I'm getting better

look at this bobbin - getting a lot better I'm thinking ;)

(yes its the weekend and the most exciting thing i have to do is spin hehe)

And the winner is:

dun da da dun dun dun .......

Kate Eades

there will be a wee Brag book heading your way - just send me your Address :)

in other news:
- I can spin! .. yes i have completed the mandatory 2 bobbins and learnt how to ply them together in 24 hours since learning! - and its not too bad looking if i don't say so myself :) - looks better in person (huge thanks to Kate and Hannah for abandoning your DH's to come over tonight :) )


- due to popular demand - i will start brag book tutorials for you all :)

Last chance - GIVEAWAY

Remember today is your last chance to get in the draw for the chance to win a brag book! ... the entries are low so there is a high chance to win the beauty to your right!

In other news:
- I'm contemplating casting on Beca's longies - but know i MUST finish Seb's first
- I'm off to spinning tonight - should be interesting as I've never done it before!
- The house is a tip but the washing is done
- I'm thinking of creating a tutorial for the fold out blog book --- leave me a comment if you would like this (just so i know at least one person will uses it :) )

Naki Yarn Swap #1 - 'Kiwiana'

Click the pic for a clearer image :)

.. Well what a blast last night was! (so much so that we have already planned #2 'Desserts')

i decided that when i got home @ 10.40 last night it was too late to update you all (sorry)

Now for a parcel by parcel description head to Sheryl's blog here: Shortly Stitches and Hannah's blog here: Rainbow Child

It was another lovely evening with such a great group of inspirational woman! ..... but i wonder who's going to get their Yarn Swap goodies on the needles first?

oh and i can't put in words how much i love my wool - Trudi did a great job! Perfect Rocky Road!

And here is the swap i did for Sheryl ... Yip i was the one that couldn't help but share my first sock yarn dying experience - i promise to behave next time! Yarn closeup

More bookmaking ....

so today i finally got around to making a wee gifty for our neighbours who have also just become grandparents to a lovely wee girl (i hope i remember rightly) .. and every Gran needs a brag book right?




I'm just in love with this wee Brag book! It almost didn't get wrapped up to leave my nest - but alas I've decided that i could always recreate - however i try to keep all my work original so I'm thinking it will stay as a one of a kind. The pitty part was i was 2 hours late for it to head over to Aussie - oh well I'm sure it will get well used when they're home again.

And in other news:
- one more sleep till Yarn Swap
- Baby + No Nappy + Moving off mat on floor = Big cleanup job after moving backwards through #2's
- Emma + No Nappy + bed time drink + sneaking in our bed = wet bed at 2am in morning
- Mark home early + trip to town = papers signed at lawyers and just waiting left to do for the sale of Tukapa
- Mum + Dad in town on Targa = out for dinner BLISS! = pasta craving filled

Made for You ... giveaway time

So today i spent scrapping - well after spending an hour or two finding my desk!

and now I'm pleased to say that the Blogtober giveaway is ready .. Yes i have made a stunning 6 page brag book for one of my blogs followers (yip its that easy to get in the draw) .. of course link to my giveaway on your blog, or leave a comment to receive a bonus entry!

.... here it is - now you may notice the inspiration came from around here somewhere ;) ... lets just say it can also celebrate my new blog look right?In other news ....
- only two more sleeps until our Naki Kiwiana Yarn swap!
- DH now has electricity in his workshop (so i guess i may start to see less of him when hes home)
- Beca is Loving solids / can now roll both ways and maneuver all over the floor (and in her cot)
- Emma had a friend over this morning which she thought was great - but bed time tonight wasn't so great - poor wee girl a touch overtired I'm thinking and all she wanted was kisses and cuddles

Have you noticed?

There's been a slight transformation here today @ Sam's Snippets

Yes ... I've spent the afternoon learning about HTML and how to change it to what i want - well almost i still can't figure out how to stretch the background i made to the whole page - no biggy though.

