Innocent TattingInnocent Tatting Innocent Smoothies make delicious fruit smoothies in the UK and Ireland and this year they are doing a charity drive for aged action. For this they are getting people to knit little hats to go on the...

Readmore

Half Moon DreamingHalf Moon Dreaming This pattern started life as a hanky corner in the wonder book The Tatter's Treasure Chest. I've add a chain instead of the edging to turn it into a necklace. If you make this, I'd love to see...

Readmore

Tutu MotifTutu Motif This gorgeous motif is a variation of a traditional design. It reminds me of a dancer in a tutu, hence the name I've given it :) The sample here was needle tatted Caron Watercolours - colour 045 Flame. R...

Readmore

Celandine NecklaceCelandine Necklace My first finished piece of needle tatting is this necklace. I've adapted an edging and corner pattern by Mary Konior which she has called Celandine, and added swarovski beads to make this piece which...

Readmore

Matilda Tatted Bookmark PatternMatilda Tatted Bookmark Pattern Matilda © 1998 Kersti Anear Sample shown original size and tatted using three strands of DMC embroidery cotton for both the shuttle and ball threads. Instructions Ring A of 4ds, 3p sep 4ds,...

Readmore

twitter

By George, I Think She Got It!

Category : Craft, Movies, Books & TV, Stuff, Tatting

As the wonderful Rex Harrison said (not sang) in My Fair Lady, “I knew that she would do it, and indeed she did!”

Yes, as you can see from the pic here my Innocent Knitting Nancy has proved successful and I now have two little smoothie hats to show for it. Truth be told I am rather chuffed with myself. This is also the first things I’ve knitted since I was a child and definitely the first projects I’ve ever finished in knitting – yay me!

In other news, Siobhan came over to keep me company this afternoon which was lovely. I’m about 50% through the bracelet I’m making Mum for her birthday (yes I know, late) and I feel as sick as a dog. Even opted out of knitting meet up tonight, am going to go to bed – soon, I promise. Ireland doesn’t have the range of cold and flue medications that you can get over the counter in Australia, so my standard approach is to take an antihistamine, nurofen plus and drink copious amounts of water. Even so, I expect to be out of action tomorrow too – my face feels numb, my shoulders and back are aching and my nose is running like a tap. I’ve been hit quite hard!

I hope that I’m the only one and that you’re all feeling well – good night!

Sun Days

Category : Stuff

We don’t get much snow in Australia, in fact many Australians have never seen snow in real life. Yet we do have snowfields. Snow is something you go to, as in “What are you doing this weekend?” “I’m going to the snow.” For those who work in the snowfields there is a thing called a “Snow Day”. This happens when you have a night with lots and lots of snow so the next morning there’s perfect skiing conditions. When this happens cafe’s, restaurants and shops will close for a Snow Day – a day where employees can enjoy the wonders that nature has provided.

I think this is a marvelous idea. Employees tend to work harder and longer simply because they know that come the perfect conditions, they’ll be able to spend a day skiing and not be stuck inside serving the lucky few.

And I’d like to propose that this idea be extended to Ireland. Since sunshine here can be a rare sight, I think that on those days that you wake up to a glorious glowing orb and not a cloud in sight that companies should call a Sun Day and allow their employees to take a day to enjoy it. I’d even be happy if we stuck a max number of Sun Days on per month just in case we get a good year.

What do you think? Would the promise of a Sun Day make you a happier employee? Do you think it’s a good idea?