ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHH....

This was the sad state of my knitting last night at 10.30pm!!!!! I am currently knitting (making a mess of) the Meret Beret, you can search for this pattern on Ravelry it's free. I was totally inspired to knit this after checking out this amazing example knitted by the very clever Gabes. The mess that you see below is the 4Th time that I had to frog my work. The first time I totally messed up the cast on and actually have no idea what I did, the 2ND time I did not pull the yarn tightly enough between the first and last stitch leaving a ridiculous length of yarn, 3rd time I somehow messed up the 1x1 ribbing . This last time the stitches just popped off the needle and as there were many M1's, slipped stitches and yo's there was NO WAY I was able to figure out which stitches went where. YES there were one or two tears of anger and frustration. My fellow knitters out there will be proud of me though, as I stayed up late and determinedly cast on AGAIN for the 5Th and hopefully final time! Please wish me luck...........


On a much brighter note, Talia has recently been spending lot's of time reading to her little sister. Of course Talia can't actually read yet as such, but her stories are pretty spot on, she just looks at the pictures and makes the rest up. This child has such a wonderful imagination, her stories make us all laugh and Lola loves this close time with her big sis.

Thought I'd finish off today's post with my all time favourite quote by a rather clever chap who went by the name of Albert Einstein.

'Imagination is more important then knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there will ever be to know and understand'.

Knitting Bag...

I have just made this bag for my larger knitting projects. I got the pattern from my favourite magazine of the moment SEW HIP! This is an English mag, but our very cool local newsagent stocks it and it's great. I think the bag was from issue no.3. I made it from and old and very retro looking tablecloth found at a local op shop. I loved the fabric and this seemed the perfect bag to make with it.

It turned out really well and even has a pocket on the front for holding your needles, but it is a bit on the large side really. Mind you it's just perfect for my Autumn jumper that I have been knitting since last Spring and probably won't be finished till next Spring!! Great size for all the balls of yarn, needles, pattern book, finished pieces, tape measure, pen, secret chocolate stash...hmmm only just thought of that one!

Maybe this bag and the soon to be added secret chocolate stash will help motivate me to get the jumper finished......... here's hoping!! X

MY MUM....

Today it is Mother's day here in New Zealand and so I wanted to write this post for my mum who unfortunately lives on the other side of the world........

There is not a day that goes by that I don't miss my mum and wish that she lived closer. Every day there is something that I want to tell her, or ask her, or laugh about with her. I know that she is only on the other end of the phone, but it's not the same. I want to be able to pop round for a cup of tea and a proper chat!

Now believe me, my mum and I have had our moments, probably like most mothers and daughters in the world, but this has not diminished the love between us. A psychic once told us that he could see a rainbow of light that joined us together and that the bond between us was very strong. I love to think that we are connected this way.

I don't think that we can truly appreciate the love that our parents have for us until we become parents ourselves. Only then can we really know the power of that love, a love that comes with so much worry and anxiety, a love that is so selfless and beautiful.

I have this image of my mum in my mind from when we lived in South Africa, so I must have been about 13 years old. I remember coming into the lounge one day to see her on the chair reading her book and drinking one of her endless cups of tea (she is British after all). She is wearing a red top and her hair is about shoulder length, very dark and very curly. I remember looking at her and thinking that she was so beautiful. I still think that she is beautiful, and kind and generous and loving and caring and very, very much missed......

So today mum when my little cherubs were jumping up and down on my bed smothering me with kisses, I sent up a silent prayer for you to thank you for teaching me the art of motherhood so well. I know that I have been truly blessed and even though you are so far away, it's okay I know that I will be fine, because we will always be connected by our bright shining rainbow of light.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO MY WONDERFUL MUM, I LOVE YOU! X

It's not fair.....

It has been raining a fair bit recently so we have been driving to school quite a lot. On the way to school we like to turn the radio up loud and sing along at the top of our voices, yes it sounds quite as lovely as you are imagining!!!! Today we were singing along to the new song by Lily Allen called 'It's not fair', you know the one "It's not fair and I think you're really mean, I think you're really mean"...her songs are so darn catchy you can't really help but sing along. Anyway, today it seems is the first time I really listened to the lyrics and the song is actually about how bad her boyfriend is in bed.

Talia it seems was also listening to the lyrics for the first time and turned to me and asked "what is she actually singing about mum?"

Well it's not like I could tell her the truth, so I said "I think that she is singing about an argument that she has had with her boyfriend."