So needless to say how pleased i am that instead of the skinny news bulletin we now have a fatter column i can fit more in (so you don't have to scroll as far to hit the bottom either ... and if you do scroll down you'll find a new Quote of the month also added today.

As for the week ahead i plan to finish the Brag book that will be given away to one of my lucky followers at the end of the month (so there's still time to get in to win) - Remember to check back in to see if you've won and of course to see what crafty business I've been up to. This week will also see the reveal of the Naki 'Kiwiana' Yarn Swap! i can't wait to see all the yarny goodness the group has been creating! I also need to get on to creating for my next TNN yarn swap - this time though i can't share much at all on the journey sorry (i may have to later next month if I'm just busting with excitement!)

any who with such a crafty week ahead and another day off tomorrow i should get some sleep.

So Yesterday ....

Was a special day just for the girls (well Emma mostly) as with everything that's been going on lately she was doing some attention seeking.

So we started the day with a batch of pancakes she helped Dad make - they were yummy! ... then we packed up and headed to town, did a few chores and it was off to chipmunks!

Now I'm not to sure who had the most fun - us or Emma (there is a certain spark that ignites the children within us as we go to places like that) there was a lot of siding, climbing and playing that was done and Emma certainly felt the centre of attention when she got a cuddle from a certain fury friend! ....... it was so cute!



After Chipmunks we headed to the local pools (amongst half of the town it seemed!) it was Becas first swim in the big pools and Emma made sure she knew what to do by splashing and blowing bubbles for her.


Then dad got a call to say he was needed at work so we went and spent some time with Nana, Auntie Jeni, Auntie Teresa and Seb while he was busy. the afternoon came and went (more knitting was done), before we knew it the sun had gone down, Auntie Teresa and Nana cooked us all a yummy dinner then on they way home both girls were out like a light - oh yes it was a long - busy - fun filled day!

in Emmas words ...

'oh its been a really long day' ... and we are all exausted so will update you on our day of fun in the morning!

Todays knitting

Well I'm expanding my knitting skills again with another one of Kelly's designs!

This time its a pair of Looking Glass Longies - and i must say it may be that the pattern is easy to follow but I'm going great so far! .. my next step is the short rows - here's hoping they go well.

These pants are the first of my Christmas knitting list.

And hers photos of my progress thus far - Rav link

looking for something sweet?

Here's one of my family's favourite desserts:

It came about when i had pears in the fruit bowl that needed using. I have also made it with a banana added, with apples and tinned fruit salad mix - please yourself and your own taste buds

Caramel Self saucing fruit sponge pudding

Combine (the one pot cook in me mixes this straight in the pudding dish), and beat until smooth:

• 1 cup Flour
• 2/3 cup Sugar (i use less if my fruit is over ripe)
  
• 1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
• 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• pinch of ground cloves (a decent one)
• 1/2 cup milk

Stir in 4 chopped pears (we leave the skin on) - or use tinned fruit - i think that most tree fruit would work.

Place in pudding dish (if you have mixed in a bowl)

Pour over 3/4 cup Brown Sugar (i use a bit less), 1/4 cup Butter, 3/4 cup Boiling Water

Bake uncovered @ 180*C for 40-45 minutes

Serve warm with custard, yoghurt or ice cream - YUM

If you can't tell, I'm a bit of a guess before measure chef - that's how i learnt from my Mother and Grandmother. We had a rule as i was growing up that you need to write down what you put in a dish, just in case it was so yummy that it should be made again! tho seldom followed really as the nicest dinners were the left over use up's ... and it looks like the gift has been passed onto me. Don't get me wrong though as some nights dinner can be less than desirable!

And i love stumbling across new recipes on the blogs I've been visiting lately - dangerous for the waist line though.

the first of many ...

Tonight I'm sharing something rather special with you all-

Yes it has taken us 5 months to get our first family picture since the arrival of Beca Boo!

Its not the best but I'm endeavour to have them taken a touch more regularly now!

i did have a lovely digi scrap page done with it but the computer froze! -- oh don't you just love it when that happens!

