The Wooden Blocks Pa Murphy made

Here are some simply delightful wooden blocks, and a special red and green wooden train made by Pa Murphy as a gift for Thomas!

the wooden blocks Pa Murphy made

Isn't this collection of wooden toys just lovely? Its so much nicer than the mass produced blocks you buy from the store. All the more special are these toys because they were made for Thomas by his grandfather. These are something you would want to keep and treasure, and hopefully pass on one day, because no one has anything quite the same as these wooden toys. I'm not sure where the wood came from originally, but I think these are at least some what environmentally friendly because they were made from scraps of wood from Pa Murphy's workshop. For something like this you really shouldn't buy any wood especially, as any tiny bits of left over scrap wood of any shape will do. These were lightly coated with vegetable oil so a very nice, environmentally friendly toy for Thomas!

two small wooden toy cars by Pa Murphy

Another reason why I like these toys is because they are a classic and timeless toy that doesn't have the branding you see everywhere nowadays. As much as possible, I'd like to help Thomas learn the true value of things, and not according to if they have some recognisable logo or image on them, as hard as I know that is going to be!

Definitely an addition to my collection of hand crafted family heirlooms! Thankyou Pa Murphy <3

Handmade Easter Box

My mother made this clever cardboard box, she gave it to me for Easter filled with little chocolate eggs. The lid is part of the box, when you lift it reveals an opening in the middle. After the eggs were removed, I peeked inside and saw more pretty eggs printed inside!

Three Small Things - baby beanie, dishcloth, headband

small sea green beanie for a premmie

Here are another three small things I've completed in the last couple of days, a baby beanie, a wavey dishcloth and a crochetted headband.

I bought some yarn made from the Wangaratta Mill Shop , part of the Australian Country Spinners, that Lincraft had on special. I'm wanting to find some locally grown and spun yarn, hopefully this is what I've been looking for. I really liked this sea green colour and made a beanie for Tom with it. I used a 4.5mm hook and used front post ridges to mark the increases in the crown, then plain down the sides, and finished of with some star-fish looking clusters. I wonder if the nurses will use this beanie? My starfish cluster pattern goes something like this ... ch 1, [sk 1 st, (htrb, trb, d-trb, trb, htrb) in next, sk next, dc in next] * repeat to end

wavey yellow and green dishcloth

I've been meaning to make something with this wavey stitch for quite a while and have never gotten around to it. The cotton I used for the pentagon dishcloths was so nice, I decided to use the last of it up to make this cloth, which I might use as a dust cloth for my piano. There are references to this wavey pattern in many places, in the end I used one at eHow. I used a 3.5mm hook for this cloth.

I'm really proud of this new headband, this is the first time I've made something like this. I only have one headband, made out of black t-shirt material, and I am so very over black that I need a different colour! So I gave this one a go, using a 3mm hook and some greyish-lilac cotton I bought and still haven't used until now. I found the pattern after searching google for 'stretchy crochet headband pattern'. My pattern is based on this but it is different as I turned for every row.

crochet headband

My version of the stretchy headband pattern
1. ch 8, dc (US sc) in second ch from hook, dc in every ch to end (7 dc), turn
2. ch 1, dc in first dc, dc in second dc, ch 3 skp next dc, dc in next dc, ch 3 skp next dc, dc in next dc, dc in last dc, turn
3. ch 1, dc in ea next 2 dc, dc in 3 ch sp, ch 3, dc in next 3 ch sp, dc in ea last 2 dc, turn
4. ch 1, dc in ea next 2 dc, ch 3, dc in 3 ch sp, ch 3, dc in ea last 2 dc, turn
repeat round 3 & 4 until desired length is reached for firm fit
last round. ch 1, dc in ea next 2 dc, dc in 3 ch sp, dc in next dc, dc in next 3 ch sp, dc in ea last 2 dc
sl st to other end to form ring

Two Homemade Baby Wraps

These two wraps are about a metre square each and have a cotton print side and a flannelette backing. Hopefully these will come in handy very soon!

