Almost 2009

I made a calendar.




If you like the look of it, and would like one to hang on your wall all next year (or give it to someone you like), email me: magter[at]optusnet.com.au

14 cm x 29.7 cm $17 plus postage (Aussie dollars. A bargain if you live o/seas!).

Wot Blog?

Here is something I carved yesterday and today. Have to say, I'm pretty happy with the result! Except for the little bit of bun I accidentally Speedballed off.

Its purpose in life is to decorate the front of Miss C's pink windcheater. She reminds me a lot of Little My. She often frowns and smiles at the same time, she's small, and she bites. Feisty!

Letterbox Joy

These arrived in our letterbox today. From Pomadour24 at Etsy (check it out for more pix).

This one's ISBN978-4-579-11194-7 (oops forgot to crop)


This one's ISBN978-4-277-72252-0

Linen pants for autumn/winter

I made these for MissM. They are linen lined with lovely soft cotton jersey for warmth (I added the lining). From the lovely "Basics for Girls" (isbn 9784579111473). They are called "Easy Pants" and that is exactly what they are! I have never sewn pants before, and these were an absolute cinch. Now I am sewing more!

My first completed project for 2008!

This dress out of...

this book (ISBN 9784834725568).

This minus...

these equals...

this (much nicer).

I also increased the boob bits* because I knew bits designed for petite Japanese chests wouldn't come close to fitting my honky milk-jugs (and I was right).

Close-up of cross-over front.

Fabric from Spotlight.

Snaps (of me) courtesy of MissM (4yo).

*I have a PhD in sewing terminology, can you tell?

Merry Christmas!

With a tum full of yummy food I wish you a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, or Happy Holidays!

One step forward, four steps back...

...to using up my stash.

I made this ("Remake One-piece")

from this book (ISBN 9784579111473) for MissM.

After reading Pip's post today, I hot-footed it to Spotlight, and came away with these two lovely Japanese fabrics. (The second one -- a nice soft cotton -- was only $6.99/m!!!)

I was surprised and really excited to unearth quite a lot of Japanese fabrics!!! Not only the lovely spotty Cosmo Textiles ones, but I finally found the gorgeous mushroom canvases, and some beautiful paisley prints on textured cotton.

AND they have a wide range of Clover sewing accessories. I have already bought a tube turner, a small rotary cutter, an iron-on transfer pencil, fine quilting pins (ace!!), and today added two yo-yo makers.

On Wednesday I also finally managed to drag my butt to Patchwork on Central Park, where I bought these two rolls of fabrics...yummy!

Good things

Some good things which have been happening around here lately...

Calico birthday kitty. My own pattern, which I will post soon for anyone who'd like a bash at her.

Drowning in oceans of strawbs'n'cream.

Bubble constellation in a pot in the sink.

Lilac on the windowsill.

The Good, Bad, Badder, and Ugly

Good: My 3yo was invited to her VERY first birthday party yesterday! (Not counting ones of friends' kids -- this was her first independent invitation.)

Bad: This means I missed the Melbourne Design Market I had been looking forward to for six months!

Badder: The party was a McDonald's party!!!!

Ugly: Unrelated, but all four of us have been sick all week. Luckily we're better now.

During this week, I STARTED MY FIRST JAPANESE CRAFT BOOK PROJECT (in reality rather than in my own head)!!! Now that is a major step. It is this shirt, and I am making it with "winter white" pinwale corduroy and this trim. So far I have cut out the fabric. Now to sew.

Also this last week I wrote a piece about soap-making for the new craft magazine Mix Tape by Nikkishell and 62Cherry ("mixtapezine" to me looks a lot like "mirtazepine" which is an antidepressant. Appropriate, really!) (I am a pharmacist by profession).

It never rains but it pours...

Oh I've been a busy little crafter:

• New yarn -- bought the Panda Zoomy pattern pamphlet, but do not like the yarn, so I asked the local wool-shop ladies for a suitable substitute. They recommended two strands of DK held together, but I could not for the life of me achieve the 12 st tension, even by adding one strand of 3-ply (aka "lace weight"?). So after three failed tension squares, I ended up ordering some Iceland by Crystal Palace from the U.S. and paying double for it (postage cost as much as the yarn itself). I'm sure I could have found some suitable yarn here, but when all's said and done, it would have cost more in time and energy. The ironic thing is that Iceland is made from Australian merino, so it's coming home. And now I have eight balls of beautiful greeny-blue DK alpaca with which I can make something else lovely for my daughter.

• More new yarn -- bought 10 balls of Bouton D'Or "Orion" (discontinued) on Ebay to add to the stash. I'm picturing a lovely cabled shrug/cardi down the track (something like Jennifer Thurston's Blackberry, although the yarn's not right for that one).

• Quilting -- discovered Superbuzzy! Although they are located in the U.S., even when adding shipping, the fabric is comparable in price to what is available in Australia. I am making two small quilts for two friends who are soon to have babies. Will post pix soon!

• Still plugging away on Little Angel. I'm all of 12 cm into it. I was dismayed to come across a little knot in the yarn (Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino) which came undone after I'd knitted it, and now I have two loose little ends which I have to try to somehow secure FROWN FROWN FROWN. Yarn isn't supposed to have KNOTS in it.

• More felted op-shop jumpers! I think I'm addicted! I heard my husband's muffled voice from behind the growing pile of felted jumpers telling me I should actually use them to make something now. Good point.

• Sewing -- bought some sweet apple canvas (and some pink bobble trim!) to make an apron for my 3yo chef's apprentice.

That's why I haven't posted for two weeks. Will add pix to this post shortly.

Hare-brained

I made bunnies today. Felt "chocolate" bunnies (out of acrylic felt *grimace* because it was the only type I could find at short notice). To take to playgroup in lieu of real chocolate for our Easter egg hunt.

By 11pm I decided it was among my stupidest ideas. They are cute, though.