Let's make making pom poms the new planking...

There was a bit of a pom pom craft frenzy at our house last night. A great way to use those scraps of yarn that we all have. And the repetitive motion of yarn wrapping is somewhat relaxing.  A few of these will be given to Team Textiles for Knit Lab.

We have also packaged some up for Pip at Meet Me at Mike's. These will be in the post to Melbourne tomorrow and we cannot wait to see the outcome of The Pom Pom Project!

A guardian scarf...

I have been feeling a little off this week. My second cold since being in Tassie, in as many months. But a dreadful cough did not stop me from enjoying my morning today. With two cats on my lap and a cup of chai, I watched the clouds roll in over the city. I also finished one of my current projects - a knitted scarf for Guardian Angels. It is bundled up and ready to post to my colleagues from my previous workplace in Melbourne. A lovely like minded group of crafters who like to make for others.

Ames xo

My creative space...

Guardian Pharmacy have been running the Guardian Angel Knitting Program for twelve years. They donate knitted and crocheted garments to a different charity each year. Last year, I crocheted a scarf. I have just started to knit a scarf to donate this year. 

This year, the Guardian Angels garments and blankets will be donated to Variety, The Children's Charity. A lovely person from my old work will be collecting the knitted and crocheted goods from a group of us and will be donating them by the end of August. 

Have you been making anything for charity lately? I find that it brings a sense of well-being,  knowing that my handy work will bring a smile to someone's face. Someone that I will never meet.  

Best wishes to everyone out there that needs help at the moment. Keep your spirits high.

For more creative spaces, head over here.

My creative space

Finally planning on making some 'we have moved house' cards to send people with our new contact details. I am cutting some corners by using pre-made cards and double sided tape, however we were lucky to stumble across this perfectly suited paper. 

For more fantastic creative spaces 

this week click here.

Happy Easter!

Did you make cards for Easter? We did. Just a few to send to family to let them know that we are thinking of them - even though we have been busy with a move interstate. Most of the craft goodies were packed ages ago so it is pretty simple this year.

We used coloured pens to decorate butterfly cut outs. All of them are different, depending on the mood. Probably not very Easter-y but everyone is not surprised when they receive something butterfly related.

Sending love and wishes to all of our friends and family over this Easter break.
Always, Ames and Tash xo

My creative space...

I am in the midst of a few projects at the moment. However our move interstate has slowed down my crafting. Here are a couple of my works in progress....

I am making a crochet blanket with an acrylic mohair yarn that feels like you are working with air. I am making up the pattern as I go along, so who knows what it will look like when I have finished.

I have also been making an Amineko (crochet cat) from this great book, with some lovely friends. Planning on making two of these for my two nephews who I adore.

I hope you are all enjoying a happy week of crafting! Ames xo

Crochet baby beanie

This crochet hat is now in the post and on its way to a friend who has just had a baby boy. 

I love the shell pattern pattern and the soft yarn. Perfect for a little one.

My creative space...

I had been thinking of doing some framing for months and finally got around to it before we started packing. I had this recycled frame and removed the Masonite. I then cut my own mount using archival mount board.

After cutting the window, I mounted the print I had chosen on a second piece of mount board using Japanese paper hinges and wheat starch paste. I also cleaned the original glass before sealing the package using framers tape. I cannot wait to display this!

Pin brooches

Pin brooches are great aren't they?

The weather is starting to get a little cooler and I am looking forward to wearing these with my cardigans. I made them many years ago and they still bring me delight.

Crochet to warm the house...

Happy House Warming to our friends in Brisbane!

I have been making crochet coathangers for sometime now. You can see previous posts here, here and here. They are really quite simple and I enjoy making them.

All you have to do is crochet a rectangular piece of fabric to wrap around the wooden hanger. A few of the patterns I have seen recommend a 5mm hook, 8ply yarn and start with 55 chain. As I prefer tight crochet - I use a 4mm hook, two strands of 8ply yarn and start with 70 chain. I then crochet 5 rows of treble.

After you have made your piece of fabric, you sew or crochet it together and insert the wooden hanger. Screw in the hook before you cover it with coloured tubing. To finish it off, attach any type of embellishment you like. I tend to use crochet corsages as they are a particular favourite of mine.

Inspired by the cherry blossom

Image via 16 House

My friends and I made some crochet granny squares for Crochet a Rainbow to assist Queenslanders who were touched by the terrible floods earlier in the year. Sarah London has extended Crochet a Rainbow to help those people in Christchurch and Japan that have been more recently affected by devastating earthquakes and the tsunami.

I have started to crochet - I am inspired by the cherry blossoms of Japan and have been choosing whites, pinks and purples to make my squares.

