Back to normal!

It's taken a wee while but I am now almost back to my old self.  Thank you so much for all your lovely wishes and butt jokes, they really cheered me up!!  So because I wasn't able to sit comfortably for such a long time, I was beyond bursting to get my crochet hook out again.  And I think I have more than made up for lost time.  I decided a quick project was just the thing to get me started, more on that a little later.  But then the overwhelming urge to do another ripple took over! 

This started out being called "The Leftovers Blanket" because I had quite a bit of Stylecraft leftover from my giant granny blanket.   As it has grown, it has taken on the prettier name of Rainbow Ripple Blanket.  At first I thought it looked a little bright, but it always amazes me how the whole look of a blanket can change depending on what colour you use in the next row.  It definitely provided some cheerful colour while we were having some horrible weather last week.  It is growing ridiculously fast and I will be finished it this weekend hopefully.  The best bit about making a ripple blanket is that there are only a few ends to weave in at the end - bliss!!!   

 

There is something quite addictive about these ripply stripes.  And every time I look at it, it reminds me of a blanket my Nana M had in her house when I was little.  Nice memories.  

  

I have also pulled out my African Flower Hexagon blanket that I started last year then got a bit tired of.  Before I started the ripple, I made a heap more of these little beauties. I'm not joining-as-I-go, so it's a little fiddly joining them all up, but I'm loving the result.  This one is a pure wool blanket and the weight of it is fantastic.  It's definitely going to be toasty warm.  It's still got a way to go but I'm aiming to have it finished for next Winter.

And last but not least in the crochet department, here's the quick project I mentioned.  I spotted one lone ball of wool at my local wool shop and I just loved the moody tones.  It is a King Cole Riot and the shades of silver and gray are beautiful. 

The pattern is called Spring Petals and you can find it here.  It was a lovely easy pattern and it worked up really quickly.  I had this finished in one evening.  I will definitely be making more of these!

I've been having a fab time on Pinterest lately and was fascinated with all the Mod Podge ideas I'd seen.  I saw a pin for some homemade equivalent so I had to give it a go.  We had some wooden coasters that had seen better days so they became my test item.  I used a spray adhesive to attach some pretty scrapbooking paper to each coaster, then used the Mod Podge to seal it - with several coats.  I've just used a spray acrylic sealer over the top so that they are more waterproof.  I absolutely LOVE them!   This is them before they got sealed.

I'm off now to decorate a birthday cake for my niece and nephew who turn 2 today!!  Happy birthday to you both, I can't wait to give you big birthday cuddles tomorrow!!

Then after that it will be time to boil the kettle, make a large cup of tea and do a few more rows of my blanket.  I should be doing the housework but the thought of it is just too boring in comparison!

Have a fabulous week - see you again soon.

Leah
xxxx

My Happy Place 2012

 

Yes it was that time of the year, when it is freezing cold, wet and plain miserable here in Wellington so the urge is huge to escape to somewhere hot.  We save so hard each year so that we can have a family holiday in Fiji.  This was our 4th visit and it truly is My Happy Place.  I think it was about 10 degrees when we flew out of Wellington and 29 degrees when we arrived in Nadi.  Aaaaahh - delicious warmth.  No more socks, no more woolly jumpers, no rain coats - just sun screen, swimming togs, sunhats and jandals.  Oh and a stack of books!  Bliss.

I know these photos probably look exactly the same as the ones I posted last year, but for me they hold a whole new batch of memories.  These images are stored in my mind and remembered on grotty cold days which seem to last forever.

So I'm sure by the end of this post you will be sick of seeing coconut palms, pretty swimming pools and the odd cocktail!  As for me, I can't get enough of it!!!  I should say now that many of you will have images in your mind of Fiji being white sandy beaches and clear seas.  Well that is indeed a lot of Fiji but as I am not a huge fan of the ocean (maybe Jaws put me off?), we stay in a part of Fiji that has beaches more like NZ but the resort facilities are amazing.  And while our small folk are small, this is the place for us.  Families are catered for so wonderfully.  Any place that can remember your children year after year is a hit with me.  The children get huge hugs from the staff every time they go into the restaurant - it melts my heart.  And the fact that unlike here in NZ, and many other places in the world I am sure, the Fijian people seek eye contact so they can say Bula, well it's hard not to have a smile on your face constantly with that level of friendliness.  In the week following our return to Wellington I definitely find the odd Bula pops out of my mouth when I walk past a stranger!!

