Feeling good

I had an awesome time last night at Perle 8's, lots of laughing and chatting, and watching other people craft, wow, lots of inspiration there. I can't wait to the Stitches and Craft show, so many things to do, I have a few workshops in mind, stuff I've never tried or wouldn't normally think to do, and 2 child free days to do it!

Speaking of child free, Little Miss had her first full week this week, and I am back to working Tues Wed, so Thursday I hit Hoppers Crossing Spotlight and Vinnies. I came away with heaps, including these bags and sewing box.....

(the Rainbow Sprite one is for me, my child of the 00's having no idea who she is)

and lots of yummy remnants. Pity I only went in for black cotton! I have booked my overlocker class at Statewide Sewing Centre too, so I can finally use my little baby, it's been very neglected.

I got around to hanging my frames too, it has brightened up the walls. After 5 yrs in the house, I finally get around to it!

Little Miss really likes the bottom one, think I'll add a few small round ones to it to even it out.

And lastly tonight, one spoilt dog! A bath, flea treatment, cuddles, clean blankies and I picked up all his toys, the cleanest it's been all week! The wind didn't help, but he has no excuse now. Now I lay in wait for the cat to come home and give her the Frontline too. My big brave cat. I found a cockroach leg in my bed this morning, I am thinking positive and hoping it fell off her whisker after she ate it OUTSIDE my bedroom door. I don't want to think of the alternative! Ciao.

My Creative Space

I am playing along again this week over here. I finally have my Thursday back as my day off, so I can do some creating. I was just about to have a nap, and I remembered the washing in the machine, the vacuuming and other general stuff, dammit!

So my space this week is this one- my poor lonely over locker hasn't even been used, I got it weeks ago! Unfinished projects are there, patterns and knitting boxes, arggghhh! Need some order, so this will hopefully all go into.....

these! Special sewing ones to stack and fill, fun!

will do more creating tonight at perle 8's, yay.

back to nature

Being a sewing person, some days I wouldn't care if I never made it outside, but as I have a child, pets and job. I have a local park where there is an off lead part for little Muzza, and over the last few drought-stricken months, the gardens have all been replaced. Here is a beautiful example, there are about 3 or 4 of these near the entrance.

So this sign was almost funny, who would think of destroying this prettiness? Someone, obviously, or Ben wouldn't decide to give up!

To Ben and all like him, I thank him, and promise to raise a child who would never think to destroy someone else's hard work.

Another outdoor thing- my cat came home a few days ago COVERED with these little things. I have no idea what they are from, they stick like crazy to anything, in particular cat fur! She must have slept in the biggest pile of them, or plants with heaps on them. I have spent a few days slowly getting them off her, to the point she looks at me warily when I want to give her a pat! And I almost pulled a nipple off- ow! Now she is burr free she can be patted only for pleasure, and I'm receiving a few cuddles, maybe a thank you?

Being Mother of The Year (not) I decided to make some treats for our picnic dinner tomorrow night at the school, so, having way too much frozen pastry in the freezer for someone who doesn't use it, decided to make mini pies we could have cold. Good plan until I forgot to grease the pan and they are stuck! Think of me and Little Miss tomorrow night eating our dinner out of a muffin time, oh, the shame!

Biggest news tonight- I finished The Bag! Good TV nights always get me motivated, as do the thoughts of top stitching. That's why I love this bag so much, the structured approach and lots of top stitching, but it has curves too. I would have shown the whole thing, but I THOUGHT I had a plain buckle to go on the front, not only didn't I have plain, but not silver either, so it completely mismatches the o-rings. I'll be ringing Nikki this week to order one. I hope to take it out on Thurs night, my Amitie night is coming up! Thursday's my only day off this week, I'll enjoy it immensely!

PS Speaking of Ben and good tv, I started watching SO You Think You Can Dance, which annoyed me at first because it is GREAT! I actually like it more than Idol, wow is all I can say. And there is a dancer Ben, man, if he doesn't win there is something wrong! Between that show and The Biggest Loser, I'm covered for the week!

I'm in love

No, I haven't been swept off my feet by a tall, handsome man promising me I never have to work again and can spend my life sewing, I was lucky enough to get a new washing machine! My old one was still working, but I new the next time it broke down it was going to washing machine heaven (according to Little Miss, everything has it's own heaven). This nearly new beauty was for sale for a measly few hundred dollars, and seems very happy in her new home.

I never knew something so small could be so heavy.

So I am learning the new language of front loaders, and different powders, and the instructions are staying close by till I'm confident the things will come out clean!

