Grab a moving partner and hold on tight……………… Follow me to my new home

LOST IN STASH

The pettiskirt and Frou frou tutorials can now be found here too

Yip another rainbow dress….I can’t see myself ever getting bored of this pattern. Tikki has done a fantastic job designing it.

This one is from my Yarn Swap V2.0 that was dyed by the lovely ditto on TNN.

And another one…this time a modified version..to make a dress for nakey baby “Amelia”.

This one was done in scraps of Deep Purple Merino and The Wool Company Tropicana

hehe – not for me, but for Em

A wee while ago I done a swap with the Gorgeous Gabes, where I made her DD a tutu. In return Gabes made Em the most beautiful shorties = Perfect for cloth nappying in the warmer weather

And not only that, but she made her a matching wee tie dyed singlet…. Did I mention I love pink I think it comes from being surrounded by daughters not ever a colour I’ve ever liked growing up but now I’m older I love it.

Thank you soooooooo much we love them – I’ll update this post with a pic as soon as I find them But you can see the gorgeousness here

Pics as promised

I’ve had a few messages from friends asking me how to make the pretty petti’s so I’m in the process of translating my notes

You can find the start of the tutorial here (on my new blog)

Please please please If you make one I’d love to see pics

It was my Little Sisters wedding on Saturday apart from the Rain (now thats one thing i couldn’t help with) the wedding was lovely.

They decided that they would pull their wedding forward to January – that gave them 5- 6 weeks (over christmas ) to get things organised. They chose to have a small DIY wedding…. I’m all for DIY so of course I was roped in eager to help

My main task was to make the girls flower girl outfits – they were wee garden fairies. – see this post. The beautiful photo of Izzy looking angelic was taken by my aunty

Then a week or so out from the wedding their photographer decided that it wasn’t suitable…. No problem – I’ll take some snaps for you. (this was actually a good excuse to practice as I’m hoping to take an Amateurs photography course in the next year or two – I’m happy with the results from my basic Digital SLR camera – ok it’s realy my other sister Juju’s camera but I have it on long term loan)

here are a few of my favourites -

And then on the day of the wedding a friend (who was making the cake) forgot the wedding was THAT day, mum called me in a panic…. No worries Mum I have an idea I’ll be round in 10mins .

2 chocolate mudcakes from the cheesecake shop, a bunch of gerberas, some ribbon and butterflies…. Voila. I’m actually quite pleased with my 20min wedding cake – I think most of the guests didn’t realise the rush it was made in until we told them.

Mum and my aunty done most of the decorating and they too done a fantastic job.

To Hannah and Lee – I wish you a lifetime of happiness.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

I’ve had this obsession with Pettiskirts since I first saw them on boutique childrens clothes Sewing forum I frequent. They sell for absolutely astronomical prices in the US (about $80-100 USD per skirt) and then I’d have to ship the big balls of fluff home adding to the cost. So after chatting with the ladies and feeling like I could actually attempt them I bought the fabric – almost a year later I attempted the skirts for my youngest sisters wedding as my girls would be the flower girls or fairies as they turned out to be. It turns out my aunty made these skirts way back when my sisters were little (I’ll find the photo as it’s soooo cute) so if I got stuck i’d have someone to turn to for advice.

Basically how I made them was I made 2 lots of tiered skirts with a big ruffle factor to get the oomph needed. The poufiness comes from the ruffle fluff which from memory is ruffled from 150cm down to 25cm so quite a fluffy ruffle

After about 5 days and almost 15metres of fabric  both skirts were finished at 10pm the night before just in time for the wedding at 3pm – I am sooooooooooooooooo happy with the results.

My conclusion – although extremely satisfying now they are done – and I get to say “I MADE THEM”  – the huge pricetag these come with is soooooooooooooooo justified

Wedding pics to come in another post

For the dolly’s that is….

Again following with tradition, I didn’t start the renovation of this dollshouse until a couple of days before Christmas. It was a cheap buy from Trademe – I think under $20. I had bought the girls some wooden dolls furniture for cheap while I was in Nelson visiting my friend and her newborn son, so I really needed to get this finished in time for christmas as it was their main present.

Before pics….. this shows the roof after I repaired it – when we bought it it had some bits missing. Instead of making a new roof (DH was being stubborn) I bought some moulding putty and fixed it the best i could.

After a couple of days hard slog sanding it back (after finding out that it was enamel paint grrrr I did ask dh and he said that it wasn’t) and a couple of test pots of paint later, it was finally finished at 3am christmas morning.

AFTER:

And best of all……………………….The girls LOVE IT.

