Yet Another Kokeshi

 Lilly's Kokeshi doll is now finished.

I used THIS pattern again.

I like the shaping in this one.

It is a little more fiddly than THIS one

 "Mum, the boys don't have anything. Could you make them Ninjas?" asked Rose.

 Mmmmm. Ninjas they say. Let me see, there is THIS pattern.

The boys haven't seen it as yet so I may get away with not making them...

I would of taken a photo with Lilly giving her new doll a hug.

But she's a rather grotty kid after painting this morning.

She gets more paint on her and her clothes than the paper.

So I settled for a photo of her little grotty hands.

No, TAS, I am not making Heather one.

She's the youngest of 7, she'll have to learn to speak up and be quick if she wants anything.

Kids of big families learn quick to be quick.

I felt awful one day when a little girl visited.

I called out, "Afternoon Tea!"

The kids came running and wolfed down the afternoon snack.

5 minutes latter in came the visitor, nothing left!

She was busy playing and didn't come straight away.

She was one of two and thought her snack would still be there when she'd finished playing.

And I just didn't think, I assumed all kids knew when food was called you came quickly!

The next time she visited I served up in individual bowls, 

which I don't like doing, it means even more washing up.

She was pretty quick in coming to the table that time.

Washing dishes is a constant chore in this house.

Another Kokeshi

 I should of known I wouldn't be allowed to only make one Kokeshi!

The girls started arguing the moment the first one was sighted.

"Can I have it?" asked Fern.

"No, I want it!" yelled Rose

"It's not fair." whined Lilly.

  I sat here today watching Kung Fu Panda with the kids crocheting another little Kokeshi

I used this PATTERN today.

Another Free Pattern from the net.

I followed the  designers suggestion and included a coin in the base to help the little doll to stand.

Rose got yesterday's doll.

This one is for Fern.

I need to make another for Lilly.

Thankfully Heather isn't talking yet!

Kokeshi Doll

 Kokeshi Doll

I dislike being sick, especially when Pete's away.

I have no energy today, ache all over, my throat hurts and I'm just pain short tempered.

It's almost the end of Summer and already I have a cold.

I can see in the garden the change of season is coming.

The leaves on the peach tree are starting to turn colour.

I am feeling self absorbed and pitying today.

This little lady cheered me up a little as I worked on her.

She was made with another free pattern.

The designer of this one is happy for these to be made for profit, how generous is that!

Not that I have the time or energy to craft for others these days.

These are quick to work up and require very little yarn so would make great little additions to any craft stall.

Pattern: Kokeshi Dolls

Rav link Here

Yarn: My friends acrylic and cotton

Hook: 3.25 mm

I love these little dolls.

Megs Books in Port Pirie sells little kimmidolls which I buy as a special treat for my girls.

Each of the little dolls have a name which is a character trait.

Melly and Me have a free stitchery Kokeshi doll on their blog, I may one day get around to trying.

Heather's Upchuck Sweater

 I came across THIS pattern on Ravelry

 After a little trial and error and some improvisation.

I came up with version.

The name of this pattern is awful,

go and suggest a new name to  The Crafty Queen !

 

 I didn't have a lot of this wool.

I dyed it a while ago intending to make longies from it.

I shortened the length and the sleeves and added a crochet edging to the neckline.

 Heather wasn't interested in her new sweater.

She was more focused on escaping!

 I think I have another Michael!

 The pattern is a work in progress.

There are a few errors but the bones are there for a fabulous pattern.

I'm really happy with how this wool knitted up.

It's a 10plyl Bendigo Woollen Mills Wool Yarn

I haven't done much yarn dyeing for a while.

There is never enough time for all the creative things I want to do.

The new bathroom...

 Bath time is going to be an interesting experience for the next week!

Undisciplined....

 I like to spend time in the garden.

Especially when the kids are particularly undisciplined.

Looking at my garden today I can see it as a reflection of my own personality.

My own undisciplined nature.

The pumpkin vines are taking over and escaping out the gate.

We now climb the fence to get in.

 

Being undisciplined results in a bit of a mess in the garden.

And the house.

And my wardrobe.

And my figure.

My piles of fabrics, boxes of yarn and bags of fiber.

The tomato plants that self seeded in the chook run are hip high now and so dense it's almost impossible to get in there to pick them.

 The Zucchini have suffered a little in the heat and humidity.

In the last few cooler days they've put on new healthy growth.

They are battling with the capsicum and leeks for space.

 This bed has carrots and capsicums.

They're not doing as well as we would of hoped.

This is the bed we grew the garlic in.

 The tomatoes we planted are doing well in here.

The bed with the Swiss chard is totally undisciplined and out of control.

