Crafty Girl with Ruffle

A Work in Progress

I've been working on this rug for awhile now using a different pattern for each square.  I've been knitting the squares in long strips and then joining them together.  I've nearly finished the third panel.

I discovered this book at the Library, extended it the loan three times and realised I just had to have it.  This stitch dictionary has an amazing range of both knitting and crochet stitches.  Fantastic for dishcloth knitting.  I've been working on this rug for quite sometime and nearly all the stitch patterns come from ths book.

The dog asked me to include stitches from these two pages.......

What is Your Favourite Frugal Tip?

I love a bit of frugal as some of you already know.  There is a huge difference between being frugal and being a tight ass.  To me being frugal is making the most of what you have so that you have a bit extra to share with others.   It might be making a cake for a friend, sewing something special for a child's birthday or buying a friend a coffee when they need someone to talk to.

The kitchen is one of the best places you can do more with less and spend less time at the supermarket.  My favourite frugal tip is to have a grocery purse and never use EFTPOS or your credit card.  Withdraw your grocery money from the ATM on payday and put it in your grocery purse.  This money is to be used for groceries only.  I find I'm less inclined to impulse buy when I only have a certain amount of cash in my purse.

My second favourite frugal tip is to menu plan and write a shopping list incorporating the ingredients I need. I must admit that I hate doing it at the time but am happy for the rest of the fortnight when I know what we are having for dinner and the ingredients are in the fridge/pantry/freezer.  That means no going to the supermarket after work (hurrah!).  What about milk I hear you ask?  Fresh milk has a life of at least a week these days so stock up when you do your grocery shop.  Always have some powdered milk on hand for when you run out for tea and coffee ( you won't notice the difference) or mix half fresh and half powdered milk together.

Thinking about making a special grocery purse?  You can find the perfect pattern here.

Master Melways

He is rather cute isn't he?  Master Melways is a zippered coin purse.  The photo isn't that great.  I have been using Miss Ruffle's camera which is much better than our old one but the battery is flat.  I will post this little guy in the Map 29 Shop soonish with his other releatives.  This pattern is one of Nikki's fabulous patterns with instructions that leave nothing to the imagination. 

By the way, has anyone seen my clothes peg container?  It went walkabout yesterday and is driving me crazy.  It has to be in the house somewhere and the puppy can only hoard so many.  No doubt I'll find it in the fridge or the bedside table.  It could be in my handbag.  I hate to think what else is in there.......

A Finished Project

More owls!  I've been working on these embroidered pillowcases for a while now and was very happy to see them finished at Craft Group last Thursday night.  The embroidery designs are from  Sublime Stitching .  Ieven made the pillowcases.  My girlfriend Donna gave me some Sheridan Sheeting she'd accquired in a previous life.  She also gave me the secret formula for a professional looking pillowcase.  I just couldn't get my head around it until she showed me with a piece of paper. 

No, it isn't a ray of sunshine, something much needed here in Melbourne but something much more sinister...........introducing the Swiney brooch given to me by the lovely Gina of Clutterpunk. You can read more about Swiney  here.   I live in the Swine Flu Epicentre of Melbourne and wear this brooch with pride.

Little Miss Ruffle turned 8 yesterday.  Miss Ruffle and Significant Other made the cake whilst I was at work. Isn't it fantastic?   It tasted as good as it looked.  Guess what she got for her birthday?

The new addition to our familys' name is Tommy and I think he has found every pin I've ever dropped on the floor.  He is the picture of cuteness and very loving.

B-Gerk! or should I say "Cheep"

I admit that I'm a bit of a crazy chook lady amongst other things.  In my earlier posts you might remember me talking about Chickie who we got last Christmas as a week old chick and is all grown up now. This is what she looked like a couple of weeks ago. 

When Chickie was about four months old we thought she might be lonely so these two cuties arrived on the scene....


But alas..... the black and white one ended up being a rooster which left us with "Long Neck" who is a lovely girl and more recently Penny whom I'm yet to photograph. 

All was coming along nicely in the hen house until Chickie decided it was time to reinforce the definition of 'Pecking Order'.  I thought I'd seen it all after 25 years in the workforce but no.  It was either move Chickie into another cage or have Long Neck pecked to death.  Noice huh?  Penny has since moved in with Long Neck and it has become a very harmonious share house.

Anyway, back to Chickie.  She started laying about three weeks ago, one egg a day and if she missed a day she'd lay two :).  It was all very exciting until one day last week I noticed she was sitting in her nesting box looking something like Chief Sitting Bull.




 



It took a few days, but I worked out that she is broody.  I tried everything to distract her, explained that she was far too young and should have fun and play the field - you know, have a gap year (and maybe lay a few more eggs).  But no.  Chief Sitting Bull remained glued to her nest squawking loudly at anyone who'd come near her.   So after giving it considerable thought, I decided to buy her a present........ eight fertilised eggs that she now has under her.



 
  We'll see what happens after three weeks which is how long it will take for the eggs to hatch.  So far she is doing a very good job of keeping the eggs warm ...... 
Chicks anyone?

 

Is This a New Magazine?

or am I living in my normal vacuum?  I was looking for the latest issue of Sew Hip and found this one.  It is Australian and looks a bit less Nana than some of the other Australian Sewing Machines.  I haven't had a good look yet but I think it has potential.  I'll save it for a pre bed time read which means it will take me a month to get through it!

Look Whoooooo Was on the Powerlines Tonight

A Tawny Frogmouth!  Is he beautiful?  In the seven years we've lived in Brunswick I've never seen one.  We are not near bushland so having this beautiful bird as a visitor is a rare treat indeed.

I've nearly got my new Map 29 Website finished now and would really like to make a button to link it to my blog.  Does anyone know how to do this?  I get lost when it comes codes etc.  Any help would be great appreciated :).  I am always happy swap a gift with some knowledge.

Is There a Cure for Blogging Malaise?

Believe it or not... yes!  Just have a Blogger's Morning Tea like Nikki did last Friday.  It was so great to catch up with everyone.  I feel very priviledged to be a part of this very talented, inspiring and friendly group.  I think I need a post a day challenge.  I find that blogging is a bit like exercise....you have to do it all the time and not break the routine.  Hmmmm maybe I can succeed on one of these fronts..... Could pass the cake please?

Groovy Granny Poncho

I don't normally blog my Charity Knitting but I was so happy with this one that I had to share it.  The poncho basically comprises of four Granny Squares sewn together to make a poncho.  This poncho is going to a Women's Shelter in chilly Hobart.  Hopefully it will warm the bones (and heart)of someone who needs it.  I've used Machine Washable Wool from Bendigo Woollen Mills.   Bendigo Wool is Australian made and really nice to knit with. 

The Best Easter Ever

We had a great break over Easter at Mt Pilot Tourist Farm.  This is our third visit and we love it more each time.  The Easter Bunny found us and hid eggs in the most amazing places.  He even left a bag of eggs for mum to hide outside when the dew dried up. 

Best of all.... look what we brought home for Chickie...............