The Ripply Adventure

26th July, 2012… I started a new project. A ripple blanket following the pattern so kindly shared by Attic24 - if you do follow her pattern; be sure to follow it line for line and the practice piece is an awesome suggestion - I highly recommend you do one first just to get the flow of the ripples.  

I used cheap Big W Carnival Acrylic yarn for this project - partly because my craft budget wasn't exactly flush at the time and buying lots of wool in $20 increments was far easier to squeeze into my self imposed craft budget. Even though I opted for the cheap wool - I will definitely use it again for other projects. Especially for bigger projects. It isn't super soft like some Acrylics, but that just makes those ridges and valleys stand out more. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each row has 308 stitches (Plus 3) which has given me a measurement of 70" in width (I had originally betted on it being 72" - but obviously my crochet was a little tighter than my practice piece) I used 2 rows per colour for the full blanket and each band of colour took me over an hour to complete (usually 1.5 episodes of Dawson's Creek or Buffy - no ads to give you a correct indication of time… its no wonder I managed to finish all 6 seasons!)

My colours are worked up in bands of 6 colour then 1 white band to break it up. I did try to make sure it was a fairly even spread of colours without doubling up.  As I initially only purchased 1 ball of each colour; I had to work up 3 sets of colour before working out that each ball of wool yielded just over 8 rows (4 bands) of colour. I decided to buy a 2nd ball of each colour and crochet 8 bands of colour in total - which gave me a final length of 84" - just perfect to cover my whole body when I'm lazing on the couch at night!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This blanket is already well travelled. In its infancy it travelled into Brisbane several times and even had the awesome Mrs B work a few trebles. It flew to Sydney & back for Camp K - for that trip it was just big enough to barely cover my body - it still took up half a suitcase!

It travelled to my folks house on one or two occasions where my mum told me she would start one soon. I'm still waiting to see that eventuate mum ;) maybe you need me to buy you the wool :P

It came up into the mountains to Quilt Camp of Awesome where I barely managed a row and a half.

And it visited friends houses on many occasion - but mostly it stayed in a pink basket beside the lounge; where I worked on it most nights. Except during summer. It stayed in the basket mostly untouched for about 3 months ;)  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This blanket was truly a labour of love. A whopping 97 bands of colour (remember I said each band of colour was just over an hour… that is a huge 97 hours of work. Completed in approximately 42 weeks)

194 rows of trebles - 308 trebles per row. That is 59,752 trebles completed.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After all those hours, all those stitches - do I still love it? I do. I do. It is truly one of the best projects I've ever made! Though I do think a certain little person might be fighting me for the blanket if these cold nights keep up (yes Miss Dove - less than 10 is COLD!) 

And the best thing about this pattern - there aren't that many ends to tie in. I weaved mine in as I stitched then went back every 20 or so and tied them off. So by the time I got to the finish - it was FINISHED. No loose ends (which I am prone to do at times ;) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The big question now is what to start next. Already Miss K has asked for one of her own. I have the go ahead from DH to buy a Lucy Pack if I so wish, but for some reason - I am hanging back - I want the next blanket to be as AWESOME as this one is. I want to feel the same amount of love for the next one that I feel for this one - because that passion makes it worth EVERY SINGLE HOUR spent rippling along.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A total of 11 colours + White have been used.
2 balls of Lime / Jade / Mint / Yellow / Candy / Pale Pink / Denim / Lt Blue / Turquoise / Purple
1 ball Dark Purple (this must have been a last stock colour and I couldn't find anymore so had to settle for a different purple)
3.5 balls of White

24.5 balls of colour @ $3 each (approx) total cost $73.50

Weekend Wrap

A small view of my weekend; through the eye of my iPhone. 

A final 3,696 crochet stitches were added to my colourful ripple. I darned in the last end last night (stay tuned for a blog post on the huge FINISH!)  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finding 5mins to sit & play with my new pack of Prisma Pencils (early birthday gift) LOVING how smooth and creamy they are! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quilt Guild with like minded souls. Realising I had only cut out half the cream squares required for this quilt. Bugger 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A bright sunny afternoon of sewing. I managed to piece together 120 HST which I will hopefully turn into a table runner. As you do. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This morning has been spent ironing the pile of HST. Oh such FUN {insert appropriate sarcasm here}

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A colourful weekend that flew by far too quick. Today I have a million and one things on my to do list and time is ticking by fast. What was your weekend like? 

