The beach is calling but it will have to wait.  There is so much housework to do when you are running out the door constantly.  Family are here too.  And there is sewing and other crafty stuff to get on with.  Nagging at me are the phone calls, internet forms to fill out etc etc to get two older kids into school and uni.

A new job is needed and that is on my mind.  Have to find the time to sort out the software, clients, prices.  Wouldnt it be nice to just get a 9 to 5 again?

This is my luxury today.  Im pulling out the mistake and Im restarting and Im going to finish one of these.  Beautiful isnt it?

Oh crap .... ouch!  Dont try to quickly eat toasties while throwing together a blog post! 
HOT HOT HOT


Anyway... a lovely lady, Glynis, on our FB page Bowerbirds shared Lucy's Bowerbirds.  Do you know Lucy at Attic 24?  So great with colours and her photos are a real feature of her blog in my opinion.  The free pattern is available as a PDF download at Lucy at Attic 24.  Im terrible at colours so I looked up a Bowerbird and tried to keep him bluey black.  His eyes are buttons I bought from an op shop.

Lucy recently made a crochet dream catcher or mandala.  She shared the pattern creator and so am I right here.

This is Lucy's.

The Moorish Afghan is a wonderful pattern.  Im making this one out of cotton from Bendigo Wool Mill.  It will go into "Once Upon a Time" store when finished.

Bought the mag, loved the shawl

5 more rows to go, then blocking, dyeing and beading....

It isnt starched or blocked... but I really loved the work straight off the hook and had to share....

 I like picot instead of just plain chain.  And I like this Round 7 :

Round 7: 1 sc in ch 2 space directly below (working over the sl st you just made),

*ch 6, into next ch 10 space work 6 sc, 4 picot, 6 sc, ch 6, into next ch 2 sp work (1 sc, ch 3, 2 dc), (5 picot) 3 times, sl stitch into base of first picot, back into same ch 2 sp work (3 dc, sl stitch):

repeat from * around, sl stitch into 1st sc, bind off.

Link here to a very kind lady sharing a wonderful snowflake crocheted for Christmas

A new take on a lovely old fashioned if you like ... essential for the wardrobe... lovely covered coat hangers

Pop over to this lovely crafty lady's blog and check out her free pattern to make your own.

Oh and.. some of the $2 shops have really cheap multi packs of satin covered padded coat hangers... they are what Im going to try out next... because this pattern has a bit of room... I think it will sit over the satin and just give a jumper holding hanger a bit more padding... beautiful.

Cant for the life of me figure out a 4 strand braid... so will get back for the pull/straps for my new bag

I made this for my girl

Figure 17 Priscilla Irish Crochet book 2 mid section done.

3/4 done of Figure 17 insertion lace from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book 2 available for free download here

You need to right click the mouse on the heading TaylorPrisIrish2.pdf and choose save link.  You use Adobe Reader or another to view the pdf file.

Getting back into Irish Crochet.  The Irish Crochet group on Ravelry is so helpful and it looks like there are so many talented people in the group.

Im gonna cheat and include THIS rose.  Rose is our first motif.  Then a jonquil and a dragonfly!!  Patterns from Antique Pattern Library on the net.

Another flower for Charlotte's blanket.  Just thought I would try doing a little crochet.... while I wait for the fabulous Japanese book to come to me in the mail.

The beautiful blog that shares this flower and shows off the pattern book so you too can buy it!!
Another flower that is for Charlotte comes from a charity daisy pattern.  Im not making the pattern to sell but Im making up some flowers for the charity blog.  I thought I might practice to get the flowers just right.... and it seems a waste NOT to make something beautiful out of those pieces.

I mustnt do anything without my glasses on.... I went to snip a thread from the bell and promptly cut off a bead and some stitches as well.  So a redo is required.  This is why the bell is sitting flat for the photo.  I was going for a 3D hanging from the Christmas tree.
I will remake and starch.  But in the meantime if you would like the free pattern here is the link.