Picture perfect cards...a gift that keeps giving...

I came across these gorgeous handmade cards

while visiting my local gift and nursery shop...

I have bought the first two and will be framing them...

Although many will not be able to buy them like me at my local store...

I have found an online store that stock them...

You can find these cards and so much more 

at Sankofa

These wonderfully unique greeting cards are from El Salvador 

  They are made using native flowers and plants

by a group of enterprising women who formed a 

co-operative in the highlands of El Salvador 

after massive mud slides and a devasting earthquake left 

many families jobless and homeless.

Not only will you get a unique gorgeous card 

that you can give as a gift or like me frame it for all to see...

But you will be helping creative woman that are part of a

 company committed to providing 

sustainable employment to the economically disadvantaged. 

They are a member of the Fair Trade Federation.

Granny Christmas Stocking...

The Stockings were hung by the chimney with care...
In hopes that my Granny would see them there...

This is my new Granny Christmas Stocking pattern...



This is an adaptation
of my Granny Slipper pattern...



so if you have made my granny slippers
you will have no problem doing these sweet things...

The sole is worked exactly the same...
but I have added a few extra bits of redesigning to the new shaping for the top ...
and not forgetting some pretty little picots too...

Got to LOVE picots...

and the pattern is just about ready to be proof read
and
it will be listed in my etsy shop
by the end of the week...

So while you are probably thinking
"oh is it that time of year already"
well it isn't quite...

But it is a fabulous time to start those "merry good" projects...

Rosie Rabbit Pattern in store Now...

After recent inspiration...

I have decided to call my 

"bunny" pattern

Rosie Rabbit...

 

It will be listed quick sticks...

Just in time

to make as a CHRISTMAS GIFT...

Speaking of Christmas...

I have an

 added bonus of listing 3 Rosie Rabbit patterns

for 20 cents each...

So pop over to my etsy shop to see if you will get a bargain...

If you miss out don't forget that these patterns are

just ideal for making lots of friendly critters...

Turn it into a mouse, bear or even a puppy...

Just use some imagination and adapt this very versatile style...

and also on the subject of Christmas...

I have been working very hard and have

a very sweet Granny Christmas Stocking pattern

all written up and several made...

I am just waiting for a picture perfect day to take lots of pretty pics...

Hopefully it will not be long away...

Rosie Rabbit...

Introducing the newest member of the family...

Rosie...

Rosie rabbit is every so sweet...
But when she's naughty she nibbles out feet...



Ouch!!!

Rosie has found a new best friend...

Or it could be the fact that his t-shirt tastes so good...
Either way...they seem to be bonding...



It could have been coincidental...
But I had made lots of Rosie hair pins, brooches
and ring during the week...

But I like to think of it as fate...

Adaptable Bunny

Yes here is Mr Mouse...

He is an adaptation of the Mr Bunny pattern...




I am thinking of many more things this pattern can be...



I'm thinking of calling this pattern
"Universal Bunny"...

Spring Flowers

I thought a bunch of cottage blooms would

be very nice in a vase with an added

crocheted brooch...

with the help of some Blu-tack...



I used the pattern from Mollie Makes magazine...
Just added a few more trebles for fullness...
and added a back circle and brooch clip...

They are very easy and would look great in cotton like mine
or in some woolly goodness
for my northern hemisphere friends...

Crochet Top Finished...

Crochet Top finally finished...

Edit: you can find the pattern book

Here...

Here a rabbit...there a rabbit...

There multiplying before my eyes...

I am working on a pattern for these...

and maybe another

Mr ....

that it can convert too as well...

To many ideas and absolutely no time...

It must be spring...

Granny Toys...

Hippity Hoppity or Woof, Woof, Woof?

I am unsure if this is a Bunny or a Puppy...
What do you think?



I don't normally make animals but this was kind of fun...
that is, after undoing it too many times...
But it only took less than a 100gram ball of wool...
So an absolute bargain...




I am still thinking the head need work?



Hopefully my yarn will turn up today
so I will stop getting side tracked...

How To...with some helpful links...

