Here & Now ~July

here comes the sun

koinobori, a study of wind and Japanese culture

evening winter light

Loving //time to relax, time to enjoy the company of my children and time to catch up

Eating //gingernut biscuits from this recipe book

Drinking //beautiful freshly squeezed orange juice 

Wearing //a blanket on my knee

Making //crochet shopping bags from Knit-O-Matic. They can be whipped up quickly and are a truly satisfying project

Thinking //about all things Japanese...while dusting off my passport!

Dreaming //of beautiful outdoor spaces and winter light

Thank you Sarah for your invitation to join in the 'Here & Now' link! 

What is happening in your Here & Now?

Kate xx

Made with Love ♥

vanilla yo-yo biscuits

It is birthday season although as the family expands we are quickly filling up the calendar!

I love receiving gifts that have been made with love so one of my resolutions this year was to spend more time and less money on my friends and family and I have been busily exploiting and expanding my making and baking talents!

These vanilla yo-yo biscuits helped to spread birthday cheer. I was most impressed that mine looked just like the picture on the recipe and that I had reproduced a 'Kitchen Aid' recipe with nothing more than a wooden spoon and a hand held mixer...don't worry though, I have a spot on my bench saved and a 'Flash Harry' mixer on my birthday wish list.



A fellow yarn enthusiast is now the owner of the crocheted market bag. I had lots of fun making this. There was not much talking to my family as I was too busy counting in my head but I conquered the pattern and I know that this bag will most certainly go to the markets.

(link to pattern)



wash cloth and soap

 

Thank you to Pinterest I am continuing to share the love with this beautiful wash cloth, flannel or face washer (depending on where you're from, so I've found!) and some lovely hand made soap, made by a clever lady who frequents our local markets.
I think I will make a few more of these wash cloths as it was quick, easy and the perfect excuse to sit still for a while. There may or may not have been a movie on in the same room!

None of these gifts are my own inventions so thank goodness for the generosity of others who share their ideas, inspiration, recipes and patterns. Thank you!

Do you like handmade gifts?
Do you make anything to give away?
Do you while away many hours on Pinterest...or is that just me?!

Have a great week ahead

Kate x

Chilly Teapots and Woolly Wonders

Ever since picking up a crochet hook I have coveted tea cosies in all shapes and sizes (thank you Pinterest for helping with that).

While I have mastered chain stitch, double crochet, half triple crochet and woven stitch, I have dreamt of wonderful woolly cosies with spots, flowers, stripes and even in the shape of Mary Poppins!

I finally feel like I have got to grips with reading a crochet pattern and spurred on by a good friend's birthday I got hooking.

I headed for a blog I follow at Why Didn't Anyone Tell Me because I absolutely love Leah's tea cosies, especially the ones with the flowers on them.

Thank you for your great instructions Leah. I had the most beautiful cosy in no time and a very lucky friend, who by all accounts is almost as 'potty' as me when it comes to tea pots and all things wool, is now the proud owner of this lovely.

 

My tea pot is naked again! The possibilities for my next creation are exciting...stay tuned!

I hope you have something that inspires you waiting for you in the wings too. Happy Weekend.

Kate x

Dusting and other holiday pursuits!

I have been in hibernation!

Like much of Australia, it has been hot very hot here over the last few weeks and there has been very little in the way of energetic or constructive pursuits going on in my house.

This is what I have been up to...

Crocheting baskets that I saw on Pinterest (another good example of time not thinking about the heat well spent) and tracked to this blog Crochet in Colour.

 



Thanks for sharing the pattern Liz. I've made three so far...

 



 

Lifeguard duty by the pool and, in the event of extreme heat, in the pool!

 

 



This beautiful blanket that was inspired by a picture seen on Pinterest. After a little research and a determination to make my own, I worked out how to make these squares and got to work. Much more fun than cleaning!

 

Some days it has been just too hot to contemplate touching yarn so I have been 'dusting' my collection of Katie Fforde books. This is a job that requires careful attention and so I have been meticulously dusting between each page as well!

 

(Yes Mum, this is code for reading my old favourites! Shh...)

 

 

 



 watering, watering, watering

 

Two more weeks of school holidays left. More summer weather forecast. I intend to make the very most of not having to rush anywhere, having all day to think about what's for dinner, glasses of wine by the pool and napping in the afternoons.



