Mermaids

I have been making mermaid costumes for the school play.

They look a little sad without the actual mermaid inside them, almost as if the mermaid shed her skin and left it lying around on the beach...

Here's Cleo test-driving one, even though she will be a completely different character in the play. Unfortunately, since the mermaids are unable to swim, slither, or generally waft onto the stage; the feet have to stick out the bottom. However, they will eventually sit, play guitars, and look decorative.

They do look kind of cute from the back, although somewhat more see-through than anticipated. I will advise the wearing of togs underneath rather than knickers.
Do mermaids even wear knickers? The mind boggles...
Happy Thursday to all xxxx

Channelling my Inner Rabbit

A recent return to oil painting for a local exhibition brought about some expressions of my inner rabbit. This one is called 'I Have a Gun'. I don't really.

'Sightseeing'. As we blunder along looking around at the world, is it looking back at us?

And '4 Disguises', in descending order of effective concealment.
Note to self: remember to take medication for mental disorder.
Hmmm.

Big Wool

 I've become addicted to big wool since I bought this wonderful pattern book. I'm a slow knitter generally, so this stuff grows satisfyingly fast! 

I just love this jumper. Wonder if mine will make me look this pretty and whimsical.

Unlikely.

I want to knit them all!!
Happy Monday xxx

Snippets

I discovered this yummy sparkly wool recently and decided to try crocheted jewellery. I'm amazed at the number of enthusiastic comments I've been getting whenever I wear a fluffy necklace!

Last time I posted (and yes it was weeks ago!) I was busy making things for Diva's senior ball. Here she is with her lovely bloke Ben. Tie and hairband made by moi! They had a fun night and brought all their friends back to our place to carry on dancing until 4 in the morning!! Oh to have that much energy....

I have been doing a bit of painting too, with three going into a local exhibition. Here's a glimpse of some bunnies going over a waterfall.....as they do.

Lots to come xxxxxxxxxxx

Dominique

Kitties and Knitties

Happy birthday to me!!! This is my awesome present from my friend Kate, to celebrate reaching 43 of your earth years.

May was full of making and doing, sprinkled with family dramas, broken limbs and cats!

Here's the abridged version...

Two new kittens arrived from the SPCA, after our beloved Piglet went to the Big Catnip Patch in the sky. That's Luna on the left, and Charlie getting a cuddle from Angus.

Luna was a very sick kitty; malnourished, dehydrated and infected; but she has recovered now. She is still very small though, and instead of meowing she squeaks. 

Here is Dangermouse herself, who spent May in a full leg cast after busting her knee. I reckon the Emergency Room should give us frequent flyer points. Cleo did enjoy being fussed over at school and not having to do cross country. The cast is now off and she's limping around, although still no running or excessive bending for another month.

 Here are some yummy socks I made for my Dad's birthday. I liked them so much....

....that I made some teeny tiny ones for my 2 year old nephew's birthday, to go with his Converse All Stars!!

I might even have enough wool left over to make some for me!

My whole family are addicted to these things, we've all got a couple of pairs.

Cleo's vest is nearly finished, I just have to rib the armholes. She has actually worn it as is and it looks SO cute. It's nice wool too, soft and not itchy. Kids hate itchy don't they?

Here are some Happy Pills I made, perfectly legal with no adverse side effects.

A little too large to swallow whole though!

More birthday presents (no not the child, I've had her for a while). She's modelling a hat I crocheted for her friend Hannah's birthday.

The yarn is from Spotlight, and self-stripes in a most satisfying manner.

Finally, I've been collecting yummy fabrics for ages to make into a nice warm quilt for me and Himself, and got it all cut out, laid out and pinned. I spent a very happy 3 hours shifting little squares around until I was happy with the layout.

I did toy with the idea of having some kind of ordered pattern, but that's not really me, so I went with my usual ordered chaos!! I can't wait to get it finished.

Upcoming excitement involves Diva's school ball. I have to knit her boyfriend a tie, make her a floral hair thing and crochet a lacy shrug to wear over her dress (a divine pale turquoise floaty thing that makes her look like an ethereal creature), as well as cleaning out and decorating our huge garage so they can have their after-ball party in it!

At the same time I will be churning out 8 oil paintings for a local exhibition.

