My Florentine

Music Monday

2012-01-30T11:33:00.000+11:00

I think I will dedicate this year's Music Mondays to great covers and mash ups.

Here is a cover of one of my favourite songs at the moment - Every Teardrop is a Waterfall by Coldplay - done by Boyce Avenue.

My goal for the year...to be organised

2012-01-29T11:30:00.000+11:00

This is one of the goals I want to achieve this year. The reason it's a goal and not a resolution is because it is something I will need to work towards achieving. I'm hoping that by the end of the year I will be able to do what I need to at work so don't need to bring it home (or at least very little home), be able to keep things a lot tidier so I don't have to do massive clean ups every few months, will be able to do what is needed first so I can enjoy my free time instead of procrastinating and not having enough time for either and be able to sew more.

I know that this is going to take a lot of work in order to achieve, but I'm gonna push myself to achieve it. Of course, that means I will need to tidy up and organise my sewing space so I can use it when I want to. I don't sew no where near as much as I want to (the sewing table has become a dumping ground for a lot of my crafty stuff). There are so many things I want to make.

Spending time on sites like Pinterest and Burda Style have definitely inspired me to create!

So now I'm going to go have a go at the "doing what I have to when I have to" thing....

Wish me luck!

P xx

Music Monday: Rolling In The Deep covers ultimate mash up

2012-01-23T12:00:00.000+11:00

Do you know that Adele's Rolling In The Deep has been covered more 350 000 times on Youtube? It's true - kinda amazing isn't it! Here is a mash up (not mine) that uses 70 of those covers.

Enjoy
P xx

OPI nail polish review

2012-01-21T09:30:00.000+11:00

So I have been a little naughty this week. I bought five new nail polishes from OPI. I've been wearing nail polish a lot lately as I find that I don't bite my nails really when wearing nail polish. Which means my nails have been able to grow. I'm still working on getting them in a nice shape and all a similar length,but they are getting there.

One of the reasons that I love OPI nail polish so much is that it dries really quickly. And not just touch dry, but fully dry. I used to hate having to be so careful when I put nail polish on before (including "quick dry" polishes) because I would always end up smudging them. Now I dont have to worry as much about that.

Another reason is the huge variety of colours - there are so many that I think pretty much everyone would be able to find that one colour they could wear all the time.

One more reason I like OPI nail polish is because of the consistency - not to thick, not to thin - just right. Two coats is all you need!

L-R: Bay Bridge Sunset, Dulce De Leche, Rainbow Connection, Penny For Your Thoughts, Yodel Me On My Cell.

These colours are fantastic (you can google colour swatches) and come out pretty much identical to how they are in the bottle. I also own I Juggle...Men, Jade Is The New Black, OPI Inc, Tickle My France-y and My Address is "Hollywood". If you are after a new nail polish, try OPI - it is worth the extra cost.

So what is your favourite nail polish and colour?

P xx

A visit to Taronga Zoo

2012-01-20T12:30:00.000+11:00

On Tuesday I went to Taronga Zoo for the first time in about 5 years! I wanted to go to see the tiger cubs before they got too big to be called tiger cubs! I got my kitty three months ago so I know how quickly they grow! It was a nice sunny day and despite putting on sunscreen (and reapplying it throughout the day) I still got a bit sun burnt :( But despite that it was a great day.

Here is a photo I took on one of the cubs with mama tiger. (Taken behind glass)

And here are some photos of the cubs at lunch time. Aren't they cute?

Taronga Zoo has lots of other great animals to see. Some of my favourites were the snow leopard, lions, elephants and mere cats.

Plus Taronga Zoo has some great views of the city :)

If you are in Sydney or are visiting Sydney soon, I really do recommend a visit to the zoo.

P xx

How-To Tuesday: Turning badges & buttons into magnets.

2012-01-17T13:53:00.000+11:00

A while ago I had turned a pile of my hair ties with fabric covered buttons into magnets because I wasn't using them. Recently I acquired some badges that I wanted to do the same to and made a tutorial to go with it. This is really good if you have fabric covered buttons and/or badges you like but don't get to admire as much as you would like. Let's get started...

What you need:

A pair of wire cutters, magnets, buttons and/or badges and an adhesive (I used Selley's multi grip). I bought the magnet in an assorted pack from the craft section at my local Bunnings hardware.