All these fabrics I bought from Lincraft and are about a metre square each. David and I just couldn't go past the cute purple sheep flannelette! Most of these fabrics I didn't buy on special, so now I'm wondering if it's worth making myself, or if it would actually be cheaper to buy pre-made wraps from the shops. That's why I've only made two like this, so I can wait and see if I actually use them.

Thomas is still a few weeks away from coming home, so we'll be able to see then. David are I are so very excited about how well Tom is growing and putting on weight, we just can't wait until he finally comes home. I hope we will be ready for him in time!

Pink and Blue Hot Water Bottle Cover

A hot water bottle is just what I needed for these aches and pains, the rice hot packs don't hold their heat for as long. But then I needed to make a cover for the water bottle, didn't I?

I still have an inflammed liver from the pre-eclampsia, or more specifically the H.E.L.L.P. syndrome which is very rare, so my liver aches but the doctors said that means it's getting better. For this cover I used a 5mm hook and a blend of 70% mohair and 30% PAC (whatever that is). I got this yarn from Lincraft when they had 50% off wool, this one was labelled  "Mohair Linate Classic" so I got 5 balls of it at a reasonable price. The washing instructions are cool wash, dry flat in shade, do not hang or tumble dry, cool iron. This is a very simple pattern I made up to fit the bottle and I completed it over a day.

My Hot Water Bottle Cover Pattern
using 5mm hook and thick yarn
1. ch as many as needed to width of bottle, ch 2, treble (US dc) in 3rd ch from hook, treble in ea ch to end, treble into bottom of ea ch to end, sl st to join
2. ch 2, treble into each treble around, sl st to join
3. repeat round 2 until you reach shoulder height of the bottle
4. ch 2, treble into same, {sk 4 treble, (2 treble, 1 ch, 2 treble) into next treble} to end, 2 treble into same space as 1st treble, ch 1, sl st into 1st ch 2
5. ch 2, trbl into same, {(2 treble, 1 ch, 2 treble) into next ch 1 space} to end, 2 treble into 1st ch space, ch 1, sl st
6. repeat round 5 to top of water bottle (about 5 rounds in total for neck)
7. thread ribbon through middle round of neck stitch, insert hot water bottle, tie bow in ribbon

Summer Drinks "Plums" Coasters

I know Freya likes purple so I went to Lincraft to get some of their 'plum' coloured cotton so I could whip up another set of drink coasters!

I've tried to match the colours as much as I could to the person, but I don't know everyone's favourite colours. At least this purply-plumy set will be able to find a good home!

I also made some home-made gift tags to go with the coasters. They simply say 'Homemade by Teena with love' and have this blog address on the back, in case anyone wants to find out how I made them and the washing instructions. Washing instructions are on the Frangipani post.

I know Christmas has been and gone, but I was in hospital for the two weeks before and during Christmas, so I assume I will be forgiven for being late!

Enjoy <3 <3 <3

To catch a dream (three small things)

The last two weeks have been surreal to say the least, like a walking dream or day-mare. Some thoughtful soul gave this special beanie to David to give to me, it's what Thomas was wearing in the photo that was taken on his first day. Someone even printed up the photo so I could have it in my room. I didn't see Tom until the second day as I left the ICU to go to the maternity ward. I clung to this special little yellow beanie during my stay while I was away from my baby, I even imagined it smelled like him! I give thanks to the person who made and donated the beanie, and to the person who took the photos of Thomas wearing it, and also to the person who thought I might like to keep it when our baby went into the humidicrib and no longer needed to wear a beanie.

While we were in the maternity ward, on the meal tray was a paddle pop stick. We guessed they were meant to be for stirring tea and coffee, which we thought was a waste of wood. Imagine throwing all those not needed paddle pops away? What a waste of trees! So I collected a few and made some into dream catchers to pass the time. When we left the maternity ward and David went home to sleep, I told him to take the brown dream catcher to place above his bed. It is meant to be for good luck in catching your dreams so they can come true. I learnt how to make these from school, you just weave wool in and out, around the sticks.