Sometimes I feel helpless in these terrible situations as I am so far away. What could I do anyway - even if I was there? However, knowing that I can help through craft, and knowing that there are so many people worldwide that care, makes me feel part of a greater good. My deepest thoughts and wishes go out to everyone that has been affected by natural disasters this year. Stay strong xo

Crochet baby hat

I have been crocheting this week. One of the things I have made is a hat for baby George. I made up the pattern as I went, so unfortunately I cannot share it with you. It was lots of fun and hopefully it will be enjoyed.

Blanket glory - Crochet a Rainbow

Earlier this year, some friends and I made crochet granny squares for Crochet a Rainbow. These squares were sent off to Sarah London who started the collection in order to make crochet blankets for those that were affected by the Queensland floods. Sarah has been busily joining the squares and has posted some pics of the finished blankets.

Image via Sarah London

I am especially excited because I think that one of my squares appears in the top blanket. It is the square made from blue and purple variegated yarn at the top left of the image.

Feeling proud xo

Baby blanket wraps completed and home from holidays...

Hi everyone! Sorry for not being around for awhile, but we have been on holidays. We have been in Cairns and Brisbane visiting family and friends and will post more about that later when we download the photos. For now, here are the two baby blanket wraps that I knitted and crocheted for two new nephews who we met for the first time yesterday. They are so tiny, gorgeous and amazing! These blankets were made with lots of love xo

The Art of Sewing

I received a lovely surprise last night... A book from a friend... So unexpected, yet so perfect... Savina found this book in an op shop and thought of me.

The Art of Sewing: The Classic Techniques was published by Time-Life Books in 1974. It has comprehensive chapters on equipment for your workroom, sewing techniques and matching fabric to pattern. It also has sections on stitches, knitting and crochet. 

I love that the person using this book before me was obviously trying her / his hand at embroidery as I  found an old ticket marking the page.

I love that this book has pictorial instructions on how to use a sewing machine and make garments. I have recently bought a new sewing machine and this know-how will definitely come in handy. I have not used the new machine yet as I am trying to finish off some of my other works in progress but I am hoping to use it soon.

And I love the tidbits of history and storytelling throughout. Did you know that the character 'Madame Defarge' in Charles Dickens' novel A Tale of Two Cities gave knitters a bad name? Apparently she knitted incessantly during the French Revolution and encoded the names of those aristocrats who had been harsh to peasants into her work*. I read this book during high school and think that I will have to pull it out again to revisit this story.

Thanks for the book Sav xo

* Time-Life. 1974, The Art of Sewing: The Classic Techniques, London: Time-Life International, p.175.

Soft toys for Hope

Wendy and I have made softies for Hope Softies, a collection of soft toys for children affected by the floods in Queensland.

I made a sampler kitty, based on a pattern in the Simple Softies for the Whole Family book (see below). I think she is so adorable - I am even thinking of making another one to keep. Wendy, who is a talented knitter, made Tabitha the kitten. We hope that our softies give hope.

Crochet a rainbow

I signed up to Crochet a Rainbow following the devastating floods in Queensland. Sarah London decided it would be a great idea to collect crochet granny squares, which will be made into blankets, for donation to those that have lost everything. It is important to remember that there is always a rainbow after the storm.

It is hard to believe that since the Queensland floods, the state faced Cyclone Yasi. My current home state Victoria has also been affected by flooding.

Wendy, Liz and I have made 35 crochet granny squares which are ready to be posted. The latest count shows that there are 398 people participating in Crochet a Rainbow from all over the world. You can see some of the other squares here if you are interested.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Wendy and Liz for helping me create for such a worthy cause. I feel connected to the people of Queensland as I grew up there and I am warmed at the thought that a little of our time will bring a smile to a Queenslander's face. Thanks also to Sarah for organising this wonderful project!

Happy crocheting! Ames xo

Crochet squares for Papillon Gold

I signed up for a crochet square competition a little while ago at the Papillon Gold blog. Jane has organised the competition to honour her Grandmother and to collect squares to donate to Knit4Charity.

A few of my friends and I, from the Plain Tiger Butterflies craft group, decided to make some squares together. This is what Wendy, Liz, Kathryn and I created!

We have really enjoyed this project and I recommend that others get involved. So if you enjoy crochet, why not check out Papillon Gold to donate.  Also thanks to the lovely crafty ladies that joined me in making squares. Not only have we had fun, we have helped a fellow crocheter recognise the memory of her Grandmother and donate to charity. Happy smiles all around.

xo Ames

Work in progress: baby blankets

Expecting twin nephews in the family any day now. I have been working on two baby blankets since the beginning of the year. The plan is to knit a centre piece and then crochet a border. Really enjoying the project and I will post some photos when they are finished. Hope you are all enjoying your craft projects! Ames xo

More crochet coathangers

Crochet coathangers galore. I have made quite a few over the last months - for Christmas presents and the most recent as house warming gifts. Time to put those away and start some knitting. I am going to start two baby blankets tomorrow and I will keep you updated as the project progresses. 

I am looking forward to lots of exciting craft projects this year! Happy crafting, Ames xo