Knit 4 Charities

Some of you may not know that I belong to an online group of ladies & men called Knit4Charities (K4C) who knit & crochet for charity. One of July's focus groups was the Thompson Ward at the Traralgon Hospital.

Here's what I made to support this focus group. Final total is 9 premmie cardigans and 27 beanies. I'll be posting them of today. I'm so pleased with how they turned out (~_~)

If you'd like to learn more about the Knit4Charities group please go HERE. You can also contact Pamela (Pam) Tatt, the lovely lady who started this group. Her contact details are on the K4C website.

Finished Item - Crochet Baby Top

Ta Da. Another finished item. I think I'm beginning to get the hang of crocheting baby clothes. I just hope I haven't jinxed myself now :P
This is what I had been working on for the past couple of days. I finished it last night.

I didn't exactly follow the pattern for the bottom. It was meant to be in white but I thought that the red would suit it better & I changed the pattern a little bit too. Call it artistic license (~_~) I think the red makes that white yarn pop a little more.

Here's a close up. It looks good doesn't it  (~_o) 

I still have loads of baby yarn to use up. So I'll be making some more baby items. I love how they don't take too long to whip up.
It's not like I don't have babies to make them for. Little Ellie-Rose is almost 3 weeks old now & should be able to come home from hospital this week, fingers crossed. Moya-May was 9 months old last week. Time surely has flown since she was born. She's almost walking now! At least I have little ones to make things for. My boys are 'too grown up' to wear stuff Mum makes. Well maybe they will wear some things like gloves & scarves but that's about it.

Oh well .. I'm off to catch up on some of my recorded shows and do some more hooking.

Someone Has A Long Weekend

What is it with schools having school closure days all the time? I don't remember my school ever doing that when I was a student. Maybe they did I just don't remember. Angus has the day off school tomorrow, the lucky duck! He's off at a mates place right now having a sleep over. At least he's getting a break from home.

Now we can have all those yummy foods he doesn't like. Thinks like corn, peas, beans and mushrooms! Yum! Silly boy doesn't know what he's missing!!

WIP: Crochet Baby Top

I am hoping this is 3rd time lucky. I was trying to send this from my phone...

I almost forgot to post today. I watched the re-run of the Olympic opening ceremony this afternoon & I have been watching the swimming, rowing and the mens road race. I guess you could say I got sidetracked.

Here's a sneak peek of what I am currently working on. It's another one of Heathers patterns from Just Crochet (pattern JC36B)

Back to the tv for me. Go Aussies Go!

It's All Personal

Mark ordered some personalised items for us from Vista Print.
He got a whole stack of business cards (for Mark, Angus & myself), a couple of t-shirts, a cap, 2 notebooks, 2 rubber stamps, QSL Cards (they're cards that amateur radio operators send to one another) and even a bag for me.

Pockets is Marks nickname. The VK3FWSP is his amateur radio foundation call sign.

something to carry my crochet in :D 

I have no idea what to do with all of my business cards. Mark ordered 250 of them for me.
Mark has twice as many (o_0)

Thankful Thursday

Here's what I am thankful for this week:

• nice weather, even though its winter we've still had some really nice days with lots of sunshine
• cheques - I received one from the speech I did a few weeks ago. It was a nice bonus (~_~) and I was able to put it in the bank the other day
• Angus - he's surprised me this week by doing his homework & he even felt pretty good about finishing it too. That's always a bonus!
• sleeping - it's great when Brodie sleeps as it causes me less stress & he isn't so grumpy after a nap (well most of the time)
• going out with Mark for lunch. It's always nice to spend time with him. We don't get a lot of time when it's just the two of us
• Luke, the parcel postie! He's been busy delivering things this week. I know we will be seeing him again soon too (o_~)
• crocheting - I have made a lot of baby items as part of this months Knit4Charities focus groups. It's almost time to post them off.

What are you thankful for this week?

Guitar Man

<<< This is Brodie's new guitar. Well he hasn't got it yet but he has paid for it and is now waiting for delivery. It's a Steve McSwain Tin Top limited edition. He's made guitars for people like Korn, Tommy Lee, Slash, Jared Leto, Steve Vai and many others.
 
I had never heard of him before but after checking out his website and see the types of custom made guitars he as created I can see why he charges a lot of money for them. They really are unique.