There are little seedlings now all over the garden, battling with the weeds.

 The apples are ripening.

A few of them should of been thinned out and now the branches are in danger of breaking.

The mandarin tree is covered in new fruit.

Should I thin them or let them be?

 And on the block in the midst of the weeds grew these.

Life may be a lot easier and tider with a bit of discipline.

But I think I may miss the surprises of an undisciplined life.

I am trying to acquire some discipline.

I'd like to get some of this weight off me.

I'd like my home to be not in CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome)

I'd like a coordinated wardrobe, with clothes that fit me and are tidy and neat.

I'd like my kids to keep their rooms tidy, might mean I need to teach by example!

I can relate well to Vic's Post on her Blog Punky&Me

I too am a Flylady failure, I think I failed at putting my shoes on, I never really got to shine my sink!

My house is a mess, as is my body.

I'd like to change things but have no idea how.

I lack the discipline to even start.

Today I looked at those beautiful Belladonna Lilies and I thought..

Does it really matter?

Ok the weight does that is a health risk, but everything else?

Those Lilies survived and flourished with no help from me.

They didn't need to be watered, pruned and cultivated.

Are they made hardier by the lack of discipline?

A lovely surprise from the past

Our home is 101 years old this year.

She was built in 1910.

A traditional symmetrical four room cottage.

Built of local stone and brick.

The kitchen would of originally been housed in a separate building to reduce the risk of fire and to keep the house cool.

The lavatory would of been a drop toilet or night cart.

We think the original toilet door is actually on one of the back sheds.

The current kitchen would of been added maybe in the 1930's, we really aren't sure but it's made of stone. The laundry and bathroom were added in the 1970's and built from besa block, concrete bricks.

We think it was 70's as when we pulled down the wall we found a newspaper dated 1973

 

We still have a very old apricot and walnut tree.

But occassionaly we get a little surprise from the past.

There are Jonquils and Crocus and this year these beauties came up in the block.

These would of been planted at least 30 years ago, but probably have been there a lot longer.

There used to be a small two room cottage on the block, 

we can see the outline of stones on the ground.

Someone long ago planted these.

I've always felt this house welcomed us.

That it wanted to be a family home again.

The peaches are ripe, they're as yummy as they look.

I've run out of my free google storage for the photos on my blog!

Options:

• stop blogging ..
• host photos on flickr
• remove some photos
• pay for extra storage...

Hetty For Lilly

 Pattern: Hetty by Sarah Wright

Yarn: Panda Heath wool/acrylic blend

 It looked way too small when I was knitting it. 

It’s a close fitting garment on Lilly.

I might try it on Heather and see if it will do as a dress on her. 

I hope my Top End friends are safe and dry tonight.

I'm praying you are keeping safe.

Enid's, Sunbonnet for a toddler!

 This little sun bonnet features ina few of the Enid books.

This is the first time I have made it.

I was inspired to have a go after seeing Tab's version

The drafting was easy.

The piecing was a little of a challenge, I've never been fond of sewing curves.

 My tip with this one is PIN PIN PIN or hand baste the brim to the crown.

This has a lovely wide brim and a little flap at the back to cover the neck.

It opens out for easy ironing (if you iron!)

 It adjusts as the back to fit for a long time.

And ties under the neck for those little ones who hate wearing hats.

 Heather was happy to wear this bonnet for about 3 minutes.

 She had to struggle a little to get it off.

 But she was determined!

And finally managed to pull it off.

Honey...I bought a hall table .....

Me,  "Isn't it a nice hall table? I got it at the Op-shop for $60"

I'm trying to convince Pete we need a hall table.

 Really ..it has a sewing machine hidden in there?

As another sewing machine may be pushing my luck right now.

Renovating is expensive.

 "With the manual, you say?"

"And a tin of bits?"

"Gosh, isn't that amazing, Honey!"

Isn't she a beauty?

Could you have walked passed her?

Reno Update

 It's slow.

The professional is working on other jobs and fitting us in when he can.

We don't mind this as he is working around us as a family.

The photo above shows where the old bath was and the new opening into the new laundry.

 The new laundry is now tiled.

Although putting the window into the western wall makes this space hot in the afternoon it lets in a lot of needed light. I'll have to look at getting a blind for that window.

 The old toilet doorway is now sealed and the new doorway and door on.

 We now have ceilings in the dining area.

The next job will be to block up the old bathroom doorway.

Then it's time to get stuck into the bathroom.

After that the tiles go down in the dining and kitchen area.

We picked the tiles out last week and ordered them.

I had wanted to lino the floor but because we have three different slabs, the floor is very uneven and lino would wear.