New Year...time to get organised

Hi There,

Happy Happy New Year Everyone.

Again it has been far too long since I have been here and frankly I am a little sick of it.  I have over the past four months made some great things and have yet to share.  So one of my many new years resolutions is to blog what I have been up to at least once every two weeks.  I'm thinking that is doable and it may make me get into a better routine.

Speaking of routine and getting more organised I am on the look out for a good weekly planner. It must have a 'to do' box so I can write my many cleaning, gardening and crafty jobs I would like to get done in the day/week and it also needs a box for my meal plans.  This is another area I need to get under control again as I had let it slip in 2015 and the meals tend to be rather rushed and boring.

So that is the plan.  Resolution number 1.

I am a little late starting all of this... I realise...17 days late in fact.  Others I see are well on their way to being organised but over Christmas/New Year period here in NZ it is the summer holidays and we went off on a little family adventure.  So no time to think about the coming year until now.   

Resolution number 2...To finish the many crafty things I started at the end of last year.  One especially 'the never ending blanket'.  It is so close to being finished I just got a little too hot underneath it during summer.  So I'm just waiting for a cooler day then it will be all finished and ready for it's TA-DAH moment.  Can't wait.  Also I have another very cool and quick blanket I made last year, very spur of the moment that needs to be shared also.  Oh I can't wait.  So much yumminess to share. I also want to finish a few christmas decorations for this year ready to be handed out when the time comes.  Early I know.    But I am trying to be organised remember.

Resolution number 3...To finish or more like start to paint some interior walls.  This has been on my to do list for years.  Every year I clean the walls, get them ready then I get busy and they get forgotten.  So this is the year.  The shoebox we live in is 16 years old now so it needs a little freshening up.  My fingers are crossed also for a new lounge suite.  This has been on my wish list for awhile.  I wonder when hubby asks what I want for my birthday a lounge suite wouldn't be too much of a stretch? I will test it out soon.

So not a lot to achieve in the year then...

Until next time...hopefully tomorrow...

Take care,

Lxx

Holidays...again

Hi There,

It has been a little while since I blogged.  Nearly two months!  Not good.  As a lot of you know life can get a little crazy, a little busy and days all seem to mould into one. But now it is the school holidays again and I can sit quietly and let my thoughts run free.

So what have I been up to in the last eight or so weeks.  How about some photos?

August/September creations

I have made a few things in amongst the busyness of everyday life.  Just little quick projects as distractions from the 'never ending blanket' saga that still is taking a little while.  I think I am almost over half way in getting it all joined together though.  End of school holidays having it all joined would be great.  Oh what a challenge!! Mmmmm...we will see.

Also during the term I have been working part time as a relief teacher but since I was there most days it became full-time.  I enjoy it, pays for the yarn obsession.  Glad for the little break though as I get to hang out with my two little lovelies.  Lots of movie watching, playdates, slothing around in pj's...bliss!

Day three of the holidays...so far it's been great.  I managed to spend the whole weekend in the garden.  It was pure bliss.  I didn't realise just how much I missed and enjoyed being out there.  It topped my soul up with happiness.  Now all I need to do is fill it with yummy crops for the Summer.

Now I can tick that off the list.  

Next sewing.  Another thing I have missed in the busyness is making stuff for me.  So I have found two fabrics and patterns that I want to tackle in the next two weeks. Fingers crossed I at least get the blue one made. Watch this space.

So it's almost 10am...better go have a shower.  See so slothy!

Have a great week.

Lxx

Terrarium

Hi There,

For a long time I have been wanting to make myself a terrarium after a friend of mine had given me a very large glass fish bowl that I thought would be perfect for just this and since they are all the rage at the moment - why not!

Then the poor fish bowl sat there on top of the cupboard collecting dust for many a day until FINALLY I got committed.

After a trip to the plant store for plants, the pet shop for charcoal and the discount 'we have everything' store for the stones we (myself and the kidlets were ready).

Our terrariums are layered in this way from the bottom:

• Pebbles
• Shells
• Charcoal
• Sphagnum moss (wet)
• Potting mix (messy part)
• Plants
• Pebbles for extra decoration plus any other decorations you might like: dinosaurs, mushrooms, miniature toys...

As usual I forget to take the process shots so you will all have to make do with the 'ta-dah!' finished product.

OL's terrarium effort

LL's terrarium effort

My efforts

We made three in the end and we are all very pleased with our first attempts.  It was great fun making a mess with the kidlets.  If I was to make them again though, I would put less of the layers in so the plants sat inside the bowl more.  Also, another tip I found out, make sure you put like plants with like.  For example don't put ferns and succulents together as they have different watering requirements. 

For those of you who are interested here is a link with instructions on HOW TO BUILD YOUR OWN TERRARIUM. 

Go have fun getting messy and adding a little bit of green to your indoors.

Take care,
Lxx

P.S...I think I have Christmas pressies sorted for the family!

Distraction

Hi There,

It isn't easy sticking to the end on this 'never ending' blanket journey.

I have had many a distraction along the way.

Imps, scarfs, giraffes, dolls, hats, bags, more dolls, dinosaurs...OH the list goes on.

