Cardigan

Upcoming project... lovely stripey colourful cardigan.  Having dabbled in bits and pieces of crochet for a while now, I think it is time to try crafting an actual garment.  This pattern book caught my eye.

It has 6 projects designed for using up scraps (I don't have a lot since I have used them up in my dabbling...) so I have purchased some gorgeous Jo Sharp Summer SoHo Cotton to make the cardigan on the cover with (all on sale!  End of dye lots).  Need a couple more colours and some black so a nice excuse to go yarn shopping.  I can hardly wait to get started although I am making an amigurumi giraffe for my prac supervisor at the moment (long story)... so not sure when I will start (also the daisy rug to finish off).

Hopefully when done it will go with lots of things in my wardrobe and being cotton will be a nice mid-season cardie.  When does Brisbane really get cold enough for truly cold-weather cardies and jumpers anyhow?

I keep looking at the yarn (pretty!) and am really looking forward to working with the lovely colours and texture :)

WIP: Daisy Rug

Since uni has started back it's much harder to find time to post updates to this blog.  I still seem to have found some time for my crafty projects though.  The daisy granny rug is nearly done now, just the hateful job of sewing all the ends in to go.  Here are some pictures of progress (and of Banjo thinking the photo session was an invitation to lay down on the job!)

Kusudama flower ball

Needing to busy my fingers soon after uni finished for the year I decided to try making an origami project.  On June and Eve's Folding Trees website I found 2 fantastic tutorials on how to make a Kusudama flower ball: Kusudama Tutorial Part 1; Kusudama Tutorial Part 2.  A photo of my almost project is below.  I just need to glue the two halves together and add a ribbon for hanging.  It would be lovely with more brightly patterned papers - I used some paper I wasn't so fond of to try it out but if I do another one I will find some really pretty colourful paper printed with a different pattern on each side.  You do get to see both sides but the paper I used was similar on both sides so the difference in patterns is not obvious in my example.  Takes a while to complete and I was glad when I had the 60th petal finished so I could start forming the flowers.

Girlie Granny Rug

The last few winters Geoff has pinched my first crocheted afghan to snuggle under.  It was lots of fun to make as it had six different types of squares so lots of variety to keep me from getting bored during its creation.  You can see it on 'his' couch in the background of this photo.

Realising I probably would have to keep sharing it with himself each winter I thought I would start a new rug - this time a really pretty granny rug - so girly that he won't want to use it and will leave it free for me to snuggle up under when I get chilly in the winter.  I started it in September 2007 and have been so busy with uni since then that I haven't had much of a chance to work on it until recently.  I've completed 34 squares but will need quite a few more before I have enough for a decent, cosy rug.  MaryEllen has shared her Easy Daisy Granny Square here.  Here's a little sample of squares in waiting.  As you can see they are all in pastel, pretty, girly colours with a sweet daisy in the centre of each one - no chance Geoff will want to be caught snuggled up under this one!

Kitty Kat

Our cat Charlie posing for the camera again!

Christmas pretties

A few more favourite Christmas decorations before the tree is taken down until next year.

Brought back from Europe by mum.

A little tin Santa found at a local chemist store.

A simple china Santa from a local gift store.

The following two I made myself.  The fabric covering the baubles was left over from my wedding gown.

And one brought back from Ireland by my friend Susan Kelly.

This time last year...

Can you guess where in the world we were this time last year?

Happy New Year to all!