Ok so I’m a serial procrastinator – something I’m going to try and change for the coming year. If there is a deadline I won’t start until the week or even a few days before it’s due and if no-one gives me a deadline then I’m sorry to say it isn’t likely to ever be done

So christmas time was no exception…… with 5 days till christmas and no money for presents I had to do something. Along comes my lovely friend Margaret with a book from her marvelous collection “Bend The Rules Sewing”. It saved Christmas.

I went to bed that night and flipped through all the pages of quick easy potential gifts…. I was ready.  I made a list of who I had yet to buy for and assigned them a gift for me to make.

First Up was my Greatest Friend – Bridget and her darling mother (whom my girls believe is one of their grandparents sooooo sweet)

For Bridget I made the Artsy Clutch from the book – padded so she could use it as a camera bag – it turns out she bought herself a digital camcorder for Christmas (Lucky thing) so this will be a funky way of keeping it out of harms way.

I went stash diving and knowing my friend loves bright bold colours I went with Joel Dewberry Sparrows from his Aviary collection with a lime green sunburst (from the same collection) and I made a matching lime green button (oooh covered buttons….this will have to be a post in itself…what an awesomely cool addiction ) From Start to finish this project took about 20 mins – now you can’t complain about that

For her mum I wanted something slightly different – in my bloggy travels I’d come across these Criss Cross Coasters. A fantastic way to use up fat 1/4’s (a quarter of a yard of fabric cut so it’s like a fat rectangle for you non sewers   ) You get about 6 coasters from 2 contrasting fat 1/4’s. Again a simple but really effective gift. I love them and I think the recipient liked them too.

For my youngest sister a BIG BAG – the Pleated Beauty Bag – again from Bend The rules Sewing book.

Joel Dewberry Fabric again – this time in yellow (brighter than the picture shows) with a yellow lining. With a solid bottom.

I love the pleats – they add a point of difference. And I enjoyed making the bag so much that I’ve got one for me in progress (as soon as my machine comes back it will be finished)

My sister Juju received an Artsy Clutch also – this is for her New digital camera (see the theme?? )

Both of these fabrics are from my stash – I can’t think of the designer right now but again I had fun making the matching covered button

For mum I made some coasters in some vintage style rose fabric from my stash

She also got some handmade crystal christmas tree earrings made by my friend and all the girls in the family got some Memo Holder Magnets

These again were quick and easy to make. I had some wooden pegs from the girls craft box and raided my ribbon stash. I then put craft glue on the peg edge and wrapped it in a ribbon. The magnet strip was cut to size and added on the back. Then leave them to dry – and there you have it – a quick and easy gift

All the males in the family got some homemade fudge using the quick and easy recipe of Christine’s with some added goodies in it – crushed candy canes, some with cointreau etc. All was devoured within a day and I even had phonecalls asking if the fudge could be their annual christmas gift… I think I can do that. You’ll need to hound Christine for the recipe should you want to try it yourself

KIWIANA CHRISTMAS

The 1st yarnswap was so successful that it was decided to do a 2nd one (and also a 3rd which I didn’t take part in due to my busy schedule leading up to the new year).

Anyway version 2.0 was the same as the first one with a slight tweak – no knitting gift was needed but apart from that it was the same

My recipient to be was Shortly – I reallyhad to put my thinking cap on, and since the swap was to be completed so close to christmas I decided on a christmas theme.

I based it around what makes Christmas unique to us here in New Zealand – the fact it’s summer plays a big part in how we celebrate it, bbq’s, beaches, swimming. My girls have a wonderful christmas book called “Kiwi Jingle Bells” which sums it all up perfectly. I decided this was the main part of my swap.

Pohutukawa coloured Yarn (New Zealand’s Christmas tree – flowers around christmas time)

I also included the book and a couple of keyrings (a jandal and a buzzy bee) to use as decorations. The pattern I chose was for some jandal socks

In return the lovely E sent to me a

WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

Themed swap…. Man was i spoilt.

I got some Everlasting gobstopper yarn

Lots and lots and lots of Wonka lollies

A purple scarf from when Violet turned into a blue berry

A pattern for a sweetie dress and a Chocolate Sauce River Recipe.

My First adult garment

SCARY……..

I had my husbands work christmas party to go to……I’ve been doing weightwatchers so all my clothes are getting too big for me (YAY) and with the fact that I’m still losing weight and have a bit to go I didn’t want to buy something new that in a few months time would be unwearable, so I thought I’d be brave and sew myself something. With lots of encouragement from Christine (I was scared to cut into my Amy butler fabric) I went for it…. and it wasn’t too hard.  I used the Amy Butler Barcelona A-line skirt pattern with some Amy Butler Passionflower fabric. Everything was written clearly and I even adjusted the pattern to fit using the instructions given..so it fits PERFECTLY.

