My Creative Space

I have been sewing along with Jeni at the In Color Order blog with her half square triangle block of the month for 2012.  I am using left over bits of fabric in a sort of a scrap busting exercise, I hope it all ties together in the end and looks bright and happy.

For more creative spaces settle in here :)

In Threes

An In Threes baby cardigan for Possum.  I love this pattern, I think this is the third time I have knit it and I know I will knit it again. 

The buttons are from The bird and the fish.  Jo is clever at making buttons, I have not tried but I am sure I am not up to the task so I have a collection of Jo's handiwork here for when I need them.

More creative stuff here.

Hand Quilting

Awhile ago I finished my medallion quilt top that was a part of a quilt-along.  It was a lot of fun (and a bit nerve wracking) designing each new round when you didn't know what was to follow.

I did it, and I love the result.  This quilt is going to be a fave, it already is!

The Prints Charming print that I used for the centre medallion was perfect to allow me to try hand quilting for the first time.  My stitches are too big, but it did give me something to do while watching the men's tennis in the semi-finals of the Australian Open.

sorry, flash photo

I do like the way the print is now framed as it pops a little more, now lets just hope I don't make a hash of  quilting the rest of it!

More creative type stuff here.

{twenty} creative space

A quick fix craft here due to the level of busy mentioned in my last post.

A key fob kit from Earth Girl fabrics that I picked up at Sew it Together.  You can buy it in kit form such as this was, or pick and choose webbing colours and ribbon to suit separately.

Simple, quick and SUPER cute!

More creative spaces here.

{thirteen} creative space

I picked up this tea towel in an op shop the other day.  I think I will turn it into a bag like the Dubbo Zoo tea towel below.  Curly Pops has a tutorial if you want to sew one yourself.

They make great shoe bags when you travel, and might even be useful if you get lost in Dubbo while at the zoo.  I have a Timbertown bag somewhere, but I can't find it which is annoying.  If you are lost at Timbertown, don't call me...

More creative spaces here.  More Blogtoberfest fun here.

Two memes, one stone!

My Creative Space - When paint attacks

We have been taking advantage of the warmer days to get outside and have some fun. 

Both children LOVE painting. 

I think it is good fun myself, until I turn my back for 30 seconds to hang a finished painting up to dry...

More creative spaces here.

My Creative Space ~ Milo

Another one off the needles!  A Milo Vest in size 2 for the small boy, although the girl has worn it too given they are the same size and share a lot of stuff.

The Milo vest turns 2 this month (happy birthday!) so to celebrate Tikki is having a knit a long in her Ravelry group.  I may be a bit late in telling you about this KAL, but the Milo is such a quick knit you really do still have time if you would like to join in.  There are some wonderful versions of this patterns popping up!

I am almost silly excited as Tikki had a space available on her testing team.  I jumped at the chance as I do love her patterns a lot.  I may be busy knitting for awhile as the only spot left was for a 26inch chest, Possum in a 21inch so she will grow in to it one day!  Thankfully a friend has a child the right size to let me test fit (Thanks Ellie!).  And I have been good lately, but this naturally meant I had to order more wool.  I had next to nothing left in 8ply.  I hope Bendigo posts quickly!

photo credit

More creative spaces here.

My Creative Space ~ Abalone

Yesterday in between sipping a Latte and eating Vanilla slice at Playgroup (I love Playgroup!) I finished sewing the ends in on the Abalone cardigan I have been knitting.  I don't like sewing ends in so had been putting it off but I want to take it to Sydney with me for the weekend so had to get it done.

I really loved this pattern.  It was interesting enough that i didn't get bored with miles of stocking stitch and the wool is Malabrigo worsted which is just perfect!  I am going to enjoy wearing this a lot.

I liked this wool so much that as soon as I cast off this cardigan I knit myself a beanie seen here on Possum.

The pattern is Abalone found free on Ravelry, or here for the non Ravelers.

For more creative spaces click here.

My Creative Space ~ Shalom

Hurrah!  With all the knitting I have done it is hard to believe that this is the first time I have knit something for me!  I have already ordered wool for the second 'me' project so I am reversing the knit-for-children-only trend this year.

