Well sydney is going through another day of this

so I made these….

if you can ignore my pink thread on the brown cords and my mis-matched patterns but these are some cute n comfy pants for miss keira who likes to dirty on average 3-4 pairs of pants a day by crawling through dirt, smushing food, spilling water, smearing yoghurt and jelly around….the usual baby things…

Its anzac day tmrw so here are my yummy anzac cookies and recipe! So go and support all those anzacs by making and eating some!!!

1 Cup brown sugar
1 Cup oats
1 Cup plain flour
3/4 Cup desic. coconut
125g butter melted with 2 Tbsp golden syrup
1tsp bicarb and 2 Tbsp boiling water
and for the non-traditional 1/2 cup chopped chocolate

– Mix dry ingredients
– Add bicarb and water to the melted butter then add to dry ingredients and chocolate whilst still warm.
– Roll into medium sized balls and flatten slightly on a greased/lined baking tray
– Bake in slow oven (150 degrees C) for 20 minutes
– You are supposed to leave them to cool on the tray….they don’t last that long in our house…our exchange student ate 4 after dinner…and she’s a young slip of a thing!!!!!! so they must be good!

Happy anzac day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had great hopes that today would be productive! Hubby was going to watch keira ‘all afternoon’… well I got 1 hour to finish these pj pants and make lots of facewashers/nappy soakers on my overlocker…I think these will make great pressies for all our friends having babies this May!

I also thought I’d share a photo of my sewing corner…I love the look of my little machines there together just wish I could magically upgrade my hunk a chunk bernette for a memory craft super dooper machine……

then there is this….hubby couldn’t believe that it was all mine…he then looked at the big tallboy opposite and said ‘well whats in there then’…ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm….more craft

oh and my nana and aunty deb just got from hawaii…I sent a knitting wishlist since they were going to visit lots of craft stores and this is some of what I got…i’ve been dying to make the gorgeous mason dixon dishcloth and the pink wool is from chile and is handpainted in shades of pink…my favourite….thank you!!!!!!!!

ok back to my ISE4 scarf and a mug of green tea!!!

Wow, another blogger has thought up this idea rugz for kids and I’m in………haven’t heard of anything like it before!!!!!!!! I’ll use of some of my pink variegated yarn!

I’ve just ordered 5 more yards of the gorgeously soft baby corduroy…uh oh…I must save I must save I must save …..for japan!!!

I saw this ad in the latest interweave magazine and just want to make them for miss keira….how cute are they…….adorable! I can just see her in a pair!

I’m also wanting to start one of these Barcelona skirts soon….time….just need some time….still plugging away on my ISE4 scarf…what a thrill it will be to get it in early this year…unlike last year…thank you Jae for your patience!

oh and guess caesar’s weight here at oiyi’s blog….my he is one cute pup and so is the whisk stitch marker you could win….love it!

Well we’ve had a wonderful day! first up it was down to wollongong to see the girls down there and their simply gorgeous exhibition….it was the best bit of knitting I’ve seen ….ever! I wanted to take everything home and I can’t pick a favourite!

I met the lovely and very funny duo of Donni and Ailsa who made me feel so welcome and I’ve told hubby I will be definitely going down for the occassional SnB down there! its only 1 1/2 hour drive away but it was great….can’t wait to see you girls in sydney some time…and hi to Donna and stripey tiger….wonderful work to everyone who contributed…. here are the photos I took (hope you don’t mind girls…)



on the way home in between entertaining keira I managed to finish this…..

and keira loved modelling it …but its not for her…its for her little friend henry’s 1st birthday….we have a lot of first birthday parties coming up so I’ve decided to make winter beanies for each…this was so cute and easy…and with the yarn costing all of $5….perfect…..

tonight I’m off to sort ma yarn (its now in 3 different large containers and i’d like it organised…..then I’m starting a scarf for our lovely little exchange student Fumiko who has arrived to our colder weather with no winter woollies……any excuse for a new project really…..

Wow this looks like some fun………..The Purse Project I’ve joined up and hoping it sees me use some of my growing collection of japanese craft books which are full of little bags….now the challenge…finding the right teatowel for the project

well miss keira is teething…its number 8 and its hurting I was called out of my aerobics class yesterday as she was so upset and I’m not risking it today so that has left me some internet time while she sleeps off her unhappiness!

look what I found….I can’t eat anymore easter eggs so i found this recipe at candy addict which I’ll be trying out…I don’t know about the green sweets but I’m thinking pink marshmallows, lots of chocolate….photos later!

and I’ve joined this The Purse Project and hoping it sees me use some of my growing collection of japanese craft books which are full of little bags….now the challenge…finding the right teatowel for the project

Also the lovely EB sewing mummies are organising a mothers day swap amongst ourselves with the choice of making a pincushion or op shop finds….

I also am on my 6th start of my scarf for the ISE4…. I received branching out last year and am so in love with it I wanted to do it this year, then I changed my mind, then I wanted it again, then last night I changed my mind knitted up 10cm and changed my mind again so I’m going to persevere and only do it when I can concentrate till I master the pattern! it has 10 rows in the pattern and I always stuff it up

And on top of all of that I am about to start a sleeping bag for keira from ottobre, they always seem to be in the wash so I’m making a few more! lets see how i go!

so I guess I better get cracking….oh and on sunday I’m going to see the Wollongong SnB exhibition …..can’t wait to see their knitted tea party and meet a few of those lovely ladies!

Well it was just a day full of parcels, firstly it was 2 envelopes of fabric from the states….and at the same time some gorgeous hand dyed yarn from natty yarns and then mid afternoon I received 2 back issues of ottobre as well as the new shade card for bendigo mills

Now I must ask who designs and selects the patterns for their shade cards……it would disrespectful to my grandma to say that it is my grandma but they are not my cup of tea…their patterns and jumpers modelled need a bit of an overhaul…love the yarn but not inspired by the photos!

