Oh My! Where on earth did January go to? I feel I have done nothing but little squares for most of January :) however I did manage to complete my one per month challenge hosted by Chaletgirl.
At the start of January, this was the challenge I set myself .
One Maisie doll completed and although she is a little lopsided (see how one side is fat the other is thin ;) I am very impressed with my efforts!
Bring on the February Challenge
xxx
Resting up in bed, watching lots of TV my hands were itching, so I started on some more crochet blocks from this book: 
Traditional Granny – a block I’d already started in a bigger needle, but decided to follow the pattern in the book instead ;)
Into the Blue - Feeling chuffed with my earlier effort and impressed that I have somehow managed to make my crochet look neater, I moved on to a harder (for me) block:
Sunray - Still impressed, even though my 2 blocks weren’t quite the same size (whoops) I whipped up this one:
Coffee & Cream – inspired by the previous block, I decided on this one:
After this little bout of crocheting, I can now confidently say I am now acing both the treble (TC) and double crochet (DC). I have also learnt to adequately Half treble crochet (HTC) and have done at least one double treble crochet (DTC)
A mere 12 months ago, I couldn’t even chain on ~ now I’m working stitches like the pro’s ;)
I'm currently convalescing at home after a small procedure in hospital earlier in the week (and yes, I am ok!! Nothing serious - just a routine girly check up) so while I'm curled up at home and have baby sitters around the clock organised for my gorgeous Miss K, I've been taking some (much needed) time out to watch
Of course the brain is still ticking away & although I am trying to rest up in bed, I've been far from idle, crocheting up another four (4) blocks from 200 crochCVet blocks (photos to follow next week when I'm back on the big computer!) so it's been productive. Unfortunately the Dear Jane applique blocks sit in the corner waiting for me to take the plunge!
After sitting on my 12 blocks I received back as part of the Round Robin Swap, I finally settled on using Navy Fairy Frost (Michael Miller) for the sashings. I was taking a punt with this having neither seen the colour IRL nor having sashed a quilt in a dark sashing before.
Let me tell you how HAPPY I am I did take this punt :)
I LOVE IT! Originally I was going to just sash it in Navy and forget the white corner stones, but I think it needed it. I must say the navy with the corner stones have made each block pop even more, making it hard to choose a favorite!!! I love them all.
Thanks so much to all the girls who participated, I love my new quilt and can’t wait to do something like this once more *whistle*
Now to decided on binding colours… I think it needs more of the navy to bind it – what do you think?
Feeling very backward today. I have so much I want to do, but have done nothing. I blame the heat. I blame the headspace I’m currently trapped in. And now naptime is over. I’m managed sweet FA.
Crap.
But hey my desk is nearly looking like a desk once more ;)
Small steps. Small steps. Small Steps.
Since returning to work, my time seems to have been zapped in one foul swoop. Don’t get me wrong – I do love being back and I find it’s a happy balance (albeit time consuming when you add the drive) but my creative side is lacking. How can I be creative in only a mere few hours each week?
Wednesday is one of those rare mummy / daughter days where we go to mummies group and then come home where daughter sleeps for a few hours while mummy salvages a few hours to herself to do some crafting. But with the hours of sleep dwindling, my projects are too becoming smaller. Perhaps it’s because I know I won’t get a chance to touch said project again until Friday afternoon (swimming day = big sleep)
A million thoughts buzzing through my head of all I WANT to do, yet all I NEED to do is lost in this time zap phenomenon. So today I’m up and at it early.
Gooey ingredients in the pot by 7:45am in the hopes it will turn into something resembling a caramel… trust me to pick both a new (& therefore difficult recipe, until I get my head around words such as simmer and caramelize) and not to mention I don’t like caramel????
Photos to follow.
Squeezed in and around the caramel making are some writing from this book
Seriously people, stop giving me links to follow!!! I follow the link and become $$$ broker in the process. I’ve been writing again – in between. Where I can fit it, what more can I do with an active toddler by my side!
How Quick is crochet again? Seriously this took me two nights! I know, I know – you can finish them in one… but I’m a beginner to this craft and my gosh – I am so impressed with this block, it actually (nearly) looks up to the standard of the big girls crochet group ;)
If TIME permits, I may well be back with the outcome of my attempted caramel slice. Maybe another project underway, or maybe I will just prepare some hand sewing / crochet for my week spent lazing in bed next week. Maybe some toddler crafts. Maybe some more writing.
