More Crocheting

I've put the socks aside for the moment, as soon as I saw this pattern I knew I had to make it. Cute isn't it?

Source: lionbrand.com via Cheryl on Pinterest

First I trialled it with Cleckheaten Natural Cotton, only getting some of the back done as it came out too small. Decided on Magnum Soft, which has crocheted up a little larger using 5.5 mm hook. Am making the largest size, not sure which of my Great Nieces this is for, I suppose who ever it's closest to fitting. It's coming along quite well, if you don't count last night's crochet session. I couldn't get my head around the two rows (yes TWO rows that form most of the pattern. I kept frogging and only had about 10 cms of crocheting done after several hours. The night before I had done close to the whole back in less time. I blamed bad eyesight and ended up enlarging the pattern to a size my long sightedness could read. Then when I hopped into bed I did a couple of rows and it all made sense again.

Crochet Bug has bitten

but I may have bitten off more than I can chew. I found this on Pinterest and fell in love.

Source: omelhordoartesanato.blogspot.com via Cheryl on Pinterest

So after some quick Portuguese lessons thanks to Google translate and some searching on Portuguese crochet terms, I decided to give it a go.

Chose a thread I could get locally which I hoped would suffice, I went with the size 5 I could find DMC Petra No. 5. There's no tension guide on the pattern so the best I could do was guess and after a few false starts am using a 2.5 mm hook. Am attempting a sleeve first.

Decifering the pattern has been a challenge, I think I am going ok have got a couple of the motifs done but there's no instructions or I haven't translated them yet for the actual construction. There is a drawing showing where the motifs go but it's pretty basic.

This may just end up being a dud, one that so far I've spent $50 on and may need more thread. I chose what I thought was a pretty green, but not sure if I still like it.

Why you should always wash fabric

I found this delicious apron pattern yesterday, a free tutorial complete with printable pattern. I do loves my freebies. I want to make this for my niece as a Shower Tea gift, ooh and one for me too. Bought red/white and white/red spotted fabrics today. Click on photo for link.

With my washing machine looking like this at the moment, I was going to forgo the washing of the fabrics but had second thoughts, thankfully.



The below pictures were taken on the third rinse, after intial washing and 2 salted rinses. The salt is supposed to help set the colour. The below colour is good compared to the first wash, imagine about 10 shades deeper.




I've left it soaking while I enjoy this, a Soy Chai Latte.

Favourite things.

While I was reading after breakfast this morning I thought about how neglected and unloved a lot of my house looked. Decided to make a start with the dresser in my dining room, first I looked over it to see if there was anything I didn't love on it and decided that most of the items were definitely loved.





My Old Country Roses Tea Cup set, a gift from my Mum for either my 18th or 21st Birthday, my Grandmother's lolly Jar. After Nanna passed away I was lucky enough (or was it fast enough?) to get a few coveted items, this jar I noticed a few weeks later sitting in Mum's kitchen after she washed it. I asked if I could have it, was told no that she liked it. I replied that she already had one, was told no she didn't, this went back and forth a couple of times. Until Mum in esparation said that she and Dad had bought it for my Grandmother not long after they married and in fact she had bought 3, one for her mother, one for Dad's mother and one for....... that's when she exclaimed "Where's mine?!!" remembering she always kept it on display but it was no longer there. I found it in a cupboard where she had put it away for safe keeping away after a close call with a toddling Grandchild.



The jug, tray and lace edged cloth also came from my Grandmother. The Windmill plate was a housewarming gift from Nanna when I invited her over for morning tea not long after I moved in here. She made me promise to look after it. Just after her death conversation got around to the fact that Nanna had noticed that items of hers were disappearing, she thought they had been broken or taken by others. Mum mentioned the Windmill Plate was one of those items, I told her I had it and had recieved it as a gift. We realised that Nanna's memory had been pretty shot and she didn't remember giving the items away, we now know where several of the items are. The lace cloth is handmade, either by Nanna's Grandmother or Aunt.



