My little bit of the rainbow

I spent all my weekend crochet time making these granny squares for the Crochet-a-Rainbow project being run by Sarah London.



Sarah will be joining the squares to make blankets for the people affected by the recent devastating Queensland floods, who are in the process of trying to rebuild their lives and homes. Its a great way to use up all those odd balls of yarn while supporting a very worthwhile cause. I enjoyed playing around with the colours and as this project will be running for quite awhile, I plan on making lots more squares.

The BookDepository in the UK is my favourite place to buy crochet and knitting books because they're so cheap and world wide shipping is free. Today's mail brought me a lovely book "Sweet Baby Crochet" by Sandy Scoville and Denise Black which was published in 2010.



There are some lovely patterns in this book - I was going to show you pictures of a few of them but just noticed some rather strict copyright notes on the inside front cover but I don't want to get myself into trouble so can't share those lovely pics with you.

For my dear bloggy friends who have asked, here's the latest picture of the herbs in my Aero Garden. We've already raised the light twice, cut the top leaves of the Basil twice, and just can't seem to keep up with it. You can almost see that Basil growing. Here we are at day 29.

Sweet Heart

While I was surfing around and finding new blogs to read, I came across this lovely heart pattern at Teresa Kasner's Crochet.



I don't know about you, but when I see something like this I just have to try it straight away. If you'd like a copy of the pattern, click on the link above and scroll about a third of the way down the page. Teresa's instructions are very easy to follow and have pictures. With Valentines Day coming up soon, I'm sure you can think of many uses for these gorgeous little hearts. I used a size 3 thread and a 3.00mm hook for my heart.

My Noro Taiyo #6 turned up in yesterday's mail and I've already started another Queen Anne's Lace scarf. That pattern sure is addictive and works so well with this yarn. The colours aren't quite what I expected but I'm sure the scarf will be beautiful. I don't think I've seen one of these QAL scarves that isn't pretty. I'm really enjoying this project so am restricting myself to only so much a day - otherwise it will be finished too soon and then I'll be hankering for more. The Taiyo costs me $26 a ball and since I'm running out of 'giftees' I probably shouldn't be thinking of buying any more for awhile. Plain coloured versions are also nice ..... which reminds me, look what I bought the other day while I was in town ..


Happy crocheting

The week that was .....

This week has been the most horrible, tragic, depressing week for Australians with major floods covering a third of Queensland, including the capital city of Brisbane, and now areas of New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. The Queensland floods have claimed 25 lives and there are still 55 people missing. I heard this morning that forecasters are now warning that Queensland could soon be hit by a cyclone forming in the Coral Sea. When will all this destruction end ? I haven’t really been focussed on blogging – just trying to get my head around all this. A few of the groups I belong to are donating goods but the authorities are saying that financial assistance is what they really need right now so the people who have lost their homes and possessions, are able to go out and buy their immediate needs. After the clean-up, arrangements will be put in place for other donated items to be sent. So, I made a monetary donation to the Queensland Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal and am now going to get back to making my other charity donations.
I’m supporting two charities this month on Knit4Charities – 10 inch squares for Wrap with Love (Sydney) – these will be assembled into blankets; and, beanies in red, yellow and black (Aboriginal colours) for The Footpath Library, also in Sydney.

Also played around with some hair scrunchies, and surprise surprise, some of which have been claimed by my two daughters. It’s a bit of a change for them to want something I’ve crocheted. (The youngest one has been pestering me for years now to make her a Queen Anne lace tablecloth – now downsized to a table runner, but that’s another story for another day.)


The saga of the Noro Kureyon Sock yarn continues and after spending a great deal of time on Ravelry, came across a knit pattern that I thought might work. I’ve done about 15 inches so far and its working reasonably well. I flatly refuse to frog it again so if it turns out yucky after all, well so be it !!

I really don't like this yarn and have vowed to never buy it again !!!! It is perilously thin in places and is almost like knitting with sewing thread.

Talking of thread, have a look at this gorgeous bookmark I received as a secret santa gift ..

