Saturday, October 30, 2010

Blogtoberfest Day 31- HAPPY BLOGTOBERFEST

Blogtoberfest Day 31

Today is the last day of Blogtoberfest.
I am so proud of myself that i managed to blog 32 times this month! I only missed two days but had 3 days with two posts so i more than made up for it :)

I have shared with you more about myself, my family, my craft and my business. I have made new friends and gotten to know old friends better.

Ive had fun entering giveaways and having one of my own.

Speaking of giveaways, here is the yarn that i have just dyed and re-hanked up for Joanne, winner of my Blogtoberfest Giveaway.
It is 100g 4ply sock yarn.



Joanne said she liked blues and greens but not necessarily together and this is what i came up with, I've named it "Blogtoberfest" for the occasion hehe.
There are also a couple of other goodies going in the parcel but that will be a surprise ;)

I hope you all had fun reading my posts this month!! it has definitely given me the motivation to blog much more regularly from now on :)

xxx

Friday, October 29, 2010

Blogtoberfest Day 30 - GARDEN!

Blogtoberfest day 30

Here is what my boys have been up to all day


Our very own vege patch in our very own home!!! one of many to come :)
We planted lettuces, basil and tomatoes in this one :)

zucchinis, corn and capsicums go in next weekend!


Thursday, October 28, 2010

Blogtoberfest Day 29 - BEST CUZ EVER

Blogtoberfest Day 29

In two days my best ever cuz will be home!!!


This is the best picture i could get ( yes Loren i raided your facebook lol, there was hardly anything to choose from!) hahaha but shows her personality perfectly ;)

Loren has been away overseas in Canada mostly for almost a year now. Before that she was gone for a whole other year in South America aswell with only a month or so back in NZ. I have missed her TERRIBLY!!!

We have been thick as thieves since the week we were born ( yup week, we are only 6 days apart in age)



I cant wait to have her back in my life for good!

Even though she will be starting Uni in Auckland in the new year, i will have her on tap for the next couple of months! lol


LOVE YOU CUZ!!!

man how cute were WE?!?!

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Blogtoberfest Day 28 - My Creative Space

Blogtoberfest Day 28

My Creative Space



yarn gorgeous yarn

Pop over to Kootoyoo for some more ;)

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Blogtoberfest Day 27 - DINNER

Blogtoberfest Day 27

Dinner

Gluten free pasta, pesto stirred through, with cherry toms, feta and fresh basil
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Thanks Ange for the inspiration!


Blogtoberfest Day 26- BOOKS

Blogtoberfest day 26

I was Blog browsing this morning and came across Estelle's "Five books i wish I had never read, and five books i wish i had read instead" on her blog "Curbside Style"

i had a bit of a giggle because obviously her tastes are very different from mine! Three of the books she wished she hadn't read would rank right up at the top of my "love" list lol.

So i thought i would make a list of my own! not quite the same but here are my favs, and least favs.

Top 5 books

1. Harry Potter series: all of them. total TOTAL genius. I adore these books and have read them over and over and over.

2. Eat.Pray.Love: yes despite the hype i just adored this book. I LOVE true stories and this one had it all, the locations, the beauty, the food, the love story. Super dooper inspiring.

3. Southern Vampire Series AKA Sookie Stackhouse novels. I watched the first season of TRUE BLOOD before i started these books, but then i just devoured them, all 10 of them! absolute fan of the TV series too.

4. Wilbur Smith's Egypt series. i really really got into these a couple of years back, still need to read the last one though.

5. Twilight, Yup not afraid to say i LOVED it lol, have read the series 3 times from start to finish now. TEAM JACOB BITCH ;)

There is a bunch of book i read as a teenager that i cant for the life of me remember their names or the authors??? there was a time traveling series one that had three books i think? That went from modern time to a magical past and the chick could time travel? Her name might have been Tory?? Then there are the thriller ones by a guy author and one was called "The Island" i think? I used to hide them from my parents as they quite gory and had lots of sex in them lol. Then there was one called "Summer of Love" or something like that about two teenagers with cancer who fall in love while getting treatment together. If anyone knows the names of these books or the author i would love to know so i can look them up and read them again :)

So now those are my favs, I'm struggling to think of ones Ive read and haven't liked??? i tend to just not keep reading if I'm not enjoying something and not give it another thought. I think Ive picked up a couple of Robs John Grisham books and not read beyond a few chapters?

Might do a movie list tomorrow :)


Monday, October 25, 2010

Blogtoberfest Day 25 - JAR SWAP

Blogtoberfest Day 25

OK somehow i managed to loose a whole other day? So i have even more to catch up on!

