My Creative Space

Busy, busy, busy preparing for the Sugar & Spice Children’s Market. Only finding time to take photos in the fading light - again. At least my parliament of owls is growing and these guys are ready to fly off soon!

This little brown owl is my favourite.
More Creative Spaces over here.

My very, very late Creative Space

So late I’ve missed getting my link in over at Kootoyoo! I have been busy working at my mummy job, working at my housekeeping job, working at my paid job and dealing with the result of a run in with a Holden Rodeo on the freeway (we lost but everyone is okay). I have though managed to make some stuff!

Do you know how hard it is to photograph 8 hanging birds in the fading light with a slight breeze? Just as hard as it is to photograph a 12 month old! These are the only photos I got of these Christmassy birds before they flew off to their new home at the Ecotoys store in Burwood. This is a much better photo of the birds settled in their new home and you can check it out over here at the Ecotoys store facebook page.

Hopefully I’ll be on time for My Creative Space next week!

My Creative Space

Happy hangers have been the focus of my creative attention this week thanks to dottie angel.
Pity they’re going to be hidden away in the wardrobe. Or maybe I just need a pretty wall and some special hooks to display them just like Tif.

Where’s your creative attention been this week?

My Creative Space

Is it really My Creative Space time again already? Only another 1000+ posts in my blog reader this week. Blogtoberfest is making my head spin! Another day at playgroup and another mouthful of sand. Another crocheted something for Maya. (And here)
Another squared vest.
I love this simple but gorgeous pattern. I worked out how I stuffed up the sleeves last time. This time I “stuffed it up” deliberately so could do the gathered sleeves again. This is how I did it:
1. Follow Amanda’s squared vest pattern.
2. When Amanda says “Remember ch2 counts as dc” (Note I’m using US terminology here), ignore that and add an extra dc to the start and end of every round.
3. Stitch up the seams as per Amanda’s pattern.
4. Cut 2 pieces of hat elastic to fit comfortable around your arm.
5. Thread the elastic around the sleeve edge and tie in place.
6. Then do two rows of double crochet (Australian) around the edge to cover the hat elastic and voila!

My Creative Space

Finally... One ripple dress complete.

Fifth and final WIP done.

And one new WIP started.

More creative stuff here.

The beanbag that’s not a beanbag creative space

Finally it’s finished – the beanbag that’s not a beanbag. It took a lot longer to make than I had expected. That seems to be a very familiar story with me. I start things expecting to whip ‘em up in a couple of hours and when I don’t finish them they get put away for another day hence the millions of half started projects everywhere and hence the WIP challenge. Speaking of which, this is another WIP down – only one more to go!

So anyway back to the beanbag that’s not a beanbag. I love how it has turned out. I love that the kids love it. Although I really have to keep an eye on Maya when she’s in it!
I love that the kid’s friends and cousins love it. I love that I have inspired a friend to try making one herself.

All I did was sew up a beanbag using denim and upholstery fabric with some extra strong upholstery thread, hammer in some eyelets at the top (that bit was fun!), cut a door in the side, place a hoop inside the bottom of the beanbag to help keep its shape, put some cushions and blankets inside, hang it from the eyelets on a hook and voila, a fun swinging hideaway for the kids!
It looks so fun and comfy that I want to get in there myself, but I think I’ll leave the fun to the kids. I don’t want to break it! My Creative Space is a little bit later than usual this week. I’ve seen a bit too much of the bathroom in the last 12-24 hours, after eating a bad batch of food at the food court at work yesterday. Lets just say I won’t be eating any of that impossibly red sweet and sour pork again anytime soon!

WIPing up Triangles

Remember those triangles I was crocheting here and here and here? Well I have finally finished them and have used them to make some things. Here they are sewn up into a couple of cushions for Khye’s bed.

