Earlier in the year I posted about the little 4 year old girl Hope and her family who were dealing with the news that her cancer had returned. The family were given a pretty scary prognosis.
I know that there are people who are wondering what's happened and how things are going. The VERY short version is that since then there have been ups and downs for the family. But Hope is still here, still doing ok and that those that love and care for her are still praying for that miracle.
Hope's family do post on their facebook page - Hope Osbourne Updates - so you should join/like the page to keep up to date.
xx
J
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Coco Kids has a Felt shop
Coco Kids has a Felt shop! At the moment it looks a little like this:
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Yes, that's right, you no longer have to personally contact any of us regarding getting a custom knit, if there's something specific you're after but you don't want to wait - then simply visit our store and see if there perfect item is sitting there waiting just for you!
At the moment, there's a range of vests, dresses, cardigans, a few hats - well, you'll just have to pop over and have a look. We'll be adding items to it as we knit them, but we'll keep those that are our FB friends up to date when new items pop up.
Thanks! Stay warm!
And ooops! I wrote this post in June and it's been in my 'drafts' so I've only just noticed that I never actually posted it! But now's a great time to buy knitteds, it's freeeeezing out there. There are more things to be added also including sock blockers, my knitting patterns and a couple more special items.
Yes, that's right, you no longer have to personally contact any of us regarding getting a custom knit, if there's something specific you're after but you don't want to wait - then simply visit our store and see if there perfect item is sitting there waiting just for you!
At the moment, there's a range of vests, dresses, cardigans, a few hats - well, you'll just have to pop over and have a look. We'll be adding items to it as we knit them, but we'll keep those that are our FB friends up to date when new items pop up.
Thanks! Stay warm!
And ooops! I wrote this post in June and it's been in my 'drafts' so I've only just noticed that I never actually posted it! But now's a great time to buy knitteds, it's freeeeezing out there. There are more things to be added also including sock blockers, my knitting patterns and a couple more special items.
Bugs Galore!
Oh how I wish it had been little insecty bugs galore during the month of June! Caterpillars and ladybugs (I don't know if caterpillars actually are bugs) and creepy crawlies!
Instead, the month of June has been a month of sickies and germs. Like most people with kids we really took a hammering, but *touch wood* at this very second everyone in my household is feeling good and healthy.
It's interesting when people feel rotten (me included) of the changes you make to your normal routines in order to cope. We used the crockpot a lot (butter chickpeas anyone? A great meal for a family for around $4 I reckon...double it and it reheats nicely for another day too), the disposable nappies came out for my littlest (I love x a billion modern cloth nappies, but the washing was getting more than I could cope with so by reducing the nappy washing to just one helped a little) and we leaned on the one healthy person in the household a lot - that would be my hubby Blair.
Actually speaking of nappies, I was offered some Huggies Drynites to try out. I'm a bit of a doofus as I didn't realise that they were for bigger kids that are toilet trained and so on my 2 1/2 year old they looked a bit big. They didn't leak though, much as I thought they might and as much as I dreaded they would actually add to my washing if they did. I was pleasantly surprised to see that they didn't have little Winnie the Poohs on them and for the boys design they were 'jockey' styled like little gruts.
Anywho, back to the germs - it went like this -
Timothy: croup
Me: something grotty and undiagnosed but which felt like I'd been hit by a bus
Penny: cold
Timothy: croup - again (seriously, you wouldn't read about it)
David: bronchiolitis
Now why Blair remained well, I don't know but thank goodness he did. He's been brilliant. I've got a proper post brewing in my head about that that one day perhaps I'll get around to posting. June was also the month that we put out an SOS to people. I don't normally ask for help but after a month of sickies the going gets tough. We were so lucky last week to have wonderful people help us out with kindy picks up and visits. I might have even snaffled my sister's fabulous husband, father in law and mother in law, roping them into helping (they were wonderful!), along with Penny's BFF's nana across the road (who spoiled Penny rotten which she loved) and another of my sisters.
Thank you! Putting out the SOS and getting responses was a real relief.
I don't know anyone with kids that didn't have sick kidlets during June though, there are so many bugs going around including grotty V&D bugs that so far we've been lucky enough to avoid.
July, you're going to be the month for pattern updates, knitting with nice yarns, reading good books, playing boardgames, perhaps even a little bit of sewing, holidays from kindy and so no kindy run (yipppeeeee!). No more tissues, cough lollies, visits to the doctor (umm, there were 4 trips to the doc and 1 to the hospital in June...I wonder if you can buy shares in a Doctor's clinic?)
