Bouncing Balls

It is finished, and we had a most beautiful day today weather wise, just perfect to take some photos outside.

 

This pic below is more true to colours.

 

 

 

My labels came just in time to be stitched onto the blanket, nicely covering the last join.

 

...now its time to get it delivered...

 

Pattern used from Ravelry; I added three more rounds of dc to the edge of each white square.
Enjoy the remainder of your weekend.
L.

wip update

September arrived someone time ago, and so did Spring! Days have also seemed to disappear just as fast. It is the end of term 3 already. I still remember when we started school at the beginning of the year. I guess it has been busy in this household, and blogging about my craft gets put on the back burner.

I have been crocheting too, keeping my hands and mind occupied, and trying to get some projects completed before their deadlines.

 

Blooming Flower from Attic24 started, not completed.

Quality relaxing time crocheting and book reading out in the sun one fine Spring afternoon with two little ladies

who love nothing more then being in Mum's shoes for a while.

Bouncing balls, almost completed. Dead line for this one was tomorrow, but our dear friends were richly blessed with Marcus 2 weeks ago. So my crochet hook has been busy since, eager to get it completed for him.

...dreaming of a new simple boys throw... using this stripe generator

The little cardigan for my new neice. This is also a race against time, or rather, getting it finished before she won't fit it anymore... Worked in finer cotton, it is a nice break (though more fiddly) from 8ply.

And my own labels have arrived! I am looking forward to adding them to my completed projects.

A gift brought all the way over from Canada. 100% cotton. Now to think what special project I can make with it.

 

In September I also enjoyed getting together with some other crocheters, to share ideas and help each other along. Now I am looking forward to enjoying the children during school holidays. No urgency to get out of the house early. Looking forward to a relaxed pace for 2 weeks. 

Maybe some crafting. Maybe another LMCG.  

But no promises.

With 34 degrees forecasted already for monday (a major change from today's wet and windy15 degrees) I can see it will be time spent outside.

 

L.

made for you: LOOK bag

How do you entertain a 2 year old at a restaurant?, or sitting at the doctors waiting for an appointment? or at the school dentist? speech therapy? or travelling in the car with limited toys and books and four young children? or at the midwife clinic for checkups? or entertain visitor children in the maternity ward?

Here is something I would like so share with you. I actually made these going back just over 2 years ago, after seeing Bec's i-spy-bag on bellecherie. But wherever  I  the children have taken the LOOK bag, it has attracted many eyes. Knowing how much my children enjoy the where's wally books, look and find books and I-Spy books, I thought this would be a nice easy twist on taking a big book along to appointments or for travelling in the car.

It got to a point that when I walked into the doctors surgery for immunisations, the nurses would ask if I took the LOOK bag along! The most recent one was this past weekend during a little get-away with our youngest. The kitchen staff at the restaurant eyed this off, and sent their head waiter to ask if the waitresses were allowed a LOOK at what was keeping our 2 year old quiet... and mum and dad involved with her. So knowing many crafty mums look at my blog, I am happy to share this with you for ideas.

I opted for felt, as it is easy to handle and sew, no fraying and turning inside out.

I scanned in all the 'look' items and printed them out in colour.

 I fiddled with fiddly letters and attached them with scribbly stitching, and sewed on some googly eyes on the OO's, some velcro dots for easy opening and closing (also have used snap-studs) and a nice carry handle on the top

Thick plastic from Clarke Rubber became the windows and my trusty sewing machine, didn't mind stitching it either.

I purchased many different packets of beads and sequins, and made up a mixture. The left over beads were stored for another LOOK bag.

The small items to look for where found around the home, with a couple of special items purchased from our local craftstore.

To give you some idea what I included:

a paperclip,
2 tiny wooden pegs,
the whole alphabet in letter beads,
a little doll,
a bread tie,
special shaped beads and buttons,
tiny bells,
safety pin,
some little metal tools - hammer, spanner, wrench, pliers.
5c coin

The option for the LOOK list is loooong. Each bag is different.

I have made a few of these over the time for gifts, and the mums were happy to share some of their  children LOOKing for the items. One was made to order with a satin ribbon down the middle as a bookmark, for little fingers to fiddle with as some children so enjoy, and taken all the way to Canada!

Quite simple really, and just straight cutting and sewing. If you ever make one, I would love to see your end product!

L.

made for you: daddy

With the calendar saying it was Father's Day this past weekend, and all the shops and junkmail shouting out that they have 'the perfect gift for dad', we have decided we are not going to support this over-commercialised business any more, because Dad is special everyday.

Instead, it was agreed upon around the dinner table, that if the children would like to give dad a gift and card for that Sunday, it is to be handmade. Quick reactions were "oh goody, I know what I am going to make" to "I don't know what to make". With different craft and satisfaction levels within our four children, I thought I had better step in and help/encourage them.

And because Dad wouldn't appreciate wear crocheted socks, or doesn't need another beanie, we went for a quick trip to the supermarket, and a message to a fellow crafter, I think we have it all sorted, and the children think it is a wonderful idea.

 

Those that know me personally, will know that me and my kitchen don't really mix. No, rather put it, me and baking don't mix. I left those genes for my younger sisters.

 

Once I saw this cute chocolate mould, I knew that I should be able to pull off this suppose-to-be simple cooking exercise.

And yes, all was going well, till the last batch I was going to make swirled ones, and ahem, I melted a plastic container in the microwave and my house lost its hot chocolate smell to a rather awful burnt chocolate and plastic smell... but with three batches completed without mishap, I wasn't going to try and rescue the plastic and burnt flavoured choc melts.

   

 At least we have 72 yummy chocolates ready to giftwrap for Dad - and homemade with love and (one set of) little fingers.

 

 

All gift wrapped thanks to Rachel, for making these special food-gift-boxes!

 



not 100% perfect, but 100% yummy, and 100% ready to eat

 

Cards are still being drawn and written in at the desk at time of writing this post. These take time, as thoughts for design and message change daily... :)

 

You may do it different, and you are allowed. But here, our children show their appreciation regularly with the daily hugs and kisses, sharing job loads, special outings, one on one time, and odd playfight for the boys.

 

Above all we thank our Heavenly Father for giving us Dad, as our daddy, husband and family leader. Our thoughts are also with those that would love to be a Dad, but for reasons beyond their control, have not been blessed with children.

 

with love

your noisy bunch

xxx

 (and I think I should leaving baking alone...)