Finished Items & Some New Yarn

I've been busy making more baby items. Some I am going to send to Lee-Anne so that Ellie has some little clothes to wear. I'm hoping they will fit. If they don't she can give them to the hospital so that someone else can use them for their bubz.

The rest of the stuff I am making is going to the Traralgon Hospital as part of this months Knit4Charity charity of the month. I only have a few more days to go before I send them off. I'll take a photo of all the beanies & cardigans that Angus & I made.

Look what arrived yesterday ^^^^ some yummy Bernat yarns from Yarn Over. It's the only place I know of in Australia where I can order Bernat yarns. I can't buy them directly from the US. I don't mind though just as long as I can get them. The blue yarn was an extra which I didn't order but was a bonus because my order took a while to come in.
The Baby Jacquards colour is Lemon pie. Its that self patterning yarn. I used it once before to make something for my other niece and her baby Moya-May. The baby Cakes colour is called Shamrock. All of the new yarns feel so soft and I can't wait to use them. Although once again I have no idea what to make with them or whether I should knit or crochet with them. Any ideas would be  accepted (~_~)

Yum

Sorry the photo doesn't show the colours properly. It really did look good :)

Mark & I had lunch at Jades Chinese Cuisine today. I had pork with cashews and Mark had beef in black bean sauce.
It was delicious. We will certainly go there again.

Crochet Bags

I'm not one to make crocheted bags but I love the look of this one. It's called a Mermaids Tears Purse.
This video is part one and its a crochet-a-long. You can find the pattern here.

 

Here's another purse/bag using the same stitch.

Seriously, You're Talking About Christmas Already

I know its a bit early to talk about Christmas but I was browsing through some pattern books the other week when I came across this pattern book full of Christmas patterns for cross stitch. I ended up searching for it on ebay where I found it at a lower price. I thought that since the patterns were in a graph format that I might be able to use it for crocheting a blanket or cushion covers or something along those lines.

It's never too early to start planning for Christmas. I've already started my shopping (Yeah I know don't hate me). I don't want to leave it all until the last minute. After all its only a little over 5 months away.

I Love Finding Bargains

I love finding bargains when I go shopping don't you?

I've found some great deals this past week!

I think someone in the supermarket goofed when they typed in the weight.

I'm sure it was really meant to cost around $10.

Mark & I went Op Shopping on Wednesday and found these two items.

We've had the jars for ages now we have some lids. I just need to work out what we will end up preserving...

Pyrex is never cheap to buy new

Brodz & I went shopping yesterday after I had to take him into Traralgon to sign some exit forms for that TAFE course he quit *sigh* I thought I would at least get something useful done out of our 140+ km (87 miles) round trip.

I bought these for me. I usually forget to get something for myself.

I found these blouses in Kmart. Not bad considering I went in there to look for a pair of slippers and a nightie. I never bought either of those. I also bought 4 more t-shirts for Mark & the boys. I was surprised when the total for all of them was less than $50.

Thankful Thursday

Here's what I am thankful for this week:

• school is back - I liked having both boys home for the holidays but only when they weren't fighting. Now that Angus is back at school our home is peaceful (most of the time)
• finding bargains in op shops
• sunshine - we had some fantastic sunny days this week
• going out for breakfast with Mark yesterday (~_~) it was great to spend some time with him

What are you thankful for this week?

Awareness Tags

I was hunting through some of my tags that I have collected over the years for various causes to raise awareness. I thought I would share them so that others can snag them & use them too. Just right click on them to save.

      

      

     

    

 

Finished Item - Another Baby Cardigan

pattern JC29NB

Last night I finished another baby cardigan. This one is also from a pattern by Heather from Just Crochet. Once I finished the cardi I had just enough of the green to make a little premmie beanie. No pics of that one. 

All I need to do now is work out what my next project will be. 

Things I Have Learned

Here's what I have learned recently

• I can survive the school holidays
• That Brodie really needs to do something other than go on Facebook. That kid worries me with the amount of time he spends online.
• That if you allow teenager to have a friend sleepover that they will NOT go to sleep. Luckily they will spend a small amount of time taking catnaps
• That the new school uniform Angus has to wear is VERY expensive! $50 for a pair of pants!?!?! And he is not allowed to wear the older style pants that every public high school in the area has. They need to have the school logo on them and you can only buy them in one place. Don't let me get started on the jackets and school shirts. Not happy Jan! *climbs off her soapbox* 
• My PVR comes in very handy when the boys have friends over - I can record my shows while they take control of the TV and the game consoles
• That it's great to be able to sleep in on cold mornings

What have you learned recently?