I’d finished the crocheting and sewn up a couple of cushions ages ago, but I’ve been really procrastinating on hand sewing up the stuffing holes and stitching the crochet to the cushion. Khye’s been bugging me for his round cushions and now they’re done he doesn’t really care…sigh…

And with the other half of the triangles, I added picots around the edges and chained them all together to make some flags for his room. I don’t think he has noticed them yet and for some reason I haven’t pointed them out to him. Here’s hoping he’ll be a little more excited about the flags than he was about the cushions.

Hmm these photos of the flags are a bit crappy and I’m not sure why but they’re twisting out of shape now that they’re hanging up. I have ironed them, but maybe it’s something to do with the way I’ve joined them together with the chaining???

Anyway, I’m counting this as two more WIPs down in my WIP challenge. Only another two to go. Geez this challenge can’t go fast enough for me. I’ve got so many ideas for new projects but I just have to patient and finish off my five first. And to think I was originally thinking ten WIPs. I would have gone crazy!

My Creative Space (and first WIP done!)

I am so happy with my new little cardi. I just love it. I used Amamda’s squared vest crochet pattern. And despite Amanda telling me it would be quick and easy to make, it actually took me ages.
I ran out of yarn (again) and then somehow I stuffed up the sleeve edges. But I managed to fix both, as you can see, by adding in some rounds of matching scrap yarns and by threading some hat elastic around the sleeve edges.
When I started I thought I would use a big 7mm hook in an attempt to make the yarn go further (does that actually work?), but by the end I thought it was a little loose. Luckily it was a tad too big and the yarn I used is wool, so I lightly felted it and now it is perfect!

I love, love, love it and I can’t wait for some slightly warmer weather to wear it. Also perfect is that it is my first WIP to be completed in my WIP Challenge. Only 4 more things to finish!
And join Kirsty on her Creative Space Thursday.

My WIP Challenge

I am ridiculously hopeless at finishing things before starting on new things. My list of WIPs (Works In Progress) or UFOs (UnFinished Objects) or whatever you like to call them is huge. And I have some unfinished projects that have been sitting on that list for years and years.

Take for instance the patchwork cushion sitting on the couch. I made it about 12 years ago but I still haven't hand sewn the hole up and there is still stuffing spilling out of it. Or then there's the pair of overalls I started making for Khye about 2 and a half years ago. He's now way too big for them, but if I finish them in the next few months maybe they will fit Maya. And then there's the secret project I started making for my friend for her wedding present. They have just celebrated their 2nd wedding anniversary and are now expecting their first baby in December. They still haven't received their present and probably won't for quite a while longer yet. (I think I bit off more than I could chew with this project.)

So anyway in a bid to cross some things off my list and to feel like I am achieving something, I have a plan to challenge myself to finish 5 WIPs before starting on anything new. Sean doesn't think I can do it. I'm not sure I can do it either but I'm gonna try. How hard can it be to finish 5 things? It's not like I'm setting myself a time limit or anything. The only rule is: finish 5 things before starting anything new.

Anyone else interested in joining me on my WIP Challenge??

Arrrgh

I was gonna say that we'll have our Seany back again on weekends now that the footy season is over, but I guess we're going to have to wait just one more week.

My Creative Space...

... involves opped denim and upholstery fabric, extra strength upholstery thread, some "inspiration" from a well known Swedish homewares store catalogue, a child's plastic hoop and a beanbag pattern ... but I'm not making a beanbag. My brain is getting a work out (good preparation for my return to work in two weeks) and my newly serviced green machine is also getting a good work out with this project.I love this bedspread crocheted by my grandmother, but it has absolutely nothing to do with my beanbag that is not a beanbag. I just didn't want a photoless creative space. More on the "beanbag" when it's finished. Hopefully it is strong enough and works out okay!

For some inspiring Creative Spaces head over to Kootoyoo.

My Myer Victor

I love my beautiful old Myer Victor. I got it a couple of years ago, not long after my 11 year old Husqvarna died and could not be revived. I bought it at a garage sale. I still have the tag attached to the handle on the case: “Good Working Order $20”.

