my creative space

this week i have been making water bottle holders, thanks to the inspiration from the australian homesewn mag.

i'm not sure how it works in your house but here, when the family sees you're onto a good thing look out!

So i made one for our youngest which then got hijacked by my husband who took it to work (and got teased but didn't care). Then I made another for my cousins boy in usa. Then the neighbour came over and saw them and she wanted one too! Then the twins were watching keenly to see if there's were next...lol

I managed to make 8 this week. They are really great for keeping the water bottles cool and soaking up the condensation, keeping whatever is in your bag dry not soggy. I can get a 1.5l water bottle in mine.

And HERE are some more creative spaces

my favourites

The past few weeks have been so hectic, organising new school gear, playgroups, daycare, sports etc. My friend who i made the crochet blanket for had a baby girl and she loved it.
Now, I'm going to have a rest before starting the next blanket.

Iv'e been thinking about my mum today and thought i'd post some happy thoughts...

Here are some things that I love...



I love this sign found in the Toodyay butcher shop window...

makes me laugh every time... a sign put up in the butcher shop looking for their missing sheep.




I love this china doll my mother bought me when i was 10. she was hand made by her friend





even the lace and her socks & shoes are hand made





and her beautiful hand painted face. i wish i could get one for my daughter too.





I love finding pretty things in unexpected places...





I love the beach... but not in summer













And finally, i love edamame...mmmm





chilli & garlic... just like wagamama :)

time to get back to it

And a new school year begins tommorrow so it's time to get back to reality...

No more sleep ins or popping down to the shop mid week.
Time to get seriously organised again for another year and somehow keep the house running smoothly while my husband may or may not be around, he does that, sometimes he's here sometimes not. That's the nature of his work.
Life goes on regardless, so after dman & I drop everyone off to start their new year i'll be back home organising my diary and figuring out how to keep everyone happy and fitting in time for myself. Haven't had much of that lately but I promised myself this year I need to take better care of myself. And so I will.

Oh wow, that was serious... now for the fun stuff...
I did a MMAM swap on swap bot a little while ago and we had to send some pretty mail.
2 people flaked so I offered to send one to them. I used THIS lovely ladies envelope stencil and an old fairy tale book from the oppy. I think they look pretty. My gorgeous daughter made a pretty envelope too. Her friends better look out... I think she's hooked... she thought it was fabulous that you could make your own... who'd have thought? Home made envies!!







And now for the drum role......

My first ever crocheted baby blanket. This is for a friend who is due very shortly and has no clue what the babie's sex is. So old fashioned, but exciting just the same. This is the reason behind my colour scheme :) The pattern is called Red Heart Lacy Squares here's the pattern if you like.

now i know how to crochet...

So what have i been doing with all my spare time in between packing up the house to move, christmas, the road trip to townsville and moving in and unpacking at our new place?

Well crochet of course! I'm so glad i taught myself to crochet, it has kept me occupied while my husband watches countless episodes of star trek voyager, i think he watched a whole series over the christmas break. Well, it was his christmas gift from the kids... and mine was these super cute crochet hooks.




Learning how to crochet was something iv'e always wanted to do. I never really apreciated those granny blankets until now, now i know the effort required to make them.
So before I left Brisbane I stocked up on a ridiculous amount of yarn from american yarns...



And I crocheted my heart out.
At present i know 3 pregnant ladies who i'm sure would all adore a lovely handmade baby blanket.
And even with all that yarn i still managed to run out. So i had to abandon these ones until some more supplies arrived in the mail from brisbane.



I moved on and made some more squares, these are cotton, i fell in love with this yarn, i think this one will stay at my house.



And then i ran out of that yarn and found some eco recycled baby coloured yarn from spotlight, yes, not really spoiled for choice here.
So i'm nearly finished the first baby blanket. only have 17 more cream sqaures to make and then piece together.
Oh and the baby has a birthdate already, he/she will be born next week so i don't have long to get it done.



I will post shortly the finished product. nothing like a timeline to get you motivated :)

Welcome New Year

Happy New Years to you!

We went out to beautiful Crystal Creek today.

The weather was a little showery but nothing you can't handle when the temp is 31c





The clouds were covering the hills...



Little Crystal Creek Bridge






We then went a little further on down to Big Crystal Creek



Dman & I got our feet wet (it was pretty cold) while fox tried to find a cache nearby



It's so pretty out there. When the twins return from Perth we will bring them out here, they will just love it.