Tiny babes

In the middle

of every difficulty

lies opportunity.

-Albert Einstein

We held a Wood raffle last weekend to raise money for our high school P & C, and while I was sitting there selling tickets, I met up with an old friend. A member of her family had given birth to a 750gm baby and as my friend is unable to knit any more, she asked me to make some bootees and beanies for the baby. You know me.....

 I thought I would make an assortment of sizes, starting from the extreme small (left side of the screen) to bigger sizes. I'm sure it will take an awful long time for baby to fit into the pink bootees on the right. I couldn't help but get the old ruler out to measure how small the tiny bootees were. Pretty unreal.

I found the pattern for these small bootees on the net and if you would like the pattern, click here. The pattern is very simple and I knitted it with 3 ply and 4ply wool. I suppose for a normal sized baby you could even try 8 ply, see how that goes. Might try it myself. If you would like the pattern for the beanie with the cord, click here. I did a lot of net surfing and found many sites that had free premature baby patterns. Using google images saved stacks of time in my quest to find the best patterns for me. I have a bright yellow beanie on the go at the moment and then I will give the pretty bundle to my friend.

 On a recent trip to the local library I found some fantastic books to read through and get lots of ideas from. Our annual show is a few months away and I want to make as many things as I can.

As I looked through this book, boy did I get some great ideas. You might take a trip to your own library (or book shop), and find a copy of your own.

'

My week was taken up with moving into my own new library at work and a friendly bunch of parents happily helped me move. I'm so thankful they helped, I would still be there moving!! Everything is sorted out now and it will be business as usual. Oh, oh I have to make more toys now as I have found more places I can put these new toys in the library. Any excuse will do.

I can't believe Brandon has his own car now and has his learner's permit to drive. The years are just ticking away and I do recall a friend telling me to enjoy your children because before you know it, the time goes. I was already enjoying and loving my boys to bits, but my friend was right, the time goes fast.

Today I plan on baking and catching up with housework.....and sewing. Not long now until the school holidays and over this break I am going to relax with the boys and catch up on the Supernatural series that I missed out on. I'm not a TV person, especially not in the daytime, but the guys on Supernatural are fairly easy on the eye! giggle giggle. Make the most of Sunday. Kind regards, Anita.





Baby knitting

Life is what happens

to you while you're busy

making other plans.

John Lennon

Ever felt like you are chasing your tail? That's the week I've had! Busy but enjoyable none the less. Though I have been sewing and knitting I didn't really manage to finish much. I have, however, stumbled across a cute little baby pattern. A beanie and bootee set.

 This pattern is called Puffin baby hat and booties set and is suitable for a small baby. The bit I fell in love with was the tied cord on top of the hat! If you want the pattern, click here. I will say that I changed the instructions a bit. When it comes to knitting the booties, it says at the beginning of the row Sl1, turn. I did this at the end of the row instead. I loved the pattern so much that I knitted it up again in different colours and without using the fancy pattern, due to the colour wool I was using.

This weekend our high school P & C run a wood raffle over Friday and Saturday, to raise some much needed funds. I might add, we were pleased to have raised $990.00. It is great fun getting out there in the community and catching up with people while they purchased tickets. I'm usually a hermit, but enjoyed the two days out. An older gentleman stopped in to buy a ticket, had a chat and bade me farewell. Half hour later he came back with a hot quiche and gave it to me. He felt sorry I was sitting outside in the ice cold wind. (Must say, I did have icicles hanging off my nose!). I thanked him so much, waited until he left and scoffed it down with gusto!! Boy it was nice and it warmed my insides.

When it was time to draw the lucky number, I grabbed the first person I could find and asked them to draw the ticket. A lovely lady happily drew the winning ticket. Even nicer still, the winner was an elderly lady and both she and her husband were thrilled to bits. I was so happy for them. I dropped the wood off to them, and the lady gave me a present as well. Two big bags of wool!!! Like a mouse in a cheese factory!!



There is only one problem now......where am I going to hide this from my husband. If he spots the bags of wool, I just know he will be thinking 'What is she going to do with all that wool'. lol. After all our happy years of marriage, I'm sure he knows I will knit it all up. Now that I've been out all weekend, I am going to catch up on all the house work and nurse my head cold. Hope to show you some finished projects next posting. Kind regards, Anita.

Hannah's bag

The good return

for my life's work

is my family.

BT

Besides having a busy and fantastic week, I have also concentrated my time making a knitting/sewing bag for lovely Hannah. I have a little group of girls I am teaching to knit and they are enjoying themselves so much. There is a special girl named Hannah and I thought this lovely bag would be a nice gift for her.

I had some cute girly material left over from previous projects, material that I have adored actually and kept it in hope of finding a special pattern to make out of it. The colours running across the top of the bag is from my jelly roll collection, and the bottom colours have been used on children's things that I have made. I will find some nice coloured ribbon to use as drawstrings. Oh and notice the special beaded doll, I thought I would make her to go with the bag.

As promised, I have taken a photo of the last tea cosy I knitted. This one has gone to a new home and will be loved to bits.

