An Easter Rainbow

The dress is finished.  After a slight heart attack on Monday night (after I found Amelia in the spare bedroom with a pair of sissors helping to snip off the ends) it is blocked and wearable*

She has proudly announced that it is called her Easter Dress - so I guess I know what she will be wearing to Church come Sunday.

This is my first time knitting in Biggan and I must say that I am in love. The colours, the feel and the stitches are perfect and did I say colours.  There are 64 colours in there range now and they are the brightest you will find anywhere.  It is a little more expensive than your average 8ply 50gram ball - but did I mention the colours - go and have a look for yourself, you will not be disappointed.

The pattern is yet another by the talented Georgie (other wise know as Tikki)  happily named the Rainbow dress.  I am pleased that I knitted it in the stripe pattern for something extra special, but it looks just as nice knitted up in a semi, solid or varigated.  Here is the Ravelry link to the pattern if you so happen to have access (if not you best join - it is well worth the effort)

I am really enjoying these Knit Alongs through Tangled Yarns.  I know that I am meant to be working down the stash this year (and that is happening) but Kelly just happily sits and offers another gorgeous pattern and yarn each month.  I will be joining on for April and knitting my niece in NSW a bonnet.

* knitter will not be held responsible if said daughter one day happens to be out and finds herself wearing a mini dress home!

We were meant to have a play date with the lovely Steph today - but her little one was unwell. I am looking forward to finally getting together after Easter (we have been trying for a few weeks now) and I am thinking that I have just found a wonderful crafty friend the next suburb over.  Go and say Hi, Steph is new to blogging. But just look what she popped in for the kids. Thanks Steph - they did not last long at all.

Who's Bright Idea...

was it to do stripes?

I must admit, it does look great and Amelia has approved.  Here is a little sneak peak.

But these ends - oh my golly.  Going to sit and slowly do them so it can be blocked and photographed in time for Wednesdays cut off for the KAL.

Earth Hour

At 8.30pm tonight hundreds of millions of people from more than 120 countries and regions across every continent will come together for Earth Hour in a moment of unprecedented global unity to show the way forward on climate change.

As are many bloggers all over the world.  One, EcoMILF is turning off her appliances for a 24 hour period.  I had though of doing it - but being home alone with two tweenies this morning I have already turned on the TV for the morning cartoons and pushed the button on the kettle to enjoy a hot coffee.

The list continues, the toaster has been on.  I have put a load of washing in the machine, need to iron something to wear today and well the hair on my head needs help.

Add to that the phone that needs charging, the home phone that is always plugged in and the computer that I am sitting on.

When you make a list of it, it looks huge doesn' it- I could continue.

So today I am going to turn the computer off. We are heading out to the park and to a fete at a local school so we will walk.  I would like to go into the city and if we do that we will catch the train.

The dishwasher can be left off today as will the dryer and the floors can go dirty as the vacum and steam mop use that wonderful power source as well.

We are having a BBQ for dinner so using the nations natural gas source and the lights and appliances will be turned off for at least the hour between 8.30 and 9.30pm.

What have you got planned for Earth Hour.  If you would like to join and sign up for your chance to win a solar panel set up for your home, make sure you go here.

Friday Night Widows...

...please tell me that I am not alone.  Friday night at our house is all about football. Having lived in three states and two territories in the past seven years anything goes around here and throw in a good dose of Soccor (yes I know, it is known as Football now too!)  then my DH will watch almost anything.

With the NRL being in it's third week and AFL kicking off last night, I am guessing that alot of crafty women are getting alot of crafting done tonight. (Even my Mum wishes that she had a secon tv in the house so she could watch Better Homes and Gardens)

So what you think!  Should we start our own virtual Friday Night Craft Club? I will kick it off on the weekend after Easter - that will give me time to work out the little widget linky thing.  Don't be concerned about posting pictures from night time (unless you are of course lucky enough to own a light box) as I know that I for one get a lovely orange glow in night time photos and the flash - well enough said.  You can choose instead to show us what you are going to do on Friday or share wih us what you achieved over the weekend.

Tonight I have been working on the Rainbow dress - getting very exciting to be nearing the end - have to have it completed by the 31st to go into the draw for the KAL.  Nothing like a deadline to get me knitting.

Until then, shall it all be

Football, Meat Pies, Kangaroos and Holden Cars. 

picture taken from the net.

My Creative Space...

