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...)

Krista Throw - all done

I am very happy to share that I have finally completed my Krista Throw from Spotlights weekly block-release.

It will no longer be sitting in the basket on our lounge table waiting for another couple of minutes here and there...

 

Measuring approx 100cm x100cm

 

 

Being a sampler blanket, there are lots of different techniques used based on a couple of basic stitches. I am looking forward to using these in different projects.  It is not my ideal type of throw, with it all being different, but the more I look at it, the more it grows on me. Given a chance, the girls would claim it, but no, it will remain mine!

 

 

 

It was completed unfortunately during a time of physical unwellness and emotion that was placed on our path, so it will definately not be leaving our house. Instead it is all folded up on our wooden box in the lounge, with special memories and ready to grab for those snuggle-moments on the couch.

 

 

With another throw being a WIP and that has to be completed with in the next few weeks, I am also tempted to start another little project too, and then there was a young daughter that has requested a scarf to go with her new sunday outfit. My hands won't be idle. 

 

And before you go, also check out Bec's Krista Throw over at Belle Cherie Handmade, which also turned out beautiful.

 

Wishing you all a good week.

L.

excitement over grannys

We had excitement in the house last night, after there was bedtime-quietness from the young ones. Miss K (9y/o) had finally finished her last granny square for her cushion front that she is making.

She was so eager to start the joining process, she snuggled up on the couch with pleading eyes that said: 'I don't have to go to bed for another half an hour, please can you show me'. With my own eyelids extremely heavy, I showed her once, and away she was, and we got to enjoy her natter while she was busy.

 

I chose the ridge way of joining, as to me that's the easiest to teach and understand.

 

The colour choice is all hers with her using a bright green to join, as her quilt has a bright green in it. Although rather repititious, she has learnt to start each square now by herself, change colours and even the no-three-chain-turn for starting a new round! I am just wishing I had given her a bigger hook (she used a 4.0mm) so the squares would be a bit bigger!

 

This morning she was very happy to sit in the back of the car on the way to school, with it tucked under her arm, and she completed the second row of joining. As much as I am tempted to finish it for her, I know I will be in trouble for doing it, and I am not even allowed to make a fleece backing for it. She is determined to make one big granny square for the back.

 

I will just have to wait till 3pm pick up (reminds me, I had better put it back in the car!) and I can see what will happen after school seeing its friday, and no homework required!

 

It makes me have happy thoughts, that she will look back in years to come and see a project that she completed, with new skills, nearly all by herself.

 

Wishing you all a great relaxing weekend. One planned for this household!

L.

made for you: simple & girly

When my daughter received a party invite, my brain went into overdrive.

Something simple, and something girly, something I could whip up quickly (like in an afternoon sitting of quiet time, oh plus a bit of time in the evening darning in the ends).

and after a quick trip to the shop and a look in the gift box in the cupboard, I have a cute little granny-square bag fit for a little miss turning 5. Which little girl doesn't like having a bag to carry her treasures in?

Notepad and pencil, and tissues like mum, and a matching necklace and bracelet to look all pretty... little fiddly stuff 5 year olds enjoy!

Now the pattern...? I saw a similar one pop up in my newsfeed on facebook the otherweek, and thats where I got the idea from. But the pattern is my own. Two granny squares, joined together on the three sides and add a carry strap, and then have fun darning in all the ends from the various colour changes.

Easy and simple. And girly.

Enjoy your week.

L.

Hungry Caterpillar

A few (quite a few) months ago I started this Amigurimi Hungry Caterpillar that I came across on Ravelry with a link to this blogspot. But as things go, I got sidetracted with other projects.
Last week, our kindy-going daughter did the Hungry Caterpillar topic at school, and that just gave me the enthusiasm to get this one cute caterpillar finished.

I had completed the red head, and two green balls of the body, before I had stashed it away. Then our youngest got the Eric Carle book for her birthday (yes we never had it!!) 
So last week, stretching over to this week, I completed the last 6 green balls, and then had the fun of stitching it together to get the arch shape, and then crocheting the little legs and antennas, and making the spikes down the back.

Emma patiently watched and waited for it to be complete, helped me find some buttons for the eyes,

and then this morning after the school run, while the towels were still washing, we all sat near the warmth of the heater, her and her younger sister busy with a Hungry Caterpillar colouring page,

and I completed his last leg, stitched it on, and took some photos.

