Rain

It's raining again - the clothes were nearly dry on the line too. They are all hanging inside now. I'm afraid the girls think we live in a laundry.
There is nothing like a friend giving birth to stop you procrastinating. I had been promising to make her a bag that would go over her shoulders for ages and it's finally done. I used a red corduroy on the outside and a cotton on the inside. This one has an inside pockets and an outside one that I divided into two with yes more bias binding on top of the pocket.

More platypuses - they are always fun to make.

Mosaic Monday

1. VENDIDA, 2. Piggy pouch - detail, 3. Jasmine Tea, 4. New (pink) mobile!, 5. Fiesta, 6. Parque da Liberdade, em Sintra, 7. Gocco butterfly note card- a lone gold butterfly, 8. spring art, 9. teal the windsee, 10. Another view of my 1st attempt at making a brooch, 11. Tags, 12. soft sisters front, 13. Light, 14. "When cows fly...", 15. hopscotch, 16. little creature

A summary of the week

A busy week this week and Chris finished holidays so the girls have really missed him and I've missed having some help with the girls. So it has been a week of readjustment for us all. The girls are not really girly girls (thank goodness - I was always really worried about dealing with that) they are really happy with their trucks and blocks, occasionally they will play with their dolls - but it never lasts long and they are tossed over their shoulders. I did feel kind of bad about this at the start of the week and buy them some little fairy dresses. They are wearing them now while they play happily with their blocks.
We have had another week of rainy weather so I thought I'd try and watch a few DVDs while the girls are napping and I can sew or knit at the same time. I finally watched Little Miss Sunshine this week and loved it and Chris and I just watched the finale of Lost - aghhh - I can't wait until February for more.
Just off to make Chilli Beef Ramen from the Wagamama cook book for dinner and finally more elephants and curly hair dolls - which will be in the shop soon.
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Knitting Needle Roll

Inspired by my success with my sewing case I thought I'd make a dpn case and use my new found love of bias binding - and it worked! I made enough slots to fit all my sock needles in plus a slot for scissors, tape measure and knitting needle gauge. Slowly everything is finding its own place in my craft area and hopefully I'll be able to find what I need without searching through every box first.

Monday Mosaic

1. flower-ific, 2. nuno felted scarf, 3. my summer tote, 4. Art and Maisy - Vintage Wool DOG FRIENDS COUPLE, 5. Mini Frida Kahlo head, 6. done!!, 7. Butterfly Number 6, 8. trapaça, 9. JuneABS Entry - Under the Ocean, 10. Queen Anne's Lace - Retro, 11. Atsuko, 12. Butterfly, Flutterby, 13. kad-b-4, 14. patchamania skirt o' orange blossomy sunshiney love, 15. Borboleta Psico - 22 x 23 cm, 16. Granger & Northrop Conjoined Jack Rabbits for Allison

Kylie Koala

I'm trying to make the best use of the last of the school holidays while Chris is home to help with the girls. I've finished a few orders and tried a few new things. I think the list of things to do is a tiny bit shorter (it keeps getting added to though).
I changed my koala pattern a bit last night - I think the shape of the face is definitely better - and found some grey wool to use for the body. Meet Kylie a happy little koala that can be found in the shop.

Sewing Kit

I have been meaning to make myself a sewing kit for ages and was really wishing I had when we were away last week. I'd packed scissors, needles and a tape measure, but couldn't manage to find anything when I needed it, so I finally made myself something to carry it all around in.
I have seen a few different ideas in Japanese craft magazines so using those for inspiration I made it the perfect size to fit my little scissors and made a little pincushion to go in it and it's the perfect size to fit into my handbag. I'm ready to sew anywhere at anytime.

Skirts

I made some new skirts for the girls yesterday. I always manage to put their sewing to the side thinking that I can get it done anytime and it never seems to get done. So I decided that the priority yesterday was to make something for them. They were so excited to have new skirts they would not take them off last night and they had to wear them this morning. You can't get a better thankyou than that.

I managed to find all sorts of linen pieces as I was cleaning my room the other day and started searching for great things to make using linen, I have seen such amazing bags, clothes and softies. So I started a Sewing with Linen flickr group for people who want to share what they make with linen. Come and join!

New Magazines

The clean organised craft room is not so clean and organised today, but I'm going to try and clean it up once a day. The fab ironing board cover is from IKEA, I had to quickly grab it as when I'm with Chris in IKEA I can only go off the walking path to get what is exactly on my list. Next time I think I'll organise to go there by myself.
Some good magazine finds. Interweave Felt from Bilby Yarns and Marie Claire Idees from Amazon Japan.

