Raspberries to you!

"insert sound effect here" plllleeehhhh!

I wont be coerced into posting on my blog!
OK, you know it is easy to have my arm twisted, and I feel very guilty that I have not posted in a while. I promise that this weekend I will post not only a description of my Melbourne trip and the goodies I acquired, but a list of all my unfinished projects.

There I said it, I have MULTIPLE unfinished projects. I will catalogue them and walk you through their completion.

BUT, I do hereby solemnly swear that I will always have a minimum of 5 projects on the go at any one time, OR I will renounce my AADC membership.
So help me the goddess of all that is crafty!

Shazmina Bendi

My Craft Cubby Hole

On the weekend my good buddy, Benjamina gave me a bookshelf. Well actually the temporary use of a bookshelf. Not something blog worthy, except it has enabled me to clean up my sunroom and create my very own craft cubbyhole! It is most exciting dont you think?


So here is the work table and computer (and some of my shoes).



Here is the bookshelf





And here are most of the shoes that Shazmina Bendi owns!







A trip to Ikea and a few final touches and this will be the best room in the house!!

Meerkats Rock!

So it has been a while since I have posted, as my friend Sadie and Lance has been reminding me. I have no new craft photos, but do have news.

1. Jumper. I am still coming to terms with the 2 needle debacle. A little bit nervy about starting the intarsia pattern, but will muddle through.
2. Beanies. Have two to make, one for self and one for friend.
3. Fingerless gloves. For me, so that I can wear them while knitting.

In non-craft News.....
I have booked in for Speed Dating on the 20 July with my good budy Ms Mandie. We are both a bit nervous, but it should be alot of fun. The thought of speed dating makes me feel like a meerkat, on the look out for the predators on the savannah.

If all else fails, I am leaving the state on July 21 (only for 3 days) so I should be able to outrun the crazies!! :)
So that is me for now, catch ya soon!! Shazmina

ps meerkats are one of my all time favorite animals, they are cute and kooky!!

Craft Show Goodies

Last weekend was the Quilt and Craft show at Darling Harbour, tres excitement for the crafty ones in Sydney! Mrs Bendi came down from QLD and braved the cold weather for it. We had a great day at the show with Al, Brown Pants and the Bendi's. Below are some of the goodies that Shazmina made off with!
Bendigo Woolen Mills: Not a great photo, but I picked up some lavender 12 ply wool/Mohair to make a Jo Sharp cardigan for Mrs Bendi. Didnt have the heart to tell her about my condition (ADD) and the likelihood of her receiving said cardigan in next year! The moss green 8ply cotton is for another Jo Sharp cardigan pattern and I think I will knit it in spring/summer, might make a nice light weight project.

Hot Possum purchase: Mrs Bendi purchased the pattern and some Amy Butler Fat Quaters for Shazmina's Xmas present. I need to find some more fat quaters (love that term), material for backing and edging and then put Mrs Bendi to work!

After the quilt show Mrs Bendi gave Brown Pants a quilting tutorial. She was abit worried as Brown Pants was getting sicker by the minute, but all went well. Mrs Bendi is very Happy to bring another quilting convert into the fold!


Kaalund yarns purchase: And finally something I bought for myself. This yarn is beautifully hand dyed in Australia (Brisvegas) and the photos truly dont do them justice. They base their colours on the Australian bush, on the left is wisteria which is blue/green and purple and on the right is waterlily which is blue, green, purple and pink. It is a bulky weight, so I am going to make a beanie and maybe a scarf, havent quite decided yet.



So that is my haul from the craft show! Oh, I nearly forgot that I bought some circular needles as well.

Now if I could just complete some projects, all would be well! :)

Finally......Craft!

So here I am finally talking craft! No crazy Biscuitness today!!!!!

Current Projects:

Project 1: Knitted bag for sista Bendi. Status: incomplete. Needs to be sewn together and lining attached.


Project 2: Sprogwarmer Blankie Status: Final squares and backing to be sewn on.

And I had to include a photo of the Amigurumi Monsuta that jumped off my crochet hook and has made a new home with Sadie and Lance.


The Status of Project 3: Pirate Jumper, will be o in my next update!

Catchya then!

Shazmina

Biscuit Craziness!

So, I got the biggest suprise today. I went to collect the mail (I am the "go-to girl" at work) and I had a package from my good craftin' buddy Sadie and Lance (I really must learn how to put in a link).



