Nina or Dottie?

Hi There,

Oh look...Another new member to the family.

Meet Nina.  Or is it Dottie.  My littlest lovely has taken to the name Nina where as I think she looks more like a Dottie.

Once the last stitch is done she no longer belongs to me...Sigh...My littlest lovely takes her under her wing and they are off exploring and having adventures.  So I guess she should get to name her new friend.

So here she is Nina...

Colours don't look very bright in photo

Created from the Dilly Dot Dolls from Annaboos House.  She is the bigger sister to the littler ones I made earlier.  Being slightly bigger she wasn't as fiddly to make however her dress was bigger so that seemed to take ages.  I think I also added too much hair and then one side of her head looked a bit odd.  My eldest lovely thought she looked a little alien...EEK!  We can't have a pretty girl looking like an alien so more hair was added.  It is better but not 100% right.  However the littlest lovely LOVES it so thats that.  No changing.  Happy kids, happy Mum.

Another angle taken by Oldest Assistant 

And another

She is so cute! All Summery bright.  I may have to make one for myself (after the christmas imp and reindeer and winter dolls and...) Who's needs work to fill your days when there is LOADS of crocheting to be had!

Oh well, happy crafting this week everyone,

Lxx

Introducing...

Hi There,

INDY THE IMP

He's comes across as a quiet little fellow but when you aren't looking he is up to no good.  He loves to eat all the food in the cupboard, hassle the cat and sing nursery rhymes at the top of his voice.  Very cheeky!  Just the way the oldest lovely likes it. They have become quite good friends.

He was created from AnnaBoos House.  The creations that Sarah comes up with are just beautiful, cute and heaps of fun.  I am completely hooked on her blog.  So much so I had to make these this week...

DILLY DOT DOLLS

Princess Butternut

Princess Pea

Princess Coco

Awww.... Cutie cutie!!  Alas they won't be together long as Princess Coco and Princess Butternut will be packed off safely to new homes come Christmas.  Quite sad really as they look so good together.  But I guess that gives me an excuse to make more.

But before that, I am about to make these for me for Christmas. Yes for me! Doesn't happen often, I can't wait!

Aren't they cute?  In New Zealand it isn't exactly Wintery snow season but that won't stop me from making them.  Maybe I make them and bring them out in Winter?  Oh super!  Sorted!

Sarah's patterns are very easy and so clear to follow.  It is very hard to make a mistake.  So simple and the results are exactly like the pictures.  Sarah is also happy to answer questions you might have. What I also love is that there was room for the designs to be adapted. I added my own creative flare to them.  Princess Pea's hair was my own creation along with her longer lacy trimmed dress.   Such a great feeling to create something so quickly and my own spin to it. 

While writing this blog I see she has made this little guy.  I already have him downloaded ready to be made.  SQUEALS!!!

So over the next few days, time will be spent making these new characters.  Darn it! I just wish I didn't have to work... Sigh!

L xx

The Three C's

Hi There,

I am sitting at the local park while my two little lovelies scream around, playing some made up game while I sit here thinking...What makes me happy? Moments like these...Fresh air, little lovelies happily playing and the Three C's (they need capitals as they are very important, you see). The Three C's: A cuppa, chocolate and crochet. Simple really. I will go anywhere with anyone as long as these three things are included in the trip/outing.

I must explain The Three C's more thoroughly as I am very particular (let's call it slightly posh, oh ok OCDish) I like my hot cuppa to be tea, English breakfast. Next, now listen up, very important... The tea bag must brew in the hot water for a bit THEN the tea bag MUST come out BEFORE milk (trim) goes in. Then you have a delicious hot cuppa. Not too hard to remember?  Some people do think I am mad but if you a big tea drinker like me you would agree there is a certain way it should be made.  I am sure you have your own little 'tea ritual' that you go through for an exceptional cuppa?

Mmmmmm...chocolate. A good day is a day with chocolate.  The darker the better. However, I have been known to devour a whole bar of dairy milk. My ultimate favourite is Whittakers dark cacao chocolate. Oh so good! Especially with tea. Bliss!!

And to finish it all off while I slurp and scoff I like to crochet. As you know it is a little of an obsession. A lovely healthy obsession though. However, Hubby would still disagree that my obsession is getting out of hand even though he was caught snuggling under one of my crochet blankets last night.

So while the little lovelies are still happy to play I should really get on and crochet. I have slurped and scoffed...now some time in hooky heaven.

A teaser to what is coming...

Lovely...
Lxx

Sunday Update

Hi There,

I hope you all had a lovely weekend wherever you were.  We did here in the craft cupboard.  I was actually allowed some time in there and boy did I make the most of it!  I blew the dust of the sewing machines and whipped up something super quick (with NO unpicking!) I was most impressed.  My little lovelie who watched in fascination was also impressed.  I think she is desperate to have a go on the machine - one day.  Her feet need to be able to touch the ground while sitting first.

The sewing I was doing was part of a larger project that is almost finished. I can't wait to show you, hopefully this Friday.  So so close to the big revel.  SQUEALS!!

I also started another 'little' project that I think will be ready for its little moment in the spotlight soon.  I know it is very naughty to start another project without finishing the first but this project had been niggling me all week to be made so I just had to do it! Very much worth it.

