DON'T TELL ME TO GROW UP!

Last weekend Axel and I attended my friend Nanette's 60th birthday party. What can I say about Nanette? Well, she is a funny, say-it-like-it-is, warm and generous woman, who recently became a granny for the first time. Nanette started off as my boss, well second-in-charge boss, then mentor and finally became my friend. To give you more of an idea of what Nanette is like let me just tell you that instead of a speech after singing happy birthday, we were all asked to do the chicken dance in her honor.

The party was wonderful, and held at her daughter's beautiful home in Ascot Vale. We were spoiled with yummy Asian food and oodles of rich cakes and sweets. It was really nice to finally meet all of Nanette's family and meet her granddaughter who I'd made the little booties for. (see post at For the Love of Crochet Along) A few people from work were there too and it was great to spend some time with them away from work.

The present I gave Nanette was of course hand made. I later found out that she is usually the one who cross stitches presents for others, traditionally for their 40th birthdays, so she was surprised to get one herself!

This is the first installment of the present I made her. I knew I couldn't just make her something ordinary or without a twist. I initially wanted to cross stitch 'I'm getting too old for this shit' but my more proper and less daring husband suggested she might not be able to display something with a 'swear word' and thus I came up with 'don't tell me to grow up'. But after talking to some friends who also know Nanette I convinced that she would love and display the other, thus why this one has become a 'part one'. Basically I only had enough time to make one so Nanette now knows she's got another present to look forward to.

A site that inspired the cross stitch messages can be found on Flicker. The group's name - subversive cross stitch. I recommend anyone with a wicked sense of humor go and check it out!.

Anyhow I better stop with all this and get back to some serious report writing, yep it's that time of year again!

Lena´s First Birthday Present

I got some great 4 ply yarn from one of the Saturday markets last week with the intention of making a baby cardigan for our ´someday´baby. I asked Axel to choose some yarn that he thought could be for a boy or girl and he chose this great yellow ball with specks of green, pink, red and blue.

Having completed it though I realised it was quite big and probably for a 1 year old not a new born. I could wait and keep it for when our future baby turns 1 or is big enough for it but then I thought why should it wait that long to be worn, Axel´s niece is turning 1 next week she would look great in it and it goes with the t-shirt we already got her. So alas the cardigan is now packed for Lena´s birthday and I will just have to keep on making others for our ´future´kids. We are that eager to make some but waiting until a better financial time. pooey also I don´t want to be pregant in my wedding dress.

Here are some photos of the cardigan...


Happy May Day to all the Germans reading this! Have a great weekend everyone.

Handmade Christmas Presents

Just thought I´d post a few photos of the Chrissy presents I made for Axel´s niece and mum. Both presents were appreciated and many thanks were given. It was amazing and a great relief for me to see the cardigan and beanie I made Lena fit so perfectly. It´s tricky making clothes for a baby that is growing so fast, you have no idea how much they will grow over the 5 months you are away.

Anyway I hope everyone has had a wonderful Christmas and a great start to the new year, I know mine has gone off with a ´bang´! I can´t believe how many fireworks were lit in Berlin. Everywhere on the streets people were throwing those little bangy fireworks (I don´t know what they are called fireworks are illegal in Australia) and then the other rocket ones. The appartment above our friends caught on fire from fireworks sparks. The firebrigade and police had to come but by the time they did our friends had broken into the appartment and put out the fire which we later found out was just a flaming plastic chair on the balcony.

As you can see it looked quite bad.

Afghan is in it's New Berlin Home!

I just received some photos from Axel depicting the afghan I made for his apartment set out on his bed. I think it looks kinda neat. I do think his room needs a make over though. Something for me to do when I go over there for Christmas. Axel will be at university so I think it's safe to say I can do what I like to the apartment, deco wise.

I am nearly finished sewing the jacket I've been working on in sewing classes. I just need to heme the bottom. I am going to try and make a shirt next for my little sister, she's probably the only one out of all of us that will wear it. We shall see but I get the feeling that most of the stuff I'm going to make is never going to be worn.

Finished Crochet and Felted Presents

Hi everyone I can't believe how longs its been since I last posted, over a month! There has been lots going on though. I am still in the process of cleaning my rental property but at least the new fence is up, the house is completely painted and the garden has been attended to. There was actually 4 truck loads of rubbish we had to take to the tip, can you believe it?! All that's left now is to clean and repair the roof and to build steps at the back door. I don't know when I'll be able to get new tenants but it is stressing me out financially.

Anyhow enough of that and onto crafty news! I have finally finished my boyfriend's granny square blanket and it looks pretty good if I don't say so myself. It is so warm and comfy. I've given it a wash with fabric softeners and it smells so lovely. I've also made two necklaces with handmade felt beads using the wool from my uncle's farm. These have been made as gifts for friends overseas. I've also finished the cushion covers for Axel's parents complete with zips which my mum helped me sew on.

Here are some photos of the completed projects. First photos is of the necklace I made for my Swiss friend Regular who I met last year as part of a Contiki tour of central Australia. I am going to see her as part of my trip to Germany- weekend stop to Switzerland yay! Second photo is of course a photo of the finished blanket for Axel.

I hope everyone is well and thank you for still visiting my blog even though I have neglected it to some extent. I promise I will blog more often now that I have finished reports for work and assignments for uni. I will be in Germany as of next Sunday and will stay there for four weeks so hopefully I'll be able to give you a bit of a tour of the country as I travel around and let you know what the recipients of my crafty presents think of them.

Take care and keep on crafting!