A bit quiet ...

Aaah, it's lovely to be back spending some time on the computer!  I have been a bit under the weather recently but am feeling more like myself again now and bursting to get stuck into some new projects.  I have missed reading all my favourite blogs and will have to start a serious catch up!  

I know it sounds mad but I was beginning to wonder if my crochet hook had the power to change the weather .... because it seems as soon as I start a warm, woolly project when we're having freezing cold southerlies, the weather instantly improves!  On Sunday Miss 4 requested a mini version of my wristwarmers and sure enough Monday was sunny and warm.  The same goes for the woolly hats I made last week, the sun came out almost instantly.  If only that were true, I'd walk around with a ball of wool and a crochet hook constantly just to enjoy every last scrap of sunshine before the dreary weather kicks in for Winter.  Daylight savings finishes here this weekend which is always so depressing.  Dark evenings - blah!!  

So even though it is a gorgeous day, madam is wearing her wee gloves and asked me to put mine on too for the pic.  I think these look absolutely adorable in a mini size!  Miss 4 was very specific about which rainbow colours she wanted - I think she chose well.  I just made the foundation chain long enough to fit her wee wrist which was 21ch from memory with a 4mm hook and DK wool.

And a few more hats have been made, this one was a test run of a new pattern I was trying.  I love adding all these wee pretty bits to girls hats.  Boys hats are bit more limited aren't they?  I usually add my little teddy bear design (the tutorial is here) to the newborn ones to jazz them up a bit and I'm starting to play around with some stripes to make the older boys hats look a bit cooler.  Now I just have to get myself organised and pop them in my little shop.

I was hugely excited this morning when the library called to say they'd got in a book I'd requested.  I love Kirstie (and Phil too in their other series!!!) and am really, really enjoying her latest series which has been running here for a few weeks.  So I'm very eager to sit down tomorrow with a large cup of tea and read through this gorgeous book for more inspiration.

I know I should be spending all my time trying to finish my whopper blanket but sometimes you just need a little diversion.  So another tea cosy has been planned, wool chosen and pot selected.  For the first time I am going to use some darker colours and I'm really looking forward to it.  You can see from my little obsession below that rainbow colours are my usual thing!!  I will hopefully have it finished to show you next week.  I also have a story to share with you then about one of my jet-setting tea cosies!!

Well that's about it from me for now.  Miss 4 is sitting across the table from me making jewellery with paper and glittery jewels so I'm going to join her.

Have a fabulous week everyone, see you again soon.
Leah
xxxx

China treats and my giveaway reminder!

I have been very spoilt this week. A lovely friend of ours has given me a huge selection of beautiful china that belonged to his nana. She was moving house and could no longer keep it with her. So instead of the local charity shop getting it, he gave the whole lot to me! I am hugely, hugely grateful and every piece will be cherished. My most favourite piece is this lovely green bowl. It's almost too pretty to use as it would be a shame to cover up the gorgeous flowers!

This wee set is absolutely adorable too even if my photography doesn't quite show it due to the reflection. I think this will definitely be used for special family dinners - it's just gorgeous.

And perfect for the Spring weather we are having, look at this beautiful serving dish. Do you see what I mean about being spoilt!! I am absolutely in love with all of these pieces.

At the moment I have some of them on my vintage tea trolley and they look beautiful, but I think with small folk running around it will be safer to pop them away in my old china cabinet where they can be admired, safely, from behind glass until I need to use them!! Miss 4 has requested the wee pink and gold tea cup on the right to be her special one when we have our 'scones and tea' lunches. It's the perfect little size for her too.

Progress is definitely being made on my blanket, but I didn't get it finished in time for this post. I had a few hat orders to get out so that's my excuse! The navy one on the top is tiny for a wee bub born quite early. The lighter blue one is for when he gets a bit bigger. I love the colours in the second one - they were chosen by a four year old friend of Miss 4 - as the hats are for his brand new tiny cousin. I think he chose really well - a great colour combo.

