Quick Update

Just a quick note to say HELLO!!

No-Sew Blanket Update
My wonderful blanket is coming along beeeeutifully! I have finished all the squares and have started the edging. I have a photo of the finished squares plus the first 2 rows of the edging (red). I will take another photo asap showing where I am now up to for you to see. No pics yet, as they are still in my camera.

Charity Blanket Squares
We have lots and lots of squares now for our blanket. It is going to look so terrific. I have an updated photo of all the squares and those in-progress also. Again, the pics are still in my camera, and I will upload them asap!!

Just wanted to let you know I haven't fallen off the world again, just need a breather to stop and upload.

Take care and ciao for now,

No-Sew Granny Progress report

Good morning crafters!!

Just thought I would share with you the progress I am making on my blanket. I am really really enjoying this :)

When I started to make this, I was just picking colours at random, with an eye to keeping colours away from each other and mixed up. Once I got to 20 squares, I realised how darned hard this was going to be as it grew larger, so I decided to graph out the colours. I didn't want to do this originally, but found it was necessary and really quite enjoyable too.

Here is the graph I ended up with. The rainbow around the edge is the edge I am going to do after the 54 squares are all done. It will go all the way around the blanket, but my graph paper wasn't large enough to put it on. At least I have an idea of how its going to look.

Here is the colour planner (I tried hard to get coloured pencils that closely matched my yarn colours)

And this is the photocopy of my graph so I can mark off my progress as I go.

And, last but not least, here is my blanket with 25 squares

I don't mind the randomness of the colours, but I do prefer a more "rainbow" effect. My next blanket (after I have made Zac's, Mad's and Emily's) will be a chevron in rainbow hues. Looking forward to that one very much.

Thanks for stopping by :)

Take care and ciao for now,

Cuttlebug Tutorial #7

 Hi again,

Last night, the 7th tute in my series went live at Little Scrapbook Shop, where I show you how to Make Your Own Embossing Templates.
If you missed the post listing the previous tutorials, here is the list again for you:

Week 1: Printing with Embossing Folders
Week 2: Colour It

Week 3: Tricks with Acetate

Week 4: Cordinations Cardstock
Week 5: Creative Collage

Week 6: Fun with Grungeboard

Week 7: Make Your Own Embossing Templates

Be sure to tune in next week at LSBS when I show you some things to do with Metal Shim and Metal tape. That will the the 8th and final tutorial for the series (I thought I had 10, but there are only 8), but don't despair, as we have something special planned once my Cuttlebug tutorials are finished.

Take care and ciao for now,

Knitted & Crocheted Squares

Hi again,

Remember I said I would show you the squares the ladies have made so far for our charity blanket?

Well, here they are (with the exception of Eleanor's, because she didn't have hers with her). (Click on the photo for a larger view)

With grateful thanks so far for the following people who have made (or are making) squares:

Myself (hehe)

Margo
Karen
Jenni
Rae
Maggie
Eleanor
Michelle & her lovely MIL Carmen (who have taken wool & needles to knit up some squares)

The blanket is going to look really lovely finished - we have people doing crochet, knitting with fluffy yarns and all sorts. I hope I win the blanket {wink}.

So, remember, if you live in the Western Sydney area and would like to knit or crochet a square for our blanket (in pinks or varigated yarns with pink in them), please leave a post on my blog or contact Karen Tyler at the Dean Park Community Development Project by email deanpark@marayonghouse.org.au and you can find patterns to knit the squares at Wrap With Love on THIS page.

Take care and ciao for now,

Charity Knitting

A couple of days ago I said I was going to tell you about the charity squares I am knitting and encouraging others to knit too. Here's what it's all about.

As you may know, I teach Knitting and Crochet at the Dean Park Community Development Project (DPCDP) in Western Sydney, NSW. The Community Development Officer, Karen Tyler, is a wonderful lady, full of energy, enthusiasm and a seemingly endless supply of caring for our community. Karen has organised several different fundraisers at the centre over the last 10 months or so, since she took on the job there. One of those fundraisers last year was for Breast Cancer Research. This year, it is happening again in October, during Breast Cancer Awareness Week.