I'm Not Addicted ... Am I?

Just for fun I did a little quiz on how addicted I am to crocheting .. here's my results 

How bad is your crochet addiction? Your Result: Hard Core   You crochet daily, but at a set time. You don't miss this time without good reason and when you do? Your hook hand gets itchy. You must have your daily fix or things can get all messed up.
Strung Out	 
Wired	 
Dealer	 
Recreational Only	 
How bad is your crochet addiction? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

 

I don't think I am ...

Finished Item - Premmie Baby Cardigan

Lee-Anne wanted me to make her something in a lime green for Ellie-Rose so I whipped this up on Thursday night & did the finishing touches yesterday afternoon. The pattern was one I sort of altered by combining two patterns by Heather from Just Crochet. I was actually trying to do one of her patterns (JC75P) and I had problems with it so I used the shell pattern from another pattern (JC01A) of hers to finish it off. I think it looks pretty good.  It's meant to fit a 9" chest but I used a slightly bigger hook than the original pattern stated. I am so hoping it will fit. It looks so tiny but it should fit a bubz up to 3lb. I'd better post it off soon so that Ellie-Rose can wear it before she gets too big.

Look what my postie delivered yesterday. How nice do these buttons look? I got them for a bargain off ebay.

Here's a close up ...

I am sure that I will be able to put these buttons to good use.

Friggatriskaidekaphobia

My Mum suffered from tristadekaphobia (a fear of the number 13) but I think she suffered from friggatriskaidekaphobia which is a fear of Friday the 13th. She absolutely hated that day! She always said that on Friday the 13th she should never, ever get out of bed. I honestly don't see what all the fuss is about.

I know that some people take the fear of 13 really seriously. One house we lived in when I was a teenager was numbered 11A but in reality it was really supposed to be number 13. I guess whoever built the house had tristadekaphobia.

If you want to find out some interesting facts about Friday the 13th and why its considered unlucky you can go here on wiki or check here on about.com

Do you have a fear of the number 13 or of Friday the 13th?

Thankful Thursday

Here's what I am thankful for:

Eleanor Rose

•  the safe arrival of my new great-great niece Eleanor Rose. Ellie was born Wednesday afternoon (2:29pm) weighing a teeny 4lb 2oz (1.87 kg) Lee-Anne is doing very well & little Zavier is excited about having a new sister
• my crochet & being able to make some premmie outfits. It looks like I may need to send some to Lee-Anne for her precious little one
• my family
• Brodie - he is another year older today. I can't believe that he is 19 now. Where has that time flown? When did he turn into a young man? I embarrassed him big time on FB today (~_o) 

What are you thankful for this week? 

What's Been On My Hook

This is what I have been working on since I finished making that pretty cat blanket last week. 

These items are all for one of this months Knit4Charities nominated charities, the Thompson Ward at the Traralgon Hospital.

Premmie Beanies

As you can see I've been busy and keeping out of trouble (~_o)

Pattern is by Heather from Just Crochet

I'll definitely be making some more baby stuff over the next week or so. My niece, Lee-Anne, went into labour last night. She made it to 33 weeks (I think it may even be 34) so they wont be stopping labour this time. I'm crossing my fingers that everything goes well for her and bubz. With any luck I'll be able to tell you tomorrow that she's had her baby.

I'm kind of wishing that the baby wont be born until Thursday morning so bubz can share her day with Brodie. Either way I just hope it all goes smoothly.

 

Gorgeous Artwork

I belong to a few yahoo groups where I get some pretty Incredimail email backgrounds. Every now and them someone sends some lovely pictures through to use as desktop backgrounds. This morning someone sent through these few paintings along with a few more by the same artist and I just fell in love with them.

I had no clue as to who the artist was other than the name Duffett written on the pictures. So I did a search and found out the name of the artist - Shelagh Duffett. Her artwork is so bright and delightful. I could just see her work on my walls. You should go and check out her work at her etsy shop - Alice in Paris. It's beautiful.