Summer Drinks "Frangipani" Coasters

This is the last coaster set I'll do for now. I guess if anyone else wants one, I'll just get some more cotton and make more! But next time I buy cotton, I'll get some red, pink and purple so I can get different colour combinations. Below is a photo of the colours I used for this gift giving season.

It's fun to think of a name, a scene or season to match the colours and vice versa. I have done this last set because these three colours to me say 'frangipani' and I had enough of these colours left over. When I lived in Darwin there were a lot of frangipani trees about. They would loose all their leaves in the dry season, which is the north Australian equivalent of winter, but it really doesn't get very cold at all. Then as the wet season approaches, the trees would become full of flowers and the smell was gorgeous. Most of them were the yellow and white variety, some had a light blush of pink. And very rarely, there was a deep red variety which didn't seem to grow as thick but had the rich fragrance of a rose and was very special. The blue in this set represents the clear blue skies of the Darwin dry season.

I do not recommended this coaster set for red wine drinkers, as it's mostly white and yellow. If you spill red wine on these, soak in cool water immediately. Here are some more tips on how to remove red wine stains from cotton.

Next, to make some Christmas decorations and practice baking some home-made treats to share as gifts!

Summer Drinks "Sandy Beach" & "River Boat" Coasters

Here are the second and third sets I've made for this Summer Drinks coaster collection, I call these colour combos "Sandy Beach" & "River Boat".

Sandy Beach is mostly light blue, for the shallow ocean. Sand is the second colour for the beach and white is for the waves. Or maybe it is white for the seagulls and shells?

A simple thing is choosing 3 colours to make a set of coasters, but these have an extra thought and meaning, to help transport the imagination on those hot summer days!

Navy and white are common sailor stripe colours and is the theme of the upholstery on our "River Boat", and of course it has timber decking!

Washing instructions are ‘Hand wash, do not bleach, dry flat in shade’. Choose the darker coloured coasters when drinking red wine.

Enjoy!

Summer Drinks "Deep Sea" Coasters

Here is the first set of six coasters I am making to give as Christmas gifts. I hope the recipients don't think they are too silly!

I'm thinking each set will have 3 colours, a major, a minor and a highlight, which tells the story of a scene or season. This first one is called "Deep Sea". The major colour is dark blue for the deepest part of the ocean, the minor colour of light blue is for the shallows, with a little white highlight for the tips of the waves. No two coasters are the same, neither are any two coasters a negative image of each other. The even number of coasters with random patterns reflecting both order and chaos in natural landscapes.

After trying out a couple of different patterns, this one is my favourite coaster pattern from Crochetspot. I used a 4.5mm hook for this, and thick 5 ply  COTON-A made by Sullivans, which is a 60% cotton blend with acrylic. Washing instructions are 'Hand wash, do not bleach, dry flat in shade'. I would say to avoid putting red wine or coffee mugs on very light colours like the white.

Making these were a lot of fun to do. Oh no! I think I'm going to make a few more ...

Three Small Things - soap saver, dishcloth, square motif

<<< I don't really understand why I woke one morning thinking I needed to make a soap saver for the laundry soap, but I did! I don't usually use these things, but the soap I have in the laundry at the moment was a gift and really needed one as it was making a mess. I didn't follow a pattern as it's a pretty basic shape, but I did look at crochetspot and google for some inspiration, and used my thick cotton and a 4mm hook. I got the idea of continuing the first round all the way round the bottom of the first row from the free pattern at crochetspot, there are also pictures and patterns of other soap savers there. I've tested it out, so far so good. The plan is, when you get the little shards of soap left over at the end you keep them in the bag so you don't waste them. Very thrifty, I like it!

>>> I have been working on a spiral dishcloth using the same aqua cotton as my first cotton dishcloth, but I'm not happy with it so it's currently in my pile of unfinished projects. I bought some 'amalfi' yarn from Lincraft for $4, which is 100% cotton. I think the choice of colours look 'dishclothy', if there is such a thing, so chose the aqua greenish one. This time I made a bigger version of the basketweave dishcloth, as David asked for a bigger one. This used most of the 50g ball, there isn't enough left to make another one this size. Consolation is that this cloth can be washed and reused for quite a while, so I can get my money and effort's worth out of it. This didn't take long to do, I used a new bamboo 3.5mm I thought to try for fun. I found working with the bamboo hook that it stuck a little, and is not as smooth as using a metal one. The final product measures 22cm x 18cm.

