Every Thursday night, I go over to Brett’s house and we have our ‘friends night’. We watch TV and cook dinner… or rather, Brett cooks dinner while I flit around and make sarcastic comment, usually at his expense. No, I don’t really know why he puts up with me either.

In any case, after about three months of these nights, with my complete non-contribution to dinner (we both pay, he just does the slave labour, er, I mean, cooking) I decided that I had better prove that I have SOME domestic abilities.

Well. I don’t really like to cook, I will if the mood strikes, but for the most part, I’m not a huge fan. Baking however, that is something I can understand. At least then when you have to do all the cleaning you get something worthwhile out of the deal.

Which is why I decided my contribution would be one of my apple pies, apple and caramel, to be exact.

Of course, everyone in the house whinged when said I was making a pie only to take it out of the house, so one pie quickly turned into two.

The pies were received pretty well, so to my way of thinking, I’ve made my contribution and now I don’t have to lift a finger for another three months. What do you say, Brett?

Remember my super secret mystery project? Well it has now been handed over to the recipient, so I can reveal it’s true identity… a NintendoDS case.

(Please excuse the crinkly background, I really should have ironed the backdrop)

I noticed that Renae needed a case for her DS and thought the only thing to do would be to make her one myself – besides, I love little mini projects. It seemed to be a big hit – she seemed very excited to get a handmade gift, which made me think if I’ve ever actually made her a gift before (Renae?). And, then, what I was going to be making next… (and no, Renae, you can’t make suggestions).

The case isn’t quite green (which I know is her favourite), but it’s such a pretty aqua colour, and I’ve been hoarding the fabric for a while now – I’ve used a small amount on something else, but can’t remember what.

It seems to fit my DS okay… maybe I’ll have to make another one for myself.

So what do you think? Did anyone guess something like this from the clues?

I started on a little mystery project, and thought I’d share some photos – the final project will be revealed once the recipient has it, though I am accepting guesses.

Clues:

It’s a stash project – all materials, including the big shiny button, were all salvaged from my supply cupboard. Which was a good thing, since I decided to start said mystery project at about 11pm, and I wasn’t about to go to the shops.

Here’s everything (except cotton thread) used. Six pieces of printed cotton, one piece of natural cotton quilt wadding, and a big shiny button. It probably took longer to decide what button to use than to make the entire project.

Ahhh… it has padding of some description.

It has a button hole, one that I had to do myself cause the pretty button, the one I finally decided on, was (of course) too big to go in my button-hole foot.

If you can guess it from those vague clues, you will have definitely earned a cookie.

I went to do some sewing last night, only to discover that my craft room has suffering from an acute case of winter-itus.

I don’t know about anyone else, but my crafting is season oriented. In winter, I do a lot of knitting, crocheting, cross-stitch and small needlecrafts – anything I can do huddled up under a blanket in my bed or on the lounge. Summer means scrapbooking, patchwork, jewellery-making – projects that take up more room and can be done at the table in my far cooler craft room (no blankets required).

Because of this, my poor craft table tends to become a dumping ground throughout the winter months, supplies get picked up and dropped off without actually getting cleared away… to the point where I can no longer see my table and have to spend an hour or so tidying every fortnight.

There are certain benefits to this, however. Aside from the fact that my table is now oh-so-shiny. I found some things I hadn’t gotten around to playing with yet. Like…

The craft goodies I won at the Triva Night at Wendy’s church.

I bought a package of dividing cling stamps.

I mentioned yesterday that I was working on a lace shawl, but I haven’t shown it here yet.

A couple months back I bought a bag of wool on sale at Spotlight (10 balls for $10), mainly because I just loved the colour. I tend to think of colours in relation to my mother’s paints (if only I had any skill with a paintbrush I’d be all set!), and this shade of French Blue is both my mother’s and mine favourite.

Moda Vera Bamboo/Cotton; Colour No: 7
50% Bamboo / 50% Cotton

I’ve had my heart on knitting a fine lace shawl for a while now but, to be honest, have been far too scared to work on something so tiny – I’m getting there.

I thought this it would make a nice heavy drape and so I picked a more solid lace pattern. Fingers crossed it should be a nice winter shawl. I’ve not used a bamboo/cotton blend before, though, and am surprised by how bouncy it is. I’m hoping that it will be less so once blocking (and finished, of course).

