Craftapalooza

quilted footrest #2

Hey ya'll! Not much to say other than, here's Al's finished footrest. This time I used quite a few mid weight fabrics which changed the shape a little. Most of the fabrics are Japanese imports from Superbuzzy, Reprodepot and Leslie.

My photography assistant...

More pics over at flickr.

Oh and Fran turned 40 yesterday, Happy Belated 40 bloody birthday wishes Fran. hugs!

And, Twitter rocks, if you're a dooce fan she updates regularly and keeps me chuckling during the day.

happy h**ker...

Yep, I've turned into a h**ker. Crochet h**ker that is. It started with the ripple and then this scarf and then progressed to softies. There are heaps of awesome patterns out there. Next up I want to teach myself to read Japanese crochet patterns. The dinosaur I made for a friend's birthday, pattern from Owlishly, did it matter that he was a 40 odd year old man? No, I didn't think so either.

Lovely Fran tagged me, just for you Miss F six random things about me:

1. I like to poke my tongue at small people just to see their reactions. They're mixed and generally hilarious for those of you that are interested, anything from dobbing you in to mum or dad to poking their own tongue back at you.

2. I'm left handed though I play any "bat" sports right handed.

3. I make a lot of noise at the cinema, not intentionally. Apparently I agree, clap my hands, gasp and laugh very loudly.

4. I'm freckly.

5. I never finished high school, left at year 11 and went to technical college and did a certificate in office studies. I've been working full time since I was 17.

6. Aaah, I have a thing for country music. In particular Lyle Lovett and recently....Reba McIntyre.

Tag, ok for once I'm gonna, here goes. You guys are it: Auntie Cookie, How About Orange, Molly Chicken, Buzzville, Red Felt Flower and Sodeste.

Here are the rules:
1. Link to the person that tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
4. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
5. Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.


I couldn't leave you without a picture of at least ONE of my furkids. Here's the Spud for those of you that have missed him. He's doing very well, aside from some mysterious fur loss on his belly and legs and tolerating his older brother's boisterous love.

photo time capsule

Nifty little idea, Photojojo's Time Capsule. Sign up with your flickr account and once a week you'll receive an email with images taken a year ago. Here's mine for this week.

WIP's 'n FO's

Remember the footrest? I've been looking for an excuse to make another one and I found one, Al M's birthday. Unfortunately I didn't finish it in time, but I did wrap what I had completed and asked her to give it back so I could finish it.

First up, I selected about 20 different fabrics. I then cut 64 2 x 24 inch strips and started picking out sets of 8 strips ending up with 8 sets with 8 strips each.

I cut 8 pieces from calico and started to foundation piece the strips to the calico from the centre out. Trimming seam allowances and ironing seams flat as I added each strip ending up with 8 panels that I will sew together, so far I've done four. After this sew the zipper to the base and create the insert for the beans to go into.

The FO? A Mason Dixon Baby Genius Burp Cloth for "The Mo", Al M's little fella. He's a little chucker. Knit using Rowan Denim.

Spoilt!

Well I mentioned a little while ago that I'd gotten a couple of new toys, Santa Son came early this year!

One is my lovely Print Gocco PG-5. OMG! How EASY! How much FUN and how little mess. I'm thinking Christmas cards, tags and possibly a 2008 calendar. Lots of fun.

The other, well it's a Janome Memory Craft 6500. She's a little ripper. The only "fault" so far is she does have a little pedal lag when you initially start sewing, but other than that she's awesome. Powerful, fast or slow when I need her to be, awesome stitch library, 2 spools for 2 needle sewing, needle down, separate bobbin winding, scissors, I could go on. She's a treat. A couple of things I've sewn on her, Lotta's oven mitts, which I have to say I prefer over Denises. Bigger mitt, covers more of your wrist and I do like the circle quilting and a sneak peak of my very late part of the Muslin Tote Swap. I used fabric from Kirin, awesome fabric and the coolest button that Al got for me. More pics once Meagan's received it. The others are still works in progress, cushions for our living room. Gotta love Santa Son!

So here's the current project list for the "immediate" stuff for Christmas:

• Placemats for day to day use
• Coasters that don't suck, the first batch suck
• Placemats/Table runner for Christmas with napkins
• Table runner and napkins for dinner parties
• Oven mitts x 2
• Print cards and tags
• Plan crackers, jokes, trinkets, paper etc
• Design and print 2008 Calendar

I'm sure there is more, I just can't think of it right now!

Have you seen the Sew Mama Sew blog? They're having 30 Days of Handmade Holiday's this month. Awesome! I'm pretty sure they're including my tissue holder tutorial, thanks guys!

I'll leave you with a picture of Spud doing his new hobby....helping Mummy Son do her jigsaw. As you can see he's pretty good and laying on the pieces much to The Son's delight, NOT! He usually waits until she's doing the jigsaw and will get up from wherever he is and get in the box and look at her like "bring it". Makes for lots of giggling from me and frustration for The Son. The Spud's happy as he's getting attention. Nice.

Blog Action Day.

Hey you bloggers, get on over, register and promote Blog Action Day. 15th October is the day!

On October 15th, bloggers around the web will unite to put a single important issue on everyone’s mind - the environment. Every blogger will post about the environment in their own way and relating to their own topic. Our aim is to get everyone talking towards a better future.

mojo.