Step 1: Using the wire cutters, cut as much of the wire on the back off.

I cut the pin off at the hinge (you could also cut the hinge off too if your magnet is small or thin) and the hook. You want to make sure that you cut off enough of the wire so once the magnet is glued on it wont scratch your fridge/white board.

Step 2: Following the directions of your adhesive glue the magnet to the back of your badge/button.

If you are using Selley's Multi grip, you need to apply the adhesive to both surfaces, wait a minute and then put the two surfaces together. I recommend leaving the magnet on the table/bench you are working on because it can get a bit fiddly trying to put the magnet down after putting the adhesive on the back of the magnet.

Step 3: Wait for the glue/adhesive to dry.

Selley's multigrip recommends 24hrs for the glue to dry and reach maximum strength.

Step 4: Enjoy your new magnets!

Easy peasy!

If you make any of your buttons or badges into magnets, post a link to your blog or the photos in a comment below. I'd love to see the magnet love!

P xx

Passionfruit Butter

2012-01-16T12:53:00.001+11:00

I was introduced to passionfruit butter by my mum a few years ago. At first I didn't like it, but, the more she bought it, the more I grew to like it. I had though about making it a few times and then never got around to it.

At the end of November we went down to the Hunter Valley to go and see the Christmas lights at the Hunter Valley Gardens. Whilst we were down there we picked up some passionfruit butter and it was the best I've ever tasted. The perfect balance between sweet and tangy. I knew I would have to make some of my own now so I scoured the Internet for a recipe that looked easy enough and had good reviews. I found this recipe that had gotten 5 stars from each of it's reviewers. And it looked so easy, just four ingredients and four steps. Easy!

And it was easy (phew!). There was one stage that I thought it might not work but i kept going and it turned out well. It did take longer than stated in the recipe, but I can see how it could only take 15minutes to prepare if you were seasoned in making stuff like this. Anyway, here are the results:

This is just after putting it into jars. The recipe made heaps, filling all four jars.

And here is what it looks like after being refrigerated all night.

The recipe called for the pulp of 12 passionfruits, but seeing as passionfruit isn't in season I used 3 small (170g each) tins of passionfruit pulp instead.

So if you ever want to make passionfruit butter, I highly recommend this recipe. I really want to try making a lemon & lime butter recipe and maybe even an orange, lemon and lime recipe. Leave a comment if you have ever made these and link to your fave recipe. I'd love to see what your fave recipes are!

P xx

Music Monday

2012-01-16T10:40:00.000+11:00

This video has been making the rounds on social media websites so there is a good chance that you have seen this already. But I wanted to share it with you because it is that awesome! I am amazed that five people using just ONE guitar can create such a great cover of Gotye's Somebody That I Used To Know.

Enjoy!

2012...A Year of Possibilites

2012-01-03T12:51:00.000+11:00

2011 is over! Highlights include graduating university and visiting Melbourne for the first time.

I didn't achieve many of my goals for 2011 - I did not finish 12 projects or sleep more, but overall I am happy with everything that I did in 2011. I just intend to make 2012 a better year!

2012 should be a more exciting year for a few reasons: two good friends of mine will be getting married, I start a new job (and get to quit my old job!) and I've booked my first overseas holiday!

I will be going to Europe in winter and am looking for suggestions on what to do there! I will be going to London, Paris, Lucerne, Barcelona, French Riviera, Rome, Venice, Vienna, Prague, Berlin & Amsterdam. Except for London, I will only have one full day in each place, so if you have been, what would you recommend to see, do or experience?

Enjoy a great start to the 2012 and make the most out of it!

I bought myself an early Christmas present...

2011-12-22T20:02:00.000+11:00

I decided after all to treat myself to a DSLR, an early Christmas present to myself and I am so glad that I did. My kitty, however, has show some loathing towards it! I decided on a Canon EOS 550D with a twin lens kit. I'm still learning to use it (I've mastered the auto settings, but really want to learn the manual settings). Once I've done that I'll plan a few trips up the Blue Mountains and to a few other places to test the camera out a bit more.

