April Fools Day

Our Day 

Love you Lots 

L xxxx

Show & Tell - Sunshine

Hi Everyone!

Well I'm still in the process of procrastination and not really making progress on the to-do list... Nothing quite like pressure right?

Sooo in the spirit of doing things that don't need immediate doing... I made this little hat...

Look a little familiar? That's because very talented Nin made one that she linked up last week.  Check out this super adorable hat! I fell in love... especially as I'd been thinking we needed a hat that would cover little ears for the soon to be chilly wind on our walks!

After some direction and discussion with Nin on the different aspects, I set about trying to duplicate her knitted work as a crocheted piece.  The main body is single crochet, the ribbing: front and pack post double crochet, then decreasing double crochet along the neckline, and alternating double and single crochet rows for the band under the chin.  And I somehow managed to do this all as one piece - no snips or joins!

I'd recently learned how to do "ribbing", using what is called front post double crochet (fpdc) and back post double crochet (bpdc). This is a great tutorial on the fpdc and bpdc technique.  

Yellow is the little model's favourite colour and is so bright and happy.  she was very accommodating in letting Mum measure the work in progress... most of the time!  Thanks again Nin for the inspiration and help!  And providing me with a suitable side project to stay distracted ; )

Next week I'll draw and announce March's giveaway: The New Zealand Woman, along with a Craftsy pattern or two!  The Giveaway for April is pretty awesome and will come from the lovely ladies at More Than Fabric.  More about it next week : )

Cant wait to see what you've been making - perhaps some Easter craft?
L xx



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On to Bloglovin

Now you can find me here too! Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Happy Weekend everyone : )
L x

Show & Tell - The Silent Edition

Hi Lovelies!

Today I have nothing to show... but that doesn't mean I haven't been making stuff!  The latest creations are gifts and as much as I would love to share... I'll just have to save it for now :)

Here are a few sneaky peeks ...

In the meantime I have a few more gifts to make along with some other goodies.  At the moment the urgent list is so long I am having a hard time figuring out what to do first...

Do you get overwhelmed by the multitude of things waiting to be done?

March's giveaway is this entertaining book: The New Zealand Woman.  An 80 year visual history of NZ fashion, food, home and of course women. In addition the winner can pick one (or two or three) patterns to the combined/total value of $10 on Craftsy!

Looking forward to seeing what you've not-so-secretly been making!
L xx

PS:  If you know of anyone/shop that would like to be featured and offer some giveway goodies, I'd love to hear from them!

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Show and Tell - Paint and Paste

Why hello there Thursday!

I think we're almost at the end of the Birthday items but today I'm sharing one (possibly) last related item with you.   

For party favours I wanted to do something different - something fun, useful, personal and that would last.  Enter chalkboard clipboards.

The next couple of days were spent getting some help from pinterest, sourcing foolscap sized plan clipboards and some blackboard paint;

Tip: tie the clips back to make painting underneath easier.

painting (2x coats), playing around with paper and modge-podging;

playing with ribbons, trims and glue;

priming the board (by rubbing chalk all over it, then wiping with a dry cloth);

and lastly writing messages.

Each one had a collection of activities on it.  All rainbow and coloured themed - maizes  colouring pages from awesome designer Tinch, paper people, etc.  

Each child got to choose one and take it home.  There were neutral and boy themed boards and pictures among all the girly ones, so none of the boys had to settle for pink or flowers or birds!

Dont forget the giveaway for March is this entertaining book: The New Zealand Woman.  An 80 year visual history of NZ fashion, food, home and of course women. In addition the winner can pick one (or two or three) patterns to the combined/total value of $10 on Craftsy!

Thanks for stopping in today and I'm looking forward to seeing all the wonderful things you've been up to!
Have a happy day!
L xx


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Show & Tell A Rainbow

Happy Thursday!

I'm still on the birthday theme... it was a pretty big deal around these parts!  With a lot of things being organised and made in two tiny little weeks! 

Anya loves dresses and skirts and when I saw this great pin and tutorial on Pinterest, along with a smiley nodding girl, we set about making a birthday outfit.

I used fabric from my stash and there were a few extra joins to make strips long enough - didn't matter though as they were fairly well disguised in the ruffles.

Overall it didn't take terribly long - given the amount of layers, extra seams and hemming each ruffle.

And it really felt like a rainbow once all done!  Such happiness! Not to mention extreme delight from the big girl!

We got a plain white T from Farmers and I had all sorts of ideas to applique, sew, embroider it to tie in... but in the end I settle for cascading rainbow yo-yo's...  And we both Loved them : )

She loved wearing her outfit (even though she spilled juice all over it halfway through!) and it is/has been getting a lot of loving since!

Announcement Time: Winner of the Grace Taylor paper pack and pockets for February is... Fay! Congrats! I will be in touch shortly!  And thanks to everyone who linked up during the month!


Our giveaway for March is this entertaining book: The New Zealand Woman.  An 80 year visual history of NZ fashion, food, home and of course women.  Thanks Cat for donating it!

In addition the winner can pick one (or two or three) patterns to the combined/total value of $10 on Craftsy!

I hope you'll all join me for another month of crafting inspiration!

L x

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A Flower Rainbow Birthday Cake

For her Birthday, Anya had requested all manner of different cakes for months... One mostly common theme was flowers.  The final result was fairly basic but still fun and had the birthday girl ooohing and aahhing with approval.  

I spent a bit of time researching rainbow cake recipes - looking for a good balance of not-too-sweetness, but moist, delicious and would last the distance.  I settled on this awesome rainbow cake recipe.

After the first two layers came out of the oven I was just a touch concerned that I had gotten it right as they were skinny... super skinny... but once a few more came out I felt better at the size it would make.  Big enough to feed at least 25 people on the day and then some!

I am yet to hone my fondant draping skills... one day it will be perfect : )

The cake itself received lots of praise and compliments for it's flavour - definitely a winning recipe then!

End result: a very vibrant flower rainbow cake and an thrilled-to-bits little girl.  Yay!

Have a happy Tuesday lovelies.
L x

Linking up with Ange.