Crochet Bag

I can't believe it, I have a new addiction!!! I have been trying so hard to contain all the crafty things I want to make/buy/do but then I went into Tangled Yarns.  I have been past the store quite few times and I have a few friends that have asked if I wanted to do a class but I have honestly never been interested.  Knitting sinks my boat really quickly and wool makes me sneeze but then I parked out the front of Tangled Yarns on my way around the corner to the Fabric Store.  Of course when I was that close I couldn't resist going into the store it was like stepping into PINTEREST!  So many beautiful yarns, lovely things and amazing crochet hooks.  I feel cheated that I never knew Clover Soft Touch Hooks existed.   Derrin helped me find cotton that wouldn't make me sneeze and look what I have been making ever since... I hope its going to be a bag.

I am still really dyslexic when it comes to reading a pattern which is a major frustration.

The bag bottom is following the amazing Attic 24 pattern for the crochet bag 

For the side I thought I was following the Attic 24 Granny Stripe
but mine looks really different??? 

Then I have just been winging it and seeing what I get.
I am also having a lot of fun.

Clover Hook I love you.  I really can hook away
 for ages without getting sore hands, just like Derrin said. 

Mardi Gras Leucospermum Best Cut Flower Ever

I was driving to Mums house the other day and saw the most amazing tree in her neighbor Sakshis' yards.  It was only about 1.5 m, lollypop shaped and covered with the most amazing yellow flowers.  I got to Mums and bounded up the stairs to tell her all about this stunning tree when I was greeted with vases of the flowers on just about every available surface.   So we fawned, fussed and discussed the flowers/tree over cups of tea and the best thing is that Mums lovely neighbor  Sakshi had given her so many there was a bucket of them for me to take home!  I gave a few away to worthy people when I did the school run and still had enough for a couple of vases at my house.

Some for the kitchen (perfect colour compliment to my Op shop tile.)

I think they are so pretty I could study them for ages.

Some for the front door

I have ordered my own tree now and have the perfect spot for it in the front garden.  Thank-you Sakshi for sharing.

It is a fancy type of  Leucospermum called:

Mardi Gras® Ribbons

Leucospermum conocarpodendron x glabrum

and you'll find the details here:

http://www.proteaflora.com.au/plant-search/leucospermum

Link up with your Tuesday garden news here 

Another Tova Top

This is my first Tova Top from way back... I just love it, it has been my favorite top and I wear it all the time.  It's also one of my first goes at sewing a proper garment with a knit fabric.  I don't know why I was so scared of knits it was very friendly and cooperative to work with.  The fabric is a Marc Jacobs knit from the Brisbane Fabric Store.  

A Zpagetti Crochet Matt

I have seen this Zpagetti around a bit in the blogosphere but was always too put off by the shipping price to actually buy any.   It is made from manufacturing off cuts and the finished craft projects look amazing.  When I did come across a bricks and mortar store that sold it, my crochet skills weren't quite good enough and it was still going to cost a bit just for what could be a craft disaster.  I decided last month that I was up for it, I had got my head around $30 odd and decided to have a play.   (I don't know why I was so worried about the $30 it was just a mental block and $9.00 was for the beautiful wooden hook anyway.)

This is the colours I finally chose.

The beautiful hook

There are free patterns online but my crochet skills don't
extend to pattern reading yet so I have been winging it.  

I am really having fun, it is coming together quickly
and is so much easier than I thought  it would be.

The only problem is I ran out of yarn about
6 doubles from  the end of  joining up my circle.
Not sure what to do!?!

Fancy That

Its a late spring for us this year, beautifully warm through the days but still cool in the evenings.  Which is good cause I am late with my spring plantings and now have time to catch up.  The garden has been a low priority over the last few months and I hadn't realised how much growth has been going on.  I looked back at some pics from late August and was very surprised to see the difference.  Fancy that, sorry for taking you for granted garden.

Before 

After

I love the wild cottage garden look.

 I also found a few signs that Master B has been having lots of fun and games.  I think this looks like

       the kind of place a troll would like to lurk about too.

       

Rag Rugs

I still want to make an awesome rag rug!  I had an attempt a while back with the Ric Rac Rug Along but got very frustrated with hand sewing it all together.  I started off sewing in one big coil up at the table.  As it got bigger it really needed to be laid flat on the floor to sew, which I tired of very quickly.  I thought I would be very clever and finish it with a zig zag stitch on my machine - Do Not Ever Do This.

It all started so well..

And then it went this shape, this is why the coils need to be sewn together on a flat surface! My lovely flat mat became conical.  It made a great hat for rice fields but a dreadful mat.  I was very sad.

Long story short I hate to waste all that effort and quite like a craft challenge so turned it into a big floor/foot cushion.  We think it looks like a giant cup cake and it is now everyones favourite cushion.

Hopefully the M cushion gives some idea of scale.

(My talented friend Fiona made this supurb M cushion for my Miss M's b'ay isn't she clever .  I am very envious of how neat and precise she is.)

B - side of the cushion, not the greatest fabric matches but I love using up scraps.