This is the Shalom Cardigan.  It is knit in 12 ply on big needles so didn't take long to finish.

The pattern is free here via Ravelry, or here on the designers blog.

I feel like my knitting has turned a corner of late.  I even managed to modify this pattern to add the 3 buttons to the front instead of just the one the pattern called for.  I also manage to add the increases and decreases in the body to fit me, which involved taking out a heap of rows too.  I am glad I did as it is actually a pretty good fit for me now.

I am surprised I have had time for knitting with all the other stuff going on around here.

There is the new pup,  storm damage, and ram woes.  Never a dull moment!

For more creative spaces visit here :)

My Creative Space ~ Soap

I have been fiddling with the soap recipe I found on the Jelly Wares blog awhile ago. I tried less oil, more oil, less oats and more oats.  I have decided I like no oats as it is a nicer, softer soap with just the bran.

Even the Mr likes this batch best so this is the version I shall stick to from now on.

3 cups lux flakes (or grated soap flakes)

2/3 cup milk

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/3 cup milk powder

1/4 cup bran

zest of 1 lemon

1 tsp lemon essential oil

Add lux, milk and olive oil to a pan, heat SLOWLY.

When the soap has melted add the milk powder and stir.

Add bran, essential oil and zest and mix well.

Put in a greased tray/mould.

Allow to set and cut into squares, allow to dry before use.

EASY!!  For more creative spaces visit here.



My Creative Space ~ SIT Swap

I am clutching at straws for this creative space and pulling this photo out of the archives to show it off.  I know the package I sent Esther has arrived so it should be safe to show the whole photo now.

This is for the Sew it Together name tag swap.  I can't wait for March when I will get to catch up with friends, and meet new ones too.  The shopping and crafty side of it is a bonus too!

I may not have been creative in the crafty sense over the last week, but I have been busy cooking, busy with the house as well as busy in the garden. 


More creative spaces here!

My Creative Space ~ Cardigan #2

If you are a regular reader, or even semi regular reader of this blog you have probably seen the original cardigan I put up for the Flood Appeal auction.  What you may not realise is that Esther asked me to knit an extra cardigan for her other daughter in return for a double donation. 

Esther chose the colour Leaf Green, which did not photograph very well here. It is actually a brighter shade of green than this shows. This is a size 18-24 months.

I used more wonderful buttons from Jo at The Bird and the Fish.

I love these buttons!!

I think Esther's two girls will look super cute in these this Winter!

I posted these yesterday so that wraps up my Flood auction efforts.

I still have to knit the replacement cardigan for Possum, but first I have an urge to knit something for myself.  I have ordered wool and am just waiting for it to get here so I can cast on!

For more creative spaces visit here :)

My Creative Space ~ Quilts for Queensland

 Now that the amazing Flood Appeal Auctions are over and the final tally is in ($99,089 raised woot!!) I though it was time to turn my thoughts to Corrie's Quilts for Queensland Project.

In order to keep it quick and simple, given we are busy with plasterboard and other fun stuff I decided to do a simple 9 patch block.  Quick and easy to whip up and should still look good in a finished quilt.  Anyone can make these given they are simple 4.5inch squares sewn together with a 1/4inch seam.

 

Corrie has started a Flickr group too.  She also had the idea that it would be nice to get photos of people holding up blocks that they have made for Quilts for Queensland.  The Mr took a photo of me but then told me I look tired and that perhaps I should not use this photo.  I thought I would post it here at the very least since I am not given to putting photos of me out there that often.  So here I am, looking tired, in an old shirt and no makeup holding up a couple of blocks that I will be posting off to Corrie soon.!

Next up on the creative agenda  are some Hope Softies.

For more Creative Spaces click over here :)

My Creative Space

I am playing along with My Creative Space again this week because I have been spending a bit of time back at the machine of late and I do enjoy it.

Some drawstring bags made from op-shopped tea towels.  No need to think about things because Cam has done all the thinking for you and provided a great tutorial too.

Great shoe bags, and handy project bags.  I had my knitting in one to take in the car on our recent beach trip, which was lucky really as this bag also makes a handy pouch for when you pick up a little friend.

