A sickie ?

I may have woken up slightly disgruntled today. Last day of holidays and I could have sworn I have only had one week , not the two that were promised.

But when I look at the projects, I have to concede that yes, I have had two weeks off work , and yes got quite a lot done, and yes I am very lucky to work in the Education department and have quite a lot of holidays..........

BUT !!!

Today , on the very last day of holidays - I got an idea for a new softie and I have been sewing ALL day - It is kind of completely different to any softies I've done before....and it is still not quite finished and the dinner is on and I need to get a teeny bit organised for work, and maybe think about kids stuff and quickly pop to the supermarket and finish off a few spare petals for the purple flower and send a few emails and pack a parcel or two

I guess it would be pretty bad form to chuck a "softie-sickie" on the first day back wouldn't it???

Independent ..........

Tuesday - a bit of a scarf workshop with friends - Awesome fun and a new scarf featuring some Aunty Cookie, some Greenolive designs , some Pippijoe and some left over printed text from the Johnny Depp scarf of last year.

Wednesday - sewing day with some other friends, more great fun and the fronts- only of two cushion covers. Gorgeous natural linen with pieces of Sumor by the spunkiest of all bubbles the Ink and spindle team.

and this little sweetie is Nan and she loves to play nurses

She may not be the answer to swine flu.....

but she's willing to give it a shot !

It flowed...........

Yesterdays (much needed ) serenity was quite productive.

The dolly scarves got cast off (Thanks for all the tips)

The flower got finished. This is a plastic stem with a half Styrofoam ball covered in felt. The petals are felt, and each one is wired so that they are pose-able. The centre bits of random fibres were needle felted onto the felt. In the centre of the flower is a Velcro patch so that 3 of the petals (also velcro'd) can be pulled off and replaced.

Hopefully it meets all the criteria!

French knitting- Kind of.

School concert is upon us once again and it is the job of a few of us to try and make the crazy costume ideas a reality. We also aim for the kids to have a hand in making their own costumes, so yesterday saw me attempting some french knitting without a knitting Nancy. A friend at work had described this technique to me and it sounded ideal. I needed the tubular nature of french Knitting but larger - so I french knitted on my fingers....It worked out so well. I am sure the kids will manage it - and they can each make up a little cardboard hand to "hang' their knitting from as they go.

Four dollies got faces (They have been faceless for weeks)

I finished stencilling on a skirt and yes, the mannequin is standing on the kitchen bench and No ! I am not that skinny, there are many an inch pinned in the back I can assure you.
The stencil is from the Ed Roth book Stencil 101.

I traced the stencil with a water soluble marker and painted it with fabric paint.

and then, with no intention of further freaking out Sooz, who got a little excited that I was actually knitting! I went and made a garment - and whats more it actually fits.

I know it is all uppish on one side but again that is due to the many inches pinned in the back to stop it falling off the mannequin. It is some denim stuff and a panel of Aunty Cookie because sticking to the actual pattern was freaking me out.

All it needs is hemming!

See what a bit of serenity can do.....

Can you hear the serenity?

I have been knitting dolly scarves ! yes I know I am not a knitter and I did wreck the first two 'cause they went all kind of tubular on me but Mr Google explained that was because I was knitting plain and purl and for scarves I should just knit plain.

I am counting on Mr Google to remind me how to cast off as well a bit later. (I seem to have forgotten)

I have been doing a tiny bit of needle felting on this flower which is destined to be a prop for Midsummer Nights Dream in a few weeks. It needs three more petals that have to be removable and replaceable.

My stencilling needs another coat (It was not really stencilled). The edges need a bit of work.

So at 1.46 pm on Sunday afternoon, having just delivered the Ric-Rac males to the train to go to Melbourne to watch a football game, and having dropped Miss Teen Ric-Rac off to the Battle of the Bands, I am here soaking up the serenity.

The mobile is on for emergencies but you know what ? with at least 3 or 4 hours to myself, I don't care if the Queen of Sheba comes knocking, I am not answering the door, or answering the phone. I am turning the computer off and I am going to go into my sewing room to bathe....literally bathe in the serenity.

ahhhhhhh.

Three heads are better than one.

Close......... Closer............. closest

But still not quite right..........

(and no jeans)

What is that behind you?

So, today was the day. No more faffing about. No more avoidance and absolutely no more whiney-butt excuses. Like Arthur heading out to slay a dragon, I girded my loins, buckled into my chain maille and set off on a journey so perilous that few live to tell the tale.

Strong of heart and determined, this would be the day I rose victorious from the perils of consumer madness, treasure in hand.

The day I would buy a new pair of jeans!!!!

Little did I know the horrors that awaited me, the seething cauldron of over-heated shopping malls, the treacherous valley of the 2 inch crotch rise and the relentless tide of colours and washes and finishes.

I saw things that no woman should have to see, I saw shop-assistants, whose heads were the largest part of their bodies (like Bratz dolls). I saw jeans so "distressed" that they were held together only with good thoughts. I saw change rooms that looked like nightclubs, with carpet just as sticky........................

(and at this point you will be relieved that this is the only photoless I have ever done....)

I saw my own undies-clad-butt in a three way mirror !!!

I think my arse has been taken over by aliens.

Lower the expectations

For those of you expecting 2 glorious weeks of creative genius, I say lower those expectations........and then maybe lower them again.

The mojo / muse whatever has definitely left the building.
In the past these creative down times used to stress me out unbearably, now, while I still rant and rave against them I am beginning to understand that it just happens and maybe I just need to shift focus for a bit

So yesterday while I tried not to stress about the softie that is just not working
I made some potholders ! The blue and orange ones are for use (made with the tinnie fabric) and the kitcheny ones will go in the "gift box'.

I made five little coin purses from the best coin purse pattern in the world These little guys just need to have their frames added today. I love this pattern of Nikki's and have made heaps of these purses. They are one of my go-to patterns for a quick little gift. These will go into the gift-box as well.

I chilled - totally. Even though I have already read issue 9, yesterday I read it again at the computer and followed all the links and checked out all the blogs. I added more blogs to my reader and popped a few more into the blog roll over on the side. It is a crazy kind of cool to read a magazine that feels like it has been written just for you, with stories that really interest you and articles about people you know, or blog-know. (and yes I am in there as well)

I fiddled a bit on the softie front -

I have no idea who this guy is or where he came from......

I think he needs antlers