After looking around for a suitable camera bag, one that would hold the camera body with a lens attached, plus room for 1-2 other lenses and not finding a one that I liked I turned to the Internet. The problem with all the camera bags in the shops was that they looked like a camera bag - an unmistakable sign for "I'm carrying around expensive equipment". That was definitely was not what I was looking for. I found this nice bag that looked big enough and more like a handbag from Camera Chick:

The bag is "B Hobo" by Kelly Moore. It fits my camera and spare lens and has room for my wallet etc so I wont need to carry around a second bag when I want to carry my camera around with me. It's just the right size and is well made too, but it does need a few good outings to really test it out.

If you have any photography tips or have/know of any good photography blogs, leave a comment below.

And here is a photo of my kitty, just coz:

Have a good Christmas :)

To get a DSLR or not?

2011-12-07T18:31:00.001+11:00

I have been tossing up between getting a DSLR or not lately. I love the idea of having much more creative control over my photos, but am daunted by it at the same time. There is so much to learn in order to use the full potential of the cameras. I have used them a few times when my friends have had theirs out and loved it. But I still can't decide. I don't know if the investment is worth it for me...

You see, I bought myself a Panasonic Lumix TZ10 last year with the money I got for Christmas.

I have used it more than I usually would and have learnt how to use some of the features, but not all of the features. So, I'm not sure if I should learn how to use my point and shoot to it's full potential before I dive into the world of DSLR's or not. I was thinking that if I did get a DSLR, I would get a Canon EOS 550D.

Thoughts? Opinions? Suggestions? Help me make this decision!

Taking a hiatus

2011-10-16T14:08:00.002+11:00

I will be taking a break from blogging for a while, mostly due to the fact that I wont have much time to make anything in the next few months. If I happen to come across of anything of interest, I may blog about it for your viewing pleasure, but we will have to wait and see.

But in the mean time, take care and Happy Crafting!

For the love of Pinterest!

2011-09-29T16:39:00.000+10:00

I know I haven't been very crafty lately, or very active on the blogosphere either. I start a new job soon and there is a lot to prepare for that and I've been catching up with some old friends, so that hasn't left much time for creating. Or when I do have the time, its not suitable to craft (as other people in the house are generally asleep) or I make little progress that it's not worth showing you.

Despite that lack of crafting, I still have been trying to get that creative and inspirational hit. Thanks to Pinterest, I have been able to get that instant gratification from the creativity of others! Just warning you, it can become addictive - mainly because it is full of beautiful, inspirational and creative ideas.

Whilst I have never spent that long on Pinterest, I can see how that is possible!

Happy pinning!

Ton of Wool Project

2011-09-07T12:09:00.000+10:00

I just pledged my support to get a Ton of Wool of local corma fleece to be processed for DIY'ers like us.

Love Lace Exhibit at The Powerhouse Museum

2011-09-03T20:57:00.001+10:00

Today I went to the Love Lace exhibit at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney. Overall it was a fantastic exhibit showcase people's different interpretations of lace from all over the world. And we aren't just talking about lace in the textile terms. There were exhibits made from old cars, paper, fences & wire and ceramics. It is well worth the visit if you can make it, but be prepared for a few wierd ones, like the uterus knitted from human hair!

Sydney Fabric Stores

2011-08-31T19:13:00.003+10:00

Recently I bought some new sewing patterns that I wanted to try out, but Spotlight and Lincraft didnt have any fabric that tickled my bones so I plan to head into the city this Saturday to try and find some fabric. I'm looking for stores mainly int he CBD area. So far I've found Tessuti (both the Surry Hills and the city store) and the Fabric Store in Surry Hills.

Are there any others out there that I should know about and will be open on a Saturday. I'm looking for stores that sell cotton (woven) and knit fabrics.

Thanks for any suggestions

Happy crafting :)
P x

Lace & embroidery floss dyeing

2011-08-30T16:30:00.003+10:00

I mentioned in my last post that I went to the Craft & Sewing Show at Newcastle last weekend, and whilst I was there I picked up some craft dyes from Starr Laces & Ribbons. These are concentrate liquid dyes that will dye any natural fibre and are non-toxic. All you need to do is dilute the dye (I used 1 part dye to 4 parts water), then paint the dye on or immerse the fibre article in the dye and then heat set the dye. You can heat set the dye in your microwave (small items take a minute or less) or on the stove top if you want to dye/heat set at the same time. The best thing about these dyes is that you dont need to throw out the left overs once you've finished because they will keep pretty much indeffinately! You can even mix the dyes, make them up in different strengths etc to get whatever colour you want. I bought some bows so I could make a refernce sample for the dyes.

