I Can Spin a Rainbow

Ooh, I am loving being part of Ravelry's Tour De Fleece.  This is tonight's effort (Stained Glass colourway in a merino/silk blend by www.kathysfibres.com

The cold weather always makes me want to knit too.  This is Maddie's Kina Cardigan.  I love this pattern and can't wait to cast on a purple one for Miss Hannah.

Happy Weekend,
Nell
xxx

Tasmania

I thought a few photos of my short trip to Tasmania might be preferrable to photos of my snotty kids and a whinge about how it is only day one of the school holidays and I am already over the whining, the snot, the mess, the litter of dirty dishes and crumbs that can be followed Hansel and Gretel like to three small children with cabin fever.

Freezing on top of Mt Wellington - what an unexpected surprise to see snow!

My delightful tour guide and high school friend Kerri

A snowman to show my kids!

Richmond Bridge - a detour on the way to the airport - thanks Shelley!

Old Richmond Gaol

Richmond Church

The Hobart Shot Tower

I LOVED Tasmania and can't wait to one day take the family back there for a holiday!

Craft overdrive

There is something about the cooler weather that sends me into craft overdrive.  There has been a flurry of knitting, spinning and sewing here lately (not so much scrapping as that room is not airconditioned and it is FREEZING LOL) So here are some recent craftings and the photos are all over the place because Blogger is being unkind.  First up is a farm play mat that I made for Maddie's best friend.  I decided at the last minute to round the corners which was foolish because then the binding was tricky.  Note to self: next time just do plain square corners!

This knit is my Shalom cardigan finally finished!

Recent spinning - I'm in training for the Tour De France - a group of us will be spinning every day that the race is on!

My finished Shalom cardi (details on ravelry)  How to make a knitter's heart happy - the first time I wore it out I had 3 lovely compliments on it!


I've also finished my Baby Surprise Jacket and am 6 grater stitch rows away from finishing a little Kina cardigan for Maddie but haven't taken photos of those projects yet.
I am off to Tassie to speak at a Creative Memories function this week! Very exciting as I have never been to Tasmania before!
Until next time,
Keep smiling,
Nell

What's not to like?

LOVE this book! I have long been a fan of Amanda Jean's blog www.crazymomquilts.blogspot.com and her book is an absolute winner.  There is not a single ho-hum quilt in it!  It has been a bright spot in an otherwise most grey mundane day!

Oh, and the other thing I am loving; knitting a Baby Surprise Jacket out of this lusciousness from www.kathysfibres.com  I have wanted to knit this pattern for as long as I can remember.  I think Elizabeth Zimmermann patterns are almost like a knitters rite of passage.  I am not a very "technical" knitter so I have appreciated the BSJ knit-a-long on ravelry.  These are my favourite wooden needles AND my favourite 4 ply wool from Kathy so it is mindless, peaceful, soothing knitting.  On a day like today, with my big girl home with a cough (but not sick enough to not give me a hard time!) and horrible door-knockers, and guilt sewing - inserting a zip and finishing Mr Snake for childcare, and car troubles, and a grey, rainy sky knitting and browsing beautiful books seems like just the right thing to do!
Hope you aren't suffering Monday-itis!
Nell
xxxx

My May Finish and a spot of Quilting!

YAY! My sewing machine is finally fixed and I got a chance to play with my new extension table for the first time today.  I've done all the stabilising/boring quilting now and just need to decide what to do from here.

It also felt good to get the binding done on this - the last of our Quilts For Queensland.  I can't take any credit for the beautiful quilting done by Emma over at www.sampaguitaquilts.blogspot.com  This was the third and last quilt using these "It's a Hoot" fabrics and I think this fabric range truly changed me into a bit of a modern, brights girl!  Luckily I have a contact that works in ministry in the Toowoomba/St George area and will still be able to get the quilts to where they are needed.

Much as I would LOVE to keep quilting I now need to go cook tea and get back to planet reality planning for a busy week ahead!
Hope you had a crafty weekend too!
Keep smiling,
Nell

New product layouts for June

Finally I have had a chance to play with my box of new product for June!  Love the two new border maker punches!

All Work and No Play

All work and no play makes Nell an incredibly dull girl (hence no recent blog posts!)  I am LOVING being back at kindy and working with my own (not so little) group.  I love the funny things kids say, and the infectious enthusiasm they have for life and learning.

In lots of ways it is like I have never been away (even though it has been 8 years!!!!) Where it does feel totally different is at home.  In my pre-children life it didn't matter how late I stayed at work, or how much work I took home.  This is a learning curve.  Maddie is getting used to not having Mummy around as much.  Mummy is getting used to washing on the weekend, and planning ahead for 4 or 5 people's worth of lunches each day!  Next week starts my first week of serious menu planning (something I have never done but now have to unless we are to be eating scrambled eggs at least one night a week!)  I get the feeling our crock pot is going to get a work out this Winter.

NO sewing happening as Janome needs to go back to the repairman (3rd time now - sigh!)
I have been scrapping in preparation for our big CM event of the year, Memoranza (which will happen next weekend)

I hope you are enjoying the cooler weather and getting enough "me" time!
Keep smiling,
Nell