Clean Craft Room

We are back from a few days in Perth with Chris' parents to celebrate his Dad's birthday and then a few days at the farm where the girls could run free.
I am pretty sure Chris and my Mum didn't believe me when I said I was going to organise my sewing area and the spare room. I think they thought it was impossible. I spent the time away in Perth and on the farm planning how I could do it. It was all planned in my head and I had to do it as soon as we got home and Sunday night it was done. I know it may not look that organised, but for me this is as good as it will ever get. I went to IKEA and got a big shelf for fabrics, rearranged all the furniture and the spare bed can actually be used as a bed now.

This wonderful print came in the mail from Nebo Peklo last week and has found a spot on my wall just above my sewing machine.

I'm finally in to Ravelry - it's more amazing than I imagined!

Mosaic Monday

1. Rainbow Penguin, limited of 1 print!, 2. Untitled, 3. Flower Granny Squares, 4. Untitled, 5. “Winterdreams about summer”, 6. Beuford the Buffalo Love=Creature of July 2006, 7. seashell001, 8. Plans, 9. Flowers and felt, 10. Untitled, 11. Wild Curls, 12. needle felted snail family 2, 13. Rise..., 14. Beach Jacket, 15. Coussin mille fleurs, 16. thinking

Tagged

It's so cold. My toes are telling me to knit, knit, knit. So I've cast on for Juta's socks from Knitting in Estonia by Nancy Bush. I'm using Cherry Tree Hill in Old Rose.

I've been tagged by Samantha - so here it is

A. Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves.

B. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed.

C. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

1. I need a coffee when i get up and some quiet time to check the internet.

2. Chris thinks I have a bad habit of never rinsing my coffee cup.

3. I like things neat and tidy - but this doesn't happen often and when it does it doesn't last long.

4. I love lists - I write them for everything.

5. I have piles of books everywhere, I can't go away without taking piles of books with me - I never know what I want to read next.

6.I like to drink Scotch and Dry Ginger and don't care if people think it's just for old people.

7. I swear too much, which I am trying to cut down on (but I've found it's almost impossible not to swear when John Howard is on the TV) as the girls are good mimics and Chris thinks I owe the swear jar a lot of money.

8. I have never played nursery rhymes in the car. The girls are just going to have to like my music - there hasn't been any complaints yet.

I'm tagging these eight people who don't think have been tagged yet.

Sue

Jo

Jennifer

Di

Gabrielle

Melissa

Dizzyjadey

Fiona

Red and Denim Bag

I finally got around to ordering some of the wonderful fabric from Kirinco. I am so glad I did - it is wonderful. It inspired me to make this bag. The red works perfectly with denim. I think I need to try some her new designs and colours and I definitely think I need to try some fabric from Aunty Cookie - I'll be on the look out for her new designs in September.
This photo was taken in the small patch of sun today. I know I shouldn't whinge about having rain seeing we need it so much, but I think this is the tenth day in a row that the washing hasn't dried and I'm a bit sick of my house looking like a laundry and I'd like to let the girls outside to burn off some energy. Whinge over, I'm still so greatful we have hot water, the novelty hasn't worn off yet.

Curly Hair Doll

It is the start of the school holidays here today. Something I've been looking forward to as it means Chris is home and we can each get some time to do our own thing. The girls are always happier too as Daddy is not gone all day. It was wearing a bit thin this week having them walk around saying "Daddy's gone. Daddy's at work". Umm hello I'm kind of fun too!
We don't have a lot planned - just a few days away to visit all the grandparents and then back here to chill for the rest of the time. Today was a pretty good start to the holidays Chris took the girls out for milkshakes today (no wonder they think he's fun) and I made a new doll with hair inspired by their curls.

Blue Bags

There hasn't been much blue sky this week, but there has been plenty of blue sewing. These are slowly being added to the shop.
I have no idea where these lovely sock yarns have been for the past 3 months. They were ordered from SSYC in March and promptly sent and then they disappeared only to turn up in perfect condition 3 months later. They were worth the wait and Allison at SSYC was amazing and so helpful. I think that you can really tell how good the customer service is when something doesn't go quite right and they were fantastic. If you want sock yarn I highly recommend them.

Socks for Dad

It feels like I have been knitting the second sock for my Dad for ever. I am so glad they are finished and I can cast on some new socks. I always seem to get more excited about what I am going to knit next rather than what I am knitting. These were made from Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport. The colour is Black Watch and I used 3.25mm needles and based on a pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks, I did a 3 by 1 rib pattern.
It is always funny to see how the striping and patterns come out on socks that are made with skeins from exactly the same dye lot. I am pretty sure each skein is 70g and I have about 40g left so I know I can get a pair of men's socks out of 100g.

Mosaic Monday

1. romantic girl, 2. Blue Butterfly, 3. Grandma's Flower Garden, 4. Zebras, 5. Blue sky, 6. B52 cardigan, 7. Bound to be that way, 8. detail2, 9. sock clogs, 10. Babushka dolls, 11. Birdie + Brooches, 12. poppies, 13. Ziggy Zag, 14. flourish, 15. colours, 16. Dung Beetle