Mr Owl says Shhh

We can be wise from goodness

And good from wisdom.

Marie Von Ebner-Eschenback, Aphorisms.

Today we are just sweltering in the 42 C. Clouds have started coming across the skies but we still are at 42 C. Just the beginning of summer, so just as well we are on holidays. I have gone down to the chook yard and hosed the water tubs down and they're all enjoying the cool water. We have an edition to the chook pen.

 We have a cute little yellow and black chick who hatched yesterday. Cory and I watched as the egg was being chipped away at from the inside. It was funny to hear all the cheeping going on from inside the egg. By the looks of things, we have another girl clucky sitting inside a nesting box. This girl is quite territorial and does not like you to come near her right now.

This is what happened when I hosed the water tubs down, the chooks plonk themselves in the wet ground straightaway.

Two cute little owls I have made. The owl on the left looked a bit plain and I asked Heather her advise on how to jazz him up a bit. Quick as a flash, Heather suggested 'Shhh' stitched on him. Great idea. They stand about 6 inches high and will be great to sit on library shelves.

A great new book to my collection. Kindly given to me by Heather as a Christmas gift. Great ideas for puppets, stuffed toys and things to make out of french knitting lengths. I am knitting the chook right now from this book and it's turning out real nice. There are some wonderful crochet patterns in there too. If you see this in the shops and you love stuffed toys, I would recommend you buy it.

As it is so hot, this afternoon I have decided to do some sewing. I have some free downloads for dolls. I might give them a go. I'm so happy Heather and I went out early on this morning to a cafe down town, we beat the heat, had pleasant conversation and teased everyone walking by!!! Have a terrific day.
Regards, Anita.

Australiana

Letter writing is the only device for

combining solitude with good company.

-Lord Byron

I hope everyone who celebrates Christmas had a lovely day. We stayed close to our swimming pool and the fridge. Santa was very kind to us this year and we are thankful. I made several handmade gifts for friends and family, and I'm just mad over this lovely gift bag I made for my niece Lisa.

 With Christmas over for another year, I'm back at my knitting and toy making. I have completed this cute little koala, made from 8 ply acrylic. Love the fluffy ears. His nose is a bit special too.

 From the same book comes Mr. Wombat looking all gorgeous. It stands about 6 inches high when finished and is very quick too knit up.

 The lady who cleans at the library gave me this book as she had found it in an op shop and couldn't leave it behind. There are lots of different themes in this book, Antarctica, deep sea, farm and Australian wildlife animals. It is rather a fun book.

Well, it is getting close to tea time and I think we will have something other than cold meat and
salad. It has been a cooler day here today, a break from the very high 30 C's we've been having.
Enjoy these lovely days off and I'll return soon.
Kind regards, Anita.

Big man in the red suit

We are rich only through what we give,

and poor only through what we refuse.

- Anne Sophie Swetchine, The Writings of Madame Swetchine.

I'm just doing a quick trot through blog land, thought I'd stop and show you my latest completed projects. I was looking through an edition of Handmade and came across these cute little cats.

There is a pattern for cats and kittens, so I've made the cat size 5 inches high. Simple, easy and very effective. I like the simplicity of the finished product. Kids love simple. The edition I found this pattern in is Vol 28 No. 7 Handmade Christmas gift-giving.

Now for my little ladybird friend, I'm sorry but there is no pattern for this girl. I just did a rough shape and went with it. I have used goggle eyes, and a piece of left over black for the antennae. I have appliqued the black spots on to the red material. It will bring joy to some child.

At the night time I have been knitting a koala and have almost finished it. As I am on holidays, I am planning to do as much craft work as I can, having teenage boys right now has given me the opportunity to have some 'me' time. I enjoy their company too though. I am really waiting for the big man in a red suit to visit. Pixie and I are both excited to see the look on the boys faces when they open their gifts.

 On Saturday Pixie and I are planning a quick trip out the metro area. I will have him to annoy all the way there and back. What fun!! Have a great day.

Regards, Anita.

Teddies

Let us pursue what makes for

peace and for mutual up building.

-Romans 14:19

These little darlings have been so much fun to knit. Using scraps of 8 ply wool leftover from various projects have come in very handy to make these teddies. The pattern is from a Guardian Angel book issued from Guardian Chemists. If you are a beginner knitter then you will find them very easy and fast to make.

