Me & The Fella

He's not too bad for a boy.

Leif's Blanky. This Isn't It But I Haven't Taken A Photo And I'm At Work So Can't Anyway.

Leif on his first birthday with Aunty Ruby.

I'm making Leif a quilt. Years ago, when I used to teach patchwork, I made this quilt top (the one I haven't photographed yet but will)....(this pic is picked up on the net). My background is dyed with onion skins and I may have muddied up some of the print fabrics that way too.

(We had the top on the wall in our mud brick house. With a troupe of red-heads, the tans and old reds and blues were lovely!)

The back is velvet. I've used up all (ALL) of my gorgeous gold and tan velvets. Some I have had since I was 17 years old! I can't believe it's all gone!

(I love that! It is my intention to use as much of my fabric as I can. I have nothing that is not beautiful and useable).

So... I ran out just before I finished the back and NOTHING else looked right. We went (way out of our way and for no other reason) to Spotters to find some velveteen or something appropriate and there was NOT ONE fabric in golden tan. Nothing! So I bought a skein of alpaca in a bulky knit and am knitting the gap.

Good, clean fun!

I'm so glad to have a red head to sew for! I love the earthy colours and I certainly can't wear them, not with my yellow Welsh looking skin.

xxxxx

Too Much Fun!

I made Sadie a play skirt on the weekend. Old pink lining, doubled up, then dotted over with little fluffy things with sparkly centres. I had them in a little pile on the floor, so we could pick out the nicest one...

Someone thought they were so lovely she launched herself into them and rolled over and over!

I do know how she feels. She'd definitely one of us!

Patterns For Needlepoint & Cross Stitch at Etsy

I have purchased the upgrade for a (very expensive) program that converts pictures to cross stitch or needlepoint patterns. I had it years ago and it didn't work on my new computer so it went by the by...

The patterns I'm making are chosen after much trial and error and deliberation. Some things just don't work end most things need quite a bit of tickling. So don't imagine it's a quick process and how dare I charge anything for them!

The idea is, if you want a photo of your loved one (people or pets or anything else) then you send it to me and I'll convert it

Go to my Etsy shop for a look at all patterns.

Vintage Aran

This is the most amazing thing I've seen! I want to knit it, but imagine I'll use 5ply? Waddya think? It won't work will it. But... I hate the feel of cables done in thick wool. Even 8 ply can feel a bit chunky. I have a cone of Cobalt Heather (JaggerSpun). In fact, the whole idea was to make a cabled jumper with it, hence the search for a style.... now I wonder if I ought to make it in a pale colour. This is why I spend so much money.

I do like a fitted jumper though.
Anyway, this book ought to be in every knitters library. It gives a bit of a history and some design patterns (not jumper patterns). She has preserved a culture that is sadly gone.

The Traffic Stopper

I'm going to have to set up a Fairy Floss stall, we have so many people stop to say how beautiful his work is! And it is! He's a star!

Sadie's Hanky Box

The underside.

The inside base.

This photo is of my mother holding me, taken up at my Granny's hotel in Yackandandah. Mum would have been just 25. Younger than my youngest. I showed Dad and he remembered taking the picture!

My little grand-daughter wanted a hanky box the same as mine, and here it is. A little girl version of mine at least. I bought the hankies before last Christmas, knowing I'd make her a little box eventually. I did think to make it for her now, but really, the idea was to make it while she was with me, to inspire her to follow in the family footsteps and become a mad sewer... but once I got started it... I couldn't stop. I'm keeping it for Christmas because she'll be that bit older and won't trash it perhaps. Luckily, if she does, I can just as quickly make another..

I'll make a little book while she's visiting one day, to let her see how it's done. I don't remember learning to crochet and I want Sadie to have the same tools. That's what Grandma's are for.

TUTORIAL OVER HERE FOLKS!