What have I done???

I have done it now ... went out on the garage sale hunt this morning... and bought a table loom - a 4 draft loom. Now I have looked up instructions on how to use a loom, and I have to admit that it is phasing me... what have I done?

never mind - I shall sit on having read the instructions for the moment, until it bugs me to give it a go...

Also - can you ever have too many knitting needles. I got another bundle this morning (probably 40 pairs) after getting nearly the same amount - including double pointed needles last week. Yes Mum - I can only use one pair at a time - that is if I have only one project on the go at a time. One day.....

The best laid plans...

You know how it goes - we were all packed up to go to the markets yesterday - packed the car Saturday night to be ready - and then I wake up at midnight with my heart all racing, and out of rhythm - in Atrial Fibrillation. Se we couldn't go to the markets - :(

Anyhow - here are some things I have been making. These two bags were crocheted out of plarn. What's Plarn you say? It is yarn made out of cut up plastic bags - and then crocheted up. They are both lined with some fabric.


Also I knitted up this floor mat from a torn up sheet. It is so cuddly and warm on my feet.


So, if I haven't got enough things to make up crafts from - here I have some freebies to add to the pile....

Frugalling Saturday 1

This morning, we got a newspaper, and marked some garage sales to visit. What fun, even if we had to drive 80km to do it!

I found two boxes of scraps at garage sales - and people who understood the principle - "She who dies with the most stash - wins!" (there was another box of scraps, but no picture...)

and a pile of remnants I found at a church garage sale for $10

A bag of fabrics - including these curtains and the wool (shown later on) for $5

In the boxes I found these little treasures - some silk fabric

This tablecloth - what a cutie

Some Solomon Island place mats - make nice bags I think

A couple of Malaysian theme batik fabric


and this beauty - made with batik, and something like silk painting (on cotton fabric though) and signed by Arka. It will be stretched over a canvas and placed on the wall - I love it...
And of course, a bag of Totem bluebell wool bits... Nice for a patchwork blanket I have started.


I left home with $50 - and I spent it all (including the stuff below). But I think it was incredible value.

Tomorrow, Liz and the grandies come over, and we are having a sewing day. make some skirts for Liz, and some pants and shirts for the boys - as well as teaching Liz some sewing techniques. Will be fun. I will take photos.

Look what I made

It may have taken me all day - and I only managed one at a time, but look what I have made today. At last I have organised my knitting needles and crochet hooks. Yes I know they are too short for the long needles - but I recycled some matching material squares that I bought at the church fete last week - all in matching designs (3 fabric designs in 4 colour ways).

Now I have the needles sorted by size - under 3.75mm, 4 and 5 mm, and larger, as well as another one for my crochet hooks and miniature knitting needles. I don't know if I have found ALL the hooks and needles in my house - maybe I will find some more over the next few weeks/months/years.


Immediately before I went to Emergency, I called into a freecycler's place for some material pieces. She had managed to find my blog, and worked out my crafting obsession/interest. I also got three balls of wool, which I knitted into a beanie at while waiting Emergency (which was immediately snaffled up by my daughter when she visited yesterday - it was cool apparently), and I have started a matching scarf - for my grandson. Now he has no matching hat!!

Also I have received a knitting needle case of needles to include in the bundle, and some beading / jewelry bits and pieces. A real treasure trove really. Thank you Lorelle.

Re my health: I really appreciate the prayer time with our church elders - and this afternoon, perhaps I am feeling a little better - not quite so breathless as I walk around. We shall see how it goes over the next couple of days. It feels good to hold your husband's hand as wonderful friends take time to pray for you. When I come to think of it - I am due to take a tablet, and I usually am incredibly exhausted at this point in the medicine cycle. Hmmm.

Love to all

UPDATE - Saturday 19th April:
I forget to tell you - on Monday I went to see my GP, and was put on Warfarin to keep my blood thing - stop any potential slots forming, dissolve any if they have already formed. I also had an ultrasound for Deep Vein thrombosis because I was experiencing muscle pain in one leg. Anyhow - the upshot was no clot, and because I have been a good girl and wearing my compression stockings, they could easily see the veins (for the first time).

Then on Tuesday morning, I woke up all well again, and ready for work. Sometime on Monday evening, my heart went back into normal sinus rhythm - and everything is OK again. I am so grateful. Since then I have been OK most of the time. A couple of short episodes which passed quickly.

Spring Contest - oops that is the Northern Hemisphere isn't it

Connamon Girl is having a spring giveaway, and I get extra chances to win it by telling you about it.


Don't you just love the colours of this wool?

You can have a chance to win the wool as well if you go to her site and leave a comment. And because you are feeling generous, say you saw this on my blog, and give me another chance!

Ohhh what the heck - it is autumn here anyhow!

