30.12.08

we can make that...



seen in an exclusive shop for a ridiculous amount of money...
take photo...buy fabric...put three patterns together...make...
100% cotton voile...un-ironed..
beautiful...
clean white..raw edges...shape across the shoulders but with flowing lines...
singlet tops seem to be all the go around here ( see previous post)

28.12.08

caos remains...


son....mum, can you teach me how to sew...
me....its boxing day, the day of recovery....
son....i'll do it all, it cant be that hard.....
me...
go for it, your 19, think practical!...
pattern drafted by son...
me..this will never work its a woven fabric and your using it like its a knit fabric that stretches...
son....yes it will, just wait and see, my hips arent as big as yours!!!...
me...sigh..

cut out by son ...
stitched by son ...
son...what do i do with the neck and sleeve holes....
me...i think you will need my help here...
binding cut out by me....
stitched by son ...
worn by son...
proud as punch son....
son...i might make one for big brother..
me....when are you going back to the city......

15.12.08

ah.... now it feels like christmas...

the children are home from school....the house is full of noise and clutter and loud music and messy bedrooms...i love it....
also the christmas tree has been created....each year a new surprise for us, complements of the arty/crafty 15 year old....lets hope the 10 meters of red tulle i had to buy doesnt catch on fire with the fairy lights...the decorations are up....now i just need to wrap the gifts...whip up something delicious from the kitchen..... and i am ready.....
bring on the 25th....

12.12.08

spoilt from the other wide of the world....


what a thrill it is to receive treats from the other side of the world from someone you have never met.... i really loved being involved with the back tack4 swap this year... lets hope the clever girls organise it again....
all the way from oklahoma i share with you my package...
an old craft that ann has not done for some time, and I get not one, but two bracelets and matching earrings!!...see the charms in the bracelet.....hope the message gets to this old brain...
some orange oil, that i have been unable to buy anywhere, here is some delivered right to the door and it was used this evening for another batch of yummy granola...i even turned off the fan so the aroma spread through the house...it so so gorgeous...some socks..from save the ta-tas...it took a little google research into this one....but i will wear these with pride, for such a good cause...go on check it out you aussies, or was it just me that didn't know what the ta-tas were.......www.savethetatas.com...
nice to know the entire world indulges....
so thoughtful and so kind.....thankyou ann...i have really enjoyed meeting a new blogging friend...thanks for spoiling me...

9.12.08

back on the wagon....

i rarely knit during the summer, but as it wont stop raining down here i am wondering if we are ever going to get some summer weather....i usually start a knitting project at the beginning of winter and then only get to wear it for a short time before the heat arrives, so it seems like a good opportunity to start next winters project...i have had this drops pattern printed out for weeks but have had trouble sourcing some suitable yarn....in the wool store in subiaco, i found just the right stuff, and learnt a few new tricks...1) the staff are not as busy so very happy to spend some time to help you search for the correct project requirements 2)next seasons wool from europe has arrived already and is stashed out the back. 3) woolen yarn is cheaper during the summer months, including next years order as they have not priced it up yet, so they sell it to you for last years price...4) they will keep an extra ball out the back for you ,incase you need more yarn....i started the project last night...i bought an italian yarn called 'Vai' by Mondial...it is knitting up well and i love the dark charcoal colour with the little flashes of other muted tones that show their face every now and again... i am not very quick on the sticks, so this can be knitted without any pressure to have it finished, i have months before winter '09 is here.. has anyone out there used this yarn before, i am very interested to hear any comments, good or bad...

7.12.08

where are the teenagers when you need them.....

backtack 4 has been the first swap i have been involved in, at it has been great fun getting to know someone from afar who enjoys similar craft adventures.... this is what i created and sent to Oklahoma and only took 7 days to get there, not the 4-5 weeks that australia post told me... ann has opened it after graciously waiting for december to arrive, so now i can post of my adventures.

gold....................................
the wreath is made from our own hay, wrapped in a circle and pushed and generaly bashed about to get the shape, and wound by string to keep it in place. then as you can see its decorated with some of the oats, wheat that we are currently harvesting from the farm... to add the shinny bit, i tied on some gold baubles and finished it all off with some xmas ribbon, cinnamon sticks and glittering threads...hard to see in the photo.
these birds with golden threads were made as a back-up in case the wreath did not make it through the u.s.a. customs..... but it did, so these become a bonus...i think ann said she was going to sit them on the mantle....

frankincense.....
hand made lavender infused soap, and an organic cotton wash cloth. both fun to make..

myrrh.......................
a nervous gift to be giving ann as she is such a wonderful knitter/weaver/user of woolen fibres...this is a cloche hat that is still to be felted. it was easier to send it in its unfinished state so i didnt run the risk of it loosing its shape. plus, ann has done lots of felting before, so she will probably do a much better job at it than i would have....

now i just have to learn how to upload some photos onto flickr... that is proving harder than making the gifts....where are the teenagers when you need them.....

1.12.08

done and dusted


the process of machine quilting for the first time was fun...i would like to have another go at it, but i am in need of a few lesson first...everything has tricks to make things easier and i am sure machine quilting is no different...
finally this quilt is out of the box and into a post bag, on and its way as a christmas surprise for a god daughter....
and now for bigger and better things. maybe after the silly season, there seems to be no time left in the day for any fun in the stitching room.....