Jug and Glass Covers

This is one item that everyone tells me that they can't usually find. Well, guess what, they never visited my stall before because this is one item that I started selling the first day I set up.

I started doing these after my wife's girlfriend gave me a couple of pattern books and a bag of beads. I've since had to buy more beads as I've run out a couple of times.

I have large jug covers ...

... medium size jug covers ...

... and small jug covers (suitable for covering a glass).

I started making the small covers after a lady from North Queensland told me a story about the little green frogs that come hopping through the house at night, and if you have an uncovered glass of water by the bed at night and take a drink, you might end up swallowing a little more than you anticipated.

Frilly edged doilies

These are a little fiddly to make as the individual squares are quite small (about 4-5 cm) and slip-stitched together using back loops only, and the edge is supposed to pucker because there are too many stitches  for it to lie flat.

Pretty Petals

The name of the motif used in this doily is "Pretty Petals" and come from an Australian collections of American patterns called "Quick 'n Easy Crochet". One of the neighbours knew that I made doilies and chose that pattern for a friend and wanted them for Christmas, so I got cracking and ...

... here they are.

Battle Ready Soldiers

We had a group of people from all over the division here for a weekend Boot Camp, starting on Friday and finishing with this morning's service. The idea of Boot Camp is to teach interested people about The Salvation Army and help prepare them for soldiership. Of course, not everyone that completes the course signs up to go into uniform. I've been a soldier now for 14 years so my only participation in this event was this morning's meeting.

The scripture for today's message came from 1 Samuel 17, where David slew Goliath.

Some notes from today's message follow:-

God made The Salvation Army to be a fighting force not a club.

Saul was the peoples king, God chose David.

Saul led an army that was afraid of its opposition, they had little faith. David faced the enemy with faith.

Goliath was a giant in the army, David was a soldier with a giant faith.

As we grow as soldiers, our faith increases and we can take on bigger opponents in God's strength.

Do as David did, don't focus on the ground, don't focus on the size of the enemy, focus on God and what He can do.

The week that was #5

I seem to be getting forgetful lately. This is the second time this week that I forgot to blog before going to bed.

This week we had the launching of the Kmart Christmas Tree. Several of the Mobile Mission members stayed around for that and helped form a band, and we had some kids from one of the local schools singing along. It seems so early for singing carols but the shoppers seemed to enjoy it.

I managed to finish the 4 doilies I was making for a neighbour, just need to get the ironing board out so that I can press them. I have now started on the hanging towels for the next market day.

I am also very close to finishing sorting out the yarn stash. I have a various bits and pieces in various containers that I need to round up.

My to-do list now looks like this:-

Hanging towels - may have to get some more cotton as I'm running out a certain colours but will try to us what I have available.
Tea cosies - This should use up a bit of the stash.
Beanies and scarves - someone suggested doing them in footy team colours, hope I have enough of the right colours.
Baby clothes - usually a good seller
Teddy bear - current UFO

There are also a couple of my wife's UFO that I might try to find the yarn for and finish since she seems to like starting things and not finishing them.

Pineapples

I quite like doing the pineapple stitch and seem to have collected quite a few patterns using it. Here are just three that I have in stock at the moment.

Oval Doilies

I have a book of oval doily patterns and I go through it and remake them any time I my stocks get low.