"The Craft Group" plus...

Dear Pressure Cooker, I am sorry I have been ignoring you. Please don't be jealous. My new Slow Cooker has been out on the bench a lot and I do admit that I love it but I will never replace you. Thank you for rescuing me the other night. I knew I wanted to do something with the kilo of chicken thigh fillets sitting ready in the fridge and I did have plenty of vegies but what I didn't have was TIME! I had 20 minutes to make something out of that chicken and in 20 minutes.... which included the preparation time, you gave me and my family a super yummy and healthy meal. You are the best. It didn't take me long to chop some onions and put them with the chicken pieces (each cut in half) into your big shiny pot. Throwing some mixed herbs, salt and pepper onto the chicken didn't take long. That all browned a bit on your base while I quickly speed-peeled 6 whole carrots and washed and top'n tailed a heap of green beans. I had no time to peel the spuds so gave t...

Country Threads Magazine featured this cute project. The Beehive is made of felt and pretty embroidery with a few cute buttons. It is a needlecase and mini scissor holder. You know you want to make one, I can see it in your eyes. For those of you who come along to the group....  it is just 2 more sleeps until The Craft Group meets again for a new term!!! It will be really nice to see everyone again (and see their projects they have been busy with??) This term if anyone wants to make the Beehive Needle case project (taken from Country threads magazine), you can see the magazine on thursday and Leanne has made up kits (so everyone doesn't have to put together the little bits 'n pieces required.) Here's a reminder of what it looks like... See you then. Now, this term will be a bit different for me :( Remember that I told you about my Javelin throwing attempt ? Well, the end diagnosis for my knee is a snapped Anterior Cruciate Ligament and some other bits ...

This scarf by Shirley looks like it has been made with many different textures of year. But it is made by one ball she bought from Big W. Instead of it being a variety of colours, the one ball is a variey of textures. That has many easy creative possibilities!

Here is a feast of ideas for pretty cards: By Rita... By Cheryl... By Anne... By Elly... Nice cards ladies  :)

Crocheted hats are appearing everywhere! Here is a cute one made by Wendy. Here are a few online free patterns I found if you are interested in whipping up a few hats... A fast and chunky one. Find the pattern here.  at JJCrochet blog. Learn how to add a soft fabric lining to your crocheted hats here  at "The Green Dragonfly" . Sometimes you want added warmth and less prickle factor! Also at the "Green Dragonfly" you can find the pattern for this great hat for a man in your life. Or for you if you are a man reading this and you love to crochet! Just google "Crocheted hat free patterns" or "Crochet hat free patterns" and click on images and you will find all the hats in the world to choose from. Maybe you want to make this one.... go on, you know you want to! Oh, you have to buy it . Maybe just stick with the freebies!

Some babies just don't do the hair growing thing for such a long time! Like my little Annalee here! Maybe I should have made her some hair! (or maybe not!) Sarah Boccolucci from Tots and Bottoms Blog  gave her daughter some hair and here are her results.  Cute hey! Good for a winters day! Find the pattern here .

Home made cards and gifts say so much more to the receiver. You know it wasn't a case of "I just ran out to the shops 5 minutes before I came and grabbed something for your birthday". (We've all been there, done that!) Here is a special box, completely hand made, given to me for my birthday by Elly. It had all the good qualities of a gift... It looked super nice. It was hand made just for me, which is so special. It had a sense of mystery as I opened it. It felt luxurious untying the satin ribbon as opposed to picking at sticky tape. It contained a surprise.... the little 'drawers' opened up, each containing a little envelope which also had a surprise in it!  AND.... there was chocolate in each section! Thanks Elly! It's lovely to have a well thought out gift that is an event in itself to open :) (El... do you have a link for how to make this one?)