Excuse the pics I took them of myself

I even learnt how to put in an invisible zip

The only modifications that I made was that I didn’t line it …on purpose – as I do want to be able to wear the skirt again as I lose weight I left it unlined so that I can take in the seams as i shrink

Again….. The pull of bags is just far toooooo much for me. I love bags (and shoes) but mmmmmmmmmmmm bags.

So anyway the lovely Christine decided to run another bag swap before christmas and with not too much a bit of arm twisting I was in.

My swappee was a friend on TNN. She’s a teacher and one of the ideas she gave me was for a bag that she could keep on her person at all times that would hold her keys, cellphone and ipod. I had a think, and I remember seeing on craftster a tutorial for a bum bag hipslinger. PERFECT.  I was also told that some of her favourite colours are pink and green and that she likes things no-one else has, and funky fabrics. I’m all about funky fabrics and I knew the perfect one for the project. Some Amy butler fabric from her Nigella range – Passion blossom. I had made myself a skirt out it only a couple of weeks ago and I absolutely loved it.

So anyway the bag….. Here are some pics

And the only modifications really were that i used a tie closure

in return I got the COOOOOOOLEST Work in progress bagsket in my favourite colour PINK

it has cool pockets on the inside

and is lined with a funky dragonfly print fabric (one that I’ve admired for ages)

I love it so much and it’s used all the time

WICKED

This post is just like the other – a catch up so i can start 2009 Fresh…..

So what was i doing in my absence? apart from reading blogs of course….. KNITTING

For Em a Wicked Jersey in Patons Smoothie  – not such a fan of the yarn as it’s quite splitty. I don’t normally knit in acrylic either so this could have been the other issue. Though i do love the Jersey – the pattern modifications were those of Tikki’s Mischevious and made a roomyish size 2 – 2009 goal is to knit the adult version for myself.

HOUSEWARMING GIFT

I knitted up a set of Dishcloths for a friend that was moving into their new home. She’d asked me if I had any cotton in my stash for her to knit herself some dishcloths, but I thought I’d knit them for her instead – I know how stressfull moving into a house whilst doing the renovations and being pregnant can be

I love the bright bold colours

ICECREAM DRESS

This time a gift for a friends newborn daughter. A rainbow dress in “neopolitan” ice cream colours – and a matching soaker with a ruffle bum (inspired by the gorgeous gabes Vintage knickers that she knitted for em)

ROCKIN RETRO RAINBOW DRESS

And because I love the Pattern sooooo much I had to make another rainbow dress – this time for Em (but I made it too big so it Izzy got it and loves it – can you tell??)

Knitted in Moda Vera Bamboo

Evangeline

My lovely Grandmother turned 90 this year, she’s starting to feel the cold constantly now so I thought I’d make her something to help keep the chill at bay whilst she’s doing her day to day stuff. I chose the pattern Evangeline as they were designed with the designers grandmother in mind. I thought that it fitted well with what I wanted.

They were knitted in Naturally Yarns Merino et Soie in a gorgeous purple colour

The Koha

Ok yes, I know, I’ve been absent forever -well 4 months at least. I always meant to get back here and update things but I had so much fun reading others blogs that my own was sadly neglected

So here I am – Hoping to make amends. And hopefully – somewhere someone still checks in on me.

So as a final farewell to 2008   here are some of my last few months projects. I’m hoping to start 2009 fresh with lots of new stuff and regular updates.

First of all some long overdue Public acknowledgement of wonderful gifts received from amazing friends and swap partners

from the gorgeous Christine all wrapped up in the best type of wrapping – FABRIC

And the goodies it enclosed  most gorgeous Bamboo Scarf (which she has blogged about here) which Izzy promptly claimed and even now when she says it I get a sharp telling off and a “hey that’s mine”

Beautiful Hand Dyed Yarn Which I’ve knitted into a soaker

And CHOCOLATE – Organic Greens & Blacks Chocolate – which actually matches the yarn – I bet Christine done that on purpose

Yarn Swap V1

I took part in 2 yarn swaps. For the first one I sent out 2 packages (one I blogged about here which was actually my last post for many months – whoops sorry and the 2nd package was sent to the Gorgeous Kelly in Oz)

Well I also received the most gorgeous well thought out swap parcels in return

Pretty as a Princess Yarn Swap

The first came from the wonderful Sharon. All who know me  know that I’m a HUGE Disney fan so Sharon decided to take this and use it in her swap. I received the most gorgeous wool dyed in the Jewel Tones of the Disney Princess Dresses.