Mothers Day ~ 2013

I am happy to receive a small hand made (or hand picked) gift for Mothers Day. In recent years I have been given a book and one DVD and this is more than sufficient. To the point - I believe I've received the same Book (Sookie Stackhouse) & same DVD (TrueBlood) for two years running! Both newly released right on time for Mothers Day.

Except for this year. The book has been released, but since I am slowly moving toward ebooks, I will likely order it when the price comes down for my eReader. The DVD is not released until NEXT week. All of which is a long winded way of saying that as my 'usual' present wasn't available - we had to do some unexpected shopping.  

Last Sunday we headed out for lunch and a spot of shopping where I grabbed two pink Penguin Classics. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I blame Miss Dove - she somehow managed to get a few of us into the Lizzie Bennet Diaries (a modern day adaption to Pride and Prejudice) over on you-tube. This is all good and well but I've never read the original books and feel a bit fraudulent - so I decided it WILL happen. 

There was nothing much else that I really wanted so I suggested to hubby that I would buy myself a new purse as mine had finally busted after 4 years use! This was all fine; but there may or may not have been a new handbag that also came home with me.

{There also may or may not have been insufferable eye-rolling antics from said husband as he discovered the Bag shop bag was a wee bit heavier an bulkier than a mere purse} 

Anyhow… this post is NOT about the new bag. This post is about my new camera!

I've been wanting a new point & shoot camera that I can throw into my everyday handbag (see above) and as my old one continually goes flat and is practically vintage in the connection to the computer (to the point, the Mac won't recognise it - so really its just a PITA and and totes superceded!)

After a quick look and minimal research (as you do) and remembering that this extra camera is purely hobby related - I didn't want to spend exorbitant prices. Luckily I dropped by our local Dick Smiths and found an Olympus Tough TG-820. Runout Model - last one on the shelf. And a whopping $200 OFF! Making this little beauty less than $100. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Telling my husband about the camera, I left it in his capable hands and suggested it would make a good birthday present (seeing how there is a little over a week in between the two) I was NOT expecting to open this on Mothers Day as well as my new bag & purse! But open it I did.

Its not the Bees Knees in the camera world but two things it has going for it that appeal to me is Shock Proof. Aside from tossing it off a cliff and hoping for the best - it will take bumps and knocks while residing in my hand bag. It is also waterproof up to 10M - which means come summertime I can have a play with it and see what shots I can get in the pool. As well it will be suitable for the beach!  I'm pretty happy with it! 

I haven't had much chance to play with it yet, and as with any new equipment it takes awhile to work out the different settings, but here's a few little photos I've taken so far. 

Macro Function 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Magic function (no idea if this is just supposed to be a Lomo type feel?) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pretty New Watercolours 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Possibly the reason I'm not getting ANY crafty stuff done at the moment 

Weekend Wrap

A Weekend Wrap up according to my iPhone.

Friday night saw me settling on the couch, too exhausted to ripple another row but curling up beneath my colourful rug ready to read a light romance. Until I discovered my eReader was dead flat. Bum. Bum. Bum.

Instead I went to bed and started reading Breakfast at Tiffany's. A penguin classic I bought purely because I love, love, love the penguin covers. I'm enjoying it, but it did get shelved when the eReader was fully charged with the new Country Romance.       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday was a HUGE day for us, spending the morning shopping with my mum & dad (hello new art supplies) followed by lunch to celebrate Mothers Day. Followed by dinner at my besties - complete with strawberry vodka cocktails. Yes, yes. Photos of the BEFORE would have been much more classier!     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mothers Day yesterday was spent with an exhausted little girl who after a restful morning on the couch; found boundless energy in the form of her new black and pink sparkly converse fakes! Isn't she a fashion statement!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of course it would be wrong of me NOT to supervise, so I curled up in the sun and read a little more of my book. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was some art journalling happening. I'm enjoying playing with colours and patterns and working out that a coat of gesso tones down the brightness. Girls faces are popping up left right and centre - I don't know why, but I'm enjoying the process.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lists…

When it comes to housekeeping, some people just "have it" 

Me… not so much. I admit that I struggle to remember the little things. Over the past few months I've tried incorporating daily lists back into my life. I've discovered I work well to lists. I've tried lists from all my favourite organising and domestic gurus… you know who you are Mrs Skip ;) but there was always things I needed done differently. Things that will only work FOR ME and MY HOUSE. 