Stay healthy out there
Oh, and because every post needs a picture, here's my cutest littlest bunny... 4 1/2 months old now!
![]()
Instead, the month of June has been a month of sickies and germs. Like most people with kids we really took a hammering, but *touch wood* at this very second everyone in my household is feeling good and healthy.
It's interesting when people feel rotten (me included) of the changes you make to your normal routines in order to cope. We used the crockpot a lot (butter chickpeas anyone? A great meal for a family for around $4 I reckon...double it and it reheats nicely for another day too), the disposable nappies came out for my littlest (I love x a billion modern cloth nappies, but the washing was getting more than I could cope with so by reducing the nappy washing to just one helped a little) and we leaned on the one healthy person in the household a lot - that would be my hubby Blair.
Actually speaking of nappies, I was offered some Huggies Drynites to try out. I'm a bit of a doofus as I didn't realise that they were for bigger kids that are toilet trained and so on my 2 1/2 year old they looked a bit big. They didn't leak though, much as I thought they might and as much as I dreaded they would actually add to my washing if they did. I was pleasantly surprised to see that they didn't have little Winnie the Poohs on them and for the boys design they were 'jockey' styled like little gruts.
Anywho, back to the germs - it went like this -
Timothy: croup
Me: something grotty and undiagnosed but which felt like I'd been hit by a bus
Penny: cold
Timothy: croup - again (seriously, you wouldn't read about it)
David: bronchiolitis
Now why Blair remained well, I don't know but thank goodness he did. He's been brilliant. I've got a proper post brewing in my head about that that one day perhaps I'll get around to posting. June was also the month that we put out an SOS to people. I don't normally ask for help but after a month of sickies the going gets tough. We were so lucky last week to have wonderful people help us out with kindy picks up and visits. I might have even snaffled my sister's fabulous husband, father in law and mother in law, roping them into helping (they were wonderful!), along with Penny's BFF's nana across the road (who spoiled Penny rotten which she loved) and another of my sisters.
Thank you! Putting out the SOS and getting responses was a real relief.
I don't know anyone with kids that didn't have sick kidlets during June though, there are so many bugs going around including grotty V&D bugs that so far we've been lucky enough to avoid.
July, you're going to be the month for pattern updates, knitting with nice yarns, reading good books, playing boardgames, perhaps even a little bit of sewing, holidays from kindy and so no kindy run (yipppeeeee!). No more tissues, cough lollies, visits to the doctor (umm, there were 4 trips to the doc and 1 to the hospital in June...I wonder if you can buy shares in a Doctor's clinic?)
Stay healthy out there
Oh, and because every post needs a picture, here's my cutest littlest bunny... 4 1/2 months old now!
Monday, May 30, 2011
Oh dear!
Close the window and walk away now if you don't want to spend any money on yarn!
And if you're intrigued, well I heard about this fab yarn site and an awesome sale today - it's offering 20%-50% off some delicious yarns (including mad tosh and mal rios) and the shipping is really reasonable at a capped rate of $12USD. Combine with that the additional 10% you can get off by typing 'WELCOME' in the coupon code spot and you can pick yourself up some mad tosh for the best price I've ever seen
If you do happen to stop by there and login, could you mention you read about it here on my blog? They have a nice 'gem reward' system. Thanks and happy knitting (or should I say shopping ;) )
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Swifts and Sock Blockers Update
So winter is on its way and knitters are trying to organise their queues and knit up their stashes!
There have been a lot of enquiries and orders regarding swifts and sock blockers lately so I thought I'd do a little update as to what's going on with them in the world of Just One W.I.P.
We've been on the look out for a long time now for the best materials possible to make our sock blockers in and we've finally sourced some that we're super happy with. It's a lovely thin kauri ply with a smooth finish on both sides (no snags with those precious hand knitted socks!) that we have sourced from a local supplier. The great news is that at the moment our prices for the new and improved sock blockers are able to stay much the same. That's $15 each, 2 for $28 or 3 for $40. We also offer children's sock blockers in 2 sizes, children's or babies which are $10 each. The kauri ply is a slightly browner more 'biscuity' coloured wood from our previous pine.
Blair's swifts are proving so popular that he's making them regularly in the evenings and weekends, currently customers are told there is a 3 week wait when ordering due to the demand. Unfortunately because of the rise in the cost of materials in the last 6 months or so we are having to increase the price of swifts to $60 before postage. We still think that they are absolutely worth that and are really nicely made large swifts that can handle big skeins. The one below was on it's way to New Plymouth this week to make balling yarn easier for it's owner.
