Dish cloth swap

After seeing Mel from One Crafty Mumma was hosting a crochet and knit dish cloth swap, I thought I would take my new crochet skills out for a spin. I signed up. I took too long to finish them for the first round swap so I worked to get them done for the second swap. Phew! Just in time.

I was so proud of myself for making this, I really wanted to keep it. The first dish cloth is made with 100% cotton I found at Spotlight. It is a mixture of a grey 4 ply ball and variegated greens and grey 4 ply ball.

I searched for 100% cotton that was 8 ply in town but 4 ply was the biggest I could find. I am embarrassed to say that I drive past the turn off to Bendigo Woollen Mills whenever we head into town and it never occurred to me to check for yarn there.



The top 2 dish cloths are made to this pattern.



This small square one confused me to start with. I got my stitches mixed up and ended up making one that was rectangle shaped. I decided to finish it off and use it at home. Sort of a happy accident. You can find the pattern for this one here.



This one didn't quite go to plan either. I guess I am still getting all these stitches figured out. This was supposed to have more ridges but I didn't put the crochet hook in the right place and this is what I ended up with. I like the colour blocking on this. The pattern for this can be found here. Looks like the pattern for this one is now only available for purchase.

I wish happy cleaning to the people who get my crocheting in the swap. :-)
I am excited to see what arrives in the post for me.

Crochet stars

I have this idea in my head of having beautiful handmade Christmas decorations for the tree this year. Or cute gift tags that include a little crochet star.

I don't know if it will happen but these stars come together in a tiny chunk of time (maybe 10 minutes). They are handy to have for car trips and filling a little bit of time while dinner is cooking at night. I also took them when I visited with my parents recently. We sat and chatted and I crocheted.

I would love to turn them into a garland. They might just end up not finished off properly and tied to the tree :-)

If you want to make some the pattern is here.

Felt Wreath for Christmas

I have been determined to not let Christmas sneak up on me this year. I know. It shouts it's coming from around September when the decorations start showing up in the shops. My plan has been to start making, buying and preparing for Christmas early this year. Well, earlier.

This wreath was super easy to make. I haven't decided what to embellish it with though, if anything. I really like it like this actually. I followed the tutorial here.

In a fit of decluttering at the start of the year I went through our Christmas decorations and donated a lot of the ones we had because I didn't like them much and was determined to make some. Christmas is almost upon us and I haven't made any. Looks like things will have to get busy in our house in the next month!

It's getting warmer

When the weather warms up here, we start to see creatures around the yard. This little guy was just out near the back deck.

There is an old wives' tale that if you have lizards around, you won't have snakes. I wish it was true.

Summer is coming.

Crochet, I have conquered.

One of my goals in life has been to learn to crochet. I have tried a few times before but I haven't really ever "got it". After a friend shared a link on facebook about crochet lessons happening in town, I jumped at the chance.

This granny square was the result from my first 2 hour lesson. And I could read the pattern. I felt so clever. I also learnt that day that wearing my glasses for crocheting is very important. Migraines come from not wearing them :-(



My 2nd lesson, with glasses on, I achieved an African Flower (a little wonky but hey I'm a beginner). I was supposed to make 2 and put them together to make a potholder. Confession. I left it mid-craft because I wanted to move on to more exciting things. Typical me.

The 3rd lesson was how to make a Christmas decoration. It was quick to make the two sides but we ran out of time to do the edging and I had to figure that one out on my own.



It is supposed to have six points and then I can sew the little bells onto each point. Straight forward? I have already pulled out the edge quite a few times and when I start it again, it comes out differently each time. I am pretty close to leaving it as a circle ornament and not a star.

There you have it. I am glad I took the classes. I tried following lessons online but for me it was too hard to set aside the time to do it. It was easier to book into classes and then have to go. I feel like I can have a go at most basic patterns now though. And it was fun hanging out with like minded crafty people.

My crochet skills will take more practice of course. And now that it is coming into summer, I doubt I will feel as keen to work on it. I really want to try making some baby blankets but with my track record, it probably wouldn't be a good idea :-)

James the (toy) echidna

Echidna Day passed with very little fuss this year. I wanted to bake a traditional chocolate 'spikey' cake but it didn't happen. In fact, aside from the 3 girls making echidna's from sticks and air drying clay we hardly marked the occasion at all.

We did, however, have James the (toy) echidna, wandering the house. I love him. We get him out of his box as Echidna Day approaches and he just sort of ... shows up... around the house. People pick him up and pat him while watching TV. The kids play games with him. He travels to the girls bedrooms and sits on the couch watching telly when the kids have left him to it. He often startles me as I walk through the house at night to check the kids before I go to bed.  And do you know what? It makes me happy. I look forward to have James visit with us.



I wanted Echidna Day to become a celebration of our blessings. Australia doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving. This is our version. Give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18a). We have plenty of circumstances going on that we could easily not give thanks for. You know what though? I am thankful. We have a great, beautiful and messy life. Thank you God for all the blessings you have given our family. And thank you for being our soft landing place when the circumstances start to get the better of us.

Spare time?

I have been misled.

I thought I was supposed to have more time on my hands and not know what to do with myself now that all 3 of our kids are at school. It doesn't seem to be working out that way. *sigh*

I think I need some kind of brain to blog transfer system. I have written some fabulous posts in my head and then never seem to have the time or inclination to type them up.

So much has been going on it would be silly of me to try and catch you up. Well, not silly... just really hard to do.

I have managed some making. I squeeze in a little here and there. Earlier in the year I was making a bunch of stuff for a Mother's Day stall at school. Then some more making for a market at school.

And I started crocheting classes. YAY! I have been wanting to learn how to crochet since starting this blog ... And I have even attempted it a couple of times. A friend tipped me off to a lovely lady in town who was giving lessons so I jumped in and took a couple of classes. Precious "me" time and learning a new skill at the same time. It was so fun! I got to sit around with like minded people and chat about crafty things. I loved it. So much so that I am going back to learn how to make some crochet Christmas decorations.

... Sorry. Did I startle you by saying Christmas out loud? The decorations are out in the shops already so I know you must have noticed that it is coming again. How on earth did that happen!

I am hoping to make a bunch of crocheted stuff for Christmas this year. Of course, my skill and speed may hold me back. I have a list of things I want to make. Perhaps I will set some smaller goals.

I was going to finish off this post by adding a photo but apparently my new laptop doesn't feel like it. I have no idea why it doesn't want to do it so let's pretend there is a lovely picture here of a crocheted dishcloth I made last week. Perhaps I can put up the real picture at some stage. :-)