Today has been baking day, lots of different things on my chopping block. A vanilla cake at the back, some pumpkin scones and a sultana cake, my husbands favourite cake. I'm thinking they won't last long and I'm too scared to have a look in the kitchen and see what is left!!

Beautiful vegetable soup was made for lunch today, and see how much was scoffed down!! I've hidden the rest.

I know I usually sling off about my darling friend Heather, but I really do love her to bits and she's real special to me. Heather has given me this wonderful book of proverbs and I just go through it over and over again. Not only is it sweet with words and thoughts, but on the back I noticed it says the purchase of The Book of Giving, enables women in poverty to establish the business of their dreams. How great is that?

Two of my darlings have taken off shooting with friends for a while, Cory is playing his computer game, racing of course, and I might take this opportunity to do a little knitting. I have been knitting this week and have to just finish off a few things for the next posting I do. Pixie and I went for a lovely stroll together at the shops this morning. It's funny how suddenly your children don't want to go to the shops with parents anymore......especially teenagers. Friends have told me this will change again. So I look forward to that. In the meantime, I can have my husband to myself and torment him all on my own. lol. Hope you are all having a lovely relaxing weekend and I'll be back again. Kind regards, Anita.

A favourite of mine.

Be the person

you always knew

you were meant to be,

but never quite had

the courage for.

-Anon.

Here in Western Australia we are having a long

weekend to celebrate Foundation Day, and that means

more time to spend with my three darlings, sew, knit and catch up with things. On Friday night, Pixie received a request from his best mate's daughter. "Pixie, can you ask your 'Mum' (meaning me, his wife) to make me a Banana's in Pyjamas?" I roared with laughter. Miss 5 is at preprimary, and they are funny at that age. I loved knitting Banana, he is one of my favourites. The book is an old favourite too.

It didn't take long to knit old Pyjama's up either. I have always enjoyed making this guy, and I must say, I've made a fair few of them. The kids love him, in fact they just love knitted toys anyway. Today, BJ is going to be delivered to his new home. I have been busy in the patch working department as well. I have been trying to get through the bags of material that have found their way to my home. I made this 9 block square using blue tones and I'm not sure what it will be yet, but that's the fun of it, being creative.

A few squares ready to be made up. I was given blocks already sewn up, with the materials to make more, which I have done. Unwanted by a friend, but welcomed with love to me.

The picture below shows the blocks already made up, with a few of my own stitched up as well. I'm thinking this could turn into a baby quilt for someone. I'm hoping to stitch this up today if I get time.

The blocks are only pinned together at this stage, I organised the blocks into their position and as I have to move my work off the kitchen table, I didn't want to have to work out the positions all over again!! Depending on how many blocks I get to make up, this will turn into a good sized baby quilt.

As I have finished knitting Banana's, I needed to find my next knitting project. Heather had given me this interesting wool, bubbly textured and great to knit with. It is Moda Vera Cinderella and I have used a strand of 4ply white and Cinderella. I have two balls of it and am crossing my fingers it will be enough to make a capsule cover. It is knitting up nicely and I have used size 5 needles to get a good tension. It feels nice and fluffy, not too heavy either. Some little baby will love this, perhaps make them want to sleep a little longer?

I have just looked outside and what a glorious day it is going to be, by the looks of now anyway. It wasn't too long ago I was complaining about it being too hot and now I'm just loving the toasty warm sunshine. Can't win!! I'm about to go and investigate the chook house and see what mess those girls have made with the new bail of hay. They scratch around like mad. Enjoy the week ahead and happy crafting to you all.

Kind regards, Anita.





Sweet Mammy

A wise old owl

sat on an oak

the more he saw

the less he spoke

the less he spoke

the more he heard

why aren't we like

that wise old bird?

An old proverb

Today I have sat outside and enjoyed the warmth of the sun and relaxed with my stitching. I have finished my gorgeous Mammy doll and she's turned out wonderful.

 This sweet design came from an old edition of Homespun no.9
(Vol 3.1), and one doll I have always had intentions of making.
Mammy ends up being about 26 inches in height and very easy to make. I love the collar and pocket, which just has a touch of stitching around the edges to give it a warm feeling.

I have used leftover black wool for her hair and used colonial knots. I found some rather nice material for her dress and very pleased with how good she looks.

 I am not the only creative person in my household I must say. Each of us has a special talent. It seems that both of the boys have an artistic flair in the way of designing posters and different styles of writing. Brandon and Cory are both very gifted in this field and some of the things they design is incredible. My husbands talent is he is a good boy and does nothing wrong!! giggle giggle. Cory has a favourite hat and has started a hat trend at his school. He asked me to make a hat in the same style of his very favourite one......but in fluro green. I have to own up and say I did make the hat below, but I did feel like pulling my teeth out whilst making it. You see it had to be perfect.....'no it's too tight ; it has a bulge here ; the front flap is too big!!' Patience is a virtue and I didn't bite anyone while all the complaints were going on, and eventually the hat was made.

