Thanks but never again

I started this knitted dress for my daughter over a year ago and it's been an on-again, off-again love affair. During the process, I've discovered I'm a very slow knitter or perhaps an unmotivated knitter. But when my poppet kept growing taller and taller and taller, I thought I'd better get my proverbial skates on and finish the dress before she outgrew it!

There were only three balls of this delicious yarn in my stash and seeing as how they are hand dyed, I wouldn't be able to get another ball to match. So I took the project with me on our Easter holidays to Blanchetown and knit away furiously by the river, being watched bemusedly by our friends who are definitely not craftily minded. Funnily enough, the blokes got quite excited when I got to casting off and queued up to watch me knit the final stitch!

Suffice to say, I'll not attempt such a large knitted garment again. I'm a fast crocheter but a slow knitter. I've enjoyed the process but being short on time, I'm always happier with a quick finish project! On Ravelry here.

With only three weeks to go till my second Lollipop Market stall, I thought some vintage style boys hats would be a nice addition to the Silly Gilly stock. Here's the first test run, made from courdroy and lined with a cotton. This is a super cute hat made with a pattern by Butterfly Tree. Fully reversible and quick to make. And I've got to say, my poppet doesn't make a very good boy impersonator!

Busy like a beaver

We don't have beavers here in Australia. Just in case you weren't sure. But if we did, I think I might bear a slight resemblance to them....

I have been busy settling my daughter into her first term of school. It's been a smooth and easy process, with her eager as a beaver attitude helping her slide right on into school life. It's like she's been there for years.


I've been taking part in the Around The Block 2 swap, making other people's blocks for them and posting them back... all the while they make mine and return them all finished.

I've been a market girl last weekend, holding my first indoor stall at a boutique market here in Adelaide called the Lollipop Markets. I was blown away by the number of shoppers through the door - over 3000! It was a successful day for Silly Gilly and I'm now prepping for my next boutique stall at Mathilda's Markets on Sunday 13th March.

I've also been coming to terms with transitioning from being a full time stay at home mum with a kid around 24/7 to a full time stay at home mum with her one and only kidlet at school. What to do with 6 hours every day??? My husband's first reply would be housework and unfortunately, part of me has to agree. But the rest of my footloose and fancy free time I'm dedicating to building up the Silly Gilly empire and taking a little time out each day for me. Five years full time parenting is hard slog and it's nice to have some time to sit in the sunshine.... alone.

But gee, I miss her. Every day. I even drove past the school today at lunch time just to see if I could catch a glimpse. Give me a few years and I might get used to her being at school!

I've been Lollipopped!!

I'm super-dooper excited to announce that I have been Lollipopped!! I'm going to be a stall holder at the next Lollipop Market at the Shores Function Complex, West Beach in SA, on Sunday 20th February, 2011.

So now I'm ready to get sewing, creating, designing and giggling all the way to February!!