So My Camera is Broken

So today has always been geared up for me to get back to my BLOG. I have lots of lovely pictures to share and I'm so excited to finally have time to get back to Blogland. I have done all the right things Playgroup Tick, 2 year old in bed Tick, Dinner organised Tick, Washing on Tick, Coffee Drunk Tick. Ok down to it.

Plug in camera. Blimp. Nothing. Plug in camera. Blimp Nothing. Change battery. Blimp Nothing. Fiddle manically with cord, plug, switches. Blimp NOTHING!!!!! ARRRRRRRH. I can see all the pictures on the camera but they just don't want to transfer over to the Mac. Why Not. There's the cute crochet raspberry hat . There's the cute light pink crochet hat with flowers. There's all my lovely yarn I got rather quickly from Eat, Sleep, Knit. Theres the video of my son in the blanket box and my daughters playdough lunch and her first communion cake which looked gorgeous (Thanks Tidz Cafe, Oatley, NSW). Theres my cool Ginormous Granny Square wall hanging ( I do love this its Ace). Theres my NEW Ikea cupboards arranged wonderfully with all my fabric, Yarn and crafty stuff.

I just have so much to put up and share and it won't let me. I really do dislike it when my technology lets me down. These days its all about being reliant on something or other, the internet, the automatic car key, the house alarm, mobile phones, TVs the list goes on. So what happens when one breaks down it send us in a spin, we like everything to work just right everytime don't we. Ok maybe next time I can share my lovely images, Maybe.

I'm Challenging myself during JULY (really does my life need more pressure);

1. No spend July - I have decided to not spend a cent on extras this month ( with a few exceptions). I will only be buying the bare essentials, that is FOOD and TOILETRIES only. NO clothes, shoes, WINE, COFFEE, DVDs, toys, kids treats AND NO YARN. If I have a present to give I will make it with what I have in my stash. The exceptions are; A Netball clinic for Layla in the holidays, 1 Movie visit for kids in Holidays, 1 kids club for Myles and a train ride to the city. Thats it!!!

2. DRY July - So during this month of NO spendng I will also NOT be drinking at all. (HELP its school holidays). Myself and my husband have decided to have a DRY JULY, why the heavens not??

OK so wish me luck. Don't know how I will go but need to challenge myself! Will let you know how I'm progressing, bet I get loads of crochet done!

Until next time (-:

Sharing some pics of the items I made for our School Mothers Day stall.

Crocheting like a demon and Holiday shacks

Ok so have been away for a bit and am now suffering from a head cold, worse luck, but as long as I get a bit of me time each day I think I will manage to get rid of it soon enough!

My little crochet hook has had quite a work out the last few days. Reasons for this;

1. The weather was pretty yuck so was nice to curl up on the daybed with the crochet.

2. We have no electricity at our holiday shack so absolutely no distractions ( beside 3 kids, 1 Hubby and numerous cups of tea)

3. My crochet is portable and I am now able to have a conversation at the same time as I work. Its amazing how many people are really interested in what you're doing and have craft stories they want to share.

During the weekend I found out that I crochet like a knitter ( throw the yarn with my right hand) Is this wrong??? It just feels comfortable like that as I have knitted for so many years. I also really noticed this amazing granny square throw in a dear friends shack that I have sat on many many times but had not really looked at in detail. Her Nan made it years ago (it is a very treasured thing), it is really beautiful so colourful and each square a little bit different (I WANT to do that) She told me how she used to crochet and do tapestry when her 4 kids were babies but just doesn't find the time now ( they are all in there 20's now) Curious I hope I have more time when mine are older. Anyway, the thing that most interested me was that each square was just crocheted to the next using black yarn, so I have decided to do this with my strips but not with the black yarn though.

Right, so I have made three strips so far approx 84 rows long and 20 across (will have to measure this sometime), I think I will need to do about 9 more to get a single bed size but as I will have the crochet in between and around the border will revisit this later.

Just want to share some stuff now.
* If you haven't visited the blog meetmeatmikes you just need to check it out. Pip is so inspiring and motivating she will get you going it worked for me! She has also published a book by the same name which is available on her website too.


* I am a member of Interweave knits but just discovered the sister publication Crochetme there is some handy stuff on this site and best of all a free downloadable Crochet Scarf patterns if you sign up to their enewsletter. I Just can't help myself with freebies. I think I will attempt a scarf next as long as its a bit fancy as I fancy a fancy scarf hee hee hee.

* And here is a little plug for a wonderful publication if you love books, reading and everything along that line. Check out Good Reading Magazine , its got fab book reviews, book club info, interviews with authors, giveaways and lots of fun, lovely stuff.

Ok thats it for now
Until next time
K x x x

Conquering Crochet week 2

Wow ever since I started this blog I have been so inspired and cannot help but think of things I want to create and do. Unfortunately having 3 busy kids does somewhat hinder my creative urges, which is why the whole learning to crochet thing has been so wonderful. I have been carrying around my crochet ( in a very daggy shopping bag. Note to self make a FAB crochet bag), with me all week in the hope that I might get a few minutes to do some. Well it has worked as I have now finished one strip and am onto the next. have a look!!

I also have been looking at different websites to learn more and found some very useful videos , there are 7 short videos on the different crochet stitches as well as Illustrated Learn to crochet Instructions so very helpful indeed. Lionbrand also have loads of free patterns for both Crochet & knitting which is not daggy at all but super cool especially the Amigurumi Graduation Owl, which I have bookmarked! It is rated Easy so may attempt that one next????? (Unfortunately, Lionbrand DO NOT post to Australia so can't buy any of there yarns )-:

The other thing I want to do is make some friendship bands for my daughter to give to her friends, one of the Mums at school, who was encouraging me to learn how to crochet last year, made some for our School Twilight Market and the kids loved them. She said they were very simple to do and had beads threaded through them so I'd like to try that. I will have to buy her a coffee one day in exchange for her knowledge. A fair exchange don't you agree!!