Losing it!

But all for a good cause!
Andrew and I have signed up for the World's Greatest Shave to raise money both to support those with blood cancer, and leukaemia research. We have a target of $5000 each.
To raise the stakes, for every $500 I raise, 10cm will come off my hair. My hair is currently almost 90cm from hairline to tips. The last time it had more than a trim was 5 years ago. The last time it was above my shoulders was 15 years ago. My hair has never been shorter than a bob!

If you can spare a few dollars, please sponsor me!

Bread making class

3 hours produced quite a good haul...

There's smoke in the air

A slight grey haze over the blue sky. It makes the sunlight oddly yellow. It would be pretty if I didn't know what it meant.
There's no fires near me yet, but I think that's just a matter of time this Summer.

Dabbling with Dye

About a year and a half ago, I bought a kit to learn how to dye yarn. Except, then I read the instructions, which required saucepans to be kept just for dyeing and I put it in the too hard basket. Then in an Ankh-Morpork Knitter's Guild swap, I received some Kool Aid. This famous American kids' drink can be used for dyeing animal fibres (wool, silk etc) so I kept an eye out for cheap but nice yarn.

Finally, I started dyeing. I started with Kool Aid ice blocks and solar dyeing

Arrange ice blocks on dampened yarn, cling wrap and place in sun until liquid is clear.

I used two packets of Ice Blue Lemonade, and one each of Pink Lemonade and Grape, mixed with half a cup of water per packet (I think I'll use more water next time, but it was really hard to find any instructions on how much to use)

I was quite impressed but didn't love the finished product. The Grape dominated and there was too much white remaining.

So I overdyed with Cherry. Much better.

I also tried a boil-on-the-stove version of dyeing with Cherry. I'd bought what was supposed to be 50/50 viscose and tussa (sic) silk, so I thought the silk would take up the dye, but no matter what I did, I couldn't get it to set.

I ended up throwing in 50g of wool. I expected a solid colour, but I really like the semi-solid effect I ended up with. I gave both the faint pink blend and the wool to my MIL, who is already knitting the blend up into a cardigan for Niece #5

A Thrifty Formal Outfit

Believe it or not, this outfit cost me almost nothing. The fabric for the top was a remnant. It was so small in fact, that I couldn't fit any patterns on it, and my mother-in-law had to fudge the design for me. The skirt was originally a dress of Mum's from the 60s (at least, that's what Nan said. Mum didn't recognise it) By removing the yoke, evening out the top edge and adding a waistband I had a great skirt. Even my shoes came from an outlet!

Cursed Cookies

Leftover gingerbread dough and my new cookie cutter...

Alice's Modern Girl

A sweet little outfit for our not-so-little girl. Alice (Niece #2, age 7) was quite calm about only receiving the hair clip on Christmas Day. Sewing the knit top was a new experience for me, but not too hard. I decided against sewing the flower directly to the skirt, and instead sewed it to a safety pin so it can be easily removed for washing or to wear on something else.

Milla's Quilt

I made this for Milla (Niece #4, currently 2.5) for Christmas. On Christmas Day, I didn't think she even noticed, but I'm told she's insisted on having it on her bed ever since.

Oh, as those dark bits on some of the pink squares? They're tractors...