This week has been full of pointy sticks once again. 

I completed a test knit for Christine during the week.  (I will let you all know when the pattern is released)

This one is about to fly to Canberra very soon as a gift for a friend and her last winter in ACT.

For more creative spaces head over to Kootoyoo

National Playgroup Week...

If you go down to the park this week you might find lots of little people.


We attended the celebrations today for Playgroup week and the kids had a great time.

I highly recommend Playgroups - they are great activity to do with children and I have made and continue to make many friends though them. For information on playroups in your area go here.

at my house...

a new meme for a Monday.

Check it out and join in the fun over at Buttons by LouLou.
So today at out house there is a hot little girl.

Humm...  Now I wonder why. A princess in waiting, maybe if she took a few layers off she would be a little cooler.

Suz - this is the outfit you made Amelia in an EB swap - still going strong - thinking that I will have to make hEr another one but she loves this one so mucH - I will have to find out what pattern you used.

Thankyou...

for all your kid thoughts.  Our family and friends have managed to survive the storm and are now busy with the clean up.  They are still without power (but just got on to my Grandparents and they have power back on nd something is wrong with Mum and Dad's landline and I cant get though to them.

If you are intersted in seeing some pictures head over to the Daily Mercury.

Sorry about the lack of Wordless Weekend Picture.  I accidently left my camera at Tangled Yarns (humm - maybe t was on purpose so I could go back and drool over all of the lovely yarns)

Sitting...

Watching...

Waiting...

...Praying that all our Family and Friends stay safe in Mackay and Townsville.

Matchy Matchy

for a friends new born little girl and her bigger sister.

My Creative Space...

is lacking creativity this week.

With being sick and not feeling like doing anything (that happens when you crash into bed at 7.30pm after putting the kids down!)

This is what my area looked like yesterday (sorry about being a day late - but it was not at all exciting)

I am pleased to report that I am now caught up on washing and folding and almost the ironing and treated myself today with a trip to the other side of town to visit Urban Harmony and enjoy lunch and a coffee with a friend.

For more excting places make sure you visit Kootoyoo. Rainbow dress hopefully will have a progress shot for you next week.  Loving the colours and the yarn.

Morning Tea...

all jazzed up with a little sticker pack that I won from the lovely Posie.

Thanks Jennie - Amelia loves them - still to do the paper chains, we are saving those for a rainy day.

I borrowed a book from the library a few weeks ago and hoping to try out some of the recipes for lunches.  It is called Ready, Steady, Lunchbox.  If they are a hit I will share.

Sorry for the MIA this week - I managed to pick up virus and have been in bed by eight o'clock since about Thursday last week, and sadly night times are my crafting time and have not been able to do anything.

My Creative Space

Lots of creative spaces this week.  For more make sure you check over here.

My yarn from last week is being knitted into

and

Getting Back to the Basics

You may remember me starting this callenge last year.  With the move (that happened in November) and then the horrid neighbours that we have here I have not been really into the garden (and the depressing fact that our yard is so small here) But enough is enough.  I need to snap out of it and my DH and I have been chatting over the past few days about what made us happy with our last home and the garden came up a few times.  There are others out there that garden in small areas and so I just need to put my thinking cap on and get a little creative with the area that I have at my disposal.

So it is going to be a busy week.  I will work out what seeds we have and am about to make a trip to the nursery to get the soil and maybe even a few seedlings to give us a head start.

•Sowing seed or Planting 
Observing - Neighbours have a passionfruit vine that has grown over to our side of the fence.  I have been fertilizing the flowers and have been told that what grows on our side are ours (how nice of them!) 

I planted basil, parsley, oregano, mint, corriander and rosemary (also planted Thyme - but I lost it) -  it has been lovely walking out to the front garden and snipping these to add to our meals.

•Planning for The Future - Planning meals around what is in season and on special at the Markets

•Working for the Future - DH made a batch of Tomato Sause with 9kg of tomatoes that I got nn special - yummo.

•Building Community - Have found a local playgroup that is attatched to the Kindy that Amelia is attending.

We have found a local church and feel at home there.

Sent an email to a friend that I have not spoken to in a while - will call her next week.

Went to the local Farmers Market down the street yesterday.

•Learn a new Skill - Trying to work out what to plant in Sub-tropical Qld.

Hoping that these things will help us make this house our home.

Finding the Rainbow...