Pattern: Heartland Lace Shawl

Last night I was picking a project to work on – I asked myself, ‘Self, what are you in the mood for? Knitting? Sewing? Cross stitch?’* And then it hit me that I had active projects in all areas and that was a little crazy.

Because of this, I decided to make today my first ‘WiP Wednesday’ – a quick update on what projects I currently have going. I’d love for you to play along with me, let me know that I’m not the only one being swamped by ufos.

Projects

Hannah’s Scarf
Very nearly finished – just needs some silver stars sewn on :)

Safari Animals
The poor monkey has been sitting here without arms or legs for a couple weeks now. I feel a little bad for him, but I’ve been having issues with his eyes.

Cupcakes for Kaitlyn and Hannah
So far I’ve made… 2 bases, hehe. They’re quick, just haven’t quite made it to the top of the pile yet.

Peanut
I cut out the pieces this morning!

Brett’s Birthday Surprise
*If you’re Brett, STOP RIGHT NOW!!*
I’ve decided on a star-shaped rainbow lap-afghan. Deciding that, and getting out the wool, is about as far as I’ve gotten.

*I chose sewing, in case you were interested.

I was looking for a photo of something last night and realised that I’d never scanned up the poetry scrapbook that I made for Bethany’s birthday this year – this, of course, means that I spent a good portion of this morning playing with the scanner. I think it took me longer to scan the pages than it did to actually make them. Why I can never seem to learn to take the photos BEFORE I put them inside the sleeves (and wrap it, and give it away, and let it sit on the shelf for six months…), I’ll never know.

(click for bigger images)

I’ve been avoiding the end-of-season wool sale at Spotlight, but it just called to me – called I tell you!

I did manage to limit myself to just one kind of wool. I bought three balls (at $2 each – not bad!) of the Moda Vera ‘Believe’.

Moda Vera ‘Believe’; Colour No: 12
49% Wool / 30% Soya / 21% Mohair

I haven’t quite decided what I’m going to make with it, but I was thinking a small shawl/scarf… any suggestions?

I almost forgot to come back and post the finished embroidery I did. But here it is. For the most part, I’m pretty happy with it – though if I were to do it again, I’d probably do the line of grass in green.

Pattern by: Heartfelt

Brett and I are heading off on a little trip to Port Macquarie on the weekend to visit his parents, and because they’ve very kindly let me come and stay as well I thought I’d make them a thank you present.

Because the trip was a kind of last minute decision, I has a little stuck as to what I should make and finally decided on this, though embroidery is definitely not my strong point. I’m pretty sure I should get it all finished before we go though.

Pattern by: Heartfelt

Renae and I have been having a little friendly competition all year to see who could knit or crochet the most squares for Wraps with Love. I say 'friendly' because it was mostly one sided - what can I say, I'm far too competitive for my own good sometimes. Either way I think she ended up winning.

I popped all my squares into the collection at the library this morning (final count was was 25 completed squares and 2 half squares), so I'm officially done for the year - and I must say, I'm a little relieved. I'm itching to do something a little more exciting that garter stitch over and over... oooh maybe lace!

Okay okay, I'll work through my to-do list first.

I plugged my camera into my computer today and found all these pictures that I had forgotten about. Amongst them were some projects that I’d started but not posted about…

Firstly, in June I got to go to my first ever school play! I was very excited to go see Wendy’s daughter, Emily, in her school production of Oliver! And everyone who’s in play should have flowers, right? Well… in my head they should. And since I had limited funds, I decided the only thing to do would be to make some.

A lot of the credit has to go to Alex, who walked me through the process – turns out that origami is not my strong point. But I was pretty happy with the end product. And I had a lovely time talking to the kind grandma outside the play about what kind of flowers they were!

Next project…

Renae and I are making the same project; should be a piece of cake for her and a little more challenging for me. Still it’s very cute and should make a nice birthday present for Bethany (not that you’re likely to read this blog, Beth, but if you are – GO AWAY! CLOSE YOUR EYES!)

I’ve made great headway into the project… I’ve drawn on the template. Oh well, it’s on the list.

Happy Birthday to Vickeeeeeeeey!

It’s nice to have Vicky back in the country, and just in time for her birthday too. And what does every birthday girl need for her birthday… a new necklace!

I made a pink version as well, trying to decide which she’d prefer, but I know she has a fondness for green…

… as well as winged things. I can’t compete with the perdy dragonfly Andrew (fiance) bought her, so I thought I’d go with a flutterby.