Oh Deary me

Frustration has finally got the better of me and I have updated my computer. My goodness what a bucket of worms I have upended. My computer man assured me that he can recycle my old tower, and this one will be a lot quicker but it means learning a whole lotta new stuff. As well I did lose a few things upon which I used to rely but fortunately I had all important things on a USB stick - Oh I do love them. I have been busily re-installing things and wandering about in a whole lot of very unfamiliar territory to ensure that I will be able to get the next newsletter out without too much drama.
I'd like to show you the next finished doll on my 'to do' list. This one's only 9 inches (23cms) long and since he is definitely a boy I thought leggings would be appropriate. Because he's so small I've used fine (2ply) yarn and needles and I'm pleased with him. He has a tiny nappy (diaper) and knitted singlet.
Today, instead of playing with the computer I'm supposed to be making a new sheet for our bed. Pure cotton sheets cost an arm and a leg, and polyester blend are hot and sticky so I bought 3 metres of unbleached calico curtain lining 2.10 metres wide and when I've hemmed it at each end it will be a new sheet. A few washes down the track it will be as near to white as I want it and cost very much less than a ready made sheet. So I'd better be off and get it done.
Hoping you all have a lovely weekend. Bye for now until next time.

A pleasant trip.

Clearing out some children's books yesterday and these turned up. I know I'm supposed to read all sorts of grown up stuff, and I do, but these will always remain my favourites. The tattered one on the right is a copy of the first book I ever borrowed from a public library when I was about 12. Until that day I didn't know public libraries existed. I loved Millicent Margaret Amanda from the moment I stepped into her pages. Decluttering my bookshelves was forgotten while I reacquainted myself with her and she has lost none of her charm. The "nice white cottage with the thatched roof" Muvver, Farver, Grandma, Grandpa, Auntie & Uncle, Billy Blunt, Little-friend-Susan, Jilly etc. enchanted me all over again. I realised how clever Joyce Lankester Brisley was. Each one of her stories has a gentle lesson on good manners, thoughtfulness, generosity, respect. All quite old-fashioned (the first book was published in 1929) but still relevant today I believe.
I rescued the battered book, printed in 1950, years back from someone who was going to chuck it out and the others I have picked up in op-shops over the years. Needless to say they won't be joining those that I plan to take to our local op-shop tomorrow. In fact I think I'll go and make a cup of coffee and pop in to visit at The Nice White Cottage With The Thatched Roof again.
Bye for now until next time.

All dressed up

The first of the three dolls that I have been dressing for a friend is finished and all ready to be returned to her owner. I usually only knit at night while I watch TV, that's why I'm so slow. And my sewing room is a real hot box at this time of year so I've got to pick my days. It would help if I could open a window to let a bit of a breeze through but our dear old house is almost 90 years old and there are parts of her that don't work so well any more. (I can sympathise with her there) The man of the house got some of his weight behind the problem and managed to get the window open a handspan. Lovely, so I was able to finish the little dress and panties. singlet and nappy (diaper). Here she is in varying stages of dress. I was really good and stuck to the (shudder) Velcro closures but for the little jacket I weakened and used buttons. They can be cut off if my friend is not happy with them.
I love the little jacket pattern. It's actually a dolls pattern that I've used often but it would fit a premature baby - It knits up very quickly. The yarn I've used is 5 ply so not too heavy for a tiny baby. The doll is 15 inches (38 cms) long.
The other two dolls are finished too except for a few final touches.
I did my first unfriendly animal act today and chased a little cat out of my garden. I apologized profusely. I like cats very much. They're lovely soft cuddly and often affectionate little animals, but I enjoy my garden for the birds that visit and our resident possum. This little fellow was creeping through the branches of a tree and the bird population was getting very agitated so I asked the pussy-cat to leave - very nicely mind you, just by clapping my hands and waving my arms about. I hope his owner will keep him in at night - safer for the cat too - I read that the life expectancy of a cat can be as little as 3 years if they're allowed to prowl at night.
Well I'm ready for a cup of coffee, so I'll be off. I hope you have enjoyed your weekend. Bye for now until next time.