On to some more interesting things now.....during the week I made two more tea cosies and forgot to take photo's of them, 2 short scarves to sell and another few baby items.

Yesterday I went to an embroidery display at the arts society and was impressed with so many pieces of work made by a local craft group. Some of the works were made by women in their eighties and if you could have seen how intricate the work was, it would blow your socks off. I take my hat off to them, the work was so well done, I was impressed indeed. Sadly my camera was not charged up to take any photo's.

I'm off to attack my washing again now, it seems the washing never ends. Being such a sunny day it will not take long to dry. All the best for the coming week. Kind regards, Anita.



I want to bite my sewing machine!!!!

We shall never know

all the good that

a simple smile can do.

- Mother Teresa

I have been given the Versatile Blogger award from Dawn over at Quilts and pieces. Thanks sweetpea for choosing my blog and how funny to sit and think about seven things about myself that people might not know. After you all read the seven things I have selected about myself, you may all be a little concerned about me. Giggle giggle.

Seven things about myself.
1. I eat avocados like they are chocolate
2. I can't eat my tea if there is a pen or pencil on the table, it makes me feel ill. (strange but true)
3. I wear contact lenses - great when you are having a shower, you can see what you are washing!!
4. I love squeezing pimples - almost anybody's (LOL)
5. I am a prankster
6. At all times throughout my marriage, I have managed to turn my husband's hair grey and make it fall out in some patches.
7. When I see lights on in a house that has been vacant for a very long time, I get the biggest, buzziest warm feeling and I don't know why.

Now I have shared seven things with you about myself and you are probably thinking who is this cuckoo, well.....it's just me.

Over the week I have been making a Mammy doll and though the photo doesn't do it justice, she has turned out rather cute. I have used gingham blue and a dotty blue material for her dress and apron. She also has a headband in the matching colour. As always I have made some knickers for her, I can't cope if a doll doesn't have knickers on. Pretty good for me since, as a child, I always used to throw my knickers away because I couldn't stand to have them on. I used to chuck them to the chooks, flush them down the toilet, anything to get rid of them!!!! I don't do that now!!

This is what I was working on when my sewing machine decided to not work for me. Another Mammy doll, she is much bigger than the dolly shown above. The one above is about 30 inches high, this one is about 47 inches. I have used some lovely red printed material for her dress. I found the pattern in an old Homespun of mine.

She will have a stunning stitched collar and pretty heart shaped pocket attached to her. I will show her all finished in the next posting I do.

In the knitting department, I am almost on the homeward run with a teacosy that is looking real flash. I can't wait to show you...you won't have to wait long. Today being Sunday, I am going to finish all the chores that I should have done yesterday, however I was busy wanting to bite that sewing machine of mine. I reminded myself that patience is a virtue. Ha Ha.

Hope the rest of the weekend is fun for all of you. Kind regards, Anita.

By golly!

Many people will walk in

and out of your life,

but only true friends will

leave footprints in your heart.

-Eleanor Roosevelt

My tail has been wagging the last few days, very proud of

myself actually. A friend at work asked me to make her two

golliwogs and of course I said yes. Lovely Heather kindly let

me use her golliwog pattern book that she has had for ages.

The instructions in the book were very clear and easy to follow, however, as with the older patterns, there were lots of darts, pleats,

and tiny bits. When I made the doll up it was too small and I decided to make my own pattern. This is the result.

 I wanted to keep a traditional look about the golliwogs and decided to make red coats with white shirts underneath. The pants were stripes and checks, with black wool for their hair. The pair stand about 9 inches, I believe, and I am so happy with how they turned out. I think the lady I made them for was very happy too, I'm sure she was going to lick them any second. lol. This lovely lady is into country style things, shabby chic and golliwogs, so she's a pretty good sort!! I must say that the book Heather gave me to use has knitting patterns in it too for golliwogs, so I'm going to knit some as well.

I realized that in the back ground is my old antique sewing machine, the sort you hand turn to make it work. I have used it many times when the power has been out, my sewing machine is out of action etc. It is wonderful to sew with.

I now have an order to knit a tea cosy for another lady, so I will be busy for a while. I'm also sewing some Mammy dolls to sell, it's all happening around here. Not long ago someone gave me this cute piece of material, I can't believe someone wouldn't want it. It's turned into a table cloth and now lives at the library.

We are all cheering around our neck of the woods, the rains have started and it is just beautiful to hear the rain. Crossing our fingers for our dear farmers in our community that they will have a bumper year with the crops. I had a phone call from Pixie today, saying he has a letter in his hands from the high our boys attend. Oh no!!! Oh yes, it was a letter of commendation. Brandon had the highest score in Math out of four classes!! We are both so proud of him. When Pixie and I went to Brandon and told him how proud we were of him, I'm sure I spotted his halo shine bright.

I'm going to make a nice cup of tea, start my knitting and listen to the sound of the rain coming down. All I need now is to convince my husband that the fire should really be lit!! That'll spin him out. Wishing you all a wonderful week, wherever you are. Kind regards, Anita.