Thursday, March 29, 2012

Citrus Twirls Scarf

It seems that time driving to and from holidays was just a wee bit productive. :)
I spent the time (between checking on the boys; finding snacks, books and toys for them; and cleaning up after a couple of motion sickness moments) hooking up something from this lovely yarn.


I actually bought it from my LYS last year, when I saw the colours and said to myself "You're so coming home with me! YUMMM!", but then failed to do anything with it, being preoccupied with other projects that had a date that they needed to be completed for. Story of my life it seems. Are any of you that way? You have a list of things you want to do, but there are things that are always more pressing to use your precious time with? But I digress...



It was an easy pattern. Last year I saw the Spring Frills Scarf over at Aesthetic Nest, and rather liked the look of it, but I thought it was a little to frilly for me... I'm a bit of a tomboy at times. So I just picked up my hook and started doing my own thing. I liked the way it was looking while the hook was flashing throught the yarn. But now that it is complete, I'm not certain. When I put it on, I rather feel like a clown with a big frill around my neck. Not really my intention. So....

What would you do with it?
1. Wear it as is?
2. Re-work it into something a little less frilly?
3. Start from scratch?
4. Sell it (not that I really want to get rid of this yummy yarn!)?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Hope your creative spaces are filled with lots of creative juice. If you need a bit of a squeeze, have a look at Our Creative Spaces.

five days five ways  feature friday free for all

Monday, March 26, 2012

Gone Bush...

Well we have just returned from a week at my Mum's place. We had a lovely time away, but I have to say that it is also good to be back in my own bed.I am having Internet issues at the moment (OK, so it might be that we have gone over our broadband limit for the month ;) - but hey, it makes everything take longer!!!), so I am just putting together a couple of pics for you to look at - I just hope they will load!

On the Wednesday that we were there, we took a trip to the Gara Gorge area so that hubby and Jellyfish could either rock climb or abseil (Jellyfish just abseiled this time). I even coaxed my Mum into having a go - bear in mind that she is in her early 70's (yep, I was a late tag-a-long in my family). It's only the second time that she has ever abseiled, and the previous time was about 28 years ago! I am so proud of her!!! :)


This is a photo I took along the track to where they were climbing/abseiling. Please note that the trees are regular sized trees. Some of the granite boulders in the area are on the large size - and this was one of the small ones!!!


We explored the creek next to the footbridge, and Little C found some rocks and tiny muscles  in the sand and stone that had him fascinated.


Yes, Um. There I am in all my pregnant glory. Twelve weeks to go now. I just hope I don't get TOO much bigger  - but realistically, I probably will.

So there you have it. One day trip away from home. I will try to get back online and post some pictures of my latest creations in the next few days (and attempt to catch up on some blog reading!!!)

Till then!

S xxx

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Hey beautiful peeps! I just wanted to let you know that I will be away from my blog till Monday (Australia time) when I hope to be back with a few things to show you! :)
Everything is just gorgeous here - thank you to those who were checking up on me! ;) I feel pretty spesh that you missed me!

I hope you all have a fabulous few creative days - or just some time to enjoy some sunshine and the company of those you love.

See you all soon!

S xxx

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Another bib - and some new things in the works.

I made another bib yesterday arvo - but this time I made it with a velcro strip that will make the neck size adjustable. I discovered that if I use my zipper foot, I am able to get closer to the edge through the thick layers of fabric.


For those of you who saw the one I did last week, I've decided to give this one to my friend instead since her little bubba really is LITTLE - like 2kg! He and his lovely mummy came home from hospital yesterday, and my husband was lucky enough to see them both. He says the little guy is tiny (then again, I seem to give birth to super long babies, and the one that is still riding on the inside looks to be no different!). Thank you for your kind words regarding this little guy. He is completely precious.

In the works today is something in this fabric


And this one.


But not together. Anyone want to take a guess at what I am making?
Joining in over at Our Creative Spaces today

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Liebster Blog Awards



A groovy chick over at Strong Southerly nominated me for a Liebster Blog Award last week. Totally excited I am! Thanks Andrea. Her blog has a bit of a design element to it, and if you have a thing for chairs you should check it out every Monday. The award (which roughly translates as Dearest Blog) apparently goes to smaller blogs with less than 200 followers that deserve recognition. Me. Getting that honour. I'm just a bit humbled by it.