Phew.

Must remember to keep breathing in and out!

xxxxxx

Make and Bake!

This is Honey Bunny. We have been babysitting her for our friends next door while they were on holiday. She's going home this week, and I will miss her, although I know her family will be overjoyed to see her again! She's so friendly and snuggly, and makes the cutest noises when she hops over to see you.

The kids have gone back to school after a two week break, so I spent Sunday afternoon baking yummy things to put in their lunchboxes.

I'm always so enthusiastic at the beginning of term when it comes to baking! I made savoury scrolls aswell, which were still in the oven when I took this photo. I know several hours of work will be devoured in about two days though, then they will spend the rest of the week wailing that there's nothing to eat. It's like living with a swarm of locusts.

Mmmmmmm.....cherry and almond shortbread..... The locusts aren't so fussed on these, which is a shame, because now I will have to eat them. Bummer...

The kids did some fishing at the river during the holidays... (not many fish, but lots of jumping in the river!)..

...while I sat in the shade with my knitting, complete with piggish companion. Such a nice way to spend an afternoon.

The girls and I did a road trip up to Keri Keri (7 hours drive north) to visit my Grandma. She's 95 and still sprinting around everywhere. She has given me her old sewing machine as she can't use it any more. It's so bizarre that I now have both my grandmother's Singer machines! I will be able to pass them on to both my girls. 

There's Cleo wearing her anti-aardvark hat (don't ask). I was using up some scraps, and this strange thing materialised. It's her new favourite accessory and she wears it with everything. Diva has requested one aswell! We shopped for wool in Keri Keri, and hers will be green, blue and purple stripes. I did have to talk her out of the baby alpaca wool at $17 a ball though! 

Five projects on the go at the moment! A little excessive I know. A bunny for my new nephew Toby, who arrived into the world last week, a grey shrug cardigan for me, purple stripy long socks for Diva, green stripy socks for my Dad, and a purple cabled vest for Cleo!

I'm so enjoying making this bunny, he's brimming with personality.

Here he is modelling the front bit of his jumper, with the gingham fabric that will become his stylish but comfortable trousers.

I think a green scarf may be necessary to complete his outfit! I'm having trouble naming him though, any ideas?

xxxx

Easter Bunnies

HELLO!!! And Happy Easter! Here I am with my BBF (best bunny friend) Kate having a wine or three a few weeks ago. I'm so sorry to anyone who may have missed me slightly that it's been a whole month since my last post. I really don't know how March flew by so quickly, it just seemed to be a busy one.

Spencer and Cleo did the annual mudslide on our neighbour's farm, run by the Boy Scouts. It's a wonderful filthy day for the kids, followed by several days of trying to get them clean again. 

I had such good intentions of doing it with them this year, but I chickened out at the last minute. Just the thought of all that oozy stinky mud between my toes....EW!

Cleo had another Kempo grading. At the moment she is one belt below black. At each grading she earns another stripe, and now has three. Once she gets to six she will grade for black belt, in about a year. Not bad for a ten year old! At least I know if she ever gets picked on by bullies she can beat the crap out of them!!! I'm SO proud!

Why do cats love boxes so much? Angus, Piglet and Nutmeg crammed themselves into this one and slept in it for an entire day. It is autumn now and getting cooler, maybe I should try sleeping in a box? The Husband bought a new lawnmower last week and it came in a HUGE box......hmmmm, I'm having one of those Things...a headache...with pictures......an IDEA!!

This strikes me as a good idea too. I had a pet ferret when I was twelve and I love the little critters.

I haven't had a very productive month craft-wise. I've got a couple of knitting projects on the go, which I will photograph when I get batteries for my camera. And I did make a nice bucket hat for my 20 year old nephew, but I forgot to take a photo of it before I sent it away to him!

Anyway here is a knitted clock I made, which drives The Husband bonkers because it doesn't have any numbers, and if it's not hanging quite straight it's very confusing!!

I intend attaching numbers, but I haven't decided how. Maybe buttons? I like the idea of row counters, but they are usually quite big and cylindrical, so I don't really know how I would attach them.

I hope you have a lovely funny bunny Easter, with lots of carrot...I mean chocolate!

Lots of love

Dominique

xxx