Helping in a Small Way

3:41 AM special offer 0 Comments

For the first time in the almost three years since we've owned it, we plugged an aerial into our tv screen last night (it's only been used for watching dvds via the computer) and spent the evening watching the news.

If you haven't heard already, I'm sure you must be out of touch with current events.  Christchurch has been devastated by a massive earthquake that cannot be compared to the last one in September.

This is one of those things that will affect every New Zealander in some way, whether directly or indirectly.

I live far enough away that I didn't even feel the earthquake when it hit, but that also means I am limited in the help or support I can give to my fellow Kiwis.  I've decided to follow the initiative of some other Kiwis on Ravelry and donate from my pattern sales.

From now until the 15th of March I will donate half of all sales to the Christchurch earthquake fund.  I'm not entirely sure yet to which charity I will give, most likely the Red Cross, but I will look into it over the weekend.  As my patterns are in US$ I will convert it to the equivalent NZ$ and donate weekly (depending on sales).
I currently have available for sale -  (Ravelry links) Elisaac, Clara, Clara DK, Clara Doll & the Clara Collection.  Check out My Designs page also.  And my newest design, Sweet As..., is finished with the testers and just undergoing final formatting then will be available after the weekend.

If you want to make your own donations or want information on other ways to help check out this page.  There are also other ways to donate, such as a softies appeal and charity auctions (via facebook).

Passing on the Crafting Love

6:20 PM girls , Nattering , Sewing 0 Comments

J was away motorbiking in Norsewood on Saturday so just us girls were home.  I asked BigMiss what she wanted to do and she promptly replied 'Sewing'.  She's been asking me for ages if she can make a toy or some clothes for her doll or other stuff like that and I'd always put it off as it was never a convenient time to teach her.  But Saturday was.

I remembered about a donkey pattern I'd saved from Ottobre ages ago and thought it would be something easy to make by handsewing (I'm not ready to let her loose on my machine just yet).  So we printed it off and she cut out the pattern.  I had to cut out the fabric as that was a little fiddly for her.  I threaded the needle, showed her how to do it and let her loose!  There were tears and tantrums and a need for time out from it at one stage but she managed to sew the ears and two legs.  (Sorry, no photos of her working as the only one's I've got have her with tears on her cheeks.)

Of course the other two were not to be left out.  MiddleMiss picked up her cross-stitch that she'd started sometime last year (and hadn't looked at since) and LittleMiss decided to make the kitten sewing kit she was given for her birthday.

FREE Yarn!

4:14 PM Giveaway 2 Comments

I love giveaways!  I'm sure everyone does.

I've been following a blog that had one every week!  (She's just slowing down this year to every fortnight.)

Yarn on the House is a great place to hear about new yarns, patterns, designers and other interesting knitting-related stuff as well as a chance to win something from the latest sponsor.

February 1 marked Veronika's 1 year blogiversary and to celebrate she's giving away a basket load of yarn each to two lucky people!  All you have to do is be a (public) follower of the blog or a member of the YOTH Ravelry group.  For more details on the giveaway, check out this post.

(I don't mind if you don't become a follower or join the group - it'll give me a slightly better chance of winning all that yarn!  Though if you do win, you can share with me...please?)

Five

4:10 AM LittleMiss 0 Comments

On Saturday my LittleMiss turned 5.

She started school on Monday.  Apparently school is "super easy!"

I'm going to miss keeping company with my little companion.  (Referred to by the builder as his "radio" for her constant chatter while he was here working.)