Trash TV is good for something

I am resigned to the fact that there's no way I'll finish my cotton crochet blanket this year unless something amazing happens that involves me not working another day and seeing out the rest of 2010 with a whole lot of crochet. Unlikely at best. However there a two new time slots in which to get some hooking happening. Hello, Survivor: Nicaragua and to a much lesser extent, but in support of Mr T's infatuation, Amazing Race. This makes my little Virgo heart very happy as I multitask.

My creative space

I've procrastinated beyond belief about starting this. I bought the supplies way back when, borrowed books, but only now have I put floss to linen. I've unpicked several imperfections and re-threaded the needle countless times and come back to find my non permanent ink doing it's job far too well. In spite of all that I'm liking this embroidery thing.

Other people getting stuff done here

Just in time

That there, my friends, is two edges of a scarf. Yes the cabling has been done. All that's required now is to sew in the ends and add on a fringe. The plan is before Winter has done it's dash...

Cable

So while I had a pattern I needed some major help to read essentially another language. All those k's, p's, sl's and *'s. I needed the help of an expert. You know, someone who's been at this a little longer than I. Poor Mum, she had no escape given she's been prescribed strict bed rest after her foot op. It took us three goes, but we got there. A wonky kind of cable, but cable nevertheless.

My Creative Space

A whole lot of hole punching. For little gift tags. To be included in a give away so very soon!

Check out many more spaces at Kootoyoo.

It's raining

We have had November's average rainfall come down in one day. Today! After a record heat wave to start the month, it's almost gone full circle. The garden is soaked through and the water tank full. There's been a lot of time spent indoors. Plenty of crocheting been done and we've sorted out most of our trip through Vietnam. Just Japan to go.

Creative Space

Half way through a botanical illustration that hopefully will be finished by the end of class tonight.
Many many other spaces here.

Creative Space

My creative space has been in the car this week, we've done a bit of driving. But no one wants a photo of Mr T's old station wagon. So here's the product. It's normal to crochet in the car, right? It's about the only thing that doesn't make me car sick.

For a whole bunch of spaces, have a peek here.

My creative space

So along with many others, I've decided to partake in Softies for Mirabel.

I'm not the worlds greatest sewer, but I hope the recipient can tell it was made with love, even if there was some swearing involved. I haven't followed a pattern (hence the swearing), I got my inspiration from the Brown Owls badge because I thought it was kinda cute. I've opted to make do with the fabric scraps I have on hand rather than buy in new stuff, because I have too much stuff. Now I can't decide if he needs a beak or a mustache. Or perhaps a beak and a mustache. I have mustaches let over from my party you see. Decisions!

Lots of other creative spaces here.

Sketch Saturday

I am thoroughly enjoying botanical illustration class. This week I present my rendering of a tomato, in case you couldn't tell. It's unfinished at this stage but well on its way.

Had a perfect start to the weekend, a bit of window shopping after work last night, a couple of drinks - and I mean only a couple - my new self imposed limit after last weekend and then a meal at the Grossi Cellar bar. My second meal there and just as fabulous as the first. The service is cheeky and the place is alive.

This afternoon we're off to the beach for a wedding. Another one of the McCrae crew down. Not many to go now. Should be a fabulous afternoon that rolls long into the evening. Rest assured I'm keeping myself nice.

Have a great weekend!

My creative space

This is what my creative space looks like this week. Patience sewing at it's best. If you've sewn a garland, my hat goes off to you. Or perhaps I've just got the process wrong. Which is entirely possible.

Head over to Kootoyoo to see more.

30/30 challenge: 40 mins walking

The week that was

It's been a good week after the lows and highs from last week.

We've been privy to some glorious spring weather, allowing for three days of riding. Gosh I love the bike.

Mr T surprised me on Tuesday by walking in the door before 7pm. That's unheard of, he's usually no home until after 8:30 pm. We used the extra time to watch Tropic Thunder. Robert Downey Jnr as the Australian is awesome and I can't think of a funnier closing scene. It's an easy movie to watch, particularly if you're partaking in some crochet at the same time!

Last night I caught up with 'the girls'. I so didn't feel like heading out, but so glad I did. Good food with lots of laughs. Our meal went straight from entree to dessert, it was so worth skipping mains!

It's the small things, but I'm excited for the weekend, I get to look after the pappies. The Pies are playing in another final on Saturday night and the plan is to get stuff done for the fiesta in a couple of weeks time. I want to finish these paper flags that I'll be using as decoration.

