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brown paper packages...and books!

Let's get this party started!
Here are the invites for Rose's upcoming birthday party  -I knew that the drawings I did for Illustration Friday would come in handy some time soon ( been too busy lately ruining felt to do any illustrations...must get back to a bit of drawing soon)
I have taken Jo's advice and I am going to keep the party  simple and sweet. I had been eying her button bracelets as they progressed , thinking "what a lovely idea, maybe I'll use them as inspiration and make some too."
Uh, uh....now I have decided that instead of me doing all of that fiddly button sewing, I will let the girlies stick them all onto a little paper box (two dollar shop bargains) and make a little button treasure box to take home. A bit messy ( I've warned them to wear play clothes) but simple and quick...and what little ( or big for that matter) girl doesn't love a treasure box? I'll throw on some glitter to soak up the excess glue and add a bit of sparkle.

Finished Steph's crochet scarf - love the mossy greeness of this one...didn't end up using this button as I decided that the same button I used on mine, worked really well on this colour way as well. I'm sure this won't be the last I make of these.
I've had a few enquiries as to whether I would make them( and some other things) to sell. I have been considering selling some crafty bits and pieces online but I have a lot of trouble with the whole pricing thing. Once you factor in the cost of the materials and then the time it takes to craft the item, the price starts to look quite scary. The other option is to not "pay" yourself too much for the time it takes to craft , but personally I have always been against devaluing your labour and effort. After making my $74 bear , I realised that despite the simple pattern, once you added up material and labour costs and then double it to get the retail price , $74 was actually quite a fair price for the shop to have been charging. I figured that if the maker had used $7 worth of wool , then she/he earned about $10.00 /hr tops for their work. I mean really, I used to get more than that working in retail.
Anyway, time to think about earning some money later.....I 've got books to share.....

Surprise! Not a Japanese book ! A great reference book for anyone interested in design..lots of clear big images perfect for inspiration! ISBN 0-8118-4373-4. Some images from the book below...

I think that the bottom RH corner birdies would look great embroidered...

Now did you think I wouldn't include a Japanese craft book? here it is...a lovely colourful applique and  patchworky number...ISBN4-05-604283-7

cute kid......cute bag

simple yet covetable pincushion ( and what a great way to use up those fabric scraps...)

and of course, a cute patched and stitched bag!
More books tomorrow ...I'm slowly working my way through my library....incidentally I am going to sort  as well, and in the near future put up some books to buy or swap, that I don't use. Quite a few knitting books as well as some other goodies....no point them taking up room on my shelf when there are other books just waiting to find a home in my library..stay tuned!

love a leaf.......

Sigh! Isn't it just beautiful? Now, honestly could you have walked away and left all that vibrant leafy glory behind? Ok,so some of you are far more disciplined that I,when it comes to barkcloth.
I have stopped ( practically) hunting on ebay for it but when I saw this one at "Rockit" ( an vintage clothing/jewelry/bits and pieces heaven in the Rocks) with its lovely nubbly surface and big bold colours ,it was a no brainer. And then the lovely man who owns the store quietly offered it to me at a reduced price and before you know it was mine,mine,mine.......
Of course I had to promise Damian that I would in fact cut it up and use it instead of adding it to my growing hoard of textiles treasures.
Of course I'll use it ...when I find just the right project to use it in.
I have a bag pattern that just suits this fabric perfectly. And I will make it.....soon.....

I have been following with interest Jo's progress on all things birthday related. Rose and Charlotte both have birthdays in August so I am on the lookout for ideas. Last year we had a fairy garden theme as that was Rose's current obsession.Easy, simple, pretty and oh so do-able.

Unless however, I'm prepared to let Rose strut her stuff, fully made up, in a midriff top,a strip of fabric pretending to be a skirt and a pair of battle worthy platform biker boots, then I'm going to have to look further than a Bratz themed party! At least I've managed to talk her out of a "Clown Town " party ( she recently went to one and had a ball...I'm thinking definitely not! Ever.)

Actually I'm a bit nervous about this years party because it will be the first time I have let Rose invite children of the unknown and untested variety. In the past, I only had to ask Steph and her three, plus friend Olivia ( known since pre-birth) and cousin Isabella and hey presto- instant, manageable party. Rose however, has been invited to quite a few kindy parties this year and is really keen to ask friends from kindy along.
Oh well, I guess as long as its short and sweet , I can cope.
I think.
Next thing she'll be wanting to ask boys.......

This is Rose in "artist " mode - the beret is the  must have accessory ...

And of course a photo of Charlie who is currently in love with buses...."more buths mama, more buths"
(she has a rather endearing little lisp happening or maybe she's working on the cute angle....)

I think she's working it rather well!

swap on......

Despite my little whinge last post about two swaps missing in action, I am still in swap mode.
After all I've been part of some terrific swaps, made contact with some great people and been inspired to start up a swap myself. ( By the way there is now a second make- a -calendar -swap happening and still plenty of time for anyone else out there who wants to get one going...drop me a line if you want to start one up and I'll pass on all the information...go on, just do it!) I think that I'll stick to one on one swaps with people I meet through blog world for more time expensive swaps and use Swap bot for the quick fix swaps!

