My Creative Space...

There have been pointy sticks clicking away this week.

A finished Cardi for Amelia and another test knit.  I am getting a little addicted to test knits.  So much fun to knit something before others get their sticks and yarn to it.

I give you Elliot. A free pattern (you will need to have Ravelry access to download it) and comes in sizes newborn through to 4 years.

I love how it looks great with a little dress or a skirt.

Or dressed down with a tshrit and jeans.  I can see Amelia getting lots of use out of this in the coming months. 

I did the sleeves a little differently to the pattern and love how they turned out - for mods pop over to my Rav project page for more details.

The yarn is Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted purchased from Tanged Yarns.  I now know what all the hype is over this yarn, this stuff walks out the door upon arrival.  It is so devine, I could sleep on a box of it.

For more creative people and there spaces be sure to pop over here. While your there why not join in on the fun - it is growing in strength by the week.

little bead people...

I was the lucky winner of a Bead People kit from Me and Ewe.

How cute is it going to be to sit and make these.  I am going to save them for a rainy day - one is always looking for little treats on a rainy day.

You can get your own little bead kit and handdyed wool felt from Trudi's Etsy shop, or she has popped a tutorial onto her blog.

Beneath Hill 60

If you get the chance to excape to the movies, you must see this (Posie, please wait until Mr Posie is home)  The first Australian made WW1 movie in 28years.  It was nice to sit in a picture theatre and watch an Australian movie with Australian accents.  Filmed entirely in Townsville, QLD the movie flicked from beneath the trenches and Oliver Woodwards life in Tropical Queensland and love left behind.

There is even a part in there that the knitter's will enjoy.  A cold soldier is offered a pair of gloves and scarf by one of his mates. He declined the offer but was handed them being told that his wife knitted them and there would be another set arrive next week.  They chat about said knitting wife and how she started knitting when he left for war.  It ends with "She will knit herself a new husband if this war doesn't end soon"  I laughed, I think that I was the only one that did - obviously the only knitting wife in the cinema.

So as we remember our ANZAC's this week may we also remember those currently serving for our country, those in training and the families of these members.  Lest We Forget.

Ready, Steady,

Lunchbox

If you have children or take a lunch to work, then you NEED this book.  It is that good that I am going to buy it and have it on my shelf.

We have made a few things out of it.  
Favourites so far.

Chickpea Patties with green salad (and tomatoes)

330g tinned chickpeas, drained
2 Tablespoons natural yogurt
2 teaspoons parsley, chopped
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (did not have any so used one clove minced)
2 spring onions, chopped
2 tablesppons cornflake crumbs
2 teaspoons oil
Mixed green salad and pita bread to serve

Place chickpeas and yogurt in a food processor and process until smooth.  Add parsley, garlic and spring onions..  Divide mixture into balls and roll in cornflake crumbs.
Head Oil in frying pan over medium heat.  Cook patties for 2-3 minutes on each side.  Drain n paper towel and allow to cool.
Pack the patties in an airtight container with some salad and pita bread
Serves 2

Another one that the kids love for afternoon tea.   I made I up one afternoon when I picked up some avacado's on special.

Avacado Toasties

a flour tortilla
avocado, mashed
grated cheese

Spread Avacado onto a tortilla and sprinkle with grated cheese.  Fold in half and place under cafe press until cheese has melted.  Remove and cut allowing to cool slightly.  Enjoy.


Ready, Steady, Luchbook can be bought here - or ask your library to order one for you first.

At Our House...

Today we are enjoying a home day.  I am attempting to slow down after a week of camping and the crazy week that was last week.

It started this morning and I can now see my sink.  So thinking that I should pop back on the Domestic Guru cleaning routine and get myself a little sorted.  The house could do with it.

My brother was woken by the kids this morning (maybe it is a good thing that Europe is covered in ash and he is stranded with us for a week, he might get used to waking up - he is a chef and works on a different time zone to the rest of us) So, he was awake, dressed and out the door before 8.30am (Dad, you can lift your chin up off of the floor) He worked out that it was mad Kylie cleaning day and in fear of being vacumed or steam cleaned he left me to it.

I am usually not a person who loves to clean  - but these two friends are helping to make it easier.  DH was not overly impressed when I purchased the pink number, but as I told him he did not have to use it and it means that we have clean floors he is happy (our big vacum is on the large size and I find it hard to get it out and around the house and not destroy our furniture in this house, it gets to run over the floor once or twice a fortnight and everyone is happy) The steam mop is a recent purchase (from 4x4 show - why one needs one in a 4x4 s beyond me) we have a very good one also but found it hard to use with the kids around as it works on heating up the water and producing steam under pressure - it was an accident waiting to happen with the kids around. This one uses plain old tap water and is a breaze to us, my only gripe with it is I have to find the extension lead as it has the smallest cord.