So, where does the knitting come in? I suggested to Karen that it might be nice for our knitters and crocheters to make a few squares each (or even just one) so that we can put them all together and make a blanket that we can then raffle off to raise money towards the charity. Karen loved the idea and so it has begun.

I have knitted a few squares (4 or 5 now I think), Jenni has made 2, Margo has made 3, Karen was in the middle of one last week, Eleonor has made a few (but I am not sure how many at this stage) and I believe Auntie Rae has begun to crochet a square (she is the Crochet Queen!). My friend Tracy has also volunteered to knit one or 2 squares and Jenni is kindling interest by taking her knitting to school to do while she is waiting to pick up her boys. One of her school mums has already offered to knit a square. How cool is that?

I don't have any photos yet, as I have left the squares in the care of the DPCDP, but when I am there this week, I will be sure to take a photo of the squares for you to see. I am going to handmake a label for the back of the blanket with a list of all the wonderful people who have contributed to the blanket.

Now, if you live in the Western Sydney area (or even anywhere close {wink}) and would like to knit or crochet up some squares, we would love to hear from you. The squares need to measure 10" x 10" (25cm x 25cm) finished. You can find the instructions to knit the squares on the charity website Wrap with Love and you will find the patterns HERE. They have a couple of different designs to choose from, but you don't necessarily need to use those - you are welcome to do whatever knit or crochet design you like (except a whole square of stocking stitch please, as it tends to roll and is a pain to try and sew up) provided it's finished size is the correct dimensions (or close enough to) as specified above.

If you have any questions or queries, you can pop a comment on my blog, or you can email the DPCDP directly at deanpark@marayonghouse.org.au. We would love to hear from anyone interested.

I will be back later this week with progress photo of the squares we already have.

Take care and ciao for now,

Time to getting knitting now. . .

Oh, well, it really isn't that tragic, but I have so been enjoying my hooking.

Turns out the scarf I knitted for Zac last year irritates his skin (hello, why didn't he tell me that a year ago???) and now I need to make him a scarf in yarn that doesn't irritate. Due to his AS, Zac has sensory issues (bit like me actually) and there are some things he just cannot cope with. Skin irritants is one of them. So, I have pulled out some red and black fluffy yarn (a bit like "eyelash" or "feathers yarn") and my 15mm needles to whip him up a scarf today. Should only take a couple of hours on needles this large.

Here's a pic for you. I have cast 15 stitches onto my bamboo needles. This size is rather awkward to knit with and I have to hold them like a knife and fork but at least its quick :).

In the meantime, Zed is wearing one of my older scarves thats was given to me by my friend Tracy (it was a re-gifted gift as she didn't need it). Soft and fluffy for him and it has stopped his whining for now hehehe.

See you all again soon,

Take care and ciao for now,

mmm.....yarn!

So, I am back from shopping. Aah, I do love a good shop! Wanna see what I bought? Makes me very happy in my heart :)

Here is a bundle of 17 colours (yes, I ended up getting the reds and the olive. Sadly, there was no black).

I also got blue and ivory for Zac (as, no black).

I am looking forward to getting started on Zac's cos I don't have to think very hard about the colours :)

Take care and ciao for now,

No-Sew Granny Squares Blanket

This is my new love and joy!!

Thanks to Lucy at Attic24 blog I have renewed my love of the humble granny square. I just love the way you join them as you go- no more having to sew them all together at the end, a very daunting task.

I have also been inspired by the gorgeous colours that Lucy uses (also my favourites - I love brights). I went and bought a little bit a lot of yarn on Thursday and got hooking. I am loving the way my blanky is coming together so fast, and just love love love the colours.

Here it is, what do you think?Yes, they are my toes peeking in at the bottom there, all toasty and warm in my knitted socks.

I am really enjoying this.

I am using a 100% acrylic yarn that feels beautiful and soft. I can't use wool or wool blends, as they irritate my skin. However, this yarn is gorgeous and on sale at the moment for only $2 per ball, so I am going to go crazy and buy heaps, as I know my 2 girls are going to want their own snuggly blankets too. I am also going to buy lots of this yarn in blue and black to make a nice snuggly blanket for Zac in his fave colour (blue) with black. He feels the cold so much (like his mama) and I have only made him a scarf while, for the girls, I have knitted handbags, scarves and cardigans. Its Zac's turn to be on top of the list {wink}.