Another bunny has also popped up, this time using 8 ply orange. The link to this pattern is in a previous posting, so if you are interested in knitting this bunny, just flick back through my previous posts.

As I have now switched into holiday mode, there was little concern to move very fast. Pixie and I went to the shops and then stopped off at a cute little cafe down the main street for coffee. It is nice to watch the traffic putt by, and meet up with people you haven't seen for a while.
After dropping my hubby off at home, I returned to visit the library and the Op shoppe. I found some great treasures. These silver beads almost remind me of cherries.

Packets of golden beads, an aida cloth purse and a few other bits came home with me today. There was a stack of wool that I didn't dare touch, that stash of mine really has to get used before more wool comes home.

I have been given a big bag of material to use to make  toys and a ladybird pattern is the go at the moment. Nothing to show you yet, but when they are finished, I will share them with you.

Not long until that big boy slides down the chimney, getting all excited. Regards, Anita.





I'm on holidays!

In Charity there

is no excess.

- Francis Bacon.

It is officially holiday time for me as of midday today, and I'm really looking forward to these holidays. These little sweethearts were taken to work on Tuesday, wrapped in cello and accompanied with a chocolate. Included was a safety pin so they could wear their Christmas dolls straightaway.

 One of the girls at work spotted my reindeer in the Christmas display and said she would love 2 for her Christmas table. The pattern for the reindeer is in the Homespun magazine No.18 (Vol 4.4). It is an older edition, but a favourite.

 I have used yoyo's instead of Christmas trees as in the pattern, only because I had so many yoyo's laying around that they needed to be used up. The legs have bells on the bottom of the hooves and material wrapped around the ankle.

 I am hoping to get a good start on some housework tomorrow, the afternoons will be reserved for crafting. I'll be able to blog a little more now and have a bit of time to check out other wonderful blogs.

Tick, tick, tick, Christmas is getting closer, see you soon. Regards, Anita.

'

Three and a half working days to go.

Just as water reflects the face,

so one human heart reflects another.

-Proverbs 27:19

I'm counting down the days left to work because I've been asked to make some toys for another school library in town....and I can't wait.  In the meantime I have finished this cute little knitted mouse. Sweet eh?

To my surprise, I actually managed to take a decent photo of the mouse!!! Crikey, I must be getting a hang on how to use this camera. If you would like to knit this mouse, click here. I have slightly changed a few things, like how I have placed the legs. It is knitted in 8ply, so it doesn't take long to make. Have a go!

I'm really getting into the Christmas spirit, here are two Santa's, no pattern sorry, just out of the top of my head. The bodies are made from my basic doll pattern, but the red costume is just hit and miss.

Pixie and I took a quick trip to the suburbs today, to do some special shopping. I had to stop in at Spotlight (how dreadful) and found this sweet thing. It is getting tucked away for a special 'chick' friend of mine that I bother all the time.

 Was anyone lucky enough to see the lunar eclipse last night? Over in the Eastern states of Australia there was going to be a red glow to the whole thing, I don't know yet how that went. but here in the west you could see the eclipse unravel. I took a photo of the beginning of it, but as the night wore on, the whole moon was covered. All of us were outside with binoculars, telescope and camera, just enjoying the view. I didn't dare talk about vampires and stuff, my lot would quiver!!

We've got tiling, washing, watering and cleaning going on here today. Very hot in this part of the world, however we are at the start of our summer season. I so can't wait to start the holidays and getting stuck into making toys. Enjoy the last part of the weekend and take care. Kind regards, Anita.

Feels like Christmas

Peace to you. The friends send you their greetings.

Greet the friends there, each by name.

-3 John 15

Once the Christmas tree started going up that was it.....I'm feeling the Christmas spirit. I have a small gathering of Christmas characters welcoming friends at the front door.

Cory helped me decorate the tree, and he asked me about the decorations Brandon and he had made at primary school.....they were there! Our tree has many of our handmade decorations on there too.

For my work mates, I have started to make some Christmas beaded dolls. As you can see they aren't finished, but will  be when they are required. I still have to attach their dresses, hair and faces. I have had some gold material sitting around for ages and thought their knickers would look good in gold.

I love all the help I can get for new ideas for Christmas and on a visit to the local library, found these great magazines just loaded with great cooking ideas, crafts and decorating tips. I was naughty and grabbed all of the magazines to look at.

