New crochet project

My hexagon blanket is still a work-in-progress - I'm just sewing in the threads and will start working on the edge. While I was wondering what edging to use I decided to work on a smaller, quicker project - my wool collection is starting to get a bit out of hand LOL I decided to make a crochet beanie! I created this using one pattern for the top of the beanie and then incorporated a second pattern for the rest. I finished it off with a basic scalloped edge and a cute flower :) I love how this turned out!! It's a present for a friend - I hope she likes it!


I tried to make another adult sized one, but after starting and undoing it 7 times, I gave up (guess that teaches me a lesson about mix and match patterns LOL) and found a child sized pattern to get the top part (that determines the size) started and then used the same pattern, edging and flower from my other beanie. I made this one for one of my nieces and will make another one for my other niece.

Just because layouts

Apart from chatting and socialising at Simply Crafty this month - I did start scrapping two layouts :) I was determined to get them finished, so I set up my scrap table the next day and finished them both!! Woo hoo!! LOL It was nice to scrap layouts "just because" - not for challenges, etc. I did use a few new products I brought from the expo :)

Simply Crafty June Swaps

We had 9 ladies participate in this month's swap :) I'm glad we started doing them again. It's always fun to see what everyone creates! Next month's swap is Christmas tags.


Unfortunately the kraft card swap wasn't as successful :( Lorelle did make her cards - so we still swapped :)


Lorelle (Stamping' Up!) also did a faux stitching demonstration - she generously supplied all the products for everyone to have a play. I brought me card home and did a bit of stamping on it to finish it off. I I will be donating my card back to Lorelle for the Cancer Foundation.

Swaps

We had 2 swaps for Simply Crafty this month. One was a kraft card swap - here's my card.


We also had a countryside theme (trees, birds, butterlies, etc) embellishment swap. I made these trees - I was inspired by Patty Schaffer's cute trees.

Cute purses

I got some happy mail last week :) I was lucky enough to win this gorgeous blog candy from Mel's blog! The prize was for the black (uncovered) purse and you cover it with your choice of material. Mel generously sent the the black purse and this beautiful pink covered purse :) I was going to cover my purse with some vintage pink material, but will have to go through my fabric stash and see what else I have.


BTW - I've subscribed to Mel's monthly Teapot newsletter - it's got sewing, cooking, scrapbooking, etc projects. I've added alot of the projects onto my "To Do" list :) Make sure you pop over to her blog and check it out.

Birthday cards

I was spoilt with some gorgeous handmade birthday cards for my birthday :)

Helen's


Kylie's


Cathie's


Cathie and Kylie both gave me cooking gifts - I think they are hinting for me to get in the kitchen and bake more goodies! LOL Cathie gave me some cute silicon oven mitts (so I will stop using a tea-towel and burning my hands LOL) and scalloped square cookie cutters and Kylie gave me this great decorating set and recipe books!

Scrapbook Expo

Cassie and I have a wonderful trip to Brisbane! We left Friday afternoon and had a fun road trip down - talking and listening to music. Definitely noticed how much colder it was - Cassie wore this beanie which I called her "hill-billy hat" LOL


We arrived at our apartment AKA as Dodgy Brothers Hotel LOL The apartment was decent sized and clean, but our first thought was..."it doesn't look like the picture on the website" LOL We had a few funny moments - a very wobbly chair, the table top that lifted off when we tried to move it and bathroom tiles that weren't stuck down LOL We were on the 15th floor and had a decent view of the city & river and we were opposite Roma Street station. That was a huge advantage at the end of the day - not too far to drag our tool kits, shopping bags and tired bodies home LOL


Cassie and I ready to head off for our first day at the expo on Saturday! See my new haircut?!? I got it cut on the Thursday before we left. I thought it was time for a change and I love it :)


Cathie met us at the expo (her first time) and we spent the morning doing a bit of shopping (the crowd was unbelievable!) and looking at everything before I had to go to one of my classes.


There were lots of gorgeous displays of projects, cards & layouts and great demonstrations!


Sunday was my second class and more shopping (the crowd wasn't as big as Saturday, so managed to have a better look around the stalls). Craig gave me money for my birthday - so I went on a shopping spree!! I got lots of lovely goodies to play with including 2 sets of Spellbinders and a beautiful doily stamp that I had wanted for ages! I popped next door and had a look around all the gorgeous displays and stalls at the Textile expo. I ran into Dilys, Petrina and Rachael - that was a nice surprise :) One of my favourite pics - Cassie and I all rugged up and on the train heading to the expo on Sunday!


We had plans on going out and having dinner, but after long days of classes & shopping, we just went back to the hotel and ordered gourmet take-away and chilled out in front of the TV - what a pair of party animals! LOL We also had a girly night - face masks and a few drinks on Saturday night :) My friend Evan met me at the expo Monday (my birthday) and we spent the morning sitting by the river at Southbank and swapping NZ holiday stories :) We headed back to Bundy late Monday afternoon and I arrived home to a yummy birthday dinner of roast lamb and Mississippi cheesecake (my fave from The Cheesecake Shop)!

MIA

Sorry I have been MIA - I arrived home from Brisbane Monday night and got a phone call that my cousin had died in a car accident :( Obviously I haven't felt like blogging lately, but I will be back soon though with lots to share.

Postcards

Some more Postcards from Postcrossing :)

Hexagon progress this week

I have slowed down a bit with the baby blanket, but I have made 96 hexagons so far! I think I will make this 12 rows long and add 2 more rows to the width. Fingers crossed I have enough wool LOL

Christmas cards

We had a busy weekend - Mum brought her trailer over and we spent the weekend tidying up the gardens and pruning back all the trees / shrubs. Our mandarin tree has another bumper crop again this year - so we picked some for our neighbours.


The girls (Kylie, Cathie, Elena and Amanda) came over to do some card-making on Saturday night. We are having a Christmas card swap for the Xmas in July celebrations at Simply Crafty, so decided to be super organised and make our cards now. As usual there was more chatting then cardmaking happening, but we all managed to get our 3 cards finished :) These are the cards I made.





Here they are all packaged up and ready to go :) I'm even that organised that I have brought my 'secret Santa' present - how crazy?!? LOL Now I just need to get started on the kraft card swap and countryside theme embellishment swap for this month at Simply Craft LOL


I had to share this pic of our cute puppies :) I left some chairs on the back lawn and they claimed them for some sun baking today - spoilt! LOL

Baby shower cards

I ended up making 2 cards for Skye's baby shower - one from me and one from Diane (MIL). I'm pleased with how they both turned out :)

Proud Aunty!

I had to share this photo of my gorgeous niece Cody - looking very proud of her ribbons from the Comet Gymkhana last weekend. It was her first time competing in showjumping and she got 4th place!!!

More hexagon progress

Here is my blanket so far :)


I have crocheted 86 hexagons! I originally only brought 6 balls of wool - thinking I would just make a small rug. After I started making the blanket I realised I would need 3 more balls of wool to make a cot sized blanket. I had a bit of a panic when I went to buy some more green wool and there was none left - oops! Luckily I managed to buy a very similar colour at Spotlight!