Eloise the snake and a crochet giveaway

What do you give the seven year old who has everything for her birthday?

Why an enormous stripy crocheted snake of course!!

The Sunday before the Friday of our Pepper's birthday we found ourselves asking each other this question often. Seriously, what on earth did she possibly want or need? Being our third girl the answer was most certainly not clothes, or toys, or books. And being seven the answer was most certainly nothing too babyish and nothing too grown up either. And not giving her anything just wasn't an option.

So we were stuck.

And then it occurred to me that I could make her a toy. And hopefully the fact that it would be made by me, and the fact that it would be bright and big, would kind of negate the too babyish bit

So I got to work on ravelry, found a pattern, and every night as soon as she went to sleep I got out the hooks and the cottons and started crocheting. Around, and around, and around.

And you know what? She loved it! She loves it!!

She takes it everywhere she goes, she changes its name constantly and she's even given it a much coveted place in her bed so she can snuggle it all night. (Poor old Big Ted hasn't been as happy finding himself in the crack between the wall and the bed every morning though).

Funny how I am petrified of snakes in real life yet this stripy one makes me so happy.

So, do you want to make a stripy snake for someone you love too? You know you do. The pattern is simple and totally make-able for beginners. I just used lots of scraps of cotton I had from other projects and I used these gorgeous Clover crochet hooks.

And guess what??

Gorgeous Renae of Yarn Haus has kindly offered to send one of you a packet of these wonderful hooks too. How cool is that!!

I am seriously in love with the Clover hooks. The padding is in the right place not to leave an indentation in my finger, I love the colours and I don't think I will ever use another hook again.

So if you live in Australia or New Zealand.
If you love to crochet or would love to learn.
And if you think these hooks are just what your hooky kit needs, then please leave a comment telling me something about crochet. Anything you like. And we'll choose a winner early next week, (my birthday week - YAY!)

Oh I just realised my pink hook is missing from the pics. Oops! Never fear, your kit will definitely include the pretty pink hook too.



In the meantime why don't you check our Renae's;

Gorgeous new yarn haus website here.
Go like her pretty yarn haus Facebook page here.
Go follow her fabulous yarn haus instagram account here.
And go and follow her witty yarn yarn haus twitter here.

You gotta be in it to win it!!

Happy hooking friends!!


Love Kate

xx

PS Miss Pepper's snake is ravelled here

Softie 4 Mirabel.

Well hello there!

Actually, truth be told its goodbye!

You see I am leaving the farm today and heading into the bright lights of the big city for a real adventure.

I am dressed in my fanciest outfit. I have my matching shoes, scarf and hat on and my designer handbag is filled with all the important stuff that a girl simply cannot live without. I've spent hours getting my hair just right, I just hope this rain doesn't make it frizzy. And I've been hiding from Miss Jazzy who wants to cover me with glitter and make me look like a rock star. You see, its just no good for my complexion.

A girl's got to look her best you know. She simply has no idea who she might meet on her travels.

I must be honest and tell you that I am most excited. This farm and all the dirt and green is OK for some, but you see I am a lady who appreciates the finer things in life. I love nothing better than shopping, gossiping and lots of long lunches.

I have my sights set high and I wont let anything get in my way on my journey to the top.

So its farewell from me for now.

I'm heading to Pip's and from there to my new best friend's place. I cannot wait to see what delights my new future holds...a star on the Hollywood boulevard? A hit music video? The new female lead on the next Twilight movie?...the sky's the limit.

So ciao ciao for now.

Oh and if you want my personal details so you can text me, I am Raveled here.

My creative space.

In my creative space today I am slowly, slowly knitting away at my Tea Leaves cardi.

I am making a start on my softie for Mirabel.

I am wondering how many times I can sew the shirring elastic onto the right side of the dress, unpick, sew the shirring elastic onto the right side of the dress, unpick...before I get it right.

And, as usual, I am trying to find creative ways to compete with the fancy packaging and heavily branded lunch box treats that my children think they are missing out on.

These chippies are made using Mountain Bread painted with olive oil, a sprinkling of salt, cut into squares and baked at 160 degrees for four minutes.

You should try them. My kids love them.

So what's cooking in your space today?

I'm heading over to Kirsty's to check it out.

Have a happy Thursday. X

ps. Today there are 2,630 emails in my inbox. That's 226 less than yesterday.

Owls, cottons and teachers' presents.

Look hoooooooooooooo arrived in the mail today.

A little while ago the lovely Leah admired one of the pot holders I had crocheted and asked if I wanted to do a swap. One of the most fun aspects of blogging for me so far is the swap, so I quickly accepted.

Can you imagine how much Indi, my owl lover, is going to adore these gorgeous, made from the softest thrifted jumper, little friends? I reckon there will be a bit of squealing. To be honest, there was a bit of squealing from me when I opened the package.

Thank you so, so much Leah, your work is divine, I'll pop your package in the post this afternoon.

I also got a package from Bendigo Woolen Mills. Nine more balls of their wonderful cotton (they were on sale!!!!) I love working with their cotton about as much as I love having them on display in the kitchen.

