I Love Books

I Love Books!

Real Books...

Reach out and touch the pages, Books...

I love the way they smell,

And the way they feel.




This week I'm reading the Ultimate Crochet Bible.

I wish I'd discovered this one YEARS ago... but it wasn't even published until 2010!

I don't know that I discovered anything NEW while reading it - but it took me five years of trial and error to discover all the neat information which is tucked very comprehensively into these pages.

This one's a loaner from the Hume Library, so if you're a local - you should definitely check it out!



And even though I was claiming not to have learned anything new while reading it... I did come across this:



"Designs can be completely random, like abstract art, or create more pictorial images"

Not Rocket Science, but it's EXACTLY what I needed to hear right now...

You see, I've been working on a Freeform Piece for an exhibition, with the International Freeform Fiber Arts Guild... and it's been frustrating the Bejiminees out of me.

I always think of freeform as being really abstract... and looking at my piece, it looks exactly like what it is... there's no imagination or insight required by the viewer at all...

In fact, it almost feels like a Pre-Schooler could have sketched the layout for me.

Anyway, it was just feeling really not 'Freeformy' enough for my liking - but reading those words this week, made me a million times more confident in my work.

Work which I REALLY wish I could share with you, but I have to keep it 'under wraps' for the moment.

This will be my first year entering, but you can take a peek at exhibits from previous years here

Beaded CDs...

I saw this tutorial on CD weaving a little while back, and found these ones done with wire and beads to be especially interesting...

So I had to make one for myself!

They're a bit fiddly, and the beads don't aways end up sitting the way you want them to, but you have to relax and remember that wire has a mind of it's own at times...

Try not to stress about it all looking perfect - it's not meant to be!



We also did some yarn CD weaving, Little Miss Seven and I.

So what will I do with these pieces?

No idea!

Although I'm thinking about incorporating the beaded one into a freeform piece that I'm working on...

C is for Charlotte

'Twas the Night Before Christmas,

And all through the house,

Not a creature was stirring...

Not even a mouse.
 


When I suddenly realised that I had TOTALLY FORGOTTEN to make a Christmas Gift for my baby girl!!!

Aaaarghhhh... how could that possibly be?

That gorgeous little baby, the one I spend almost every waking hour with... how could I possibly have forgotten her???

OOPS.

So it had to be something quick, and something that I had all the materials on hand for.

As you can see... I went with the Rag Wreath idea, starting with a cardboard C.

It looks gorgeous hanging on her bedroom door, and all I really had to do was tie some knots

I Can Sew!

I've decided that it's time to stop telling everyone that I can't sew...

And stop telling MYSELF that I can sew...

Because I can.

I might be slow, and fiddly in my process... and things might not always go according to plan on the first go...

But I Can Sew.

I am a BEGINNER



I've had this book for years and years. It has survived many of my Library Culls, because I knew that ONE DAY I would make something from it.

And guess what? I FINALLY DID



These little guys are called Prancing Ponies, and I decided to make one for my New Niece for her First Christmas.



The fabric I chose was not really traditional for a Baby Toy, but I thought that I could make it work... with a Scrappy Mane, and a Trademark Heart.



When I finally had the Prancing Pony assembled, I showed her off to Mr Goldfish...



"Something's missing", he commented... "It should have a horn"



And yet again, Mr Goldfish was right. It did need a horn, so it could morph into a Magical Unicorn

January Challenge

I'm kicking off 2012 with an exciting challenge.

• Each month I will offer a new pattern for FREE to those who wish to participate
• One month will be a KNITTING challenge, and the next month will be a CROCHET challenge
• Take a photo of your completed project and enter it in the competition
• I will choose my favourite project… the one which makes me go WOW the most! my decision might be based on yarn choices, embellishments, interpretation of the pattern… you get the idea
• PRIZE? the winner gets to tell me what to design for our next challenge... maybe you want me to write a pattern for something you've seen me design in the past, or perhaps to bring something to life from your imagination... it will be the WINNER'S CHOICE... you could choose to have me design a plarn toy elephant, some crazy elton john style glasses, or an easter surprise for your great aunt elsie…
  it might be something sane or crazy… either way, it will be designed and embellished in that true laughing purple goldfish style which you know and love! BUT bear in mind… whatever you choose… will be MADE by you guys the following month… so choose something YOU want to make…

So, here's the plan for January... and yes, I know that the month is almost over already, so we'll keep this running into February a little)

• Knit this Kokeshi Doll from my pattern. 
• Enter your project photo in this competition over at Ravelry. If you are not a Ravelry member, you can enter by emailing me your entry
• Entries will close 13/2/12 at midnight, my time (EDST Australia)
• Winner announced 15/2/12... photo of winning project will be posted here on my blog... and I'll also tell you why I chose it
• The winner will then choose what they would like me to design for the next Knit-Along (KAL) which will be run in March 2012

SO... are you in?

Want to join in the fun?

Email me for the pattern to get started

And don't feel left out if you are not a knitter... there will be a CROCHET challenge in February.