This is my place to chronicle the simple pleasures of my life.....I knit, crochet and sew etc. I'm a proud Mommy, a wife and above all a soul of living light. Join me on a journey to inspiration amongst craft or life.....

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

And here it is...finished

I am very happy with how this piece blocked...grew so much in size and the bows defined so well :)



Monday, December 27, 2010

All that Jazz wide scarf

A special present for myself....I'm utterly in love with the yarn, the colors, the stitches, Beautiful!!
I am buying more of this Egyptian cotton thread as it defines lace so well.
Very happy with this piece *big grin*




And I have also finished the green shoulder wrap (post below)...another divine project :)
It's blocking at the moment so will add a pic tomorrow!

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Be thy green...

Again I was bitten by the 'must work this pattern now' monster....my poor shawlette it just sits and sits waiting for me to pick it up again.....In a gorgeous alpaca yarn in my favorite color, playing with beads is also fun.



Friday, December 24, 2010

Christmas eve...

 And the winner of my yarn bunny giveaway (picked by number by random.org) is 'MARNIE'   Congratulations!!!!
 And thank you so much to everyone that commented - Merry Christmas to all and many blessings.

My latest project....coming along nicely

Monday, December 20, 2010

Crocheting Christmas with my fingers...

and watching a Muppets Christmas Tale (Charles Dickens) on tv....could I ask for a more blissful afternoon :)
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I *think* I am almost finished the handmade Christmas pressies. I probably am up for a break but I just can't seem to stop perusing all those lovely patterns on ravelry, and then that means yarn shopping hehe and then my fingers get itchy to start up again...
I have joined a few groups with goals in mind but we'll worry about 'being good' in the new year ;)

Saturday, December 18, 2010

December rambling..

Busy time of year isn't it....What better than the magic of Christmas spirit to inspire some last minute projects :)

Some presents are going to be hand crocheted wash cloths teamed with handmade soaps and done up in red cellophane...THIS pattern makes a gorgeous thick, nubbly cloth. One of my favs!!


This gorgeous scarf is from THIS pattern....I was lucky to be able to test the pattern for her and it is just gorgeous and super fast to work up too, only took me an hour and less than 50g or yarn. I used debbie bliss baby cashmerino! 
Pattern should be released soon....


My last custom doll order for 2010 - lil farmer boy. He turned out adorable in cotton yarns :)

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

And the finished penguin....

"Not so normal" hehe but they are my 2 yr old sons fav colors and it's going to be his Christmas eve present (it's our family tradition that the kids can open one special pressie on Christmas eve) ....Have to wait to find out what he will be called...should be good considering my son named his sock monkey 'funky bunky  hashbrown' LOL  where that came from I've no idea!

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Holiday penguin Crochet-a-long

See here for the CAL and all the info including the free pattern freshstitches.com and join in the fun....
I've already started my penguin and lets just say it's not "normal" penguin colors hehe, ah imagination it makes the world so much more colorful ;)
Will post a pic when mines done!!!

There's also a facebook group so everyone can show off  :D

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Carrot pudding and a giveaway

Firstly I have to tell you about this brilliant recipe...quick, easy, delicious and the kids are eating veges without being bothered by them, what more could you want :)


CARROT PUDDING
1 cup caster sugar
1 1/2 cup of self raising flour
1/2 cup of melted butter
good teaspoon of cinnamon
3 normal size grated carrots
tablespoon of water

Basically you put all the dry ingredients and carrot into a mixing bowl, make a well then add the melted butter and water and mix together until well combined.
Thoroughly butter the sides and bottom of a microwave safe dish, pop in the mixture, evening it out around the bowl....cover securely with cling film (plastic food wrap) and put in the microwave on high for 8 mins.
Enjoy

You could also add sultanas, nuts etc...totally customizable!

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And now for a giveaway.....leave a comment below this post to be in the running to win my cute crocheted alpaca yarn bunny (seen in post below), open worldwide and winner will be randomly drawn on the 24th December (Christmas eve).....May we all be blessed this season

Saturday, December 4, 2010

..........

(because I couldn't choose a title)

December.... and yet another year is slowly pulling on it's boots and looking towards the door...
I don't know if I'll be sad to see this year go but it's with great trepidation that I will greet the stranger that will appear before me on the 1st of January...What will it hold in it's arms?