After laminating and trialling several different sheets for different things (at one point I had a Daily To-Do List, a daily cleaning chore list, morning routines, afternoon routines and weekly jobs) I got to the point that I was forever flicking back and forward and it was frustrating me no end.

So last week as my Daughter sat and did homework, I collated my information from each page and added them to a day of the week and I have come up with a simple solution that after a week - seems to be working.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's not overly pretty yet, but for this stage I was aiming for something basic and functioning. I will add the pretty stuff later (once I'm settled on this routine) plus I will be fixing up those boxes that didn't line up! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each day of the week has the same sections and I'm thinking a 2 week roster is in order to get through my tasks - without overloading myself in the process. While it may not seem like *much* to those of you who ARE domesticated gurus. For me? Well I needed to focus on smaller tasks in order to survive the next few months of studying and work. This seemed to be the happy medium and so far it is working. BONUS!  

It is broken down as follows:  

1. Daily Tasks - These are the same tasks repeated every day of the week and YES I do have to list "New TeaTowel" and "Empty bins" two small jobs I know need to be done - but for some reason they are always walked past :O

2.  Weekly Tasks - this area covers Floors and Washing.  With an occasional odd job thrown in (e.g. Fridays has the extra Bins In; Mondays has Pack Swimming Bag etc)  

3. Target Room - I've picked a room out for each day and have listed between 6 - 8 tasks that *must* be done for each room. The following fortnight will list other items. 

4 & 5. De-clutter Areas, Organising Areas - which will remain blank until such time I can pull the surface of this house back into shape.  

6. Study / Creative Life - Weekdays I am trying to blog more, so I've listed each of these plus a little time to study each day. 

7. Ten Minute Blitz. At the moment my 10 min blitz is on two rooms. The dreaded Toyroom and Miss K's bedroom. 

8. A to-do List - for all those extra things that pop up in between times. 

Do you work to a list? Tell me do you use any from the internet and what works for YOU? 

May Goals…

I've already lamented about April flying by so fast. With Easter break, a 2 week school holiday and a public holiday thrown in for good measure… not to mention catch ups, birthdays, outings and LIFE. It got a bit crazy and it was 2 week into the month before i quickly drew up a messy list of goals on my whiteboard.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Surprisingly in the 2 weeks I had I was rather productive - managing to finish Activities for two tutorials PLUS a full tutorial in photography. As well the activities for one tutorial in writing. I was pretty pleased with this effort as it now brings me to half way through the theory side of the photography course. Now I need to start collating photos to submit.

Since the messy goals board seemed to work in April. I decided to redo a new list for May.

I've gone through the calendar and allocated hours each week and have a HUGE list of activities, tutorials and assignments I want to complete (or at least prepare)   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since writing this list, I have managed to cross off the first Tutorial on my Photos list. And of course add another list of activities to be completed. I FINALLY feel as though I am in control of this whole study thing. Now to keep the momentum flowing as I am gearing up for another month of writing in June - that is if I don't crash first! 

I figure by blogging my intended goals - it will help me stay focused on the month ahead. Wish me luck! 

3 baskets full of Overwhelmed.

Do you get moments in life where you are so overwhelmed, you can't find your motivation anywhere? I had one of those last week. Everything just seemed too much to contemplate until I fell in a heap. Its times like that you need to pull back from life. From everything in it and look at it with fresh eyes. Its moments like those, I take small even steps to help balance myself back on track and then ta-dah my motivation returns. 

For me… being overwhelmed is when the housework has piled up around me and I can't see clearly where to start. Usually its a small matter of clearing the dining table and I'm good to go, but when it gets to the magnitude it did last week. I had to devise something to make it appear less gigantic. 

So this here is the story of 3 baskets full...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you may have gleaned I LOVE cheap shops. I think I actually inherited this love from my late Nan - she would go there each week and always buy some obscure item. Generally you could bet you would receive at least ONE item from the cheap shop as part of your birthday gift ;) she was a gem!

I found these baskets for $2 at my local and bought ONE as I figured it might come in useful for when I fold and sort the clothes.  Rather than continue to use my big washing basket - which is always has clean washing in it when I need it to hang out a new load. Clean washing ends up on the lounge, the dog snuggles in. Clean washing = dirty washing. Story. Of. My. Life. 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lucky for me MIL was headed to the same shop 2 days later, so I asked her to grab me another 2 baskets in different colours. 