<<< I tried this square motif, I'm thinking of using it to make some baby play cubes. This coaster pattern is at crochetspot.

Pretty Pink and Purple Bag

Here is a small handbag that I made on an impulse a few days ago and am particularly pleased with how it turned out.

I really liked the look of a motif featured in Jan Eaton's book, crochet basics, but couldn't find the pattern anywhere within the actual book! So I guessed from the pictures what it was, and reproduced this motif. I liked it so much I made another, using some light yarn from my scraps bag in two pretty colours. They seemed to tell me they wanted to be made into a bag! I don't know why, I didn't ask them. I'm not so crazy to ask questions of crochet motifs, but there you have it. A cute and pretty little bag with a draw-string lip. I don't know if I'll ever use it, I wonder if anyone would like it as a gift?

My guess at the pattern motif
1. contrast colour (opt.), ch 5, sl st to form ring, ch 2, 15 trbl (US dc) into ring, sl st to join, (16 trbl)
2. main colour (opt.), ch 2, (trbl in next trbl, ch 1) in ea trbl, sl st to join (16 trbl, 16 ch sp)
3. ch 2, 2 trbl in same ch sp, 3 trbl in ea ch sp, sl st to join, (48 trbl)
4. contrast colour (opt.), (dc (US sc) in space between 2 sets of 3 trbl, ch 3) 3 times, (dc in next space, ch 5) in next space to form corner, repeat 3 times to end to form 4 corners, sl st into starting dc
5. ch 2, 2 trbl in same ch sp, 3 trbl ea in next 2 ch sp, (5 trbl, ch 1, 5 trbl) in corner ch sp,  repeat 3 times to end with 4 corners, sl st into starting ch, (67 trbl)
6. main colour (opt.), ch 2, trbl in ea trbl, (2 trbl in corner ch 1 sp), repeat around to end with 4 corners,

My pretty bag pattern
1. make 2 square motifs of same size
2. trbl in ea trbl of one motif on 3 sides only
3. sl st 3 sides of two motifs together
4. ch desired length for handle (90 ch), sl st to start of row 3
5. ch 2 sl st to same trbl, trb in ea ch of handle to start of row 4, sl st
6. ch 2, trbl in ea trbl across top lip of bag with 2 trbl in start of handle on ea side, sl st
7. ch 2, trbl in ea trbl around lip of bag, sl st, fasten off
8. contrast colour (opt.), ch length longer than lip of bag, thread in and out through trbls at top of bag lip, sl st to form ring, fasten off

Simple Blue Pouch

This was very easy to whip up, it took me just over an hour using some nice blue wool from my left overs bag.

An internet friend asked me if I could make a pouch for his GPS which measures 125mm x 76mm x 16mm. Usually I don't sell what I make, preferring to make gifts for family, but I figured that this wouldn't be too hard so gave it a go.

My pattern for a simple pouch
1. ch 18, treble (US dc) in 3rd ch from hook, tr in ea chain to end, ch 2, turn (16 trebles)
2. treble in each treble, ch 2, turn
3-25. continue row 2 until piece measures 25cm long (about 25 rows)
26. fold at 12th row, making a base of one row, 3 dc (US sc) in ea space down the sides joining two sides together, last space has 1 dc then 2 dc in base row, dc in bottom of ea treble of row 12 to form bottom ridge, dc up the other side like the first side, ch 36 (long enough to be twice the width to form draw string).
27. cut the yarn and thread through first row of trebles, sl st in 1st ch to form draw string, fasten off
LoL! well that's my pattern as I understand it, I don't know if anyone else will!

I wrapped it up in some recycled tissue paper with a tiny homemade tag and posted it off to Western Australia! It fit inside a prepaid envelop which only cost $1.40 which I thought wasn't too bad at all.

