I too became addicted to the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer.  A friend from my hubbys work lent them to us.

I read all four books in a matter of weeks.



But now I have finished and I miss them.

We went and saw the movie last night to try and fill the void but that only made matters worse.

Maybe I should just read them again …..

Also, was it just me or did you also find that you kept reading the name in the fourth book as resumé.

It is not to say that I don’t like knitting or even that I can’t. I am quite fond of knitting and am quite capable of following a pattern and making something. I would probably rate myself as an advanced beginner. The issue is …. I don’t knit. I can always find something better to do, and since my new found love for crochet has emerged, the knitting needles have found themselves at the bottom of the pile.

So since I don’t knit, why the hell did I just buy myself 3 knitting books from amazon for my birthday. Well I didn’t really buy them for myself – my hubby is buying them for me ….. I just chose them.

These were three books that I had to have.

I ordered the new mason dixon book. The first one is one of my favourites and from all reports this one is just as good.

Elizabeth Zimmermans knitting almanac also made it into the cart because I think that it is a classic.  I know that I can learn a lot from this book and it needs to be on my bookshelf.

The last is the best of the last 10 years of interweave knits. I have borrowed this from the library and the pattern collection that it contains is awesome. There is at least half a dozen patterns that I “would” knit. Dispersed through the book are some really good techniques and reference pages.

I had to own these books.  I know that I might not make anything from them …. but I had to have them.  I am sure I am not the only one that has done this.  Have you ever HAD to have something before?

I am well behind on my this is posts.

Last week dees suggested showing our favourite book.

I have been thinking about this for a long time. I have lots of favourite books and lots of favourite authors. Once I find an author I like I tend to read everything they have written. At the moment I am a fan of James Rollins and I love Lee Child’s Jack Reacher novels.

The book I use the most and couldn’t live without is my readers digest “Your cooking questions answered”. It is an Australian book so it uses common ingredients and metric measurements. It is sorted alphabetically and has lots of good information and lots of everyday recipes.



I have used it to find out how to ripen avocados quicker, how to make fresh pasta, used a gravy recipe

and also how to figure out if eggs are fresh.

We have been living in this area for over a year and it was only in the last couple of weeks that I ventured into our local library and got myself a library card.



It is not a particular big or inviting library but what I have discovered is their online library catalog.

All of Brisbane city council libraries are linked and you can easily get books from their other libraries for just a small fee of 55c.

It has been awesome. I have been placing books on hold online like a madman. Then a couple of days later – I get an email and I just pop in and pick the book up.

Over the last couple of weeks I have managed to get a hold of all of these crochet books.

We have also borrowed dozens of kids books, a few recipe books worth mentioning (Gordon Ramsay – Kitchen Heaven and Ice Cream) and a few quilt books too.

It has been a great discovery.

We are on a budget at the moment and I am finding it extremely difficult to stop shopping online.

Instead, I have created a wish list.

From Tall Poppy Craft I would like the carpet bag frame and associated pattern as well as the Amy Butler Sophia pattern.

A set of clover crochet hooks , Vintage Crochet and some more wool from Bendigo Woolen Mills to go with the previous two items would also be nice.

I also want some of the new ikea fabric to make a betty shopper and a fat quarter pack for my next joint project with Sheridan. (Identity of the actual fabric that I want is secret because I don’t want anyone else to buy it!!). I also want to buy the tickets for my July crafting holiday with Sheridan.

I can get all of these things online – RIGHT NOW!!! I have had to be very strong. In fact I am surprised and almost shocked that I haven’t weakened and don’t already have some of them.

That “add to cart” button is so easy to use and can be so tempting, it is my weakness.

I finished “short and sweet”, it looks good. Now I just have to make an effort to wear it. I will get hubby to take a photo of it soon.

I am loving crochet. I find it is the perfect hobby for me for at the moment.

I have been dying to get my hands on more crochet stuff but I am on a pretty strict (self imposed) craft diet. I have searched lots of patterns and books on ravelry and right now I am coveting this book – Vintage Crochet by Susan Cropper.

So since I can’t (or won’t) go and buy a new book and I needed some more crochet inspiration I did a thrift shop hop down my local main street.

I don’t know what it says about where I live, but there are about 8 op shops within about 2 blocks. More often than not, they do not provide any treasures but this time I went searching for crochet patterns.

I found all of this – and got change from $7.

Most of the patterns were 10c or 20c each and  90% of them are crochet. Some of them are worth it just for the photos.

A fabulous find was someones hand written patterns for slippers/coat hangers and other treasured items, all of which were lovingly contacted or laminated. Another favourite was a pattern sheet for 3 afghans which includes the ever popular granny square and ripple blankets.