These glasses are so special to me, they are the first things I ever won. I was maybe 4 years old and won these at a school fete, they came in a basket shaped like a 3 leaf clover (long gone). Orginally 6 glasses one got broken long ago. When Dad used to make Rhubarb Wine we were allowed to have little in these little glasses on special occasions.
Turned wooden items made by my husband, photos of the most special people in my life, my 2 children - now 19 and 16.


Pretty teacup, vintage scale which I am not sure where it came from. May have bought it. The sweet little teddy who's name is Byron was originally made by me from a free internet pattern. I was so pleased with him and he has buttons holding his arms and legs on. The buttons came from a worn out favourite jacket. I remember the day I finished him I went over to my parent's place and was visiting with my Grandmother who was telling me about a day trip she had been on with a friend that day. She started telling me about the cutest little bear she had seen that was sitting in a teacup and how she wanted to buy one but wasn't able to afford it. I stopped our conversation saying I'd be right back and ran home (I live behind my parents, so not a long run) and grabbed Byron for her. She was so delighted with him and displayed him in a teacup. I only found him today after wondering where he was, I had thought he'd been put in with my Christmas bears and packed away but hadn't found him last Christmas. I found him stuffed into the bowl above which had been put in a cupboard. So happy to have him back.




Unfortunately the website, www.teddybearshug.com no longer exists but I was able to search for it with the Wayback Machine, heading back to 2006 where I was able to access the pattern.

Of Maids and crochet.

Hired me a maid, yup a maid.

For at least half an hour each day she is employed to clean my house. I am a hard task master, no breaks during that half hour, she's been pretty good with it no complaining at all. First day she had to tackle my neglected kitchen, then second day is was back into the kitchen to clean up after dinner and then tidy the dining area. Today she put dinner on, a load of washing in the machine and then went on to tidy the main bathroom, I even had her on her hands and knees wiping over the floor with a damp cloth. After that she dished up dinner, I've insisted on her returning later to clean up the dinner things and the kitchen.

No real payment is provided, she will be rewarded one day a week with a day off either in or out as the whim takes me, perhaps a visit to a nice coffee shop or someother reward. If she doesn't make an appearance one day a forfeit will be made, no day off until her times are made up. Sounds mean doesn't it?

It doesn't matter what time she turns up as long as she does, last night it was 10.30 pm, the night before it was around midnight, tonight it was 7.30pm. I had just finished watching a favourite show and decided that it was time she turned up, was looking forward to it. I got up and walked to the kitchen dresser, pulling out her apron, pulled it over my head and tied it behind my back and TAA DAA instant maid. It's one of the things I didn't like about wife and motherhood, the maid or (dare I say it?) the feeling of being a slave to my family, it's really been a bugbear to me and is the reason I let things get neglected, perhaps I was a slave in a past life. Doing this puts things on my terms, I've turned around something that I thought was negative to being positive.

Her influence rubbed off on me, because last night after I put her back in the drawer I had the cleaning urge and cleaned the hotspot by my bed and my bedside drawers. I lit my salt lamp, sandalwood and listened to Sacred Earth, it's been a long time since I've done that. Afterwards I got into bed and read from Change your Life in 7 days before putting in Chakra Cleaning Meditation CD and then did the Hypnosis CD from Change your Life before falling asleep.

On the craft front, I've been crocheting myself a bag. Had been wanting a plain black bag for a while now and recently saw a crochet one for sale, figured I could make one myself. I came across this one at Future Girl, fell in love with the shape, I'm not doing the handle part, I want it to be a shoulder bag. Her instructions are great and the bag is coming along nicely. I chose Moda Vera Beetle yarn, 50% cotton/acrylic, would have prefered cotton only but this had the exact feel I was looking for, it's crocheting up beautifully on a 4mm hook. The yarn was on special $2 instead of $3, I think I'll need less than 3 full balls.

