A Few More Napkins...

Finally put together a few more cloth napkins, bringing the Grand Total to EIGHT...

Yes, I know -

I STILL need to make more!




PS. Don't forget that our Jerry Giraffe Contest closes at midnight tonight (my time)

I'm loving the entries so far - there's some wonderfully unique characters out there (and some awesome giraffes too)

And tomorrow I will be announcing the pattern for our March Challenge - stay tuned!
Make sure that you have your photos submitted

No Name Yet...

I've started work on that walrus...

Thanks for all the name suggestions... there's a few on my short list, but I'm going to wait until he (or is it a SHE?) is finished before deciding on a name.

Mummy Time

It was a busy weekend, as always... but somewhere in the middle of it all, we manage to spend some quiet time together - just Little Miss Seven and I.

 

Katie has been totally absorbed in this Handbook for about two weeks now... and of course, wants to make EVERY single project inside it!

So we started with the Good Fairy.

Just noticed that we forgot to add her wings... Never mind!

Some recycled cardboard, colouring pens, a few fabric scraps, a little yarn, a glue stick and some glittery pom pom delights - kept her entertained for a good hour.

I drew the fairy, and Katie was in charge of the decorating and embellishing.

I'm REALLY loving this hair!

We used some variegated bamboo, and it's so very... well... HAIR like...

Katie even discovered that if she untwisted the ply a little before gluing the yarn down, that it looked like REAL strands of hair.

 

And here's my girl - admiring her handiwork...

(can't imagine who she takes after)

 

Almost March...

Can you believe that it's almost March already???

That means it's nearly time for our next KNIT CHALLENGE.

Penny was the winner of our last knit challenge, and has chosen the project for March.

I'm keeping hush on it for a few more days yet, but here's a sneak peek.

What Should I Call My Walrus?

I don't want to call him Wally... but that's the only name I can think of for my Walrus...

Can you offer me anything better???

A Secret Project.

I hate Secret Projects.

Half the fun of making something, is that I get to share it with you all...

So I really don't like it at all when I have to keep details under wrap.

Which means that I should stop submitting patterns for books/magazines - because they NEVER want you to share details before publication... and sometimes it's a really, REALLY long time until the work is published.

I am allowed to show you a teeny weeny little glimpse... so what you see in the photo is a few of the swatches I made for the tail... and based on shape and length of the tail, you can probably guess what type of animal I am making (but of course I am not telling you anything).

Cooperative Press are publishing a series of Fresh Designs Crochet books... and my little guy will be appearing in the Toys issue...

Very Exciting. And I'll tell you more about it as soon as I can.

Cloth Napkins

Lately I've become very conscious of the waste that we generate in this household, and how we can reduce it. For so many years now, we've been hearing about the need to be more environmentally aware... sometimes I think that we get so drawn into the Big Picture, that we totally forget about the small scale stuff!

Relax.

I'm not heading into a huge self-righteous monologue about the Evils of Modern Society and how we are Destroying the Planet...

(besides - I'm quite happy using disposable nappies... and toilet paper!)

I'm more about the superficial and fun side of recycling...




Over the years, our family have become HUGE Paper Serviette Fiends.

Seriously... we will use paper serviettes for any and all occasions... and very rarely is it just the one serviette... usually it's a huge wad of them.

I've been justifying their use, because they're not expensive... and it means there is no excuse for the kids not to clean up after themselves.

But I have to admit, it is a giant waste - and we don't really need them...

So I've started making some cloth napkins. They're just a random assortment of scrap fabrics from my stash, sewn into double sided squares.

I figure the exercise serves THREE purposes:

1. uses up some of my insane stash of fabric
2. improves my sewing skills
3. cuts down on disposable waste

But I think I'm going to need more than just the three.

Kokeshi Pattern Now Available

The pattern for my Kokeshi Doll is now available as a PDF for AU$4.50

It has been thoroughly tested. Click here and you can view all the dolls made using this pattern.

Starting Over

Sometimes you just have to abandon a project.

If the love is not there, and it makes you miserable to work on... then LET IT GO...

The way that I see it, there's enough of the 'tough stuff' in life - and if crafting is your leisure time, then you should make a habit of enjoying it.

And I was not enjoying the Charity Blanket.

First the tension was all over the place, and I couldn't work out why...

Then the tension problems were solved (thanks Daphne) but I was still not liking it. It was an absoloute drag to work on. It was almost like with every stitch I was chanting "I hate it... I hate it... I hate it"

And even though it was "only for charity" I still wanted to love it!

So I made a decision...

R-I-P-P-I-T

And rip it I did.

Frog, frog, frog, frog, frog.

I've stared anew. Same colours, but making a granny stripe instead of a square. Only a small change, but I'm loving it now.

It feels right.

Winner Announced!

Congratulations to Penny for her winning Kokeshi Doll!




I fell in love with this doll the very first time I saw her. She is such a wonderful interpretation of my original pattern.

I would never have thought to adapt the doll to make a teapot cosy - Penny, I think you are BRILLIANT!!!

So, as the winner.... Penny will now tell ME what to design for the next Knit Challenge, which will begin in March 2012.

Stay tuned, and I will let you know what she chooses!