By absolute fluke this year it turned out that we were on holiday at the same time as some friends of ours.  We had a 3 or 4 day crossover which meant our small folk had some familiar faces to play with and they happily went to the wonderful kids club for a morning session together - crab hunting, coconut boat building and generally having a total wow of a time.  So for a few morning hours, the grown ups were treated to some well deserved adult-only pool time.  Aaaahh the serenity!!!  A bit of chat, a bit of reading, a bit of swimming to cool off - just perfect.

 

The day before our friends left, the children asked to stay for a longer kids club session so it seemed only right that as it wasn't the morning anymore we could treat ourselves to a poolside cocktail.  That's Juanita on the left looking brown as a berry and me on the right with the so-white-they-are-almost-lavendar legs!  I had started the whole fake tan regime but after discovering a line down the back of one leg I gave up and decided to embrace my natural colour this time.  I can honestly say though - I would rather be brown!!!  Oh well, next time maybe.

 

Cooling off in the pool.

  Oh look - another pretty pool shot - are you bored yet?  Well the story changes here slightly ....

I think I jinxed it because I told my husband before we went away that we'd had a great run over the years of perfect weather and good health.  Other friends have holidayed here and ended up room-bound with sick children or cyclones.  So I said we should be prepared for things to go pear-shaped ...... and they did ........ big time.  It started with a bit of rain.  The expected rainfall for the whole month of July is meant to be one day maximum.  But not this year, we had rain for 4 days.  Not constant, but enough to make lying by the pool a no go.  It was still hot so the swimming pool was still played in and adventures were still had.

But then one morning we were out walking and this lovely innocent wooden walk way (this pic was taken on a dry day), mixed with my not so grippy jandals meant I ended up here ......

Yep, I fell.  Really badly.  I still don't know how I did it but both legs went out from under me and I landed straight down on my bottom.  I knew I'd done something bad when I couldn't get up easily.  So a doctor had to be called and the whole family was loaded into a taxi for an afternoon at a Nadi medical centre.   After lots of x-rays it was great to find out that there were no fractures to my tail bone but boy-oh-boy was it painful.  I couldn't sit or lie down - and wouldn't you know it that on this particular holiday - sitting down or lying down are the two things I do best!!!  This is where I should add lots of swear words but I won't!  So that was the end of enjoying a relaxing poolside atmosphere.   Hopefully we can visit again next year as I feel totally and utterly ripped off this year.  Who wants to hurt themselves on the 4th day of there holiday - grrrrrrrrr.  Anyway.... 

 

I was still able to walk so at least I wasn't room bound.  And I could still swim with the children - it was just the sitting bit that was not a go-er.    Poor kids, having to put up with such a grumpy mum because she hadn't slept and was beyond tired. 

 

The plane journey home was a bit uncomfy.  Thankfully this year we had booked to fly direct to Wellington which added another hour to the flight but at least there was no sitting around at Auckland airport waiting for connections.  As much as I hate a holiday ending, it's always lovely to get home, especially to see Bella.  We all miss our furry girl so much.

Back to Wellington - and a chilly 11 degrees.  No more jandals, no more shorts - where are those woolly jumpers? 

 

So until next time - farewell Fiji.  I can't wait to visit again.  In the meantime this photo is now in my memory and I hope to replicate this scene in 360 odd days time.  Fingers crossed anyway.

I should end by saying that I am definitely on the mend and can sit a lot easier now!  Which means I'll be able to get my crochet hook out again - boy have I missed it.  I have a million plans in my head of things I want to make so I'd better get cracking and decide what to do.

Ange - I'm sending you all my love.  You know why.

See you again soon,
Leah
xxxx

Giant Granny Square Blanket Ta-Da!