Another bargain was this office desk my work was selling ($30!). It had a hutch on the top, but I didn't I needed anything extra to dust, so it has gone. The Beados fit beautifully in the drawer, and the keyboard pull out tray is for...the pencil roll! Gosh, it looks so grown up, it was hard to move the baby one out of the way....another sign she's growing up!

Today was a first for me- my first garage sale! I never really could be bothered before, loving the 'drop in anytime' op shop, but the ad for this one read 'sewing machine, over locker, vintage fabrics' blah blah blah, so I was there.

$5 got me the booty in the next 2 pics

There are pieced squares to be sewn into a quilt and quilted fabric with the dungarees pattern still pinned on it. Lots of ribbon too, which I never have enough of. It should all be nearly dry, and ready to roll into the stash.

And a shot of this great tea towel. I picked up at Savers. Pure linen, no stains, I'm tempted to frame it, it's so cheery.

Hope next week's as lucky!

Ipods- a crafters dilemma

I have finally made a pressie for my dad (belated b'day) but I am denying it is the right size! Is an Ipod Nano really this small? I got the measurements off the site (after ringing and checking, but being disbelieving), so it is made up (an Ipod cosy, that is) and will fit this correction tape! it had better fit, it is my Kokka print fabric, very precious, lined in blue too. The ric-rac is a bit of a joke- when we were kids it apparently went on everything, so whenever I mention my sewing, he asks "is there ric-rac?" (Yes, it's wearing thin, but Dad jokes always do, don't they?)I attached it to elastic so it fits snugly.

I'm making one for his partner, too, so she doesn't feel left out! I may send his first and check it fits, though.

My second find tonight is in Sew Hip, cute templates, especially the owl! I'm a terrible drawer, so the freehand templates for tees don't really work with me, I'm a pattern and template kind of gal. These are specifically for embroidery, but I can use them elsewhere, can't I? scanning them in now....

My creative space...kind of

I really want to play along this week with Kirsty, but I have nothing new on the table since last night, and not even something to pretend!

So I decide to post my protege's (probably not the right spelling) creative space. She is happily set up here and idles away the day, drawing, pasting, cutting- on the table at the moment are little books, she is sticking in stickers of my name and I was under STRICT instructions not to look after she went to bed- OOPS! Also her pencil roll is in constant use, and the white Huggies container is for other pencils, crayons etc. I didn't shoe the carpet where all the scraps get pushed, but I think you'd assume that anyway.

I particularly like her table and chairs, which were made by my grandfather for me as a wee one. I have just bought her a desk, a bit bigger and then this table and chairs can be put away for the next grandchild (ie stored at my sisters!).

PS The only thing that cleans texta off the table is Gumption! Better than Jif, much better than spray n wipe etc, it truly does the job. My secret weapon!

Thanks for hosting Kirsty, head over to check out some more.

A bunting we will go.....

I decided last night that I didn't want to move off the floor in front of the TV, so I dragged out 'the stash'. It used to live under my bed in various different suitcases, but is now in these tubs. I get very very green with envy when I see beautiful folded stashes- mine are all rolled, especially the little bits! I only occasionally can get the lid on them, too. They have taken up residence in the hallway, luckily most people that come over are aware of my problem! The last few weeks has seen me throw new fabrics on top, and not sort properly, so this became my fun last night.

No, actually, I had a plan in mind- bunting for Little Miss's room. I've wanted to for ages, and is the reason I bought pinking shears. I managed to half sort the boxes, while picking bunting fabrics. She loves all the fabrics, and that's all that matters, even the vintage ones. The striped (sheet) fabric is the back of the triangles, so they can all be striped, or a mix of pink and purple chenille, purple fairy print (that is already in her patchwork quilt and a cushion) and the vintage pillowcase. And for me to start something last night, and have it finished by tonight....let's just say, it doesn't happen often!

That's not to say I'm not still making my Mod Bag. I just didn't feel like running out to the machine during the ads last night. But tonight I did. I finished off the O rings the other day.....

And tonight finished the zip gusset (SUCH an attractive word, gusset, don't you think? I always think of huge underpants, not sure why). The photo isn't great, but you get the idea. Bit by bit, it is happening!

And I got a big happy smile today- went into a big newsagent in WIlliamstown, and there it was- Issue 2! I got so excited I started talking to a lady that works there in the aisle, and she took me to the counter and will now hold one for me every month. And yes, I think it was worth it, lots of good stuff in there. She will try and get Issue 1 for me as well, but didn't seem very confident.