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I spotted this basket in the latest Spotlight catalogue and had an idea. A happy idea for this little basket lover. A happy little excuse or two to buy some baskets. Hubby was even an accomplice to my mission. 

A wool storage device, currently in use for the crochet hexagon blanket. I brought one for Cohen too. Well, I brought one intending to employ it in the stashing of toys for Cohen at least... but two baskets are better than one, no?

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What a treat botanic gardens are at this time of the year! We celebrated the perfect weather today with a bit of garden adventuring and discovered not only the beautiful gardens and boardwalks; but a turtle, eel, lizards and ducklings living amongst them.

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A lovely visit from my sister this morning, on her way to University. Before pursuing her intellectual endeavors, Cohen and I engaged her in the rolling of biscuit dough and the colouring in of Piglet. Then we indulged in tea and bickies. Hope your having a lovely day too.

Recipe found here.

My Creative Space...

I've started on some Christmas presents for the little people we know. The pile of crochet flowers has grown to forty. Leaving one hundred and sixty ends to be woven in at this point. 

It's a beautiful sunny day. Cohen and I have some baking and backyard play planned.

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More Creative Spaces here.

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Items are being checked off the list of chores today, planning has started for Cohen's second birthday party in December and I found this poor little egg laying beneath a pigeon nest in our bamboo plant.

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Cohen decorated Christmas cards yesterday morning and I must say that I absolutely love them. Inspired by Amanda Soule, I found a packet of six blank cards and envelopes at the craft fair for $3, with this purpose in mind. (I've since found a packed of 10 for $2.50 at a variety store.) 

Cohen is 22 months old, and this was such a great project for him. He is usually such a busy little boy. But I sat with him and handed him one card at a time, his crayons laid out before him and he was engaged in the activity. The cards are the perfect size for a quick squiggle or a layering of squiggles, and he happily picked each colour and drew each line independently. Producing priceless one of a kind cards for our family and friends. 

I've written on the back of each one '100% hand drawn by Cohen Lowry, 22 months'. And I'm looking forward to repeating this process each year and keeping a dated sample put away with his special things, so as to be able to look back at the progression of cards as he grows.  

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We took a family Sunday trip to the Daisy Hill Koala Center yesterday. A solitary koala did not seem the least bit fussed, and happily slept through exclamations of delight by young and old. Cohen was more impressed by the winding boardwalks and the observation tower for koala spotting in the tree tops. And I got a chance to crochet a handful of flowers from the passenger seat, to and from the center and off to visit with friends.


Hope you had a lovely weekend too.

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I'm not sure why it is, but I tend to be rather terrible at actually getting my camera out of my bag at events, like Craft Fairs. 

I have an idea what that is. It's probably because I am too busy taking everything in, chatting to my sister, pushing a pram and trying not to run over the other ladies. (Which I was successful in only some of the time. But I did try.) It leaves me wishing in the aftermath that I had some photos of the Fair to share with you. 

Instead, here are my purchases. It's not everyday I get to trawl through stacks of $2 fat quarters and come away with my first American Jane fabrics. Very, very exciting if you have a love of fabric, let me tell you.

Cohen was quite happy to sit in his pram, up to a point. Then he was much happier to be running around the large expanses of foyer and climbing up onto black leather backless chair type things and encouraging us to sit with him. It was here I met the lovely creative Selina for the first time. 

Have you ever been following a blogger for a long time and then met them in real life? In two years of blogging it is only the second time it has happened. I was a little shy and for once in my life a little stuck for words. I probably came across as being a bit special, but at least I think Cohen made up for my inadequacies. I think. That's why we have children, isn't it?

While pondering the length of time I have been blogging and how many bloggers I've met in that time, I discovered that Wednesday was actually my second blog anniversary. Doesn't take photos, goes shy talking to bloggers, can't remember her own anniversary. Best do something to celebrate that I think.

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Cloud ceramic brooch

Doily Porcelain Jewellery Plate

Stitch Kumo Cloud Porcelain Brooch

A ceramic cloud brooch arrived in the mail yesterday. A little indulgence in my love of clouds. I'm quite taken by the other designs available at and O designs too. How sweet are those doily jewellery plates?

