Eggs!

They are eggs, I still have to tuck in a few tails... an important job as I just realised they look a bit like swimming things (if you get my drift).

A friend asked me to crochet her some Easter eggs in pale pastels. At the time I was very retrained in my excitement and the as soon as I was in private, I went crazy over the thought of woollen eggs in egg cartons. Over the past day I have brought them everywhere with me, asking friends and family if they would like an egg and then whipping the lid back from the carton. I don't know if I will ever tire of it. The kids at the bus stop were very relieved when they saw the crocheted version as I think they were a bit worried I was going to make them eat raw eggs. The pattern for them is ridiculously easy so I will post it soon.

Have a lovely day/night - I am going to snuggle up on the big blue couch and make more... eggs.

Lots of love,

Kate xxooxx.

Hello Again.

Wahoo, I have crawled my way back to life again... sorry about a very bloggy absence, I was knocked for six by that nasty virally bug and am only beginning to feel human now. I would say 'normal' but everyone seems to snort whenever I use that phrase. Do you like my little work box above. I have started carting it about in my knitting bag and it has saved so many tangles I can't begin to tell you. During my convalescence I have been playing around with hot air balloon patterns. I am not quite there yet but it is coming along nicely. They just don't seem able to fly yet though...

Making homemade washi tape (origami paper and double sided sticky tape).

And helping out with my cousin's 40th birthday. I thought this was a great little trick to avoid our cutlery getting mixed up - I did use real washi tape though as it is easier to peel off.

It is so lovely to be back and as strange as it sounds, I can't wait to catch up with everyone.

Lots of love,

Kate xxooxx.

A Crochet Pill Pattern - Use as Directed... but if symptoms persist, please see your Doctor.

Anybody else stuck in hand to fist combat with a nasty cold or virus at the moment? This may be the pattern for you....
Any ply is fine depending on the size you are after - I used 2 different colours of 8ply wool, a 3.5mm hook and stuffing. Have fun. Also, I am writing this under the influence of some strange mutated and cruel bug (as I tend to think of colds) so please ask me any questions if something makes no sense.

Abbreviations.
ss - slip stitch
sc - single crochet (the U.S. version)
ch - chain
yarn a - first colour used for pill
yarn b - second colour used for pill

Begin with yarn a.
Ch 2 then 6sc into 2nd ch from hook. Ss into first st. (6)
Round 1. *Sc into first st, then 2sc into following st. *Repeat until end of round. (9)
Rounds 2 - 4. *1sc into each st until end of round. (9)
Change to yarn b.
Rounds 3 - 7. *1sc into each st until end of round. (9)

Stuff.
Round 8. *1sc into each of the next 2 sts, then skip the following st. *Repeat until end of round (6)
Tie off with a needles and tuck in ends. When finishing a pill, I tend to gather up the final round into a circle with the needle and pull them together, then tie off.

Good luck,
love kate xxxooxxx.

Paper Doily Bunting.

My cousin is turning 40 on the weekend and is having a Spanish themed party with lots of yummy tapas(y) food. I told her not to worry too much about the decorations.... I could handle it. And then of course I ran away, beside myself with the excitement of getting ready for yet another party.
Paper doily bunting in on the decorative menu this time as well as a few other little surprises which I will show to you when the day is over.

I think I actually jumped up and down in the hardware shop (I know - what a strange place to go for paper doilies - maybe for men who like extra fancy barbeques?) when I found these square doilies.

Faux Spanish lace?

I have it strung about all over the studio and have been attaching it to jute string with staples, perhaps one of the easiest craft projects I have ever undertaken. This is a very good thing as I am still trying desperately to get better before the weekend. I think this week will see my bed having a lot of extra napping hours in it.

Hugo joined in and experimented away happily with boy vs. doily craft and Archie played Patience with Jonno downstairs (the card game, not the life lesson).

Oh yes, one last shot of a butterfly from Hugo's little house yesterday.

Lots of love,

Kate xxooxx.

Butterfly Houses.

I am soooo sorry that it has been such a quiet blogging week. On Wednesday I was struck by the dreaded lurgy and have been laid low ever since. Thankfully, Jonno's parents swooped in like the angels they are and took the boys away for the weekend - so I was very fortunate to have been able to rest and sleep and occasionally read books. No crocheting or knitting until today though as the energy just wasn't there.

When the boys came home this morning, Hugo decided he was going to make a butterfly house and grabbed his net heading out into the garden. I am very impressed with his effort. He said he didn't just want to make a butterfly house but also decorate the table and I think he has done a wonderful job. The good thing is that we can lift up the cover and they can flutter away unharmed.

Archie was a bit tuckered out so he clambered to the top of my clean laundrey mountain and listened to the ipod. I had to keep squeezing him because it was so nice to have him back.
And I plonked down next to him and knitted a head band.

