Linaloo

Out of my league

Minor crisis averted when Batman decided he really needed to be Scooby Doo at the eleventh hour - thanks to a friend with a spare costume at the ready. A Dorothy dress (which, by the way, involved humming Somewhere Over the Rainbow the whole time whilst I made it) and Batman cape are within my capabilities, Scooby Doo's clearly way out of my league.

Happy Halloween!

Sewing insomnia

Just under 3 weeks until the charity craft fair and I've been busy sewing some stock. I have to say as a pragmatist, this isn't usually the kind of project I'd take on, given that I'm already working and have 2 small children. I've often wondered whether turning one's favourite hobby into a business sucks away any enjoyment. Somewhat suprisingly, now that I have self-imposed deadlines and quotas, I find I have a million and one ideas for sewing and oh, just not enough hours in the day. I've been working into the wee small hours and regretting it when my son wakes me up at 6:06am every morning without fail.

Given the current economic climate and my inexperience at this sort of thing, it may all turn out to be a complete disaster. So, apart from a few zippers and some batting, I'm making everything from my existing stash.

More to come over the next few days...

Waste not want not

As always, I'm still on the repurposing, recycling, upcyclying, call-it-what-you-will bandwagon and made some of these last night.

Baubles from last year's Christmas cards. I just need to find some festive ribbon or baker's twine for hanging.

Originally these were inspired by last year's UK Christmas issue of Country Living received in a swap, but there's also a tutorial here. My circles were made with a punch and after a whole hour of head scratching about how to accurately draw an equalateral triangle within a circle, I gave up and eyeballed it. Easy peasy - done in 15 minutes!

The Oak

Live thy Life,
Young and old,
Like yon oak,
Bright in spring,
Living gold;

Summer-rich
Then; and then
Autumn-changed
Soberer-hued
Gold again.

All his leaves
Fall'n at length,
Look, he stands,
Trunk and bough
Naked strength.

Alfred Lord Tennyson

My favourite tree, growing in my garden.

Loser

My first felted project. A little (um, make that much smaller than anticipated) bag for the fall. Thank you Claudia for the leather straps - I had them sewn on yesterday. I'm such a loser. I can't follow a pattern or instructions to save my life, I seem to be genetically predisposed to disregarding all advice and learning the hard way. I knit about 100 rows of 100 stitches in the round for this thing, just making it up as I went along.

Here are some lessons learned (look away now if you too like to learn the hard way):

Be careful not to twist your stiches when knitting in the round. Knitting in the round means you don't have to purl a row, knit a row in order to have stockinette stitch.

I did seek advice from a friend on the felting process (but ignored it) and threw it in a bag in the washing machine along with some stinky running shoes for a bit of agitation. Alarmingly, it shrank very quickly - much more than the 10% I was expecting and it took about 4 days to dry out. Really?

Determined to see it through to the end, the tote I envisioned is now a handbag. Not sure I will be felting again in the forseeable - unless I learn to deal with seeing my hard work shrinking so much!

Happy Thanksgiving

It's Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada and general elections on Tuesday. See, Canadians are so low key you probably weren't aware of either of those facts. A fellow Montrealer, the uber cool, Claudia and I had a little swap of acorn caps from my oak tree in exchange for fabric scraps and leather straps (more on that in another post).

Among other things she sent some cute little squirrel fabric with which I immediately whipped up these, to match my new placemats perfectly.

I don't think I'll ever tire of making coasters. Which may be a good thing as I have somewhat foolishly agreed to sell stuff at a craft fair next month for charity.

Happy weekend all!

PS I still haven't sorted that banner issue, apparently Typepad are on the case.

Sick Day

The children have colds. Bad enough to make me feel unsure about sending them to school this morning (they didn't go). But not bad enough apparently to stop them escaping outside for an afternoon of autumn sunshine.

Ruby's all about accessories (isn't every little girl?) these days and happily wore this scarf. It's barely passable as knitting really but was fun to make on one of our summer road trips. Tell me, why is it that I can barely look at a map whilst riding in the passenger seat without the fear of vomiting, yet I knit quite happily for an hour or two without a trace of nausea?

Of course I made myself one too...

First fire of the season, a bit random I know, but I like the picture.

I'm wondering what to knit next. I can only knit and purl, I'd like to make a hat or some socks but not sure I'm ready for the leap to the next level yet. Any suggestions?

PS Having some typepad trouble with my banner - bear with me.

I heart orange

 

On my mantle piece.

 

First felted project, not quite finished.

 

My new favourite colour.