Raibow scarf & Log cabins

Here is the finally finished rainbow scarf. It is knitted in double moss stitch, and where the colours were joined, I decided to make into a fringe. I have never seen this before - but it looks like an interesting collar on.

These are log cabin patchwork squares from Sew Mama Sew patch for the week. I love the look of the shadow and light in the smaller one. They are little mat to put under a tea pot and a cup. I guess I will make some more square patches to make more coasters over the following weeks.

Scrap Blanket

What do you do when you have a basket full of left over wool. (Actually the basket seems quite depleted from what it used to be!)


Turn them into a scrap blanket of course.


I have been having great fun making these squares which will be patched up into a scrap blanket. Every square is made from different wool/s, and in different knitting stitches. The only rule is that need to be the same height so they can be joined in long strips, and then stitched together to make a blanket. To make the most of the interesting squares, I am thinking of bordering each piece with some material.

The greatest fun is when I use up all of a little bit of wool - whether it only is enough for 2 rows of knitting, or to make half a square. I celebrate each one that is no longer there.

If you have some left over wools (from bluebell to double knit) you would love to donate to my blanket, don't be shy will you!

I have given in ... and gone to Cassidys

3.15pm
I have succumbed to the pull to Cassidy's. First of all I was making this time thief beanie - using acrylic from Big W. I love the colours, and appreciate the ease of caring for acrylic over wool...

But I told you earlier, I could feel the pull of knitting socks coming up on me. It was irresistible. So I just had to check if Cassidy's was open today - and yes the Jamison store was open. I rang TSS to help - but she was no help at all - she was going out herself to some movie or something ... just not there when a fellow addict feels the call of wool. Enabler, that is what she is.

So I succumbed, and went shopping, and came out $70 lighter with all of this. There is enough wool there for 4 jumpers for the Grandies, and a sock for my Darls. Of course, I needed a pattern, some DPNs and a small circular needle to enable me further didn't I?
OK I promise I will finish the time thief cap first before casting on the socks. I promise, I promise... I have a blanket on the go also using up scraps of wool - but that can wait to be continued.

5.00 pm Update: Beanie finished - I can cast on the socks now

5.45 pm Socks cast on ... not yet impressed. Had better give it more than three rows to be happy with it. I am having to use the dpns to do the sock - yuk. At $17 a ball, it had better work!!!

Help - my Canberra knitting friends

I have given in to the sock knitting craze. I was washing my darls socks on Friday - and realised he liked thick, wool socks - a perfect description of hand knitted socks. So I must make him some. I have downloaded some patterns to follow - now I need to know what kind of wool / wool mix is sock making wool, and where from do I glean some.

So I am counting on you to lead me into paths everlasting (I am watching the program The Battle For Britain's Soul hence the ecclesiastical language ).

Janet

Time Thief Beanies

Well I have been busy with the knitting needles - all from Taph's Time Thief Cap pattern. This one is for me...
This one for Bob ...
These two are my first attempt at using circular needles - not too bad really.

And this one for Liz (the two most beautiful boys in the world's Mum)
I am pleased with my output this week so far. There is a delightful cool breeze coming through the house tonight - very nice after a hot day.

Re-loving dolls

The clean up of my dolls brought to light that I have many babies just crying out to be loved, and clothed. So I have been working hard to meet their basic needs, and be a good mother.

These two dolls have had little jackets made for them. It is an interesting pattern where you create the jacket all in one piece, and join it up along the shoulder/top arm seam. It involves a lot of increasing and decreasing, and looks really weird until you cast off, and pull it into shape - and hey presto, it fits. OK, OK. I know the little one is a little rudey - she has the fabric and lace for a little skirt all placed beside my sewing machine. Just need to get and do it hey!

This little one has a nautical theme - sort of. He could do with a sailor cap couldn't he ... and white shoes I suppose.


These two were created from the same pattern. The dress starts from the neckline, and increases in a raglan style pattern. Then increases at the waist creates little holes for the ribbon. A nice little easy pattern to make.

Sure, she is not quite as cute as the others - but I love all my babies equally, even when they are a little 'different'.

This time, I created a lace pattern in the skirt.

Now you can see why I need to make the "Old Woman Who Lives in a Shoe" dolls house to put all of these babies in. A lot of the Cupie dolls are out of scale though, and I am getting quite a little collection of them - they will need a display of their own soon.

Doncha love holidays

Arhhh Holidays - time to do what you want. I have been sorting through my craft gear - in particular the dolls corner.

Here is a cute little baby doll - all of about 8 cm long, with her new knitted layette. She needs a name doesn't she? How about Holly?