I'm pretty happy with these colours but think I might get a dark blue and brown to give me a larger choice of colours.

I also used some plain white embroidery floss/thread and dyed them using the dyes. I did use four different colours below even though it is hard to see. I'm looking forward to using them in an upcoming embroidery project.

I do reccommend that if you like dyeing lace, ribbon, embroidery floss, fabric etc that you check out the range dyes available. They are resonably priced and super simple to use!

Happy crafting :)

Where is my mojo?

2011-08-29T12:56:00.002+10:00

I can't believe it has been over a month since I last wrote a blog post. I seem to have lost my mojo lately - maybe because I have not been feeling the best thanks to a nasty virus that has been doing the rounds. I went to the Craft and Sewing Show up at Newcastle last weekend to help inspire me and kicked my mojo back into working order - and it seems to have worked. I been working on putting this quilt together that I started way back in April!

It's coming along well so far - here is a picture of the blocks laid out ready to be sewn together.

Sorry for the poor quality, I took it on my phone. But hopefully you will be able to see the finished version sooner rather than later. The blocks are all sewn together, I now need to add the borders and sew the backing together. Then I can quilt it! Which I have to admit I'm kind of nervous about as this will be the first quilt where I don't "stitch in the ditch" and will be the first quilt that isn't destined for a wall.

And as we are talking about mojo, my knitting mojo seems to be on vacation. I've had no desire to knit lately as well as no desire to buy any more yarn!

Happy crafting!

Interchangeable Knitting Needles Case

2011-07-20T00:04:00.003+10:00

I decided that it was time to have a more practical solution to storing my interchangeable knitting needle tips and cables. I saw this uber cute and practical case tutorial over at Missus Vonkysmeed and decided to base mine pretty heavily on this great tutorial. This tutorial ticked all the boxes I was looking for in a case for my knitting needles (room for the tips, cables and accessories), I just moved the placement of some of the pockets.

And I did something I haven't done for a long time...I made it entirely from my stash. Not one thing was purchased to make this!

So what do you think? How do you store your interchangeable knitting needles and cables?

Linking to: Take-A-Look Tuesday and We Did It! Wednesday(button is in my side bar to the right). Enjoy!

Happy Crafting xx

Tilting Tardis Finished

2011-07-17T15:53:00.002+10:00

I finally finished the Tilting Tardis cowl I have been working on for my sister. Overall the pattern was fairly easy, but it also made it easy to make mistakes every now and then.

And the good news is she likes it!

Happy crafting :)

IPod Case

2011-07-12T14:18:00.003+10:00

I got a new IPod touch last week because my old IPod just didnt have enough space for everything I wanted to put on my IPod. And I'm only talking about my music and podcasts. So I quadrupled my storage space from 8gb to 32gb. That should last me for a while...hopefully. Anyway, I listen to my Ipod in my car whenever I drive using one of those FM radio transmitters and needed something to put my Ipod in to keep it safe in my bag.

I did a quick search on the internet, having a pretty good idea of what I wanted anyway and came up with this:

Simple, but effective. It is just two layers of fabric sewn together, turned out and top stitched. I added a snap closure to keep it secure.

Have a look at what other people have made for Take-A-Look Tuesday!

Happy Crafting!

My Creative Space - A Noble Cowl

2011-06-09T15:07:00.003+10:00

I've finally finished my second Noble Cowl! Just in time for winter, too. It has spent the day in front of the heating becuase it is freezing here.

I used Madelinetosh Tosh DK in Wellwater. It is so nice and warm, as well as cosy! Winter will be a lot more memorable.

Make sure you check out Our Creative Spaces for other wonderful creative projects.

Music Monday

2011-06-06T17:24:00.002+10:00

Whilst there hasn't been a total lack of crafting lately, there has been a heavy decline in it. And even when I am working on something, nothing is getting finished :( So I thought I would share with you a new song from Paramore that will be on the new Transformers movie. I think its a pretty good song and hope you enjoy it too!