This small one's mother had been hit by a car so we stopped and picked him up.  He spent his trip with us snug in his bag until we got him to the Vet in the next town.

So there you have it. 

Make some of Cam's bags because you never know when you might need one, or why.

My Creative Space

My Creative Space this week is a bit of a mix of things done, things started, and things to do. 

I am making quilt blocks for a swap that started on Ravelry.  I also need to make a block (or two) for the Around the Block 2 bee too.  Nothing like being busy!

I am posting off a little something for the Mirabel Softie drive too.

I also need to make the children some summer clothes.  Shorts and light dresses are needed and this fabric I found in the op-shop this week will be a good start.  It reminds me of little dresses my Nanna made me and I can't wait to see Possum in it :)

I am also knitting as much as I can.  But will show details of that later.

I hope your creative space is full of fun.

My Creative Space

As per my last post I don't feel very creative right in this moment, but all is not lost because I have a couple of small things to show off from before the wheels fell off.   Thank you to everyone who left me a comment, your support and comforting words are just wonderful in a time of need.

This is my Mobius Cowl and I think I love it. 

One ball of Noro and a couple of comfy hours on the lounge and I was done.

Have you played around with a Mobius Strip before?  Very cool!

I also posted off my washer (with soap and seeds) for the Jellywares Washer Swap. 

A car trip south to Wagga for a funeral is on the cards in the next few days so I think I will get ready to cast on a Cap Sleeve Seamless Shirt for Possum.  

The soothing knit knit knit might be a good thing on this trip... 

For more creative spaces visit Kirsty :)

This and That

My creative space this week is a bit of this, and a bit of that.  I have been sick, and I have been dabbling.

After all the good comments on my blue canvas, I decided to do the 'bright' canvas too.  I want to do one in pink for the girl but I discovered that I have very few pink scraps in the stash so that idea has been put on hold for now.

I caught a bug which has seen me drink a lot of tea, at least I have a lot of good tea here in a variety of flavours so it was not a boring diet.  Last night I managed some toast and I feel good again this morning so I hope I am cured.

I signed up for Jellyware's Spring washer swap #4 so I will be getting comfy on the lounge later with some cotton.  I should be cleaning up the house, but I have only been healthy for five minutes and don't want to rush it ;)

For more creative spaces click over to Kirsty's. 

Creative or Crap?

The smalls have been doing a lot of creating this week both at Story Time at the local library and at Playgroup.  In an attempt not to be outdone I decided to cover a canvas using my fabric offcuts that were too small for sewing, but too good to toss out.

I am not sure if the end result is creative, crap or somewhere in the middle. 

I was thinking of doing another 2 of these, one mostly pink and then one in bright fabrics so I can put all three in the kids playroom.  Will see how I go...

For more creative spaces visit Kirsty :)

My Creative Space

While I was away Blue discovered that walking may be out of his league (for now) but climbing was not....

He has been found on (and fallen off) the lounge, the coffee table, and highest of all, the large outdoor table in the front yard.

~~~~~~~~~~

I have the last two lots of fabric sitting here for Around the Block round 1 which is my goal for the next few days.  Amy has just posted out her fabric for ATB round 2 so I need to catch up!  

For more Creative Spaces visit Kirsty :) 

Did anyone notice that my post is about nothing actually creative?  No?  Good!  Maybe next week when I can (I hope) say I finished the blocks, made the kids hats, knitted something or even cooked something....

My Creative Space

We have been enjoying the sunshine over the last few days.  We have been walking about to check on lambs and spending time in the garden.  It has been lovely to relax after the big 1.5 weeks of hard work clearing and stacking junk ready for the scrap man.

I took time out to make lemonade using the lemons from our tree.

There are still a lot left and I have frozen a lot of juice into cubes for keeping but think lemon shortbread and lemon pudding might be on the menu soon...

Lemonade

1 cup water

1 cup caster sugar

1 cup lemon juice

soda water

Melt sugar in water and allow to cool.

Mix in Lemon Juice.

Use like cordial and mix with soda water.

Visit Kirsty's for more creative spaces.