Apr 15, 2014

Easter baking and making



Mum and I spent the loveliest day today doing Easter things with my littlies.   


Apr 8, 2014

GIVEAWAY!! Love Sewing Australia magazine

I was privileged the other week to be on a panel reviewing the new Love Sewing Australia magazine.



I can confirm it is a great mag filled with a variety of sewing projects to suit all tastes and skill levels.  From mobiles to quilts there is something for everyone.   As well as news and handy tips.  It does come in a plastic sleeve (which I know irritates lots of people) but on the back it gives a run down of most of the projects within.  Each issue will include a free gift as well as full size pattern pieces.



Before it goes on shelves on April 17 I have a copy to give away!

Simply leave a comment below or on instagram or on my Facebook page.   You can enter once on each platform.  Winner will be chosen at random.  Open worldwide.  Giveaway closes April 16 5pm Australian Eastern Standard time.

Now closed

Apr 7, 2014

review - The Crochet Lite hooks

When husband Guy went to the USA for work recently I took the opportunity to stock up on a few things from Joann's.   For those of you who haven't had the pleasure Joann's is like the American equivalent of Spotlight.  



As I scrolled through page after page of crochet hooks and yarn on their website my attention was drawn by these nifty The Crochet Lite hooks with a light in the end.  As they were reasonably priced a popped a couple into my cart.  Thinking if nothing else they would be good for a laugh and to add to my growing collection of hooks.



When I posted a picture of them on instagram I was inundated with questions so I decided to do a bit of a review.  I also looked online to see what other people were saying.  



First of all I find it to be a large handled hook.  It stands to reason given the extra space required for batteries etc.  Yet even though I'm accustomed to holding 20 mm hooks, the balance of the large handle with the smaller hook size threw me.  It's also quite long.



Secondly I am not especially fond of the plastic hook.  Usually I  try to work with wooden or metal hooks as I find they move more smoothly.   I did notice people online referred to them as 'squeeky'.

The third thing I tested was the accuracy of the size of the hook.  A few people had mentioned online that they thought the hooks were sized incorrectly.   For example a 4 mm hook was actually a 4.5mm.  I hooked up a dishcloth with my 4.5mm Crochet Lite and then did the same pattern in a 4.5mm Clover hook and found no difference.   Even when you look at the Crochet Lite it almost does appear bigger bit on very close inspection I think the size is accurate.



Fourth - I like the fact that they have both the size in mm and the size letter written on them.

Lastly - the light.  On a gloomy day I used the light and found it dazzled me a bit.  The light seems to shine around the bottom of the shaft of the hook and directly out of the top of the hook.  I found sometimes as I was hooking the top light would catch me straight in the eyes.  The one at the base however I found illuminated the work as you went, making it useful for darker yarns.  Some reviews had mentioned using the hook in completely dark rooms - such as a movie theatre.  I tried mine in a dark room and found the light just enough to hook by.  I'm pretty sure eye specialists would recommend against this practice but it is achievable.  I also found in this level of light the light in the tip didn't dazzle me as much.



So there you are.  I still think these hooks are more of a novelty item for me (referred to in our house now as the lightsaber hooks) but if you were fond of hooking in the cinema or in other low light places you might find it useful.  

Do you have one? What do you think of it?    

Apr 2, 2014

afternoon in the garden

It is officially autumn here, has been for a month now, but it is still pretty hot. And humid.  I'm well ready for some cooler weather.

I herded the kids outside this afternoon.  Truthfully because I'd spent the whole day cleaning and wanted to keep it as crumb and muck free as possible.   Here is a little look at some of the things we saw.

The red-est ladybug I've ever seen.



A humungous boulder like mushroom with cool markings.



A little hiding mushroom.



The guava starting to ripen despite how many the possums have obviously been eating.




And this beautiful boy lying on the rug taking all the cuddles (and abuse) Amelie can dish out.


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