"Oh no, I don't think it's that" said Talia

('Blimey' I think! Could she possible have figured out what it is really about!!)

"Errrr okay, what do you think she is singing about darling?" I ask somewhat nervously, vowing to take much more care in the future about what I let my children listen to on the radio!!!!

" Well, it's pretty obvious that she thinks her brother is really mean and it's just not fair because he has eaten all the cakes and biscuits!" replied my adorable child.

Ah the sweet innocence of youth, long may it remain............ X

PLEATED BEAUTY BAG...

Well my obsession with bag making is continuing along nicely. I snatched a few hours over the weekend and hid in the sleep-out (my craft room) to make this bag from Amy Karol's book Bend the Rules Sewing. It is the 'Pleated Beauty Bag' and I LOVE it. It is definitely my favourite bag so far even though there were one or two moments of frustration whilst making it. The frustration however did not come from Amy's instructions, but rather from my rushing to get it finished. I lost count of how many times my seam ripper (grim reaper) was used, but it was all worth it in the end! I learnt a few new tricks along the way and I even mastered pleats.... yes, look it has pleats!!! Hmm perhaps 'mastered' is actually too strong a word for something that was really very easy....
The bag is made using some curtain fabric from Spotlight that was ultra cheap in the sale and one of my old dresses. I loved the fabric of the dress, but it was a really bad shape on me, so I am happy that it has now been recycled into something new. I used the dress fabric for the pleats, the inside pocket, the inside handles and I also made the little patch on the front of the bag. The lining I made from an old purple sheet, so all in all a very cost effective bag. I think that I will definitely be making more of these as the possibilities for them are endless......

Is anybody else out there obsessed with making bags??? If so I would love to come and have a peek at yours.......... Peace 'n Love X

The sharing of homemade goodness...

Everybody here in Christchurch seems to have gone relish MAD!!!! You can't visit someone without leaving with a jar of homemade 'something', it's GREAT! Aren't we so lucky to live surrounded by all of these wonderful generous people. I am quite sure that we will never again have to buy a jar of relish from the money sucking supermarket! The 3 jars pictured below are our stash from the weekend, Lemon relish, Quince jelly and Green Tomato chutney. They now go into the pantry to join the Date and Rhubarb chutney, Tomato relish, Zucchini relish, Plum jam, homemade Tomato sauce, Garlic sauce and I am sure there are a few that I have forgotten. We DEFINITELY need to have a cheese and wine party in the very near future........


From homemade food to handmade felt brooches. My felt obsession does not seem to be diminishing and I have been trying my hand at making brooches. I have got so many petals and leaves cut out of felt to make up, but here are 3 that are finished. I felted 'more' 100% wool jumpers to get the lovely thick felt and they are embellished with needle felting.


I also made some children's brooches (so far all have been nabbed by Talia). The little toadstool is my favourite and looks so cool on Talia's jacket, it measures about 3cm The little fairy is Talia's favourite and she measures about 5cm from the top of her purple hair to her little glass bead shoes.

I am hoping that I will be able to get a stall at the 2nd Craft 2.0 here in Christchurch in October. If you have not been to this then you have to go it is filled with amazingly talented people selling a wide range of fantastic Indie crafts. The first craft 2.0 for this year is on June 6th (can hardly wait), but there is no way that I will be organised for that. I am also still playing around with lot's of different ideas and really knowing me I won't be organised in October either, but it's good to dream a little!

PS. Just in case you were wondering I have no hand whatsoever in the making of relishes or chutneys, this job belongs to my very clever hubby!

Talia and Digger.....

Yesterday Talia had her second ever pony ride/lesson and she looked so darn cute on that horse that I took a million photo's. Don't worry I am not going to show them all just the one's I like best......

A little pony called Digger was chosen for Talia, don't they look cute together!!!!!
She was mainly led around the paddock by the instructor, but did have a few moments of holding the rein by herself.

After the ride it was time to brush Digger down, I think that Talia enjoyed this bit the most. Now I am not very horsey myself, but I think that she looked quite a natural up there on Diggers back.

Daddy and Lola were there to watch, Lola got a bit bored after a while so went off to crawl in some horse poo instead!!! Check out that lovely blue sky, I love Autumn in Christchurch. We get a lot of frosty mornings, but when they are followed by lovely sunny days like this who can complain.

Hope that everyone had a lovely weekend.......