And December I am finishing off the year with a growing amount of UFO's, they seem to be accumulating on my shelf and annoying the heck out of me, lol
Usually I'm pretty good at finishing the things I start but I just can't seem to find my position lately....it's a very odd feeling.
And so I leave this post with a gorgeous alpaca yarn bunny...Oh so soft and huggable!



Thursday, November 25, 2010

Relegated to a corner....




This is my workspace, can you tell I'm relegated to a corner LOL.....I suppose I could have a bigger area if I wanted but it's more convenient with small kids to be in  their area, with my boys supervision is a must!
I do have more yarn stashed in bags elsewhere but I've been working on 'caking' up all my skeins of yarn so they're smaller and more space efficient!

On another note is was a sad day.....my LYS had no skin color cotton yarn in stock :( 
I've been hunting everywhere but it is ridiculously hard to find 4ply cotton or even cotton blends in light beiges, tans etc
What is a doll maker to do????????

Here is my latest creation, I'd been itching to get into that cake of Blue faced Leicester yarn! 
Little alien - Star is waiting for a new home now :)


Monday, November 22, 2010

Rain and soft things and a dog...

It's been rainy here for the last few days, not a bad thing as I love listening to the rain falling on the roof and even better that it was a weekend with nowhere for me to be or run to....I sat on my comfy couch and crocheted with a delightfully soft, squishy yarn called WOOLganic it's an organic merino and the shade I was working with was aptly named 'raindrops'....totally perfect!
I made up a gorgeous cocoon and a wee matching hat...pattern I used here ...Sandy's patterns are so easy to follow. I can't wait to post it to it's home this week :)



Well where's the dog?  That is what I was saying this morning as I trimmed my lil maltese 'Phoebe', a tiny dog with far too much hair LOL
I'm also sitting here at my side table with a dogs head staring at me, that's a little bit creepy haha I best get on with making the body!!!

Psst...
I am also thinking up another giveaway ;)

Friday, November 19, 2010

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Viking on the loose...

I am really chuffed with how this one turned out considering I made him up as I went along with just some viking pictures to look at....He is a custom request and when the idea came thru I was thinking, "wow how am I going to even start" but then my fingers just seemed to connect with my brain and off they went!!!
It amazes me a lot of the time how I can visualize something and then my hands create it out of nothing....I am so thankful for this talent I have been given.

And a warm welcome to my new followers of late :)  Lovely to have you all on board my blog train!!!

Oh and on a side note I still haven't got back to that shawl LOL....

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

.....9th Nov

Just thought I'd show you what I whipped up today for a custom...some cute button loafers in malabrigo yarn (oh so soft and scrummy), hues of deep green and blues. I just had to make a special trip to my local craft store for the buttons as nothing I had was quite right ;)  any excuse will do cos I also came out of there with two knitting kits and some eyes lol. It's not my fault really............................really :P

 And just because I can here is a pic of my lil bubba, he just passed the 6 month mark...where does the time go?

Monday, November 8, 2010

Bootiful rainy day....

But alas rain is only beautiful if you have the luxury of nothing to do but stay inside and watch from the comfort of your couch...otherwise it is a PITA especially if you have to haul kids around town, in and out of the car while your back invariably gets wet while they take ages to get into their seats....it's bootiful today cos I have that luxury hehe and I'm planning to sit on my couch and crochet :)
Hopefully I'll have some new pics to show you later on today!

Friday, November 5, 2010

A little bit out there hmm?

But very pretty...Lili the little snow princess. I used some scrummy yarns for her including a cashmere/wool blend so she is super huggable but yes, a lil bit out there LOL
Pablo is my next lil man, there's something a little bit cheeky about his presence :)


Now I must get on to finishing that shawl....

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Little Sara and Paddy

Special babies going up for adoption at 8pm Friday 5th Nov....IssySnookles

Paddy is made in a combination of cotton and a scrummy bamboo yarn, so soft and silky to work with and cuddle...he comes with his special security blanket.

Little Sara is a cutie in her ruffled purple top and blue capris with a cute removable headband.
Sometimes I wish I could keep all my dolls........


