Hello 2017

Hello there! 

Happy New Year crafty peeps! :) 

I hope you have all had a great end of 2016, I seem to have fallen off the blogging wagon over the last few months, but you know what they say, new year, new you!  I am going to find my way back to a blogging rhythm because I have missed recording my crafty-yarny adventures over here.   

Anyway, I always like to set a few goals at this time of year, I very rarely seem to achieve them but I like to start the year with good intentions! 

*This year I'd like to grow more of our food, my vegie patch was sadly neglected in 2016, I'm starting to get it firing up again, but there are still a lot of areas out of control!

*I'd like to get fitter, and my perennial goal of losing some weight and getting healthier is still on the list!  ( I somehow managed to gain a heap of weight in 2016 rather than lose it! )

*I'd like to keep on top of my housework.  Since my wool shop is taking up more of my time,  I'm finding it harder to keep our house running smoothly, I'm going to try and be more organised with things.  Wish me luck, I'll be fighting my natural messy tendencies, so this might be a difficult one! 

*I have lots of ideas for my wool shop and new yarns I'd like to stock, I'm going to try and work consistently and not let time run away from me.  I am also going to try and budget better so I don't have cash flow issues that hold my plans up! 

* I'd like to learn the tunisian crochet technique and also do more knitting, in particular sock knitting.  I have so many gorgeous sock yarns in my stash and I want to start using them!

*I want to send out my Little Woollie Makes Yarn Store newsletter at least once a month, I didn't 

achieve this last year and need to get consistent! 

*I'm planning on blogging more consistently too, hopefully 5 times a week.  I had a lot of things to share during December, but time just ran out for blogging, so this year I'm going to be organised and not let things get on top of me.  

I think that will be plenty for me to focus on, I'm sensing a theme, organisation and consistency! 

Do you set goals in the new year too?  Or do you like to see how the year unfolds and go with the flow?

I am not great at keeping up the momentum of goal setting, so we will see how this year goes, if it's any different from other years.....

Ok that's about all I've got to chat about today, have a great 2nd day of the exciting new year everyone! 

xxxx

Creativity Blog Hop...

Hello!

I am taking part in a Blog Hop today, and talking about creativity.  I was tagged by the lovely Kate from Just Pootling, hi Kate!

There are four questions to answer, and hopefully they will shed some light on my creative process! So here goes.

1. What am I working on?

Crochet in general, and more specifically at the moment I am working on a tapestry crochet washcloth in a new pattern. And I am also making little knitted hearts for a new dangly thing for our bedroom. I am finding that these small projects that I can complete in a few days are giving me a lot of pleasure.  Not to say I don't like a big time consuming project, but I was having trouble deciding what to make next , so small projects are great for the interim.

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?

Um, this is a hard question, I am not sure my work is all that different from others in the crochet world!  Maybe I have a distinctive colour palette?  I love to play with colour and pattern, and am drawn to stripes and things that have the potential for lots of layering of colour.  I also like 'solid' crochet, I am not into lacy, gappy patterns, so I think there is chunkiness to my work that might be a little different to others, maybe it feels more contemporary than traditional?   I like making big slabs of crocheted fabric in lovely wools and calling them blankets!  But then I like making little pretty frivolous things too!  I also like the tapestry crochet technique at the moment, and I don't see too many people using that in a big way, so maybe that's a little different too.

3. Why do I write/create what I do?

I crochet because it brings me enjoyment and I like to see my ideas come to life.  I love making things, and find I am never bored or wondering what to do, as there is always another idea to try out.  I also like making things just to prove that I can!  I get a lot of satisfaction out of making something to the best of my current abilities, and there is still so much to learn!  I am also quite surprised how good it feels to see someone else appreciate something I have made with my own hands, it gets a bit addictive this making caper!  I love crochet because there are so many creative possibilities with this craft.

4. How does my writing/creating process work?

I seem to always be doodling or writing little ideas.  My creative process seems to start with an idea, or a technique, stitch or colour combination, and then I will do a bit of drawing to see if I can sketch out how it might look in the end, and then I really just have a go!  I love trying new things out and learning new techniques to broaden my creative choices. I tend to figure out the details as I work, this means an idea can change as it  grows and becomes a real thing.  Something that looks good on paper might not actually work in reality, so I am always open to changing things when I am crocheting.  Or I might have an idea for something and do a little drawing, but not have the skills to bring it to life yet, so I like to revisit old ideas every once in a while as my skill base grows, I often have moments of ' oh I do know how I can make that now' when my skills have caught up to my ideas!  One of the best things about crochet,  it is very easy to pull stitches out and try again! 

