My week!

I think I need another week in Fiji ... I'm quite certain that is what I need. But alas, I'm home and to top it off I've not been feeling great. I was sick while we were away but it got worse on our return. Nasty chest problems - yuk. The small folk and my husband made me stay home and rest while they visited his parents on the weekend. So it seemed the perfect time to sit down and watch some terribly trashy TV while I made a gorgeous cowl. I had fallen in love with this wool last week and knew exactly what I wanted to do with it. A few hours later it was finished - super easy. And it's just the most perfect thing to keep a troubled chest warm and toasty. I have worn it everyday this week and have had lots of lovely comments.

Here is the wool/yarn - it's made in the UK and it's really lovely to work with. Super soft and snuggly and not the least bit itchy as it's a wool/acrylic mix.

And here is the cowl...

I absolutely adore the colour mix of this wool. Pink/purple/pale green/pale blue/grey - beautiful.

I couldn't sleep this morning and was up far too early so I decided to make a little headband for Miss 4. Her kindy was having a 'black' day today to celebrate the Rugby World Cup starting here tomorrow and to show their support for our All Blacks team. We had managed to put together a black outfit for her to wear (a real mission when she really only likes pink and red at the moment) so she was super excited this morning when she got up to find a new headband to go with the outfit. I am guessing their day will be spent getting face painted and practising the haka! My two can do a great rendition of the Ka Mate haka. For you lovely overseas folk who might not have a clue what I'm talking about, the haka is the challenge the All Blacks perform before a rugby test match. If you'd like see a haka, have a look here for one example. Now I'm not a huge rugby fan (sorry Dad!) but there is something about the haka that really gets to me and makes me proud to be a Kiwi.

A few weeks ago I was the lucky winner of a giveaway over at LeeAnn's Lovables. I was so excited to get home this morning and find a parcel waiting for me. I am so, so happy... this book is just stunning and I can't wait to start making some of these designs. There are some fabulous wee rectangular designs which look great so I shall start with them. There were also three beautiful hooks in the parcel - which will be put to very good use! Thank you so much LeeAnn - you've made my day!

Now I've been trying to get some decent pics of my op shop clothing finds but I am rubbish at getting good shots without everything looking wrinkly and horrible even though I've spent ages ironing (did I mention how much I hate ironing?). So I have crossed that off my list and will in future either have to just describe what I've bought, or show a close up pic of the fabric or something like that. Better still, I could learn how to photograph things properly I guess?

I did however manage to get a semi decent pic of a skirt I treated myself to this week. This one is a new skirt, not one of my op shop bargains. I did get it on sale though which is fabulous! It has quite a retro feel about it and I think it reminds me of an apron someone in my family had when I was a child - do you know what I mean?

Better still, it is printed with a hand-dyed/painted look about it with lots of little blobs of colour here and there to shadow images. So it will be perfect for me when I inevitably spill something on it - you'll never notice the difference!!! Brilliant.

Now for an op shop treasure. I thought someone must have made a mistake with the price tag on this one. $9 for this pretty piece! I have lots of lovely old bowls but I've never found one with a matching lid so I was totally thrilled to spot it. I can't wait to use this on the dinner table soon.

I had to pop this pic on too. My darling girl Bella, who is my constant crochet companion. Except for this particular day when the sun decided to come out. She spent the entire day following the patches of sunlight around the room and plonking herself down wherever the sun was. Ah - the life of a very spoilt cat.

I hope you're all having a fab week so far. Take care - see you again soon.

Leah
xxxx