Twas the Night Before Christmas

and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse !!  BUT outside was a very different story.  We had the most dreadful storm with torrential rain and extremely strong winds.  A tree in my neighbour's front yard split in half right down the middle of the trunk - don't know if it was the wind or whether it was lightning.

It barely missed the caravan - that's it with the silver cover over it. This next pic shows the other half of the tree where it split. The branches and leaves fell onto bushes in my front yard.

My dilemma is that the tenants are away and I have no idea how to contact the owner of the house (don't even know the name). I'm hoping someone will appear soon or at least before we have another storm like that one. My house is the one on the right and that's my bedroom which is quite close to the remainder of that tree.

Not much crochet or knitting has been done this past week. I've continued to work on my crochet baby's blanket and finished this little knitted premmie hat today.

This (along with a few more) will be going to "Little Angel Memory Boxes" (LAMB) which is an Australian charity that donates Memory Boxes and Memory Bags to hospitals for families who suffer the heartbreak of losing a baby or child.  They have a facebook group - Crafty Little Lambs - if you'd like more information.

With just over 24 hours left for this year, I'd like to wish you all a very happy new year. I hope 2013 brings you good health, much happiness and of course plenty of time to do whatever you enjoy most.  I think its going to be a good year for my family - just had a phone call from my daughter Karen who is currently holidaying at Bermagui.  He popped the question, she said yes, and they are ectatically happy.

Christmas Eve

With just a little over an hour left before the big day, I thought I'd pop in and wish everyone a wonderful Christmas.  Tonight we had our usual family Christmas Eve dinner on the raclette which is always relaxed and enjoyable.

We originally planned to have our meal outside under the pergola at the back but late this afternoon we had a huge storm and some very heavy rain so we decided that the dining room seemed a better option. I just heard on the news that a fallen tree has severely damaged a home in a few suburbs away from me and four homes in another suburb had to be evacuated because of a gas leak.  When the rain stopped and as the sun was setting, the gum trees at the front of my house looked as if they were on fire.  This picture was taken through the dining room window.

I cooked our turkey this morning so its just the veggies to be done tomorrow after all the excitement of gift giving/receiving is over. We'll be having ham, turkey, roast potatoes, pumpkin, sweet potato, onion, peas and beans, followed by plum pudding and custard.  Very traditional - that's us !! Hot Christmas dinner with the whole family - I love it !!

Merry Christmas 

xoxoxox

How cute is this ?

Look what the postie brought yesterday ..

This was tucked inside a Christmas card from one of my Knit4Charities friends. I love it - thanks L & A.  The teapot and cup are made of felt (glued together around edge of cup), the piece of holly is stitched on and of course you can see the teabag is tucked into the cup.

In case I don't post again before Tuesday, I'd like to wish all my friends a very happy Christmas and a wonderful 2013.

xoxox

Thought for the Day

*** Stay Calm ***

*** Keep Shopping ***

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cleaning Up

Just relaxing a bit this weekend after a very hectic Friday. We had our usual craft morning at CWA, followed by the break-up Christmas Party in the afternoon. Home for a quick freshen up then out to dinner with the family to celebrate my youngest daughter's birthday at a lovely Thai restaurant overlooking Lake Ginninderra. One of her work colleagues had given her this beautiful arrangement - aren't they lovely.

Anyway, I did manage to get one row of knitting done this afternoon. In my clean-up I came across a UFO that I must have started quite some years ago. Its a baby's hug-me-tight which is done in white baby yarn with soft baby coloured dots every now and then in the yarn.  I'll show a pic when (if) it gets finished.  In the meantime, so I won't lose the very old pattern which is on a scrappy piece of paper, I thought I'd post it here.

Hug-Me-Tight

2 balls of baby wool (mine looks like an Aussie 4ply). Sizes 10 and 12 knitting needles. Crochet hook, 1 metre ribbon.

Measurement from cuff to cuff - 20 inches.

Using size 12 needles, cast on 40 stitches.

1st row - K2, then P1,K1 to end of row. Repeat this row until work measures 4".

Next row - Increase once in each stitch. Using size 10 needles, work 16" in garter stitch (all rows plain). 

Next row - Using size 12 needles, knit 2 together all along row.

Repeat 1st row until work measures 4". Cast off.

To make up. Using a flat seam, sew up cuffs and side seams for 2". Fold cuff ribbing in half. At centre of one side fold over an edge for 2" to form a collar. Sew ribbon to front of collar. An edge can be crocheted around garment to finish.

* * * * *

On the same piece of scrappy old paper, here's another idea for anyone into recycling.  This could be used (filled with sand) for a door stop, or as I'm imagining it, if you used a smaller bottle, as a vase.

A Door Stop (or vase) - with a leather look

Materials. A bottle with a pleasing shape. Masking tape. Shoe polish (oxblood or mahogany give a good colour). Polishing rags. Sand or gravel.

Method. Tear off lots of small pieces of masking tape. Cover bottle with these, overlapping them to make sure none of the glass shows. Rub in a thin coat of polish. Buff up well. Repeat with 2 or 3 more coats of polish to get a good effect.

Fill bottle with dry sand or gravel and seal bottle carefully with a plug of paper. Cover plug with masking tape and polish this to match the rest of the work. Use to prop open your door.  (NB: obviously if you plan to use this as a vase, don't do the last bit!!)

* * * * *

Have a great week everyone.
xoxox

The Curious Cowl - still a mystery

Well, the stitch is still a mystery but the cowl turned out quite nice. I've made two as has Bev from One Yarn After Another but nobody seems to be able to identify the stitch.  Its not quite reversible but both sides look ok as you can see.

I've had some Patons Jet in variegated autumn tones in my stash forever, so I decided to whip up another cowl to see how it works with the variegated. Not too bad eh?

If you can identify this stitch - (the link to the video is in my last post) I'd be keen to hear from you.

Thanks for visiting.
xoxox

Oh dear, what can the matter be ?

For some strange reason I've been lost for words lately, hence my excuse for not posting for so long.  Of course I've been keeping up with all my bloggy friends and enjoy reading about what everyone has been up to.

I do have one FO to show you - this little baby's dress which is for charity. It was a very enjoyable project and I'll be making this one again ..

The pattern included some leggins too - might make them one day.

Last night I stumbled on a video on YouTube for a scarf in a stitch I don't think I've seen before - maybe someone can let me know what the stitch is called. You can see the video here. I had some Lion Brand Wool-Ease in my stash so I used it to start one of these cowls - its very soft, very stretchy and looks good so far. I should have a picture for you soon.

When I had lunch with my friend L last week we got talking about op-shop shopping which we both enjoy.  I promised to show her a pic of a sweet little jug I picked up for a few dollars at Vinnies - it stands about 4-5 inches high and looks pretty with a few flowers in it.  Unfortunately I didn't have anything in the garden the day I took this photo.

Another goodie I was lucky enough to get from freecycle is this little chair (child's size) ..

I intend to make a small cushion and throw for it and I think it will be perfect for my Berenguer Reborn doll Charlotte.   You've met Charlotte before - here she is wearing a hat I made for her a few years ago.

Before I finish, I'd like to congratulate Bev from One Yarn After Another on having her Tunisian Mitered Square baby blanket pattern published in the February 2013 issue of Crochet World. I received my digital copy today and have already added this blanket to my 'to do' list. Its a beauty Bev.

Thanks for visiting and if you can enlighten me as to what that stitch is called I'd be grateful.  Mind you, I could be having a 'senior moment' here but I really don't think I've seen it before.

xoxox