I'm taking a little break from blogging. Back soonish. Thanks for stopping by.

The Long Road

Em and my sister and I made a mad dash up the Hume Hyw last week to visit my (other)sister in hospital. She's much better now! I don't drive, so Em did the 6hr haul - aided by lots of coffee, music and annoying chatter from Gel and I. I did about three hours worth of granny squares on the way up - while the scenery zoomed by...

Don't Turn Off The Light...

I know. I'm very early and I also know I've made a little vampire doll in honour of a day we don't really celebrate here in Australia...but who cares? I got the plastic pumpkins in Tokyo - exactly this time last year. There were loads of Halloween toys/decorations all over Tokyo. These little cuties are filled with Halloween candies with tiny ghosts and bats printed on them.

Boo!

K2TOG

I'd love to dash out of the office today and see some of the city all decked out in woolly coats: heaps of railings, sculptures, poles, seats and traffic lights have been given a little knitty make-over to launch the opening of the 2008 Melbourne Fringe Festival. You can watch some of it here

Ahh. I love this knitty city.

I'm very excited. I've just found my next project thanks to Wee Wonderfuls.

Aren't they fantastic? I love down-loading a PDF project - makes everything so much easier - just one press of the button and you're away...

Which one to make first - I think I might have a go at Kit.

The Drop Off...

I'd been meaning to take part in The Toy Society ever since I came across Bianca's fantastic site. Such a great idea. So last week I made another doll and Emma and I 'dropped' her at a little park not far from our place in Yarraville. I really love the idea of someone just discovering something unexpected. Hope she finds a happy home.

Here, there and everywhere

Weekends, how I love you.

Friday night we caught up with friends and had dinner at Cafe Lalibela, an Ethiopian place in Footscray. Loved it. Food comes out in a huge shallow metal bowl lined with pieces of injera - a spongy type bread. Then whatever you've ordered is up-ended on the bread so you can just tear a piece off and snatch up the lentils/chicken/stew etc with the torn piece of bread. Really tasty and each morsel was deliciously spicy and rich. Looking forward to going back.

Saturday SPRING took centre stage; there was sun, there was a gentle breeze, there was the smell of blossom - yayy! Em and I had breakfast at the Convent Bakery in Abbotsford. After drinking great coffee, we took Toby (dogs allowed on a lead) around the grounds. I've been here a few times and it's just so lovely with the gardens and the gothic architecture with glimpses of the city between the trees. It's so close to the city...6ks, I think and yet you feel like you're miles away. I mean, check out that cow!

Around about here the day kind of soured a little.

1. Toby decided to throw up in the car. Lovely.

2. We got a flat tyre...which we decided to ignore cos hey, we were having fun.

Bye Abbotsford, hello Balaclava for a look at Hudson to see One Red Robin's brilliant softie exhibition, Woodland Park Folk in the front window. Wow! I had to stop myself from staging an impulsive smash 'n grab. So much fun to see this cleverness up close.

Hello Yarraville. Back home but felt like one more coffee so it was another walk up the road to House Frau to read the papers and watch Toby get pats from around 1000 people.

Back home to get ready for an evening of cabaret. We saw Meow Meow at the Malthouse. I thought she was some kind of fabulous; great voice, great costumes, totally over the top but in a good way...but I'm not saying the HUGE cosmopolitan I chucked back just before taking my seat didn't have something to do with how hilarious I thought it was!

When we got back to the car - the tyre was still okay. Excellent news.

Sunday was all about Dad. Well not my Dad, he's in Perth staying with my sister right now but Em's folks came up for a long, lazy lunch and it was delightful. I'm very lucky and have fab in-laws. I even managed to get a few sewing lessons at the same time.

We mentioned the tyre situation to Em's Dad who said ''Let's check that out'' and of course, the tyre was flatter than a piece of injera. Then it began to rain. I held the umbrella while Em and Vic went into Top Gear mode.

That night it was homemade baked-beans on toast in front of Australian Idol, enjoying ''the journey''!

Oh, and there was sewing too...but more photos another day.










Thanks for stopping by.

Day four was about inspiration. I've got several inspiration boards/images and love looking up from my crafty work and catching a glimpse.

PROJECT No. 3 - The Birds

Day three was bird day. I found this fantastic pattern on Whip Up. It's highly addictive. I've noticed a peculiar crafty habit of mine - when I find a pattern I love, I can't some making it again and again and again. Each time I make it, I try and perfect my technique but because I'm still learning...it can take me, oh, ten birds before I feel as though I've really cracked it. Does any one else do this? I loved making these and I've already found good homes for most of my flock.

Project No. 2 - more Black Apple Dolls

Day two was all about the dolls. I made about six of these a few weeks ago but gave one each to some of my good friends - then I was kind of sad I did have any more...so I spent pretty much the entire day in doll production mode. The pattern is great and kindly supplied for free (not for retail) by the talented Inside A Black Apple. My faces are quite different - I use acrylic paint which can be quite nerve-racking but despite many attempts, I never seem to get the look I'm after by using thread, especially for eyes. This batch will stay with me - at least for a little while...
Thanks for looking.

Finally - some pics of my latest crafty stuff.

PROJECT No. 1.
Day One of my week off was about this little bear. I'd seen a few around that I liked - especially Molly Chickens amazing creatures. I had worked with fur ONCE - I made a dog about two years ago and the entire project took about 17 hours, so I was little reluctant to try something too challenging. In the end I made this wonky bear and despite the yelling, swearing, choking (on the fur) and routinely jabbing myself with the needle, I was quite happy with the result.
Fur can be tricky but also, surprisingly forgiving! When I saw all the left-over scraps of fur, I couldn't believe I'd made something that actually looked like a bear!

I needle-felted the little bee, just for an x-factor. Ahh. How nice it was to listen to craftsanity and sew away the day.

You All Get a Car!!!!! - Not.

Sorry for the quiet spell. Well I cut up your three wonderful comments and scrunched each one up into a little ball and picked out a winner for the Knitting New Mittens and Gloves book - congratulations:


Francesca from BOOKIVORE! Email me your address to frana@theage.com.au and I will send it to you.
Seems a shame that agapanthas and ikkinlala missed out, so if you would like me to send you a random book (I'm having a clean out) - send me details and I will pop something in the post for you, too.

Thanks for stopping by.