Baby's Apron Is Done

It now has avocado on it too! Sadie's not all that fussed though. I did put it on her for a minute before I took these photo's, but she didn't want it back after that. "No" she said, quite definitely! Now, without warning, she has fallen asleep in my arms. So much for typing. If I try to put her down it'll be all over!

You Can't Imagine The Brain Strain...

...involved in drawing this diagram... or, rather, figuring it out. And now I know that it would be better if you cut 53 wide. I know that now.
I'm being so good, even I can't believe it. I got out my pile of lists of things to do and am embarking on a trip to doona cover and sheet making world. Such discipline!
P.S. You can trust the truth of this document.

Here's Why I'm Not Convined About The Latest Potholder.

See. Compare the original drawing (and the thus far potholder) in the top picture with today's modified, nicened, more airy, not ridiculously big eyed version. Gonna have to do something about it I'm afraid. My daughter Ruby says they're both nice but then, so is she and she wouldn't like me to feel bad.

I will, however, re-do the girls eyelashes. I think they're better done curly-like. And I'll make the smile creases at the sides of the mouths more distinct.

P.S. Feel free to make one for yourself or for your Mum.

Elephant Pot Holder Is Finished!!

I kept taking it out today and looking at it! I'm in love! This one is thanks to doublewinky, and particularly her bric-a-brac elephant (which I have copied below). That's where the drawing comes from, or is of. (I didn't put the tusks in because it was too complicating (busy).

You must look a t Bubbles too!

This was gonna be the last pot holder... then I thought of another and today I realised there is yet another!

P.S. Hope you don't mind me publishing your pic dubbs???

P.P.S. The backing and binding is repro-feedsack fabric, and just as beautiful as the real thing. I bought it from Loch ages and ages ago when I had no known purpose for it...

The Funnest Morning

Preparing for the week's commuting. I hate the last Potholder I did, but this one is just the style I like best. Plaids and old woollen fabrics with less clean-edged felt. I'm not sure if that's the right yellow, but maybe...? It looks different when the stitching frames the individual pieces and when the binding is on.

There's one more left in me. Afer thais that is, then it's back to the list (doona covers and sheets and finish the red quilt). It's been a nice little break but I think I've been pushing things a bit too much overall..

Hmmm...? Maybe it's time to do some drawing?

The Wife Swapper

I had only these colours at work yesterday so he ended up being a red-head. He reminds me of Ricky-Bobby's (shake and bake!) mate out of Telladega Nights... the Will Ferell movie (excuse all spelling mistakes). It's not my favourite and is getting away from the mood I'm looking for and may end up as a Chrissy present for the kids??

I've cut out the elaphant and am liking it a lot right now, all tartans and all wool, as opposed to felt. Yummy!
But, such as it is... here is a new pattern. It'll look different when the binding is on too... and the lips etc., which you sew through a couple of layers to get a quilted, moulded look.
Got the day off today, Whoo Hoo!

P.S. It'll be 17cm wide.

Lifesaver

We've been watching Bondi Rescue. Gotta love that show... What you can't see here (because I scanned it rather than took a photo) is that his zinc cream is fluro pink.

The backing/binding fabric is cut from a genuine, almost 100 year oldAmerican depression feed sack. I bought them years ago for a great deal of money (I'd earned it taking a weekend workshop in Wagga's and the Waverly Patchwork Guild pay well so it was a good thing).
I think this little guy is in for a chance with the ladies. You'll find the pattern here.

Yay! I Got To Do Something Non-Curtainish!

I cut it out late last night, when I should have been in bed, then stitched it down on the train going to work. Quick and easy! I have another ready to go (it's drawn out as a pattern from this drawing). Later when the kiddies have gone home. My darling one is going to put up some hooks (hmmm, s'pose I could manage that myself) so we can hang a few decoratively displayed (yet handy for everyday use).

Because I haven't boiled the woollen blanketing and therefore not shrunk it (although it's an old blanket and probably won't be a bother)... so I did a row of machine stitching around the cut out line, set to Buttonhole length but a straight stitch. You can't see it but it will stop the fabric fraying even after its 25th wash. Inside is some of that silver ironing-board fabric, so we won't burn our little pinkies.

Have a look at the Funky Potholders new group, if you're interested... the pattern is there too.

Hmmm...

This could grow. I have tons of old woollen fabric and scraps of blankets. Apart from a huge box of real, old-fashioned, wool felt...

Cute Stuff

Did this one.

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What Do YOU Think Is Going On Here?

"Spare Me Not"...

Shula, are you watching? Isn't this just what the doctor ordered? Sort of thing? This kind of intimacy doesn't snore or breed smelly socks in the corner and it certainly won't take an un-natural interest in your teenage daughter.

