Shadow Shot Sunday

I thought that I would join in with this meme this week.

A shot of Eme, Tim, Baden and Amelia while camping last weekend.

Daffodils and Hoping...

As most of you would know today is Daffodil Day.  The Cancer Councils big fundraiser for the year.

Make sure you stop and pick up a bunch or a pen or a cute little bear if you find a stand at our local grocery store.  No, change that, hunt them down and find  bunch. 

We picked up a bunch today and Amelia is also going to take a flower each for her Kindergarten teachers.

Remembering those that we have lost and hoping and praying that they will one day find a cure for this not so silent killer.

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Do Daffodils get you thinking of Spring?

It is just around the corner and I am missing that we dont have our own popping out of the ground this year as we did last year. 

If you are finding something to do this weekend and hoping for a little sunshine on your back and in the Brisbane area maybe you would like to take a drive:
festiValley is on out at Samford on Saturday
and Sunday Newstead House is celebrating it's 164th Birthday with free cake with a Spring Affair

my creative space...

Still has this in it this week.  It is taking me longer that I hoped for - and silly me asked Amelia if she would like top or dress lengh - guess what she choose.  So knit, knit, knit I shall go.

I am also in the process of gathering supplies for the little miss' 5th birthday celebrations.   How on earth did she get to turning 5 so soon.

Thanks for visiting and if you haven't make sure you pop over to Kootoyoo's and see what else is happening in other's creative spaces.

At Our House...

We are home from a quick weekend getaway to the bush and today at our place is once again the sound of the enegy sucking electrical appliances (the weather has turned cold and overcast)

I am glad that we got out for the weekend (we almost did not go - but took the weatherman's advise of fine over the weekend with rain on Friday and Monday) We went to a new location this time and the kids had a great time.  The camp ground is well st up and has pleanty of flat places for the kids to ride there bikes (which provided hours of entertainment) 

Little to no knitting was done, as river and fire watching was on the agender for the weekend.

For more looks into what others are up to at there little homes - pop over and visit Buttons by LouLou

My Creative Space...

Looks a little like this today.

Lists and knitting -we are heading camping over the weekend - the days have turned warmer and Spring is in the air. And to help me out and make sure that we hopefully arrive with everything we need there is a list.

See you all next week. 

Enjoy your weekend and be sure to pop over here

Thankyou

Thankyou to all those who helped out and put in a bid in the little Auction that I had on the blog last week.

An extra special thanks to Steph and her family who put in the winning bid.

I recieved an email from Isobel's Mum who was thrilled and "speechless" of how wonderful and thoughtful someone could be who did not even personally know them would do such a beautiful thing.  It is my pleasure Dionne.

The new yarn has arrived and I am going to attempt to knit it in secret.  It is s hard to keep anything away from Amelia at the moment and she knows that it is her birthday soon andshe always gets something new for the occassion.

Blue Beach Top

Shop sample completed for American Yarns

A lovely quick little project or the upcoming cooler wether (we had a lovely warm day here yesterday and the sun is out again today - so Spring is just around the corner)

The yarn is Fibranatura Links.  I loved working with this yarn and if you are looking for a 10ply cotton for your Spring/Summer knitting that will not split - try this. It is 100% Organic Cotton, it's construction is amazing - it almost looks like an i-cord.

I will knit another of these for Amelia - she has requeted a pink one (we are going through a little phase at the moment)

Free Pattern at Lion Brand

Raveled

My Creative Space...

Do you ever have one of those weeks that your list of to-do's keeps growing by the minute and you don't seem to be getting much accomplished at all.  Well I am having one of those.

The man of the house is away this week. When this occurs I like to make a list of what I would like to achieve and have something to show when he returns (although, I seriously don't think he will care - his bones will be frozen after a week back country skiing, with very little sleep - jealous - MUCH!)

So after doing the chores as soon as the kids have been put to bed and they are dreaming their sweet little dreams, this Mumma should be able to sit and relax - but this week the mind is traveling to places where the wind is not howling and hoping that Spring is just around the corner.

