‘Bleeding Lights’

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‘Cancelled Owing to Rain’

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Needed some more green to wear to Wicked!

I’m thinking of adding another strand or two of the seed beads… what do you think?

Just a closer look at the necklace I made to go with my fairy costume. I bound the larger beads, with the intention of making a chunkier necklace or bracelet, but didn’t have enough for what I wanted – I’m kind of happy about that now though. It’s far more versatile as it is. Looks nice wrapped around the wrist as a bracelet also.

I had a special party to go to this week. One of my favourite little girls turned three!

Renae’s daughter, Kaitlyn, had a fairy party – about which I was probably more excited than anyone my age had any right to be. Either way, I believe you can’t go to a fairy party without your wings, and so I had a lot of fun getting mine ready.

I started with a pile of goodies from Spotlight…

And ended up with this:

I did enjoy making my wand, though trying to match the paint to the cornflowers was harder than I had anticipated.

I did the detail with cling stamp and black paint – which seemed like a good idea until I had to clean the stamp.

Long necklace, to be doubled over – made with agate-looking stone and blue seed beads.

But my favourite part? The wings! I loved how they turned out, even if I couldn’t quite get them to sit straight on.

White and pink child’s tights stretched over some wire and detailed with purple, silver, and glitter paint – they really shine!

I should be finishing up blankets and crocheted toys… anything to make a dent in my toppling wip pile, however last night I picked up my poor abandoned cross-stitch and worked on a few sections.

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Brett’s birthday is just around the corner, so I’ve started sewing together his blanket- if I don’t get a move on he’s going to get a bag of squares with a bow around it.

  ‘Bright Tapestry’

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Please feel free to ignore this post if you’d like – especially if you’re seeing it in more than place (it’s being x-posted).

A couple people I talk to online have asked me where they can find me at various online locations so I’ve created an online calling card over here which lists my locations – hope this helps.

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My house has caught the photography bug of late and I’ve set up a new photoblog (mainly so I can keep them straight). Feel free to come visit if you’d like.

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I have officially signed up for this year’s NANOWRIMO and it’s now too late to back out … at least that’s what I’m telling myself. I’m tracking my progress on my writing blog (yes, I’m a blog junkie). If anyone else is participating, I’d love to know so I can add you to my ‘writing buddies’.

‘Carpet Toes’

Once upon a time there was a monkey.

(Pattern: Amy Gaines’ Amigurumi Safari Animals Set)

He liked to climb in the jungle trees and tease the animals below him, the ones that weren’t able to climb and swing in the branches above.

The other animals weren’t too pleased with this (especially since the other animals are currently still in their wool-ball state), and made the monkey come down from the trees.

(wool: Marvel 8ply acrylic; Spotlight)

“Sit there and be still,” they told him. “Stop prancing above us, laughing and throwing bananas. Stop being such a naughty monkey.”

Monkey sat as he was told, but was very saddened by his friends words. He didn’t mean to be a naughty monkey, he was just trying to have some fun. Upset, he turned his back, and cried.

  (I just love the tail on this pattern, there’s no wire shaping in there, it’s caused by a spiralling skipped stitch – sorta.)

Seeing that Monkey was upset, and sorry that he had been naughty, the other animals came back and cheered him up, promising to come play with him again soon (when the jungle maker got her act together and finished them).

The end.

Today’s WIP Wednesday comes courtesy of Hannah and, I have to say, this is my favourite WIP to date.

I had a Hannah day today: movies, drawing, lots of running around senseless and having fun. But today also included Hannah’s first ever sewing lesson. And I’d like to point out that it was all her idea.

After having asked me if I’d show her how to make something on the sewing machine, we decided to make a dress for Bear. I found this a little disconcerting as I’ve been referring to Bear as a ‘he’ for the past six years, but hey, if Bear wants a dress, a dress he got.

Hannah designed the dress (with a few simplifying pointers from me)…

Picked the fabric (asking Bear’s opinion, of course)…

Cut out the pieces…

Ran it through the sewing machine…

Hand sewed on the press stud (oddly enough, this was the part she had the most difficulty with)…

Then, rather proud of herself, tried it on for size…

And I think Bear was quite pleased with the result. Doesn’t she (apparently) look pretty?

(please ignore the mess, Hannah and I have great fun on our days, but we also leave a fair amount of debris in our wake)

So what do you think? A worthy and impressive WiP if you ask me. Not to mention a far more ambitious first sewing project than my own.

… you walk into the craft shop and there’s a sale you didn’t know was on. Okay, so my wallet may not like it, but I do!

The wool I went in for, just waiting to be made into an elephant, rhino, zebra and a lion.

And some fabric from the sales table ($8, $5, $5, and $6 a metre). I got half metres of all, except for the watermelony one in the back, which I just love. I got a metre of that one and have squirreled it away for something special.

I’ve been working on this cot blanket, well two of them actually, for about a month. I wasn’t too rushed, cause I knew I had a few weeks to go before I really had to have them done (no, I did not learn from Vajira’s early baby). So I was happily plugging away at my usual snail’s pace.

Then I find out that a semi-last-minute baby shower had been organised for Tuesday and – man oh man – I hadn’t quilted it or done the binding yet!

So I whip one of them under the sewing machine and spend the night hand stitching the binding on. Got the lovely bleedy finger spot which always makes me feel satisfied – I feel like I’ve really accomplished something if my finger feels like it’s about to fall off.

I got it finished around bed time last night, feeling pretty good about the fact that I had finished both Vajira and Vikki’s baby present (2 down, 1 to go) in two days. This morning I got up a little earlier to take some photos of the blanket and put a ribbon around it for the shower.

