Monica Ferris

Monica Ferris
Bought a few Monica Books recently Sew Far So Good(Just finished reading this and as per usual it was Great, three books in one :)
Embroidered Truths and Blackwork

The Diva Paints The Town

By Krista Davis

Also bought this book a few weeks ago, so plan to read it soon!


I read The Diva Takes The Cake a month or so ago, and LOVED IT! This is such a FUN Series :)

Bookplate Special

By Lorna Barrett
Can't wait to start this one, I find this series has me reading non stop from start to finish of each book, I would love to own a little bookstore just like the one in the series, it is so me :)

A Stitch In Crime

By Betty Hetchtman

Picked this book up a few weeks ago, once we move next month I will get to reading it.
I find this new series to have really interesting Characters that fit together well. Thogh I am more of a Knitter, and this series is a Crachet Mystery I still really enjoy it.

How to Knit a Love Song

By Rachel Herron.
I can't wait to start reading it :)

Scones

Made Scone's this morning, here is the recipe from my Edmonds Cookbook.

3 cups Flour
6 teaspoons baking powder
1/4teaspoon salt
75 g butter/or...4 1/2 Tablespoons
1-1 1/2 cups milk


sift flour baking powder and salt. Cut butter in until resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add milk and mix to a soft dough. Knead a few times. Lightly dust an oven tray with flour. Press scone dough out onto this. Cut into 12 even sized pieces or cut with a cookie cutter. brush tops with milk. Bake at 220 C or 425 F for 10-12 mins or until golden brown.

Writing in my Journal!

I have been trying to write in my Journals daily or at least 3-4 times a week, I use to always write in them everyday before I went to bed, but life just seems to take over and I never find the time, so I am making an effort to write on a regular basis, I have always kept a journal since I was about 10 years old, it helps me to unwind and think things through.
I have decided to start each journal entry with a Quote, and then once a week do a list of 5 things I am thankful for/blessings... I also will pick a word of the week that is some how relavent to me or my life and work on that word as a positive result in my life!

Had a Busy few weeks Knitting...

getting Christmas gifts knitted, and though Christmas is over, I'm still flat put knitting a few scarves for people and Barbie Doll Clothes.

Using the Knifty Knitter

Decided to give the rectangle knifty knitter a go to make a scarf for my nephew for Christmas.

I still need to add the photo's

of all the stuff my Mum knitted for me and also the items I have knitted lately. I need to get my act together. LOL!
I have started knitting my Xmas gifts so lets hope I get them all finished in time I don't want to be knitting until 6AM xmas morning like I have had happen the last few years LOL!

New Knitting Themed set of books

By Heidi Betts

So far I really like the first book, I have bought the second book and the thrid book for this trigoly comes out early 2010.

Had a busy few months

My Mum was visiting from Australia, so I need to get some photo of the stuff she knitted me and post them here on my blog! :)

Knitting my first Bag

I found an easy pattern in a knitting magazine for a small bag, so I have started it and so far it is going good, I have to line it so that maybe a challenge for me as I am not that great at sewing especially by hand! LOL!

Just started reading...

By Hook or By Crook By Betty Hechtman.
This is the 3rd book in this Crochet Series, I like this series, it is a fun read , interesting characters and it always keeps you guessing as to who did it?

Patterns In The Sand By Sally Goldenbaum

Patterns In The Sand By Sally Goldenbaum
OMG! What a Great Book! The story line was fantastic, it had me guessing all the way to near the end as to who did it! It had a great twist that really had you not really knowing for sure who did it! I can't wait for the next book in this wonderful series to come out!

The Beach Street Knitting Society And Yarn Club

The Beach Street Knitting Society And Yarn Club
By Gil Mcneil .
I can't wait to read this book, as I loved her two other books in this series, and apparenty she is working on book number 4 now for this series. :)


SORRY! It's not book number 4 it is just the book Diva's Don't Knit with the U.S.A. Cover and tittle, man I hate when they do that it makes it so confusing.

I just finished reading..

Dropped Dead Stitch By Maggie Sefton and now I am reading Patterns In The Sand By Sally Goldenbaum

I would love a pair of these shoes

I found them online, and really like them!

Pretty in Teal!

I really like this one I made a few days ago, now Barbie is ready for Summer!

Summer is nearly here!

It is the only time of year I paint my Toe Nails, I do paint my finger nails if I am going out some place special but my toes only get done for the summer. My fave color polish is this Budgie Blue I got i a few years ago from Avon.

My Fave Shoes!

I have had these Crocs for a few years now, I just can't throw them away.

More Barbie Outfits!

I have been busy knitting outfits for the new family( 2 girls) that I started this week. When I went for the interview I noticed their Barbie Dolls were all NAKED! The mum said the clothes are long gone, so I got busy knitting some classy outfits for them :)

Look One Finished Sock!

Now all I need to do is finish the second sock that I haven't even started yet LOL!

Our Dog Smokey

He is such a cute dog, we have had him 1 year now.

Knitted Barbie A New Dress!

Found the perfect yarn to make this dress for barbie.

Rhubarb Muffins

After sharing the Rhubarb Cake recipe here, my friend in NZ (Raewyn) shared this Rhubarb Muffin with me :)

Fruit Muffins

1 egg
1/4 cup oil
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup milk
2 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup chopped rhubarb (actually any fruit - fresh or frozen)

Beat egg, oil, sugar and milk together in a bowl. Sift flour, baking powder and cinnamon into egg mixture. Add fruit and mix lightly to combine. Spoon mixture into greased muffin tins. Bake at 200°C for 15 minutes or until golden. Dust with icing sugar before serving

Why is life so difficult?