So there you have it, a little insight into me and what makes me tick creatively speaking.

Here are 3 other lovely bloggers to pass the baton onto and continue the hop for next week -

*Heike over at Made with Loops

*Butterfly Sparkles over at Butterfly Sparkles Designs

*Emm over at Crochet.Reading.Travels.Stories.Life.Love.Me

So what are you up to today, creative wise?  

small making days.....

There hasn't been a whole lot of making around here lately, just a few rows here and there when I get a chance.  I have gathered a bit of a crafty collection on the arm of the couch, so I can catch a nice burst of colour every time I glance over there, and I can pick it up and put it down again without cleaning up properly!   I think I will be able to make a few more washers, but then I will be out of colourful cottons, so I might try and source some good coloured cottons for my shop and me!  I am also determined to get that big mixed stitch stripey blanket for the CAL finished this coming week, I need to finish it off so I can move onto other things with a clear mind.  

It has been pretty busy here, Jesse has had his last day of high school today, and now has a few weeks of studying and his final exams to complete his Year 12 studies (VCE).  So there has been quite a bit of celebrating and milestones being passed.  Making me feel quite sentimental too!  My first baby is almost grown up now and it feels too soon, but it is exciting too and I just love the young man he is growing into, I'm looking forward to the next stage of his life,  I'm sure he will be off doing his own thing but we will be cheering from the side lines.

I have also embarked on yet another self improvement plan.  Hopefully the last one I will need. 

 I read this post by Frugal Queen and found it really resonated with me.   ( Thanks Froogs! :)  )  

So a lot of time this week has been spent on exercising. I have to say I am feeling better, 

I had forgotten how good it feels to sweat and work my muscles.  

( I am feeling sooooo sore though!) :)   I had been feeling a bit down and in a rut so this is really helping to lift my mood too, all those endorphins and all that....

I have no excuses now, I just have to get on with it and stick with it until it is just a part of my life.

( I have cut out Diet Coke too, it has been hard, one week down, so far so good! I had a big DC habit!)

Anyway, that's a couple of snippets of my week, it feels like I haven't been reading blogs for a while so I have a bit of catching up to do and see what you guys have been up to as well.

How has your week been? 

Getting any crafty action going?

Done any exercise, do you feel better when you do?

Joining in with Christina's Made By Hand today.

the one where we throw a party.....

Hello there!

 I have been absent from my blog and the computer in general this past week, and it feels like ages since I last posted, it has been a busy time at our place!

I am turning 40 this week, so we thought we would have a party (you know, any excuse... :) ). 

This did entail a major house clean/declutter/garden makeover, etc, which turned into a huge task!

(Our house is usually quite untidy and messy and I tend to only get it in tip top condition for special occasions) 

 Luckily my fab parents and husband gave me lots of help to get things looking celebratory, and my family and friends came over last night and we had a great night!

Lots of chatting and catching up, eating and drinking, playing pool and some good music, and general funtimes!

............We hung some of these paper ball thingys..... think they will be up till after Christmas and continue with the party atmosphere.....

.........I made some big paper flowers for a colourful party garland..........

........we cracked out the special cups........ and filled them with some yummy drinks.....

.......colourful bendy straws to suck up a margarita or two...........

......received some lovely flowers....

.....and picked these guys from the garden......

(David Austin rose 'Jude the Obscure' - divine!!)

As part of the 'make the house presentable' operation, my dad put my painted papered box on the wall for me and I got a few of my crochet jars into it......

.....and  found my ceramic bottles looked right at home on top.....

The garden is looking a treat too, but I don't have any pictures to show you, maybe a garden post coming soon.

I have a great family and lovely friends and they all made me feel very spoilt and lucky and loved, so it was an excellent way to say goodbye to my 30's and look forward to the next decade of living.

(Although not officially till this week)

Oh, and I got my hair cut again during the week and have gone shocking blonde, so much so that every time I catch my reflection, I get a little surprised shock, I look quite different! 

I haven't had much crafting time recently, and I've missed it!!  I have managed to start a little idea for something Christmassy.  Now that the big do is history, I can get back to other fun things and hopefully have a few finished things to share soon!

Anyway, hope you all have had a great week too, and I am going to try and catch up on the recent bloggy happenings over the next few days.... see you later!

my creative space....the new do and a bit of blanket...

.......I have been adding a bobble row to my blanket, which is surprisingly slow going. Hope to finish it off tonight and get a few more rows hooked down.

