Frog Stitchery

I have been inspired by the work of Jean Ray Laury. My doll was inspired by her book on doll making and now I'm being inspired by her applique and stitcheries. I keep seeing the body of animals with stitching.
So last night I tried to make a new frog. If you are familiar with the children's books such as "That's not my train" "That's not my teddy" etc you will understand my thinking when I finished my frog and had a look. "That's not my frog. It's arms are too long". Underneath it is a frog body stitchery in progress. How could you resist some yarn from a place called Beaverslide?Some good things about today.
1. Being inside with a fire when it's cold and rainy.
2. Making it down town in between rain.
3. Going to the little local library and discovering it has amazing craft books.
4. Grace and Amelia not eating all the playdough at playgroup.

Perth

We have survived the trip to Perth and managed to see people and get a fair bit done. I went to my first craft fair on Saturday. I haven't lived close enough to Perth to get to one in the past so I made a big effort this year. It was great to go and fantastic to see the Quilts on display and the Japanese Quilting Exhibition, but I was a bit disappointed in the lack of variety and different crafts represented. Having said that I did manage to get some lovely fabric and a skein of cashmere.
After the craft fair I wandered into the city to the new Borders and stared at book shelves for 2 hours - I kept collecting books until I sat in one of their nice chairs and could narrow it down to a sensible size.
The girls had a great time in Perth visiting my Nan and then spending Saturday with Chris' parents.

I have been dreaming of new softie frogs so I am off to try and see if I can translate my dreams into a 3D softie.

Hats

Grace and Amelia looked so cute with their hats on before we went to playgroup this morning. This lasted about 5 seconds and then they ripped them off and had hissy fits when I tried to put them back on.

Fabric

Chris thinks I have a textile fetish and I can't find any evidence to prove him wrong. It was all beginning to creep into everything and he hadn't seen the kitchen table for weeks. So I had to have a bit of a clean up. Here is some proof that I do use it, some little dresses for the girls.
Some bargain retro fabric I just couldn't live without.
My current favourite pile - Liberty lawn.
There is also still a big pile of little bits of Indian silk, but can't work out how to take a good photo of silk, it never looks as good as it does in real life.

A New Doll

These have been cut out, waiting to be sewed for the past week. Last night I had the chance to sew them up.

I have never made a doll before. I just drew out a pattern and I am quite happy with it. The hair was freaking me out, but I am happy with that too. Both are in the shop.

Backtack Completed

I finished my bunny for backtack. I think it has worked out well. I am quite happy and the pain of turning and stuffing little bits has faded. I don't think I could have done it without some hemostats. I don't know how I used to manage without them. I have collected a few bits and pieces to accompany the bunny on its journey to the Netherlands. For now though I just have a teaser shot.
Chris and the girls went on an adventure to the toy library this morning. Our living room now looks a bit like a fun park. Grace is sitting on top of the slide. Both of them can't seem to be without their soft dolls at the moment. They are meant to be just for bed, but I find both of them sneaking into their room and getting their dolls from their cots.

Amelia rocking on the angel fish.
Just a cute bath picture from tonight.

Backtack - new plan

This was a pretty easy quick knit. It just needs a button and a wash but it is pretty much finished, so Rose you can have the baby.
I have a new plan for backtack. I am just not a pointy kitty person. I love the way everyone elses look, but I can't do it, so I have a new plan and some new fabric. I was playing around with some fabric flower tutorials so there might be some of them. Hopefully the girls will sleep so I can create.

A little bit of craft

I had great plans of a quiet Mother's Day doing my own thing. It didn't really go to plan, but I got a little bit done. Two more pouches for the shop and I ordered some labels to put on my finished things. I tried washing some fleece. Mmmm not sure about the result. I may have felted a bit of it. The thought of carding it is not enticing. The words drum carder are echoing in my head.


Chris turned the girls car seats around yesterday. I am not sure they were much help. Grace annoyed the dog so much she ended up in the prison. I think they will be a lot happier in the car though being able to see where they are going and that we are still there.

Good Mail

A warning for non crafty people - this post is all craft.
I have been knitting for a my good friend, Rose, whose baby is due very soon. It is the little jumper from Last Minute Knitted Gifts and despite the mess it looks in the picture, it is not that hard and is quite a quick knit.
The best thing about getting rid of stuff on ebay, beside cleaning up some piles around here, is the extra cash. And that didn't last long. On the right are a couple of books from Amazon Japan. On the left is my first issue of Ottobre. I discovered it last week. It is a sewing magazine for children's clothes. Very cute designs.
Lorna's Laces in Daffodil. I think I can see some Jaywalkers in my future.

Glasses Case

I have been meaning to make something for my grandmother for ages and I have finished this in time for Mother's Day. It is a glasses case. The outside is silk left over from my sister Gemma's year 12 ball dress. (I have been hoarding it for a while!) and the lining is left over silk from the dress I made for Jane's wedding. The button is a spare one from the top I made for Mum for Jane's wedding. So now I just have to get to the post office.

Thinking Backtack

My plans for backtack have changed so many times. I was going to do the bunny, then the other bunny and now after seeing lots of pointy kittys I need to do one of them. I had a go last night and think I can manage it. It is just going to take me time to turn and stuff it right. here are some potential colour and fabrics, but I am sure they will change again too.

Good Mail

I have been eyeing off one of the prints from little flower for a while and was looking for an excuse to buy one. I just love them and had a hard time choosing which one. So my sister Jane is getting this for her birthday.

The girls are seem to know where we hide everything and this morning they were after the footy. I saw two little bottoms disappearing into our room and there they were up in the corner with Chris' footy. So I bought it out and they played with it and each other.

I think I can feel one of Grace's teeth coming through. It doesn't seem to be worrying her that much.