Rainbows and Poppies

Bought this little book 200 Crochet Blocks by Jan Eaton from Spotlight the other day because...(whispers)...I'm not really enjoying my Granny Squares crochet class. The ladies and the teacher are very nice but it's too much about how to hold the hook and not enough just get in there and do it) 

Just to let you know, When I did that link to the bookstore I discovered it was more than twice the price at Spotlight! Ripped off! Hate that.

I've made a few out of it already. Great, clear instructions. Lovin' the book.

Fruits of my labors. I'm into Poppy mode at the moment, hence the color scheme and the flower blocks. 

My husband can't seem to get his head around the fact that I'm crocheting blankets like his great grandmother used to do. Watch less sport then, buddy.

Here's the one I'm doing at the moment. Tres fiddly, but good for working on when not wanting to watch that bloody awful Underbelly Razor (too much blood and violence for me, oh yes, indeed!) as I can't take my eyes of the wool!

And here is my Freeform scarf so far. Looks like a bit of a dog's breakfast in attractive co-ordinating colours. It's a bit nicer in real life and I love working on it, so if I don't like it when it's finished, I'll just gift it to some artsy type I know that will appreciate it!

 (don't worry, Tori, it won't be you)

When Irish Eyes are Smiling.

Seven years ago today at Holles Street Maternity hospital in Dublin, Ireland, we became parents for the first time.

It was love at first sight. I lay beside him that first night, gazing at him through my mild morphine haze, not quite believing how beautiful and tiny he was, texting long poetic messages to Jas about him, that he kept on his phone for ages.

He's growing up to be a kind and beautiful, bubbly and animated boy with an enthusiasm for life and a ready smile. He loves science - he got a telescope, spy gear,vehicle building and crystal growing sets this morning, plus a Pooh bear soft toy from his little brother. He loves his soft toys, does Dom. He lost Pooh a few months back and now he has another. 

So Happy 7th birthday, my little Irish Kiwi (he insists on supporting the Irish over the All Blacks in rugby, much to his father's dismay!) You make us smile and laugh every day with your never-ending questions and scenarios. You love a good cuddle. You're a fantastic reader. You're kind and generous, and love being with people.

Lá breithe sona, mo prionsa beag.

The Old Red, White and Blue

If you have been taking any notice whatsoever of my little progress bars on the side, you will have seen that one of the quilts has recently seen some action!

For the last couple of days of my in-laws stay, I've been making new curtains for Charlie's room.
Yes, we live in a rental.
Yes, it may be a waste of money to make new curtains you may never use again.
But the old ones were;
a) the shittiest faded salmon pink color you can imagine
b) come summer they may as well be open as are virtually see thorough. I need something better to con him that it's night time!
c) they were on rods and the gap had been sewn too narrow and they wouldn't slide. Tiebacks do my head in.
d) until we leave these isles and return to The Homeland, I refuse to live with any more "other people's crap" than I have to. I have been doing this for 11 long years of rental properties in 8 countries. The pink Austrian blinds in the lounge are bad enough!

Anyhoo...I have had this project on the back burner for a while and thought it the perfect time to complete one of the infamous WIP's that I have vowed to wipe out by 2012.

I'd like to say I'll get it done tomorrow but I'm dreaming.

Biggie Smalls has a 7th birthday on Friday and I have to knock out 2 dozen iced and sprinkled cupcakes (school), and ice cream party cake and party food (family, little friends party, Friday Night), Beyblade cake (Sunday, Laserstrike party) .

Plus go to the gym and Costco tomorrow.
They all have to be home made according to his lordship, as "your things taste perfect, Mum"
How can I argue with such wanton bias?!

The joys of Grandparents.

My in-laws are staying with us at the moment. They've settled into the swing of our lives, like they always do, which makes them such a joy to have here.

The kids were uber-excited to be picked up from school and kinder. So lovely to see the beaming little faces when they saw their beloved Grandma and Grandad! They've joined in the school drop off and pick ups and all the ensuing activities in between, plus all the at home ones - stories, doing the reader, bath etc. It's sooooo nice to have an extra couple of pairs of hands around the place at dinner time, when there are dishes in the sink and washing to fold. And it's really nice to have someone to talk to when the kids aren't about too, for a change!

I feel very lucky to get on with my in-laws, I know many (or is it most?) people don't. I wonder why that is. Who knows? I'm off to sit by the fire (that I didn't have to light) and chat!!
X

I love this skirt...

on the beautiful Emma Watson (aka Hermione, my future daughter-in-law according to Charlie)

I reckon, with a pile of Anna Maria Horner fabrics, I could probably knock off similar one fairly easily. It will undoubtedly be shorter and (a lot) wider than that one. I may not look like Emma Watson when I put it on, in fact, I am fairly certain of it, but I am still inclined to try.

But..
a) will I start off with a hiss and a roar and then lose interest?
b) I have a pile of unfinished projects I have vowed to finish by the end of the year (see the progress thingummys)
c) I have too much fabric and shouldn't really buy any more...

I shall hereby muse about it today and make my decision tomorrow.

Wool is the new Fabric!

Just to mix things up a bit, I decided to break out of my knitting comfort zone (basically knit and purl, preferably only scarves), and start a couple of classes at The Open Drawer.

Within this beautiful hedgehog case made for me by Tori  (and so much more perfectly finished than I could ever hope to achieve) are.....

....some of my Freeform Knitting / Crochet creations. You use different textured fibres and wool to create small pieces that will be added to each other and embellished with things I am yet to learn how to do, like bullions and spirals and balls.

Don't know about the yellow... might have to be in the next project.

 This is the Flickr website of the mistress of Freeform, Prudence Mapstone to get the gist of what I'm doing. Mine will be a scarf as I think a wall hanging may be slightly to ambitious and I can't see myself toting one of the bags, to be honest!

I'm also rocking some old school Granny Squares at a different course at the same venue

I am not much good at these but I like the colourway I chose based on Red Poppies. 'Twill be a struggle to finish a blanket, methinks, at the rate I crochet the little buggers!

Purple is as purple does.

I have two lovely friends. We train together (some much harder than others), we have coffee often, lunch and dinner sometimes too.

We shopped together the other night. Elwood in Glenferrie rd was closing. We've all bought the same purple sweater. We also have matching pink sweaters from Country Rd.

It's all getting very Terrible triplets! And the most bizarre thing is we don't care if we match, even going so far as to send messages requesting the wearing of said sweaters on the same day!

So here's to friends who believe that the comfort of a nice, soft, comfortable piece of clothing is a gift to be shared, not cloistered within the confines of individuality!