Yippee, I have finished my huge granny square blanket!  Every last end has been woven in and she now has pride of place on our bed.  I am absolutely in love with this blanket and every time I walk past my bedroom, I catch a glimpse of it and it makes me smile.  Poor hubby has had to get used to all the pink-ness but he agrees that it has given the room a nice cosy feel.  I started her back in January and kept working on her in between other crochet projects.   I am so proud of it, and want to remember it from every angle, so apologies for the billions of photos I am bound to use!!

She's a whopper and a little hard to get a decent photo of!  I had to perch on the dining table to get this photo.  And even then it's not the best of pics.  I didn't take the time to get it all nice and even and some of the squares look a little wonky which they aren't at all.  I used a different technique this time which has ensured the straightest squares and I am a convert.  Each round was started on the opposite side to where the last round finished, no spaces between clusters except in the corners where two spaces were used.  It worked a treat!!

 See .... look at all those lovely squares!  I joined them as I went and I love the wee stitch detail it gives.

 

I looks gorgeous on the bed.  Perfect for this freezing weather we've been having.  I was so excited when it was finished that I tore the new pink duvet cover out of the packet, threw it on the bed just so I could get some photos.  That's my excuse for the wrinkly pillowcases, and I'm sticking to it!!

It was touch and go whether I had enough of my favourite raspberry colour left to do the border but it worked out perfectly.  I used four rows of single crochet to keep it nice and simple.  And the border colours were based on the last four rounds of one of the squares that really caught my eye.

Yep - that looks just right to me.  I was really careful not to work into every stitch where the squares join, to avoid having a ripply border.  The yarn was Stylecraft and I had initially bought a mixed pack of this through Deramores.  I ended up having to buy another mixed pack as the colours I was mostly using didn't seem to be available in individual balls at the time.  Oh what a shame - to have all that extra yarn ...  ha ha.  36 squares in total, with 12 rounds each square.  The kids love playing 'match the squares' with it. 

 Even folded up I think it looks lovely.  

 Mmmm, gorgeous grannies - so simple but so satisfying.

It's freezing here today, so I'm thinking I might have to steal it off the bed tonight so I can snuggle under it while I watch telly. 

And it wouldn't be a photo shoot without my little crochet companion Bella.  'Oooh what's this Mum, you're trying to take a photo, well how about I just sit here and make myself comfy'.  I think she has been by my side for every one of these squares.

 

I know you'll be bored stiff by now, but all these photos are for my old age when my memory is flagging and I need a visual reminder!!

So now that the blanket is finished I can spend some more time playing on Pinterest.  Don't you love it when you spot something and it looks so simple and you wonder why you didn't think of it yourself?  I spotted something similar to this last week and within minutes I had my very own jar of cupcake papers.  So much prettier than the plastic container they had been stashed in inside the pantry.  This looks so bright and cheerful, I had to keep it out so I could see it.  The kids love it as they can turn it around and choose which ones we should use.

Have a fabulous week.  See you again soon.

Leah
xxxx

It's so nice to be back!

Wow, it's been almost a month since I last had a chance to do a post and I've missed it.  So I warn you, this post will probably be long as I've got lots to catch up on.  The days have been absolutely flying by recently.  It has also been the school holidays here so my small folk have been keeping me rather busy.  Both children were sick over the holidays which wasn't much fun.  At least the weather was rubbish so it was ideal to be tucked up on the couch, watching DVDs and resting.  It did mean that I was able to get my hook out a few times during the day which was lovely.  I made a collection of tiny hearts for my wee girl and made them into a garland for her bedroom. 

She is very particular, just like her mother, and they had to be in a certain order.  I am going to have to make more of these as they are just so cheerful.  I can see garlands popping up all around the house (anything to add some colour to these gloomy winter days).

Then there was a bit more heart creating.  I had bought a battered old book of sheet music at the op shop a while back so I got it out while the kids happily played (not fighting for a change!).  With the help of some thick double-sided mounting tape, these layered hearts turned out really well.  Perfect to fill an empty spot on the wall.

 Side on you see the 3D effect.  And while I was taking a photo of these, Miss 5 made this one ...

Too cute!  I didn't realise she had even been watching me make my one.  I think she did a fab job!  She went on to make about 6 of them which are now on her bedroom wall.  Mr 7 was also busy making things - but his makes were Lego.  He is obsessed with Titanic and made a great selection of Titanics and icebergs!! I must get a photo of them.