This is a post card that I have just finished for the name swap .....my first attempt at a sewn card. A bit of handmade felt, some embroidery and applique and a little apple button as my "signature".

I can't wait to start on my calendar page - that is pages ,as I signed up for Paula's ( just couldn't resist...) and I have one or two other swaps with talented crafty types planned for a little later in the year, which I'm really looking forward to.

I have been doing some work on my tiny small things  and becoming quite obsessed with them. So tiny, so small, so not my submission for Morphe II ! ( I have actually made quite good progress with those - they'll be ready on time, never fear!)
I'm still not quite finished with them - and when I've done embroidering and decorating , they'll need names and life stories.......

And for those aspiring felt makers out there, what happens to a perfectly lovely piece of felt if you throw it in the washing machine for a final bit of "fulling" but forget to put it in  the washing bag/pillow  case.......

Lovely in an artsy creative holey way but definitely of no use for making felt softies......guess what I'll be doing this weekend?

tiny small things....

I am working on my submission for Morphe II ...well kinda, sorta....I keep getting distracted by new ideas and changing my mind. At present I am into making little tiny dolls - why I don't know, especially when it come to trying to turn through those itty bitty arms....

These small gentlemen are far from finished yet but I am finding them quite appealing as is and tempted to stop right here..the tallest is 14cm and the smallest just a bit over 10cm. I have learned that when making little tiny arm and legs that you should avoid fabrics that slip ( yes, I'm talking about you blue boy!). I've got another day or two to decide exactly what I'm going to send off to Adelaide so still plenty of time to change my mind again...

Do you think that there's such a thing as swap karma? The reason I ask, two dogs,  is that I have a growing suspicion that some people sign up for Swap bot swaps, receive packages, etc without ever intending to hold up to their end of the swap.Hopefully the next week or two will prove me wrong and my zakka swap and my softie swap will arrive and I can make profuse public apologies....(surely though, an email to say "I'm running a bit late" or " I just can't do it at the moment, how about later" isn't asking too much? )
That's my little whinge anyway......and I really enjoyed all of the other swaps that I've been involved in.....even if my magic yarn ball still hasn't arrived at Karis's place! If it isn't there by this week I'm going to send another one so finger's crossed it lands safely.

nothin' but blue skies....

No rain today, I've had a fantastic weekend of fine food, champagne and five star hotels ( is there such thing as a ten year and one week anniversary....surely there is..if not I think I might need to invent one!) and ....drum roll..I finished the scarf!!!! Only took me three attempts but I assure you well worth it in the end. See?

I love the colours, the shape is exactly what I wanted , the vintage button is perfect and it is fully functional ie it actually keeps my neck warm! The advantage of making three attempts at it, is that I can now make this scarf in my sleep and , in fact number #2 is almost finished. Steph's wisdom teeth scarf has been missing in action for a few weeks , lost at a BBQ, so she is in need of another to keep her warm and toasty - I enjoyed finishing mine so much that I launched straight into one for her and I have not had to undo one single stitch. And then I'm thinking of one as a birthday surprise ( not such a surprise if she reads this post!) for Michele......once you're following the right pattern, such an enjoyment to make! Rose has put her order in for a mini one as well as requesting one for Charlotte so "that we can be twinnies" . How cute. All of us wearing exactly the same type of scarf. Hmmm, must think about that one ( although it really would be perfect for a child - easy on and off but doesn't fall off, can't get tight around the neck, no dangly bits to get caught in the car door )

Speaking of Rose, she was in artist mode today, complete with beret ( an old one of mine that now lives in the dress up box) and painting away busily so that she could have an exhibition.....above  is from her red phase.... below is her yellow/orange phase

A lot of her girlies at the moment seem to sport rather large chests - she often comments on the size of women's chests usually along the lines of " she's got awfully big bosoms, mama, why?"
Why indeed? Is this a phase all little ones go through?
She has already informed me that when she grows up into a "bigger girl" she is going to have nice big bosoms like Grandma...hmmm,  if you take after your mama, kiddo, you're in for a bit of a let down in that department. I'm trying to convince her that my build ( let's just call it sporty and be nice about it!) is much more aerodynamic especially if you want to be a "Rose, Queen of the trampoline"
With any luck she'll forget about boobs and just want something achievable like blue eyes or blonde hair.....

cue the violins......

jonquils and lavender....
velvet and black coat tails....
champagne and chocolate cake....

this post is dedicated to the "king of the castle" ....who always makes me feel like a queen!

happy 10th wedding anniversary to us!

it's a scarf... or maybe a placemat??!

Things I learned today about Japanese craft books...this book in fact: all important ISBN4-579-11068-4

The almost edible wool is a present from my one of a kind mother in law, Maggie ( don't you all want one too?! believe me you do and not just because she loves buying wool as much as I do)
It is hand dyed 100% wool "Rose Garden" Rainbow wool - Popcorn from Lisa G. I was also spoiled rotten with some in the coconut ice colourway as well.