So it was just heaven today…..and then keira pulled out my fabrics….they were so beautifully and neatly folded but at least keira had fun!

oh and there was still a lot of chocolate eating going on……….

Well last night i cut out my fabric for the swing bag! gorgeous ginger bliss fabric from my stash —-which is growing and like my own fabric store!!! hoping to sew it up tonight!

I’m also working on the new Jo Sharp fitted cardy from Knit 3…I’ve finished the 15cm rib (which required concentration) and am now just stocking stitching away happily

I also want these books from yes asia and am just narrowing down my choices….i think 6 new books is a tad excessive when I bought over 6 last month….I have no self control…..and as my grandma said yesterday….how are you going to find the time to make everything you want!!!!!!!!!!!mmmm I’ll deal with that later



oh and I finally won an overlocker on eBay…I say finally because I kept getting outbid so this time I was on a mission…woke up at 6am and sat for the last 20 minutes trying to beat another bidder…the seller has used it once….its a janome 534d but sadly she went away to melbourne for the week so I have to wait a whole week….so disappointed…its for mothers day and hoping my lovely Justin will let me use it before mothers day!!! I deserve it!

I can’t believe I have lost the 3 previous posts….so here we go

firstly thank you to my kitchen swap pal, Kim! Love everything especially the apron! Its just gorgeous! I’m so in love with it and hoping that by wearing it I become super motivated to do things around the house

next its thank you to belinda, my first customer at my shop and such kind words coming from such a great crafter….her bags and sense of style and colour are amazing…but everytime we meet up I find out somewhere new to shop online and its trouble….but its good to know where to shop!

finally here is one of my easter eggs to share with you! I’m still a beginner cake decorator but this was fun…and stressful at the same time…these make such a great pressie but hubby reminded me I need to practice my writing….yes it looks a bit dodgy….practice makes perfect.. I made an adorable bunny wabbit one for little charlize next door and got some yummy goodies from her mummy who is a chef and very crafty mummy

I also had an exciting day ordering the latest Amy Butler patterns for my shop and can’t wait till they arrive….I want the frenchy bag and barcelona skirt for myself and I’m going to make the swing bag over the weekend – I’m hoping people will blog their bags for me to see once they’re done as I just think her patterns are so easy to follow.

I hope you and your families have a wonderful happy and safe easter…

yep its open! retro mummy shop is here! I’m hoping to stock a nice little range of patterns, fabrics and yarns and I’ve got some great Amy Butler patterns up already with fabrics due next week!

happy shopping!

Well I decided late this afternoon to head down to my local thrift store and look what I got for $5.50! After numerous visits with no patterns today there were over 10 and I got most of them as well as 2 knitting books and a purple shape-o that just needs a few pieces which I can get!I’m taking Belinda’s advice and going regularly!!!!

So happy with my buys! Shame I didn’t get much done today but at least keira napped from 11-2 and hubby is working late again, he arrived home at 3.30 am today from work and hope its not that late again!!!!!!!

Mind you I have 15cm of ribbing to get through on the short sleeved cardy from knit 3 so that will keep me busy tonight!!!!!!!!!

ohh and the new yarn magazine is out! its a good one!

Well I had a lovely afternoon of sewing with 3 generations in my sewing room – little keira, me and my mum! We were very productive and also enjoyed some delicious german gingerbread biscuits with our coffees…..keira was captivated with her grandmummy’s sewing ability as you can see

on a sad note I was bidding on a great new overlocker on ebay but missed out….it just got too expensive but I’ve been told that I can have one for mothers day…yipee but I’m thinking I might upgrade my sewing machine instead and just an old one from ebay! you’ve got to love ebay!

we ended the day with drinks down at manly wharf hotel and was suprised by how many prams there were down there …..and my daughter was picking up the little man at the table next to us, she was waving to him and when the music picked up she started bouncing to it and looking at him…uh oh…..we have trouble on our hands!

Well here is my day in order of events! we started the day with playgroup which included an easter egg hunt where Keira was more interested in the plastic bag we put our collected eggs into than the eggs!

Next up we had a cooking demo here! eggless chocolate cake that used a can of coke! yes can of coke ….we used coke zero and a can of sweetened condensed milk so that should balance out the calories! it was iced and very delicious and fudgy!

Then I ordered some Amy Butler patterns which I will be selling….any requests just let me know! I’m sick of paying exhorbitant prices for my patterns here so thought right I’ll just order and sell them myself….oh and if you’re after her latest 4 there will be a 4- 6 week wait for them to arrive…I’ll need some patience as am in love with frenchy bag and barcelona skirt!

Finally I opened some gorgeous lace weight yarn I ordered from the very lovely Natty by Live 2 Knit. Looooove the colour for ISE 4 but its just too fine for me! I tried to knit with it but I realised it would take eternity to knit a 60 inch lace scarf with it! so I’ve reordered some, same colours ELVEN, same brand in 5 ply! much more achievable and the 2ply will make lovely presents!!!!!!!!!!! I have remembered the stress last year of having a very small baby and my first lace project with jaggerspun which was again very fine!!!! why do we do this to ourselves….

so overall no craft, keira is pooped after all that playing and I’m off to prepare for children’s liturgy tmrw…psalm sunday and I just found out they are getting a donkey on sunday to do the procession and for the kids to ride afterwards! cute or what….we might have to go on sunday too….oh we’re so holy!!!!!

Thanks Michelle for my new blog!!!!!!!! My apologies at calling you momo…..your dog’s name!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I’m still laughing at that one, soooooooooooorry