Happy weekend

Kate x

 

Deck the Halls

Preschool reports are done and ready to go their folders! Even my stint as a proof reader is done, so after a little happy dance I fell on my crochet bag with gusto.

 



I have been thinking about crocheting Christmas decorations for months now and when I saw the post about how to make these stars from Jodie at Jellywares I was most excited.

 

 They worked so well and are extremely quick and easy to make (thank you Jodie) so friends and family beware. You may just end up with a new star for your tree this year.

 

Do you make or bake to share at Christmas? Do you have any other easy crochet decoration patterns?

 

I hope that you have had a productive weekend too.

 

Kate x



Crafting Dilemma

I bought the most beautiful, soft 100% bamboo yarn on the weekend which I am busting to start hooking into a face washer after seeing a picture that inspired me on Pinterest.

I am getting close to finishing my stripy knee rug with just a few more stripes to go I think, so I am not sure I should set it aside at this crucial moment...what if I become obsessed with bamboo yarn and I can't stop? I do find that I feel most creative when I am nearing the end of a project. My mind races towards what is next on my wish list of beautiful things to make.

Maybe I could just make one to see what it would look like...

Does anyone else have these dilemmas? Do you have multiple projects on the go?
Happy making to anyone who is gardening, cooking, sewing, knitting, hooking, etc this week or even if you are just cruising Pinterest for inspiration. Feel free to pop in and have a look at my boards.

Holiday Lament

School holidays are drawing to an end and I am taking the day to think about the next 10 weeks of getting to school on time, lunchboxes, remembering library bags, after school sport and activities, play dates and in my case all that comes with being a teacher......

I always enjoy the more relaxed rhythm of the holidays and I am feeling a little sad that after today we will all be back to our almost military routine to get everything achieved. I am also wondering if I can manage a calmer, more relaxed outlook to each week rather than just trying to survive the rush towards Saturday afternoons when we can all take five.

I am hoping that my holiday project will continue to grow and that I will have the energy to hook a little each day...it has been growing before my eyes and I am very pleased with it so far! I can't wait for it to be big enough to put over my knees and my mind, uncluttered as it is with thoughts of work at the moment, has been racing ahead to choose what colour next.

Here's to the next ten weeks. May it be filled with fun, adventure, time to crochet and not too much drama!

Sunday Roast and Dirty Granny

Once again it has been a busy weekend with children at sport and social engagements, catching up with friends and the never ending housework.
It is always nice to spend the weekend at home as we do things that there is little time for during the week and there is always something to look forward to.

The whole family looks forward to Sunday mornings which bring pancakes and  really coffee (for those of us who drink it) and this week we have also ended the weekend in gastronomical style.

I was introduced to Dirty Granny apple cider from Matilda Bay Brewing Company. It instantly appealed due to the crochet label and was delicious.

It complimented the Sunday roast beautifully! I have certainly had my vegetable intake for the day and maybe even fruit...(does cider count?)

Hope you have all had a great weekend and are refreshed for a new week.
Are there any weekend traditions in your house?

Crochet Crazy!

Since finding my crochet bag in the linen cupboard and rediscovering my passion for beautiful coloured balls of wool and the need to be creative (other than my creative preschool teacher persona), I have become hooked!

An afghan crochet knee rug, made for a special young lady for her 11th birthday.

A hair tie in school colours for D.D

 

My next project...a throw. Not sure where it will get thrown but I am sure it will find a good home.

Meanwhile I have been inspired to hook faster so that I can make more pretty things (and buy more pretty wool!)
If you would like to be inspired too visit Kristen at 'Cozy Things' who seems to be afflicted with the same yearn for yarn or Leah at 'Why Didn't Anyone Tell Me' who's blog just makes me feel happy.

Winter Pursuits

I don't know if it is the crisp morning air or the smell of people starting their wood fires for the first time this year but something made me go digging in the bottom of my linen cupboard and look what I found....

A very kind lady showed me what to do the first time and I obviously got the hang of it but I am going to have to go back to 'Crochet Class' as I hooked this way and that this evening to no avail!

I will not be beaten so watch this space while I cast around for some inspiration (and maybe a little more instruction).

Meanwhile, if you are looking for some inspiration you might like to have a look at Jellywares