My Princess

Nappy Monday....

.... Have i told you how my friend Kate makes nappies ......

well shes just released the second design in her latest collection and boy oh boy i love the colour!

if you've got a sec its worth checking out over at Bib and Tucker - again Kate you are a wonderfully talented lady!

Wonderful weekend

So Sunday has been and gone and it was great - i think we are all having a slower day today to regain energy!

Heres my fav pic and i'll be back later with another post and a Scrap page

In preperation of tomorrow

i have re-iced the second layer of our wedding cake!

Yes the time has come for Becas Dedication, the gown is pressed, the house is clean and of course the cake is done!

So i thought that i would share it with you all - not my best decorating job (at 10pm last night) but its done and I'm sure Beca really wont be too worried.


Wish me luck for the busyness tomorrow brings

Lucky Dolly

She got her own summer sundress today!

Emma is in love with her mini - me

and i can see why - how cute is she!

I've been shoping ...

So with Emma's Summer dress done i have had to cast on another! ... for Becca of course --- after i finished the first one with fabric to spare and saw how well it goes with Becca's new nappy
dun da da dun ...
Yes our first Bib and Tucker Pocket Kate sells some really cute nappies on her site and her new designer range is just amazing! She has such passion to hand paint each nappy - they truly are a work of art.

So with this new love I'm having for nappies i can see a few more in the near future joining our stash!

But for now its back to knitting Becca's Dress - night All

Wheres Summer Gone?

With all the hot weather we were beginning to have and having stumbled across a lovely wee dress on Rav that is perfect for little girls and summer, I went in search of the perfect materials.

So on the 8th I came home with some lovely girly summer print cotton fabric, and after failing to find the perfect 10ply cotton decided to take a risk and double strand some Paton's Panda Bamboo & cotton DK with some Wendy Pearl Luxury Cotton DK - and even they took a lot of searching to find!


Since then, with the odd spare moment I've managed to finish the knitted bodice (mistake free!) and refreshed my sewing skills to complete this: (please excuse the photos but i just couldn't wait to share... and we all know how co-operative 2 yr olds can be)



Both Emma and I just LOVE this dress - I've got plans to get another one on the needles after i finish Dolly's one (70% there :) ) ... and the Rav link for more details

P.S did anyone notice that i missed yesterdays post - this is the reason - i was at the sewing machine

Blogtober Confession #2

... gosh that was quick!

I've hit 150 blogtober hits and have no Bragbook asyet to giveaway!

SO .... what I'm going to do is try and get one made in the next week and give people a bit more time to become followers then give you a post with a pic of the giveaway for you all to enter.

This month seems to have gotten busier and busier! (esp with yarn to be untangled!)

but i promise it WILL be given away in Blogtober!

DISASTER!!!!

being a lovely fine day with Beca down for a sleep i decided to finish mowing the lawn - Emma normally just watches and plays with dolly so i wasn't to worried ... until i came in and found this:


Yes i have learnt that my little girl loves wool as much as me ... i just wish it wasn't this one she decided to 'knit' -- yes when i came in and asked her what she was doing .... "coz i'm just knitting mummy"



Yes that is my Paua Yarn swap yarn!


I'm beside myself and don't even know where to start untangling this mess

Crafty Saturday

So this afternoon I spent some time with some lovely friends of mine - the craft of the hour was yarn and dying yarn for our TNN Naki swap ... all i can say is that there is some lovely yarn being made and dyed for this swap - what a lucky bunch of ladies we are! ... and the due date is slowly rolling around - 27th October -- but mines ready to go so its going to be a wee wait for me.

Heres the yarn i've done - anyone wanna guess the Kiwiana theme for it?








There's plenty of crafty things to do while i wait though - I've set a deadline of next Saturday to get Emmas Summer dress done by - and I'm half way through the knitted bodice so it should be a goal that will be easily obtained. ... and on that not I'm going to get back to it - i must have spent to long scrolling though Rav - add that to surfing Blogtober blogs tonight making my Eyes are 'screen tired'