Today these fotos came back from my friend in W.A. I'm very pleased to see the GPS actually fits inside. Really, why wouldn't it? Oh, I don't know, I thought I might have made it too small!!

I'm glad something I made so simply is a useful thing!

<3 <3 <3

P.S. Thanks to Louis for the fotos featuring the GPS! <3

Long Berry Pink Scarf

I liked the stitch from the purple baby jacket so much that I used it for this scarf! This is my post for Pink Saturday hosted @ How Sweet The Sound.

I edged the ends with 3 x 5 treble (American double) clusters. I still have heaps of this colour left over and I figured this stitch would make a nice patterned scarf. I was wondering if Shelly would like it to go with her new hat, but I didn't get it finished in time. When she comes back here, she'll be on her way back to Darwin so hardly a reason for a scarf living there! maybe my mum would like this, as the hat she might like is also made from the Berry Pink mix.

Interesting that David's sister lives in Darwin, and so does mine, but David and I didn't meet in Darwin. But both of our RSVP photos were taken at Darwin beaches at the weddings of our siblings in mid 2006. Both brides at those weddings are school teachers, and both grooms are mechanics. Uncanny, isn't it? I think of David as my angel sent to me by the universe when it figured it was about time to send me a fair go! We were meant to meet, if not in Darwin, then somehow sometime! Now my life is complete. /awwwww

Be sure to check out other pretty pinks @ Pink Saturday.

Cream Ribbed Hat with Rose Brooch

I was very surprised when this beanie hat worked out so well, because I made up the pattern myself!

I learnt how to do ribbed stitches when I made my purple bolero shrug using a pattern from Lincraft. I had seen round ribbed crochet hats before but I'd never read a pattern when I made this hat. I sat down to watch tv with David with a new ball of Sullivans Softply in cream which cost $2.49. I flicked through an old stitches book my mum has leant me but couldn't find what I was looking for, but I did start thinking about the ribbing, and wondered if it would work. It easily worked out, it was a lot simpler than I thought!

Then I just had to make a big rose brooch to go with it didn't I? This is the 4th flower I've made using Rachel's pattern from Crochet Spot. But this time I remembered the pattern as I had done the Berry Pink one the day before. But I made this one different. There are 14 petals, and for the 1st 7 I did trebles (English db tr) instead of doubles (English trebles) to make the petals at the bottom bigger. The other 7 petals are double crochet (English trebles) as usual. It makes the rose more full at the bottom.

My easy ribbed beanie pattern, using 5mm hook and thickish wool
1. 1st round is a beginning 3 chain, sl st, then 12 trebles (American doubles) in the round, sl st
2. 2 ch counts as 1st treble, treble front around the post of the treble below, treble into each treble (as well as front treble around each post) = 24 trebles
3. 2 ch counts as 1st treble, treble into each treble, treble front around each 3rd post (the one thats raised from the previous round) = 36 trebles
4. 2 ch counts as 1st treble, treble into each treble, treble front around each 4th post, sl st = 48 trebles
5. 2 ch counts as 1st treble, treble into each treble, treble front around each 5th post, sl st = 60 trebles
6. 2 ch counts as 1st treble, treble into 5 trebles, skip one treble, treble front around each 6th post, sl st = 72 trebles
7+ repeat row 6 until desired length is reached

The wool I used feels soft to touch, but after wearing this hat for a short time the skin on my forehead started to itch. I'm assuming this is why people usually use nicer wool for beanies. I will live and learn! Still a fun hat to make, and I'm very glad my mother in law liked it enough so I could give it her last time she dropped by for a visit. She didn't think it was scratchy, so I hope she will get some use out of it.

<3 <3

Green and White Baby Blanket

It took me about a week to do this, only working on it while downstairs when David was cooking or watching TV, using a 5mm hook and some soft thin yarn so the end result is nice and lacy. I'm linking this post in with Transformation Thursday, a blog party hosted by The Shabby Chic Cottage.

