As promised!

Wow, nearly forgot! But I'm sure I can a whole week, and have my blog-jo back at the moment anyway!

Last nights I made the girl a new school hat. I'm sick of official school hats that don't even cover their faces! The only problem was trying it on....actually, no problem at all. Deep sleep is so much fun! My gorgeous child asked for some business cards to take to school this morning, she's getting used to being asked where she gets things from! Aren't I lucky?

And my new tunic is ready, I'm likely to be wearing it Saturday (I say likely as it still needs buttons and buttonholes. Grrr).

And tonight's feature 'beccasauras' product? My pencil rolls! Now, I can't take credit for these, my pattern was originally from Pink Chalk Studios and was found in this book. I've  (i even asked for permission to make them and sell!)

Another great shot and luv-er-ly place to get them is here. I'm about to make a big fresh batch, so if you'd like to order one with your choice of outside fabric, give me a holler!

A productive day

OK, it's been a busy one, I didn't even notice I didn't get a nap in!

First up is my last project of the day (I still have night time to come heehee). It's the Catch Kidston bag that comes with the MAKE book. It was sitting on my shelf staring at me, and I needed a bag to carry my knitting in....

Perfect, don't you think? I added a magnetic snap, too hard to turn the tube to make a button loop!

I have a heap of finished pencil rolls, had to wash a few, they are looking lovely hanging up to dry. I had a little dilemma- it seems Smiggle have stopped making the barrel pencil sharpeners I attached to my last lot! SO if you have one of these, they were limited edition. I have a new way to attach wooden ones, but they may be limited edition too, apparently Smiggle like to 'keep things fresh' :P

Savers had a 50% off EVERYTHING sale today (as opposed to the 50% of some items, and you end up spending more on full priced items on a sale day!). I grabbed 2 pairs of winter jammies for the child- size 10 and 12, but easily run in to fit her this winter. $2.50 a pair. Bugs Bunny ones are a hit!

I also snatched this one up ($2.50) I don't mean that to sound violent, but has anyone been to Savers at 9am on a sale day? Madness. I have 2 thicker ones in this colour, same style, I am really attracted to them, don't know why. Thought this will be goof when you are in heating, not too bulky.

And I found this little number for Little Miss ($3). Actually it was for shrinking, its acrylic/nylon/angora, so soft, but non-shrinkable! And Little Miss decided she liked it, if I dyed it another colour. Any tips??

I also managed to get to the Post Office, which is a rarity nowadays, so if you are expecting something from me, expect it soon!

Always take your knitting....

You have to read all the way through to get the title of this post, but it should be worth it!

So I got up on the wrong side of the bed today. Maybe bringing Little Miss into bed at midnight to sleep with me for cuddles was a wrong idea, I don't know, but I haven't been able to shake the bad mood and headache. So I wrote this post in my head in the few snippets of light in the day, and here it is!

I realised I had forgotten to show the goodies I got at the MMQG day last Saturday. We all got a prize from a fabulous sponsor, mine was Moda fabric from PK fabrics, that will get added to the stash! And I was sitting next to a REAL quilter, one who has her own long arm machine- just for fun! And only uses 100% cotton thread, so I came home with her prize, thanks Clair!

This was from S.I.T, but when I opened it today, I thought "coat hanger cover? My arse!" What a gorgeous piece of fabric, from Thea and Sami. I'll keep that in the stash to use for good (and make some coat hanger covers from sheets heehee)

The pencil rolls are coming along, they were nearly done when I noticed a couple that I'll class as 'seconds', so had to make a few more. The colours cheer me up, and it's my own pattern this time, so pretty chuffed! I'm also finishing an apron for a swap this weekend, so having a bad day has left me a bit behind, but I'll make it- just!

Little Miss has kept herself busy, with he new book ($2 from Savers, $28 at Angus and Robertson!!). She decided she had to draw him...er, Mum, will you draw him? I free-drew the face, then taught her to trace with greaseproof paper- pretty good result, I think! She did the tree herself (in case anyone thought I did it!)

And, for the title of the post- here is my finished cowl. Not sewn up yet, there's only so much you can do STUCK IN YOUR DARK CAR when it RUNS OUT OF PETROL! It then decided to have a flat battery- and the trip home was all about the kindness of the RACV man (and me explaining how I paid him in advance to help me) and the man who helped push me off the side of the road. The child wanted to get out of the car, but I don't think we needed anyone to recognise us....

Not only is the moral of the story 'take your knitting', but make sure you are able to be pushed under a street light, so when the battery dies you don't turn on your car-mate with the knitting needles...

My Creative Space

Thank goodness for TV this week- 3 days of True Blood Season 2 to revel in, and then others to get the pencil rolls finished!

Some are destined for Lark, a few others already snapped up by friends, the rest going in the online shop! And yes, there will be a Ken Done print one :)

Market roundup

A bright and sunny day was Saturday, and we were all revved up for the Yarraville market.
Living 5 mins from the venue means I even get a bit of a sleep in :)

I trialled a new clothes rack, which I didn't like that much, being the wrong way around. And my neighbours didn't want their stall knocked over, either when people want to look at the back row. Back to the drawing board with that one!

My new pencil rolls were all finished and in their new baskets. The demo model got lots of looks.

I managed to make some more hair ties whilst I was there, such a great atmosphere to craft in!

Here is a closeup of the finished design. You can't lose your sharpener with this one! (Thanks to Smiggle for those)


There were lots of great people there- Leslie came by with gorgeous Mae; I met Dana, who it turns out had me as a midwife all those years ago (well, not that many) as well as the great stall holders who keep me company.