I did mention when I was

making my Rag Rug that I could do

a tutorial...

But after a lot of google searching I found some great gals

that have already done just that...

Great tutorials

can be found on these sites...

So please check them out...

They are very easy to follow

and pretty much how I do mine...

Mia' and the Boys...

Vintage Chica...

Sugar Bee Crafts...

Now if you want some inspiration to get motivated...

Check out the Flickr Rag Rug Group...

Now on to some other crocheting projects...

The crochet Green top is finished!!!
Yeah...
It does actually look much better on
than flat on the floor...



I should be receiving the yarn to finish two of my other tops early next week...
Can't wait...
I will be sure to try and model the pretty cream one when I finish...
That will be a keeper for sure...

I do hope your week has been sweet...
I am looking forward to the weekend but they do say there is 90% chance of rain...
I suppose you can't have everything...

But rainy weather is good for staying inside and crocheting some more
Granny Goodness...

While I am waiting...

Until I receive the yarn I need to finish the three other tops...

I thought I would start another...

As one does...

This one would have been finished if I didn't have to undo it a zillion times...
I used 8 ply cotton
and the pattern which was Japanese was in something a lot finer
because I had to change nearly everything...

I still really like it but I think next time
there are still a few things I would change...
Like the way the armholes increase,
and the curve on the top etc...
But all in all I am really pleased with how it is coming along...



Only about 16 -20 more rows to go...

I should have that finished before I get bored and start something else...

But then I did see this other amazing top................

Almost Finished...but not quite...

Project One...
I love it!!!
But I ran out of cotton for half of the back...
I ordered more...

It arrived....and it's the wrong dye lot...and it's noticeable...
Bendigo Wool Mills-cotton...
I haven't kept the label from the first lot...
I really don't know what to do with it now...
But it would be tragic to just leave it in a UFO pile...



Project Two...
Love the colour...
Much larger than I wanted it to be...It always happens when I follow other patterns...
This one I might have to pop onto the shop when I am finished...

90 % finished...Ran out of cotton...
Will have to order some more...Bendigo Wool Mills-cotton...
and will be making sure I keep the dye lot card...



Project Three..
Followed the pattern and it worked out a good size...
I would prefer it to be longer thou...

Yes again I ran out of cotton...
I need to do the picot edging around the top and only need one ball...
This cotton was from Spotlight...

But it's a long drive and day out to get it...
When I do get there (if they haven't ran out) I will buy two balls instead of one...
and do the edging and make it a tad longer...



As you can see
I am so over running out of yarn...
It's driving me crazy...

I am thinking there was a reason I stuck to small projects...

EDIT:
I have just rang the Bendigo Wool Mill and unfortunately the colour I need for 
Project One
is unavailable in the previous dye lot...
The yarn is...
100% pure cotton 8 ply...
There brand...
in Parchment colour 816
The dye lot I just received is 139
But it is too white
if anyone, anywhere has a dye lot in this brand-colour etc that isn't the 139
   could you please, please e-mail me...
I really would love to finish it...

Thanks... 

EDIT..EDIT...
Found out the dye lot is 135...
Hope this helps...

EDIT...EDIT...EDIT...
this is getting confusing isn't it...
I rang Bendigo Wool Mill and they searched and searched and found one...
They are so sweet...
I ordered it right away...
I am so, so happy...
Can't you tell!!! 

Tea Time Pincushion...

I found this great pattern in a 

Japanese Crochet Book...

As you can see
I became quite obsessed...



One turned into two...



And before I knew it I had three...



They are a great gift idea
for any crafty friend...
 You can find the book
HERE...

It has other great patterns
and lots of gorgeous pictures...

I did adjust the pattern thou
as I used 8ply cotton and wanted them to fit into these
vintage tea cups...
They would also look amazing in little terracotta pots I think..

Thank you all too
for the lovely comments
on my Mum's Blanket...
She really does appreciate them all...

I hope you are all having a
nice weekend...
And find some great patterns to try out...Like me...

100% Wool...and an afternoon outside...

I just love this woolen blanket
Mum has just finished...