This year for our ACT Miniature Enthusiasts Show, we are doing Break-away rooms (see Charlene's here).
This is my contribution - not yet finished with all its little bits and pieces, but getting there. It is a bedsit for a Uni student/s in the 1970s - when I went to Teacher's College. Need a bean bag, lots of books and paper, a granny square rug for the bed, put up the macramé hanger - with a pot plant (probably dead!) oh and lots of posters - PEACE, LOVE and so on!!

Seven Things Summer Week 3

IN:
I am trying to remember if I have any ins this week. That is right:

• A little miniature face mask from TSS bought in ?? Bali ?? (Was it TSS)

OUT:

• A wine bottle apron (gift)
• 1 Christmas Hot Mat (Gift)
• 1 Miniature Japanese Doll and Oriental mat (Gifts)
• Knitted Jumper, 3 face cloths, doll - donation gift
• One Diana Ceramic Doll - gift
• 150 plus hand made cards and rolls and rolls of Christmas Wrapping Paper in my stash cupboard - wrapping presents for the Christmas Feast
• 45 dolls - gifts for the Christmas Feast (note: Many of these came back, so I didn't count them in the totals for December. I now have a lovely display of International dolls)
  
• 6 gift boxes for surprises
  

TURN IT ALL ABOUT:

• After such a creative weekend, I don't think I have finished anything this week. Been working on a doll's blanket made out of garter stitch knitted square - 16 of 25 squares finished.
  

More creations

I have been making more Christmas Presents. Firstly a needle case, and matching pin cushion for the daughter of my heart. (sorry, I wrapped it before taking a photo of the pin cushion). it is made from some reused Indian style embroidery I fruggled from somewhere.
And of course it needs the personal touch - hopefully it will still be around in 2047!

Then there are some little boys who all they need to say is "Nanny, will you knit me a teddy bear for Christmas?", and it happens magically....

Where have I been all week

Dolls and Crafts
Oh dear - it has been a busy week, and I haven't been here. What has happened. I made up a dress and jacket for a baby - will include a photo later on. She is a beauty.

Liz came over yesterday - and she and the kids were here when I got home from work. She raided my material cupboard, and took 4 pieces of material to make stuff for the boys. Rosie gave her a sewing machine for her birthday - and so it is fun for her.

I finished another facecloth.

Seven Things Summer
I am going to start the record of what I buy (in the way of craft and other non-essentials) each week, and what I get rid of during the week - as well as what I use to make into something else. Here are the rules... The idea is to try and get rid of at least 7 more things out of the house in a week more than you bring into the house.

Today is the first day of summer... so what I get from today on counts. Bother - I just bought 10 facecloths to crochet an edge around and give away as presents at the Christmas Dinner. I guess it has to count, because I am going to do something with them.

Christmas Feast
I have also been collecting gifts for a Christmas Dinner I am part of planning this year. It is being held at our church for people who don't have family to share Christmas with. Actually, for those of you looking for an outlet for unwanted items, I am interested in collecting anything you may like to donate to use as gifts. I will include some more information on it later on. thankfully, what you bring in, in order to give away doesn't count on the list :)

OK then - I have some accounting to do - not the most pleasant of jobs, but the appointment with the accountant has been made fro Wednesday - got to get it finished...

Blessings
Janet McK

The postie was nice to me

Look what the postie brought me yesterday


A bundle of craft shop goodies from RecycleMicol
including these miniature hand spun wool skeins - eat your heart out taph
And a bunch of miniature dolls bought on ebay



And just to show I am not all about babies - here is a wash cloth I finished yesterday. I was inspired by TSS saying she made one called coconut ice. I used the cotton yarn I picked up at Revolve on Saturday.

Little extras for my birthday.

I finished work a little early yesterday, and called in to see TSS. Not too sure it was the best thing to do, though the rose hip tea was delightful.

Look what I left with then!


A house to display my babies in


A babies' cot that needs a bit of love and care


A Decorated Doll's House book to give me more inspiration - if I need any,,,,

I am still waiting for my babies bought on the Internet to turn up. Should be an interesting week of adopting new babies coming up.

I finished my first wash cloth last night. It sits very nicely in my white bathroom - and is made from Chennile yarn, so is very soft. But I am unsure of how long-lasting it will be though. Will be wonderful for washing my face.

Saturday is here - no work - there has to be some benefits of having a house husband you know.

Now look what has happened.

Reading about knitting wash cloths has got to me ... now I have started doing it.


I have cut out the fabric swatches to roll up into fabric bolts for the craft shop. Just a few that I have still to make into bolts!!


Otherwise, the last couple of days I have been busy editing and preparing the local community newspaper. It is my first one and I will link to it when it goes online. Such a satisfying task to have (almost) completed.

Oh I forgot - and I celebrated by last birthday in the naughty forties, and better still, our 10th wedding anniversary. The thing is, I am 33kg lighter than last birthday, and i feel I am at least 15 years younger. I suspect I may have added 15 years to my life.

Blessings