Just refered to the first part of this message, to some it might sound like sheer lunacy which is why I added it as a label. Perhaps it is, perhaps the Moon is working on me. We tried seeing the Super Moon but it's been rainy and overcast. Only saw it a little 2 nights ago and to me it wasn't that big, then my brother told me that because we are heading to winter we wouldn't see it at it's biggest anyway.

Spring Autumn Cleaning - Master Bedroom - finale.

I worked on the master bedroom today and am very pleased with the outcome. It really wasn't a chore, I looked forward to seeing how it was going to turn out and I also happily went onto cleaning the ensuite. Why have a clean bedroom and a grubby ensuite? We all use the shower in there so it does get a lot of use. I had been inspired to do the cupboard in there after doing the main bathroom last week. What you can't see here is my new sheer curtains, last time I washed my old ones I accidentally threw them out with some old curtains. I bought 11 metres of seconds curtaining, used over 4 metres on the window and the rest is earmarked to make curtains for the bathrooms. The only thing wrong was that part of the hem wasn't attached properly for a couple of metres, the bathroom curtains don't need that part.


Ignore the sleeping bag and bag, my husband was away this weekend and had just gotten home. At least he didn't dump all his bags in there.
I left his things be, only picking up the few things he had left on the floor before he left, he did clean up his side of the bed before leaving.
I added shelves to the shelf in my wardrobe, so much neater.
The floor is clear, I culled my shoes mercilessly - all the ones I haven't worn for ages are gone, only my favourites have stayed, they are on a shelf elsewhere.





I wanted to show off a couple of things on the bathroom counter, I love the cupids, I painted them many years ago in ceramics classes, there used to be a kneeling one but he fell on his head. I didn't get away scott free today, while mopping the floor I knocked a couple of glass candle sticks off the counter. They were only cheap but I was disappointed because I did like them, still have one left. But what I really wanted to show now was the toothbrush glass cover and bowl I crocheted last week, I love the way they turned out. I found the bowl pattern here the glass cover is my own adaption.




The decluttering I mentioned in my last post is going well, I filled the garbage bin outside completely and have donations in the car. If I can get off work early tomorrow I'll drop it off on the way home. One of the things I was thinking of getting rid of was my wedding dress, I didn't store it properly and it has discoloured and was taking up valuable room in my wardrobe, I don't necessarily like it but did back then. I chose to keep it but instead of it taking up space I put it in a vacuum storage bag and now it's slid under my bed. In the bag it's very obvious how discoloured it's become, I'll try washing it one day.

Working on a bag

I enjoyed my sewing yesterday, I stayed up way too late with it and then couldn't sleep because I kept going over in my mind what I needed to do.

I worked on a bag last night, of course another freebie - this time it was the Phoebe Bag by Rebeka Lambert. The bag has gone together without a hitch, apart from me forgetting to add the pocket. I even made another flower to go on it. This time I only used 7 petals, the fabric is the reverse colourway to the bag, I've used it as the lining as well.




Still need to finish it but was too tired to concentrate on it today, I did however go out and buy more fabric. As well as giving my resume to my favourite sewing store. Years ago when my husband wanted me to go back to work, I told him I was only going to apply to 2 places locally, this was one of them. I got a job at the other place and after my first shift went over to tell them about it, as luck would have it the owner was just about to offer me a job with her. I still kick myself for not taking it, the main problem was that the job was in another of her stores half hour train ride away, I had wanted to stay local to be on hand for my kids if needed. I've got everything crossed.

Right now it takes me up to 2 hours travelling - each way on bad days - to get to work. Not only that I don't have the option of being able to leave if there was any sort of family emergency, I don't think that's right. I need to leave for work at 11.30 tomorrow to make sure I am there to start at 2 and then I will be lucky to be home by 10.30, then have to leave by 6.30 for an 8.30 start in the morning. I've been promised transfers but they've been pulled out from under me right at the last moment.