I had a fabulous time at the op shop yesterday. You know sometimes you walk in and you've just timed it perfectly for some terrific finds. I had to buy this old cook book from 1972. Sorry did I say old? It's only a year younger than me - so I will rephrase and say it's a fabulous fairly young cook book instead!! The images are definitely retro and I'm looking forward to trying out the recipes. I was also able to pick up 5 sets of circular knitting needles for a mere $2 each - brand new and in lovely vintage packaging. Someone has had them tucked away safely in their knitting bag all these years! Now I'm no knitter so I've bought them for a friend. I will hold on to one pair just in case I ever get good enough to use them!

Earlier this week I was so excited to find a parcel in my letterbox. It was from Pixie and inside was the most gorgeous wee 'slightly wonky bird' (Pixie's words not mine as there is nothing slightly wonky about him!!) that I won on her giveaway recently. He is now happily keeping me company in my little craft corner. Thank you so much Pixie - I adore him!!

And speaking of giveaways .....

I will be drawing a winner for this wee gift on Friday (NZ time) so if you haven't already left a comment on this post from last week, please do so I can add your name to the draw! It's open to all followers current and new and I will post anywhere in the world. There are also two extra little pressies for 2nd and 3rd names drawn so scroll down to my previous post and get commenting!!!

Have a fabulous week.
Leah
xx

What a fabulous week!

I was absolutely beside myself with excitement when this parcel arrived in my letterbox during the week. In a post a wee while ago I'd mentioned that I'd treated myself to a subscription for Mollie Makes that took effect from Issue 3 - and how envious I was of folk who had been able to buy the earlier issues. So I was truly stunned when the fabulous Tracey from TopCat's Corner wrote and offered to send me a spare copy of Issue 2. Tracey - you are a total gem and I am so very, very grateful for your wonderful gift. I am constantly amazed at the generosity of lovely folk in blog land and this has really touched my heart. Thank you again!

So it was perfect timing that I had an evening alone to sit and read this gorgeous magazine! Every page had something stunning and interesting - I couldn't put it down. Many cups of tea later and I was still ooohing and aaahing over each page! I have heard that it is now on sale in Australia so I will do my best to track down Issue 1 - fingers crossed!!

Now I know I have about 4 projects on the go already so what better time to start something new! There are some gorgeous big granny blankets on lots of lovely blogs at the moment and I really love them. A few weeks back I showed you some of my dear Nana's blankets which my family adore. So I thought it was time that I made one to add to the collection. This one is going to be one quite large granny square, then I think I will edge it with many smaller grannies using the same colours. In my mind I think it will be lovely - so I will have to wait and see how it turns out!

I'm really getting into using white wool! It makes such a lovely contrast and everything looks so crisp and bright. The perfect way to use up that giant ball of white I bought recently!!

And amongst the granny rounds, I've also been making hats, hats and more hats. All different patterns, all difference sizes. I've decided that making crochet hats is a bit like in the cartoons, where they put a cake in the oven and it comes out iced and even with candles ... because when you crochet a hat from the top down you end up with a complete hat dangling from the end of your hook and somehow it doesn't actually look real! Does that make sense? I'm sure I'm not the only one to have had this thought!!

And to keep the energy levels up, it seemed only right to whip up some hot scones for lunch. A piping hot cuppa and far too much cream - perfect!!

Then it was a bit of pine nut bashing in the kitchen making pesto to go on our pasta for dinner. Boy do I love the smell of basil - delicious!

Mr 6 had an indoor picnic at school on Friday for the last day of term. His class was given the job of providing the sweet course so we made good old Chocolate Crackle. The kids go mad for this and it has to be the easiest thing in the world to make. Melted chocolate and Rice Bubble cereal. Mix it together and pop it into a cupcake papers to set. How easy is that?

And what a lovely way to end my week - Karen from 4 Lil' Girls has given me an award. Thank you Karen, it really made my day! You should check out Karen's gorgeous blog - especially to see the fabulous granny blanket she is currently making - I love it!

I've been thinking about this a lot lately and just wanted to say this without sounding all gushy. When I started my wee blog it was because my dear friend Kylie had moved to the other end of the country and it was a way for us to show each other what we had been making. I never thought that it would end up having anyone else looking at it - so I am beyond thrilled that I have 99 followers!! Thank you so very much for visiting me and for the lovely, positive comments you leave. At this stage in my life when being an at home mum is just sometimes plain tough, it's the nicest thing to see a lovely comment. Thank you again and see you soon!

Have a fabulous week!
Leah