Time. is all I need.
The first 10 blocks for my long term DJ project are completed!!!
M10 – Simple Simon
B13 – Four Corner Press
A6 – Uncle Homer
A8 – Florence Nightingale
D13 – Field of Dreams
J6 – Granny Weaver
F7 – Star Struck
H7 – Bennington Star
E9 – Quilt Jail (love this block!!!)
E8 – Mama’s Maze
10 / 169 centre blocks
Total of 182 pieces
The annual Lifeline Bookfest is currently on at the Convention Centre in Brisbane. Of course yesterday when Mum rang wanting to catch up, it took very little effort to twist my arm and convince me to go along…
This year we made it to the high quality section only due to a certain toddler getting tired and cranky, again her pram came in very handy to carry the many, many books I managed to score ;)
for me… some light reading to add to the list of 50 in ‘10!
For the babe (but really they are for ME ;)
Some more goodies for the girl, most of these were picked out by Nan… can’t wait to try some of the art ideas!!!
This little beauty found on the rare / collectable table
It is so old the leather is all cracked and the pages are well thumbed – what a score for only $7!
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Of course Now I am in serious need of a de-clutter…. any ideas on book storage? I am half considering buying another bookcase for the ‘formal’ living area because I seriously have no room on my already overbulging bookcase and not to mention the daughters bookcase too ;)
Our enid blyton collection is growing fast…
I’ve been seeing lots of small squares of late ~ I’ve been plodding along on my Dear Jane work in progress.
Completed
9 / 169 - Centre Blocks
You can follow my progress chart in the side bar (or on my flickr!) I am thinking I will blog an updates every 10 blocks or so! But I just have to show you this one:
Yes you can see 5” on either side of this block. With 35 pieces to this block, it was teeny tiny and very fiddly. Especially when I am still trying to sort out my new machine :)
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This gorgeous book arrived in my mailbox on Tuesday and I couldn’t wait to start hooking away with all the girls in the flickr group here. Of course my blocks will be nowhere to the level of expertise of these girls… but I need some small projects to do after work days!
My first completed block!
Block 19 ~ Lacy Cross
I bought a pattern kit from Tangled yarns to make a Retro Tea Cozy way back here. I’ve put it in the basket with my wool supplies to get to someday… when I have more experience with crochet.
Well I pulled it out after Christmas and started hooking. I think I did something wrong…
It’s far too long for my little tea pot… (picture here sitting on a tall tin (the teapot bottom is about 2 rows below the bottom cream round ;)
Yet too narrow to place around my big teapot…
Oh well – I like it and it’s pretty cool for my first attempt at an actual pattern.
Sophie is having a gorgeous giveaway over on her blog! Oh I want to win this one so bad (so don’t go and sign up k’?) I’m really on a brooch kick of late!
Re-read is having a weekly giveaway too!
I’m currently waiting on 7 parcels to arrive in the mail (4 of which are books – but generally sent separately) I think the mailman is shirty with me since I nearly accosted him last time I was awaiting one parcel… wait till he hears I am on the lookout for SEVEN!
Today I got crafty and cut out and made a start on my one per month challenge! No pictures yet – I’m just too darn lazy!
So I leave you with a page of my Wreck This Journal
The shower scene (not THE Physco Shower scene mind)
It was storming and bucketing down last Sunday – to the point I daren’t start the sewing machine, so I threw my book into the rain and watched it soak through
Surprisingly it didn’t totally wreck it like I thought it would… It’s definately renewed my enthusiasm!
Chaletgirl is having a year long challenge ~ one per month from a gorgeous craft book!
This challenge appeals to me as I have many, many beautiful craft books in my sewing room ~ yet sadly have not done any crafts from most of them!
So January I’m setting myself the challenge from More Softies…
Of course ~ how can I go past this little cutey…
My Nan always said… what you do on New Years Day ~ you will do for the rest of the year… she always made time to sew on New Years Day.
This year I decided to SEW and BLOG… guess you will be seeing a lot of me throughout 2010 ;)
My Christmas Present from DH (picked out by ME)
January 1st…
Block: Happy New Year
I realise that I totally SUCK at template piecing. I’m hoping as the year goes on I can master the art of template piecing (or throw in the towel completely!!!)
Any hints for template piecing will be greatly appreciated if you care to share!