Now each of us has a basket. Green for me. Pink for Her. Blue for Him. I sort the clothes into each basket then it literally takes me 5 mins as I'm walking past to fold that persons clothes and put them away. Previously folding had become a chore. Now folding is FUN! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No longer are my couches covered in clothes from one end to the other and no longer does the dog have a ready made bed to snuggle into ;) better yet, I have been using the baskets between times to collect junk from one room to take to another and as a keep / rubbish / donate system when de-cluttering areas. It may not be the best $6 I've EVER spent, but it comes pretty darn close!  

Today's fill in post bought to you by my crazy mind and my need to get organised for good.  

Art Journalling…

I am collecting art supplies faster than I can use them! Over the weekend Miss K and I pulled out my art suitcase 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When she saw what I was doing, she decided that she needed a matching suitcase of art supplies. Once we finish that - I will be sure to share a photo!

We had fun together testing out some of my new paints - I really want to track more of these down they were *that* much fun!
Even though she had her own book, she got all excited and started painting in MY Art Journal. Painting flowers and drawing love hearts and kisses and hugs. How could I resist. I decided to let her create and we would end up with a collaboration page. I had fund playing with my copies and Spectrum Noir pens and while the page is NOT a masterpiece. I love that we created it together! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A face even started emerging from the page. Though I will admit to going a bit bossy like when Miss K decided she wanted to also draw on the face. I CAN DRAW THE EYELASHES MUM. Um NO. Mind you looking at her close up… perhaps I should have let her help me ;)  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday a new book arrived from Book Depository and while in a perfect world, I would have opened it to have a play - I didn't get enough time between school run and swimming lessons. Perhaps I can spare a few moments over the weekend for a little colourful play and creativity. 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do your children have their own Art Journal?  

How many washi is too many?

Over the weekend, I was trying to sort out my art supplies (which frankly are from one end of my craft room to the other) and I realised how many rolls of washi tape I had collected over the years. 

Storage solutions were a bother. Too many to fit into my travelling suitcase; too many to fit in my top desk draw - and these suckers roll. Everywhere. 

Last week I had a brainwave that a toilet roll holder would be perfect. Of course when you need a specific toilet roll holder at the shops you cannot find one, so I went to the op shop. Okay so I did have a few qualms about a USED toilet roll holder. I thought it wouldn't hurt to have a look around. 

The op shop had ONE toilet roll holder that was missing a top and it was balanced precariously under a hospital metal toilet seat pee collector pan (you know those ones they make you collect your pee in post op / catheter then pour pee into a bucket to measure it) EWWW! but seriously though - WHO DOES THAT? WHO DONATES A PEE SEAT TO AN OP SHOP???   

Moving Along. No way was I going to touch that contraption to get to the roll holder…  at this stage after being thoroughly grossed out - I decided that a used toilet roll holder was perhaps NOT the best avenue to take. 

Luckily in the next aisle I managed to find two coffee cup holders. For the bargain price of $1 each! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They don't hold ALL my tape, but I thought they were good value & I can take several rolls out to work with at a time. Of course now I have them here I'm planning on sanding them back and re-painting them! 

Since this STILL didn't solve my solution for storage - I found an old cookie tin for $1.50

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They are so pretty lined up together in there!

 

365 Writing…

At the end of 2012, I lamented that I missed my daily journal writing. My current journal was started on 27 December 2010 and has followed me through some of the toughest of times. Yet I pulled away. I wrote when I REALLY needed to write. I just didn't write nearly enough.

When one of my lovely friends linked up a picture to a set of Moleskine Journals. 12 journals all different colours; my heart went into overdrive. At a small A5 size, they create the perfect little space to write a few words every day.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So it was a #challengeaccepted. Four months of the year down, each day a small record of what happened or how I felt. I am waving goodbye to April with nearly four books filled to the brim with my words.

Words scrawled and scribbled. Sometimes neat. Most times not.

A small title on each day because thats how I felt like starting each page. 

Moments of life written; wrapped in a flurry of verbs and adjectives, captured forever - a small part of our future.  

April has been an outright challenge to write daily. There has been more than a few days I've missed in a row - though I have made the time to go back and fill in ALL the blanks (I blame the school holidays and public holidays for my tardiness)

I'm ready for May and more words to add to my growing pile of life stories.