Kokeshi Doll - Post to come

Gerard - Post to come

Winter scarf for a friend

But I think I am almost there.

Well, the crocheting part.  323 squares later.  This number has been revised many a time but it has been settled 323 squares are more than enough.

So next comes the endless job of stitching in all the ends.  I know I should have done them along the way but I just got carried away crocheting, that's the fun part right?

As of today, this is where I am at...

All nicely spread out, taking up the whole lounge floor.  The 'crochet cat' has moved in to keep guard.  Nice!

So off I go...323 ends to be stitched in...

See you all soon...if I make it!

Take care,

Lxx 

Inspired

Hi There,

I have got my spark back with the 'never ending blanket'.  I got all 267 little squares out and laid them on the bed to take a look and to see if I was getting close to finishing.

Good news... I only 133 squares to go.  Almost there!  Yes!

Shouldn't take long?... Surely? 4 a night... it should be done by end of July, then just a quick stitch up of ends and connect them together.  Going to be done by Christmas. Promise!

*SIGH*

I will keep you posted.  

Lxx

A Little Wintery

Hi There,

This post is a little late...I started writing it Monday, then week got crazy busy and before you know it, it is the weekend again! So sorry a little delayed but here goes...

Last weekend saw the place where we live have a massive general clean up.  It was great to cut back all the over grown trees and sweep away the leaves.  It was also lovely to meet all the neighbours again.

Last weekend also saw amazing, crazy and bitterly cold weather descend on us.  The lower North Island is in flood and the South Island is blanketed in snow.  It is feeling like Winter now but the great news is we are past the shortest day so we will be getting more daylight slowly - that much closer to the warmer months.  I prefer the Winter months myself.  Hibernating, snuggling, eating hearty dinners and pudding, wearing layers and slippers.  LOVE IT!  I struggle with the heat in Summer.  I do like going for swims though. Not something you would do in Winter...BRR!!

Also in these wintery months it is a great time to get crocheting.  Last week saw me make a few scarves.  I finished making LL a VERY BRIGHT scarf.  She has a fantastic eye for colour and picked an amazing colour combo.

It ended up being a snuggly cowl.

Yarn used: Stylecraft Special DK:
Emperor (1425)
Plum (1061)
Magenta (1084)
Pomegrante (1083)
Matador (1010)
Fiesta (1257).
I used a 4.5mm hook.

To start: chain 150 join chain with a slip stitch.
Row 1: chain 2, dc around.  Join with a slip stitch into beginning dc.
Row 2: chain 4, 1 treble, ch 1, 1 treble, ch 1,...continue around then slip stitch into beginning treble.
Row 3: chain 3, 2 treble around then slip stitch into beginning treble.
Row 4-19: chain 3, 2 treble around then slip stitch into beginning treble.
Change colour after every round or make up your own colour pattern.  Anything goes!

EASY?

If you do have a go at this pattern let me know what you think and please let me know if there are things that need changing.  I should learn to write the pattern down as I make things so writing it up later is a little easier.  Another lesson learnt.

Another project that finally got finished were the hearts I made for birthday gifts.  So sweet and easy and pattern can be found over at Attic24.  I also made one at the beginning of this blogging journey.  See here.

So this week will see me finish the gift for a baby shower and...
Yes!  The never ending blanket is seeing the light of day again.  I am going to make a real effort and get it done.  I am over half way making the squares so it shouldn't take that long, surely!

Have a great weekend.
Lxx

Scarfing Mad!

Hi There,

Weather here over the weekend was a bit muddled.  Rain, cloud and sunshine all made an appearance not to mention the cold South Westerly...Brr!!

So a lot of time was spent inside under the yummy heat pump.

Last weekend in Wellington I bought a new top and while I was wearing it on Friday I decided it needed a scarf.  Why not...

Just something else to stop me from finishing all the other little projects I have on the go.

So colours were chosen.  Nothing flash or too expensive, just my faithful Stylecraft Special DK in parchment (1218), black (1002), lime (1712) and midnight (1011).   I love it when an idea comes into my head and I go hunting in the cupboard and actually find what I am looking for.  No time is wasted waiting for a delivery from Deramores.  I can get on and enjoy creating.

With Rose in hand and hook in the other I set to and started creating.  I started with a 200 chain then sc back to give the base I needed.  I decided I might try a new stitch and so after a little hunting I settled on the the granite stitch aka the moss stitch from mooglyblog. Quite a simple stitch really.  No real thought or counting needed.  So simple for a Friday night.

By Saturday it had grown quite considerately.  Having added the parchment in at the last minute I think helped to break the darkness of it all.  It was nice just going around and around not counting.  Lovely mindless creating.  BLISS!!

By Sunday, all done!

Ta-dah!

Possibly a little snug.  It may stretch? A lesson was learnt.  When stitches are small and close together not much stretch goes on whereas another scarf I made in trebles tended to have a lot more stretch.  Maybe if I was to make this again I might do 250 chain to start.

So now I have the scarf bug and am in the process of making a scarf for LL.  Rather bright for the Winter months don't you think?

It looks like the never ending blanket will never end...

Take care,
Lxx