Pimp My Zara Dress

Our school has just had our "Dress Up as Someone from your Favourite Book Day."  Miss S wanted to go as a Lalaloopsy doll which drove Miss M to distraction "because Lalaloopsy is a toy and does not have a book."    Lalaloopsy toys used to creep the girls out, as the button eyes are way too close to the Tim Burton film character Coroline.  But the fantastic marketing push by the Lalaloopsy doll people has all but erased those fears.

Anyway here is the dolly dress we managed to put together just minutes before the parade.

This is the before dress,  $12 from Zara 

(Because I have now been to Sydney and shopped the Zara Phenomenon :)

Miss S's design, Peter Pan collar, doilies and buttons.
Hope she wears it again...

Dress for Sydney

We had our very exciting trip to Sydney on the weekend and it was everything I wanted it to be and more.  On saturday we had corporate lunch for Mr Daddy's work, at the wonderful restaurant Sails on Lavender Bay.

The problem with these work functions for me is what to wear??  I didn't want to buy something that I would probably only wear once and all my usual Mummy outfits don't make the grade.  So time to make something.  I got this brilliant Spotty Spotlight fabric a few months back and thought it might be just the ticket coupled with a New Look pattern.

My zip phobia got the better of my and my lovely friend Naomi put it in for me.  Thanks Naomi.  I think I also made it too big and it could have been a size down.   Sizing confuses me every time, I followed the measurements correctly... I need a sizing class.

* Note that seductive word EASY on the packet, it gets me every time.

Self Portrait  - All Touristed up

Nautical Tote

Mr Daddy and I are having a childless trip to Sydney this weekend, needless to say I am very excited.   I thought I might need a new shopping tote for all the wonderful things I am going to find.  Thinking about the Harbor, Bondi and Ferry Trips I was feeling nautical and remembered I had some awesomely brilliant fabric left over from last years  Flowerpress Brooch Swap.   I also had a spare brooch left over to dress the bag with - perfect!

A side 

B Side

Inside -
(not the most interesting contrast just all I had had was heavy weight.)

Crochet Ikea Stool Cover

After a very long blog Hiatus I have finally got some pics together and am ready to post again...

Our world has ground to a bit of a halt as Miss S's epilepsy had got out of control again.  We seem to be making progress at the moment so fingers crossed we continue and will find our normal again.  The only good side to some more time in hospital is that I have got some high level crochet done!

I made sure I always had my cotton and hooks in my bag and found it a wonderful thing to be fiddling with at times of stress and during all those long waits.  (I am sure some ambos found me very odd hooking away in the back of an ambulance during a long hospital transfer but so much nicer to focus on your hook than on reality don't you think?)

Anyway this is what I made.

Then I found these awesome new stools in Ikea for only $6.99

 I threaded hat elastic between the last white and red circle and fitted it over the stool just like a shower cap.

Ta daa, such a nice way to put all that time to use.

So Many Things to Make

I am so excited, this morning I got an email to tell me my parcel had been delivered, what the???  I went to the front door and sure enough there it was, but what was it?  It was the Sew Tessuti fabrics I had ordered.  My first ever big piece of Liberty Tana Lawn and a couple of meters of Stretch Cotton. all beautifully wrapped up in a vogue pattern paper, tied with a bow and complete with a hand written postcard wishing me much sewing joy!!!  How good is that, what a way to start a stay at home day.

7.48am I ripped into it so quickly there was no time
for photos showing how gorgeous it all really was.  

9.15am washed and on the line and nearly dry. 

10.20 am Washed, dried and ironed ready to be cut and sewn.

I am planning to make a red pair of these.
 I was seduced into this pattern by the words, beginner, simple and slim.

Happy Garden Spots

My garden hasn't had much attention from me for months now.  It doesn't get enough sun in winter to grow any fruit, veg or flowers and I am pathetic at being cold.  I did pop out the backdoor on the weekend and say hello to some of my favourite spots.  They seem to forgive me for the lack of attention and look lovely regardless.

Agaves and Aloes

Collection of succulents in pots and my little pond up high on the
 plinth, so as to keep the dog out.

More pots under the Lilly Pilly's at the back patio.

Round the side.

Sew Tessuti Favourite Top

I had been eyeing off this free Sew Tessuti pattern for a while but was too scared of knit fabrics to have a go.  Last week I decided to be free of fear and give it ago, and I love my new top!!!  It really did take about 45 mins, with the cutting out making up about 30 mins of that time.  I used a Metalicus fabric I got from The Fabric Store for only $6 a metre!

The most fabulous snugly winter top ever, superb for layering.

I added about 5 cm to the sleeve length and have my next top all cut out and ready to sew. 

 l love it with my new scarf, I am living in these clothes.

Pom Pom Trim Scarf

You know that feeling when you are just a bit fed up with all your clothes and feel like you wear the same thing day in day out?  I had that last week and the only cure I know of, is to make something.  I had this fantastic bit of yellow Spotlight sear sucker and some pop pom trim just perfect for a new scarf, all for about $6.

150cm by 50 cm wide, fold in half length ways and sew inside out to make one great big tube.  Turn the right way in and hem the rough edges inside the tube.  Trim with the pom poms to make it lovely.

I figure when I am sick if it as a scarf it can become a table runner.