I have frogged this more times than I wish to count and if it was not a test knit it would be banished back to a box and told that it could come out when it wants to play nice (if I followed the pattern (actually read it correctly the first, second or third time) there would be no need for it to be frogged so many times.

But isn't the colour just divine.

Wanting to start yet another project (and am stopping myself) MUST finish test knit first.  A wedding invite is always an excuse for a lovely yarn purchase.

and a few little squishy beanies - At least that is one tick on the list.

To find more inspiration and crafty goodness - go and join the fun over at Kootoyoo

Happy Birthday - to a knitting great

100 years ago a knitting marvel was born.

Knitting in the round and seamless garments were the brain child of Elizabeth Zimmermann. During a time when knitting was popular, she took it from knitting on two straight needles to flexible circular needles.

She was a knitting wizz and her mind never stopped.

I have tried a few of Elizabeth's patterns and I will go back and try them again.  You have to have your whits about you when you knit them as they are not written for a beginner and she assumes that you know what she is talking about and have an idea of pattern construction. I have found though that if you do as she says it will work out in the end (although her button placement instructions are usually left until it is too late and I have frogged and frogged again some patterns) 

She was famous for her saying of 'Knitting Without Tears' and Her motto:  "Knit on with confidence and hope, through all crises."

Happy Birthday Elizabeth and you are a knitting goddess.  May you live on in your knitting for another 100 years.

Elisabeth Zimmermann August 9th 1910 - November 30th 1999

At My House...

The playroom is finished.

It got worse, before it got better.

But I am pleased to say that it is finished and the kids are enjoying playing in their own little room.

I still need to find a table for the sewing machine and would like to do some decorating (some more cushions I think will be a start as I am enjoying sitting in there and knitting while they are playing)

I ended up taking the arm chairs out and have created a little reading spot with a few books (these also need recovering -oneday!)

Head over and see what is happening at other homes at Buttons By Lou Lou

The new dress and an Auction...

I know that you have all been waiting to find out the finner details of the sneak peak of the dress that I gave the other week.  Well the pattern has been released and I can now share it with you.

But before I do.  Would you like the chance to have this come and live at your house.  Here is your chance.

Amelia has kindly offered to give the dress up for Auction.  She has only had it on for photos and although loves it so much there is a little girl who needs some much needed funds.  (and she is on a promise for another and has already selected the colours)

Isobel is a little local girl who has was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at the age of eight months.  Friends of Isobel are raising funds to get Isobel over to Germany for a form of stem cell treatment that is not available here in Australia.  The procedure differs from most stem cell methods, it will use the cells from Isobel's own bone marrow.  This treatment has a significant chance of impoving Isobel's quality of life.  Now two, little Isobel can not sit, crawl, walk or talk and any return of basic motor skills will make a huge difference to this little girls life.

So, lets have ourselves an Auction.

The prize is this beautiful dress, sized 4-5 (21 - 23 inch chest) knitted by me. From 100% Australian Wool.
Purple in colour.  It sports two lace hearts and a dark purple contrasting hem and is 21inches long from the shoulder.

Team it with stockings and a skivvy or wear it by itself as the weather starts to warm up.

This is how it is going to work.

• This Auction is open to all readers world wide, please include your email address in your comment if you do not have a public profile page on your blog.
• All bids for the dress are to be in Australian Dollars and indicated in the comments section of this post.
• After you leave a comment indicating your bid, please tick the box that subscribes you to the comments from this post so you can stay informed of new bids.
• There is no limit to the number of bids on person can make.
• Bidding is open from NOW and will remain open until Tuesday 10th August at 4pm (Australian EST)
• The highest bidder is the winner and must make an online donation to Friends of Isobel. Via Direct Deposit or a paypal LINK, and then email me both a receipt of the donation and an address within 48hours of the end of the auction.
• Good luck to all - and thankyou from the bottom of our hearts.

Of course I am not going to stop anyone from donating, unfortunatly there is only one dress though.

Finally, the pattern details

Pattern: That 70's Dress by Anadiomena

Yarn: Bendigo Woollen Mills, Luxury.

Needles: 4mm ciculars in 40 and 60cm lengths.

Will I be making this again - a thousand yes's