 As I have mentioned, I now have a new sewing shed, and during the shift I came across a loved treasure. This is the cot cover both of my boys used as babies. It fits an average sized cot and was used as a lay-down blanket on the floor. Each section was done in colonial and french knots. The blanket is about 18 years old and I will hang on to it so another baby can use it.

I rather love the train, probably because my husband works with them.

For the rest of the day I plan to hover around the yard and generally bum around. This morning I was up at 5.30am doing the ironing. No I'm not mad, but as we are expecting 35 C today, I thought I would get the ironing and vacuuming done before the weather comes in hot.

I have 7 more working days and then I'm on holidays with the boys. I can't wait to have some holidays and to test out my shed. Catch you soon. Regards, Anita.

My Haven

A friend's smile

leaves an imprint

on your heart.

To anyone else this is just a shed, to me it is my haven. Pixie put on the final touches during the week and the exodus from house to haven started immediately!!

I have wanted my own little space for a long time, but as always something else popped up. The shed is 3m x 2m and I can't believe how much I have collected over time. I have also moved some of the boys toys in there and have started 'culling' what we don't need. I have to say, I'm a happy camper right now.

Though I don't feel as if I managed to do much crafting due to the move, I did get to knit this cute little owl from a Handmade magazine. He is only about 3 inches high, but cute as a bug. I am taking him to live in the library. He has a felt nose and felt eyes. Knitted in 8 ply wool, it could easily be made bigger by using a double yarn of 8ply or even chunky wool.

Yesterday Pixie and I went for a trip to the city by ourselves and did  a bit of Christmas shopping. We buy locally first but in the city there were some bargains that were worth the trip. It was nice to go for a drive by ourselves, the only one I had to compete with to get a word in edgewise was my hubby. lol. We did drop in to Spotlight on the way back home for some Christmas coloured beads. I was good and put my blinkers on, straight in and straight out. After just organising my sewing shed, I know I have to leave the material alone.

On the knitting front, I have found an adorable pattern to knit using 8 ply wool. I have about 230 stitches on my needles right now and getting along nicely with the pattern.

The things you find when you are having a clean up. I had to empty out the carved chest in order to move it into the shed. What did I find? last year's Easter gift to Heather!!! I knew I put it somewhere.

 I quickly made up this little pouch for some gadget my husband has. I can't remember the name for it, but this gadget tells you when you are speeding. Pixie wanted a pouch made for it when it isn't in use. Pretty good gadget actually.

For the rest of the weekend I plan to enjoy my sewing room, do the yucky ironing first and get some pavers from Heather's house. I can't tease Heather on my blog anymore, I've been sprung by one of her spies!!! Ha Ha. Hello Suez. Regards, Anita.



Small knits

Friendship is 

a sheltering tree.

-Samuel Taylor Coleridge. 

It's the weekend again, my, it came around so quickly! I am right in the Christmas mood and this week I complete a cute little Christmas gift bag. I have used some of the material Heather had purchased while in QLD and used a stitchery pattern I had tucked away in my file. This bag is about 10 inches long and 8 inches wide. I plan to tie it with a white craft rope.

I have found lots of free downloads and had fun sewing these birds. I am desperately trying to do the right thing, and use up as much material as I can without purchasing more. Until I give my craft boxes a good cull, I'm really being good.

As I am in the Christmas mood already, I decided I would make a Christmas bird as well. I've taken this to work and stashed it away in my ever expanding Christmas collection.

I knitted up this cute little girl during the week, she is called Little Red. She has turned out rather nice and as I am knitting fairytale characters (all the time) I have added her to the library. Click here for the pattern. Have fun if you are going to knit her, she is fun to make.

Another cutie I found in free downloads is this rabbit,made from a knitted square, can you believe that? Well it's true. When I saw it I wonder how you could possibly make this whole rabbit just by using a square. So I made one. Want to try the pattern? click here. Have fun.

I have a busy weekend so I must dash. I picked up the new edition of Handmade this morning, looks like the housework will have to wait! Have a wonderful weekend. Kind regards, Anita.

The Sewing shed

Every blade of grass has its Angel that

bends over it and whispers "Grow, grow."

The Talmud.