Feel free to contact me or leave a comment if you have any questions!
Happy Knitting!
There have been a lot of enquiries and orders regarding swifts and sock blockers lately so I thought I'd do a little update as to what's going on with them in the world of Just One W.I.P.
We've been on the look out for a long time now for the best materials possible to make our sock blockers in and we've finally sourced some that we're super happy with. It's a lovely thin kauri ply with a smooth finish on both sides (no snags with those precious hand knitted socks!) that we have sourced from a local supplier. The great news is that at the moment our prices for the new and improved sock blockers are able to stay much the same. That's $15 each, 2 for $28 or 3 for $40. We also offer children's sock blockers in 2 sizes, children's or babies which are $10 each. The kauri ply is a slightly browner more 'biscuity' coloured wood from our previous pine.
A trial pair of children's sized blockers in the new ply
Blair's swifts are proving so popular that he's making them regularly in the evenings and weekends, currently customers are told there is a 3 week wait when ordering due to the demand. Unfortunately because of the rise in the cost of materials in the last 6 months or so we are having to increase the price of swifts to $60 before postage. We still think that they are absolutely worth that and are really nicely made large swifts that can handle big skeins. The one below was on it's way to New Plymouth this week to make balling yarn easier for it's owner.
Feel free to contact me or leave a comment if you have any questions!
Happy Knitting!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Wonderous Woolly Winners
It's just amazing what people can do with a basic pattern!
The Budding Designers Downunder Group on Ravelry has just hosted a knit a long of my patterns and I had the tough decision of choosing some winners. Man, it was hard alright, but here's a collage of the winners beautiful finished objects and their lovely models
This is only a smidgen of the fabulous items that were knitted over April! There are sooooo many more amazing ones and many more stunning children wearing them. I'm hoping to get my own children wearing one each this winter when I get a chance to knit them
Here's one that we've been gifted as well, I've been spamming everywhere with this pic as I love the cardy and the model so much! Thanks again Michaela!
And the horse hasn't bolted yet if you are wanting to join in with a KAL. There's a May one running at the moment over in the 'Knitting for Boys' group, I've got a prize in mind as well for that one :)
Come join us! Thanks again to all the wonderful people choosing to knit my patterns. It gives me such a buzz! Mwah!
The Budding Designers Downunder Group on Ravelry has just hosted a knit a long of my patterns and I had the tough decision of choosing some winners. Man, it was hard alright, but here's a collage of the winners beautiful finished objects and their lovely models
This is only a smidgen of the fabulous items that were knitted over April! There are sooooo many more amazing ones and many more stunning children wearing them. I'm hoping to get my own children wearing one each this winter when I get a chance to knit them
Here's one that we've been gifted as well, I've been spamming everywhere with this pic as I love the cardy and the model so much! Thanks again Michaela!
And the horse hasn't bolted yet if you are wanting to join in with a KAL. There's a May one running at the moment over in the 'Knitting for Boys' group, I've got a prize in mind as well for that one :)
Come join us! Thanks again to all the wonderful people choosing to knit my patterns. It gives me such a buzz! Mwah!
Monday, May 9, 2011
It's Nice To Be Appreciated
All mothers need a big hug and a 'thank you' on Mother's Day.
Not wanting to brag, but my husband did a superb job this year. Besides our plans for a lie-in being foiled by Timothy choosing to rip up DVD case inserts in the lounge which resulted in people being told off and crying before breakfast time, the rest of the day was lovely!
My husband must've given a great deal of thought to the gift, either that or he's got a winning formula which I'd be happy for him repeat annually, a BIG box of chocolates (fabulous!), a bunch of roses, the latest book in a series he knows I've read (with an exchange card), smellies, a bag of lollies, a fab container for putting my knitting in and best of all a beautiful card with nice stuff written inside.
Add to that him making breakfast, lunch and dinner and doing the dishes not to mention not complaining when I picked up my knitting or decided to dye some yarn and I feel pretty special. Pity that by the time I realised he'd done such a wonderful job all day he was in bed fast asleep after doing all the cooking, cleaning and kindy lunchbox making ready for Monday (I was busy going through all the KAL projects...I'm still not finished but that's another post)
Sorry to those that had stink mother's day - tell your significant others that it's not on and hope for better next year (and circle things in mailers, point out things you like, set the alarm in their phone for the day before with a comment about shopping for mother's day...you know, stuff like that)
Not wanting to brag, but my husband did a superb job this year. Besides our plans for a lie-in being foiled by Timothy choosing to rip up DVD case inserts in the lounge which resulted in people being told off and crying before breakfast time, the rest of the day was lovely!
