Some of the newest additions to

our ebay store

 Some of the newest additions to

our ebay store

warm bread and a little book love....

 My bread making skills are growing each time I make a loaf,

I know I still have a lot to learn, but now the bread I am turning out of the tin is so much better than my first efforts.  This loaf was made using my Kitchen Aid, with no hand kneading at all. 

The only problem with home baked bread that I can see is that it just doesn't last very long....

because every slice is devoured and enjoyed :)

  I finally gave in and ordered a copy of

down to earth

by Rhonda Hetzel

and it arrived TODAY - yay!

 Guess where my head will be buried for the next little while ;)

all I can say is LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!!!!

I'm off to read my new book

have a happy day

~ Gillian ♥

Lachlan's Blanket....

This week I finished this blanket for Lachlan, It has been a long time coming for him as I started it in January.....along the way I got sidetracked with other projects, so it took a little longer to complete than I originally wanted, but I'm pleased to say I have finally finished it :)

I used some of Lachlan's favourite colours and the block pattern 'Square Target'

comes from Jan Eatons book 200 Crochet Blocks
My aim with this blanket was to use the five chosen colours and not repeat any combinations (each square has its own unique combination) Total squares 48.

The squares were then joined using dc (UK terms) and then a border worked around the outside made up of a single round of tr, then 7 rounds of 2tr granny stitch, 1 round of tr and then 1 round of dc, with 2 chains in each corner.

The total unblocked size is 125cm x 170cm and

I used 3371.3mtrs of 8ply pure new wool with a 4.5mm hook :)
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I hope you all have a lovely weekend ~ Gillian :)

Block no.5.....

Block no.5 in my
Block of the Week Project

I made block #3 Square Target

from the book

200 Crochet Blocks
by Jan Eaton

I know this will be a block I will use block again in future projects,

as it was very simple and quick.

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And now for some new Book Love

My Brother & Sister in law
recently gave me this scrumptious book

there are some truly gorgeous afghans in it
like this one.....
oh and this!
so much to crochet, so little time :D

I hope you are having a lovely day

however you choose to spend it

~ Gillian ♥

Block no.4.....

Block no.4 in my

Block of the Week ProjectI made block #129 Anemone
from the book
200 Crochet Blocks

by Jan Eaton

This one was quite bumpy I have blocked it but it still remains a little bumpy,
I'm sure when it is joined into the blanket with the other squares it be fine :)
I really love the way the Green round works on this square
and found it quite simple to crochet.

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I do want to thank all who expressed sympathy

after the passing of my dear Nanna,
She was a tremendous loss to our family

and it warmed my heart greatly to read the lovely comments

by those who read my blog, love to you all x

Thank You so much for visiting
I hope you all have a
Very Happy New Year
~ Gillian ♥

Block no.3.....

Block no.3 in my

Block of the Week Project

I made block #145 Chocolate Box

from the book

200 Crochet Blocks

by Jan Eaton

I really love this block.....

it's a very clever twist on the traditional Granny Square

and works up really quickly and is very easy.

..............................................

I am trying to finish off the striped cushion this week,

it seems to be taking a lot longer than I thought it would to complete

and because of this I am easily distracted from it!

But I must get it finished as Jacob is keen to claim it for his room :)

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I also wanted to show you these lovely little

Noisy Miner Chicks

Manorian melanocephala

This nest is very close to our front verandah, it has been a joy to watch the adult birds build the nest and then to watch these sweet little chicks grow, I've been trying for a bit over a week to get a good photo of them to share with you all and finally today I managed to get one, it helps that they have grown a bit and are now easier to see :)

And here is one of the adult birds back with a little food for them.

I wish I had a big zoom lens so I could really photograph them properly and study them a little more, they have nested in one of our melaleuca trees.

I found this interesting info in -

The Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds

Only female builds a nest, but males occasionally carry materials - although not necessarily to the nest site. As many as 10 or more males visit a single nest while it contains eggs and most of these participate in the feeding of the nestlings. In a single nesting season, one female may been helped by as many as 24 males.

Thank you so much for visiting today

I hope you are having a great week.

~ Gillian ♥

My Block a Week Project...

Since I blogged about my new

200 crochet blocks

by Jan Eaton

I've been thinking about working my way through it block by block,

while I'm not sure if I can achieve crocheting all 200 blocks

I thought I will have a go at making One Block a Week.

I'm not sure how many I will make at this stage

but it will be at least enough for an afghan

and along the way I look forward to learning

lots of new stitches and techniques.

I also thought that in keeping it limited to One Block a Week

meant that it wouldn't interrupt my other projects I am currently working on

and will keep me excited as I know I will look forward to doing the next one.

- Well that is the plan anyway ;)

I should also add that I will not be doing them in order,

this is meant to be a fun project and part of that fun for me will be picking which block I do just before I start each week, and I'll also be leaving out some of the ones that don't appeal to me ;)

So here is my block no.1

in my Block of the Week Project

#93 Sequenced Stripes

I really liked the look of this pattern in the book, and loved crocheting it!
it was quite easy and a great one to get me excited about this project.

Thank you so much for visiting
~ Gillian

book love.....

I am really pleased to have added two new books to my crochet library.

The first is

Gifted - lovely little things to knit & crochet

by Mags Kandis

which my lovely friend Catherine recently 'gifted' to me ♥

It is just the most darling book!!!

so many fabulous things to make

and I love that it celebrates gifting handmade things :)

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And today my copy of
200 Crochet Blocks for blankets, throws and afghans
by Jan Eaton
arrived :)

I've been looking forward to this one coming

and it is all I hoped it would be and more!

No wonder it has been reprinted so many times, it really is an amazing book.

I would love to work my way through it block by block

(although this is probably only a crochet addicts dream......)

can't wait to get crocheting with it ~ so much to learn!

I hope you can find a little time this week to pick up your favourite craft book

or magazine and learn a new technique or new craft.

until next time

happy crafting :)