One day I'd love to try my hand at working with porcelain.

Crochet flower tutorial...

Thanks for the lovely comments about the crochet flowers I've been making. Their purpose is a bit of a secret, but I thought I would share the pattern here with you so that you can use them as you wish. Perhaps for pretty hair clips, a flowery garland or stitched to a blanket?

Fiona's flowers

I'm using bella baby layette bamboo and wool mix, which is an 8ply, and a 3.5mm steel crochet hook.

Start by making 4 chain stitches. Slip stitch to form a loop.

Chain 3 stitches, which will be counted as 1 double crochet. Then crochet 15 double crochet into the loop. (16 in total)

Slip stitch to join circle of double crochet stitches and bind off. Change colour and chain 3.

Skipping next stitch, slip stitch into the top of the 2nd double crochet stitch, chain 3, skip next stitch and slip stitch into second stitch, continue until end. Slip stitch into first slip stitch to complete.

(So you are chaining three and anchoring your chains at every second stitch to make the gap that you will be working the petals into.)

To make flower petals work into the gap and not the chain stitches. 

Work 1 single crochet, 3 double crochet, 1 single crochet, into each gap the whole way around. Slip stitch from final petal into first petal to join them up.

(So 1 single, 3 double, 1 single = one petal. No need to chain stitch to get to the next petal. Just start your next single crochet stitch into the next gap.)

Your finished flower!

Turn flower over and from the back weave in the ends. I like to pick up stitches moving away from the work, then pick up the alternating stitches back towards the work. 

Cut off ends close to your piece and your done!

I hope that makes sense! Please feel free to ask any questions.

My Creative Space...

The first of eighty flowers I am crocheting as a part of the decorations for my sister's wedding. Only seventy-seven to go. 

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More Creative Spaces here.

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I'm still not sure about big-eyed kitty, but he is finished none the less and Dave is of the opinion that it should be given to the baby, even if the parents then decide to dispose of it.

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Ravelry.

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This strange little creature is to be a kitten. I started crocheting this last night, in anticipation of meeting our friends new baby girl tomorrow. The same baby girl I made this blanket for. 


The pattern is 'Timmy Tiger' from the same 'Amigurumi' book as 'Disgruntled Dino'. However, these were the smallest safety eyes I had and I am a little worried that kitty is going to be a bit too creepy to be gifted to a baby. I shall forge ahead and see how it all comes together. If not, I will be doing some more last minute crafting and this little fellow may come and live in the sewing room with me instead!

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A new beach bag for Mama, ready to be filled at a moments notice with books, towels, suncream and other beachy goodies. (Kmart $19) And inspired by Amanda's book, The Creative Family, I brought Cohen a spiral bound sketchbook today, in order to preserve his drawings for prosperity. He has already delighted in a bit of drawing and I plan to photograph these colourful scribbles to make Christmas cards. 

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A beachy day, despite the cool breeze. Cohen got so excited standing ankle deep in the water, that he fell over as a wave rushed to shore. He was left rather unimpressed by that turn of events and settled for a change of clothes and time spent digging in the sand instead.


Hope your Sunday is sunny and being shared with those you love.

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I stayed up last night drinking wine with my sister and watching the wonderful 'Annie Hall', one of her favourite films. Today, when we had to make ourselves scarce for an open house, we made our way to the park to play in the sun and the wind. Cohen delighted in splashing me with water, kicking his legs hard while swinging, and discovering a tree covered in orange berries. 

A dish of the fallen berries sits on the cabinet as a reminder of our sweet time at the park and our splashing, kicking, smiling boy.

Hope your having a lovely weekend too.

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Thank you for the lovely comments about the disgruntled/happy dino yesterday. Cohen gave him a hug and promptly deposited him behind the bedside table where he was not found again until dinner time. Ah well.

We had a lovely productive day yesterday, making a trip to the park, the library and the op-shop, before doing a spot of groceries. I rewarded myself by crocheting during Cohen's nap time. The pile of hexagon centers is growing. And that sweet old vase with it's English stamp beneath was only $3 at the oppy. A lovely day indeed.