Just before i left on Thursday i posted a gorgeous parcel out to a lovely friend of mine Tammy. it was my end of the bargain for the TNN "Jar Swap". I received her two kiddies to make for and here is what i came up with


For Cody a "message in a bottle" theme i used. I made him a felt treasure map with a treasure "pocket" at the end for hiding treasure in ( i filled it with treasure stickers) then i filled the rest of the jar up with extra stickers, buttons, iron-on patches and an eye patch and earring :)

heres a closeup of the map

For Ayla i made a "Picnic for two" in a jar :)

I hand stitched a picnic blanket and made an assortment of felt picnic food for her :)

They were received well and i have been told that both kids love them so yay! mission accomplished :)


Blogtoberfest Day 24 - WEEKEND

Blogtoberfest Day 24

OK so i didn't make it on yesterday, was waaaaaaaaaay to busy recovering from the weekend and spending time with my boys who i missed dreadfully ( so much in fact i drove home a day early as i was homesick lol)

I did have a wonderful time though. met a lot of people i have "known" for ages for the first time in real life and caught up with some old friends :)

here's some photos from the weekend

Armageddon Cocktail party


Me and Bill Farmer ( voice of Goofy and Pluto :)

Jerri Manthey ( survivor) and me

Me and Owen Black

Me and the girls with Will Hall



After hours of drinking and dancing, just before bed

Me, Jay, Kylie and Chelsea

I also managed to pick up a few pressies for myself at the expo

A gorgeous hand painted t-shirt, some guitar pick earrings, and True blood Season two on DVD. i also got some cool badges which the kids have already lost and a cool glow in the dark Toy Story poster.

LOVE the earrings, wish if gotten some more!


So there you have it! one wonderful weekend over :)

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Blogtoberfest Day 23 - 10 in 2010 update

Blogtoberfest day 23

Way back in December last year i decided to set myself some knitting challenges for 2010. I signed up to knit 10 shawls and 10 pairs of socks and learn ten new techniques.

So far i have learnt:
  1. cable cast on
  2. toe up sock knitting
  3. Provisional cast on
  4. Crochet cast off
  5. lace chart reading
  6. 2ply lace knitting
  7. wrapping stitches
  8. moss stitch
so only 2 left!! not sure what these will be yet

The ten pairs of socks are just not going to happen haha, think I've made 3 pairs? have at least one more planned before the end of the year ( for Dads Birthday) but no way am i going to make 7 more!

The shawls however i have been churning out and will definitely finish my challenge, so far i have made these:




Only 2 more to make and 2 months left!! ( last two will be for Christmas pressies ;) )

Friday, October 22, 2010

Blogtoberfest Day 22- Christmas Wishlist

Blogtoberfest Day 22

i highly doubt i will get any of this but thought i would put it out there anyway and try my luck ;)

Here is what i would LOVE to get for christmas this year

Season 2 and 3 of Trueblood on DVD
ANY/ALL of the stereophonics albums ( we only have a mixed up best of cd we made)

Some zauberball yarn from Vintage Purls in the "cranberry" colourway
A voucher for a massage and facial!
( i have never had either in my life, or a manicure/pedicure either!"
A bowtie necklace from KuTE KIWI
And a Crouton necklace from Rhiannon


so whats on your list?

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Blogtoberfest Day 21 - Favs

Blogtoberfest Day 21

I thought i would share with you some of my absolute Fav blogs.

The crafty/mama blogs

First up is Rhiannons Blog "Toast and Life"
This chick has the most amazing style EVER and is completly gorgeous :) her "Wardrobe wednesday" posts are allways inspirational as are her opshop finds!!! She is a sewer and all round crafty type :)

Next up is Erins blog "BluebirdBaby"
Erins photography is just GORGEOUS!!!

Then we have Kims blog "KuTE KIWI"
I am completly lusting over her knitted bow necklaces and chains!

I also adore Cathy's blog "m.e"
her baking, and photography are mouth watering! Cathy i also a star at replyng to comments and leaving lots of encouraging ones of her own x

My gorgeous friend Carla has recently started a blog too "I Have Foot In Mouth Disease"
her posts are incredibly deep and soul bearing as well as being full of humour :)

I have also discovered some absolutely fabulous femminst/sexy/risque blogs of late and thought i would share a couple
( disclamier, r18 blogs, content may "offend")

Curvaceous Dee describes herself on her blog as "Curvaceous, vivacious, tenacious, bodacious. That's me! I'm also fat, poly, pansexual, civilly unioned, kinky, kiwi, and happy."