The only downside of this yarn is its tendency to split (aarrggh!!) but it is so easy to use, I can forgive that small annoyance. It also tends to have a few 'icky' bits here and there, where it hasn't spun properly, but I am forgiving those too, as they just add to the charm of the whole thing and aren't really that noticable.

Here is my bag of yummy coloured goodness. It makes me happy in my heart to look at these colours. I have 12 colours all together (notable missing colours are red, black and olive green, not my faves blech).

So, thats it for today. I will back back soon with some information about the knitted (or crocheted) charity squares.

Take care and ciao for now,

So, don't have a heart attack . .

but I am back in blogland!!!

I decided its time my blog had an overhaul (its looking a bit dark and ho-hum) and its time for a facelift.

But first, what have I been up to for the last 6 months?? Geez I have no idea heheheh. Crafting, teaching, being a mum (a mean mum, if you are to believe my 2 mischevious daughters!). I am so loving being crafty and my girls both tell me they love having a mum who knows how to make stuff. How sweet are they??

I have finally finished Maddie's knitted cardigan that I started 18 months ago (sad, isn't it??) but the good news is, it fits her! Yay!! Emily's one has grown more than Emily, so I am hoping that Mad's will fit her for a while yet too, as the yarn seems to get a bit more stretchy as it gets worn. Fingers crossed.

I am in the middle of many projects, knitted, crocheted and paper-craft based, but here is a list of what I am current doing:

1. Knitting myself a big, bulky purple jumper. Have knitted the front and back, and started the sleeves many months ago but developed a repetitive strain injury in my hand and had to stop. All better now, so I should be able to get it finished in time for next winter! haha!

2. Knitted squares. The community centre where I teach at Dean Park in NSW is having a Breast Cancer Awareness Week Fundraiser Day in October. I have started knitting squares to put together a blanket that will be raffled off on the day. I am also encouraging the ladies who attend the knitting & crochet class to knit or crochet squares to add to the blanket. Thanks so far to Margo, Jenni and Eleanor, who have already made some lovely squares for our blanky. I hope I win!!!!!

I will pop back at a later stage with more information about this for anyone who lives in the Western Sydney area who might like to contribute to our community blanket.

3. I discovered the most wonderful blog just this week, called Attic24. Lucy has only been crocheting for 18 months, but when you see her work, OMG! it is just amazing and it looks so good, you'd think she'd been doing it all her life. The colours Lucy uses on her crochet projects is so beautiful, it has totally inspired my to, once again, take up my crochet hook to make granny squares, something I swore I would never do again 18 years ago, when I gave it up in frustration! Now that I am teaching knitting and crochet, I have learned many things and picked up so much, that nothing seems too daunting (except for a hideous crochet doily stitch that Joan wanted me to try and work out - that has left me stumped {{rolls eyes}}).

More to come about this blanky later too. If you are a crocheter, be sure to go and check out Lucy's block at Attic24

4. I am still crocheting big sqaure (sort of grannies but not really) inspired by the blankets made by my friend Virginia's sister. Actually its a blatant copy - I made a pattern by looking at the squares she made and went with that :) This is a long long term project (cos I just don't have enough hours in the day) but I love it and totally enjoy getting lost in the stitching and then looking at the lovely piles of squares. :) Not looking forward to stitching them together however.

5. I am still very much on the design team at Little Scrapbook Shop and am always busy with things over there. I am currently in the midst of a weekly Cuttlebug tutorial series (there will be 10 all together), of which 6 are already up.

Week 1: Printing with Embossing Folders
Week 2: Colour It

Week 3: Tricks with Acetate

Week 4: Cordinations Cardstock
Week 5: Creative Collage

Week 6: Fun with Grungeboard

6. I am also teaching my 2 girls to knit. It's rather painful as they don't pay attention to business, so that, while I may have started them off with 15 stitches, one ended up with 25 and the other with 32!! I guess they won't be making any jumpers any time soon.

OK, so thats all for now. I am going to now go looking for a nice way to change the look of my blog - needs to be brighter and more cheery, and then I will be back with more info about numbers 2 and 3 above.

Have a great day!!