True Friends...

I just adore redwork! So I have sorced a pattern from the collection of the Australian queen of redwork herself, Bronwyn Hayes. This stitchery is simple and divine...

I found it in her book 'Tea with Friends' which I purchased from a gorgeous little patchwork shop in Temora NSW called 'Patches of Heaven'.

Today's 'Get Happy Now' Tip #4 - Find a creative pursuit, whether it's painting, writing or sewing... and devote yourself to it, wholeheartedly, without letting selfcriticism blunt your enthusiasm.

Paired...

Instant Knitting Gratification!!!!! My gloves are finished !!!! What do you think?
I have decided to give my knitting needles a rest for a couple of days, maybe a week, and try to focus on another one of my passions. I'm thinking primitive embroidery or quilting. I have just bought the latest Homespun magazine and am itching to get into something using a needle and thread. I'll post my pattern later on this arvo....

Recycled Pots...

I found the idea for these home made jiffy pots on a blog called 'Whip-It'!! They are made out of 100% recycled materials....

I wrapped some recycled newspaper around the bottom of a coke can & dipped it in a bucket of water until the paper was saturated. I then removed the paper from the can and there you have it, an instant seed raising pot.

I added a 50/50 mix of compost and fine sand to the jiffy pots, then planted my seeds. The seeds that I used are a bit old so hopefully they will still take. I'm not really sure on the life expectancy of seeds, most packets have a used by date on them but these ones didn't.

The great thing about these jiffy pots is that when your seedlings are ready to be planted out you just dig a hole in the soil and put in your plant, jiffy pot and all.... The roots of the plant will eventually penetrate through the paper, at the same time the paper will break down into the soil... Isn't this such an awesome idea!!!!!

One Down, one to go....

Isn't it rewarding when you finish a project? I finished my first glove about 15 mins ago! Now that I'm all inspired by finishing the first glove, I'll have the second one done before you know it....

Today's 'Get Happy Now' Tip #3 - Drive slowly and give way, yes, let others in. Do it graciously and you'll infuse an element of peace into your life.

Simple Sunday

My garden shed slab has been completed!!! Yipee!!!! That means that my shed should hopefully be built by next weekend...
I started knitting the gloves that I posted the pattern for on Friday today. Because I've never knitted in a round before it took a bit to get started. I'm really liking the pattern so far, it's so easy to follow. Cable's are heaps of fun.
Today's 'Get Happy Now' Tip #2 - Understand that loving life isn't a matter of circumstance, it's a choice. If you don't like your life, don't be afraid to change it...

Oh What a Day....

I have been absolutely flat out today! My nephews party was great fun. He really loved his train cake, and so did everyone else. Boy does it take some time to decorate a cake like that, I'm lucky that I baked the cakes last night, it took me 2.5 hours to decorate it this morning.

I ended up crocheting him a couple of finger puppets last night to go with his present. When he opened the apple one and I showed him how the worm worked, (you put your finger through the bottom of the apple and the worm pokes out), he nearly cried.... Not quite the reaction I was hoping for, but I'm sure that they'll grow on him, they're so cute.


Why is it so much easier to be down on ourselves than to celebrate the good stuff? I have decided that every day for the next 30 days I am going to list 1 tip a day on how to be a happier you!!!!

Todays tip is #1 - If you feel like chocolate, buy the best you can afford and share it with someone... Savour every mouthful...

What to Knit next

Good afternoon everybody.....

I have finished the booties that I started yesterday and they look fantastic. The pattern said newborn but because I used 8ply wool and 4.oml needles they knitted into a size 2.The size is perfect, my little princess currently has a size 1-2 foot, so therefore she has a little bit of room for growth.

I'm going to start some finger puppets for some children that I know tonight. I have already finished a frog and want to do a chook, cow, pig, dog and maybe goat!!! If they turn out o.k I am thinking of giving some of them to my nephew as part of his birthday present. I'll sew up a little bag to put them in. They are just a great idea for mums to carry around in their bag. They can pull them out when they are in a place where they need to keep the kids quite, like the doctor's surgery, it keeps them amused and stops them from climbing all over everything..... Sometimes.

When I get the courage up I really would love to start these gorgeous fingerless gloves(http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer06/PATTfetching.html). My sister got me on to the website, they have so many free patterns, it's great... I have never done cables before but my mum told me that they are really easy.... So maybe this is a project to start Sunday night. I have some really nice wool in rich chocolate brown that I have been dying to use and this may just be the project for it.....

It's Party Time

This Sunday is my little nephews 2nd birthday party... I have offered to bake the birthday cake. The theme of the party is Thomas the Tank Engine so this is the recipe that I have decided to make. I'll change the colour of the front carriage to blue, that way it will look just like Thomas, I hope. I'll post a picture of the finished cake and the recipe on Saturday before the party...

Knitting Craze

I woke up really early this morning and for the life of me could'nt get back to sleep. So up i got at 5:30am and decided to start my day...

I have a bit of a knitting bug at the moment and just can't seem to put my 4.0ml needles down... Last night I finished this pinafore style dress for my little princess. I didn't really follow the pattern stitch for stitch, but regardless of that it still looks quite cute. If I was to make the pattern again I would change the arm holes, they just don't seem to be sitting quite right...

This morning I decided to start a pair of booties in matching wool to go with the dress.... I am knitting them out of 8ply instead of 4ply and using 4.0ml needles instead of 3.25ml, I'll let you know how they turn out.