Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Blanket update .... and a wee giveaway!

It has been fabulous to be feeling motivated again and I am so excited that progress has really been made on my giant granny blanket. I am just adding the smaller squares around the edge now and will then do a simple border in white, with a wee picot edge I think. I'm absolutely loving it and hope to finish it while we are still having some cooler weather so we can get to use it before Summer! It is 41 rounds from memory and just a great size for snuggling under while watching TV. As much as I have loved making this blanket, I have however made a promise to myself that this will be the last blanket I make where I leave all the tying-in until the end. It is my very least favourite thing about crochet as I always seem to make a bit of a mess with my end tying! So from here on in, all ends will be tied in as I go. Famous last words ...??? Well I will do my best anyway! Hopefully I'll have it finished ready for my post next week. Rugby World Cup fever is still rampant here. We had Mr 6's school production last night which was a show about the World Cup. They did a fabulous job and even had some pictures in the paper this morning so they were all totally chuffed. We made All Blacks gingerbread men at the weekend. Miss 4 and Mr 6 requested that they be decorated as Dan Carter and Richie McCaw - their team favourites. These wee cookies are a family fave and we've been having so much fun decorating them in different ways. Recently we made some with a cast on one leg as a pressie for a little friend who had her leg in plaster. As the recipe makes soooooo many, we bag them up and do the rounds of school friends who love them too. Mr 6 went to a birthday party at the weekend at our local trout fishing centre. It was such a fabulous party idea. He was bursting with pride to have caught the biggest fish of the day - a whopping 1.22kg. Most of the fish in the lake are about 400grams like the other one here, so you can imagine his face when he caught this one! We had the most delicious dinner that night thanks to our wee guy.

And now for my wee giveaway ... I've mentioned before that I originally started this blog as a bit of a diary for myself, not really thinking that it would be of interest to anyone else. So I am so thrilled to bits to have reached 150 followers!! Your comments absolutely make my day and it's been wonderful to visit your blogs and discover like-minded folk all across the world. So as a token of my gratitude, I'd like to giveaway some things that I love and that are very specific to my part of the world.

The pendant features a Pohutukawa tree which is one of my most favourite things about New Zealand. It is often referred to as the NZ Christmas tree as it flowers over our summer. And if it flowers early it is believed we will have a long and beautiful summer. I have also popped in a Peanut Slab - again one of my favourite things!! This is a dangerously delicious chocolate bar and I adore them. My Mum used to post them to me when I lived in the UK because I missed them so much! Here's a closer look at the pendant.I have also got two more little pressies of a Peanut Slab tucked inside a small flax kete (Maori woven flax bag) so will draw additional names for these too!

So if you are a follower, either current or new (welcome!), please leave me a comment on this post by next Friday 30 September and I will draw a lucky winner.

Now before I go, I'd like to say a big thank you to Barbara for passing on a versatile blogger award to me. Thank you so much - it made my day!

I hope you're all having a fabulous week. See you again soon.

Leah
xxxx

29 comments:

  1. I would love to be entered in your way cool giveaway!

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  2. Wow - that fish is massive! Love your blanket - looking amazing. Count me in for the giveaway - love it!!

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  3. I adore the granny square border. I'd never have thought to do that! Also, I really appreciate the Pinterest invite- I'm completely addicted. Congratulations on 150 followers!

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  4. Gorgeous blanket honey xx I gave a little gasp when that photo popped up - but considering I'm at work taking a sneaky internet browse that probably wasn't the best thing to do ;) Will share your giveway on mine later. Congratulations on getting to 150 followers xxxx (with love from your very first follower ;) )

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  5. Lurve the blanket! The border is divine and the picot will be the perfect way to finish off, me thinks too.
    What a great party idea! With dinner included - doesn't get better than that.
    Enjoy the rest of your week.
    Carmel
    x

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  6. I lovvve the blankie!!!It looks so beautiful and different with that border of small squares!!I would love to enter the giveaway!!

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  7. Ooh, that blanket is gorgious!!
    Esther.

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  8. OH MY WORD - I am LOVING your blanket! Such a great idea to edge a plain granny square like that! love, love, love it!

    Oooooh yes please lovely, enter me.........that pendant is mine....all mine! ha ha!

    Have a super day!