The rules of the award are:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to their blog.
2. Copy and paste the award to your blog and
3. Nominate 5 further blogs and let them know by leaving a comment.


So - I must be nominating some blogs.....



1. The Summer House - Jana is an awesome person whom I think of as the friend I have never met in person. She has a great creative side, and her blog has a lot of elements of keeping life simple sprinkled throughout it. It's rather refreshing. Like a cool drink on a hot day.

2. TEEK - If you are looking for diverse creative ideas, Tanya is your girl! Her blog is warm and open and just makes you want to "Come on in". If you get a chance, check out her bedroom makeover.

3. Describe Happy - For all things stitchy-quilt related, or snuggled in puppies. Or if you are feeling in the need of some homemade tasty goodness and love maple syrup, don't miss this warm and friendly blog!

4. Petits Details - Vintage and French goodness all rolled into one.

5. Bountifully - creative pursuits, design & fashion. I'm waiting to see how her Pouf Daddy goes.

And because I can't resist throwing this one in...

6. Thimbles and Crumbles - Think afternoon tea in the garden. Ladies sitting and creating. No, this isn't her life, but her blog sure makes my mind wander down those beautiful garden paths!

Enjoy your day, and remember - you all have worth in your thoughts and the things you do. Make those really count, and find a way to make someone else's day pure sunshine! :)


S xox

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Simple Trim Burp Cloth


I thought I'd put together a quick "how-to" for how I did this burp cloth. I'm  sure most of you could figure it out for yourselves, but here is what I did anyway.

1. Choose a hand towel or something absorbent that is similar. Mine was an Egyptian cotton hand towel from Target.

2. Choose your cotton fabric trim. You could probably use a sturdy ribbon here instead if you found one you liked.

3. Wash both. (You don't want them to shrink unevenly).

At this point I had to determine where I wanted my trim to sit. My towel had two woven-non-loopy strips across one end, so I figured they would make a good location to stitch my fabric trim to.


4. Measure the width of that you want your fabric to be. Because I was using the two woven strips to stitch it to, mine was 4.5cm wide. Add 5 - 6mm (1/4" for all those not using metric) seam allowance the whole way around. I DID NOT CUT IT TO LENGTH AT THIS POINT.


5. Pin trim to your cloth. Notice I pinned in both directions. That was so I could remove pins along the side I was working on and not have the other side shift. I do not have a walking foot for my machine - so I pinned like crazy - I did NOT want that strip to move through the machine at a different rate to the towel, which has the ability to stretch a little (I had tried to make a towel before, and had to scrap it. My hindsight is 20/20 on that one!).



6. Stitch across the side of the towel/fabric first (short end of the trim) to hold it in place. To turn the corner, simply make sure the needle is down (through the towel) and lift the presser foot. Rotate the towel 90 degrees, put the presser foot down and off you go!

7. Cut the length of the fabric when you are ALMOST at the end. I would say about an inch would do it. I did it this way so that if the fabric and towel did go through the machine at a different rate I wouldn't be left short of fabric trim. Tuck the ends under and "finger press" (i.e. use the warmth of your finger to iron the end under so that it doesn't pop out as you sew the final inch of the long side of the trim).

8. Repeat direction #6.


9. Don't forget to stitch backward and forward over the end of the first threads to lock them all in place.


10. Ta-dah!

Honestly, the ironing and pinning took the longest on this one, they whip up really quickly - and I'm not at all fast at the machine!

Happy stitching!

S xox

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Things for snuggling...

Morning all! Well it's a wild, wet and woolly day here today. It's been pouring since long before it was light enough to see outside. I think we might stay inside today and build cubbys out of the furniture (Hello cozy couch and a few blankets, cushions and pillows). Today was the first day we have had porridge for breakfast (with cold extracted honey - yummm!), and at 9am I am still sitting here in my flannelette pyjamas.

Tomorrow one of my friends goes in for a c-section. It's her first baby, and bubby is a wee bit small, hence the little bit earlier arrival. I spent a nap time yesterday whipping up couple of things for the new little bundle of snuggles.

First up was a burp cloth.


I used an Egyptian cotton hand towel, and some of the fabric from the scrap stash I was sent a couple of weeks ago. It was easier than I thought it would be. Actually it made me feel a wee bit braver with the whole sewing caper, so there will be more quilting cotton and toweling creations.

