Rolling into the holidays...

 Here we are just about to finish off this school term. I really feel that the term has flown.

Crafting has mainly been that of the woolly kind. Holidays should make for some creative inspiration and I'm looking forward to working on some of my neglected projects.

I have managed to finish off two woolly projects and a sewing project

the neglected blanket was completed and in an effort to use up the scraps I had to buy some more wool to add to those lovely little scraps. so another knee blanket was completed but guess what .... there are still leftovers. I'll just keep hooking till there is only a tiny amount left.

this is how the leftovers started to come together....

the finished scrappy blanket

this quilt was completed and gifted. I really enjoyed making this quilt and even have toyed with making another one for me.

this little May Gibb's themed baby quilt was completed a few weeks ago. It had been languishing waiting for a border.

Now I know that it's only September but....... 1st of September is the day that my favourite elf on the shelf store opens for the year. Of course some new accessories were purchased and a new little elf jumped into the basket too. Looking forward to the antics they will get up to this year.

Happy days

Marina

crochet happiness

 This poor crochet project was abandoned for awhile as I wasn't enjoying the colours that much, when I did pick it up again I didn't realise but I had picked up a larger crochet hook! I had done about twenty rows when I realised that my blanket was putting on some weight - it had grown in width by about two inches. Well as they say if you can live with it let it be but no not me. I tried to undo it but it wasn't working so I just cut off the wider part and put it aside. 

Some of the wool has been pilfered to make granny squares but this week I decided to give it another go as there was a decent amount of the throw at the right size and it seemed wasteful to not give it a bash.

With the cold weather we have been having it is a lovely lap warmer.  Who knows it may get finished albeit a little smaller than intended.

Pattern is from Attic 24 - Harbour CAL

Lovely Hellebores have flowered again this year. Such pretty flowers.

Happy days

Marina

June already!

 I can't believe May has passed by soooooo quickly. I must say my good intentions of hand quilting has hit a brick wall thanks to some pain in my shoulder and arm but I have turned my attentions to some woolly creations. A work colleague that I made the previous pink and green scarf asked if I could make her another. At first she requested sunset colours but when we looked on line she chose another pink with a splash of magenta and purple.  It came together quickly and just needs the little dangly bits made and attached.

while I was in the swing of crocheting I figured I should start my own project of a shawl type scarf. I started the pattern I had selected a few times and couldn't get it to work properly so decided to track down the pattern of a beautiful shawl that I had seen at a little craft shop in Healesville when I met up with Fiona and Liz. Through the beauty of online shopping it was promptly accessed and after a few rocky starts it was up, up and away. There has been a lot of frogging but I am being quite pedantic and checking my rows have the correct amount of stitches each time.

The pattern gets a little lost with the variegations but it's looking ok I think.

When I first learnt crochet from my mum I was taught that there was a front and reverse side to crochet. Whenever I look at other people's work it seems that it isn't a 'thing', and I put it down to my pedantic nature when it comes to crafting and the way I was taught lol.

The pattern above does identify rows by front and back rows - so it may not be just me?

What do you guys think?

This pic shows the front and back sides

Left is the front                                                                      right  is the back

would love to hear from others 

Have a great day

Marina

Saturday with friends

I had a lovely catch up yesterday at Patch and Quilt in Gisborne with sewing friends.

Most of us go back to when there  used to be quarterly get togethers at Mill Rose Cottage. They were great get togethers and where the city girls bonded with the Gisborne girls. Many of the originals  have moved on to other things for whatever reasons and there is still a small group that get together. Sadly most of the bloggers amongst us no longer blog, I think I may be the only one to and even then I seem to forget to get fotos of the day to blog about! 

Mary's shop is always a great place to visit and you can count on a laugh or two.

Sadly I didn't do much crafting as my water bottle leaked over the stitcheries I had planned to work on and it also wet all the pages in the folder of patterns. I worked a little on a stale project that is well on the way to a completion so it all worked out well.

A few purchases were made of course

This has only a few more rows to go..... My favourite scarf pattern, I have used many times. This will go to a work colleague. Barb was admiring the pattern which coincidentally was purchased from one of the early Mill rose get togethers. 

We both purchase this same hank of wool, not knowing the other had bought it so we are going to see if we can have a scarf complete by next get together. I have chose this design and Barb will be using the pattern above.

Of course some fabric loveliness came home with me too. I had admired this coloured Tim Holz fabric on Mary's instagram and had to have some. The other fabric just had to come home with me too. Can never have too many positive affirmations.
 