My husband must've given a great deal of thought to the gift, either that or he's got a winning formula which I'd be happy for him repeat annually, a BIG box of chocolates (fabulous!), a bunch of roses, the latest book in a series he knows I've read (with an exchange card), smellies, a bag of lollies, a fab container for putting my knitting in and best of all a beautiful card with nice stuff written inside.
Add to that him making breakfast, lunch and dinner and doing the dishes not to mention not complaining when I picked up my knitting or decided to dye some yarn and I feel pretty special. Pity that by the time I realised he'd done such a wonderful job all day he was in bed fast asleep after doing all the cooking, cleaning and kindy lunchbox making ready for Monday (I was busy going through all the KAL projects...I'm still not finished but that's another post)
Sorry to those that had stink mother's day - tell your significant others that it's not on and hope for better next year (and circle things in mailers, point out things you like, set the alarm in their phone for the day before with a comment about shopping for mother's day...you know, stuff like that)
Monday, May 2, 2011
A little update
Just a quick post while I remember, I've just transferred $100 to the Red Cross account for Christchurch, thank you to all the people who purchased my Teacher's Pet pattern since the 18th of March, the money all went to Christchurch (I rounded it up to a nice tidy figure :) )
And just a reminder too that my knit-a-longs are close to coming to an end, all the details for your items need to be entered into Ravelry by the 8th of May
If you didn't get to take part but would still like to do a KAL of my Little Rascals, a knit-a-long of those is just underway over on Ravelry in the Knitting For Boys group (and I reckon you can still knit it for girls ;)
And here's a picture, just because every post needs one to look pretty. Mr 10 weeks just happens to be wearing a Young Einstein I knitted (it does have all the buttons, promise...I had just started taking the cardy off when Blair wanted to chat with baby David). Now just imagine cooing noises and inhaling squeals of laughter from the both of them, gorgeous!
And just a reminder too that my knit-a-longs are close to coming to an end, all the details for your items need to be entered into Ravelry by the 8th of May
If you didn't get to take part but would still like to do a KAL of my Little Rascals, a knit-a-long of those is just underway over on Ravelry in the Knitting For Boys group (and I reckon you can still knit it for girls ;)
And here's a picture, just because every post needs one to look pretty. Mr 10 weeks just happens to be wearing a Young Einstein I knitted (it does have all the buttons, promise...I had just started taking the cardy off when Blair wanted to chat with baby David). Now just imagine cooing noises and inhaling squeals of laughter from the both of them, gorgeous!
Saturday, April 30, 2011
A Belated Easter
Easter didn't really happen at my house. The kids woke up and found they'd been visited by the Easter bunny but we didn't really get into the easter spirit beforehand like I would have liked. The build up was possibly overshadowed by Craft 2.0 and the fact that Coco Kids had a stall there on Saturday the 29th (the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Sunday). On the Sunday I fed my babe and then got up early to take my lovely friend Kate to the airport so besides us consuming a bit of chocolate, it felt like any other Sunday following a very busy Saturday.
Craft 2.0 by the way was fabulous, exhausting but fabulous. I spent the day there with my colleagues Kate and Ali, along with baby David (9 weeks at the time), he was more than happy in my Unido sling or being cuddled by whoever could snaffle him away from me when he wasn't sleeping.
I had been meaning to make these Hot Cross muffins with my kids as soon as I found the recipe. I tried making Hot Cross buns with them a few times, but for some reason, the same recipe I had great success with last year was a flop (no it wasn't my yeast).
Today, we made the Easter muffins. I still haven't got around to the kids making little baskets or bunny ears or anything like that, but the muffins we did today. And they were yummy. We'll make them again, even if it's not easter!
Here's the recipe, I hope it's ok to post it on my blog!
Allyson Gofton's Easter Hot Cross Muffins
Ingredients:
3 c flour
2 T bkg pdr
1/2 c brown sugar
2 t mixed spice
1 1/2 c dried fruit (your choice, I used currants and sultanas)
1 apple, peeled and grated
2 eggs
1 1/2 c milk
125gms butter, melted and cooled
Crosses:
1/2 c flour
1/2 t bkg pdr
25gms soft butter
milk to mix
Method:
1. Sift the flour, bkg pdr, brown sugar and spice into a large bwol. Stir through the dried fruit and make a well in the centre.