I just wanted something easy to do without a pattern, so I made this one up! It's pretty easy. I just started with 80 chains, plus 2 more to make the first treble (American double) of the first row. There are 4 x 20 chain sections, each consists of the same pattern. I used a couple of big balls of wool in the stash I've been given which I want to use up, and I thought green and white were good uni-sex colours for a baby. The end result is 60cm x 65cm.

4 x 20 chain pattern - 6 trebles (US dc), sk 2, 2 tr in next ch 2 2 tr in same, sk 2, 2 tr ch 2 2 tr in same, sk 2, 6 tr

repeat pattern 4 times for each row, turn, ch 2 to form 1st tr of next row

I changed colours every 5 rows, with a total of 50 rows (10 stripes of 5 rows each)

Edging

row 1.  (in each corner 3 tr 2 ch 3 tr in same), sk 1 space, 2 tr 2 ch 2 tr in same, sk 1 space, repeat to end,  sl st (one space needed 2 sk instead of 1 to even it up)

row 2. in contrast colour (in each corner 3 tr 2 ch 3 tr in same), in next 2 ch space 2 tr 2 ch 2 tr, repeat to end, sl st

I'm planning to use up most of the wool I own, making items that will hopefully be useful in our future. Hopefully this light and lacy blankie will be handy!

<3 <3 <3

Be sure to check out other crafty transformations @ The Shabby Chic Cottage!

Here are my favourite highlights from this week's party

• homemade air fresher @ http://www.homemademamas.net/2010/06/homemade-air-freshener.html


• rag quilt made from recycled jeans @ http://memoriesbyannadawn.blogspot.com/2010/07/jean-quilts-new-and-improved.html


• crochet rug with link @ http://www.flamingotoes.com/2010/06/cute-crochet-rug/


• fridge magnet bag idea @ http://terelauritsen.blogspot.com/2010/07/fridge-magnet-bag.html


• big brother, big sister t-shirts @ http://lemontreecreations.blogspot.com/2010/06/big-brother-sister-bags.html


• reversable baby dress made from recycled t-shirts @ http://jessicakenenske.blogspot.com/2010/06/reversible-baby-dress.html


• turn children's art into soft toys @ http://www.camilledawn.com/2010/07/childs-art-turned-softie.html


• home sewn child's play tent @ http://3punkmom.blogspot.com/2010/06/childrens-play-tent.html

Two Berry Pink Hats

I bought 5 balls of this 'Berry Mix' Lincraft DK wool last year for my birthday, thinking I might make a simple rug with it, but of course that hasn't happened! This is my post for this week's Pink Saturday blog party hosted by Beverly @ How Sweet the Sound.

I made this flower hat one evening while watching some television, the final episodes of Bones and Castle to be exact! I call this hat a 'flower' hat because I started it off with a small 6 petal flower. Each petal is a cluster of 3 trebles all pulled together in one stitch, each petal is then separated by 3 chains. Then I work out in flat rounds, increasing slightly each round until it was just slightly smaller than my out-stretched hand. Then I used the shell pattern down the sides as I did with my wine coloured beanie. This pattern usually makes hats smaller so I was careful to make sure this hat would fit an adult.

This is now the 3rd rose I've made like this to make into a detachable brooch to go with the hat. I still had to refer to Rachel's pattern at Crochet Spot as I haven't yet memorised it. I highly recommend Rachel's website if you are in need of some crochet patterns, its very nicely set out. Just remember her patterns are in American crochet, not English. The cost of the wool I used for this hat and matching brooch was less than $2, and I used a 4mm hook.

Using the same wool I also made a hip-hop cap following the pattern in the Crochet 08/09 booklet from Lincraft. I didn't check the gauge so that might be why this hat turned out a bit on the big side, although I'm not sure if it's meant to be like that! It didn't take me long and I whipped it up in about 3 or 4 hours while we watching tv and David was cooking.

I hope you like seeing two more of my hats, this time they are Berry Pink! And be sure to check out other pinks at this week's Pink Saturday blog party @ How Sweet the Sound!

