Sunday Snippets(on a monday again))

Some dabbling....

and some more dabbling in the workshop.

Some serious work in the workshop

And the beets ended up being delicious!

For more sunday snippets pop over to tinniegirl

My Place and Yours

I am loving this meme that Vic has going over at PunkyandMe. 

Vic's theme this week is where I sleep. 

I did feel too embarrassed to take a natural shot so I have gone for the make bed and do a quick tidy up shot.

What I did want to show is my first and last (so far) attempt at patchwork.

The beautiful bed Steve made from recycled oregon and my artwork created by my aunt in-law.

And  my lovely chandelier that use to hang in my great aunt Maude's house.

And then I decided I needed  a close up of the chandelier.

Mistake - Wholly molly it's dust city up there.
It's just like when I looked behind the kids chest of drawers and found a whole new eco system happening..

Grateful

Very grateful that we don't have to rely on my gardening skills to eat.

A crappy crop. Carrots were small and yuk. Beets are small and I'm yet to taste them.

And I have a thief amongst the lettuce seedlings!

I hope my next harvest I will be grateful for.

For more grateful posts pop over to Maxabellaloves.

My creative space

It all became clear. 

Back in this post  I wrote about my tea towel dilemma.So simple in the end - just involved cutting and pasting sewing into a square.

Why did it take me so long?!

And I think the crochet edging frames it nicely.

A lot of spinners christen their wheels with affectionate names.
Another revelation came to me this week.
I give to you The Lady and The Tramp.

The Lady (on the left) worth a bit more but prone to hissy fits.

The Tramp a bit of a clunker but reliable and a worker.

Isn't he cute?! He is on his way to Pip's for the The Mirabel Foundation christmas fundraiser.
And my blanket is progressing as fast as I can spin.

 And last but not least. My husbands stunning work. The coffee side table was a custom order and is now in it's new home. I was also lucky enough to get a new spinning hook and lazy Kate too.

It's Ourcreativespaces time again!

Sunday snippets on a monday

This was intended for Sunday snippets, but it wasn't on yesterday. Hopefully it'll be back soon.

Get well Cathy.

Some plying before 9am

This (trust me there is no self harm involved) spurred me on to get the pins out and actually do something from my sewing pile.

Of course my sewing always involves my trusty unpicker!

Some nourishment.

And some lots of fun in the pool.

And fun outside of the pool.

p.s sorry for the layout.Out of my control. 

Step right up , step right up ...

....see the human pin cushion.

Yes this one is just for Vic. It's Your place and mine time and this week's theme is my pin cushion. And shock horror I confess I don't have one!
Hence this silly photo.
P.S. I did want to charge money to see this ...but couldn't work out how. And I dare say people would be asking for refunds too!

My creative space - and more!

Hi there. Gosh the weeks seem to be flying by. 

Hope everyone is having a good day and checking out all the creativity over at ourcreativespaces

This week I made one more brooch for my mum.

I tried a new flower pattern from this book.

I'm not sure I would have been able to follow this pattern if I had tried it at the beginning of the year.

But I've come along way baby...

This is the same book I used for my vintage booties

And look what I won?!! How lucky am I!

I just love Anna's shiny happy art and I was extremely lucky to win this over at 74limelane

Did you notice the very arty envelope it arrived in?!

And now I just have to decide on what to do with my robin.

I really do want it on my wall ...it is so beautiful.

And what's been happening on the wheel I hear you ask?

(well someone maybe wants to know?)

I've been madly spinning my red so I can continue with my current project - YES I started.

But before I show you I just had to take a photo of the weigh in.

How spot on was I?!!

And here it is . The beginning of my granny square.
 It will tell the story of the start of learning to spin.
The orange was the first and quite chunky. I noticed my red is a lot thinner.

And now I'm madly spinning up some purple, as that's the next round.

At this weeks spinning group I learnt to spin silk. I also learnt that one of the ladies that also goes to the group has the 1funkyknitwit blog. And wow it is a must see if you love knitting,spinning, yarn, dyeing, sewing....she definitely is one funky lady. She has also included an extensive resource page.

Right, are you still with me?
Last but by no way least.
Have you checked out Craftyrie ? Well Rie is compiling a Universal Craft Blog Directory! 

This has the potential to be the biggest list of Crafty Bloggers out there and it is growing by the minute.

