A while ago I dyed some 4ply baby merino to knit some little vests for my friend who was having a baby. She didn't know what she was having, and I thought about knitting them up in white and then overdying them once she had the baby, but I wasn't sure it would look any good. So instead I used my trusty slow cooker technique. I used yellow food colouring and the wool came out looking amazing.
I then knitted up two little vests/singlets. The pattern is my own, based on a very simple rectangle shape. However, I didn't write down the variation that I created, so when I come to knit it again, I'm going to have to recreate it from memory.

My friend loved them because she had a winter baby and they were great to layer over other outfits. Its definitely a great option if you're looking to knit for a winter baby because they get heaps of wear out of them - they work in almost any weather, and are nice and easy to get on a newborn.

See, knitting and blogging - my project is going great guns.

Things are very busy here this week so my project needs to be something I can pick up and put down, so I will try to complete my current knitting project (although secretly maybe I'll do lots of catch up blogging this week instead). I've lost my knitting mojo a little at the moment, my WIP is a tunic/dress for a friend's baby's first birthday. The birthday is in a couple of weeks, and so far I have completed about six rows. Its not looking good.

So my computer and camera have made up. The first picture is a copy of a Van Gogh that I did with acrylic. As you can see, she has no feet - I hate drawing feet and hands. Most of my figures' arms end at their wrists. In all honesty this picture looks better in the photo than in reality. The colours are a little darker in real life.

I had every intention of mounting the Llama drawing in this second frame, but when I actually came to do it, I realised that the opening was too large. So instead I cut out some material and felt and stuck them onto the board to create some 'crafty' art. At some point in the future I may take it out and do something a little more 'art', but I only had the morning to knock something up, and several frames with the same style of artwork would probably look quite cool as well.

There will definitely be more art projects on the cards for me, now that I have rediscovered my love for art - I just need to buy the supplies.

Well my week of artifying my house has been a success. I bought some pen drawings from - you guessed it - the Hospice Shop, and I also framed some of my own art.

Unfortunately my computer and camera aren't playing nice at the moment. So the llama is all I managed to upload. Looking at the works I did before I had children was really invigorating. It all looked much better than I thought at the time, I think there will definitely be another making art week some time in the future.

My project for this week is 'art'. I love art, especially Renaissance stuff, but since I obviously can't afford anything by da Vinci, I'll have to make do with what I've got on hand. Since I moved all the photos into our hallway, I have all the walls on the living room to adorn with art. First stop - the Hospice shop. At the very least, hopefully they will have some frames for the artworks I already have.

I have a large empty wall over the fireplace that I have a plan for a large artwork in the shape of NZ. The only problem is that I'm not sure that DH will like it, maybe I'll just do it and see what he says once its up. Watch this space.

I have finished all my presents for J's birthday this week. I am very excited to have it all done.

A sunhat for J

And a little crossover top - the light when I took the photo was terrible so I haven't put it up. P found the presents that I had wrapped and had a go with some sellotape as well. I did have to take it off her because she got a bit too enthusiastic about the unwrapping part.

My project for this week is to finish all J's birthday presents. Her birthday isn't until November, but with that, and then Christmas and then P's birthday in April, I need to get onto it all. So far I have sewn a hat, and found a cool wooden puzzle from my local Hospice shop. I just need to finish a top for her and I will have achieved my project. Photos to follow.