I went for a drive today.  Into Tangled Yarns...

And look what came for the drive home.

New yarn - I have been so good for the last few months with no new purchases.  But I could not help myself.

New socks for Tim are in order (so he will stop saying that every baby in the world has a pair of my socks and he is left with cold feet)  

And a lovely selection of Biggan Design to turn into a Rainbow Dress for Amelia.

If you are interested there is a knit-a-long happening over at Tangled Yarns to celebrate them being a new stockist of Tikki's patterns.  Be sure to check it out.

My Creative Space...

This morning has been spent driving around to a few local schools to get a feel for them.  Amelia will start Prep next year and I am doing the rounds and getting to know what is on offer. 

Let's just say I walked into one today and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up - that one has been crossed off the list.

For more creative spaces - go and check out Kootoyoo - Kirsty is seeing Red today.

Marching on...

March... The start of cool mornings and shorter days, but ALREADY.

Who's bright idea was it to make February a short month, I am sure that it would sound better being
...30 days has September, April, May, June, July and November?  Share the love a little.

So I am living in my own little world and time zone at the moment, my watch reads Wednesday, 31st.  How about yours?

If you have read till this point you have possibly clicked to the fact that I did not get nearly what I wanted to do this month completed.  I did however catch up on January's list (so a positive), however I failed to knit the Feb Lady Sweater - did not even cast it on.  I descided that I would concerntrate on the shawl and of which I only managed to achieve an extra 5 repeats. Lace work is hard going with toddlers and I take my hat off to anyone that enjoy it.

For the 12 in 12 I only managed to sew up a pair of knickers that I had cut out back in hummm July.

I enjoyed making them - but they are HUGE.  And will fit Miss 4 when she is 24 (and I am not being dramatic here - LOOK) (and the other underwear in the picture are big on her to start with)

 So March... Come on down

On the knitting front I have singed up for a challenge, that being to only work on one thing at a time.
I would like to say that I can do it, however I am feeling a little blahblah about the shawl that is on the needles at the moment - it is hard to pick up and put down as I walk around the house chasing the kids, So I think that I am going to change the challenge a little for me and work on the shawl + one other project


Rainbow Dress for Amelia
Finish the Shawl
Milo for Baden
Socks for Tim - finish in time for his birthday - have to make a trip into Tangled Yarns to pick up yarn.
Baby gift - sex unknown - due 16th March

Sewing
I am also going to try and get what I have started finished and then make a start on the kids winter wardrobes.
The 12 in 12 this month is a softie - so something little is in order there.

For the one per month I have a list of recipes and websites that I search when I am looking for a recipe - so will try something from them.

I would also like to try and get a few veges growing - I am missing having a vegetable patch and having that excuss to get outside although it has been raining for a few days here at the moment.  I smiled nicely to the green grocer yesterday and he gave me three boxes and thought that we could start with some lettuce or something in them.

...the tool man

A new little outfit for Baden.  I was a little worried that they looked too much like pj's, so next time I make him shorts I will put on a pocket.  I did do a double stitched seam on the sides and gave him a fake fly. 

The shirt has a machine outlined hammer (a clip art  that I changed slightly) and followed this great tutorial from Clutterpunks blog. (still to get a clear photo of it - a little hard on a moving model)

Have you been following along with the Celebrate the Boy month at Made and Made by Rae?

I have enjoyed seeing lots of the ideas and have an extra long tutorial list now and over flowing ideas.  I recently went to the Matilda's Markets here and was a little disappointed with the lack of boys things available.  I would love to say that I would like to have a stall there and concerntrate on all things boy, although we all know that girls things are oh so cute and yoyo's area quick fix and bring in the $.  I might start small.  There is a new congo cart that has just opened and the sellers are exclusive regular Crafty Mama forum members (of which I am) So keep your eyes open for more info on that in the coming weeks.

The list of Tutorial that I would like to try:

Newboy Cap pattern and tutorial - uses an old mens suit

Dino Mitts - so cute - would make a great gift for a little man or even as a puppet

Soft Baby Book

Pockets for Pants ideas

Boys Sweater Vest

Freezer Paper Stenciling

By Onesie

Car Caddy - this would be great in my bag for Church, Mr B is still 12months off of going to Sunday School

The tie shirt

90minute shirt

Boys Tie

Drawstring Backpack

Fold up cuff pants

Wow - that is a long list - will see how I go.