2013 bring it on...

As much as I have enjoyed 

the highlights of the year just passed...

I am deliriously looking forward to 

the New Year...

2013...

Bring it on...

in all its colourful and chaotic glory...

To all my very sweet dears...

Happy New Year...

May all your crafty dreams come true...

Gypsy Bag and Purse Project...

I recently picked up a ball of 

spotlight yarn

Moda Vera in Gypsy...

there was a free pattern on the inside

a bag and purse...

so I thought why not give it a go...

it is a t-shirt style yarn and one ball made both...
the pattern was tricky in places..like the "broomstick" stitch at the top of the bag...
and you will need a 25mm knitting needle to do this...
but I just taped a few standard needles
together and got the same result...

all in all a fast project...

and only took a night to do...

The colour choices were minimal so that was the only
downside...
there is a free pattern of this on the spotlight website here...

why not whip one up this weekend...

Balance Exhibition...

I was lucky enough to catch a fabulous exhibition

in my town...

By the very talented Fran and Charlotte

of the "Chicken in the Window"...

Fran and Charlotte have work together in our little town

 collaborating on special commissions, 

exhibitions and creating a range of metal farm animals

 amongst many other amazing art pieces... 

This exhibition features a new direction 

in scale and imagination and comments 

not only on the balance of these artists and 

their ongoing successful working relationship

 but also the balance of the fragile natural environment and 

heavy mining 

which are prominent partners in our region.

 It is wonderful to be able to see exhibitions of this caliber in our town...

 

 A fabulous night was had by all...

Cool String Bag...

Summer is starting to heat up here...

and there is nothing better than a cool string bag

with a bunch of 

pretty flowers to carry

while walking down to the local swimming pool...

Now I could throw in some sunscreen and hat...




But why not fill it with some pretty yarn to keep me busy
while the kids have a dip...

this pattern and many more are in this Japanese book...

HERE...

Now I know that most of my dears are now heading into
winter...

so you may need something to warm
your heart...

Bert Tea Cozy Pattern is now available in my Etsy shop...

He will cozy up your tea in a jiffy...

and ward off those winter chills...

Owl Purse Tutorial

Back again with a great

Freebee...

Make a cute Owl Purse...

Print these two pages off

and away you go...

remember to
click on "view all sizes" to print a clear copy...

 

The tricky bit is to add a lining and zipper...

But just take your time and hopefully it will look super amazing!!!

HOOT...HOOT...

Kind of Loving...

Kind of Loving

the African Flower Hexagons...

Not loving my camera at the moment...It is having a "spat"..

One minute it looks like its all ok..

The next it puts rainbow stripes through all of my pics...


But even with the odd stripe...

I still love this new bag with cane handles...

Don't you just LOVE Granny cane handles...?

I Do!

Spring is finally Here...

With the weather finally warming up

there is always a-lot more happening....

Time for leisure seems to be never enough...

But this weekend I did mange a spot of

crochet...

A lovely African Flower Bag...

With some jazzy lining...

and then it all snow balled from there...

Some little lined coin purses...

Aren't they so sweet...

Many hours were spent...
"Springing" up the backyard....


I found some old "cheese" boxes at a clearing sale...




and mounted them up on the tin wall of the shed...




and an old water tank cut down
made perfect garden beds...

with lots of new seedlings planted...

Hopefully now that my hands have thawed out from the winter chill

There will be many more updates of Granny goodness
and spring time photos...

Thank you all for begin so patience with my little blog posts...
 chat soon my dears...

Always Time...

The days are all swirling about

Time is at a minimal...

But even with all that seems to be 

going on...

There is always, always

time to crochet...

This shrug was made using a pattern from

this book...

It is available at spotlight...
and good yarn shops...

You will also find the pattern for this scarf in there too...

I have also been busy with Granny Squares...

Making a beanie and a skirt...

This week I will be resting up my crocheting hand...

I might get back to finishing of proof reading the "Bert " pattern...


I hope my dears have been having a lovely week...

And hopefully I will be back very soon
with more pics and
patterns...

Potential...

Thank you all so so much

for your lovely messages last post...

I feel so very lucky to have so many

friends who are so kind...

Since my Birthday 

I have tried very hard to see 

the brighter side of what

everyday brings...

The cold weather

just helps the Daffodils 

get ready to spring to life

in full amazing colour...

and a strip of unfinished Blanket
that has sat in the box forever
can be turned into something
when you just put your mind to it...

So to all my dears...

Sometimes you just need to
look at things a bit differently
to see the
potential within...

Today was...

Today was my Birthday...

By the candles it will give you a hint...

Thanks to my sister and her husband
for making me this amazing ruffle cake...

I received some lovely gifts...
like Mr Hare
and this beautiful cardigan...



and  Cake...

and a very cute tea pot and cup and saucer...



Which fits my new "Chook" tea cozy perfectly...



and not forgetting CAKE...

 Thank you everyone for your very kind words and lovely comments...

...going on today
I am thinking this year will be
full of everything Granny Good and Nana Noice...

Bert...

I think I will call him "Bert"...

Time for a Bergamot Tea Bert...
"Why I think that would be just beauteous..." said Bert...

What's that Bert...You can smell the Tea from here...

I thought you Might...

A bit Twangy...

Not quite sure if my new hen 

"Olivia"...

Likes the melody...

But she was rather patient for me...

My Ukulele skills are rather basic

and a bit twangy...

To say the least

but it is lots of fun...

and the animals don't seem to mind...

It is still very cold here at River Cottage...
The last few morning have been down to
Minus (freeze your . . . .  off) degrees...

So it is all about layers...

Lots and lots of layers...

Sometimes I am surprised that I can move at all...

But I did persist and got some crocheting finished...



This is an order that I made this week
and so I put it to good use and took all of my photo's for the pattern...

With a bit more work I should have it finished by the weekend...

I liked how the two tone colour has worked out...
and I am sure that when the pattern is out
there will be many more interesting colour ways made by everyone...


So for now have a lovely week and I will be layering up and
spending some time helping my new feathered friends settle into there
new home...

Hibernation

Winter hibernating...

 You can find the pattern for the slouch hat on the
Lions Brand website...EDIT:Pattern called
Charming Chapeau...
But you will have to sign up to get this pattern...
But it is lovely...

Hinako shoes...
 An early birthday present...

I love these...

They are so comfy and soft
and even better!!!

they were on sale...

***
I have been a tad obsessed with THE BLOCK...
and I adore Sophie and Dales kids room...
 I really want that wallpaper!!!

so
I decided that I could no longer
have a peaceful night sleep with the 70's fake timber laminate wall colour...

So a bit of inside make-overing...
with my trusty paint brush...



Now that's better...

Well nearly...
I still would have loved that wallpaper..

***
I hope my hibernation doesn't last too much longer but
at least I have a few crochet granny blankets to keep me cozy
in the mean time...