Monday, November 1, 2010

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Just blogging and a free pattern

Haven't had much time to blog lately, my hands have been busy with custom orders and my mind has been like a piece of paper in a whirlwind coming up with ideas for patterns and crafty things.
I am in the middle of designing a crocheted singlet for my baby boy - it still amazes me how little there is out there to make for little boys...if someone were to release a pattern book solely dedicated to boys I think I would be the first to buy it (crochet, sewing and knits please LOL) anyway I am working along the lines of a 'done in one piece'...I absolutely detest sewing seams when I know I don't have to. Bamboo and cotton yarn for summer, I have yet to decide if I'll do a contrast color. If it works out I'll post the pattern here :)

I also managed to write out my ruffle flower pattern that I use for decorating headbands, tops etc
Here tis......


Ruffle Flower
Start with a magic circle and do 6 SC into it, sl st to first SC.
2 SC in each around (12 SC)  sl st to first stitch.
CH 8 and SC into next st...REP around (12 loops).
SL ST into the first loop and do 12 DC into loop.....sl st into the next loop and REP all around.
Finish off.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Auctions for breast cancer - consider a bid :)

I have made and donated these two auction packs toward the murasaki mama breast cancer fund raising effort, please consider a bid as it's money to such a good cause!!
http://murasakimama.com/store/11

Monday, October 18, 2010

Pocket change pals

There is so little to buy nowadays with pocket money that I thought it might be nice to offer up a range of quality, cute pocket pals of varying kinds that kids (or big kids) could buy - Can you remember as a kid how satisfying it was to purchase something with your own money???
The first two up and ready for adoption...for more information go to my IssySnookles facebook page HERE





Shawl in progress - update

Quite slow in the making is this WIP...It's been pushed back to the bottom of my work basket due to customs and other projects taking my eye, I really shouldn't go pattern browsing before I finish things as I always find things I just "have" to make right now hehe
It is turning out beautiful and the yarn is so soft and easy to work with (merino superwash)....hopefully I will have it finished within the next week. It's coming into summery weather here so I prefer to work on toys and my sewing.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Peek-a-boo birds

I love making these especially in bright colors!



Custom color choices available :)  

Monday, October 11, 2010

Waiting to go to their new home..

And the custom order is finished :)
They are so cute sitting there together and I bet they can't wait to meet their new human friends and get lots of cuddles. Both dolls have cute little hats too!

Custom order available email - angelbaby-0023@hotmail DOT com

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Dolly Baby

Isn't it just the cutest <3

Have another one to go in pink pajamas and then need to finish off the green ninja and the custom order is finished :)

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Bits and pieces

Some of the things I've been doing apart from enjoying the sunny, energizing windy days, gardening and enjoying the last of the holidays with my kids...
New listing for IssySnookles - crocheted flower headband basics, made the flower up as I sat on the couch one night watching mindless telly :)  http://minicuteture.com.au/product/3404










Completed a ninja doll - custom order....












Discovered this had popped up in my garden - so pretty....











My lil dirt ferals playing roadworks LOL....



Monday, September 27, 2010

Color wheel baby blanket

And here it is in all it's finished glory :)
I have donated this blanket to 'Possum Pouches' for a charity auction in aid of the Alannah & Madeline foundation -keeping children safe from violence!

http://possumpouches.com.au/auctions.php?VA=26

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Crocheted elephant

Made this one up as I went along...kind of a flat pattern with mostly SC to join the pieces. Only lightly stuffed making it easier for little hands to hold. Great stashbusting project as each piece could be a different color yarn.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Crocheted buntings & a giveaway for a custom

I just made these up as I went along and think they turned out really nice :)  Made all in one piece with no sewing required. These first two have been crocheted in Uruguayan merino and are just so soft yet quite firm so the flags hold their shape.
The purple one also has jingle bells attached to each flag tip to add some extra distraction....for sale at IssySnookles
Custom orders are welcome for different lengths/colors etc



Plus go to my IssySnookles facebook page and tag yourself in a bunting pic for your chance to win a custom cotton 8 flag bunting in the colors of your choice. Open to worldwide!

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Dragonflies and kingfishers

Both are of special significance for Gail so I combined them into a luxurious scarf made with 100% alpaca in a kingfisher blue yarn....so soft and squishy with embossed dragonflies. Very happy with how it turned out and I do hope she likes it when I give it to her today :)

Wednesday, September 15, 2010