Giant Doily Rug

Don't you just love a finished project? 

I started this rug as found on Pinterest a while ago, but quickly ran out of yarn. I haven't had a recent trip to the "big shops" to pick up any more. Living that bit further out means I don't go shopping that often these days, which is both good and bad!

My original plan was to use only grey for the whole rug, until I spotted the turquoise yarn at Riot on Friday. I really liked the way that they looked together, and decided to take a chance.

Imagine my delight to discover that the yarn had been reduced to  $1.29 a ball, from the original price of $3.99. With 10 balls already used, it was turning out to be a costly (but lovely) project.

 I left it over night to ponder the turquoise edging. I looked at it in the morning and asked the family for their input, and decided that the turquoise was a winner. I ended up using 17 balls in total, 14 grey and 3 blue to make it to the size I wanted.
  

I am so pleased with how it looks in the entrance, and it makes me smile whenever I walk past.

Lacy Knitted Scarf

I have finished knitting my lovely lacy scarf, but please don't look too closely! 

It appears that Winter is back in Melbourne, so I will certainly get to wear it over the next few days at least.

I used Aslan Trends Royal Alpaca, in Basil. The yarn was an absolute delight to knit with, soft and light, did not split, or catch when unpicking mistakes (a rather important feature for inexperienced knitters or complicated patterns)I would highly recommend it.

I purchased it from Millrose Cottage in Ballan, and they provided me with the pattern. 

You can click here for a list of Australian stockists

A Yellow Collection

When looking at my photos from the last week or two, I noticed a lot of yellow around the place.  And, I am so excited about the new stools I have ordered for the kitchen, and there are no prizes for guessing what colour I have chosen. I am finding it VERY difficult to wait the 6-10 weeks required for them to be custom made.

1. The sweetest little glazed ceramic toadstool (and a shelf up, hooray)
2. Yummy, yummy vanilla slice, all the way from the Rosedale Bakery
3. Can you spy a yellow ribbon on Ray's ankle? My old uni pal Rachael and I had way too much fun here.
4. A challenging walk in the bush.
5. A stripy new tablecloth, and a  practice run  for some kindergarten craft. (The ugliest thing she has ever seen, according to my oldest daughter)
6. A little embroidery for an engagement present.
7. Surprise, surprise - a bowl of lemons.
8. My new lolly tin (from the Lark sale)
9. Barley sugar, definitely not mine though. I'm more of a chocolate coated kinda girl.

Linking up with Em @ The Beetle Shack

The Happy Collection

Things that are making me happy

1 Winning the entire set of Motex Tapes from Lark's Pinterest Competition. They have come in very handy in my present situation!

2-5 Mail from a beautiful part of the World, as part of the 4 Happy Things Swap

6-7 Pretty things for my new kitchen (it appears that the tiles are here to stay at least for the time being, so these will hopefully detract attention from them)

8 Saying goodbye to these  handles in my old kitchen - they have this amazing knack of always catching my pockets as I go past. The new handles will be simple and catch-free.

9-10 Lots of packed boxes and empty cupboards

11 A new home for this little fellow.
The Beetle Shack     Stills Collection

Making me Smile :)

 

 

 

1. A finished project - a ballet shoe bag 
2. Shiny new Pointe shoes for the ballerina (not similing too much about the  sewing of  ribbons and elastics)
3. A surprise gift from Mr M. Trying to decide whether to use them now or keep them for the small house
4. Cute little necklace
5. Refreshing Margarita flavoured Slurpee
6. Lolly bag and beautiful friends at a  girly, pink themed 40th Party
7. News that my foot is finally on the mend

What has made you smile this week?

Playing along with Beetle Shack

Missing

 

 

 

Since the incident, I have been somewhat limited in my movements. I am missing the simple things, like driving The Ballerina to the bus or collecting the mail, as well as:

1 Coffee with friends - so the cake (and the lovely friend) came to me 

2 & 3 Grocery Shopping (I am making lists in a discarded 2012 diary, too pretty to throw away) and allocating the task to the Mr and the girls.

4 Going out to just grab something- in this case to buy the neon pink yarn I am craving! (And to liberate my Mollie Makes from the newsagent's special cupboard)

5 & 6 Popping outside, the crutches are too much trouble (and hurt my armpits), and I don't fancy dirty bandages too much. I miss going out to hang out some washing or water the garden.

I probably should add work to the list, shouldn't I?

 

I'm dreaming of My Creative Space

I know I really shouldn't have. I know I have a million other projects on the go.

But how could I resist? The colours, the feel of the yarn, the possibilities.

50% off too, and only days after this , would you believe!

So now I am dreaming of a Granny Square tissue Box and some Mary Go'round flower circles.

Only dreaming for now........ I promise!

More actual creating to be had over at Kootoyoo

Challenging oneself

image borrowed from here

On Saturday I undertook a challenge that is some what out of my comfort zone. I desperately wanted to go to the Craft Hatch at the State library, so that I could meet Jess, of Teddy Bears Wewdnesday in person. So I managed to catch a train all by myself to and from the city, in the rain and navigate Melbourne Central Station to locate Swanston Street and the library.

image

It was amazing to actually meet Jess and see and touch all of her incredible creations.

view from the train, when safely on the way home!

I brought a special little someone home from the line up above which I cannot show right now as he is a gift for someone that is known to read my blog!

I also bought this ace card from Able and Game.

What have you been challenging yourself with? Could it even be buying new togs!

The Weekend

The teen finally has her new bed and it is in her room after spending the best part of 2 weeks in pieces in the loungeroom. A big bed for my big girl.

My neice celebrated her 6th Birthday. Notice the shiner she scored at her party? I found her a cute little bento style snack box at the $2 shop of all places. I also found some adorable scissors there that I just had to buy.

We watched the Hawks get flogged at the footy with ace friends and enjoyed Hot chocolate here (which was about all we could afford!)

I made the yummiest french Onion soup which I think will become a Winter staple. The ballerina ate THREE bowls for dinner!

I enjoyed catching up with my Mum and Dad to hear their news. They are BOTH exhibiting quilts in a local quilt show which is very exciting. Their first quilts I might add. My dad in particular has caught the quilting bug, after attending a class late last year, really just to hold Mum's hand! Go Dad!