You've got to love a hoarder...

Because it means you get these lovely things eventually. One Holly Hobbie curtain from our childhood bedroom

And this dress made by my mum. It does have a matching headscarf, which for some reason my little sister Lana chose to write her name on in texta, even thought this was never her dress or headscarf. Wasn't mine either (shhhhhh) mine was blue, I remember and I was only young ;)

How special is this!!

I admired some fabric that the gorgeous Fi had used to flash up a hoodie (the most stunning brightly coloured horsey fabric ~ Miss Lily has a bit of an obsession with horses (loves ballerinas too ~ two predilections I'm hoping she grows out of early LOL) , and would you believe it, in today's mail arrives a piece of the fabric.



I show it to Lily and she says "WOW!" Then she precedes to wrap it around her neck and cuddle it :D This will definitely be going on something special for the little one.



Thank you so much Fi, your thoughtfulness and generosity have blown me away :D

When everything seems to be working against you..

you've just got to give in to what fate is telling you, well perhaps that's a little bit deep.

So it's no work Wednesday night and for once the little night owl is in bed at a reasonable hour, after my nightly viewing I decided to break my golden rule and chance a little sewing. I've been wanting to make some more twirly peasant skirts for awhile, so I dragged out the cord and a little velveteen and set about cutting. Then I went to sew, thwarted, I had only the smallest amount of brown thread on the spool and no matching bobbin. Grrrr!! yeah, I know I could have cut out some different coloured skirts, but I really had my heart set on a pink and brown one.

Next up I decided to make a little shirred top that I've been wanting to make for awhile, it's a little long sleeved style with shirring around the neckline; very cute!!! So I cut out all the fabric, did the gathering, and started working on the seams. It was then that I looked at my overlocker and for not the first time thought how convenient it would be to have two of the damn things, as yes, it was all threaded in black and the top I 'm working on is predominantly a white cotton. Yeah, I know it's not a big deal to rethread it, but frankly I couldn't be bothered, so took it as a sign that I really shouldn't be sewing on my night off.

That'll learn me LOL

What I really wanted to be doing was turning this gorgeous yarn from Monster Knits into these socks The only problem being the three UFOs you'll find pictured below, oh and the lack of the right size needles. I need some 2.5mm dpns which I have none of. I did spy a stack of dpns at the Op Shop the other day, so may have to go back to check out what they have.

Caitlyn is my Number One Favourite Customer

Yes, I know it's not ethical or correct to have publically favourite customers but....

how cute is this!!!!

It arrived in the mail today from a gorgeous little 6 year old girl who I recently did a custom for. And even more sweet is that she did this all off her own bat and went to her mum for help with the address. What a gorgeous little girl, truly made my heart melt!!!

Thank you Caitlyn!!! You made my day!

Knitting weekend

We've just spent the long weekend up at the family bush block near the Grampians, a long 3 hour drive away ~ just perfect for a good knitting stint. We drove up in our Toyota Troopcarrier which only has the front seats and thus has been specially fitted out with a big thick thingamajog to attach Lily's carseat too. Fabulous, except that it leaves me squeezed into the corner. On the way up I tried to knit my Jo Sharp zig zag rib vest and must say persisted for most of the way. Unfortunately, I am knitting on lovely rosewood straights, which I am really enjoying but they are just not ideal for cramped knitting spaces.

I must admit, so desperate and excited was I about my knitting time over the long weekend I set myself some very unrealistic expectations. My goal was to finish the vest (had just done the ribbing on the back), complete Lily's longies (up to the gusset) and finish a scarf (30 rows down of 160cm approx). Once all that was done I was hoping to get restarted on Lily's rainbow dress.

Ridiculously optimistic, I seem to have forgotten that I have a two year old who loves to roam. And roam we did, we had a glorious time rugged up out wandering through the bush, splashing in puddles, climbing on sticks, walking in leaves, chasing sheep, climbing in and out of the trenches in the tree plantations and looking at flowers. Lily, most impressively, found an epacris impressa, a tiny little red native flower, very few and far between. She was really proud of herself!!

On the trip home, I pulled out the addis and worked on Lily's longies, a project far more suited for the cramped front seat.

So my progress, is as follows: front of vest completed, nearly finished the first leg of the longies and the scarf was untouched.

Lily and her new dolly

One of the perks of being sisters to the very talented pint chick is that you get little pressies like this in the mail, well, really it's for Lily to wear but for me to admire!!
As you can see Lily loves it and I couldn't get her to leave her tshirt down to take a photo of it, but it can be found in more detail on Megsie's blog. Lily wore this out down to the local shops and told the lady in the fabric store, "Megsie painted my dolly." It was interesting that her first response when I told her that Megsie had made it for her was, "Megsie painted it?" complete with the cute little raise in her voice intonation that heralds her questions. LOL AFter spending time in Adelaide watching Megsie paint, that's the association she has of her.
Any way, it is very cute and the mad doll fiend Lily loves it :D

World Oceans Day

Today is World Oceans Day

sooo

we're planning a little stocking with an ocean based theme.

I am planning to stock on the tide times, with previews to be up by high tide here at the Port Phillip heads (5:11pm) and stocking at high time in Geelong (8:27pm)

This are in Victorian times. :D

Given that we live by the beach and Andy is an underwater film maker, you could safely assume that the ocean is fairly important part of our life. I actually prefer the ocean in the cooler months when it is less crowded and I think more beautiful in its moods.

Lily loved watching me do these appliques, she wanted me to do a dolphin next but I didn't get enough time... maybe I will anyway. I am absolutely in love with the boysenberry velour polar fleece, the colour is so bright and vibrant! I've been working on three pairs in this colour this week, including a custom which is just about done :D I think Lily needs some pants in this colour.

Remember respect our waterways, eat only sustainably fished seafood and enjoy the beauty of the ocean.
For more info on ocean conservation
www.amcs.org.au
www.wwf.org.au

(oh, there will also be a little visitor who was supposed to appear on World Environment day but got a little held up *oops*)

Prancing Prissy ~ Size 00


Moby Blue ~ Size 0


Gnarly ~ Size 1
(so named for Lily who has been saying "Gnarly" nonstop ever since watching Finding Nemo, I think she learnt it from the turtles on there LOL)


Piko Panda ~ Size 2