This weekend it was nice to spend time with my littlest lovelie.  She loves to make things.  She found a pile of my colourful yarn off cuts and she decided she wanted to glue them all together into a ball.  After a little more discussion we came up with the idea to make a christmas wreath.  Yes, a big leap from a glue ball to christmas wreath but it was worth it.

Of coarse no crafty project is not complete without first taking a trip to Spotlight.  I LOVE IT.  We wandered around with a very loose list of what we needed and came home with a large bag of goodies.

We then seated ourselves at the table and went for it.  I tried to do very little, allowing my littlie to take control and make something that was hers.  And here it is...

She is a very clever girl.  It will take pride of place on the front door once the christmas season arrives.

The weather was not too bad this weekend either, so I managed a bit of time out in the garden.  Bliss!  The tropical impatients finally got planted.  I hope they survive and the Summer heat doesn't kill them off.   They look so pretty with their dark green foliage and brightly coloured flowers.  I got a surprise while I was out there...

Gladioli.   The first one of the season.  I fell in love with these flowers a few years ago as they last forever in a vase and you can get 20+ flowers on a stem.  Great value!  As this is the first one it stays in the garden, the rest once they 'pop' get picked.  I love them in vases.

RANDOM NOTE: After our power cut on Thursday night where my candle collection was starting to look horrible I decided to indulge and buy myself some yummy smelling candles.  I found a peach blossom and lily one and another that smells like gingerbread (brings back memories of my christmas gingerbread houses I make every year)  They are soooo good.  They would smell even better if my littlie would stop blowing them out.

And so, no Sunday would not be complete without some crochet time.  So I will be off now to immerse myself in some great Sunday night TV, a herbie tea and hook and yarn time.

Take care,
Lxx

A weekend in photos

Hi There,
My weekend consisted of...
Lots of sleeping in and napping on the couch.

Ooodles of crocheting.  I have never been so productive!

Baking (well a little lie, these were done on Thursday for little lovelies Halloween school day, but I had to share).

 Gardening bliss!

Overall...A wonderful relaxing weekend!
Lxx

Reveal...

Hi There,

Finally I can introduce to you the finished pink blanket.

DONE!

I am glad it is finished.  I think it has been a challenge more than the other crocheted things I have made.  I really wanted it to be right as I want to sell it in my 'little shop'.

Where I left this project I had just put all the squares together and the blanket began to bunch up and it looked awful.  At this point I was starting to stress that it wouldn't work.

After much discussion with my Mum and other crocheters I decided to just keep going and see what happened.  If it ended up looking awful I wouldn't sell it.

So... once all the squares were all together I started the process of trying to figure out what border to do.  Do I make a frilly border or a practical straight border?  The border always takes me a long time to decide on as it is the part of the blanket that really finishes it off.  I should have taken photos of ALL the ideas that I tried and there were a few. It would have been interesting to see the process.  I must remember that for next time. In the end I opted for a nice simple border.  

So there you have it after many months I give you...

THE PINK COT BLANKET

I must say after all the stress and challenge of making it has passed I do really like it.  It is just so snuggly and delicious.  I now can't wait to pass it on to a little girl who will find it just as snuggly and delicious.  

Fingers crossed someone else falls in love with it.

Lxx

The cat loves it!

A Little Slower Pace PLEASE!

Hi There,

So sorry I haven't been here for awhile.  Life got a little busy there for a bit.  I have been working full time these past two weeks.  Which was nice as it will help pay for more yarn.  HA!!  Don't tell the hubby. 

Today was the last day so now I am back to being MUM.  I am quite looking forward to the slower pace.  More crocheting, more baking, more gardening, more of everything that is GOOD!

I can stop and rest for a bit.

AHHH...

But before I go and rest, I must share with you what I did manage to squeeze in last weekend.  

The 5000 poppies project that I have talked about in previous posts is starting to gain momentum.  I have managed to make 20!  A slow start but I think it will start to pick up with the Facebook page going live now (go to 5000 Poppies NZ).  It will be a great place for people to get involved and post their poppy making efforts.  

Back to last weekend...I taught three of my lovely friends how to crochet a poppy. This was a huge deal for me as I am a self taught crocheter and I didn't think I would have it in me to teach people (even though I am a school teacher!)  However I surprised myself.  It seems I can teach people to crochet.  My friends had a great time and they all went home very pleased with themselves with a poppy in hand. They have all gone on to making more since.  I'm so pleased.  I don't feel so alone in this huge endeavour now.

First lovely friend - Amazing first poppy

Second lovely Friend  - Almost there!

Third lovely Friend - Incredible first poppy

If you are reading this and think - "That doesn't look too hard, I could do that".  Well you are right it isn't too hard and you could do it, here is how.

Go to 5000 Poppies and click on the poppy pattern link and it will show you how to crochet and knit a poppy and once you have made one, why not two, three, four...? You will love it.

Then take photos and upload them to the Facebook page (5000 Poppies NZ) for us all to see.

Then courier your amazingly made poppies to:

ITAV

1 Saunders Place

Avondale 1026

Auckland

NEW ZEALAND

Go on give it a go. I can't wait to see...

Lxx