Stupid me at the time went away to think about it. I always do that and when I go back to buy, the thing I want has gone. But not this time. It was still there. I paid the man my $20 and just as we were leaving his wife said, “Oh no you didn’t buy that heavy old thing did you?”. There was an air of guilt in her voice, like she didn’t want to pass the burden of it’s heaviness on to anyone else. She then proceeded to tell me about how her husband had given it to her as a wedding present 38 years ago, and how she could only use it when he was home ‘cos she couldn’t lift it onto the table. But I love it’s heaviness. It feels sturdy and solid – a bit like an old car. I love that I have a space in the corner of the dining room where I can leave it on the desk and not have to lift it up when I want to use it.
I love how the needle is not centred and sews on the left and I love how the needle is threaded from the side rather than from the front. I love this gorgeous green machine!
Visit Sophie’s for more Flea Market Finds.

My Mum's Creative Space

My space is a little boring at the moment. I’m still working on the ripple dress, planning another crochet top, and doing lots of softie cutting out in preparation for future markets. But my Mum has been very busy lately. And Maya is a lucky girl ‘cos she received this fabulous quilt for her first birthday last week. Mum originally patched the quilt back in 1976 when she was pregnant with me. She has recently repaired the quilt, rebacked it, and machine quilted it. The backing fabric is from the curtains my Mum had in her room when she was a baby. I love that this quilt has so much family history in it. Maybe one day I could add to it a little for Maya’s daughter…
Visit Kootoyoo to get your weekly fix of creative spaces.

My Creative Space

Crocheting more of this:It’s very slow going and getting a bit monotonous now. I think I prefer crocheting with big hooks and big wool. Looking forward to the end of it now.

Crocheted another one of these:Yes it’s exactly the same as the first one. It’s an order for a woman (a complete stranger we met at the shops) who saw Maya wearing hers and wants one the same size and colour for her granddaughter. Still got some loose ends to weave in and a toggle button to add.

And finished making these:Some bedding for a little wicker doll’s pram we are giving Maya for her first birthday tomorrow.

More creative spaces at Kootoyoo.

Wordless Wednesday

More Wordless Wednesdays here.

My Creative Space

I had envisaged that this creative space would be all about my gorgeous new crocheted sleeveless jacket like the one I made Maya last week, but it hasn’t happened. It all began with a bit of excitement and a lot of gusto (and maybe a touch of obsession), but has ended with disappointment.

First, I used the wrong yarn, a heavy textured yarn and for some reason I chose a colour I don’t love. Second, the jacket ate the yarn very quickly and I don’t have any more to finish the job. Thirdly, the yarn texture is hiding the pretty pattern I crocheted.

So anyway I’ve hidden it at the back of the cupboard so it’s out of my sight and out of my mind. I’m still really keen to make myself a jacket like Maya’s but I’m thinking that maybe I’ll use some wool fabric and sew it rather than crochet it. I haven’t been totally put off crocheting things for myself, but for the moment I think I’ll stick to the small Maya sized garments.
More Creative Spaces over here.

My Creative Space

How on earth do you make an 11 month old sit still for photos? Every time Maya sees the camera she lunges for it. It makes taking photos of her very difficult. Actually it makes taking photos of anything with her nearby very difficult!

Just get a look at those tiny but terrifying teeth!

Anyway back to the creative stuff, I crocheted this sleeveless jacket for her on the weekend.

It was inspired by a top I saw someone wearing on tv and inspired by Leonie’s wrap.
It’s another ... one made without a pattern. I simply crocheted a circle and “added” a couple of slits for armholes.
I made a prototype with calico first to get the right size for Maya, then started hooking from the centre, ending with a scalloped edge and finished off with a wooden toggle button (raided from Khye’s threading beads - he’s most upset and wants me to take it off - I’m hoping he forgets about it).
I love it and now I want to make one for myself!

I’ve also been joining my triangles this week.

What’s happening in your creative spaces this week?