Made from Bendigo Wool...

Lovely colours too...



You can find this listed on my ETSY shop...



Now for a spot of relaxing...
and a few tunes..
Oh and not forgetting
some
time
to
Crochet...

Now where is my hook...

Rolling Along...

I am trying out something new...

I am making a crocheted rag rug
Using old bed sheets...



It is so much fun...
But a mighty workout on the wrist and arms...

I have half finished lots of projects at the moment...
So unfortunately I have been rather a slack blogger because of it...
SORRY...
I hope to have some finished items by next week...

As usual I have run out of yarn and waiting on getting some more in the mail...
Hopefully I will collect some of it tomorrow...

It is always so annoying when you don't buy enough...
Something that I find myself doing a lot lately...
I really need to work on that...

I do hope you are having a lovely week...
and don't run out of yarn...

Cozy all wrapped up...

Lots of Granny Goodness...
In this multi-coloured Grandma Chevron Blanket...
It was a lovely afternoon,
Just me, the self timer and lots of props...

Grandma Chevron Blanket

made by my Mum...
It will be in my etsy shop soon and hopefully sold to a lovely dear...
Vintage finds: Vase and clogs...

Mr Vintage looking his best today...
Lots of gardening...
and a bit of thrifty goodness...
Vintage Find: Wrought iron set...





We have been adding lots of fences with pretty cottage pickets to
River Cottage...
It is starting to look lovely...

I am currently crocheting some flower motifs and trying to join them together to make
a cardigan,wrap...
I had to put it down today thou...
It was too nice outside...

I hope it is nice weather at your house too...

Just in time for spring...

Throwing caution to the wind...As one does...

The weather has finally cleared up...

and Spring is just 

gorgeous!!!

Lots of lovely green grass
and lots of flowers coming out..

Time to shake out the cobwebs...

and get motivated..

and there is nothing nicer than some "Lollie Pop" colours
in a Granny Chevron Blanket to do it...

This one is available in my etsy shop...

Over the holiday break I had this sweet idea
that I needed to have a change...
As one does...
and threw all caution to the wind
and did the
unthinkable...

Yes I got an 80's Perm!!!

I hear you all shriek in horror...
But you see I didn't have Internet access at the time...
I didn't have my dear friends to look at me in disgust...
No... I had a cold stark apartment, days of rain, and 3 males all telling me
"that would be lovely"...(of course they just said this to shut me up)...

Now I could just tell you I had a lovely breezy Body Wave...
The one that the lovely models in magazines have...
You know the ones...
with the fan blowing softly in their face making them look
bubbly and bouncy...

But in all reality...It isn't!!!
It is what it is...
An 80's frizz Perm...

The sort that is dry and harsh...
The sort that you need to add a huge blob of mouse into it to get any curl definition...
The sort that when you wake up in the morning you scare small dogs and children...
The sort that you really want to tie up and wrap with several bandanna's and hope for the best...

Now if I was at home I would have searched through and found pictures of myself
back in the 80's
and
"snapped" myself back to reality...

But that didn't happen...
Oh well...
Such is life...

Just as well it will grow out or drop out...

Just lucky my husband DID hear me when I said
"Wouldn't it be lovely if I had dreadlocks again"
his reply was differently not
"That would be lovely dear"...

Now I must track down those pics...
Just in case
I do need a reality check...

Starting out small...

I feel like everything is in slow motion since begin back from holidays...

We brought the rain back with us...

So the washing is taking forever to catch up on...

The house still is not back to anything I would call remotely tidy...

and the crochet is taking sometime to come together...

So I started with something small...

Little "Dilly Bags" 

to hang around the neck...
great for keys, phones or the old bit of change to go to the shop with...

I found the pattern for these in the Japanese crochet book
blogged about HERE...
I added some strips of linen....A cute little button...
and used soft cotton-acrylic blend...
They have a great spring feel to them...

I have also re-opened the shop...
so if you are after one of my cushion patterns please pop over...

I will be working on some more things this week so hopefully my week will end in
fast motion...

Thanks heaps for the lovely comments
I am glad to be back too...