I now have to go back and decipher what I did so I can post the pattern. It was very easy and has a sort of 1920's head wrap vibe going on. Also a nice way to use a bit of liberty fabric.

Hope you had a good weekend!

Lots and lots of love,

Kate xxooxx.

Carrots and Paint.

Today I went and hung out (I'm just too cool when my kids are at school, I hang out at places) with my friend Mandy in her studio.

She painted and I did what I always do, played about with a bring-a-long project and looked at her stuff.

Chalk from Ikea - a very precious box when you consider New Zealand is Ikealess.

Mandy's painting apron. I like matching the colours up to her paintings.

And what did I do you might ask? I crocheted miniature carrots of course.

Have a lovely day/night wherever you are on the globe.

Lots of love,

Kate xxooxx.

Trees and Bunnies and the Weekend.

This was taken when Stella brought Stanley home from hospital as was a newborn. He was very strong and had wonderful neck control from a very early age. Poor Stella, she does look so tired doesn't she...
We had a lovely weekend, Hugo spent the mornings perfecting his graffiti before taking it out to the streets.

I did some gardening.

And Archie made the most of Grassy and Honey Boy.

We still call them the 'Slipper Sisters' occasionally but it just doesn't have the same kind of ring since we discovered Honey's true identity.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.

Lots of love,

Kate xxooxx.

The Week is Ending!

I love the colours of 4 ply cotton so much...
I wish the company made an 8ply equivalent. They are just edible.

This is Hugo's early morning drawing of an alien with bosoms. Need I say more?

And a little photo of one of my all time favourite Liberty patterns. I am not sure what the name is but I always keep my eye out for it (unsuccessfully). Mum brought it back from England for me years ago.

I am so sorry it has been such a quiet blogging week - I have really only taken these photos of pretty today things as an excuse to pop by and say hello. Poor old Archie has had a temperature bug this week so we have spent a lot of time doing cosy things like reading books, drinking tea (me) and chatting. However, there has been little time for anything else. Archie is well and truly back to health so hopefully next week there may be a few voila moments.

Until then, have a lovely weekend!

Lots and lots of love, Kate xxooxxooxx.

New Things!

This is the hand of my new next door neighbour... well new to me anyway. We have actually been living next door to each other for three years and have never met (we are in the country - very long driveways) which is terrible when I stop to think about it but so wonderful now that it has happened. It turns out that we both are obsessed with making things - crafting, sewing, crochet, knitting painting, jewellery making, etc, etc, etc and we have both been at home for the past few years with our heads down, completely oblivious to the fact that we could have been crocheting together!!! This morning was our first cup of tea and it was lovely. She didn't even mind that I insisted on photographing her ring and necklace THAT SHE MADE ALL BY HERSELF!!! Don't you love them... AND it turns out her favourite animals are rabbits AND she used to have a house rabbit too.

Her bird's nest necklace!!!!!
AND a velvet pinafore!!!

And while my new neighbour and I were drinking tea and crocheting, my parcel from Happy Supplies finally arrived. I have been running to check the mail every lunch time for the past three weeks. Very happy am I.

So many things to make and do.

Lots and lots of love,

Kate xxooxx.

Parties and Party Food!!!

So... this is what you do when your 5 year old requests a hot air balloon - make the shape as simple as possible and the throw as much bright icing (the pink, yellow and of course brown are all natural colourings - I just gave blue pieces to the quieter kids) on as a banana cake can safely hold.

This is the birthday boy, Danny from 'Danny the Champion of the World' (Jonno conveniently was his dad), lurking around the food table. Who can blame him. Sorry, I have to pause, I have a butterfly net pulled down tightly over my head. You know how it is...

Squiggle cake made by squirting the left over bits of icing onto the cutoff pieces of cake - a lot of cake is sacrificed to make a hot air balloon.

Need I say more - perfect clouds thanks to Stefanie Alexander's 'The Kitchen Companion'.

Pooh Sticks (because it was a favourite book character party... no other reason...). Melted marshmallows mixed with a bit of butter, a tiny bit of sugar, cocoa powder and rice bubbles. Fantastic, definately a great dessert for your next dinner party (I swear they would enjoy it more than anything).

And the cake...

Oh the cake... And balloons (non-edible in case you were wondering).

This is what it looks like when you light the candles thinking your son is in the crowd of children. Then comes the panic when you realise he isn't there... Then the search, the calming of tears and letting him quietly blow the candles out on the stairs.

And this is what the mother returns to the kitchen looking like... Oh yes, sorry, not the mother but Pippi Longstocking.

And then the pragmatism as a whole morning's work is cut into!!!
Have a great weekend,

I am taking it easy.

Lots and lots of love,

Kate xxooxx.