  Do you have a crafty blog? (you can determine if your blog is crafty - do you make, create or buy lots of crafty stuff?)  If the answer is yes go over and link up . Go on.

My Place and Yours

I'm playing along today with Vic's My Place and Yours

This is a new one for me. I think I get it - each week there is a different theme - today it is what is On The Shelf. It has  turned out quite coincidentally that I only took this photo this morning and then I read Vic's post.

Great excuse to show of my beautiful flowers!

This is a shelf in my kitchen .

 The lavender was a gift and grown locally on one of the many flower farms in our area.

My Creative Space

 You may have read my earlier post about my mum's generosity. 

Well I making some brooches for her. I don't think she needs all these...maybe she will gift one or two.

 The flower on the left is using  2 strands -one a wool and the other a mohair. And the 7 petal flower is using a very thick yarn- possibly a 10 - 12 ply?

I have used 3 different patterns.

 They all originate from the free spotlight patterns found in the stores.

The only one I haven't changed is the above centre small ruffle flower.

Just use a hook size suitable for your yarn.

Small Ruffle Flower

Rnd 1: 2ch, 6dc in 2nd ch from hook, sl st to 1st dc.

Rnd 2: 2dc in each dc, sl st to front loop of 1st dc.

Rnd3: 1dc in same sp as sl st, *2ch, 1dc in front loop of next dc, rep from * to end of rnd, 2ch, sl st to back loop of 1st dc.

Rnd 4:*3ch, 1dc in back loop of next dc, rep from * to end of rnd, fasten off.

Double Flower

Rnd 1: 2ch, 6dc in 2nd ch from hook, sl st to front loop of 1st dc.

Rnd 2:1dc in same sp as sl st, *2ch, 1dc in front loop of next dc, rep from * 4 times, 2ch, sl st to 1st dc.

Rnd 3: *{1dc,1htr,1tr,1htr,1dc} in next loop, rep from * 5 times, sl st to dc of back loop of previous round.(note: you are now working from the back now)

Rnd 4: *3ch, 1dc in back loop of next dc, rep from*5 times, sl st to 1st dc.

Rnd 5: *{1dc,1htr,2tr,1dtr,2tr,1htr,1dc} in next loop, rep from * 5 times, sl st to dc of previous round. fasten off.

Seven Petal Flower

Rnd 1: 1ch,6ch in ring, sl st into 1st dc.

Rnd 2 : 1dc in same st as sl st, {2ch, 1dc in next dc} 5 times, 2cn, sl st into 1st dc.

Rnd 3: Shell{1dc,1htr,1tr,1dtr,1tr,1htr,1dc} into each 2ch loop, sl st into 1st dc. fasten off.

 For this one I used a yarn that had variable thickness hence the more undefined petal shape. I wouldn't use it again for crocheting  as it was quite challenging to work with. The button is off centre, lucky I haven't sewn it on yet!

And was very excited to get my yarn winder in the post.

Now there is no excuse to start working with my hand spun wool.

 Stay tuned....

And my third piece of bunting arrived. How sweet is this?! 

And I so love the embroidery.

And being thursday can only mean one thing -you must pop over to our creative space for some more inspiration!

Sunday Snippets

make some time and check out more sunday snippets with Tinniegirl

grateful for receiving

As promised revealing what's in the bag (note:the bag was also gifted)

 Loads of craft supplies.

And could this be the answer to my mending woes?

These are the instructions. Notice the last sentence - anything outdated in that?

I went on a pebble search at the beach

 -looking for the perfect pebble to crochet.

I did buy some alpaca fleece to spin from the bangalow markets.

Currently unpicking these jackets.

Not quite as painful as unpicking your own work!

Whilst rummaging through mum's cupboards , 

half in and half out the cupboard I made this necklace.

I spied these glass beads in my mum's jewelry box. 

As it turns out they belonged to my great aunt Maude.

And another special maude item. 

It's not a masterpiece but I loved her simple approach in oils.

So as you can see I am a very lucky lady to be on the receiving end of all these wonderful items and I am truly grateful for every one of them. But it seems this is not unusual for me. I  could honestly say that at least 60% of my wardrobe is made up of clothes that have been handed across to me ( the remaining have been largely op shopped). I am always being given things. Sometimes I think I must seem needy but then I think my friends know that I will make good use of their generosity.
Felt like it's been while since I've posted a grateful , but it's always with me.
So please check out Maxabellaloves other gratefuls.