The day has been busy with my nieces birthday and dropping the older boys at their social engagements..........and getting my mane chopped into something more manageable.

I had forgotten how nice it is to get your hair cut.........

.....This is the before photo, I usually keep my hair tied up, so I hadn't realised just how long it had got, (only really notice how long it is at night when I wake up being strangled by it), definitely time for a make over.......

......and here is a little peek at the new me with short hair.... I feel like I've shed about 5 kgs! I am a big fan of the 'don't do things by half' rule, so it feels great to look so different.

(I have just broken my 'no pictures of me on the blog' rule, oops, as you can see I don't really resemble my knitted avatar, but never mind, now you can put a face to my ramblings)

Hope your day is going creatively, you can see what other peeps are up to over here.

see you soon!

Skill +1up 2KCBWDAY2

I think the most challenging technique I have tried to master to date is fairisle colour work. I made this owl with the patterned tummy and it was my first attempt at fairisle. I think I learnt a lot from the experience, and having read more about it, I realise that things I thought I was doing wrong, like creating a huge tangle of threads at the back that had to be untangled every few rows, was actually quite common and part of the whole experience. Next time, I will make my pattern less complicated, and hopefully won't get in such a mess!


This time last year I did not know how to crochet at all, so I am pretty happy with how my crochet skills are developing, I am giving pretty much anything a go, and it seems to be working out ok. There are lots of techniques I haven't tried, but I tend to be more project driven, rather than technically driven, so if I see something I want to make I will learn a new technique if necesary to complete the item.

I find I tend to stick to projects that are quite small or done in multiple modules and then put together into a finished piece, like blankets, toys, garlands and buntings. I think I should give some clothing a go soon, as I have found some nice patterns to try. The commitment needed for clothing scares me off a bit, I have so many unfinished projects on the go, but I think it would be good to try and complete something to wear.


Hope that wasn't too boring for you all! I am making a couple of softies at the moment and hope to have pictures soon to show you all!
See you tomorrow

at my house.....

...... contemplating what to make first with these gorgeous colours, plenty to choose from.....such a dilemma.....

Check out what's happening at other peoples homes today here.

at my house....

We had a great weekend, went to a great party (thanks Nikki!) on Saturday night ( child free) and ate, drank and made merry!!!!( plenty of bad disco dancing and what I like to call"social singing"!!) Woke up Sunday morning, after a VERY windy, rainy night to find this tree has been uprooted from our nature strip and fallen through the fence. Made a bit of a hole in the fence , but luckily didn't take out the power or phone lines.

We went down to Geelong to see Gary's dad for fathers day, so I managed to get a heap of crocheting done in the car and while we were chatting after lunch. Jack showed us some great home movies of when the boys were babies and toddlers, I had forgotten how cute they were!
Andre thought my hair looked like a boys (it was very short, and I have to agree, not very attractive!) and thought I should travel back in time and change it! If only it was that easy!!

This week looks pretty standard - lots of busy kids activites, ortho appointments, sport, work and other stuff. We have a bye in tennis tonight so I've invited mum and dad for dinner, I am roasting a shoulder of pork that I got from Fernleigh Farm a while ago. They grow and sell rare breed free range pork, so I'll be interested to see if it tastes different to conventional pork.

One special thing this week - Friday night I'm off to the city to see one of my fav bands, Powderfinger, on their goodbye tour (boo hoo!) I Can't Wait!!!! Great live music and a night out, it doesn't get much better than that!

Have a great week!

where do you crochet?

This is a corner of our family room with my nice blue sleepy hollow chair (a little the worse for wear, after 14 years of children romping all over it), and some crafty stuff that is generally spread in various parts of the house. I like to sit here in the afternoon winter sun and do a little hooking if I have a spare half hour. I often sit here to eat my lunch or read a magazine, it's just a really nice spot in our house!




This is part of my first crochet effort my lovely red and green granny square rug, I am really happy with the colours and how vibrant it is ( you can see it hanging over the back of my chair in the top photo). The next thing to do is decide on a border and finish it off!



This is a cushion I am making in similar colours to the granny. My blue owl is something I made to experiment with fair isle colour knitting, once again similar colours. (I think I keep coming back to favourite combinations, no matter how I try to do something different). I think he's kind of cute! Being a novice, I made the pattern too complicated and it was slow going making the owl front, I am happy how he turned out and I learnt a lot, but I would simplify my pattern next time!

Do you have somewhere you particularly enjoy crafting in?
Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a great creative day!