Hexagons, books & a flower frog.......

We'd been away for a few days and on my travels bought a couple of books, including the tatting book above.  The picture above is from the Aamzon site, where I would have to agree with all the reviews on this book.  I've been reading through it first & then will have a try.  I did buy a couple of crochet pattern books (a baby pattern book and one on old fashioned doilies) plus a 1970's Australian Book of Crochet - all absolute gems.

 Also bought the vase and frog above.  I started out in embroidery like everyone else - with one pair of scissors, then they just seem to multiply.  I'd seen on some other blogs collectors of flower frogs, but this one looked as though it would suit me perfectly and it was a find at $18.  The vase is in mint condition as is the internal frog and once it was washed just gleams and there are 8 smaller holes around the side & a central opening in the frog - so no more new scissors for me......well not for the moment anyway....

Finally to the hexagons.....I've done 20 for the top of a cot quilt.  The light background bears were done by my late mother in law - the rest of the fabric is also hers, except for the 4 bears on blue background.  I have 6 white hexagons to sew for the centre, then will sew it together & put it onto a white piece of homespun.  I've chosen a bright yellow for the backing & binding, then will decide how I want to quilt this up - I'm thinking of an all-over quilting across the hexagons (free motion style) rather than in the ditch.  Any thoughts????  Sorry for the picture quality, but I laid these out on my sewing table rather than bending to the floor......

I planted my apple trees on the weekend (a pink lady and a gala) and now just waiting on my peacharine and mariposa plum.  I'm looking forward to being able to pick my own fruit.....so hopefully these trees will setlle in nicely.....

Have a great week....

~Karen~

latest finishes.......

2 posts in the one week.....amazing or what.....but I'm showing my finished cardigan & 4th scarf.

'Celeste' 8ply Bendigo wool

4th scarf

The cardigan is from Interweave Crochet Spring 2011 edition and the design is by Edie Eckmann.  The wool is Celeste from Bendigo Woollen Mills in Almond.  Again, I made the cardigan longer & the sleeves slightly longer too.  The scarf is what was left from the 3rd 200g ball - I still have 1 untouched 200g ball to go, but thankfully won't need it.  I hate running out of wool then the next order is probably going to be a different dye lot, so might be noticeable.

No further progress on the hexagons, but time permitting this weekend, some pictures should be up here next week (fingers crossed).

Only a few days left to the shortest winter day - I find the early nights & dark mornings become overwhelming after a while, so will be looking forward to getting some daylight back.

Do leave me a comment - it's nice to read your thoughts.  Hope you have a great few days.......

~Karen~

must post more often........

When I started this blog, I intended to post about once a week at the minimum.  You know the best laid plans....anyway, I have a new resolve to get on here & do this more often.

I survived the dentist (not sure about my wallet though) and 2 more visits to go.....

We just had our long weekend for the Queen's Birthday (and Volunteers day), so the extra day was welcome.  I was reading over at Katherine's blog (Katherine's creations - see the link on the side) and her efforts put me to shame.  I did however get the following done over the weekend:

• dug another 2 fruit tree holes & prepared them with blood & bone & some fertiliser (our soil is very sandy).  Waiting now for my pear trees - a Beurre Bosc & a Williams.  I'd already done 4 other holes about 3 or 4 weeks ago for 2 apples, another plum and a peacharine - will add some pics of our 'orchard' when all 6 new trees are here
• changed 23 doilies, meaning dusting, then washed all 23, pressed them & put them away.  Some of these I'd inherited and I figure why leave them in a cupboard, why not use them & enjoy them.  There are some finely crocheted doilies probably done by my great grandma, some embroidered items by my late mother - I love to see them out
• sorted out the sewing room drawers of fabric & other items (quilting pins etc).  When I finished that I got some further fabric out to do some hexagons - will add a pic soon on that one I promise
• pruned my hydrangea, planted a broken piece of a Monstera (hope it grows) and planted some annuals in a box planter for some colour
• cleaned out the inside of the car ready for a bit of a trip away - cleaning this new car doesn't involve a vacuum cleaner as the floor isn't carpet (it's a ute), so what used to take about an hour with the old car, now takes about 15 minutes - bliss.

My wool arrived too - I get really irritated when the wool I wasn't in a rush for arrives, but the wool I really wanted was late - anyway it arrived a few days later & my cardigan is almost finished (started it last Thursday).  The wool is Bendigo's newest - an 85% wool, 10% alpaca and 5% silk called Celeste - crochets up a treat, so on the next post a pic of the cardigan.