One Of Those Days

I suppose everyone has one of those days when it doesn't pay to get out of bed. Mine has lasted for a week - you know, you leave a tissue in the pocket of your jeans and the wash comes out all spotty. You forget to post your sister's birthday card in time for it to reach her on her birthday. You can't upload photos from your camera because someone (who shall remain nameless) took a video instead of a still and the camera's programe has a hissy fit and won't allow anything taken before that to upload Grrr. You try to do something on your blog and that gets fouled up too, then your computer decides to make things difficult when you're trying to get your newsletter out. Honestly, how can I fly like an eagle when I'm surrounded such turkeys?
Somebody who has had some success is our Joe. Have a look at these pretty things. The dinky little cabinet is an Indian design from 1928. It's only 9 inches (23cms) wide by about 12 inches (30cms) tall. The door opens and I suppose it could hold spices or perfumes. It's made of pine with the elephant on the front cut from a veneer and glued on. The little box next to it is a card players box and opens at the centre of the lid. Clever Joe
I'm off to do battle with this newsletter now. I should buy a new computer as this one is 10 years old but I'm reluctant to create more e-waste and it is a great sense of achievement when I beat the thing. So, in one corner, weighing in at more than I'm prepared to own up to is me, and in the other corner is one antiquated computer, lets see who will win this round.
Bye for now until next time.

Disaster

If you're wondering what happened to my last post, it got deleted. I tried to do something clever which went horribly horribly wrong and the easiest way to get out of the mess was to delete the whole thing.
I'm up to my ears with the Woodies Newsletter for the next few days so I'll have to wait until I can get a chance to have another try.
I do hope you're having more success with whatever you're trying to accomplish.
Bye for now, until next time.

I know I called my blog One Pair of Hands, but now and again I like to show you what some of my woodworking friends are making. The man of the house has been out in his shed (yes in 30 plus degrees of heat) working away at these little boxes. Square (or rectangular) boxes aren't normally his thing; he usually makes round things on the wood-lathe, eg platters, goblets, bowls, egg cups or little round containers with lids and I think he's very good at it but the lure of dovetails and attractive corners has been tugging at him and here are his first attempts. Dovetails are really difficult to do well freehand so a special jig was used for the dark brown one and the other has little 'biscuits' of wood in another colour, to give a different effect. Onward and upward, I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next.
I've just thrown my hands in the air and stomped out of my sewing room. The little dress I was making for a friend's doll has turned out with a neck that is miles too big so I've gotta go back and fix it and, since I can't, I'll have to cut a new top. Fortunately dolls dresses only take small pieces of fabric otherwise there would be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Hope your sewing is progressing better than mine.
Bye for now until next time.

A late Birthday Present

Our daughter gave us Christmas pressies when she left in November but I decided to keep mine and my birthday present too, until they were back with us. So much more fun to be able to hear the squeals of delight and the just-what-I-wanted, when we're all together. So we swapped gifts when we got together last week. My Christmas gift from our girl was the first season of Eli Stone as I really enjoyed the series and for my birthday this knitting book. Now I know I have enough knitting books to start a public library but I'll bet there isn't another knitter out there that will tell me that another one will be too many.
The book is full of quick projects such as hats, mitts, bags and scarves and there is a very nice little shrug that would suit our daughter very well. So that's a project on the list and I'm looking forward to getting at it in the next few days.

So much cooler today thank goodness - a chance to finish off some sewing. The sewing machine has been out of bounds over the hot weather (that little light can generate heat). Not so the knitting though; can't bear the withdrawal symptoms so I use a little talcum powder on my hands when they get sticky, and plough on.

Hope everyone has a great weekend. Bye for now until next time.