The best prize of the day was a book called Introduction to Crochet published at the height of crochet in 1974. It is a 128 page hardcover book and I got it for a bargain of $2. It covers all aspects of crochet including filet, tunisian and Irish. It also has a stitch library and will be a great reference book for me. It also has quite a few patterns. Some of them I would consider making,

and some I would never make!!

With no time, skill or ability I bought some yarn to crochet a top.  I have been itching make something more substantial and I think that this is the right project.  Though it might be a little too complex for me.

Did I mention that I don’t have the time for this and should be studying!!

The pattern is called Short and Sweet and is from Stitch and Bitch Crochet – Happy Hooker by Debbie Stoller. It is a bolero or a small short sleeve crochet cardi.

I had a ball of some perfect soft red cotton in my stash for this project, but with no ball band.   I bought it at a yarn shop in Sydney a few years ago.  After some explaining over the phone I managed to get a hold of 6 more. It is  Sidar Luxury cotton in ruby red and it is so soft.

I was so excited about this project that I even did a gauge swatch using my stash ball.

So when my package of yarn (from Cherry Hills @ Pennant Hill)  and my new addi turbo 5.5mm crochet hook (from  ozeyarn) arrived I was ready to go.

That was 4 days ago and look how much I have done.  It is about 3/4 of the back.

The stitch pattern is surprisingly simple and quite forgiving.  And it doesn’t look too bad.

Doodle stitching is an absolutely awesome book. Other reviews and photos that I have seen out there in blog land really do not do it justice. It provides ‘how to’ information on basic stitches and guidance to use those stitches for free-form embroidery.

I bought my copy from ETSY from little dear- the authors store. Her blog dreamfollow is also worth a look. She even signed the book for me and included a cute little emmbriodered badge (button). I have been wearing the badge on my work ID laynard to remind me of my crafty life.



The book has some fantastic projects too and is filled with inspiring pictures and ideas. The best thing about this book is that it has helped me embellish lots of my own projects.

I used some of the stitches to make the control panel for my little boys robot,

and monogram some needle books that I made from last minute quilted gifts.

I think it is a great book. SO … if you don’t already have it, go buy it!!!

doodle stitching flickr group

I am really enjoying crocheting. I did the first couple of lessons from crafty daisies crochet school but then got sick of making squares. I really wanted to make something.

The couple of things that I am dying to crochet were not really appropriate for a first project. They are the babette blanket and a ripple afghan.  -pics below are from ravelry members sarah1rene and rissymur.

Both of these have a huge following and there is even a ripple along blog with 100s of inspiring blankets in a huge assortment of colours. A free ripple pattern is here and I am all over it. I have already done a swatch. I really shouldn’t commit to a blanket just yet – I don’t have the time or the stash to support this project. Same with the babette blanket but my issue with that one is that I don’t have the pattern AND I can’t get a hold of it. I did a search this morning and couldn’t find a back issue of the magazine anywhere (Interweave Crochet Spring 2006). Does anyone out there have a copy that they would be willing to sell/loan or copy for me?

So I went through my stash and thought I should make something more appropriate. With the help of my new favourite site ravelry, I found this bib pattern.

I didn’t do very well at getting straight edges. I don’t think that I was going all the way to the end which why the number number of stitches was getting smaller. I did figure it out eventually.
	I ripped it almost all the way back and started again and got it right the second time.

This BTW is now the best bib that we have. My 8 month old son is a human tap/dribble machine. I used Lily Sugar’n cream cotton (about 10ply) and after a wash it is nice and soft and very absorbent. It also doesn’t get that wet (just drooled on) look like our other fabric bibs.

I also bought this book with some Christmas money from book depository. The plan is to make lots of these with some stash yarn to learn some more techniques and get some practice. Then I can put them together to make a little blankie.

I will make those other blankets one day …… soon.

Packages, parcels and envelopes were arriving daily. Most of my birthday shopping spree finally showed up on my door step.

All of the fabric here is from Z&S. I love the way they package their fabrics – all tied nicely with a little bow.

I got a 6 yards of Prints Charming, red Follow your imagination. It was so CHEAP!!!! I hope it is enough to make my little girl a quilt to match her other red flower stuff in her room.

I also got a stack of brights, blues and greens that I just couldn’t resist and with the Australian dollar doing so well at the moment, it was a bargain.

Since being back at work my productivity has decreased but I am still plodding away.

I have been working on the binding of my quilt and I finally finished my caterpillar blanket. I put green flannelette on the back and put a satin blanket binding on the edges. I loved the way it turned out. My hubby asked if we could keep this one for us. I have already started another one for a friend who is due soon.

I also made some pin cushions and needle books as gifts from ‘last minute quilted gifts using some charm squares.

I haven’t done much with my little business either, but I am still working towards 1 Dec as my ’start’ date. I did finally decide on a logo though. Here is a peak …