Couple More Rows

 It's coming along. The little flowers are pretty much covered.

The Italian Boyfriend

  

  

Instead of more background stitches, here is something I made in 2016 for a commission.  The brief was to make, on a wrapped ball, a representation of the the lovely lady's daughter's boyfriend.  He is Italian, loves to ski, lover mountain climbing, and travel.  I was going to put in all the information I had, for example there were ropes and clips to put over his shoulder.  But when I got to this point, I really liked him, the gentleman skier landing the jump.  One of those 'less is more' moments.

Background Fill

It is taking a while to work the background fill.  Three rounds have been worked.  The good/bad thing with irish crochet is that it is not flat, there are lots of things to catch the working thread.

New Mower

A bit off the crafting side of things, but a new tool to play with.  Piers has started working in Sydney doing Navy Reserve work.  He will be there two to three years.  He likes a push mower to do the lawn.  I don't like a push mower to do the lawn.  So before he started the new job I said we are getting a new mower.  So, a Piers approved electric push mower.  It worked really well, even where the grass was long.  Of course with all push mowers it is better to cut the grass more regularly, then you don't have to deal with those pesky bits that just bend over when the mower goes passed.

Little Deer

  

  

This little deer Christmas decoration was made at the Needlelace course in 2015.  The assignment was to make something inspired by on historical piece of lace.  I have included my inspiring piece of lace, found at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's website.  The are two circles of felt and a little padding under the needlelace so it is not flat.

Background Fill

  

I have been trying to work out what to do with the background fill of the irish crochet project.  I have worked, pulled out and reworked.  The first photo is one of the attempts, it is a traditional simple crochet fill stitch.  I am not happy with it, very messy and awkward to do.  The second photo is the beginnings of a needlelace edge (a little hard to see but two rows on top of the outside edge).  I am much happier with how that looks and I am much more comfortable working it.  I have left both on the piece overnight and I will decide today which way to go.  I am leaning towards the needlelace one this morning.

Needlelace

  

While I am working the background fill stitch on my project, here is some needlelace I made in 2015.   It measures about 9 x 11cm.   I did a course at the Embroiderer's Guild of Victoria.  All made with needle and thread, there are similarities to the Irish Crochet Lace techniques.  Designed from this photo of me.

Putting It Together

All the motifs are finished and the larger ones have been tacked to the backing.

Chrysanthemums

Working on the last two chrysanthemums at the same time.  Making two outer petal rings, then two next size, etc.  Managed to make four layers for one and three layers for the other.  So one more layer and two centre balls to go.

Little Roses

I thought I was going to need twelve roses for my project, but I have lasyed everything out and I need four.  Now two chrysanthemums.

Little Rose

Busy day yesterday and only managed to make one little rose.

Five Petal Flowers

These are done.  Now have two chrysanthemums and twelve roses to do.

Crocheting at the Car Service

Sitting at Subaru waiting while the car was serviced.  Took my crocheting and had the headphones in, time when pretty quickly.  I have finished four and a half of these five petal flowers, need eight.

Little Wheels

Finished, on to the next.

Little Wheels

I finished the daisies and started some wheels.  I am feeling pleased with myself because there is an obvious improvement in my skills.  When I first started this project I went through the patterns and made the motifs I liked and thought I could do, now I am going back to each motif and making the number required.  The wheel on the right was made a few weeks ago, the one on the left, last night.  The one on the left is neater, smaller and just looks better.  I'll need eight of these wheels.

Little Red House

  

  

  

I am still making daisies, so here is something I made in 2012.  A little red house with a corrugated iron roof.  I was really happy when I found yarn in a metallic grey, then the rib stitch gave the corrugations.  With washing out the back, it is a very Australian little cottage.

Daisies

Clearly I wasn't paying attention while making these daisies, two have six petals, two have seven petals.  I doesn't matter in the scheme of things.  I need eight, so four to go.

Little Rings with Picots

Worked the same way as the little rings with added three chain picots, turns them into little flowers.

Little Rings Steps

  

  



I have made 36 little rings.  To make them I wrapped thread 12 times onto a knitting needle (they seem to slide off really easily), then put the hook through the hole and secure with a slip stitch.  Then work as many double crochet stitch that goes all the way around the ring, secure and join the ring with another slip stitch, trim off the beginning end bit, and it's done.  I have left all the ends on because I don't know if I will need them, can always finish them off later.  I put them all on a piece of thread to keep them safe and in one place.

Little Orchid

  

This little orchid hadn't flowered since I bought it several years ago.  I recently repotted it into a rectangular pot that sits better on the windowsill.  I was a bit worried about repotting it, but it seems to be very happy, two flower stalks and more on the way.

Little Rings

Not sure how many of these I will need for the project, but aiming at 40 for now and can make more later.

Gundagai Camellias

  

We always stop at Gundagai for lunch on our drives between Melbourne and Sydney.  Into town, not at the Dog on the Tuckerbox.  The camellias were near where we parked.  Lovely colour and interesting shapes.

Jamie Oliver's Veg Cookbook

  



While in Sydney I bought the new book by Jamie Oliver.  I made four recipes from the book and they were all delicious..  These are the Pea Samosas and the Indian Chip Butty.  The last was made with Turkish bread because it looked the nicest at the shop, and then we cut off more appropriate sized portions.  Quite a few more recipes to try.