Suddenly It Is Knitting Weather

All of a sudden the weather has changed from hot and steamy to cold, wet and miserable. Everything is wet, the roads are flooding and I'm in the mood for knitting. Since taking up knitting only last year, I have gained heaps of confidence and had a lot of fun, especially knitting small things like scarves, dog coats and small toys. Of course the birth of a couple of babies over the summer period provided me with some great excuses to do some baby knitting, so when I saw this vintage knitting pattern book at Lifeline, and was lucky enough to find some matching needles the decision was made to start knitting baby things. Perhaps I'm being a bit ambitious, but I hope to make a little set - cardigan, booties and hat for two babies. My mum had a great idea of making three booties for each set. She said booties tend to get lost, so that would likely be appreciated. I think that was a totally awesome piece of advice that I hope to take up.

I think I'm about half way up the bottom of the back, including the little waistband. It is very sweet and I have made only one small mistake, so I am pretty pleased about that.

In other craft projects I don't have much to report. Remember that pasta machine I bought to use with polymer clay? Yep, you guessed it, I have become addicted to making and eating fresh pasta! I am strongly considering buying another pasta machine, which I really will use for polymer clay! I have been doing a little bit with ATC's and have sent off my first swap to ATCs for all. This is a great group so I'm really looking forward to getting into this..

Psst... I'm Not Really Making Pasta.

I'm really excited tonight because, after a lot of procrastination, I have finally bough a pasta machine for making some polymer clay goodies. I have been snooping around, dreaming of finding a great machine at the 'dump shop' or charity store, but as you can imagine, they don't come up terribly often. So, in a spot of impulse shopping I snapped one up this evening at my local House store. I love that store, if I worked in there I would never leave!

The lady who works there was very excited to be selling me a pasta machine, because as it turns out, she is a mad keen pasta maker herself. I tried telling her that I really didn't need all the extra things she was trying to sell me as I have no intention of making any food with this baby. No, she was so absorbed in her pasta party stories that she could not hear a word I was saying so I ended up indulging her and enquiring about the best source of 000 flour. Oh well, at least she loves her job.

I am really looking forward to getting stuck into some polymer clay projects, I am going to have to look up some bookmarked tutorials now. Although, I must say, the friendly saleslady may have inspired me and I may have to roll out a batch of edible stuff before I begin crafting.

Where is My Time Going?

Lady Liberty First Flower
Originally uploaded by Cheeky Mango

Sometimes I wonder what I do with my time, it just slips through my fingers. I seem to have so much to do and so little time, or indeed motivaion, to do it all.. I think I spend way too much time on the computer and lying on the couch.

Anyhow, I have been up to a bit. Some ATC's, a little sewing and doing a very small amount of gardening. Just before Christmas I planted a hibiscus, Lady Liberty, in my new front garden. Today I noticed that she was bearing her first flower. It is rather lovely, but not as bright as most of my other flowers. I love flowers that pack a punch.

On the work front, I have applied to take some Long Service Leave in term 2 - just one day a week though. That would be lovely, working just 4 days per week. I am fairly confident that this will come off, but I will have to wait for the okay. I also applied for some leave later in the year for the proposed Girls Big Tour of USA. I need to talk to my gal-pals about this one though. I figure, it is best to have the leave application in as I can always cancel or change it at a later date.

This week I am going to try to finish off some sewing and of course post out about three sets of ATC's. Wish me well!

I've Got One Word to Say to You...

I have been slack lately and not updating my blog as I should... I have however been rather busy with getting back to work and all that is involved with that. On the creative front though, I have been doing some ATC's and plenty of sewing. I am really into sewing at the moment actually. I practically have a summer cotton top production line going in my fun room.

I have been taking some photos and mucking around with Photoshop, trying to recreate some of those old, vintage looks that I love so much on other people's blogs. Also, I have been reading quite a lot on various photo sites, which is what has brought me to today's photo. Hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it!

I took this photo at last year's Ekka and have used it to enter this week's Digital Photography School Weekend Challenge. I love the colour and simplicity of this phots and of course it brings back so many childhood memories.

An Evening at the Cemetery

Have been out and about taking more photos. This time I went to the cemetery, which is only a stones throw from my place to take some photos as the sun set. The results were okay but not outstanding. This is a lovely old graveyard with some very ornate statues and tributes which is always interesting to investigate..

Whenever I drive past the cemetery, which is at least once a day I think how well this is a really cool juxtaposition of decay with the rubbish tip in the background, even though it is a bit hard to see in this shot.

Also, I thought I would re post this photo because I didn't realise that individual photos were not accessible from the mosaic on my last post..

Would Love to Win...

Who doesn't love paper and craft supplies? Certainly not me, and I'm having a go at winning an amazing array of goodies with compliments of The Daily Marker. You should check it out too, there are plenty of great posts over there, I had a great time checking out this newly discovered blog.. Here I sit dreaming of winning this lovely booty:

January Roundup

It has been such a long while since I posted, I thought a general round up would be in order. Being on holidays at the moment, life has been rollicking along at a steady pace with no real deadlines or time lines to meet. I love that about holidays, but am worried about how I'll cope with not being able to snooze whenever I feel like it in just over a week's time.

We have had a lot of rain here, which was warmly welcomed but I can just about see the grass (and weeds) growing in front of my eyes! But, on the up side, my new garden is absolutely powering along. Most of my new plants have new growth and even flowers. I am so pleased with my new front garden and have now resumed working on the back yard too. I am continuing working my way along the back fence. This shouldn't be too much of a job as I already have plenty of nice plants in there which just need to be complimented. I also have a passionfruit to grow over the fence.

In terms of craft, I have been having trouble, big trouble getting motivated to finish things off. I have done some lovely ATC's but, other than some small Christmas gifts, have not completed any sewing projects. I really want to sew up a piece of floral fabric into a simple top today. One of my favourite projects that I did finish off was my very first ever patchwork quilt. I made two, one for my dog, Charlie and one for Lilly.. I know quilting aficionados would probably have fits, but I am very pleased with the outcome.

My new camera is going great guns too and I've been having a great time getting out and about testing it out. When I bought the camera, I also enrolled in a DSLR course run by the photo shop. It is spread over two sessions, one indoors, mainly theory and the next was out in the field on two locations. This was fantastic! I really enjoyed the workshops and love the photos I took, it was great to really take the time to take photos that you probably wouldn't on your own. The weather was wonderful, clear and warm. See for yourself..