<3

Some selected highlights from this week's party

• inspirational home-made mosaics @ Anne Fannies Green Acres


• new party goer's pretty quilted handbags @ Kitty and Me Designs


• create from the heart @ Heart of a Wizardess


• Heaps of Inspirational Craft Areas, just a small selection of the wonderful spaces at this week's party
  eg.
  Someplace in Thyme
  She's Sew Pretty
  Creative Chaos
  Studio 48 Tango

White Rose of Peace

I've made a flower to go with the white hat I made about four years ago without a pattern. I like to call the flower I made for it "The White Rose of Peace" ! This is my post for this week's White Wednesday blog party hosted by Faded Charm.

I've made this flower before using the rose pattern on Rachel's Crochet Spot website. I prefer to attach these flowers to a safety pin so they are removable according to whim and fancy! This one was made with white wool I was given amongst a large unwanted stash by the mother of a friend, and I used a 3.5mm or  4mm hook for the flower.

I've decided my White Rose of Peace shall bring Harmony and Tranquillity to all who look at it with Magical Imagination! It is a special flower I've made for good luck and forgiveness!
<3 <3 <3

Be sure to check out other wonderful whites @ White Wednesday!

My selected highlights from this week's party

• beautifully hand embroidered baby dress @ The Old Fashioned Baby Sewing Room


• chalkboard tray @ Keepin' Up with the Tatums


• beautiful photographs of white flowers @ Laughing with Angels


• a wonderful collection of white pottery @ Cabin & Cottage

Dreamy Mango and Cream Beanie

I started this apricot coloured beanie ages ago, and now it's finally finished!

After I made the blue beanie for David about 3 years ago without a pattern, I thought to make myself a warmer one as well. The white one I made for myself in 2004 has too many holes to be warm enough. So I chose three lovely bits of wool that seemed to match, the cream wool has flecks of orange in it, one ball still had the label which said the colour was 'mango'. But I hit a snag and the beanie was turning out too big so I left it aside for a couple of years!

When I recently started working on my beanie making skill in earnest, I went back to this to try and finish it off. I undid a few rounds and started making the straight sides, adding in a rough apricot coloured stripe in the middle to use up the last of that yarn.

This is a very simple beanie made from beautifully soft wool that feels nice on the face, and it's nice and warm too! I think I am ready to get some nicer wool to make more beanies for family and friends!
<3 <3 <3

A Set of Small Purses

This set began with a shell pouch I made for my mum to say thank you for teaching me how to crochet. Now the set has grown to include more purses! This is my post for this week's Transformation Thursday which is hosted by The Shabby Chic Cottage. I transformed a ball of  lovely and soft multi-coloured wool into these purses.

I made the tiny purse without a pattern. I again used the shell pattern for one side then plain for the other so the shape would not turn out wonky. I then made a lid for the purse. I was inspired by the lid on the quick clutch at Crochet Spot but I did not follow the pattern. If I did I probably would not have had to pull it apart two times before I got it right on the third try! I also made up my own tiny button, although I might replace it with a proper button if this doesn't work out. This tiny purse took one morning to do.

I completed the tissues cover over two days without using a pattern. I had been planning to make one with a slit down the middle but then I saw the tissues I had bought for this opened a different way. I made this tissue purse using the shell stitch on the front only and plain treble crochet on the back and sides so it would keep it's shape. I had trouble deciding if I would make a lid for it, but settled on leaving it open because the shell stitch made a nice wavy edge.

I gave these and the matching tiny dancing teddy bears to my mum yesterday when she came to visit. She said she likes the set, and promptly put her pens in the larger pouch to stop them from rolling around in her bag! The tiny teddies fit neatly inside the tiny purse, they were so cute!

Be sure to check out the other things linked in with Transformation Thursday, there is always HEAPS of handy home-crafting ideas which I love to check out!
<3 <3 <3

My Highlights from this weeks' party

• sew star pin cushions or beanbag toys @ Sew a Straight Line


• recycle old jeans and pants into aprons @ Keeping it Simple


• turn a child's t-shirt into a dress @ I Can Find the Time


• make a simple memory game using stamps and wood cutoffs @ A Bit O' Shine