After a trip to school for show&tell, he will make his home up on the bookshelf, with all the books.

One UFO turned WIP, finished. Now I must finish my Krista Throw and the Bouncing Ball Throw before I get sidetracted again... ahem.

L.

Rainbow Bunting

The other week, a fellow crafter and myself thought we would start a Facebook Craft Group for members of our church, to share our WIP's and our favourite crafts or anyone looking for help with their project.

To start the group off with a bit of fun, I organised a CAL for those interested, releasing a row of instructions per day. It was simple but effective. We used this pattern as our basis, but joining together was to individual likening. Here is my rainbow bunting of the last week.

Making a choice of colour was rather difficult. I opted to go for the rainbow colours, bright and happy for birthday and celebrations, rather then for a bedroom theme colour. Others in the group made bunting for room decor - really the use is unlimited.

My pile of colour.

Joining the bunting. I have worked 3 rows of dc along the top, all going from left to right, so I can easily add more bunting if desired. (which I plan to do!)

Blocking the bunting.

Hanging today, ready for birthday dinner tonight. Just need to add balloons.

I also have another WIP nearly finished which I am keen to share with you, as this one was started months ago, and then packed away after other interesting projects came along. But happy to see this one nearly finished. Check back soon!

L.

Krista Throw: 20-23

As a person, I prefer throws and blankets to have an order in them. Even though there is no real pattern to this throw as it is a sampler throw, I have definately loved doing all these different squares. They have taught me so many different techniques for different effects. I guess I will just have to remember that each time I look at this throw. Looking forward to using these techniques in my other crochet work in the future
Only two more weeks/blocks to go. Getting rather excited about joining them altogether! I am planning on making some extra blocks and making it a 6x6 block throw rather then a 5x5. During the holidays I treated myself to the 200 Crochet Blocks by Jan Eaton book.

There are lots of nice blocks in there, just hard to choose which ones. I hope to join all the blocks up and then decide which ones/colour themed to make to 'fill in the gaps'.

Here are the last four blocks completed for the Krista Throw:

Block 20:

Block 21:

Block 22:

Block 23:

 I really liked how this flower was worked.

I think what did it for me was the centre of the flower!

L.

LMCG - little miss crochet group

As promised here is our LMCG post.

Last week during the school holidays we had some very excited girls (and their mums) come over in the evening for a crochet session. (our son nicely disappeared to spend the night with a family with some boys and do boy activities!)They all took along a 5mm hook and some 8ply acrylics of their choice.

I had put together a folder for each of the girls with some pages for future reference, outlining the basic stitches and how-to of crocheting.

Their mums came along too, one was a complete beginner, and another was refreshing her highschool skills. They too helped the girls along, and with some all important snacks and milos thrown in, we had a great time. We started with doing chain, and when comfortable with that, we slipstitched a loop and started on trebles to make a granny square. I haven't taught them to read a pattern yet. That will be later down the track.

There was the issue of how to hold the yarn in your left hand, how to hold a hook, and then the tension issue. But they all figured out their own unique comfortable way to work their yarn.

The girls picked up this older stitching technique really well! We even had a left hander in our group and she learnt just as fast, even though she was following us right-handers as example. When time came for me to help fix a little problem, all I could do was pull it out, explain what she needed to do, and she had to do it. Crocheting left-handed is not easy when your hands want to do something totally different!

By 9pm cheeks were rosy, and concentration was beginning to wean. After some girly giggles, whispers and some book reading and even crocheting in semi-darkness (have to love the enthusiasm!), they slept and woke with vigor again in the morning, to yes, crochet again!

 Junior little miss #1, started work on her sock-owl to join in at the table

and junior little miss #2 drew round-abouts

All three above, deep in concentration to complete another round before hometime, and yes, the morning tea drinks went cold :)

By the end of the morning, the girls were doing so well, and so confident in their new-found craft, that they were even helping each other.

 

And so we came to the end of our first LMCG - little miss crochet group. They went home all eager to continue their squares, and they had their file to help if they got stuck. 

The next question I heard was, when can we do it again? Apparently the next school holidays are too far away...

Well, seeing I thoroughly enjoyed watching them learn so fast, I think it might happen sooner then they realise!

Well done, girls. Happy crocheting!

Aunty Lee.