Maybe you could give me some suggestions...

Something fabulous happened to me this morning!
I checked my email (whilst still blurry eyed from sleep) and there was an email stating that I had won a $200 Etsy voucher!!!!!!!! 
Eek!  Two Hundred smackaroos to spend on anything that I wanted in any shop in Etsy!

....but what should I spend it on? This is where I need your help, I'm completely stuck for ideas!  Yep, I know, bit ridiculous isn't it but there is too much to chose from!  Let's see, should I choose this gorgeous necklace, this sloth key holder or this clock stamp. Perhaps there are these rings that are also knitting markers, this yarn dye kit or put the money towards this awesome stained glass.
I really adore this embroidery kit, this doggy planter dish and this terranium.
See, too many choices and I'm sure there are probably a bazillion other fab things to choose from.
So, help me. Do you have a fav Etsy shop or a fav wish item on Etsy???

the 2015 Sampler Blanket

So, have you thought about what is going to be your one big project for 2015?  I know I have, I've been sitting here thinking what to make, stitch, crochet or knit for the coming year. 
I've nearly finished my #crochetmoodblanket2014, only a few more rows to go but then what?  I have found it fun & encouraging to participate in a year long project with other crafters & I don't want to lose that momentum or enthusiasm. So... let's start a new project, together!

A gift for you this Christmas

It is the season of giving and I am giving one of my fellow crafters

a chance to win the pattern of their choice on Ravelry.

It can be a knitting pattern, crochet pattern, baby pattern, jumper pattern etc etc 

Any pattern.

Your choice of pattern.

How ace is that!

How to enter? It is super easy, just go here ........ to enter!

It is my way of giving back to you, for sharing the crafty love with me this year.

Merry Christmas to you & your family.

I hope that you have a lovely day surrounded with laughter & warmth.

Hugs, Rie.

 btw... did you want to see our Christmas tree? 

Here it is.... 

A bloom for my blossom!

Hey!  Would you like to see what I made for this lil monster....

Quick, I need your help!

I received this Advent Calendar in the mail last week, yes I know we are 'almost there' but I can still sew it up & make the place look pretty ...  and that way it's ready for next year too.  I just can't decide on the order of the days  .. random, up&down or sidetoside ... help! 

Taa daa: The Secret Stash

It twas the night before ... arghh no, to tell you the truth, it was 3 days before I had to put my secret santa pressie into the sack but what was I going to make?  Yep, it was my big idea that we had to make our secret santa pressies as it was for knitting group & well, the whole idea that we get together was to make stuff wasn't it?!   Then BAMMMM, an idea but would it work???

this & that

Hey ho!  How are you? Are you more ho than hey?  Are you already over the 'season'??

I'm not really focused on the Christmas bit yet, the advent calendar (above) is the only thing I've done/started for the house as it's bubba Joe's birthday next week and well, my focus has been on my lil boy and the fact that he is starting school next year!  Yep, my lil baby boy will be in kindergarten next year.. sob, how time has flown!

Catching up on my mood!

So, did you think that I'd forgotten about my crochet mood blanket?  Sometimes I had... sometimes I do a square or two and sometimes I catch up!

So... yet another on my sticks!

Hey! How are you? Whatchya doing right now or perhaps I should be asking is "what do you do at the end of the day, when it's couch time?"

Taa daa

Yay for me, I actually finished something quickly!

Taking Stock

Taking a break & taking stock for November.

People & planning

Have you thought ahead to next year? Do you use a planner, a diary or a calendar?
I started using a planner/diary this year for all things me and then I use a calendar (in the kitchen) for all things family.
I've been searching the internet trying to find the perfect planner to use in 2015 - I have a preference for spiral bound as I like the planner to lay flat. Do you have a preference, do you have any suggestions for me?

a little something for you...

Do you like these three festive fat quarters? Well, you could win them and yes, international entries are welcome!

18 years & a blanket

Would you believe that this year, my hubby & I celebrate 18yrs together!

Well, actually we didn't.

You see, apparently (according to him), it's no big deal.

