Milestone birthdays

My husband and I (wow, I sound like the queen) are celebrating a milestone birthday this year and enjoyed a party together. we don't really go all out for these things, but it was a great one. Our theme was 80s and everyone came all decked out.

We were joined by Smurfette and Smurf,

Top Gun,

Pat Rafter,

not one but two Rubik cubes,

several cast members of dynasty,

a member of Kiss (the one with the star),

Gordon Gecko (complete with brick phone),

and many others.

What a great night dancing to the 80s music too.

Backyard visitors

This is our nightly visitor. He or she usually hops in around dusk and is sometimes joined by one other.

No great photos, I know. But they are so hard to photograph as they are really camouflage against the bush. It's also terrible light at this time.

Aren't we lucky to have such great visitors?

Blanket for donation

Have you heard of the Hamlin Fistula Hospital Ethiopia?

This is a hospital in Ethiopia that helps women have life changing surgery after injuries sustained during childbirth. Many women travel great distances to receive their care and they rely on donations to survive.

They also give their patients a new dress and blanket to celebrate their new life after surgery. Many of these women are ostracised fro their village or community and this helps them make a new start with new things.

I made this blanket for them to send to their hospital and donated money to help them pay to send it over. I love the idea that a women will get my blanket and take it home with her somewhere in Ethiopia. I also took my girls to their shop in Turramurra, Sydney to show them what this organisation is doing for women on the other side of the world.

It is the same as my granny stripe but with wider stripes.

If you would like to see the great work they are doing go to http://hamlin.org.au and think about making a blanket yourself or making something for their shop to sell.

Fickle Blogger aka Busy Mum

I seem to be a fickle blogger who abandons my blog when life gets tough. It's not that I don't love being here, but trying to write reports for my full time year three class, and design a website for my part time uni subject, manage my family and everything else sometimes gets in the way. Wow, I'm tired after just writing that.

I do always find time for craft. It's just that it needs to fit in between all the stuff above. I know I am not alone with this juggle and I love all the components of my life, but perhaps there might be too many components.

Anyway here are some projects I have been working on lately.

Cotton Blend jumper for me with Americana DK

New Hexagon Blanket with Cascade 220 Heathers

My lovely girl dressed as Meg from Seven Little Australian (Book Week)

Blanket Love

I have to say that since I have started crocheting blankets I have really enjoyed it. They have also been enjoyed by the whole family. Here is my Granny stripe being loved by my youngest.

The latest creation is the same Granny Stripe, but with wider stripes and in a different order of colours.

Again I am using the Stylecraft Special DK, (what a great yarn) and I love the colours. I love sitting down in front of the TV and having a project that I don't have to concentrate on or follow a pattern.

I am also working on another project, but it is a surprise. I'll show you when it's finished and given to the recipient. 

Two Owls

I have really got organised finishing off projects over the holidays.

Here are the two owl pillows finished. One came from a Made it Kit that I got from Spotlight.

And the other was a pattern from Let's get crafting, Knitting and Crochet magazine issue 48. It came with needles and the yarn all together.

 They have already been loved by the family.

Crafting continues here

After a very bust term one, we have been enjoying the holidays and lots of craft. I have been loving having time to spend on projects new and old (in between the uni assignments).

A knitted cushion completed in two nights of knitting in front of the tv. Just have to get some filling and stitch on the eyes.

A new cardigan for my eldest knitted in variegated yarn. The colours are amazing which will be the highlight, not the endless rows of garter stitch. It is worked in one piece which I love, no sewing together at the end. 

Another blanket using the lovely DK Special by Stylecraft. I really enjoy using this yarn, it is so easy and the colours a lovely. I have a line of requests for blankets but think I might still keep this one to add to our stash at home.