Crocheted Scarf.

 With winter approaching it is time to think of those poor naked necks. Here is a little something I put together for mine. 

On the drive home.

Our Place.

 

This is our home, shipped over and built by my mum's uncle in the 1950's. Unfortunately all of the owners between the time they lived there and we moved in didn't quite have the love for the place that we do.  Below is my parents house (next-door, where I grew-up) that was also stitched together by my mum's uncle. One day our place will look that loved.

A puzzle for 1 to 4 people!

I have head-over-heals fallen in love with vintage jig-saws. Their quaint portrayals of life not to mention the absolute satisfaction at finding the connecting piece. Here is one I found in the local op-shop, not bad for a $2 gamble (yes all the pieces are there).

No. 1. Our Village A Tower Press Jig-Saw.

Mini Tokyo.

Was lucky enough to go to Tokyo for the New year celebrations. While I was there I picked-up a SQ30m by monogram, a tiny pocket digital camera, a toy camera... sort of a digital lomo. A lot of fun for only 21 grams of camera. Here are some of the shots.

Op Shop Adventure.

Went to the Red Cross Op Shop in New Lynn and found the most amazing set of children's books. There are ten all together and then have everything from nursery rhymes to Greek mythology to Pride and Prejudice and Alice in Wonderland.

Also found some lovely fabric, two doilies and a set of two books on shorthand. I had never realised shorthand what shorthand was. Here's an example, it's the scratchy marks.

I have also finally finished my Owl and also felted a bird pincushion.

And this is Meow Face, he's the neighbours cat but he likes hanging out at our place. He is currently sleeping on the couch.

Look What I Found...

Saturday had a lovely foggy morning. I peered out the window and saw these. I quickly grabbed my camera and in just a robe and a pair of tramping boots captured them.

My new skirt and other things.

So I have finally finished Studio for the first half of the year, that was why I have been horrendously ignoring the blog, I apologise. I was working on a book to encourage office workers to bring plants into their workspace. My tutors acknowledged I was taking a risk by expressing my idea in book format but apparently I did not pull it off. I have learned from it and am ready to move on.

But at least the presentation looked good. Those colourful piles are copies of the book which I printed and bound.

I finally got around to using some of the fabric I picked up at a Karen Walker (I think it was Karen Walker, please correct me if I'm wrong) charity school yard sale a few years back. I made a skirt, the easiest skirt ever. I think the whole thing maybe took me an hour.

Before you start you will need enough thick elastic to go around your waist + 3cm seam allowance. This will be your waist band. For the fabric, choose something that can be doubled over to create the length of the skirt.

Step 1, measure your waist and add 3cm to allow for a 1.5ch seam.

Step 2, cut thick elastic to the waist+3cm length.

Step 3, measure length of elastic when fully stretched (not including the 3cm of seam allowance).

Step 4, measure and cut a length of fabric to the same length as the stretched elastic and add 3cm for seam allowance.

Step 5, sew the raw edges of the elastic together, good sides facing each other, (remember 1.5cm seam allowance). This will form the waist band.

Step 6, sew raw edges of the fabric together, good sides facing each other, (remember 1.5ch seam allowance) and press (iron) the seam flat.

Step 7, fold fabric in half horizontally to make a double layered doughnut shape keeping the seam on the inside.

Step 8, line up the seam of the elastic and the seam of your fabric and pin together.

Step 9, it is now time to sew the fabric into the waist band, stretching the elastic as you go. This will need some strong fingers depending how tough your elastic is.

There we go, Done! I sometimes like to roll the waistband over a couple of times, this gives it a ruched look, as well as shortening it a bit.

Just needed to share my love of Air Plants.

The little fluffy Owl below is one of my new projects. His body is needle felted and now I'm figuring out how to attach his wings and what to do with the eyes and nose. I'll let you know how he turns out.

I'm going to leave you with this image taken of the reflection in my light-box.