Hmph, it didn't stop him from accepting his present though did it! 

What did I get?

Nothing.

 I waited patiently all day, in case he bought something home from work but nope, nothing. So the very next day, I jumped online & purchased some yarn for blanket that I've been wanting to make - a present to myself.

a quick lil something extra to make

So I threw something on the needles to make for someone for Christmas....

Fairy vomit

This yarn looks so sweet & innocent doesn't it....not.

I really hate this yarn.
I regret signing up to receive it & regret trying to crochet something with it.

Recipe: Easy Sausage rolls (with veg)

I make these sausage rolls all the time, they are easy to make - reading this recipe is actually harder than making them!  They are also egg free & dairy free, I originally started making them for a friend who has a son with allergies, discovered that I totally loved eating them & then added them to my 'regular' make & eat menu.

Getting ready for that day in December

As time ticks by closer to Christmas, I suddenly to decide to jump in and start knitting (yet) another project, justifying it by saying that is a) using up yarn from stash & b) it'll be a present for someone.

So now that I have faffed around with my new project & convinced you, yet again, that I am possibly mad...  let's talk Christmas presents!

Taa daa...

This is a very belated ..taa daa.  As I was trying to delete excess photos from my camera, I found piccies of this hat that I made about two years ago.  Little did I know then that I'd have another baby nor that the baby would be a girl!

Check out this awesomeness!

So, I was surfing the internet and I stumbled upon the most awesome embroidery artist! Now don't just *yawn* at the word embroidery - nope. Check out her creations, they will make you go "wow!"

Almost November & thinking about posting stuff.

Oh my goodness, it is almost November which means that it is almost December which means that it is almost Christmas!
Eek!
So, first things first, planning.
List making,  look at your calendar and note down the following (in chronological order):
~ what birthdays are there between now & the end of the year
~ what events are there for the end of the year things such as end of school year, parties
~ what do you need for these events - teachers gifts, Kris Kringle gifts etc
~ then add to the list all the people that you need to buy gifts for & those that you need to buy that special card for.

Highlight all those that need to be posted.
Now, what are you going to make/buy & post?

Know your stripes - Sirdar Crofter DK

I've been quietly working on a blanket, I'll pick it up every now & then and add a few rows.
I have enjoyed watching the colours come together, you can't predict how they will turn out when you first pick up the ball so I thought I'd do a little colour chart of how they work up.
Below shows the before (the yarn of ball) & the after (the squares) side by side. I will of course, show you more details of the blanket at a later date, in the meantime, enjoy my stripey yarn piccies!

This is me showing you that I am right.

Ever had someone doubt your ability? I have. I wrote a pattern & published it for FREE back in 2012, despite many people successfully using the pattern, every now & then I get someone say it's wrong. Well it's not wrong & now I'll show you why.

Balls.

Ok, so today we are going to talk balls.

Taa daa: The Yarn Talker Dress!

I'm totally impressed with myself!  I designed, knitted, then frogged, then redesigned, then frogged & redesigned (several times) this dress for my baby girl! 

A moody update

Although I keep falling behind in my Crochet Mood Blanket, I keep track of the days & after an 'intense crochet session' day, I manage to catch up again!

Taa daa: some pretty coasters

So, what does one do with a 50gm ball of cotton yarn?  Well, let's see, I could put it into my stash & let the yarn stash build up & up or I could do something right away, right now...

Some things I missed



I've been forgetting to tell you lots of things lately. Firstly I just missed my blog anniversary by 3 days!, so happy bloggery to me, it's been a fab seven years & thanks for sharing my bloggy adventures with me.
Also,

Some bloggy changes

You may have noticed something different.... have you?
I've gone from this .....

to this.....

Oh you, crafty bloggers.

Well hello there!
Did you know about the Universal Craft Blog Directory that I have on my blog? Well, it was started back in 2011 and now has....wait for it.... over 900 craft blogs on the directory! 
Wow right!

Arne & Carlos

I've started new project with the sole purpose of .... making me happy.

Do this now...

