Saturday, January 21, 2012

Ripple Picnic Blanket - Ta Da!

Yay - my ripple picnic blanket is all finished! I've been bursting to take it on our family fish and chip outing this week but the weather has just not been great. Warm and sunny - but unbelievably windy so not ideal. So when the sun came out today and the wind was minimal the small folk and I thought we should rush out and set up our pretend picnic in the back yard. I was allowed to use their flashest plastic tea set and we had to have flowers. Adorable.

It's a good size for the four of us to plonk down on when we're at the beach or at a picnic - 145cm x 125cm. It's going to look beyond cute folded up on the back seat of my wee car! I used acrylic to make this knowing full well that it was going to take a bit of a hammering with food spills and tomato sauce splodges. It can be thrown in the washing machine without too much fuss - hopefully.

Why not throw in another shot!


Oh look who turned up!! Good old Bella, always in amongst the photo session. My furry girl turned 13 this week so I now have a teenager in the house. This photo looks so strange because of the angle, Bella looks positively enormous!!! She is large, but not this large.

I am really keen to make another ripple in the future - it was such a relaxing pattern to work with. But in the meantime ...

Remember that Stylecraft yarn I treated myself to from the UK? It has been sitting, waiting to be used - so the other night I got it out and started my next project. Wow - I love working with this yarn! This is the first time I've worked on a join-as-you-go project and I'm loving it. More on this next time!

Did you see the lovely curry recipe over at Lucy's recently? I read it then had to dash to the supermarket immediately for one or two ingredients so I could make it for dinner. Delicious - I highly recommend it. I also made some gorgeous naan bread which was very hard to stop eating! I'm surprised any of it made it to the dinner table actually. Between me and the small folk having 'taste tests' - we got through quite a bit of it!!

Note to self - do not use brand new pastry brush to butter the frying pan! What a blonde. I wrecked the last brush doing the exact same thing. How did I forget that!! I'm thinking silicone is required in my next brush.

I couldn't pass up a sale at my local wool shop yesterday and treated myself to some lovely bright new wool. The tomato red colour hasn't been available for ages so I was so excited to see it again. I love using this colour in anything stripey - it goes to well with the pinks. And I had a $10 voucher to use so this little lot only cost $16 - that's less than $1.50 for pure wool - fabulous.

And when I was walking out of the shop I spotted these little sweeties. My oven glove had mysteriously disappeared so it was a good excuse to buy something pretty. Flowers and spots - what's not to like?

It is still the school holidays here until early February so we have been discovering lots of new playgrounds around town. I think hands down this has to be the most stunning view I've ever seen from a playground. It's our new favourite hangout and it's not too far from home. I can't believe we've never been here before - it's amazing.




There was an extra long slide which Miss 4 was a bit scared of but she managed it and then there was no stopping her. Mr 7 loved it because while he was playing, he could also see all the planes coming in over the harbour on their way to the airport nearby.

Now I have to apologise, I was meant to thank Barbina and Aurora Blythe for their lovely awards. But with all the Christmas/New Year things going on I completely left it off my last post. Thank you ladies - I was absolutely chuffed!!

Have a fabulous week - see you again soon.
Leah
xxxx

18 comments:

  1. Beautiful ripple blanket Leah!! And I love the new blankie you are making with Style Craft yarn. Beautiful granny squares!!

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  2. Happy 2012! Love the blanket! I'm working on a ripple at the moment too, it's been on my intention list for a while. You made naan bread?! recipe Perlease. Also working on a little join as you project, not sure if it's right, it looks OKish, but not nice and neat like yours.
    Enjoy the hols
    Carmel
    x

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  3. the blanket is so beautiful!!!
    and just perfect for picnics!!!
    thanks for giving me a severe case of ripple envy :)

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  4. Looks amazing honey, I am so far off having my one anywhere near done!

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  5. Love your ripple, what a great idea for picnics.....I made a really mini ripple for a friends baby a while back but I so enjoyed it I must do a 'proper' sized one soon. Style craft is the best and so reasonable too, is it expensive to ship it?

    I saw the curry recipe and thought we'd try it and I've never made naans before so maybe we'll google it.

    Parks with a view, what could be better! Have a lovely weekend!

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  6. Love your ripple. I am rippling again - can't get enough of that pattern! Am doing a restricted colour pallet this time but think I will let rip with the colours next time... Hope the wind dies down soon - I remember that wind. x

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  7. The blanket is beeootiful. Well done you!!
    Esther.

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  8. Oh my, your ripple is just wonderful! Beautiful colors, as always. Perfect for picnicking in your gorgeous summery weather! Have a lovely day, my dear. :)

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  10. Leah, what a stunning and very cheerful ripple blanket for you and your family! You can't but be happy when you look at it, I'm sure your children will grow up having very fond memories of many happy times spent together with this blanket. As for all your other colourful pictures....well what can I say...firstly envy about that view and all the sunshine :0)and your style craft creation looks very pretty indeed...look forward to seeing it all xox Penelope xox

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  11. Hi Leah, I LOVE your ripple, so bright and cheerful. Sounds like you will have many happy times with it. I'm loving your granny squares too...very pretty colours.
    As for that view....stunning . Enjoy your summer hols.
    Jacquie x

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  12. You have such a wonderful way with color. Visiting your blog is always a treat. And I am so envious of your view!
    Cynthia

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  13. hello,

    i love your crochetblanket.Sooooo great.

    greatings send you Conny

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  14. Hi Leah! Saw your comment on Hook and Yarn and you can crochet socks also your Ripple blanket is lovely.

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  15. Wow!
    I love that ripple blanket- gorgeous colours. And am intrigued by your join-as-you-go project, too!
    And so lovely to grab some yarn bargains!!
    Will be off to check out that curry recipe- I love a spicy dish.

    Have a fab weekend, hon.
    Xx

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  16. Hi leah, ooh i can finally leave you a comment, i haven't been able to that for ages, don't know why, anyway, your suggestion for buying shoes has been noted and i feel maybe a good shopping trip is what my sluminess needs.....i had quite forgotten what a good bit of shopping can do, in fact even just window shopping is therapy in itself, excellent suggestion.........hope things are all tickety boo your side of the planet and the sun is shining...
    Love and hugs to you sweety
    Pixie xx

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  17. How lovely this ripple blanket has turned out! Your cat looks fabulous against the bright pop of color. Sounds like you had a fun day in Wellington. The oven mitt and pot holder are my fave colors for the kitchen! Have a lovely day, Leah! :-)

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  18. Wow! You're blanket is divine, I love it. I'm 'trying' to teach myself crochet and getting very frustrated with it all. However blogs (like yours) are what keep me going :O) Enjoy x

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