Lesson #1 - always check the page number against the pattern number  before you start whatever you are making or it may just turn out to be something else... I mean the scarf does look kind of like a placemat doesn't it? The patterns looked awfully similar except for the crucial number of starting chains and although I did wonder at the rather short starting row I continued merrily onward.....

Lesson # 2 If you don't think that the shape looks quite like it should, go back to lesson # 1 and check that pattern number again! Four rows in and I began to think "hmm rather short and stout..." but continued merrily on.......

Lesson # 3 Admit that you made a mistake sooner rather than later: that is way before you reach the last row of the pattern you are working on for a placemat . Undo it, find the right pattern ( yes the one on the same page but at the bottom....) and start again.

Lesson # 4 If you can tell that  you are going to run short of wool , when about two thirds of the way through the correct pattern for the scarf, you most likely will. Stop here and consider options:
a) buy more wool or
b) undo it and make it shorter , which in fact will make it more the length that you wanted it to be anyway or
c) continue merrily on

Lesson # 5 If the wool is a dream to work with and the colours are just gorgeous, then you won't really mind undoing almost the whole scarf to start again, this time the right pattern and just the length you want it, and you will have exactly the right amount of wool .....actually you will kick and curse a little (OK, a lot but do it quietly because little pitchers have big ears....) but you know it will be worth it in the end!

Photo of cursed scarf to follow shortly , I hope!
In the meantime , a few more photos from the book....

( I think I need to make these just for the pom pom trims)

the magic ball of yarn lands....

and of course, we unrolled it straight away ( instead of knitting it and discovering the treasures bit by bit, like you're supposed to). Thank you Cate - such a fun swap to take part in....

rick rack,rick rack, just love the very sound of it

rick rack....... (although I always thought it was "ric rac")

Petits Bateaux Botanical...

aha, didn't know I could speak French, did you? Well, actually I can't except for the very basics that you pick up in highschool and from watching "Better off Dead" with John Cusack...anyone remember that scene? Actually, does anyone remember that movie?

We went to the Royal Botanic Gardens this morning - Rose and Charlie and cousin Samantha  - where we met up with Grandma Maggie and participated in one of their holiday children's activities, "Petits Bateaux Botanica"  I must admit , I was a little reluctant to go when I saw how chilly, drear and drizzly it was this morning but in the end I was so glad that I went.

First we searched for botanical treasures in the slightly damp garden and had a little history lesson about the French explorers at the same time. Then it was back inside to create a magical boat from the found seeds and pods and bits. I had the fun of being in charge of the hot glue gun - now I own one of these little guns that was purchased for a project that never quite happened. (In fact I can't even remember what it was- how's that for short attention span?) It's still in it's packet - but not after today!
I think it's time to trade in the shares of the sticky tape company and buy some in a hot glue stick company instead! ( Actually, at the rate Rose and Charlie go through sticky tape , I'd best hold off selling those tape shares...)

Needless to say all girls, both big and little had a marvelous time and I can already see the flotilla of boats just waiting to be created, all with their own little seedpod and twig sailors......tres bon!

Afterwards a quick wander led us to an amazing looking display of succulents which I just love :
spiky things...

flower like ones....

frilly tall ones....

happy sailing everyone!

the smell of wet wool....

I have been playing with a few ideas for my submission for Morphe II . What to do with the little bits and pieces? - why make them into a pincushion of course!

Inspired by the violets from my mood board...just love the vibrant colour and overall girly - ness of this one! I think I'll try another version or two with a different flower - I mean , you can always use a pincushion, right? Once I have enough for my own use, perhaps I'll put one up as part of a swap..... I still don't think I'm quite ready to tackle a shop yet but that might happen somewhere down the road.

Details: handmade felt base and flowers with french knots.

I also managed to do some felting today - Rose and Charlotte thought it was great fun, helping to wet the wool tops down and then roll the blind. I had forgotten how hard on the arms it can be ..oh well, no danger of tuckshop arms for me this summer.

laying down the wool tops....

the wet felt on the blind, halfway through the process of rolling....

hanging out to dry on a rather conveniently placed and photogenic magnolia tree.....

Tomorrow, I'll press it and start cutting - just a bit excited about what I'm going to make. Lots of beautiful felt, glorious colour and handstitching . I almost decided to do a neutral textural kind of story but I couldn't resist the amazing colours that the merino wool tops are available in now - and the handmade felt is just lovely to work with and handle.

And how proud am I!

Rose decided that she wanted to sew, so I gave her a piece of felt and a needle and thread and away she went! A very successful first effort- "it's a blanket, mama"
I definitely think a little sewing basket filled with goodies is on the list for her upcoming 5th birthday. I bought one of those  plastic cane padded ones (that used to be made in Japan and now all come form China) when she was about 2 from a second hand store in Newtown. The satin lining is fine - I'll just replace the padded fabric top and it will be perfect for a first sewing basket. Sigh! All grown up already!