I also finished my cat from Annaboo's CAL!  I'm so happy with him - I will definitely be making more now that I know it's not as hard as I thought it would be.  I overstuffed his poor head a bit, but hey, he's still cute.  

I also stayed up too late at night having a play on my sewing machine.  My fear of zips and buttonholes were holding me back from making cushions, so I decided to do a flap/envelope back instead and I love the result.

I had been collecting fabric for a while but then I spotted this fabulous length of fabric at Stitchbird.  One length made two cushions and I absolutely adore this bird print.  I had planned to use a plain backing but at the last moment changed it to the green and white spots and I love it!

 I was so pleased with the result, I couldn't wait to make a few more.

 Here's a pic of the back.  Nice and neat and not a zip in sight - yippee.

Here are the next two I made.  I was all set to make some square ones next until my brand new 22 day old sewing machine decided to sound like a helicopter landing in the living room and promptly died.  I know it wasn't a super flash machine and I did get it at a cheap price, it was still a decent machine at a fairly decent price before the sale.  Grrrrrrr.  And because it was outside of the 14 day period I wasn't able to get a replacement machine.  So it is currently away being repaired and I am missing it.  Fingers crossed it gets fixed soon or I will be turning into a super-grump.  I had also started altering all my jeans which I am eager to continue with.  All those jeans that have wider legs have started to be taken in so they are nice and lean.  I used to do this all the time as a teenager and can't believe I haven't done this sooner as an adult.  This way I end up with jeans that actually suit my figure and fit me perfectly.

Big news too - I have finished my giant blanket!  Here's a quick pick of it before I did the border - I had just laid it on the floor to look at it and of course Bella appeared and wouldn't budge.  I'm not going to show you until my next post as I am determined to have every end tied in before I take photos of it.  I know, I know, I said I would tie them in as I went but clearly I am a big fat liar!!  I got carried away and after the first 10 were made and tidied as I went, the next 26 squares were left.  I am absolutely kicking myself now as it's the bit I really dislike and now I have to sit for hours with a needle, sewing the pesky things.  In saying that though, I adore the blanket and can't wait to have it on my bed!!

I had a lovely letterbox treat last week, my book arrived from the UK.  I had read it from the library and had to have it.  So many ideas, so much colour - I love it.  I am a little addicted to Book Depository - it is soooooo much cheaper to buy books from the UK than it is to buy them here.

I love all the mismatched furniture, china and colourful bits and pieces throughout this book - definitely the look I want.

My biggest bargain last weekend was these pretty sneakers for less than $10.  I bought them at a children's shop as I have ridiculously small feet.  The lady in the shop asked me "how old is she" presuming they were for my daughter.  I replied that she was quite old, 41 in fact!!  Oh well, at least my feet feel young.  

My gorgeous friend Ange gave me this most amazing recipe recently and I have to share it with you.  Ginger crunch is a popular slice here in NZ and one I make often.  This recipe is for a fancier version which is beyond delicious.  It's easy and the outcome looks much more difficult and will guarantee to get lots of oooohs and aaaaahs.  If you're able to stop eating it, you're a stronger person than me!

Oaty Ginger Slice

3/4 cups sugar
1 Tbspn chopped crystallised ginger (or substitute with 1 tspn ground ginger - works perfectly)
7 Tbspn golden syrup
250g butter
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup sliced or chopped almonds
3/4 cup self raising flour
1/2 cup desiccated coconut
4 tspns ground ginger
2 cups icing sugar
3Tbspn chopped pistachios

Preheat oven to 170 degrees Celsius.  Line a slice tray.  Combine sugar, crystallised ginger, 2 Tbspn golden syrup and 150g butter over a low heat.  Stir until melted then add oats, almonds, flour and coconut.  Mix well then firmly press into slice tray.  Bake for 20 minutes then cool.

For the topping, put remaining butter, golden syrup, ground ginger and icing sugar in a pan over a low heat and stir until smooth.  Pour over base and sprinkle with pistachios.  Allow to set then cut into slices.

Enjoy!

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