There's much excitement going on around here this weekend. The construction of my new sewing shed is happening. We started building yesterday and boy it was hot. In typical Mother Nature style, as soon as we were piecing the sections together, the wind started up. It was a bit tricky going for a while there, but eventually all the sides and roof were up and bolted. Today the weather is much cooler and the trimmings are going on the shed and the whole shed will be bolted down to the pad.

Pixie's little helper, Cory. Cory has just woken up but couldn't resist coming outside and inspecting the progress.

 During the week I found a cute bird pattern to knit and it was a free download, so I had to make one. Its name is sweet little bird and it certainly turns out sweet. Very quick and easy to make. Here is the link if you want to make this dear little bird.

 The eyes were done in black wool and using a french knot, the yellow beak is just felt stitched on. You could really do your own thing with it.

Today I am also going to drop off some knitted bootees to the local hospital. Just a while ago I made some beanies for the hospital and asked them if they would like some bootees as well. They were glad to receive them. You could check out your local hospital and see if they need anything. I know our hospital would take sewn cross-over tops, so you never know how you could help your local hospital.

The bootees are mostly the same pattern, however the pink smaller bootees at the front are a different pattern. I was please to have used up more wool and have almost used up the excess baby wool laying around my house. Well now, I am off to make a cooked breakfast for my hard working husband, just to make sure he knows how much I appreciate him  building the sewing shed. Enjoy what's left of this weekend and take care. Regards, Anita.



Animal crafts

This week I have been concentrating on making animals, oh and finishing my Christmas table runner. I did have a giggle at work this week, one of the teachers asked if these were pigs?

I'm sorry but I can see a ton of stirring starting up here. This crew at work don't take much to start up, so this is going to be great fun. I did snicker at the teacher after she had said that, and the mirth started up on the spot. We'll see where this leads us.

Heather came over to show me her frog, made from the latest Homespun magazine, left the magazine with me, and I couldn't help myself.

 

 

 

 

The frog below on the left is Heather's and I love the material she used. I found some green and white material for mine. Both of the frogs live at the library and have been carted around by the children.

 

I did manage to finish my Christmas table runner, that I must say, I'm very happy with how it turned out. It is quite long, over 100cm and sits well. I have taken it to work to use as part of my display.

Each end has a stitchery on it and as red is my favourite colour, it is done in red thread. I saw a table runner in the Homespun magazine and made my own design, using leftover pieces of Christmas material.

Today, I have already done some sewing, before even eating any breakfast. I have bags of scraps and over many months, stitching them up to make a table cloth. I now have to do some housework and feed the chooks. The weather here today is a bit iffy, dark clouds and patches of blue, it will be another one of those days. Take care and enjoy what is left of the weekend. Kind regards, Anita.

Brandon's Year 12 Graduation

What a wonderful night Brandon's graduation was. A couple of photo's didn't turn out, hence, the missing family photo!! Isn't that always the way. Here Brandon is with his favourite Mum (me in red) and much loved  Heather. It didn't take long for all the formal bits to get undone and removed!! The school really presented the night well, very organised, and everyone was in such a happy mood. Pixie and I are just full of pride. After having completed so many years of schooling and to graduate Year 12 is a huge effort. Well done Brandon.

 Here is a photo of a bunch of them! Pixie was trying to be one of the kids too. Brandon, Pixie, Peter and Cory.

These two are great mates. Peter on the left and Brandon. Brandon has chosen really nice friends.

Best wishes and a successful future ahead for you all.

 Back at the home front, Chester has become a father already!! This little chick was hatched 21 days after Chester came to live with us, now that's quick work. There are no other roosters, so Chester is the father for sure. The little chick also has the line of feathers up each side of his/her legs, just like Chester.

 I am going to visit the hospital today to drop of some of the beanies I have knitted for them. It is just a donation for the hospital as they are always after beanies. Perhaps you could visit your local hospital and see if they need anything made too. The beanies are knitted in stocking stitch and garter stitch, nice and plain.

I have been making a Christmas table runner for work and here are the two stitcheries I have done so far. Grand old Father Christmas.

 And some stars with sweet words in them.

We are having a long weekend this weekend for the CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting). The Queen is here with other delegates and here's hoping they come to some worthwhile decisions.

Hoping the weather stays nice this weekend, lots of things I want to do. I now have to look for another knitting project for the night time, so a bit of searching will be done today. Have a great weekend. Regards, Anita.