Give every day the chance to become

the most beautiful day of your life.

                                       -Mark Twain

Good morning lovely girls, I have just had a quick wander through the front yard and I do declare I can feel the wind starting to pick up, the wind chimes knocking into each other a little louder as I stand here, and certainly....the clouds are rolling in. Our expected temperature for today is 20C and I'm excited about that.

I have been very busy this week and knitting like mad to get a very special project done before time runs out. Our young Italian girls will be leaving us soon as it nears the end of the school term. I will be heart broken to see them leave but with the knowledge that I was fortunate enough to have met them in the first place. One of the girls has a niece or nephew due this year and I have made her something to take back home. The gift will have a double meaning, the obvious one being a gift for the baby and the other meaning will be...if I can't live in Italy something I have made will live there in my stead. It fills my heart I can tell you.

I have knitted this beautiful jacket, bootie and beanie set. I chose these colours as they are a neutral soft colour and I've used a 4 ply yarn of very soft texture. I'm very happy with the finished work and the pattern is from an old book I have called Patons royal baby. 

 Last weekend I told you I was off to sit in my sewing shed, and I was true to my word. I made these three very cute little girls bags, oh they're so sweet. (Very much like me rather than Heather the feather...lol) Sorry everyone...I had Heather here for afternoon tea and she gave me lots of cheek. She is naughty. 

 So my plans for today are : to do the ironing, a quick bit of weeding if it isn't raining (but by the picture below....still the clouds come), start on my knitting orders and wish my husband a safe journey home. Today will also include teasing the kids, as this is a favourite pass time of mine. Both of my boys have ended up with my sense of humour and my husbands ability to come up with crazy stuff from the left field, so really I've got my hands full. lol

I hope, wherever you all are that life is treating you well and that you are happy.
Arrivederci, Anita.

God sends many blessings and the

nicest ones are friends!

Good Sunday to you all! How glorious to have these cooler days and it is less of a struggle to get things done in the heat our summer months bestowed upon us. Our nights have cooled down, the morning has a tinge of cold breeze and the days, though still warm, are bareable. All round……good knitting weather.

Do you all remember the popular yarn called "Feathers"?

 It was very fashionable a few years back, but lost it's popularity very quickly. I don't know if it was due to the fact basically,  all that seemed to be made from it were scarves, beanies and the occasional child's sweater ; or that it needed to be accompanied using another yarn with it ; or that it was a pain in the neck if you dropped a stitch? The good points about the yarn was that it was soft to the skin....and that's about it. lol

People gave me so much of it that I decided I needed to find a way to incorporate it into my products to sell. I cannot just throw things like this away, so I have to become creative in my thinking. Well I decided that if I use several different textures and knit them up perhaps something wonderful would be created. I have to say I'm pretty happy with the results.

This week I concentrated on lots of knitting as lately I had drifted on to crochet, though I did squeeze in some crochet. Even some sewing managed to get done too. Below is a cute little cushion I made using a strip of flannel material in bunny prints. It measures about 16in x 16in, just the right size for a small child.

 I knitted two beanies and finished off another that I had already started on. The grey beanie is going to have crocheted flowers and embellishments added to it yet, so I'm still going to work on it.

 As I was just minding my own business cruising through google, I came across heaps of pictures of poncho designs and realised that I haven't made one of these in years, so out came the crochet hook again and then off I went. There is no pattern to this one because just looking at a picture of another was easy enough to design one of my own. I made 16 granny squares and joined them together. Crochet a long cord to thread through the top of the work and you're done.
 This one is big enough for a 2 year child.

 And look here!!!! Another great idea.....a scarf and hat all in one. There's probably a name these are called but I do not know what that is, I just liked the idea.

 How do I use up a left over ball of yarn? I knit up a baby cardigan and a matching woolly hat, that's how I use it up. lol An addition to my market items.
 

Creating is beautiful

 This little character is being a calm dog at the moment, so we're wondering what's going on? lol Perhaps Milo is lulling us into a false sense of security and will dig up the garden.....later on today? lol He was in trouble yesterday for trying to jump up on Heather the feather. (I feel like jumping up on Heather the feather sometimes....but I don't lol).

 Milo

Now I leave you all to go and tackle a few chores and then enjoy my Sunday. It has been lovely to have some cool weather and as I sit here typing, I am enjoying the warmth of my pyjama's. I welcome our autumn weather as I know some of you gals are welcoming in the Spring. Enjoy! It is a lovely time of year.

Ciao, Anita.



Smile, it’s the key that fits the lock on everyone’s hearts.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ladies, I am so happy. I have met two lovely Italian girls who will be stationed at our school until the end of the term. I have asked them a thousand questions and still they are happy to quench my curiosity with information about Italy. They are patient, funny, caring and I could keep going on about them.  Welcome to Australia girls, may you both have a wonderful time here.

  From I'm standing....I'm pretty happy right about now.

Per sempre tua

Forever yours
I have been commissioned to make a sensory pack for a young girl. The idea for children with issues for being able to keep still is to get them to carry some weight either in a back pack or as a neck warmer. I thought I would make something fun in bright cheery colours. Ironically I made a 'snake' one this time. 

 For some pleasure I am knitting a beanie or woolly hat, from a fantastic pattern I found on the internet. I feel in love with the honey comb look and fisherman's rib stitch.

 

  And I thought I had finished with my crochet blanket last week but I kept looking at it thinking perhaps a border could finish it off well....with a little picot edge too. Now I'm done. lol

 This week we have struggled through some terribly hot weather with no relief at night. The last few nights we have had to sleep through 24C heat and it really does make you feel a bit 'edgy'.

I'm thinking that one of the only plants in the garden to be truly happy are the succulents. This one is thriving. 

 Now I have left this story until last.....ironically I make a 'snake' sensory toy, and...... unlucky for us we have found another snake. Milo was hopping around the garden the other night and I thought he found a frog. It was when he started growling that I realised oh no it might be a snake. Yes, a snake. We thought it was one foot long....

 but last night we found the other half. 
I have often shared with you all some of the lol....crazy, funny people I have as friends and this snake episode brought out the best in their mental thought process. Lovely Chris suggested that perhaps the snake could be added as an ingredient in my 'cauldron'. Her off sider Neville couldn't have agreed more. Oh boy!!! Where do I find these people? lol
To my Italian friends, if you ever come to Australia you are certainly more than welcome to join me in some Sminuzzate la zuppa di serpente = chopped up snake soup.

Now that I have made you all feel unwell....makes me smile.....lol......I will go and enjoy this lovely long weekend we are having. I will be making a gratis project for school today, but then back to the paying projects. Wherever you all may be in the world, I hope your hearts are filled with happiness and good health.
Ciao, Anita. xx
Beautiful Venice.💗💕