Planning and organising and lots of jam making

This week has been all about...

:: lots of jam making. I've made up 6 kg of nectartine jam in four days to ensure the cheeky parrots don't eat them all.

:: planning my daugther's return to school (uniforms, sticking name labels on stationary, and contemplating how her school lunches can be healthier).

:: thinking about what to do with Miss 5 on her last day before school (ideas include going to Lunar Park or the museum??).

::organising a reward chart to go on our fridge . Am thinking school starting will be a good time to set down some new rules (Miss 5's keen so far). New rules around TV watching, the use of our new Ipad, her chores (feeding the dogs), piano practice and doing her school work (which really only involves doing her reader every night as she is still only a grade oner!).

::buying some Stylecraft yarn from Deramores (with a nice 15% off). I've been wanting to embark on a new crochet blanket so I indulged myselft and bought the style pack that matches Lucy's Attic24 Granny Stripe Blanket. I sooo love online yarn shops.

::progressing on my Patchwork bag. I've joined the squares together and done the handles.

I'm stuck though on which fabric to use to line the bag. I have some vintage sheets that would be perfect, though I'm not sure I'm ready to get the scissors out and start cutting them! I'm sort of tempted to go with the pink and purple fabric (it's a light cordoroy) as no vintage sheet would then need to be cut! But the yellow floral fabric looks lovely too, as well has the pink on the right. My favourite is the green on the left....but its a double bed size and I'd really like to keep it intact.

Do you have a favourite? I'd love to get some advice on this as am seriously stuck.

Cheerio. Lori

Year of Projects patchwork bag



 

  

My patchwork bag has been coming along slowly. The postie delivered the scrumptious yarn (Rowan Belle Organic DK) in late September, and I have only just finished crocheting the 27 granny squares. I've been away from blogging for a while but have been busy with work, family, life ... and illness. It has been a busy time for me, and only now do I feel like I'm able to recharge.

 

I've made the very sensible decision to take some extended annual leave to recharge my batteries, spend some quality time with my daughter while she's on school holidays and spend some time pottering around my house doing fun stuff like cooking, preserving and making. I've also started reading again.  

 

I've started crocheting the patchwork bag squares together, then onto the handle and making up the lining. I think I will use some of the vintage fabric I have been collecting. Ravelled here.

 

Ive also been working on covered clothes hangers from The Gentle Art of Knitting by Jane Brocket, another project on my list. An easy and portable project.

 

Here is my list for A 2nd Year of Projects.The list is part of Come-Blog-a-long, a ravelry group where we commit to our projects and share our progress (or lack of!) and challenges.



Year of projects

A while back I completed one of my projects - in my Year of Projects list. Thought I better post about it before I forget! The list is part of Come-Blog-a-long, a ravelry group where we commit to our projects and share our progress (or lack of) and challenges.

The project was Floral Curtain Tiebacks from Cute and Easy Crochet by Nicki Trench. I chose this project from my list first as its quick and easy and made me FINALLY put up the curtains in my daughter's room (it's been a year since I painted her room and purchased the curtains...me bad). The curtains look lovely (a Spotlight purchase) and the tiebacks cute as. Ravelled here.



I'm already planning my next project on my list - and have made a very exciting yarn purchase. I've ended up purchasing the yarn online from Deramores as it would seem no Australian yarn shops stock the range of colours I need. It's a British yarn so not surprising.

I'm hoping my yarn package arrives soon...as would be nice to have a new project and new yarn to keep me occupied over the next few weeks.  I've been diagnosed with an illness that will require surgery and 4 weeks off work. So I plan to knit and crochet to my hearts content while recuperating on my couch at home.



I've been keeping myself busy (while waiting for my new yarn) by trying something new - a bit of Intarsia. Have you ever tried it? It's highly addictive. This book has been very helpful in teaching me how.

Cheers. Lori

Year of projects blog a long....

I've always been a bit of a list writer, and the thought of having a list of knitting and crochet projects I want to finish this year really appeals to me.

I'm joining in with the Come-Blog-a-long ravelry group - where we commit to our projects and share our progress (or lack of) and challenges. I've decided to compile a list mainly from my knitting/crochet books, and supplemented by some of the projects in my ravelry queue.  I have sooo make crochet and knitting books that it's about time I used them.

So here we go....

Covered clothes hangers from The Gentle Art of Knitting by Jane Brocket

Why? I'd love to have them in my wardrobe and use up scraps of yarn. And I've yet to knit any of the lovely projects in this book.

Patchwork Bag from Cute & Easy Crochet by Nicki Trench.

Why? When I bought this book 6 months ago this was my favourite in the book. The thought of carrying around a bag like this fills me with awesomeness.

Floral Curtain Tiebacks from Cute and Easy Crochet by Nicki Trench.

Why? Quick and easy, and a must for my daughters curtains that are waiting to be put up!

Metallic Tunic Top from Plus Size Crochet by Margaret Hubert.

Why? This is the only one in the book that I like, most of the others are not quite my style. And its about time I crocheted something wearable other than a scarf.

 Cassia dress by Georgie Hallam.

Why? I've been wanting to knit one of her designs for ages...and she lives not far from me.

Sakasuma Jacket by Olga Buraya-Kefelian

Why?  It uses 2ply /lace yarn which would be a first to knit for me, and I'm almost finished knitting my first jumper/sweater for myself, and this would be a perfect next project. And I love wrap knits.

Chunky Roll Neck Sweater from Easy Kids Knits by Clare Montgomery

Why? I want to knit a new jumper for my daughter every year and this one has a nice chunky yarn.

That's 8 projects in total...5 from books and 2 from Ravelry. I've tried to keep my list reasonable, with a bit of room to do other stuff that grabs my crafty imagination.

Now I just need to decide which project to start first. Maybe the floral tie backs - this may get me moving on putting up the new curtains in my daughter's room. Do you have a favourite?