30/30 challenge: 30 mins walking in the glorious sunshine

Making the most of being indoors

I am very very close to finishing. All the squares are joined in rows, I'm just in the process of joining the rows together. It feels like it's taking forever! At least the weather is conducive to being indoors.

Heading into the weekend

I bought this material the other day to fill in time after missing my train. Having a fabric store so close to the station is often dangerous. For me, anyway. Hopefully this weekend I'll have some time to do something with it. Seems unlikely at this stage.

Tomorrow the Golden Child and I are riding in the Whittlesea Challenge. 108kms of it. I might need a nap after that. Then I'll frock up and accompany Mr T to the Melbourne Awards Ceremony at the Town Hall. Sunday involves football and hopefully some much needed down time.

Enjoy whatever it is you're up to this weekend!

Say goodbye to Sunday

And there goes the weekend. Had the most fabulous night full of laughter with the girls on Friday night. Saturday was spent on the bike (battling the wind) and visiting the most recent addition to the Beach crew, baby number one. While Sunday was about the market and shopping for soft furnishings - finally we have cushions for our couch, and then there was tidying. My sewing/drawing room particularly. I can see the floor now. And there's nothing on the spare bed. Woo hoo.

I found the pieces of European pillow case covers I started back in 06, maybe earlier. Time to finish them, they'll make a fine addition to the room. Toying with the idea of bleaching them slightly to wash the them out a little. Will see how I go.

The beginning of the end

Crocheting the first two pieces together took me longer than I'd anticipated. It was like learning to crochet all over again, I had to unpick it several times. Thankfully I was able to join the next two pieces quickly. And I'm weaving in the ends as I go.

It looks neat on the right side and there's a slight ridge on the wrong side. Thanks Mr T for being my hand model.

To done!

I had an urge to make a succulent wreath, but finding the circular form was proving to be difficult. While left to my own devices at Bunnings I found the metal forms in the first photo. Some ingenious use of gladwrap and I was able to stuff the form with peat & sphagnum moss and some cactus potting mix. Then I cut holes in the gladwrap and 'planted' my succulents and their cuttings. They're going to take a little while to develop roots, so this is most definitely a work in progress.

In other news, I'm a sqaure and a half away from being ready to sew my blanket together. And my tax is done!

Momentarily stalled

So, the fake pockets are in my pants. I couldn't help but re-do one because it wasn't quite perfect. Now I'm happy with the symmetry of them. The pants fit perfectly around the waist and my derriere. The issue is that the leg appears to be a touch wide for my liking from the hip down. I haven't managed to take them in with any success yet. Patience is the key I imagine, and indeed a virtue I lack on occasion. Given that we missed out on Avenue Q tickets for tonight (thankfully secured them for Sunday afternoon) I might string together an hour or two to work this out.

No production house here

Late nights watching le tour was fabulous for the progression of my blanket, but sadly the three weeks went all too quickly and I'm back to regular sleep and less productive crocheting. Honestly I try not to make tv watching a habit (though we rather like Grand Designs) however I am looking forward to checking out United States of Tara tomorrow night at 9:30 on ABC1. Yay, Toni Collette. Yay, no ads! Yay, crochet.

More wip

Ahh, what a fabulous weekend. Breakfast in bed, some thrifty finds at Bunnings (more on that later), Christmas in July festivities, Flight of the Conchords, a market run, homemade pizza and a sewing project.

I've probably had the fabric for about a year, it had been washed and dried and it was ready to go. I knew I wanted to make a pair of pants, but I wasn't too sure what pattern to use. Probably because I hate patterns and tend to make it up as I go, which usually ends in disaster, or unfinished business. I've taken sewing lessons before and I remember my teacher encouraging us to take apart a favourite skirt/shirt/pants once they'd had their final wear. So that's what I did. I pulled apart my favourite pair of pants. At close to five years old they'd certainly gone the distance. They were well made too - it took me forever to unpick them!

I am close to finishing. It took me a while to work out how to do the fake pockets, but they're done and in. Pointless, sure, but a good exercise nevertheless. I've joined the legs together and just need to sew the waistband together and attached that. And then hem, which would have to be my nemisis in this whole process. Fingers crossed I can get it right. If all goes well, I will be tempted to make a pair in every colour!