Time for Clearview

 Now that Winter is truly over it seemed like the right time to finally work on my Clearview Doll House.  The shell of the house has been sitting in my office for months whilst I have been spending time knitting.  Finally I was motivated to set up the lighting, seal, paint and get some furniture into some rooms.

The difficulty is always trying to plan ahead so that components aren't glued in place for infinity when I actually wanted to add something else...like extra lighting.  Anyway, I moved past that by working constantly on the
the lighting and now I am trying to complete the floors...three coats of varnish!  As soon as the floor was dry in the dining room I just had to set up the scene.  My son also gave me a hand and put together a mini meal as a celebration!

Knitting like a fiend!

Ravelry is fantastic!  Found this beautiful vest pattern Milo bytalented designer Georgie Hallam and now have already made three for family and friends.  Another to be cast on very shortly after I have finished another knitted item for a friend's birthday.  What is even better is that I am able to use up some stash yarn where I only have a small amount left...then again I have actually purchased some more just to make this pattern in a particular colour for some!

It's really wonderful to knit something that will only take a weekend and also to give something away that will keep a little one warm in this fickle spring weather.  Still too chilly for my liking!

You have to be fair!

A request was made by one of my nephews for a snake representing his chinese horoscope.  Using some variegated sock yarn from my yarn stash I whipped up one colourful snake which he loves.

Eyeing the snake, his younger brother quickly asked for a sheep which is his chinese horoscope animal.  I had to check all my craft books and the web to find the perfect design...found it in Wild and Wonderful Fleece Animals by Linda Carr.  Also found the perfect fleece which is so wonderfully soft and huggable.  As the sheep's face is black it is hard to see his smile.  Hope my nephew will love it...as much as  I loved making it for him!

Blankets for All!

I was in a mood to make some blankets!  Found a lovely pattern on ravelry.com, the chalice blanket and wanted to make one for some younger members of my family.  Here they are enjoying the blankets that I knitted for them with love!  I love how they even match theor blankets!

I hope that they will cherish them and use them even when they grow up!

Wally (aka Molly) for Lucas

As per an earlier request from Lucas, I quickly made another sock cat for Lucas for his birthday.

He promised that he would look after it, keep it clean and sleep with it.

Lucas was anxious to get home so that Wally (Molly 2) could meet Molly 1. Hope this means that he can give back the original Molly to his Mum! I'm so glad that he loved it straight away and hugged it all the time!

Now I better get down to making a few others that I have promised to other family members in readiness for their birthdays!

Something for Me!

It's always lovely to make something for someone you love...to put special thoughts into it whilw you are creating it and then to gift it which is it fact like giving a bit of yourself away as a present.

It's also really nice to make something special for yourself. To remind yourself that you also need a present from time to time. That you are also special. (Special thanks to my husband for helping to string on my blocking frame...he understands how important it is to get this right for me).

Beatiful yarn and a special pattern (Haruni). So here's a present from me to me!

Something for my Mum

Worked on this hug-me-tight shawl/wrap since the beginning of January to make sure my Mum was able to wear it on her holidays. Made it with less than a week to go! I gave it to her yesterday and she liked it!

Beautiful wool (Rowan kidsilk haze) and great result though not the easiest of knits.

Seems like I love taking up the challenge of creating lace items these days....next major project will be for me! This doesn't mean I won't start up a few more smaller projects though. Then there's the challenge of knitting everyone for their birthdays this year...I should start up early for those rather than knit against the clock! Gotta keep my crafting hands busy.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Kung Hei Fat Choy!

Found these beautiful flocked red packets in my local asian grocery store and thought they would make great cards for my family. Found some precut cards at Big W...added a double coin knot and voila! Instant CNY cards! Included one of my gold lucky cats in the photo because it's cute.

There is so much symbolism...red and gold for luck and prosperity. The double coin knot which is a traditional chinese design is sure to bring everyone prosperity and success in 2010 - the Year of the Tiger!

Sewing bug got me again!

It's pure luck when you can find a free pattern on the net of a pattern that you really want to make. Here's my version of the oliver + s popover dress for my niece. I've added some applique circles for some added interest at the base and have even sewn her name at the base as well. It fits and she even wanted to model it for me!

I found the time this weekend to cut and sew up this dress for her and was really happy when she really wanted to come over straight away to see her new dress.

I wish I had more time to sew and to make more presents for everyone!

Sock dolls and sock yarn

When I started knitting again a few years ago, all I wanted to use was thick yarns so that I could finish projects really quickly. Now that my knitting has progressed I find myself being drawn to finer yarns like lace and sock yarns and my stash of those types has now grown as well!

So what do you do with sock yarn if you don't want to knit socks all the time? Make other small cute items like fruit! Don't you just love this variegated yarn which makes this apple look like it is in the ripening phase?

Love making those sock dolls!

Here's some photos of a cute cat that I have made as another present for someone in my family. I really like how it's face turned out...so happy and friendly!

Hope she also likes the bunch of flowers that the cute cat will also be giving her this weekend.

A present...

Here's a close-up of a knitted present for someone who will be celebrating their birthday this month. I'm not showing the complete item just in case the intended receiver sees this post! I managed to knit it up really quick because it was such a great pattern and the yarn is beautiful (silk/merino). The photo actually shows the unfinished item because it has yet to be blocked (ie. soaked and then stretched so that the lace pattern really stands out).

I like it so much that I'm going to knit one up for myself soon...that is after I finish a few other presents. Working on some more sock dolls...

Molly the Cat

Here's another sock doll that I made for my sister for Christmas. My nephew seems to have now taken ownership of her (he even sleeps with her every night) so it looks like I will have to make a special one for him. They called her Molly...what a great name.

Here goes...sock dolls first up

Here are some of my latest sock dolls
...one lucky (or perhaps unlucky cat with no arms as yet) and a finished one for my brother (which he has already received and said that it was "awesome"). Orders are steadily arriving from other family members, mainly for their personal chinese horoscope animal. It's a pleasure to make these for those who appreciate them and will give them a good home.