 Next up was a small bib. For those first few months when the dribbles start.

(Sorry about the photo quality - it's so dark and rainy today I have all the lights on!)

I was shocked at how easy this one was to put together - and folks, I think I may spend nap time this afternoon making a few more!!! :) (I discovered that my supply of dribble bibs was down to 3, and 2 of them are looking a little bit under the weather, so some more are definitely in order).

So there you go! That is what is in my creative space today. What's in yours? If you need more inspiration, there is somewhere you can go. :)

Have a fabulous day!

S xox

Sunday, March 4, 2012

A Spot of Shopping Mathilda's Style

Have you ever been to Mathilda's Markets? I know there are a lot of you that already know the secret joys there are to be had from such a jaunt, but for me it was something that had only made it onto my wish list... till two Sunday's ago that is! :)

We were visiting my Brother and SIL in Canberra for the weekend (trying to escape Sydney's rain!), so when my SIL told me that Mathilda's were on, I was like "Let's Go!!!". The venue was the gorgeous Albert Hall. I've always wanted to go inside, and it didn't disappoint. It's not fancy inside by any means, but the windows are huge, and sunlight just floods the entire room. I just wish I'd had the presence of mind to take a photo of it!

Anyway, I thought I'd share with you some of the spoils of our trip (some, because the choc mint cupcakes and macaroons didn't last long enough to get photographed, and I didn't get any shots of what my SIL picked up, and some of her stuff was bliss).

A visit to Sweet Sista found a little something for me, and a little something for the boys.



I picked up a cool applique shirt each for the boys, the sneaker for Little C, and the hammer for  J. I'm so kicking myself that I didn't get the electric guitar for J - the details on it were incredible - he would have loved it!



And I was so tempted by this store - she has incredibly soft leather shoes for babies and toddlers. I'm just waiting for the baby to arrive to find out what size shoe I will need (I tend to have babies with very long feet!).


I'm thinking I will have to make a bigger effort to get to the ones in Sydney - I just wish they were closer to where I live.

Friday, March 2, 2012

Sarah Goes to town

So last week I told you I was having a little bit of a sort through some boxes that hadn't been opened in a quite a while... well, I have a confession to make. I am a hoarder. A clutter bug. A pack-rat. I have things stored from when I was a child!!!

While I was having a little de-clutter session, I found something that just made me smile - this...


I was given it when I was in early primary school. I love the outfit on the cover. In fact, I think I want one. Can anyone tell me where I might perchance find one? (Innocent look).

I lost her fluffy red and white hat somewhere! :(



 Infact, which outfit would you pick?

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Gathered Clutch

If you recall, I promised that I had found something that I wanted to show you... well, um, after writing most of the most it seems that I failed to take a photo when there was natural light. Like. Every. Single. Day. Of course, I WOULD remember - at about 9pm at night, when there is no way in the Southern Hemisphere that I am going to subject you to a photo that I have taken at that time of the night!!! So you will have to wait a little longer I'm afraid. Sorry.


I do have something a wee bit exciting to show you though. I have made my first gathered clutch! Yippee. I found it back in 2010, and promptly bookmarked it, but it had just never made it onto my short term "to do" list. Till now.
It was relatively easy to assemble, although I must say that there were parts that made more sense AFTER I had done them (yep, still learning the basics here), and I was using a machine that I've only recently acquired (thanks O'ma!), so I had to figure out how to attach the zipper foot - which was much more elaborate than the one my 1935 Bernina came with. ;)


Here it is! I used the same fabric that I made the Little Boxy Bag out of  for my niece for Christmas in 2010. Just a few little scraps of it left now.


I also whipped up a few more gift cards and tags.


The crochet flower was something I pulled together myself, since all the other flowers that I found directions for were much too big for what I had in mind. If you are interested I can pop a post up with directions to make it in the next few days.

Wood Dots

Buttons and Fabric

Bright and Beachy

Cute envelopes

So these little lovelies are winging their way to Christchurch today to someone who has been encouraging me to just go for it with the sewing.

Hope you didn't melt in the heat the other day - it had me confused for a minute... but our cool and wet summer is back. Ah well, the airconditioner had a brief moment of being loved. ;)

Have a great weekend!


S xox

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