It is a free Lion Brand pattern

Wool: Miscellaneous.  I've stash busted this one, and used a variety of different fibres. 

Learned:  I CAN crochet, hurray!!

 

That's all for me today, I'm off to find more stash busting patterns.  We are planning a move for next summer, (to somewhere with more sun you wonder?  Why yes, yes indeed) so I have a year to work through my stash.  Then, you know, move and build up a new one!