I have been feeling really depressed and homesick for NZ of late lots of stress here and have been thinking of just walking away and going home to NZ though I have no home there either I just feel so down I miss my friends I miss the quiet life of NZ it is too hard to explain I just can't seem to feel happy anymore things are so stressful with Kyle(Our Son) he doesn't seem to care about us and I don't know how much longer I can stay here and watch him self distruct.

I cry all the time I feel so sad I don't know what to do ?
I have only been able to knit basic dishcloths of late as they don't require me to really concentrate I could knit them in my sleep(If I was getting any sleep that is ) I have been trying to also read but unless the book is not too complicated I can't concentrate on a story line that requires me to keep track of who did what in a mystery. So have been rereading books I loved as a child/teen like Across The Barricades By Joan Lingard and a few Nancy Drew Books(I loved Nancy Drew Books as a Pre-Teen I have also started the latest Debbie Macomber book..Summer On Blossom Street, but it has been over a week since I started it and I am not even 1/2 way through it, that is so not like me I usually read a book like this within 2 days.

Rhubarb Cake

(I made this cake after I originally posted this message so I have now included the photos of the cake! OMG! this was the best cake ever! We had it with icecream!

I just had to share this YUMMY Recipe that I found on another blog, (I hope it is okay to share it?) Here is the link to the wonderful blog I found this recipe on.
Knitvisions Blog

I found the recipe in the older posts section.

Rhubarb cake
1 1/2 cups raw Rhubarb chopped
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour

In large mixing bowl cream sugars and butter, then add egg and salt. Stir in the applesauce, soda, vanilla, and flour. Add rhubarb. Pour in prepared 9 X 11 inch baking pan Bake at 375-degrees for 30 to 35 minutes. Do not frost but serve with whipped cream.

I love knitting Dishcloths

Tonight I found a dishcloth yahoo group so I have applied to be a member. The link is KnitDishclothsYahooGroup

My Craft Message Board

Crafty Gals Message Board

My user name on the board is Pretty Pixie. It has a few different forums on the message board but there is also a craft forum there the other forums are chatting forums in general there is also a book forum there. It is set up as a private message board so you do need to make a user name and apply to join the board. It is not a busy message board so I would really love to get some new members especially craft members.

Funny the things you find when......

you move! LOL! In a Cedar Chest my Father inlaw made me I found a Crochet Granny Square Blanket I started over 13 years agao! I know this because I started it while living in Hunter Street and we just moved from Parkgate Ave (We lived there for 13 years) So I guess it is time I finished the crochet blanket with the yarn I have, as I am sure I would not get the same dye lot now LOL!

Sorry I haven't up-dated of late....

We moved house last weekend, and I have to say I HATE MOVING! OMG! I never knew I had so much crap! I tossed out loads of stuff and yet I still had way too much, so as I am unpacking I am still getting rid of things I have no use for.
My Hubby was getting mad at me for not getting rid of many books but I find it so difficult to get rid of books, what if I want to read them again or recommend them to a friend??
And to be honest I am not sure what I should do about my Craft Stash! I have way to much but it is so difficult to part with any of it though I know I really should, I guess
it is time to admit I have a Stash Problem! LOL!

Needles And Pearls

I am now reading the 2nd book in this wonderful new searies, OMG! I love this Author these books are fantastic I LOVE Them! :) I can't wait until the next book comes out!

Some good knitting links

There are some great links on this site.
Knitting Links

A great site for new knitters!

Knitting Help

Diva's Don't Knit

By Gil McNeil

I started the first book in a new Knitting Series yesterday, and so far I am loving it :).. Diva's Don't Knit, It is a funny relaxing book to read, I also bought the 2nd book in the series that just came out this month...Needles and Pearls...
Anybody else read knitting or craft related novels, or mysteries? I read a lot of knitting mysteries, I love them, I guess that comes from loving Nancy Drew mysteries as a pre-teen LOL!

Been working on those Socks....

today I pulled out the socks and started working on them again, I really do wabt to get them finished. I am not sure if both socks will even match, being my first attempt at knitting socks, but I don'y care I will keep them for myself ....I don't plan on giving my first pair of socks away :) They are for me :)

Do you knit for yourself or.....

do you give your knitted items away as gifts?
I personally find that I hardly ever knit for myself, I usually knit things for the children I look after(I work as a Nanny) My hubby and son never seem to wear anything I ave knitted for them so I don't knit for them any more. I do knit for my friends also I
and I love it if I see them out and about wearing things I have made for them :) I do knit dishcloths for myself and scarves but that is about it, most of what I knit is given away or sold at craft fairs.

I still haven't finished those socks!

I am hoping that once we are moved and settled in I will get them finished. I have decided to take a part time job for now instead of working full time as this past year or so has been very stressful with my son(He is 19 years old) so I feel I need to be home more but I don't want too not be working. I hope working part time will be enough and at least then I can maybe get back into my crafts more and my reading.

We finally found a new house to rent

So next weekend we move, after living in the same Town House for 13 years this move is going to be a HUGE one! I already have 6 large containers of just my craft/yarn supplies LOL! My husband is freaking out! Of course it is the first thing I organized and packed! :)

Life goes on.....

I haven't been online much the last few weeks, we had our rent review and our rent is nearly doubled as of June 1st so we are now looking to move we are thinking of moving off the North Shore but finding a place that allows a little dog is proving to be very difficult.

I love when I get the house all too myself, I usually watch movies that my hubby and son are not into like the Harry Potter Movies or girly type movies :) In fact my hubby is sick with the flu so he has been in bed all day and my son was out until 3.30AM as it was his 19th b-day yesterday so he has slept all day on the couch, so I have been sitting knitting and watching all the Harry Potter Movies, it has been a rather relaxing day :)