Nice Surprise

A quickie today to share a lovely surprise. I've just received an email from Marie of Underground Crafter blog letting me know I've won a copy of Mitsuki Hoshi's brand new book Ami Ami Dogs 2 which was released on 27 September. Marie has written a review here. I've been crocheting for many years but this will be my first adventure into amigurumi. Thank you for this generous give-away prize Marie - I'm looking forward to receiving the book.

Getting my money's worth

Some of you may recall the ball of Noro Kureyon that I bought (a few months ago) last January. I can't even remember why I bought it or what I was planning to make, but it has been started and frogged about half a dozen times, the most recent being about two minutes ago. I was urged on by responses to my question in my last post when several people made the comment that you should love what you're doing. Since I wasn't actually loving the scarf this ball of Noro was producing, out it came and I'm now deciding on what to try next. Its quite strong yarn as you would have thought I'd have worn it out by now but its still holding its own in spite of all my frogging. I won't tell you what I'm making with it ..... I'll just surprise you (and myself) when its done.

Before I end this post, I'll leave you with this most interesting conversion chart .....

Half a large intestine = 1 semicolon
1,000 aches = 1 megahurtz
Basic unit of laryngitis = 1 hoarsepower
2,000 pounds of Chinese soup = Won Ton
1 millionth of a fish = 1 microfiche
453.6 crackers = 1 pound cake

There ... you really needed that didn't you?

Just in Time

Still a few hours of Sunday left for my weekly Year of Projects post. I don't have a FO to show you this week as I decided to abandon that shopping bag I started last week and start another which is about halfway done and is a much nicer pattern. The first one was curling horribly and not very pretty. Anyway, with a bit of luck I'll be able to show you the finished bag next week.

While I was surfing around blogs a few days ago I came across a really beautiful hat pattern that you can get as a free download. Its designed by Alla Koval and will be perfect for summer which is just around the corner for us here in the southern hemisphere. Of course its on my to-do list. Can any of my Aussie readers recommend a good firm cotton that might suit this pattern?

Another thing of interest I stumbled upon is just what we all need ..... another crochet hook !! This one is a special one for working that first round when doing edges on fabrics. As its name suggests, it has a sharp point which makes piercing the fabric much easier than an ordinary hook.

If you'd like to read a review, and a chance to win one of these hooks, visit here and here.

Confession time !! I have drifted so far away from my original list that I'm starting to feel a bit embarrassed. What do you think is more important in this project - sticking to the list or blogging?

Have a great week everyone.

Its gotta be Sunday somewhere

Here's my Sunday update for the Year of Projects - again a little late but I'm hoping its still Sunday somewhere in the world !! I only have one thing to show now as I posted a couple of days ago about other things I've finished this week.

A problem I encounter time and time again is having to 'tweak' patterns written for American yarns so that they work ok with our Australian yarn. This little hat is no exception. The pattern is extremely well written and easy to follow though so its just going to be a matter of fiddling around with hooks and dropping a size or two before the flower band section.

I'm currently working on a self-pouching string shopping bag, using Milford 4ply cotton. The pattern can be found here. Where I live, the local government is putting a ban on plastic supermarket shopping bags from November 1, so this little bag should come in quite handy. I think they would be a nice addition to a Christmas gift as well. Hope to have it finished to show you next week.

I'm late, I'm late for a very important date

Well, better late than never I always say !! This is a late Year of Projects post that should have happened last Sunday but due to other exciting events (like family visiting for grandson's 9th birthday) .. it didn't happen.

I have a couple of finished items to show you today. I'm happy to say the last of my orders is finished.

The colours are beautiful in this one but I wasn't happy to find a knot 3 meters from the end of the ball. The nature of this yarn requires a knot at the end so I opted to finish the scarf off before the knot as I felt that two knots close to each other close to one end of the scarf might be noticed.

My placemat is also finished and is being used every morning - love the colours in this too.

And finally for today, I was surfing around the crochet blogs and sites a few nights ago and came across this cute little baby's pattern. Of course I grabbed some yarn and a hook and in no time had this cute little hat -

Enjoy the rest of the week.

Bloomin' Beautiful

They were all beautiful .. the flowers, the food, the sunshine and the company. Had lunch with my friend L yesterday and just happened to have my camera with me. These lovely double jonquils were all along the pathway from the carpark to the little cafe where we had lunch

Check out little hairy legs

Mmmm .. warm chicken and mango salad - tasted as good as it looks too

Its so nice to be getting some warmer weather after our long cold winter although as always happens, we'll no doubt be getting more of the cold stuff for another few months. Some of the flowers in my garden are starting to bloom and are brightening things up a bit.

I received this book in the mail today

It has 150 gorgeous border patterns by Edie Eckman and I'm sure it will be a very useful addition to my pattern library. I also bought "50 More Crocheted Afghan Borders" by Jean Leinhauser - again some lovely border patterns but I think of the two books, the former is my favourite.

Haven't been doing much crochet or knitting this week and probably won't have much spare time over the weekend either as we'll be busy celebrating my grandson Ryan's 9th birthday. House full of visitors = not much crochet time.

Tuva Ta Da

For my Year of Projects update this week, cast your mind back a month or so and you may recall the agonizing experience I had with those evil dpn's ....... welllllllll I'm so happy to let you know that the Tuva is done - yipeeeeeeee !!!!!!!

Now isn't that something? Thank you Nola for finishing it off for me - without your help this would have remained a NEUFO (never ending unifnished object). Speaking of never ending things, I'm currently trying to complete something but I'm working with a never ending ball of wool. Hope to show you the finished object in a day or so. Its nothing to get 'jump up and down' excited about but will keep someone very warm.

Spring has sprung here in Australia and its lovely to see all the blossoms and wattle trees around our city. I think I may get apricots on our tree this year (no fruit last year for some strange reason) .. but if the blossoms are any indication ..

Oh, and have a look at these little beauties.

These are just a few of the tomatoes in my AeroGarden so I hope we'll be enjoying them soon.

I'm not sure if its Fathers Day in other countries but if so I hope all the Dad's have a great day. There have been two very special Dad's in my life and today I reminisced about some of the wonderful times we had together. I miss both these beautiful people very much ..

Ronald Richard Smith 1919-1995

Errol Garth Silver 1939-2004

Thank you for visiting and I wish you all a happy week doing what you enjoy best.