I've also done 7 doilies in 4 ply cotton for my oldest daughter (somehow some of the others I'd done have disappeared ??) from 4 50g balls from the book 'doilies to crochet in 4 ply' from Crochet Australia.

Enjoy your week.....

~Karen~

Would you believe it.........

In my last post I was preparing for the dentist.  That appointment was post poned because the dentist didn't get here until after my appointment, so I'm off to see him today.  (I know this because the flight has just gone over).

I was hoping to post pictures of my craft stand AND my wool - said wool has still not arrived & I get really anxious waiting for things in the post (I thought it should have been here last Friday).

So, at least I can show you the craft stand.....

I've attached the clip on magnifier (and the white thing is it's cover - just in case the sun gets on it).  Works very well & I've resumed working on the Family Tree cross stitch.  The stand was fun to put together - probably should have videod it - haha. 

Queen Anne's Lace

The little scarf above is Queen Annes Lace - I spotted this on A Spoonful of Sugar (http://www.aspoonfulofsugardesigns.com/2011/05/queen-annes-lace.html) and just had to get the instructions.  I've done another one since - just nice little neck warmers without looking like the Michelin Man (or should that be woman) with a big clunky scarf.   This Scarf was done in Bendigo wool Rustic 8ply with a 4mm hook - matches my recent cardigan.  I think when I do my next cardigan, I'll do one of these to match - be a nice touch - that is when my wool gets here.

Wish me luck for today at the dentist..........

Enjoy your week.....

~Karen~



yet more crochet.........

Multi colour 3 ply

Little red riding hood - in 3 ply

8 ply blanket

Have to admit it, I've been enjoying creating these little jackets & boots.  The jacket & hat pattern is from book 3 called Layettes, by Ruth Layfon Blythe & the boots from a Craft Moods publication, available from crochet Australia.  All are done in 3 ply.  Now the hat is a hybrid of the book pattern, because I thought that some shaping in the back would look better & hopefully fit better.  The rug is in 8 ply acrylic & modified from a design in Crochet! mazagine.  The red wool has been around since the 1980's and finally crocheted up and was in the inherited baby yarn.

I've been wanting to buy a floor frame for a while now, so finally took the plunge, and from the Fox Collection ordered a frame to put my larger cross stitch frames into.  Can't wait for it to get here & then I may get back to the Family tree cross stitch.

So, not looking forward to today - off to the dentist for some more work on the teeth (yuk).

Have a great week

~ Karen ~

Another finish.........

Before I go any further, I didn't watch 'the wedding'.  Not because I dislike royalty, romance or anything else, but I objected to having very little option by the television channels of what I could watch on a Friday night.  Having said that, I do wish them well & hope the press now leave them alone to get on with it.

So, instead of watching TV on Friday night, I made up my new crochet hook holder.  I bought a set in a vinyl case in the 1970's & have bought other odd hooks since & the case was looking very sad.  I do have another full set I inherited form my mother, but that case is in much better shape.   At Christmas I got a new fat quarter of Kermit (I love frogs & the Muppets), so here it is......

Crochet hook holder-outside

Crochet hook holder-inside

I made the openings for the smaller hooks a bit narrower and depending on how many hooks of each size I currently have made the openings for the larger hooks wider.  I have seen some similar rolls for pencils & the like & you can buy crochet hook holders (but I think they only hold one of each hook), but this is my version to suit my needs.  If your interested in the measurements etc, leave me a comment & I'll create some notes on how it was done.

Have a great week..........

~ Karen ~

Tired..............

Wow, it's over 2 weeks since I last put anything up here.  We had a great Easter, catching fish & going to different places, plus a houseful of 20 somethings who have too much energy lol.  The house is strangely quiet............

I was saddened to hear of the Gum Tree Designers going their own way, but that I guess means 5 blogs to look at.  Wonderful of them to share their BOM so we can continue :).

GUM Tree Designers - Block 3

I did this block in Cottage Garden Threads for the cat & the words.  Very nice threads to stitch with too - just need to save to buy some more lol.  A variegated DMC was used around the mat. 
Now to plan the remaining blocks & perhaps create some of my own...........

Hope your Easter was as good as ours.  Not forgetting ANZAC day - lest we forget.

Off to work.....and a short week too :) 

Enjoy your week

~Karen~