40th Retreat Day Four - Part One

SATURDAY 11TH AUGUST, 2012

God before we know it, it will be a year since we were the BIG 'four oh' and I'll still be writing about it!!! Here's my attempt before the kids return from swimming and it's all over!!

Em, Nanna Rose will be stylin' and the envy of all with that gorgeous necklet made especially for her. I must tell that I had a sneak peek in real life! Yes I snuck into your studio and spied it on your bench. All mossy green and beautifully layed out with a pretty birdy brooch. Was I tempted to pick it up, to even slip it over my head and feel it's snuggness? well of course I was but I didn't, I really didn't, I promise. I did touch it though and admire the feel of the yarn and beautifully made stitches. Oh what lovely hooky happiness it will bring to it's wearer.

So now to the beginning of day 4.

DAY 4 - PART ONE
SATURDAY 26TH NOVEMBER, 2011

oOOH A SLEEP IN, a REAL sleep in. No dogs a -barking, no babies a-cryin' (oh how I do miss my babies but there's NO guilt anymore, absolutely none THIS IS GREAT!!!) and an uninterrupted cuppa in bed, some pre-breaky idle hooky happiness and wondering thoughts about what in store for today.

We took a very wet and soggy walk through the Rye market and spied those colourful orangey proteas, so cheery. Umbrella's perched high above our heads? NO we didn't bring umberellas, just a flimsy wrap which got drenched as we dashed from market to op shop.

See this cute little shack- it's the op shop in Rye. It's were I score some red, 4ply,100% cotton with original wrapping and labels for a bargain and a woven beaded belt. I can't seem to resist honey no matter where the market so a jar of the golden stuff came home with me too.

             Market. Rain.

Coffee.

Rain.

Food.

Rain

Counting stitches.....

Just finished Nanna Rose's popcorn stitch necklet in time for her birthday and only had to restart it once to get the stitch count right! I used a ball of Rowan Felted Tweed in a lovely moss green and a no. 4 hook....
Ch 14
1st Row:
Miss 1 ch, 1 dc in each ch to end
(13 st).
2nd Row:
1dc, 1ch in first dc, *popcorn in next dc, 1tr in next dc, repeat from * to end.
3rd Row:
1ch, 1dc in first tr, *1dc in top of popcorn, 1dc in next tr, repeat from * to end, working last dc in turning chain.

Last 2 rows form the pattern, continue in pattern til scarf reaches desired length ( approx . 1 ball of wool).
Match one end to side of scarf and attach with running stitch.
Popcorn Stitch:
Work 5 treble in next stitch, draw up the last loop.
Remove hook from loop, then insert hook from back to front through 1st of 5 treble.
Replace hook through raised loop and draw through top of 1st treble.
Work 1ch to fasten.

Ta-dah!!

I created the pattern for the necklet based on the pattern for the Popcorn Bag in the Crochet Modern Vintage book by Panda. (Thanks Rach!)

Happy crocheting..... X em

Le..l love the fingerless gloves.. Did you just make up the pattern? They look gorgeous.. Did you write it down so that others may use it????? Because l didn't when l made up the popcorn necklet and now Nanna Rose says she would like one and l'll have to count stitches and work it out ,won't l!?!
Same goes with the treble stitch scarf l made with the beautiful wool in autumnal tones given to me by a lovely friend for my 40th birthday!
Also tried the soft bobble stitch from the new crochet workshop book in a lovely red merino wool with a touch of mohair and silk ( didn't write down the stitch count again!)
And completed some more little crochet necklace dolls for Epoche...
Yes Le , we definitely need a crochet catch up day.. perhaps we should plan a getaway for our 41st birthday.......

A Little Show and Tell

I've been soooo desperate to write a post but I have been put off of late because our poor old and very slow computer can't handle much lately, particularly when it comes to uploading photos. I feel I've had so little time to be creative these school holidays - oh apart from making toilet roll binoculars, choc-chip cookies and cubby houses out of large Ikea boxes! We've had alot of fun and now I need to create something, a bigger crochet project. My brother has announced they are expecting a baby in february and I think I'd like to make a really lovely blankie. Something ripply perhaps, something soft and gorgeous. I'll start soon as it will take a while.

Em I feel like I haven't seen you in EVER!!! I laughed at your last post re beanie frustration- can't wait to chat about all your idle crafty holiday happiness and check out that necklet which looks gorgeous, any wonder you got comments! And that new crochet book by Erica Knight looks gorgeous. I laughed because I nearly bought it myself from fishpond.com.au, click right here to see it. I think we need a crafty crochet catch up real soon and a look at that book........please...............

In the meantime here's a couple of things I made before the school holidays happened upon us.

My first pair of fingerless gloves. They're so super soft and warm. I found this 4ply cashmere/merino blend at $4 a ball at the local bargain shop which has everything from glitter stickers to dog food! I used a half treble stitch for the hand bit and a pattern from Jan Eaton's 200 Crochet Blocks for the wrist part. I wear them everywhere at the moment.

Next is my bangle from Mollie Makes Issue 15. It's chunky, it's funky. I love it! Made it in half an hour one night. It's 2 strands of pure wool and was a little tricky using front-post treble and back-post treble stitches but it turned out as it should. It's my new winter accessory.

Now I was given this beautiful skein of wool from a dear friend for my 40th and I've only just wound it into 2 equal balls. Any ideas what to make with it? It's quite thick with beautifully variegated colours, lovely handspun yarn deserves to be made into something amazing. I'm just not sure what yet!!! What do you think?????????????????????

x Le x

A walk at dusk....

The walk was lovely.. A good choice if l do say so myself. No whales or dolphins, but still amazing! Le, l love your cushions.. You are so clever.. Well done!! I can just picture them on the couch in the sunny corner of the lounge! What's next on the agenda l wonder?? I had a go at popcorn stitch in the car on the drive up and made a cute little necklet, which l've even had a couple of comments on since wearing down the street! I am pleased with it.. I used a lovely 8 ply merino wool with a touch of silk and mohair.I will also mention that my attempts ( yes, I am talking more than one!) at a beanie for myself on the drive up have been dismal! Apart from the first being too big and the second too small they looked ridiculous on me ( including my first ever beanie from a previous post) and if I wasn't so determined I would be ready to give up but I am going to troop on because surely there has to be a beanie pattern out there that doesn't look ridiculous on my head??!! Doesn't there?!?x em

On the road again....

...we just couldn't wait to get on the road again... to Byron Bay.. We're on our way, to sunshine and happiness today ..a-hah.. u-huh..
Except we did wake to rain today, real rain ...like Melbourne rain, but hanging out in the camp lounge is fun especially when the view is like this..
And we hit the shops instead of the beach and l discovered a beautiful crochet book and the biggest decision l have to make now is whether l stay in the lounge with the beach view and discover the new crochet projects that await me or rug up and walk the lighthouse track and maybe view a distant whale or two???... Either of which need to be done before happy hour and it's now 3.40pm!!
X em

A footstool cover

It has taken hours, days, weeks, even months but l have finally completed a bigger project ( for me anyway). A crochet cover for the footstool l rescued off the nature strip at hard rubbish time.....

And my first ever beanie.......