found it!

found it... finished it... hated it... transformed it...



Remember last week I was complaining about having LOST one of my WIPs? Well I found it...

I had pretty much given up looking for it. You know when you reach the point where you just keep checking the same places over and over again, even though you know for a fact it couldn't possibly be there... BECAUSE YOU HAVE ALREADY LOOKED A MILLION TIMES! I know you know what I mean.

For some reason it was hidden in the children's dress-up chest. I can only imagine it was scooped up by mistake and packed away with the costumes at some stage. Not a place I was EVER going to think of looking. But there it was.

So I finished off the knitting. Sewed the base. Crocheted a couple of straps. Prepared the lining. Added tassels along the bottom. And then decided it was way too wide as a bag.

But I loved the colours and the texture of it. So I removed the tassels and straps. Filled it with stuffing. Sewed it closed. And decided it was a cushion!

flannel bathmat = warm toes

I started this endeavour a few months back. At the time I was feeling particularly creative and experimental, but unfortunately my head was spinning with the flu. I was in an absolute stupor when I started this project. I thought I was a genius for coming up with the idea of crafting an overnight bag out of old pjs. Pure genius! I stripped some flannelette and grabbed my chunkiest knitting needles. I don't even know what size they are. Just big.

A couple of days later, when the flu haze began to clear and the codrals were actually working... I realised that this was not the best thought out plan. As a bag it was floppy and heavy and impractical. I threw it on the floor in disgust! Then tried to forget about it.

While walking across the room I trod on it. I was barefoot, as usual. Mmmmm.... it felt divine on my toes. All thick and sgushy. I know that's not a real word... but it's descriptive nonetheless. It was so comfy. I wanted to stand on it forever!

And so the bathmat was born. I love it. Machine washable. Goes in the tumble dryer too. In fact, I'll let you in on a little secret. When it comes out of the dryer, I pop it straight down on the floor in the laundry... then let my naked toes luxuriate on it. Mmmmm. Warm, soft, sgushy. An absolute treat. Small pleasures!

de-stressing cables

free knitting pattern! download here

These thick luxurious cables are designed to massage, de-stress and exfoliate. Gently cleanse your back without straining. This is the ultimate back washer. A perfect gift idea, or an indulgent addition to your own bathroom.

Knit this fabulous washer in cotton so that it is easy to care for. After use, you simply rinse and allow to air dry. It can also be machine washed and tumble dried.

back in the saddle again!

Not quite sure what happened to me this month. I started out crafting like a mad woman, and then dropped completely off the radar. I think I just got distracted by life. My mind was busy with all sorts of other issues... and the craft just didn't happen.

I have had so many wonderful people helping to test my new patterns for me. So when I heard Adriann, a fellow Ravelry member, calling for someone to help her out, I figured it was time to return the favour. Or 'pass it on' as it were.

It was good timing really, because it put that little bit of pressure on me to jump in and finish a project. I think I needed that. There has been too much 'starting' and not enough 'finishing' around here of late. And it gets disheartening.

So to jump in and complete a project was just the boost I needed. The pattern was for a simple crochet hot water bottle cover. I plied together a medium green and a salmon coloured reclaimed cotton. The resulting yarn reminds me of watermelon. It has that fresh pink and green thing going on, but didn't quite photograph true to life.

Of course I had to embellish the pattern a little, just to make the project 'mine'. I added a twisted cord made from kitchen string to the neck, which makes it a more snug fit for my bottle. Also a felted heart... you know I love my felted hearts at the moment... so I had to add one of those too!

hearts galore

made to hang in my daughter's room... five stuffed felted hearts, spelling out her name

worked in reclaimed yarns, and adorned with the beads from one of her (many) broken bracelets!

not my design, but if you're interested you can find the pattern for the hearts here