A happy Mother's day to all those mums out there.

Tonight the masses will converge for feasting and merriment lol

Happy days!!

Marina

September

 Good intentions just weren't enough and just like that it's mid September.

Some progress has been made on the usual projects and School holidays started this week.  All my hopes for social catch ups and sewing have been crushed thanks to our old friend Covid. I started to be unwell last Wednesday and thought I just had a flu as Covid tests showed a negative result but low and behold on Saturday I tested positive. It explained why I felt so bad. I am on the improve a little each day but I seem to feel to fatigued after very small exertions. That's life !

I do have some pics of the progress that has been made in the past month to share though.....

the next row is ready for the Who's who at the zoo....

Next hometown block done and the third prepped.

More crochet happening this is the third scarf being made. I love how the colours unfold.

Some squares for an un-yet decided project

two more blocks have been done from the owl and hare set. I still don't know how these will go together yet. 

That's me caught up and hopefully if I feel better I'll get to make some more progress on my works.

Happy days

Marina

August

 Wow we are half way through August 

Where did that go? 

My hands have not been idle and I have been dabbling in different projects.

A work colleague was commenting on a scarf I made each time I wore it so I thought I would make her one. It came together quickly and she was so excited that I had made her one.

I only took a photo at the start...

Two more blocks of Owl and Hare have been completed and I was tempted by another little stitchery project I saw online. Of course I had to start it and a sewing day with the City girls and Gisborne girls at Kilmore quilters was the perfect time to make a start. It was a lovely day spent with crafty friends.

Both projects are enjoyable to work on  and I am trying to use different embroidery stitches that I might not usually use.

My Christmas Trees quilt has been finished. I used pearl 8 thread for the quilting and that came together a little rough in places but it's part of the charm. My two nine patch quilts are being basted by the lovely Tracee at Hummingbird quilting so that will mean two more hand quilting projects. Don't know what I am thinking??? 

Happy days...

Need to get back to some applique projects- think I'll concentrate on those this week..

Marina

(at work we have a tank with Green tree frogs. Last week we had to clean their tank. Think this fella approves of his nice clean tank. The smile says it all.

back to the grind

 It's been three weeks back at work and my blogging intentions have been impeded by the daily grind.

Not that there isn't anything to share........ just after working at a computer all day it's not something I want to be doing once I get home.

The sun is shining in Melbourne today and there is time to share my bits and bobs.

first off I'll share some new starts..

First block of this project came together pretty quickly. The joys of large pieces

Next is my Owl and Hare stitcheries. I have had the printed linen sitting there for quite a bit and thoguth now is the time to start it. It's been a long time since I have done a stitchery project. I consider my Petite poche more an embroidery project.

lovely stitcheries to work on, not quite sure how they will come together but there is plenty of time to decide that......

Nearly all the trees have had some quilting around them.... Then the borders will need some quilting too. More big stitches with pearl thread. Lovely

Some crochet distraction happening too.... using up some leftovers.

and finally a little blanket for Little Miss' toy pram. Peppa Pig approved!

Finally some pics from a visit by my little festive friends who popped in for Christmas in July at work....

Up to their usual shenanigans..

Happy days

Marina

lovely labels and something new

 My favourite things blocks have been put aside for now as I need to prep the latest blocks but lots of circles have been getting appliqued to surround my monsters. No photo at the moment but will definitely get there.

I thought I would share some labels that have been done in the past few months for quilts that were gifted. the first was for a friend that is going through some health issues and the second for a close friend who has become a nanna for the first time.

Did I mention that I started another new project while I have been absent? oops....

Last holidays a friend and I took a trip to Gisborne and stopped in to Mary's shop, it is one of my favourite shops to visit. This pattern just seemed to jump into my hand, you know how it is?

Earlier this month I decided to get the second pattern book of Australian native flowers to add variety to my blocks. Liberty and Tilda stash is being used for the orange peels and they look quite pretty. I also thought it would be a great way to incorporate some of my doilies that I had found while op-shopping.  I think they lend themselves well to this project.

My embroidery skills are a little rusty but I am enjoying revisiting those skills and I am hoping they will continue to improve as I learn new stitches too.

My crochet blanket has been a great pick up and go project to do while I am babysitting and my little princess is sleeping. It is growing nicely and is a perfect project for the cooler weather.

There is another princess that thinks crocheting a blanket is a good idea too!

Poppy insisted on being on my lap while I was working on the blanket last night, only her ear was sticking out lol. The girls do like their creature comforts.

Happy Days!

cheers

Marina