Have you ever made a back-up of your blog?

It's easy (I promise!), just click here.... for instructions on how to do it.
Remember to then remind your other bloggy friends to do this too as back-ups are just safe guarding against worst case scenarios. 
It's best to have it backed-up & ever used then to wish you'd taken a couple of minutes to make that copy! 

I did a little dyeing...



So, I did a little dyeing on the weekend.

..... curious?

I am in awe...

I totally have a new yarn crush.  This yarn is part of a cowl knitting kit that I purchased for a car craft project.  ... remember I was b**ching about not having a project ready to go, well I do now!

Taa daa (& it only took a couple of days!)

I'm super impressed with myself... I made myself a baby cardigan in a couple of days... Yep, it took me about three days to make & this is cardigan whilst undoing a bit & trying to fit it onto a squirmy baby as well.

A quickie project (I hope!)

As a treat to myself I joined a seasonal yarn club, what a great way to celebrate Spring than with new yarn! 

The Project Bag Swap - the swapped is sent!

He loved them!

It was Fathers Day here in Australia over the weekend but what does one give a Dad when the children are too young to make anything fab/decent/useful/not scribbled.

It's not supposed to be like that...

This was going to be a "hey, check out my fab yarn & cute crochet dress" blog post but it's not. No, it's a blog post with me hitting my hand to forehead & saying "it's not supposed to be like that".

Oh my, you have to check these out!

So I was looking online for Christmas gifts the other day & I came across these......

Oh my, this is a cushion...  how awesome is that! Plus, they have heaps more, check them out!

No knit, no fish

Huh? Have I gone bonkers? Knit & fish? Knit fish? What?

Taa daaa ... a bag thingy!

Another day, another bag!  I decided to make another bag for the Project Bag Swap as I can't decide which ones (that I made) to keep or swap!

When the hubby is away....

My hubby has gone away for a few days on a work trip....so whilst hubby is away the wifey will play with new crafty stuff! 

Help! Should I chose 1, 2 or 3

I need your help!  I am on the hunt for a new knitty project but I can't decide on the yarn!

I need your opinion and... Taa daa!

Hey there!  I totally need your opinion on this bag.
Does it look ok?

Taa daa

I'd like a pat on the back please, I've actually finished my 4ply wrap!  Yay for me!!
Also, a question for you.... do you 'car craft'?

Taa daa (better late than never!)

Ok, so looky at what I made.... 

Make these super cool Cake Decorations!

You should make these super cute, super fun chocolate letters. I promise that they are really easy, really quick to make & taste yum too!
I used them recently on my mother's 70th Birthday cake & they were a hit with the Grandparents right down to the toddler!

Today, yesterday & tomorrow

Hey there!  It's winter over here & brrr, it's cold! So I've been tucked up inside going a little crafty crazy!  I've been making, buying, browsing, dreaming, drawing, baking, a little housework and a lot of mothering!

Taa daa!

Yay! I actually managed to finish something within a week of starting it, without a pattern & with no actual idea of what it was going to look like!

balls 'n' squares

Searching my stash looking for inspiring colours to make a bag for the swap. Are you joining in with the swap? You can knit, sew or crochet a project bag & then, you get happy mail! Yes, a parcel in the post just for you, come on & join in!  ...but first, tell me...

A pointy hooky?

I had this idea of making adding crochet to a tote bag for a project bag... instead of crocheting the piece of crochet onto the tote bag, I decided to take that rounded end of the hook and....

Brightening your day

I'm sitting here, in wintery Tasmania listening to the sound of rain, watching my baby girl trying to pull apart the toddlers colouring books, sipping tea....and perusing the internet. All of a sudden an explosion of colour happens and I am suckered right in, so I thought I'd share the bright happy yarny loving piccies with you!

Some things about now..

Hello!  It's winter here in Australia and here in Tasmania it is really windy - there was an even a mini tornado which is not a normal thing for us down here!  Do you have crazy weather like that?
What have you been doing to keep busy? I am on the last bit of my Raceway Wrap, just knitting the binding, yay!