Come see us in October (the 14th and 15th that month)

Today's effort.

I never ever wanted to make heaps of the same thing, to sell or giveaway, I thought the 'production line' thing would get boring- bit it didn't! I've 95% completed 10 pencil rolls today, just the top stitching left.

They have cheered me up on a grey day- a glimpse of sun this morning, then the rain came down.

(I changed from my normal pattern of leaving space in the top and pulling it through, to doing it on the side. Hopefully this is less noticeable)

I made these little fabric baskets to roll them up and put them in, too, as they take up a fair bit of table space at the market.

weekends things

So my pencil roll project seems to be working. This one is a present for a 6yr old boy, and the sharpener rolls up beautifully in the roll. I've taken the sticker of my other ones (forgot on this one) so they are clear. This new version will be officially released on Saturday!

We found the lazy puss yesterday enjoying Little Miss's quilt and flannelet sheets (who can blame her?)

Cream couch, meet blue couch, oh, and please share some cushions! For the first time I feel colour coordinated and neat and tidy. Wow.

Little Muzza is enjoying the new veranda couch. He scored pretty good!

And I cooked. Well, almost. Mixed and whipped a tiramisu for a dinner party, no baking involved. Got to use my brand new (for me) Tupperware spoon rest. Unfortunately the Tupperware spatula doesn't fit that well, but still happy with it for $1.

Let's go shopping!

Bright, funky pencil rolls...or crayon...or texta.

Ready to be topstitched and put in the shop tomorrow.

A good weekend

A great weekend, starting with a little domestic blitz/ bliss. That brown apron is amazing, the things I achieve wearing that, it's like a ' cone of silence' to ignore all other fun things to do instead of housely chores. Little Miss even brought it to my bedroom this morning to get me out of bed! My fun started Fri afternoon when I had the urge to use my beautiful toy I love the vintage ones aka http://3redbuttons.blogspot.com/2008/08/my-kitchen-maid.html (have tried the suggestions from fellow bloggers, but when I post it, the links don't work! Not sure what to do now....). But due to lack of finding a working vintage one I came across this at the Sunbeam outlet shop, this was sooooo reduced due to damaged box. Unfortunately I now have an addiction to red appliances and the Sunbeam outlet shop :) The best things was I was alone and got to lick the beaters myself, yum.

Finished my pencil rolls, a few glitches a 5 yr old wouldn't notice. The parents of the first recipient suggested selling some- can anyone tell me the rules? I know you can't sell anything from blog instrustions (which I totally respect) but what if the pattern came from a book, like the one I posted in an earlier blog? Mind you, 3 in a row is tiring....


After a date Fri night, I took Little Miss to a gymnastics birthday party, where she went crazy for 2 hrs. We went for breakfast Sunday morning to a yummy cafe, god, why don't I do that more often. She so happily let me read the paper and eat while she drew on a notepad I packed in my handbag, bliss. Then came a family dinner, where my little pink cake at the front made an appearance. Overshadowed by the Cheescake Shop DELICIOUS concoction, but the kids LOVED it, because it was pink. Aww.....
Loving listening to Johnny Cash right now, the 'Essential Collection'. Off to bed to rest up for

SAVERS 50% SALE TOMORROW

How exciting, haven't been to one yet, getting there early and (unfortunately taking 2 little ones, as I am babysitting) will do my best. Check out http://melb-opshopping.blogspot.com/ for great op shop bargains.

Nearly there

I think the best thing so far about blogging is all the photos I am looking at, that I may normally not have. I am a bit slack and have them all over the place on my computer, I am aiming (one day, of course) to get a portable hard drive and then scan in all the ones from film (ie the olden days version, as my daughter will one day call it). Found this yummy photo of my 5 mth old daughter, she was sooo chubby. I wanted to put a nudey bath shot, but reminded myself that she would see it, one day. This sums up her personality completely, a happy bub, loved the boob (hence the chins), such a long time agao now! School around the corner.... This is my little souviner I got from the Justine Clarke concert- I had the dvd and cd, and liked the t-shirts, but figured little miss "buy me a t-shirt" is in a growth stage, and would seen be out of it anyway. So they had these totes, which came with a poster and sheet of stickers for $20. I have already used it a bit, am going to sew in the corners to make it a bit squarer on the bottom, but such a good idea. Have to share it, of course....

The pencil rolls are coming together, I made the outer a piece a few mm too short, so the cream and silver at the ends won't fit pencils, but, hey, there are 22 other spots! The longest bit is cutting the colours
They then go together very quickly, and have the topstitching to finish this morning. Will whip up a softie for a friends 3yr old who is having a b'day tomorrow, maybe something from here http://oneredrobin.com/.
Anyway, have had a sleep in this morning, off to start things and get to swimming lessons!

living on the edge

I was trying to finish a quilt last night, when I had a helper.... She jumped straight up as I sat down and made herself comfortable. Didn't manage to step on any pins, and generally made sewing a bit difficult.
Then her tail started flicking, and I don't know how it didn't get caught.
We reached a compromise- me tugging and pulling at the quilt, and Ace grumpily moving to the edge of the cabinet.
After seing on the binding, I layed out my strips for my pencil rolls. I couldn't just cut out enough for three
I have enough left over to make a few more! Am sewing the strips together tonight and then...ironing of course. The pockets and backing are all one colour, should get them cut out.
I got the pink and white striped fabric in a remnant bag for $4- I got the pink fabric, about a metre and a half, and some pink cherry fabric, on top of it in the photo above.