Winter Crochet and Knitting.

 

Winter Crafts make their presence felt - warming the heart in the outdoors - and I've warmed some people - below are my crocheted rugs for my 2 granddaughters!

 

 

 

My efforts - 132 squares in total for 2 rugs!

Cakes, Bikes, Outdoor Seats - nothing is exempt from Guerilla Knitters. Guerilla Knitting, Yarn Bombing, Yarn Storming, Urban Knitting or Wool Graffiti - are all  types of street art that employs colourful displays of knitting and or crochet.

 

Winter Crafts and Crocheting

Winter is fast approaching here in my part of Australia, after a remarkably lovely warm Autumn.

So it's time to be indoors, with...

A warming corner.

... some indoor activities - and I started one today!
Deleting out-of-focus photos in the computer - and - finding some I forgot I had!

Shop interior.

Granny squares everywhere!

These photos were taken last year in a shop in Adelaide, South Australia, in their Winter style display. I couldn't resist photographing all the beautiful crochet work. Is this Guerilla Crochet - I have seen Guerilla Knitting projects from Melbourne and around the world, and Beanie Festivals (Alice Springs) and scarf festivals.

Crocheted clothing is around this year and I have to admit that I did have a crocheted bikini in black nylon yarn when I was young and svelte! What have you crocheted that is unusual?

A finished rug for a new baby.

However I think I'll just keep to my beanies, baby and toddler jumpers and granny rugs when I'm crocheting and knitting for the time being.

Red crocheted beanie and flower for my 4 year old grandaughter.

Lovely knitted beanie for a new baby.

And pink for my great neice...

Blues for her brother.

Happy days to you all.

"On holidays"

View of my garden in winter from the front door.



View in winter from the back door.

Pot of succulents on the back deck.

It's June already and winter has come to Melbourne. Crisp, dewy mornings and sometimes sunny days to follow, a few rainy times too - well it is winter! I am loving being at home wandering around the garden and just looking at it and picking and cooking home grown produce - a creative activity.

Pumpkins, Silverbeet, Parsley, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Rubarb, Rosemary, Chillies - in my winter garden.

I have done some casual work "freelance" as a teacher and have 5 more days coming up. One day as a University supervisor, and 4 days as a Library Assistant in a secondary school. Both much more 'grown up" than my previous primary school career! I am looking forward to it all - the challenge, the newness of each experience - and a chance to 'dress up' and put on the make-up!
Plenty of cosy indoor things to do too - knitting, painting, book making, card making too. Temperatures ranging from 4 - 19 degrees! I no longer have to go to work 3 days a week anymore as I resigned from my last school when the contract was up - long distances to drive, sometimes 1 1/2 hours each way because of traffic etc. So, I have been "exploring my options" as one friend suggested and I find I quite like the feeling of being on holidays!

Cards I've made...

Beanies I've knitted...
I have also been doing quite a bit of work in my travel journals (getting them up-to-date - ha!) and have been enjoying making small "Junk Journals" using collected papers from my travels, some hand painted papers, some vintage papers and plain papers too. I've given them as small gifts to the lovely friends I've met this year via Lawendula's Paper Swaps. Maybe I'll post instructions soon.

Beanies for babies

These have recently been finished and are being worn by babies in this cold weather in Melbourne! I love experimenting with colours in my knitting work.

More of my knitted and crocheted creations ...

 This jumper is knitted to one of my favourite pattterns by Debbie Bliss, a pattern I use often with various 8 ply yarns. It always works out really well and the mums love the easy - on - easy - off  style. The crocheted beanie with crocheted flower is also another favourite for me to make and receipants to wear. This set was given to my daughter's girlfriend who has beautiful little 8 mth old baby.

A crocheted Granny Square rug made with my stash of wool for my future daughter -in -law for last Christmas.

A pile of knitted jumpers, some for my own beautiful little 2 year old granddaughter, others for various little people.

A baby rug made by special request for my niece's baby, a beautiful little girl.

As you can see I have worked out how to add photos - thanks in part to two wonderful friends - Sylvia, who seems to know so much about computer workings - and my terrific daughter-in-law, Tanya - who also knows so much about computers and who helped me last night. Thank you both! And thank you too to the people who visited and commented and encouraged me too. It turns out that my photos are too large ie too much resolution therefore take so long to upload. But now I know, all shall be well. Fingers crossed.

Winter Woolies

It's certainly winter here in Melbourne now with temperatures of between 0 - 15 degrees most days. A lovely time for me to be on school holidays for 2 weeks and spend time indoors - creating. My ideal days usually consist of reading in a warm bed with a cup of tea, then some essential chores followed by some creative pursuit - either alone or with my 2 beautiful granddaughters who just love Nan's room with all its bits and pieces, and cupboards and drawers full of interesting stuff! After dinner I just love to sit down and watch some TV or a DVD with my husband - and  knit or crochet. I've been knitting and crocheting constantly since one of my younger brothers was born - in 1960. And now I have two granddaughters, niece's babies, friend's grandchildren, little people next door so my beanies and jumpers and jackets are much appreciated. I am still finding adding photos a challenge, especially as I've just added 6 and now only one is showing! Will try again another day.

A stack of beanies ready to be given as presents or for sale on ebay.