Not sure what else the week is going to bring.  Some baking and a visit from my Grandparents are on the cards and the Uncle of the house is going to be put to use with his baby sitting skills (or lack of)  We have descided to excape to the movies one night this week.

Make sure you visit Lou's and check out what a few others are up to.

The week that was...

CRAZY.

What a week.  I can't believe how much we have been able to squeeze out of it.

We had Steph and her lovely little girl over for morning tea and a chat on Monday.  Looking forward to catching up again soon.  The two of us could talk with a mouthful of bread under water if ever required.

Tuesday morning we woke up, packed a lunch and drove up to Australia Zoo.  If you are ever in the area and have the chance I would highly recommend it.  We met up with my parents and our exchange student that had come back to Australia to visit an bring her parents to meet her Aussie Family. 

I ended up purchasing a yearly pass and we will be going back a few times over the next year.

The Wildlife Warriors (Steve Irwin' Widlife Hospital) is also on the same grounds and was worth the extra entry. I am going to get a few things knitted up before we head back (or sewn up) and donate to the hospital.

Wednesday saw us head back into the city.  Dermitoligist appointment for Baden, Lunch in Chinatown.  Home for a sleep and then back into Southbank for Dinner.  Home via the airport to pick up my brother.

We then had Mum and Dad stay for a few nights and on Saturday Amelia and I had a girls day out and went to Mathilda's Market.

Phew - told you it was a big one.  Going to sit down and enjoy a little knitting with the yarn that I bought on Monday afternoon after a quick visit into Tangled Yarns before I crash into bed. Still have my brother here for a few more days (he is stranded here with no flights heading to Europe)

*and Baden did come too - he must have just either been asleep or cranky when I was taking photos.

An Outback Milo

Taking a driving holiday gave me the chance to do a little knitting. 

I finished a three month old Milo for my cousin's little man while out at Charleville.  These photos are of it preblocked (I had to take the chance while I had it to, to get a photo of it with an old Austin)

I did the owl cable this time around and love the result.

 

Home...

From the gateway to the outback.

We swam in rivers that have not had water in them for years.

Saw the Bilby's and the weather ballon release in Charleville.

The kids managed to play in dirt in each stop.

Enjoyed a roast dinner in the camp oven.

and watched the sunset.

And 1500km's on the highway meant some knitting time for me.  More on that later.

Happy Easter

Hoping that the Easter Bunny (or Bilby) found you all today.

Amelia and Baden woke and had breakfast before a thud at the door and a flash from something furry though the window (they did not see him - he was too fast for them:)

Armed with their baskets from last year they went out to find what was hidden in the garden.

Eggs, Eggs and more Eggs before heading off to Church (the dress was loved and we recieved many comments and I had to lift a few jaws up off of the floor when they found out that I had indeed knitted it)

I finished knitting our little non-choc treat for the kids last night and both were thrilled with them.

Amelia's is a knitted mini-reversible Duck to Bunny  by Susan B. Anderson

And Baden's another pattern by Susan B. Anderson, the Rabbit. Complete with a tennis ball inside his stomach.  He has not put him down.

Both knitted in Spud and Chloe Sweater which is a blend and cotton in a 10ply.  It is lovely to knit with (these little creatures were actually a little test to see if I liked the yarn before buying enough to make a jumper for the little man)

Threads and More are the only stockists in Australia and also happen to be in Brisbane.

Hoping that everyone is enjoying their Easter Long Weekend.  We are heading west for a few days in search of a real life Bilby (not sure how sucessful we will be with the recent floods through) But I am sure that we will enjoy ourselves regardless.

The Pirate and his Princess

The kids were invited to a Pirates and Princess' Fancy Dress party yesterday and new costumes were required.

They both had a great time and Baden stayed dressed long enough to have his photo taken.

I tried freezer paper stenciling for the first time on the back of his vest. 

Amelia's dress was fiddly (I now know that I will be able to make a flower girls dress if ever required)  The sleeves need elastic in them (which I did not have at home and descided that I would just do it at a later date - considering that the dress did not exist until about 11pm on Friday night)

My Creative Space...

is full steam ahead this week.  I think that I would qualify for crazy crafting mumma awards if they were to ever start up.

We have had little rabbits jumping out of the oven and down toddlers mouths.  Baden has consumed his body weight of them today. The rest were packed up and Amelia took them along to Kinder to share with all of new little friends.

Preparing for a princess and pirates fancy dress party over the weekend.

A pile of goodies to be turned into a birthday present for the birthday girl

Rabbit's patiently waiting to be turned into bunting

Pointy sticks turning yarn into body parts for non-chocolate Easter treats.

and finally cuddles and kisses for this little man who is cutting his molar's (I was told by a wonderful old midwife when I had Amelia never to disturb a sleeping baby - he slept happily on the floor for two hours)

Fingers crossed I can get these all finished.

For more creative spaces be sure to check out the huge list over at Kootoyoo.