How do you store your WIP's?

2011-05-11T19:52:00.000+10:00

I recently broke my knitting WIP box and it got me thinking of other ways I could store my WIP's.

So, how do you store your WIP's? I'd love to see pictures if you would like to share.

Thanks :)

My Creative Space

2011-04-28T18:22:00.002+10:00

Yesterday when I got home from work I was greeted with a lovely package from Ink & Spindle.

I just love their fabric and have used every bit I have ever bought from them. So I couldn't wait to whip this little beauty up, which is exactly what I did today. Here is the best looking wheat bag I have ever seen!

I now cant wait for there to be an occassion for me to heat it up and use it! I snatched/bought the last blue/green kit, but they still have 2 Red/Orange kits left if you are interested.

I think this is one of the only things I've made that I've started and finished in one day :)

Happenings of late

2011-04-22T17:08:00.002+10:00

So I jave been a bit MIA from blogland for a while, and that will more than likely continue for the next few months. I start a new job this coming Wednesday so I have been busy preparing for that and it is kinda hard to gauge how full on it will be once I start so I dont know how much I'll be around.

The quilt has taken a back seat for now (I have finished sewing half of the strip into squares) and I have been spemding a bit of time knitting. I keep switching between four projects so I dont have a mass of progress to show you, but I did want to show you what I started knitting for my sister. Originally I was knitting the Ginger Leaves shawlette, but the instructions weren't very good and it was turning out wrong so i changed over to making the Tilting Tardis Cowl. The pattern is pretty easy and it is coming along well.

Let's see if I can finish it this winter!

Happy Easter :)

My Creative Space...A Day Late

2011-04-01T23:13:00.002+11:00

I know, I know. I was supposed to post 'My Creative Space' yesterday, but I didn't. I was too busy sewing a knitting to want to write a post. So here it is - My Creative Space.

I've recently got my sewing grove back and decided to start making a quilt I brought fabric for at the Craft Expo in Sydney earlier in March. I bought a layer cake and pattern from Busy Thimbles. The ladies who ran the stall are lovely, and whilst I didnt attend one of their seminars this time, run kick ass seminars. I was inspired by the one they ran at the Quilt and Craft show in 2010 I bought the log cabin ruler and had some fun making a few log cabin blocks. I'm still deciding whether I should make a log cabin quilt or not using a Moda Jelly roll. Feel free to comment below with your thoughts regarding log cabin quilts.

Anyway, getting back on track, I spent a few hours yesterday cutting, arranging and beginning to sew my blocks for my quilt. The pattern is called Cherish Nature. A nice and simple pattern for what will hopefully be my first useable quilt. Here are some progress shots:

From Sewing

I also cast on the Ginger Leaves Shawl that I'm making for my sister again. I had to frog it because I messed it up, so hopefully I wont do that again. I'll keep you postd on how it is going when it starts looking more shawl like!

Happy crafting :)

Quilt Class 101

2011-03-22T14:53:00.002+11:00

I have wanted to make a quilt for a long time. I've even gone as far as buying jelly rolls, some batting to practice with, books full of information and design and spent many hours on Youtube learning about the quilting process. And I still feel intimidated by the entire process. Or maybe I'm just afraid of investing a great deal of time and money in something that may not turn out as I hope.

Rebecca over at Chasing Cottons will be hosting Quilt Class 101 starting on April 6th. Quilt Class 101 will be an online quilting class that will run over 12 weeks and looks like it covers everything you need to know about quilting. I know I will be folloing these classes to try and learn more about quilting and hopefully give quilting a go.

So go ahead, mark the date - April 6th - in your diaries and get ready to give quilting a go.

FO#2 for 2011

2011-02-24T12:08:00.002+11:00

Here is my 2nd fully finished project for 2011. A pair of Maja Mitts. I only did 2 pattern repeats because I didnt want them to be too long. I really liked how them turned out, even though I did make a few mistakes.

Now to work on getting my next finished object to the fully finished stage!

FO #1 for 2011

2011-02-02T17:57:00.002+11:00

So here is my first FO for 2011. My Meandering Vines scarf all blocked and ready to wear ☺

Now I just have to wait for it to be cold enough to wear here in Sydney.