Imagine my suprise when I opened it and saw these beauties!

BISCUITS!!! mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! And let me tell you they are full of deliciousness! I do feel a little piggy as I did a raid on the biscuit barrel on my way back from the mail room. Oh well, I will have to eat them as well!!!

Viva la Biscuit!

Shazmina

aka Crazy Biscuit lady

Yoo Hoo! Over here!!

So, my good craftin' buddy Sadie and Lance, has noticed that I have not updated my blog in a while so here I am posting!!

And the reason for my silence? I have been experiencing some technical difficulties, I can't remember how to download photos from my camera to my computer so I am currently holding alot of piccies of craft waiting to be posted. That is my story, and I am sticking to it!

In the mean time, I remembered that I always carry a project to work, in case the mood strikes me and I have to knit, or in case I want to impress that cute boy on the train with my crafting. Ok, that has never happened, the seeing a cute guy on the train bit, I usually see them on the platform and then lose them when we get on the train (gee, I sound like a scary stalker now!).

Anywho, here is a photo of my travel project. I am knitting the Umbilical cord hat from the first S'n"B book in the varigated Merino Bambino yarn that I bought from Spotlight B.B (before boycott). Kind of cute huh! Not sure who it is for yet, but will keep you posted.

Speaking of the Boycott, Shazmina's Mum is in agreement (right on sista!) she actually thinks it is "disgusting". She is becoming a political activist in her later years, having told Shazmina's Dad her views on WorkChoices (what choice?) legislation and Australia's involvement in Iraq. Lets just say you should never talk about politics or religion in the Bendi family! :)

So what is Shazmina working on now, I hear you say?? Well as she has always wanted to be a pirate, (arrrggghhh me hearty, raise the anchor and lets be off!) she is knitting a pirate jumper. Captain Jack Sparrow eat your heart out! Having been taught how to adjust a pattern for different yarn by the Yarn goddess at Yarns on Line, she has hit a minor obstacle (adjusting the intarsia pattern) which has slowed down production. But I will finish it, oh yes I will! I want to wear it during my trip to Melbourne to visit the cool kids, Sadie and Lance.

Will keep you updated on my pirate progress, and I will post again when I have the camera thing-a-ma-jiggy worked out!!

Viva la Craft! Shazmina

Honey Jumbles and Weekend Treasure

This, I promise, is the last in the biscuits of Australia series. It will definately be the last because my waistline and my cholesterol cant take anymore!!

This weekend will be busy for Shazmina, I have to complete the sprogwarmer blanket for our good craftin' buddy KT and her new bundle of joy. I also need to finish a bag I have been making. At present I am trying to knit the frill, 320 stitches!!! I am only half way through knitting the first row!! So that and cleaning my house in preparation for Mim's (that is my Mum) visit, will make for a pretty full on weekend!

My only other promise is to load some craft photos, so you will all realise that I am much more than the crazy biscuit lady!!! (mwa ha ha ha!)

The Biscuit Barrel spoke to me

And it said, Pillows!! EAT ME, you crazy Biscuit lady!
Who doesnt love Spicy Fruit Rolls??

Yep, I am OBSSESSED with biscuits! I must learn to resist..............................

Iced Vo Vo Follow up......

Otherwise known as "Did I make good on my promises?".

As I nibble on my Iced VoVo's I contemplate the last couple of days (gee, that sounds profound!).

So here is the update of my weekend.

SATURDAY. I went with my good craftin' buddy Brown Pants to watch her partner play Rugby. We sat in the park with our knitting and a bottle of cider (very chic!) and had a really lovely afternoon. I then was invited to dinner, where BRown Pants made divine Salmon Patties and we knitted, watch Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and ate! All in all a truly fabulous day!

SUNDAY. I made lunch for my downstairs neighbour and closeted crafter Benjamina, his partner Bretly and their friend David, Lord of Style and Good Taste. I made a delicious corned silverside, mash potato, cauliflower, veg and parsley sauce. Very Yummy!perfect Winter fare! I also did a spot of knitting to round off the day!

So, for once, I achieved all my craft and non-craft goals for the weekend. I feel as though I am truly shaking the non-completer/finisher tag!!

Stay tuned for updates of the crafty goings-on for this week!

Weekend Promises

I have decided that if I publish my crafting goals of what I will achieve on the weekend, then I am more likely to actually COMPLETE them!