Today I'm cleaning my sewing room. There's been a carpet of fabric (for the curtain) and I'm cleaning it up and organising my new stuff (I've been collecting old transfers)... I just sent the boy off to buy me some plastic sleeves so I can categorise my newest neatly... and I looked PROPERLY at this set, obviously for the first time.

Surely it's not a dildo? I don't think they had kinky sex in the old days. I'm not sure that nice people even had normal sex so it must be something else.

I'm about to do the borders on the Grandma Curtains and before I hang them I'll take some good pics to show you all. There's a bit in it so it won't neccessarily be today. Been a crazy week at work and my procrasatinating (ie pattern organising) comes from a strong desire to have a sleep...

Bit More Scribbling

Bit nicer I think... the big one anyway. I hope you can see it in stained, slightly burnt old blankets, as I can. I'm not sure if I like the curved eyelashes or the straight ones...? Straight I think.

The sly sideways glancing small (unedited/refined) picture is inspired by Nicky from Big Love. By the way I did the quiz and I'm a Barbara. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not?

Oh, did I mention that I started a group on Flickr called Funky Potholders? Well I did, and not a moment too soon.

Don't Laugh

A scribbled Pot Holder idea. Think old woollen fabric, think felt, think heavy handed stitching.

I'm So Tired

It's wrong to start a working week like this. ZZZzzzz...
But you know that fantastic feeling when you finish with something and can put away all of the paraphenalia and associated MESS and get the lounge-room floor back? I cleaned and vacuumed and re-arranged the lounge-room and washed the kitchen floor and put away ALL of the washing and did most everything except fold the excess fabric in the sewing room and get it clear for the next step (tonight). I washed the curtains (as much as they are before I put the borders on) and ironed them... My back aches and I did something that felt nasty to my neck trying to vacuum under the stove. I know, ridiculous, vacuuming under the stove is not sensible. It seems ok this morning (my neck)... I didn't let go until nearly midnight. Then fell desperately exhausted into bed and had lovely, lovely dreams about family and the seaside and a new, lovely home with lots of happiness potential.

P.S. I don't know where these pics come from, they were in my pics at work.

Second Last Bit

I noticed just now that I haven't finished the broom.... Great old pattern. It's an oldie but a goldie. I'll scan the rest over the weekend.

The Grandma Curtains Are Nearly Finished

This is a card from my Grandmother's collection... as in, it's from my Dah or someone close (can't remember).

I managed to find some copies of old transfer patterns and used a couple of the birds. They're all so cute. I must check out what day Grandma and Mum were born on and add them to it all. Mum doesn't know that the curtains are about her too, yet.

I just finished reading 'The Joy Luck Club.' It's so lovely. I love my Mum and am aware of how we are alike and not alike. I'm proud to be her daughter. She deserves to be in the curtains.

Now All I Want To Do Is Make Some Potholders

I scribbled this after looking at some of doublewinky's stuff. I thought it would be suitably done ala Penny-Rug-ish? Old blankets and bits of felt? Coarse embroidery. They're supposed to be a bit scorched and grubby so I have to be sensible.

I might have to start a new Flickr group.... s'pose I should see if there's one already.

If you see or have any goodies, send me a link or a pic??? I'm on a mission. It's making me stitch and stitch the curtains without fail, because (unlike my usual behaviour, where I work on anything I want to) I will not do any pot-holders until they're finished.

Why didn't I think of them before?

P.S. If anyone makes this one, send us a pic too huh?

At Last, A Promise Fulfilled... In The Spirit Of The Elections...

If I wasn't impatient and a little bit 'she'll be right', I'd photocopy this to make the white-out vanish.

But here it is... The Pattern To Construct The Crazy Bag!!

So Named 'Fluffy Bee' For Obvious Reasons

And difficult to photograph, being in an elaborately constructed, glassed box-frame. I did this in late 1997. Just as I was on the finishing run, Jane Nicholas's first book came out, bless her. Finger on the pulse. Zeitgeist. All that.

It (Fluff Fluff) is made in three seperate pieces using calico or something... Fluffy Stitch / Velvet Stitch / Ghiordes Knots / Turkey Stitch. I call it Velvet. Actually, I usually go straight to Fluffy.

Then you applique them onto an already embroidered slip. Now look, if you want further instructions on how to do the wings, I'll give them, but you have to ask or I won't feel it neccessary. Happy to, but not if no-one cares.

Hang on, I'll go photograph my background design... haven't done it myself but others have... Might as well post them here since I'm not doing classes anymore.

Have a look here too, for other applications.

Bluebird Design

There's a bit more over here... Bloody hard to get a good pic when it's worked on shot silk. But I tried. I'm putting it up again because I've had cause to get it out and do love the stitches.