I managed to channel some crafting mojo for Miss Kate's birthday. Gotta love friends that appreciate handmade gifts. Miss K and her lovely offsider Mr Jon are always gracious receivers.

For Miss K's birthday I stayed with tried and tested solutions. Pictures that follow by Miss K, thanks! Kate's taking me off to Kings Park next weekend for a photography lesson, hopefully Jon and Son will be our woodland nymphs. We're both lucky D80 owners and she's going to pass on some of her photography wisdom, fingers crossed it rubs off on me.

KittyKate

Cuff

Tissue holder

Last night I had itchy fingers for casting on socks. It's been a while so I'm feeling a little rusty. I'm going to use the Whiskers and Paw Prints pattern and STR medium weight in Pucks Mischief. Magic loop, no picot edge, rolled stockinette edge for this bunny.

New job starts in less than 10 days. Feeling more excited than nervous now, but check in with me again in 2 weeks time. We've also decided to get the kitchen renovated, this will involve the removal of walls. I'm in the middle of pricing it all, fingers crossed we can do it. It'll transform the kitchen/dining area. WOOT!

Happy crafting!

fly, shop, eat, watch, walk and play

Melbourne was a blast. Caught up with old friends and new ones. Went to Rose Street Markets, one of the highlights (thanks Fran and Em). Footy at the Dome on Friday night, I had a blast. Lots of yummy french toast at Babka, delicious yum cha at the Oriental Tea House (recommend it), lunch at Segovia and Mart. There was Big Brother contestant spotting on Chapel Street as well as RocKwiz hostess spotting on Brunswick Street. Obligatory chocolate shopping at Haigs. A little bit of crafty shopping at Martas, first visit for me. Overwhelming especially when you're shopping with two very patient non-knitters. I managed to do some damage and buy some slubby.

There has been crafting, just no photography. Finished the multidirectional diagonal scarf, excellent pattern for Big Kureyon. Also finished The Son's scarf, lovely if I do say so myself. I have a couple of kitties in the works and am at the point of considering which of my STR sockclub socks I want to cast on. I also bought Cat Bordhi's latest sock book. Holy moly that woman is amazing. I'm also participating in the muslin bag swap and need to get moving.

Thanks for all the comments on the last post. I think I'll just become the little puffer train...."I think I can, I think I can....", hmm maybe it should be changed to "I know I can, I know I will". LOL. Anyhow, happy crafting!

can you feel it?

The love that is. Wowzers, thanks for all your lovely comments, talk about knowing how to make a gal feel the internets love. I knew you guys were out there, thanks for delurking. We have winners, Sia, Sherri and Dawn, congrats! Can you guys email me your postal addresses please and your preferred initial on your tape measure.

Finally made a sock monkey. I'll admit it was out of desperation (dramatic I know) looking for ideas for handmade man/boy gifts. So here is sock monkey. I haven't named him as I figured the recipient would want the honour of doing that. Some details. Ok. Grab yourself some sock monkey socks, or whatever socks you wish, use Google to find the sock monkey "recipe" and whizz up your monkey with a buddy one Friday night. THEN let the monkey sit around nude for about, ohhh a couple of years. Finally, drag out the monkey and dress him. Pants and shirt patterns I can't find the darned link, but edited quite heavily. Bag made off the cuff with robot transfer from Laurie. Knitted hat, can't find the link for the pattern. For a first attempt, he's come out ok and he went down well with Jon. More pics here.

I've also knitted one half of a pair of booties using this lovely pattern, Saartjes Booties. Lovely sweet pattern that makes itty bitty booties, just over 7cm long. I'm using Rowan 4ply Soft. Next time I'll knit them on bigger needles using 8ply. How'd you like this picture?! Not quite up to Brooklyn Tweed's photography but I'm working, baby, working IT.

Listening to JJJ recently I'd heard Regina Spector do a copy of a John Lennon song "Real Love". I liked it enough to track it down at the JJJ website. For those interested, off you go, be patient there's a little interview at the beginning. There's just something about her voice that makes me stop in my tracks and be still for a moment.

Also, Kelli and Lisa have been in the wars, go on over and give them some internets love.

up to?

Howdy ya'll. Thanks for the response to my last embarrassing story. Glad to amuse as always! It was a tough choice but in consultation with The Son we decided that Monica's story about the "friend" with the false labor due to an M&M smeared in her knickers wins. Monica, if you're reading drop me a line and we'll chat.

Getting there slowly, slowly. Craft room STILL in boxes and I'm starting to get twitchy...Painting nearly finished, my crafty room is last and he's gone on holiday's for a week....Yep. So waiting patiently, knitting The Son's scarf, getting my creative kick from baking and playing with the camera.

Almond and Rhubarb Cake - Yum and more yum.

Hallway -  painted. Ceiling Dulux White On White, walls, Harlem. Toilet - 1970's LILAC. Yes, we have a lilac throne. We'll be living with the lilac for a little while yet...

Gillian and Paul bought us a house warming worm farm. Me hinting helped :) I LOVE IT. All the vegie scraps go to the worms. Looking forward to harvesting worm juice and casings and putting them on the passionfruit vines I'm planning on planting. Also, no pictures yet, but that pomegranate I mentioned, well it's actually a guava tree. Yellow guava's with pale flesh. The smell super sweet and I'm not quite sure what I think of them yet. Made one batch of guava jam, so-so.

Wattle next door.

Until next time....keep on crafting and keep your chewing gum out of your pants!