    Vanessa xxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  9. Lovely blanket, Leah! :D
    I would love to be entered into this giveaway, the pendant is gorgeous!!
    Allie xo

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  10. Hi,from the uk, gorgeous blanket, dont know if your giveway will stretch 1000s of miles, but you never know. :-).xx

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  11. I love the blanket! What a fabulous idea to border it with granny squares. I think one of the best things about blogging is the inspiration - seeing things I would never have thought of on my own.
    If you'd be willing to post world-wide I'd love to be entered into your giveaway. x

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  12. Oh hon, what a sweet giveaway and well done for 150 followers, too.
    I'd love to be entered.
    L-O-V-E that blanket- the granny squares around the edge are genius. Great colours, too.
    Have a great week.
    Xx

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  13. That fish looks delicious! Your boy must be so proud to catch such a big one. I love the granny square border on your blanket, it's lush! I'd really like to be entered into your giveaway if you include people from Wales. The pendant is gorgeous and the peanut chocolate looks yummy.

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  14. Gorgeous blanket, the squares around the edge look really well, don't know if i can enter, being on typepad, but if i can count me in :D
    Lol Karen x

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  15. Love that blanket - the granny square edging is genius. well done to your boy on the fish - so great that he got to catch it when it was his birthday.
    We loved Whittaker's chocolate when we were in NZ so if you are sending overseas count me in - would love to taste it again!

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  16. Pick me, pick me!!
    that necklace is stunningly adorable

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  17. What a gorgeous crochet master piece. Looks fantastic. I totally agree with the tying in ends... So booooring to save it to the last minute. I therefor take a break at times to sit and tie in ends one evening or two just to catch up on it. It feels so much better. Good luck on finish your great project. And oooops, I see I ended up being a part of a give away. How sneaky as this is my first visit. I guess I was just lucky to enter your place in the right moment. :D

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  18. The crochet blanket looks wonderful - i love all the white in it!
    Congratulations on reaching over 150 followers!
    What a great giveaway, i would love to be entered please if you are sending abroad!
    Hope you are feeling better Leah- Im so glad you enjoyed catching up on my blog!
    Gill xx

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  19. What a nice idea to add granny squares to your giant granny.
    KATRIN W.

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  20. Your blanket is so beautiful! Love the border. Congrats on 150 followers, this blog is just super. Good job to your son on catching that whopper of a fish. He must have been so excited!

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  21. Hello!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE Lthe way you did this blanket. The white every other row really makes the colours POP! And then the outside border what a great way to finish up with it!! BEAUTIFUL ,!!! Congrates on all your followers!! May your day be filled with Sunshine!! Hugs!

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  22. Wow! I love your blanket, it's really wonderful! The colors look fab and it is turning out gorgeous! Amazing work!!!
    Thank you very much for your kind words on my blog, that warmed my heart so much and I do appreciate!
    Hope your new week is wonderful!
    Best wishes, LS xoxo

    PS: congrats on your so many followers, you definitely deserve!!!

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  23. I love how your blanket is looking and that necklace - wow - it's stunning xxBrenda

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  24. That is going to be one special blanket, looking forward to seeing the finished result!
    Count me in for your giveaway - Hubby keeps suggesting he should look for a job in NZ so it might help me to get used to the idea!
    Sandra x

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  25. Wow, I am loving your blanket border! What a brilliant idea, it's gorgeous.

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  26. I love your blanket - I am knitting one for Miss 4 but fear it won't be in use until next winter now! My boys would love your gingerbread men, we will have to try that out over the weekend. Very happy to have found your blog - thanks to mousehouse

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  27. Hi! I just discovered your blog! Love the gingerbreadmen! What a cool idea :) What a stunning pendant too..being a far-off kiwi I miss those beautiful pohutukawa flowers at Christmastime!

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  28. Hi I love your blog and I'm a recent and very inspired follower:-)
    I'd love to be part of the giveaway even though I never ever win lol.

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  29. Hi Leah..me again..
    Well, i guess the email i sent got lost in the ether somewhere, im sure im doin something wrong, thats happened to me before, i send emails and they dissapear...anyway.. it was just a little note to say that i was so glad that you received the 'dickie bird' ok and that he hadnt landed in some other far off country not knowing where he was...and i am especially glad that you liked him........love the blanket, love the china, love the hats...all wonderful as always...You do churn out a blanket quickity quick, i, on the other hand take ages...
    Say hi to 'dickie' for me...hugs Pixie xx

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