I wonder what will be my 2nd FO for 2011?!

It's exciting!

2011-01-31T18:31:00.003+11:00

Here is my Meandering Vines scarf pretty much finished! It was such as easy knit and a well written pattern. All I have to do now is the thing I've been dreeding all the way through this project: blocking.

I think I'll leave that till Wednesday or Thursday.

A little bit of crafting

2011-01-29T14:25:00.002+11:00

Whilst January has been a quiet month for me, I haven't done a great deal of crafting. There has been a bit of knitting, a tiny bit of cross stitch and these fabric-covered-buttons-turned-magnets. And that about it craft wise. The other day I was in my local hardware store and stumbled upon packets of magnets and the first thing that popped into my head was to glue buttons onto them. I've had these buttons for a while, sitting in a jar, with no proect in mind. And lets face it: they are too pretty to be sitting in a jar! So I cut the shank off the buttons and glued magnets onto the backs. Now I get to look at them all day long ☺

Welcome to 2011!

2011-01-02T13:56:00.002+11:00

I hope everyone had a great start to 2011! I always find myself looking back at the year that has just ended every January 1st. Reflecting on the events that made the year memorable. Some of the events over the past year were memorable, like friends getting married or going to my favourite bands concerts. Other events make me glad that the year is over and it's time for a new beginning! I realise that 2010 was a year of great personal growth for me. I am much happier with who I am as a person. Granted there are things that I would like to improve, I am finally starting to accept me for who I am, not what I think I ought to be. Hopefully this personal growth will continue into 2011!

Looking back at the New Years Resolutions I made last year, I find myself agreeing that they are impossible to keep. Life has a way of becoming hectic and I forget about the beginning of the year where I reflected on how I wanted to make this year different from the last. So this year I have decided to come up with more of a wishlist - what I would like to do/make happen without the pressure of confining them to a timeframe. This wishlist isn't for 2011, it's for the future!

Be more organised
Take a photo everyday - 365 Project
Eat better
Move more
Be more creative
Stop procrastinating so much!

One of the reasons I decided to take part in the 365 project is because I new camera for Christmas. A new Panasonic Lumix TZ10. Hopefully by taking a photo everyday I will improve my photography skills as well as getting out more and exploring the city and suburbs around me. I like how the possibilities are endless! I decided to not follow a theme for my photos because I find that too constricting and boring.

Until next time, enjoy the sunshine :)

Twas the night before Christmas . . .

2010-12-24T17:39:00.002+11:00

I hope you and your families have a wonderful and safe Christmas!

My Favourite band: Linkin Park

2010-12-17T13:00:00.003+11:00

Do you have a favourite band? Mine is Linkin Park. I have been enjoying their music ever since I heard "One Step Closer" around 10 years ago now. I own every album they have released and their songs frequent my most played songs on iTunes. Their style of music evolved with each release of a new album and is something I thoroughly enjoy.

I have seen them live in concert three times now. To say that they are utterly amazing live is a huge understatement. They are the only band that I can say that sound better live than they do on CD (and they sound fantastic on CD). Maybe it is hearing Chester's awe inspiring voice live, the great audio-visual show they produce or the electric atmosphere that is present from the time they grace the stage and grows till the very end of the show.

Here is a video of their opening song "Iridescent" from their show at Sydney's Acer Arena on Saturday 11th December 2010. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

So I was wondering, who is your favourite band?

It's almost finished!

2010-11-03T23:45:00.001+11:00

Hopefully it will fit this time!

My not so creative space

2010-10-21T15:12:00.001+11:00

Wow, I didn't realise how long it had been since I last posted! Well, I've finished Ishbel, finished all my uni assignments (and uni really too!) and went to Bowral and Canberra. And trying to fins a new job too!

First of all, here is my Ishbel all finished and blocked! I'm happy with in, but I think it could be bigger. I have enough yarn left over so I could make a second one if I wanted.

I went down to Bowral and Canberra recently for a week. It was nice and relaxing, but my favourite memories are of the Australian War Memoria l and Canberra Zoo. The War Memorial was fantastic, we went on a guided tour with a volunteer who really knew his stuff! Also, we were there for the closing ceremony which featured navy, army and air forces recruits from the local miltary college and that was amazing. At Canberra Zoo we got to meet a cheetah. I love cats so this was a dream come true!