So today its all about catching up on the laundry and presents for the teachers as school finishes tomorrow. I've got a ridiculous amount still to make but I can't think of a better way to spend this afternoon. Washers and rose brooches here I come.

And maybe a few more cherries because they are so quick and easy to make, and because I always prefer making other things more than what I should be making.

I hope you are having a lovely Wednesday.

Love Kate

XX

My creative Space.

With one week to go until the end of the school year, I am crocheting washcloths and flower brooches for teachers' thank you presents. I am adding a bar of gorgeous Cleopatra soap to make each package smell delicious too

.
This Tulip Stitch washcloth pattern is from here.

I am putting the finishing touches on my softies. I am hoping to sew them a zippered pouch when Pepper has her sleep today and get them in an express post pack this afternoon.

I have taken delivery of two boxes of stale organic Himalaya Bakery bread.

I am slicing, toasting, crumbling and then toasting again to make bread crumbs.

I hope this Thursday finds you full of inspiration.

To see what lots of other crafty kids are up to click on over to Kirsty's.

Saturday crafternoon.

I am crocheting a rainbow of Michelle's Grandma Twinkle Stars. They are so easy and quick to make. The perfect Saturday afternoon kitchen table project.

Indi is using my old Bernina to make an owl softie called 'Princess'. She is going to be a very pink and girly owl.

Jazzy is threading a necklace for her teacher.

And Bren is trying to distract Pepper with a Dick Bruna-a-thon.

Yesterday's challah is calling to be made into toast with jam for afternoon tea.

I hope you are having a crafty afternoon.

Black eyed softie.

Last night while sorting through the piles of stuff on the kitchen table, looking for the swimming notice, I came across the softie known as Blueberry Buttons.

Great I thought, I'll post her off in the morning, until I saw her face.

It appears she's either been in a fight and has the bruises to prove it or is baring the marks of a texta left with its lid off.

I had a quick try at cleaning her up with some warm soapy water but it seemed to make it worse.

With only days until the Softies for Mirabel deadline I have two choices;

1. Get her gear off and try my luck with a pot of dark coloured dye.
2. Start another softie.

Last night I made this Kokeshi doll but I am not thrilled with her. Perhaps if she had several different coloured friends in a pouch someone might love her.

I'm not sure what to do and I'm running out of time.

What do you think? Any advice is welcome.

Today is the last day for my giveaway. I was hoping to pick two winners and make the announcement today, but Miss Jazzy is so desperate to be the barrel girl that I'll have to wait until after swimming lessons to draw them, and make the announcment tomorrow morning.

If you would like a chance to have two of these Christmassy pot holders come to your house there's still time to enter.

Have a fabulous Monday and I'll see you back here tomorrow with the names of the winners.

My creative Space.

In my creative space this Thursday I am putting the finishing touches on my softie for Mirabel. Because the temperature is going to be in the high 30's today, she thinks she needs a hat.

I am thinking of creative things to do with broad beans. We are having felafel for dinner tonight.

I am planning and dreaming about all the wonderful places these shoes are going to take me. I found them in the children's shoe pile at the local op shop for 60 cents yesterday.

And I am trying to be creative with their hair styles.

Indi, Jazzy and sometimes Pepper are making Fimo shapes.

How divine is that purple crochet hook?

And Bren has been creative with this irrigation system. I'll try to explain it on my other blog at some stage if I can ever understand it.

Now you've seen ours, why don't you pop on over to Kootoyoo to see what everyone else is doing.

My place and yours - On the shelf.

On the shelf at my place are Indi's owl softies.

This quartet generally live on a shelf next to her bed but they have also been known to travel around the house when we are in need of a cuddle or some inspiration.

At the moment they are hanging out on a shelf in the kitchen under the kewpie dolls.

From left to right they are: Flower, made on the school holiday program, Grass, screen printed here and sewn up here, Hoot, made and received as a birthday present by the lovely Wrattan family and Spot made by Indi here.

For a peek into the worlds and onto the shelves of lots more crafty types pop on over to Pip's.

While you are here why don't you enter my giveaway?

Saturday Softies.

It began as a rainy Saturday lesson in finger knitting for the five year old and hand knitting for the eight year old. 

They mastered the techniques pretty quickly and soon there was ropes of the stuff.

It took me back to being a kid and finger knitting for hours but not having anything to do with the product.

So I suggested making some dolls and each of them knew exactly what they wanted.

Jazzy drew me a picture of hers.

I then made the doll which she stuffed and drew the face on.

I made the dress to her specifications and sewed on the hair.

It makes me giggle that my obsession with all things crochet has spilled over onto my girls and now even their dolls have to have flower hair accessories.

This was Jazzy's first ever attempt at sewing on a button.

I am so proud.

Then of course the doll needed it's own handbag with a pocket.

I was only too happy to oblige.

Indi, my owl lover, was also very decisive.

She cut out all the pieces, turned it inside out, stuffed it and was very specific about where I sew each bit.

It was only at the very end that we realised that spotty owl didn't have anywhere but his ear to tie his scarf.