Also included in the package was a WIP bag with a matching notions pouch, CHOCOLATE, a pattern for some lacy Come Dancing Socks and a recipe for Chocolate Pear Brownie mmmm yummy.

The link above includes all the details of the lovely swap – I’m just sorry it’s taken me this long to post about it.

PERSEPHONE

Kelly was my other gifter. She has blogged about her gorgeous Persephone ” godess of the underworld” themed swap here

Gorgeous – firey hand dyed yarn, Pomegranate juice and hand beaded stitch markers. A pattern for Persephone wrist warmers and a recipe for pomegranate sago pudding.

THANK YOU to you all – mwah mwah mwah

Another fun swap which I’ve taken part of on TNN

It was a well thought out Swap and the brain child of my friend Kelly.

The swap was to be done to a theme of your choice and consisted of 5 parts.

*Hand Dyed Yarn

*Pattern

*Recipe

*Knitting related gift

*small “other” gift

I took part in 2 swaps the first one I can now show you as the person has received it (the other person is yet to receive hers as she’s in Australia so the post is a bit slower)

The theme I chose for Swap 1 was “Jellybeans” based on this poem

Families are like jelly beans
Each one uniquely coloured,
Some are red, some pink, some green
And some are even spotted!
Each one’s flavour is all its own
Some tart, some sweet, some sweeter,
Some get scooped up right away
And some get saved for later.
But although each one’s different
And some favoured over others,
Put ‘em all in a basket and
They all go great together!

My yarn was dyed in “Jellybean” colours of bright reds, blues, yellows, greens, oranges and of course black. I used a combination of Acid dyes and cake gels to acheive the look. The yarn is Cleckheaton country 8ply.

The pattern I chose was “Jelly Beanie” (rav link)

The Recipe: Jelly Bean Biscotti

The knitting gift: Some Jelly bean coloured stitch markers

The other gift: A noodle box of Jelly beans

The other swap I’ll do a post for later (as I said the person hasn’t received – in that post I also have pics of the gorgeous packages I received )

But now I’m all back home again

 

This past weekend I was lucky enough to spend the weekend with the darling Sweetp and her family in Christchurch.

We had a fantastic weekend – knitting, nattering, shopping, nattering, yarn dyeing and nattering . It was a fantastic break to revive the mind and soul (well on my part anyway).  It was my first weekend away from my girls so I was a wee bit nervous (ok a lot bit nervous) but lucky for me Gabe’s gorgeous girls made me feel at home and loved

I was also lucky enough to meet a few of the other ladies in CHC who frequent the same forum. Lots of laughter and eating and a bit more nattering

 

I hate turning up to places empty handed – and I had to thank Gabes for her hospitality so I thought I’d make the Queen of Knitting somewhere to hold her current Project (yes I know, who only ever has 1 project on the go) I got my spy to do some work for me (though she did a bit too good of a job and Gabe’s posted this) and I put together a plan

Anyway… Here is the WIP (work in Progress)  Bag.

 

I used a large Ziploc bag as a guide (well it’s where I keep my projects) so it’s around that size. The bottom is flat and has a piece of heavy interfacing to give it a sturdy base. The sides have a fusible batting in them to help the bag stand by itself and also to help prevent the needles poking through. If I had of been brave enough I would have tried quilting it – but alas – that was far toooooo scary.

 

Oh and can you see my favourite part???? The wee row counter on the drawstring Yes I’m a geek.

 

I added a few accessories to help make project wrangling easier.

A wee zippered notion pouch – made using this tutorial. This was my first ever zipper and I’m very proud of it.

 

And a “Yarn Bra” to hold a centre pull ball of yarn to help it from tangling. (for the ladies I met at the knitting night – I’ll have a tutorial up ASAP – though I think you all took enough notes lol) I got this idea from my Aunty who made a few of these in smaller sizes for christmas presents one year.

 

Both pouches have a clip so they can be clipped to the D-ring inside the bag for easy retrieval.

 

Personalised with a Name tag

 

Inside I added some gorgeous Purple Merino et Soie Yarn, a bar of Dairy Free Fair trade Chocolate and a copy of the Yarn Harlots book.

 

ooooooh and Gabes gave me a huge spool of white yarn to dye from this stash.

 

Thank you Gabes and girls for showing me a fantastic time and having me to stay.

 

The Photo was taken by Gabe’s 6yo DD – isn’t she clever ( oh and that’s me all bundled up in my big woolly jacket – spot the Aucklander )