Family holidays

Hello all, 

Yes it does feel like I have been absent from the blogging word of late, but I have had a good reason.  My family and I finally went on a well deserved holiday.  It’s been just shy of 15years since we went on our last holiday.  Yes I know that’s pretty bad and hopefully it won’t be that long for the next one. 

So my time before we left was spent busily making stuff for our holiday as we were heading to Tasmania (the cold part of Australia).  I made lots of nice things to keep us warm but in the end the weather was just beautiful, sunny and warm, no need at all for beanies, scarves, gloves and cowls.  I don’t think they even left our suitcase. Here's some photos of our time away...

The Boat House at Cradle Mountain.

Looking out across the bay from Sarah island.

The old church at Port Arthur.

Jumping waves ninja style at Swansea.

Beach finds at Swansea.

Looking out across to Wine Glass bay.

Rain forest walk at Columbia Falls.

We had such a fantastic time doing the touristy things that I may have even been too busy to do the crafty things (she says in a hush tone).  I did get to squeeze in a little but definitely not a lot.  Although I did buy myself a few little crafty gifts along the way (new and op shop variety).

So lets do a little show and tell:

• I bought two pure wool blankets (a single and double), not sure if I want to use them as a quilt backing or cut them up for softies and hot water bottle covers, or even just leave them as they are with some crochet edging added.

• One of the best embroidered doilies that I have, the embroidery is in excellent condition and there are no stains or tears.  I fell in love the minute I saw it.

• I picked up two sets of knitting needles; Art viva and a handmade set.

• Another pure wool blanket, baby crib size for 50 cents (could not pass that up).

• A cute little bird brooch and hair tie by Elliot my Dear.

• Another little ceramic Easter Bunny. I might have a slight addiction to these.

• And my most expensive buy a ball of the most beautiful Alpaca yarn.  It’s so fine (a 2 ply).  I am not sure if I will make a set of lace gloves or a shawl, or it may just be left as is so I can just hold it and gently rub against my face (yes I am one of those people).

(I did buy some yummy chocolates and fudge from Anvers, but really did you expect me to keep that for show and tell.  They was gone almost the minute we left the shop he...he..).

And finally a show and tell of the handmade, homemade variety, a special little Easter friend for Little O. Everyone please met Jenny-Benny (yes that is her/his name given by Little O).  Jenny-Benny’s pattern can be found here.








I had to quickly take this photo before the little hands came in and took the eggs away to be eaten.


I hope you all had a fantastic time celebrating Easter with your loved ones.

Anna
XO

What do you get if you cross a Triceratops with a kangaroo ?

A Tricera-hops.... ( I know bad joke, I couldn't help myself lol )

I have a little friend who is having their birthday this weekend. When I asked his Mum what could we get him for a present, she mentioned that he would love a toy dinosaur (especially if I could make him one). I have never attempted anything like this before, especially not in crochet. So I mentioned it to my fellow crafters one morning in craft group and the lovely Bebe Rouge (beberouge.wordpress.com) thought we could adapted her Dragon pattern. And here is the results. I hope you like your present Master R.

Anna
XO

M.I.A

Wow, has it really been that long since my last post? That’s a bit naughty on my part. But it wasn’t like I was sitting there with idle hands, I have so much to share. Where to begin….hmmm….

I guess first and foremost I need to wish you all a belated Merry Christmas, Season’s Greetings and Happy New Year. I hope that you all enjoyed this special time and you spent it with loved ones, those that mean the most to you.

We had a very special Christmas this year in the world of Esme Rudy. I was very lucky to have spent it with my wonderful family (all 30 something of us). Yes you read that right, 30 plus relatives all together for 5 days in the one spot. This year I got to spend Christmas with some of my family who haven’t been together at this time of the year in over 10 years.  Four generations all together.

And of course when we all get together, celebrations are called for and when you are having a party, decorations are in order. Of course me being me, I couldn’t help myself, so I was in charge of this.

Using my favourite source of inspiration (Pinterest) I was overwhelmed with ideas but in the end I had my favourites. So here was our handmade, homemade Christmas…

                   Hung up above the fire place was our christmas Wreath.


Details on how to make the deer head can be found here.

       
          Our Christmas tree (wonderfully decorated by all the grandchildren) 



Details on how to make the Christmas tree can be found here.  The link to make the paper star on top of the tree can be found here.

                                 Mini stockings for all made by me.

    We decided not to have a chocolate advent calendar this year, so here is the Santa’s beard advent calendar that we used.

I did lots of cooking during the Christmas period as well. Cakes and biscuits but my favourite would have to have been the choc fudge balls and Cranberry, Pistachio, dark chocolate bark. Every time I made a batch of either they disappeared quicker than I could blink.

Also during this time there was lots of hooky and sewing time, gifts for other people and also a few little things for us;

                         An Owl wall hanging for a special little baby girl,

                                             A Little boy frog,

 

 

A Felt fairy for a special little niece,

 

                    Front door wreath for our home (inspired by Me Me Rose)

                   Peppa pig for Little O (I got to be a pattern tester for a
                                    wonderful friend Bebe Rouge)

Now it’s time to get stuck into all my new projects that I have been saving for the New Year.  Is it just me, do you have a list a mile long too?:)

Happy crafting everyone.

Anna
XO

Keeping a couple of little secrets

Have you ever had to keep a little secret?  I have been sitting on two for the past few weeks and I call now finally share them with you.  The two items that I have made have now been safely delivered to their new homes.

The first up is a lovely new Mumma bear for Little B. 

 

Coming from Melbourne where layering your clothing is everything due to our 4 seasons in one day weather trick I decided that she needed another layer so a little crochet cardigan was made.  As Little B is only 1 yrs old, I needed to make something that didn’t have any hard pieces, like buttons for eyes, so when I came across this pattern in 'Softies', I knew it was perfect.

Little B’s Mum is one very clever lady who makes the most beautiful mermaid and mermen softies so I thought another style of softie might be a suitable present.  Check out Little B’s Mum’s softies here.

(Full credit to those out there who make softie toys especially if they require many limbs.  I struggled with the sewing of the limbs, trying to fit them all in so that when you turn the bodies right way out everything was sewn in place.  I must have unpicked the limbs at least 4 times as every time I tried to sew them, they slipped out of place and were not connected properly). 

 

My other little secret was a birthday present for my niece Little C.  Last year I made her this little doll, so this year I decided that I needed to make something that she could use with the doll.  I knew that she had a little wooden cradle for her dolls but nothing to put in it, so I made a blanket and sheet set.

 

 

 

I knew I wanted to make a crochet blanket for the top but was unsure on what pattern or style.  I then came across this pattern on my favourite place Pinterest.  As soon as I saw it I was hooked, I knew it was the one.  So off I went following the links only to find that the whole pattern was in French.   My experience of the French language ended in year 8 as I had an argument with the French teacher as to why I didn’t want to be in her class anymore.  She tried to tell me that art (which I was dropping her class for), was not a proper subject and it would never get me anywhere (I then went on to be a Secondary school Art/textiles teacher). 

So what was I going to do?  A couple of the clever ladies in my craft group suggested that I Google translate the pattern.  I tried that and I think a lot of the detail was lost in translation as it made no sense at all. I then decided to just give it a go myself, making a row, seeing if it looked right, if not undoing it and then trying again.  And here it is the finished product.  As you can see I also made a mattress, sheet and pillow to go with it.

I am so excited to be sharing these with you as I have had to keep them a secret for soooooooo  long.

Do you ever struggle keeping secret gifts a secret?

Anna

XO