I must admit, I do enjoy working to a deadline and just scraping through with a grand total of five minutes to spare. Tuesday morning: quilt finished, photographed, rolled and ribboned.

Yep.

Shower’s on Thursday.

Stupid.

I basically have two categories of knitting: that which requires concentration, and that which doesn’t. Concentrating-craft is usually done whenever I have a good couple hours together to do something uninterrupted, but non-concentratey-crafting (which, to be honest, is my favourite kind) just gets carted around with me everywhere. It gets chucked in my bag, worked on while I’m using the computer, and – most of all – while watching TV.

I never really thought that perhaps what I was watching would influence what I made, or how it would turn out. Usually I just grab whatever’s on top of either pile, but now I’m not so sure. This week I’m watching my new s1 DVDs of Sanctuary and I’m starting to see a connection.

(this picture has little to do with my project, but she’s just so pretty, and any excuse to play with the new photos!)

For those not in the know (and you really, really should be!), and without going into any detail, the show revolves a private research facility (known as the ‘Sanctuary’) run by a one Dr. Helen Magnus. This facility researches and provides care for a whole range of rare and unusual creatures, or ‘abnormals’.

As I sat there, becoming more and more obsessed (yes, I’m perfectly happy to admit that I’m pathetic), my knitting, which I hadn’t been giving a whole lot of thought to became more and more… abnormal looking.

(more project/yarn details to follow)

It seems I was creating my own genetically ambiguous scarf the whole time without even realising it. Guess this goes to show that excessive Sanctuary-watching is good for the creative process… either that I shouldn’t be allowed to watch TV unsupervised.

I’ve been working on multiple craft projects lately – crocheted lapghans, a set of cupcakes, the Hogwarts scarf, and two patchwork cot blankets – and so, while there’s been some crafting, there hasn’t really been a lot of finishing.

So we’ll just have to settle for some craft-lite.

Finished mini-project #1: A set of matching ‘Fairy Wish’ necklaces for Hannah and myself.

Just some pink and green foiled beads stringed and knotted onto some cord.

I got the tiny glass bottles off a gift tag in the remnants bin in Lincraft. They were so tiny and so cute – they just needed to be made into something cute and girly: so Fairy Wish necklaces they became.

And mini-project #2: a day planner to last me the rest of the year. I needed one now and couldn’t put it off until the new year; just one more sign that I’m now a grown up, and I’ve got to tell you, I don’t like it.

Care to join us for WiP Wednesday? Post about your current wip and be sure to come back and share your link with us!

Still plugging away at Brett’s birthday blanket, but I managed to get all the squares finished this week, so I should be finished for his birthday.

I just wish I’d woven in the ends as I went along…

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Once upon a time we went on a road trip. And it was good. The end.

Nah! Just kidding!

Yesterday Wendy, Renae and I went on a road trip to Berry, aiming fast and true for what is now my favourite craft shop of all time: Sew and Tell!

Wendy and Renae somewhat unwisely allowed me to document the day – though perhaps positively for them, the rain interfered with my manic photo taking, that and the craft high.

The day started with Wendy coming to pick Renae and I up, and the two hour drive practically flew past while we chatted away. Some of the highlights of the day (for me at least) actually came out of the driving time. Most notably Renae’s wonderful treatment of Geepee (the GPS system), calling her a “druggo”, and trying to gauge distance in relation to fabric measurements. Oh, and Wendy’s disparaging “You’re a girl, Geepy… you’re not doing the sisterhood any good.” (is it any wonder she sent you the wrong way??)

(see Wendy driving all responsible-like? Look at that lovely 10 and 2 hand position, very good seeing as there was someone documenting said driving)

  (and Renae being all passengery. What do you think guys? I should have no problem getting a teaching job with all this goodly English, huh)

And so we drove through some absolutely beautiful areas. Lots of hills, lots of trees, lots of clouds – all things I love.

We arrived to discover that everyone had decided to go to Berry for the day (they must have overheard our planning), but we found a spot to park and Wendy showed off her Little Red Riding Hood fashion.

(can’t you just see the pre-craft shop glee on her face?)

And then, ta-dah! We were there!

And then then the camera went away while we had fun playing in Sew and Tell. But we came out with lots and lots of goodies!

  (see the pretty bags! You just KNOW they’re filled with pretty stuff!)

When I got home, I laid everything out and, naturally, photographed it all. Are there people out there who DON’T photograph their purchases? A while ago I would have said yes, sure that I was the weird one, but now, with blogs and facebook and the like, it’s much harder to maintain my weirdo status.

I wanted to make sure that I got something really special while I was away, something that I pick up easily in Penrith or wouldn’t normally buy. And so I decided on a ball of Noro wool (which I have been eying of for MONTHS) to knit a pair of socks…

I actually ended up with three balls, two for a shawl and one for some socks. Shawl patterns will be gratefully received.

A new journal (don’t look at me, I’m weak), which I’m moving right to the top of the pile. Isn’t it pretty? And look at the back, it’s all messy!

And the best part? It has different styled pages inside: lined, blank AND graph!

Hand-dyed rainbow embroidery thread, which I’m going to hold on to until I find the perfect pattern.

A Melly and Me pattern book (Kaleidoscope) with some beautiful toy and quilt patterns that I’m itching to try out – but I WILL finish my to do list first. (I WILL, I WILL!)

So to cut a very long story short, I had an AMAZING day. Perfect. The only draw back was that we really needed to set up camp in Berry for about a month, and go back every single day. Though I do think that Wendy and I came to a grudging agreement that it was probably best this store wasn’t in daily travel distance.