Saturday I am catching up with my good crafting budy, Brown Pants to knit, drink coffee and watch her partner play Rugby. Ahhh now there is a day with some of my favorite things, coffee, knitting and watching fit men play Rugby!! So my aim is to get ever closer to finishing the bag I am making my sister and to start a shawl for my Mum. I have some new needles from the Wool Shack which arrived today and I am dying to make use of them!

Sunday I am cooking lunch for my neighbour and his partner. If you have read Armistead Maupin's "Tale of the City" (which I highly recommend) you will get an idea of what the building I live in is like!We are having Silverside and vegetables, very "rustic" (ala jamie Oliver) and perfect for winter!

I also wanted to get started on another Amigurumi. I have an idea for a little monsuta, that is starting to take shape in my mind. Keep you posted on that one!

So there it is, Shazmina's goals for the weekend!

YUMMY!!!!

Dont you just love Biscuits?! I am reliving my childhood at work, every day we get sweet and savoury biscuits in our kitchen (yes we are spoilt). I just hang out for the days when the Hunderds and Thousands, Honey Jumbles and Iced Vo Vo's are in the biscuit tin!


I had another look at my friend Sadie and Lance's blog and realised that I need some photos of my crafting, if for no other purpose than to prove I do complete things! My biggest problem is that I tend to give the things I make away, I guess it is becuaseit makes me feel less guilty when I buy supplies!!!

I have managed to dig up a picture of a scarf and beanie that I crocheted for a swap. It was one of the first times I realised that my crafting was or good quality andappreciated! And that reminds me I will have to involve myself in a swap again soon!

I have many projects on the go at the moment, and as I got a digital camera for X-mas, I have no excuses. So I will keep you all updated about my craftin' progress.

Shazmina

I am soooooo Clever!

As you may have noticed, I have added some links to the side bar of my blog. They are a few of my favorite links, and include blogs belonging to some amazing people that I just happen to know! Hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Craft ADD and other important notes........

Because this is all about me, I think it is important that you know a few things about me.

(That's me! Well my new boots actually!)

I have Craft ADD! Admitting it is the first step to recovery! I have an annoying habit of starting really great projects and then getting bored (usually close to the end) and starting on something else. I am trying to break the habit, taking inspiration from some of my good crafting buddies, I am limiting myself to 2 projects at a time. The unfortunate thing is that I think my craft ADD is rubbing off on them!! Soon I will be the completer/finisher, when all around me have succumbed to the dark side!! mwa ha ha ha! (insert evil laugh here).

I am a craftster, out and proud! And I have it engraved on my iPod to prove it! I just LURVE to crochet/knit/sew, I get that from my Mum who is the most amazing crafty lady I know. She gave me my first sewing kit to make dolls clothes when I was 6. I made use of the scissors on my sisters hair (she needed a fringe) and as she was my crash test dummy for all things odd, she willingly obliged (that is my story and I am sticking to it!).

I am from a long line of crafty men and women! My sister is fabulous, she sews, makes jewellery, and is musical. She is my guru for all things funky and cool, a constant inspiration. Then there is my Mum. She quilts, sews, embroiders, cross stitches, paints, does Folk art, tapestry, she is just amazing. My Dad is into electronics by trade, but he can pretty much make anything and is into carpentry, metalwork and gardening. Then there are various Aunts and cousins, too many to mention!

I love Meena! Or Princess Meena, as she likes to be addressed!She is my cat, the strangest, most neurotic and fearless little cat. Somedays she thinks she is human and other days she thinks she is a dog. BUT she is never just a cat!

I love my friends! I will introduce you to them all, one by one. They are fabulous, wonderful, amazing people!

And finally, I love Elvis! Again, something I have to admit to it, accept it and move on! The perfect cure for a hangover is, Salt and Vinegar chips/crisps, powerade and watching an Elvis movie (while on your couch, curtains closed!). My good crafting buddy Brown Pants, gave me some material with Elvis pictures on it, which was extra special as I know she is not a fan ( I know hard to believe, hey!).

So that is mostly me in a nutshell! ENJOY!

Shazmina Bendi

Welcome to Shazmina Bendi designs......

Hello and welcome!

As this is the first post and I am new to blogging, I wont bore you with a long winded spiel on me, I will wait until post number two for that!

Take it easy!

Shazmina