Amie over at "amieweexxx" has some very eye opening and "educational" posts ;)

Boganette
is another great gutsy woman blogger

And last but not least Ally at "I am Offended because" is " An oft-offended lady in Wellington. Likes sex positive feminism, fat activism, collecting lipsticks, theatre and the active consumption of dessert wine.

So there you go!!!!

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Blogtoberfest Day 20 - Off to Great Places

Blogtoberfest Day 20

"Today is the Day, I'm off to great places, I'm off and away"

I think i have that quote right, from Dr Seuss's "Oh The Places You'll Go". In about 20 minutes i am off on the first trip away by myself in 6 years! With no husband, and no children. Visiting lots of friends, some Ive never met in person before but feel Ive known forever. I get to party, go for gelato, dress up, sleep in and dance to the beat of my own drum!
i only got my license 2 months ago and yet i am driving 5 hours into Auckland city all by myself! i am terrified and excited at all the possibility's at the same time. I can have the music as loud as i want, stop to pee whenever i like lol and stop and eat whatever i want!!

I have been planning and looking forward to this for about 6 months and today is the day!

I have written blog posts for the 3 days i wont be here so they will auto publish and i will still keep up with Blogtoberfest

So im off! see you on monday evening :)

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Blogtoberfest Day 19- Christmas Decoration Swap

Blogtoberfest Day 19


I have singed up for the third year in a row to this Handmade Christmas Ornament swap :)
i have LOVED the last to years swaps, checking the mail every single day and getting lots of cute little parcels full of Christmas cheer!

here are the ones i made the first year Christmas 08

and last years eaten gingerbread men


I have a great idea up my sleeve for this year too ;)
bet you cant guess what material i will be using hahahahaha

if you want to be a part of this awesome swap then head over to Sew Funky and sign up!

Monday, October 18, 2010

Blogtoberfest Day 19- PROGRESS

Blogtoberfest Day 19

I have been progress on my selfish knit in the past week!



I have finished the whole top, all the ribbing, and now i just have to knit down and increase every second row! easy? YES! But its going to be a bit tedious from now on i think, and the rows are just going to keep getting longer and longer........

I have tried it on through and it fits perfectly! i am so stoked, so that is egging me on to get it finished because i WANT TO WEAR IT!!! haha

The extra motivation is the Morag from Vintage Purls ( the yarn i am using and the Knit-along i am taking part in) is going to give away a prize to be drawn from everyone who completes their cardy by the end of November. I plan to finish long before that, I'm giving myself another 2 weeks as then i have Christmas knitting to do!

Blogtoberfest Day 18 - WOOPS

Blogtoberfest Day 18

well i guess it had to happen some time this month! i totally forgot to post yesterday WOOPS!!
But some awesome stuff did happen yesterday and i thought i would share some AMAZING pictures my son Ashton drew yesterday.

Here they are all together
Aren't they AMAZING?!?!?!
Ashton is four years old and has just discovered the art of drawing by copying an object/image and spend hours each day doing this.

He drew Pooh Bear from a soft toy we have of him

And eyeore, piglet, rabbit and tigger were all drawn from an old school Pooh book we own

Each character comes with the food they most like to eat ( according to our book) Pooh loves honey, eyeore loves thistles, piglet loves haycorns, rabbit carrots and tigger malt extract.

Notice the sun, blue sky, green grass and lots of trees?



And of course ( as all Ashton's pictures do at the moment) have his name written proudly along the bottom :) except tigger for some reason lol.

yup im pretty proud!



Sunday, October 17, 2010

And the Winner is..............

And the Winner is........

JOANNE!!!!!

Congratulations!!!

Email me at h_carni@hotmail.com and we can talk about what you would like for your prize ;)

Thank you all so much for participating!! hope you had as much fun as i did :)


Saturday, October 16, 2010

Blogtoberfest Day 17 - Today is.....?

Blogtoberfest Day 17

Giveaway Time!!!!!!

So who has been following my blog this week and noting down the scavenger hunt words?
Hehe i had lots of fun tyring to fit the words into my posts and hope you guys had fun playing along!!

A reminder that the winner will get a custom dye job by me on a yarn base of their choice!



So what was the phrase i hid in my posts?

If you already answered in my last post or by email that is fine and you will still be counted :)

I am going to draw the winner at 8.30pm tonight (nz time) so you have the rest of the day to enter your answer :)