While I was out I stopped at St Vinnies and found some side plates that I hoped would go with my new dinner plates, the colour is a tad off. But they look better than what we are using so are a bargain at $10 for 11 - make that 10, I just noticed one is cracked. I also bought a picnic basket, it's a suitcase shape. It fits perfectly under the coffee table to store magazines in. I just need to spruce it up with new lining fabric.

Time at the sewing machine

This is my darling Janome, have had her for about 10 years now and have worked her hard in that time. She's been feeling a bit neglected lately, not had much time for sewing, but no longer, I am going to make time. She is a little under the weather though, her screen is fading, I can still read it if I stand up and lean back a little, she will be heading for a service pretty soon.

After so long at procrastinating I decided that today was the day that I got back to my sewing so went in search of something to make, was looking for bag patterns on the net when I came across this little beauty, a tut for a fabric flower - it was perfect and best of all FREE - gotta love Freebies!

Chose a brown and pink print I had in my stash and set to work. The cutting out was the hardest part. I didn't have any self covered buttons so was going to use a cream button, it didn't look right. But it looked great when I placed a shell button upside down on top of it. I saw button stacking on the net recently. I love shell buttons, I try to collect as many as I find - most of which have been reclaimed from old clothing.

I am really pleased with the final product, now I have to make something to put it onto - yep another excuse to buy more fabric.


To Aimee at Homespun Threads, thank you very much for the tutorial, I'm so glad that you chose to share it.

Spring fever has manifested as an urge to craft.

I've really had the urge to sew and craft this week.

First I made new friends for the camel, blind, naked ones but I haven't heard him complain. I need to pull out the felt for their blankets.



Then another bird pincushion, I am pleased more with this one than my first.


Then onto this lunch sack - free pattern from here http://sewing.about.com/library/weekly/aa072100a.htm. Sorry I haven't been able to do clickable links for ages, don't know why. Thinking this will be great as a gift sack filled with scrummy homebaked goodies.



I issued myself a challenge to only use what I have on hand, want to clear out my stash. May have to cheat on the last item though, I don't think I have the velcro for the closure.

Another piece of news is that I am now studying, it's a correspondance course for Children's Service cerificate, the great thing is that it is free. It's a government initiative to get the unemployed trained and back to the workforce. Last year I tried getting into the course through TAFE, would have cost around $400 or to do it at a private college is close to $2000. Part of the training has to be done at a Child Care Centre - unpaid training, just have to wait to find out which one.

Free sewing patterns

Pyjamas, pajamas, jammies, pjs whatever way you spell it.

I love free sewing patterns, especially full sized patterns. They combine my love of sewing and the fun of putting together a jigsaw. I just found a pattern for pj pants over at simplicity . Winter is not far around the corner for us, we mainly wear the pants with a tshirt so this pattern is perfect. My daughter is probably in the most desperate need, all of her old ones are now at crop pants length. It's her birthday on the 16th so I am making a couple of pairs as part of her gift. Then it's my son's birthday on the 26th - yes very close but better than the same day as they were supposed to be. CJ will be 16 and Tom will be 13. I do have some fabric tucked away.


I made myself some a few years ago and they are still good enough to last another season or 2. David should have enough too. So I only have to worry about the members of the family who are actually growing upwards as opposed to those who are growing sideways.

The pattern has printed up fine, now comes the fun part of putting it together. Before I do that I'm off to see what other freebies are at the site.

EDIT - putting the pattern together was a tad of a hassel, the marks for matching each piece are quite small and you need to trim a couple of the sides to help with matching, I found it quite easy to cut off the marks without realising but there is a very faint grid. Honestly I had to go and lay down after doing just some of them - I blame the pattern and not the fact I've not been well since Sunday.

Oh and my dear dear daughter told me she doesn't like flannelette fabric. Too bad for her, I'm still going to make it up - even if it's just to see how it fits, she'll be thankful on cold nights.