2. In a jug mix grated apple, eggs, milk and mix into the dry ingredients along with the melted butter.
3. Pour into muffin pans and bake 220 degrees C for 10 mins. Open the oven dorr, pull the tray out, but keep the muffins in the oven. Pipe crosses on top of the muffins, then bake for another 5-7 mins until well risen and golden. Cool in tins for 5 mins before enjoying.
Crosses:
Sift the flour and bkg pdr, rub in butter. Stir in enough milk to make a thick batter. Fill piping bag ready to pipe onto muffins whilst they are cooking.
If you wish to glaze muffins (I didn't see this instruction until now) dissolve 1/4 cup sugar in 2 T water and simmer until sugar has dissolved. Brush the muffins with this and stand 2-3 mins before serving.
Craft 2.0 by the way was fabulous, exhausting but fabulous. I spent the day there with my colleagues Kate and Ali, along with baby David (9 weeks at the time), he was more than happy in my Unido sling or being cuddled by whoever could snaffle him away from me when he wasn't sleeping.
I had been meaning to make these Hot Cross muffins with my kids as soon as I found the recipe. I tried making Hot Cross buns with them a few times, but for some reason, the same recipe I had great success with last year was a flop (no it wasn't my yeast).
Today, we made the Easter muffins. I still haven't got around to the kids making little baskets or bunny ears or anything like that, but the muffins we did today. And they were yummy. We'll make them again, even if it's not easter!
Here's the recipe, I hope it's ok to post it on my blog!
Allyson Gofton's Easter Hot Cross Muffins
Ingredients:
3 c flour
2 T bkg pdr
1/2 c brown sugar
2 t mixed spice
1 1/2 c dried fruit (your choice, I used currants and sultanas)
1 apple, peeled and grated
2 eggs
1 1/2 c milk
125gms butter, melted and cooled
Crosses:
1/2 c flour
1/2 t bkg pdr
25gms soft butter
milk to mix
Method:
1. Sift the flour, bkg pdr, brown sugar and spice into a large bwol. Stir through the dried fruit and make a well in the centre.
2. In a jug mix grated apple, eggs, milk and mix into the dry ingredients along with the melted butter.
3. Pour into muffin pans and bake 220 degrees C for 10 mins. Open the oven dorr, pull the tray out, but keep the muffins in the oven. Pipe crosses on top of the muffins, then bake for another 5-7 mins until well risen and golden. Cool in tins for 5 mins before enjoying.
Crosses:
Sift the flour and bkg pdr, rub in butter. Stir in enough milk to make a thick batter. Fill piping bag ready to pipe onto muffins whilst they are cooking.
If you wish to glaze muffins (I didn't see this instruction until now) dissolve 1/4 cup sugar in 2 T water and simmer until sugar has dissolved. Brush the muffins with this and stand 2-3 mins before serving.
Oh dear though, I've done so little regarding the royal wedding - no crown making or princess dress ups and stories. Maybe that'll have to be next weekend!
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Knitting for Craft 2.0
Well, from my recent posts, you probably know that I have a new baby (sob, I don't think you can still call them newborns at 8 weeks can you). On top of that, I have 2 preschoolers aged 2 and 4. People often make comments about me knitting during the day - let's just get this straight now, I don't knit during the day! Unfortunately, sleeps and kindy in my household aren't timed so that I get a quiet moment - but that's ok, I love being part of the tea parties and tower building (not so much the cleaning, washing and meal making).
You may also know though that Coco Kids has a Craft 2.0 stall. Hmmm - how to knit lovely winter garments for it with a little baby?
Here you go...
You may also know though that Coco Kids has a Craft 2.0 stall. Hmmm - how to knit lovely winter garments for it with a little baby?
Here you go...
I'm still getting some knitting time most evenings...well, except for the periods where he's unsettled or feeding or the house looks like all the clothes drawers in the house have exploded (there was no knitting time last night, the plunket nurse is due this morning)
For those of you that are going to be in the Wellington region over Easter, come and check out Craft 2.0! It's always fabulous - all the details are here on the Coco Kids blog. All the team with be there this time too (well, I might not be there for a long time...8 hours in craft fair heaven and a little baby don't really go together too well I don't think).
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