How many new projects can you start on one weekend??

First there was the little Sweet stitchery which is part of the Stitcher's Angel project from Natalie Lymer of Cinderberry Stitches - I actually managed to complete this. This is small and I thought no problem, I'll easily complete it in the time it takes one movie to play - was I ever wrong! Some how I managed to get my thread in a big mess and it took almost one whole movie to untangle enough thread to finish this piece. I had to sit through a second movie to get the stitching completed - a good way to spend a lazy Saturday afternoon. Then there is a new knitting project which I started more than once on Saturday evening, but it seems to be going okay now. the colours are deeper than they appear in the photo and I am really liking the softness of this yarn which has a chenille texture to it. I got it at Lincraft last week a serious impulse buy - it was all about the colours. It is destined to be a neck collar, rather than a full length scarf.

Sunday I just had this urge to try making myself a new top, I figured if I started now it might be ready for when the weather heats up. There was a time when I used to do a lot of clothes making but not recently, I have to say I am happy with how this is coming together. It is not quite done but it fits and really I just need to do the cosmetic bits like the hem and finish the second arm hole - not sure what happened to the lining part of the pattern but improvised with bias tape it works.

You're right it will need a good wash and iron when I am done, this fabric has been in my company for many years and the creases just wouldn't iron out.

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Go on over and say Hi to MissyMack, she has had some excitement this month - what with her Breast of Friends block being featured in this months Australian Homespun and now she is celebrating 100 posts with a giveaway.

Oh, that will be me soon too, it seems I have been talking too much here and I'm almost up to three digits.

Well I hope Monday has been good to you.

Happy Creating

This Guys a Doll

I made this guy from one of the table cloths from my previous post. Oh, and the boss was happy when I told him I had taken some fabric samples home. So this is the extent of my sewing endeavours this week, not quite sure what happened but every step seemed to take longer than normal even though there were no tantrums and no need for the quick unpick - guess I was just going slow! Here he is naked, and fully clothed, haven't decided on shoes yet. All fabrics are recycled as the pants are made from an old pair of jeans and the top is from one of the table cloths. I am happy with the way he turned out. I am planning more sewing tomorrow, maybe I'll be going a fraction faster and may even get a finish?

Hope your weekend is going well.

Happy crafting

Recycling...

Can you believe I have been working surrounded by all this fabric for the past two months and today is the first time I have taken any home? I know it is a bit hard to believe, but well it doesn't actually belong to me and you know I just can't take things without asking the boss now can I? What you see here is a selection of commercial quality table linen which is no longer used by the customers and has been sitting on the shelf gathering dust for what seems like must be years, there really is that much dust in some places, it makes you wonder what kind of fantasy land the previous owners were living in. Anyway, where is all this going? The boss wants to clear out these colours. There are small quantities in various sizes from serviettes up to 72 inches square. I am thinking bags, or at least lining, the light colour next to the red and white check is actually a flesh colour just right for doll bodies. The red on the left in the picture and the green at the bottom are excellent Christmas colours, trees skirts and table centres come to mind. As he left before me today he doesn't actually know I took samples home - maybe I should just make some thing and surprise him on Monday? I'll let you know whether I am successful. Enjoy the weekend where ever you are and what ever you do. Happy Crafting

Sweet Stitching

The boss has been playing nice this week and we have had a couple of short days, not good for business, but sure is good for creating stuff! I got to play with Natalies pattern for the Sweet and Spotty Needlewallet project which she designed for the Stitchers Angel swap. I am liking this a lot and may not be sharing with my secret stitcher? So far I have completed the stitchery for the front using The Thread Studio hand dyed silk from the Opulent Collection - gorgeous colours and a pleasure to sew.

I hope you have found time to be creative today.

Happy Crafting

A Little Stitching

I traced these stitchers angel roses from Helens project on Saturday thinking I would have some time for a little stitching after dinner at the Health Farm, but instead we played with buttons from The Mothers collection. So far I have done this one which I really like, and maybe my secret stitcher will also as she likes Purple ALOT! I have used an hand dyed silk thread from 'The Thread Studio' Opulent collection, it is a very nice thread to work with and the colours really are vibrant. I completed this one using DMC threads 961 and 522. I like the way it has turned out too. Now to make the containers which they will adorn, not sure that I am making Helen's drawstring bag, but you never can tell what may happen next time I am at the sewing table.

I am already behind as the second project was released today, it is a gorgeous needle wallet featuring a design by the talented Natalie Lymer of Cinderberry Stitches. Go on over and check it out.

I chose to participate in Aunt Pitty Pats Bumps in the Night Annie swap and the dolly design this time is by the talented Brenda at Lilliemaes Crafts, who generously provided not only the pattern free of charge but an excellent tutorial on making Annie dolls. She sure has some gorgeous designs so pop over, say hello and check out all her designs. Oh and there is still time to sign up if you are interested just follow the link from the button on my sidebar.

Thanks to all the desgners who so generously share their work - today I'd like to thank Helen, Natalie and Brenda specifically.

Hope your week has started well and there is plenty of time to be creative.

Happy Crafting

A Good Evening...

was had by all at the Health Farm. Lots of yummy healthy food, oh and delicious desert too! Then after dinner SILJ asked about buttons and well The Mother was in a sharing mood, so we got to play with these lovelies and take some samples home of course. SILJ was looking for yellow and orange buttons for a project she is working on. I didn't get a before photo so most of the yellow ones are gone. Unfortunately The Mother did not have orange in her collection, maybe she shared with another family member already. We enjoyed finding interesting buttons among this lot for atleast an hour - Miss10 and Mr8 joined in and were very helpful cutting old threads off the buttons which had enjoyed a previous life!

Ooh... then The Mother produced these lovelies all of which are more than a metre in length. She finds all the good stuff for me at the Oppy where she voluteers weekly.

Oh, to have connections in all the right places.

Hope the sun is shining where you are.

Happy Crafting

I did It!

I made another one of these... You may remember I made one last month in coffee themed fabrics, well my sister who was the lucky recipient of that one asked me today for the recipe... I wasn't sure I could create another one as I just make things without taking too much notice of what I do. This one has been in the making for more than a week as I just couldn't figure out how I put the last one together! But I have been successful today and I am very happy with this one - maybe it will be for me?? I fussy cut some of the cute owls to make the ends,

and embroidered numbers on one side and math signs on the other.

So that is the only success from the sewing table this week ... the other project almost ended in disaster! I will need to do some unpicking to save it, and well I have to go to the Health Farm for dinner tonight, so I guess that will be a tomorrow (or the next day job).

Hope everyone else is having more success in the sewing room than me at the moment.

Enjoy the weekend.

Happy Crafting