Actually you could call it an angel secret santa gift as there was a bit of a mix up on the database which resulted in me not getting any gift at all. So my not so secret santa stepped in and made this bookmark for me which I love love love. Very similar to that Queen Anne's scarf pattern isn't it ?


We’re now up to day 20 for the herbs in my Aero Garden and I’m happy to say they’re doing well. The last to come through was the parsley which surprised me actually – for some reason I figured it would have been one of the first to emerge through the little hole. I think the basil is almost ready to start using. They reckon the plants like to be 'lightly' harvested as it makes them grow more.


Finally, something to think about ............
No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery.
If you jumped off the bridge in Paris , you'd be in Seine .

New Square pattern

Jane from papillongold blog has designed another lovely square and is having a competition to find a name for the pattern. I liked her butterfly square so was keen to try this new one out straight away and I actually think I like this one better.


Before I finish this post, I must give you an update on my Aero Garden. All but one of the little plants have now popped up and seem to be doing well. Here they are at 11 days ..

There's Italian basil, purple basil, mint, dill, chives, thyme and yet to come through is parsley.

Do you remember that old wives tale about what happens when you grow parsley? I think I'll be safe though but thinking of that tale reminded me of this email I received from a friend today.

PREGNANCY Q & A!
Q: Should I have a baby after 35?
A: No, 35 children is enough.

Q : I'm two months pregnant now. When will my baby move?
A: With any luck, right after he finishes university.

Q : What is the most reliable method to determine a baby's sex?
A: Childbirth.

Q: My wife is five months pregnant and so moody that sometimes she's borderline irrational.
A: So what's your question?

Q : My childbirth instructor says it's not pain I'll feel during labour, but pressure. Is she right?
A: Yes, in the same way that a cyclone might be called an air current.

Q: When is the best time to get an epidural?
A: Right after you find out you're pregnant.

Q : Is there any reason I have to be in the delivery room while my wife is in labour?
A: Not unless the word 'child support payment' means anything to you.

Q: Is there anything I should avoid while recovering from childbirth?
A: Yes, pregnancy.

Q : Do I have to have a baby shower?
A: Not if you change the baby's nappy very quickly.

Q : Our baby was born last week. When will my wife begin to feel and act normal again?
A: When the kids are in university

First FOs for the year

After reading a blog friends recent post, I think I now know why it takes me so looooong to complete a big project - I get bored !! Yes, I'm sure that's it and that is why I'm forever making small items. Today I finished this heatpad ..

and here's the back

The pattern came from a book called "At Home with Crochet" by Leisure Arts - its one of the books I re-discovered on the weekend. The other pattern I found while I was supposed to be tidying my craft room, was the one for these coasters ..

This is one of my favourite coaster patterns as its so quick - only about 5-10 minutes work in each one. Instant gratification and they're quite useful too.

Ah, now tis time to eat dinner, and after that I might do some more of my knitting. I started a child's vest with that lovely variegated yarn I showed you a post or two back and I'd like to get on with it.

Sydney does it again

If you missed the midnight fireworks in Sydney, have a look here. Each year they keep saying that its going to be better than last years and you know, I think they are right. Also, the Jersey Boys were nothing short of fantastic - might have to take a trip to Sydney to see their show at the Theatre Royal.

While friends on the west coast of the US are still waiting for midnight, I've already broken one of my new years resolutions. Should have know better and not made any. I promised myself to organise my yarn stash and pattern stash and today was going to be the start. Well, at least I have all my 100% wool in a big crate rather than in plastic bags all over the place BUT, I discovered pattern books I'd either (a) forgotten about; or, (b) didn't realise I owned. Also found some patterns I've been trying to find for ages so I guess that could be considered a good thing. It was a real trip down memory lane, finding these old favourites of mine, so instead of making a heat pad I was planning to do today, I'm about to start fiddling around with a couple of these little gems - just for 'old times sake'.

For those still waiting, when the clock strikes 12, have a ball.