A jumper for ME!

I always seem to knit for others - and if not knitting for little people I seem to only do hats! I found a pattern I thought was simple enough to not take me 20 years to knit however, and I really like the way it's turned out. It's all knitted in one piece like a cross shape and all in knit and purl - EASY! Then you sew up the sides together and under the arms. This pattern is called Nati and is by Lucy Hulet. I adapted it to suit a lighter weight yarn (SkeiNZ 14ply chunky).

Summer Fun Layout

One more down, only three more layouts to go on my daughter's 1st year album! I love these three pics - happy times. :) I used mainly Kaisercraft Fine and Sunny collection for this.

Something Different

I found this cool idea on Pinterest (can't link to it as it seems to go somewhere dodgy instead). I have a heap of old broken antique china, I can't wait to do something with it and this is a cool way to upcycle your old garden tools. Nice way to jazz up an ugly fence or wall in the garden.

Family Mini Golf Layout

I love these photos of my 1 year old daughter joining in on the family mini golf afternoon. Her method of 'helping' was to wait until someone had just putted, crawl on to the green, then steal the ball and place it in the hole. Very helpful - not so much fun when you nearly got it in the hole however and then have to start from scratch (and you're normally not all that good at mini golf)!!

Beading

I've loved beading for a long time - I wish I'd taken photos of everything I've ever created. I used to make jewellery in my spare time for the hospice to sell (out of all their old beads and precious stones they had donated). Here is a small sample of some of the things I remembered to photograph (incl my stitch markers for knitting).

Necklace with semi precious stones for my mother in law

Button earrings - Sewed 2 buttons together than glued them to posts.

Earrings

Czech glass necklace with seed beads

Swarovski crystal earrings

My wedding earrings

 And my stitch markers (which I sell).

Miracle Bead Peas in a Pod Earrings - Sept 2013

A special birthday celebration

We had my daughters 1st birthday celebration in combination with her dedication (see earlier post). Her favourite toy was a colourful pull along caterpillar, hence the cake I made her.
5 layouts to go!

Kitchen Gadgets

Our kitchen appears a reasonable size but unfortunately when we built it, we had no idea about how to make it user friendly. Consequently we ended up with food out on the bench, hardening in the sun! We couldn't get any of those funky wire baskets you see in trendy kitchens these days and were at a loss to think what to do with one redundant little broom cupboard. I googled and I searched Pinterest to no avail. So I thought I'd post this here and pin it so that perhaps if anyone else out there feels they've no idea on what to do for a storage solution, this may inspire. Sorry about the mess, we aren't Home and Garden here. :D

These are standard drawers like you see in any modern-ish NZ kitchens. We took the hinges off the original door and the drawers were put on runners attached to the cupboard walls and then screwed on to the door (so that 3 drawers pull with the door and 2 pull out by hand). We couldn't attach all the drawers to the door it would have become too heavy when pulled out. All my teas/ coffee/ drink powders, vitamins etc fit so nicely. You;d not believe the space this has provided, I can get the cereals off my bench and out of my display cupboard and back in the pantry now! All these fixtures can be purchased yourself if you have the DIY skill (Mitre 10 supplies them on order). Otherwise a kitchen/ joiner can easily and quickly install them.