Well I never ..

Yes, that's right folks, I've had dogs all my life and have never made a doggie coat. However, I kind of felt I had to try one and I really surprised myself. What I thought I couldn't do ... I could !! yaaay

A very kind lady from Knit4Charities sent me a book full of dog coats and it has some really cute patterns. I really enjoyed making this little coat - all I need now is a Chihuahua to go with it.  Or perhaps I'll donate it to one of our charities.

Also been making a few squares for charity. These, along with other donated squares will be made into blankets for Ronald McDonald House in Canberra. I always have fun with squares and go berserk with colour.  Might have to do a few more before sending them off to the lady who will be joining them together.

We've been sweltering here lately but I've started getting organised for when the cold weather hits in a few months time. I like to donate hats, scarves, fingerless mitts for the homeless each year so need a good supply.  I'm thinking of doing cowls too this year as they seem to be all the go at the moment. I also think they're better than a scarf as they don't fall off.  I have a couple of hats already done and finished this one on the weekend.

Madison has found herself a new friend in Charlotte and she sits with her every morning, catching a bit of sun through the lounge room window - can't you just hear her saying "does this angle make me look fat"?

Have a great week.
xoxox

Guess who came to dinner ?

We had the most frightful weather here a few days ago - temperatures around 38 degrees C (just over 100 deg F) with very strong winds which were causing terrible bushfires all around Australia.  My next door neighbour knocked on the door to say that one of our dogs had got out and her husband was chasing it up the street. The funny thing is that we only have one dog now and she was sound asleep in her bed in the family room. Minutes later the neighbour came back along the road with this little fellow who was obviously suffering with the heat ....

We used to have Pugs and know the breed well so we took him inside, cooled him down, gave him a big drink of water, and (as you can see he loves his food) we fed him. Thanks to the magic of microchip, we were able to locate his owner and 10 year old "Herman" happily went home a few hours later. He was a real sweet fellow, a little deaf we think and was very polite with our dog and cat. Typical Pug - they're a wonderful breed.

I've been busy making crochet squares today for one of our Knit4Charities projects - Ronald McDonald House.  I have lots of ends to sew in so I'll save the picture till my next post.

Thanks for visiting and have a great week.
xoxox

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 ***

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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.

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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!!)

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Have a great week everyone.
xoxox