Isnt the cheetah beautiful ?!

So thats what I've mainly been up to. I havent done much since coming back from holidays two weeks ago. Just been working and looking for another job. And a little bit of knitting, but mot too much. Hopefully I'll have something to show you soon.

Happy crafting :)

My Ishbel is almost finished!

2010-09-28T20:20:00.002+10:00

I spent today finishing my Ishbel shawl. It has been sitting in my WIP tub for a few months untouched and I pulled it out yesterday and realised I didn't have long to go!

I used Lush Yarn's Silk/Merino fingering weight yarn in Ghost. I just need to block it, but that will have to wait about a fortnight until I finish my assignments and I get back from holidays. I used 55g of yarn and still have 90g left. I'm not sure what I'll make with the left over yarn.

As I went to put the left over yarn away, I realised that I dont have a lot of bright coloured or multi coloured yarn. Admittedly I dont like most multicoloured yarn, but I do like semi solid coloured yarn quite a bit. Most of the yarn in my stash is either gray/black/white or shades of those neutral colours or shades of blue or green.

I do then to wear clothes in these colours as these seem to look the best on me, but I'm getting bored of these colours. I want something bright and intense. I think I will need to expand my colour preferences...

I also just thought I'd share the preview for the next Glee episode. I'm not a Britney fan, but Glee (or any other musical) is pretty awesome. Enjoy!

Sometimes things just dont work out the way you want...

2010-09-18T11:41:00.002+10:00

So my Lotus Hat didn't quiet work out the way I would have wanted it to - it was too small despite doing a few extra repeats :( I do want to make this again, but I just cant bring myself to start it again at the moment. So, after feeling rather down (and not just because of the hat) and dissatisfied about the current projects on the needles, I broke my agreement not to buy any more yarn or cast on another project until I had finished the projects mentioned in the previous post.

So, I bought some 8ply wool (don't worry, it wasn't expensive) and cast on a new project. I cast on the Dandy Neckerchief.

Progress is very slow, but in approximately 3 weeks, that shall hopefully improve and work will resume at a regular steady pace. Along with my other 3 projects listed before.

Until then, I need to get back to the work that I need to do to get through the said 3 weeks.

Happy crafting :)

You know, yarn is addictive

2010-07-25T20:19:00.002+10:00

I was naughty today. Instead of doing the millions things I need to do at the moment, I spent a large portion of today looking for a cardigan pattern and deciding what yarn to do it it. Opps

I really want to branch away from small knitting projects into larger projects, such as clothing. I would like to make a cardigan as my first project and plan to begin after the next school holidays (that way my prac will be finished and will have recuperated)! So after trawling through Ravelry a few times, I've decided that my first knitted piece of clothing will be: Girl Friday made with Cascade 220 yarn.

However, in order to be able to buy the yarn for the project, I need to finish four projects I currently have going. So here is the list of projects I want to finish so I can cast on the cardigan.

1. Lotus Hat
2. Lush Yarn socks
3. Ishbel
4. Column of Leaves scarf

Hopefully I will be able to finish one of these whilst I'm on prac, but I'm currently not getting any time during the week to knit. This leaves me with the weekends so I should be able to fit in a bit of knitting over the next 9 weeks.

Happy crafting :)

Shibui Yarn!

2010-07-06T19:29:00.002+10:00

I know in my last post that I said I would not buy any more yarn until I had finished at least 4 projects that I currently have on the needles, but I ordered this yarn BEFORE I made that promise - so this doesn't count!

Look at what was waiting for me when I got home today :D Some divine ShiBui knits sock yarn, in a colour aptly named Peacock.

Now I have no clue what socks to knit with it, so any suggestions are greatly welcomed!

Lush Yarn Sock Club Installment

2010-07-04T22:23:00.002+10:00

I received my first Lush Yarn sock club installment last Tuesday ans started knitting with it straight away! It is a beautiful colour called Deep Teal and came with a goodies and a pattern!

The sock pattern is easy and produces an interesting texture - I can't wait till I'm finished the first sock to see the yarn in all it's glory :)

As lovely it has been buying all this yummy yarn to knit with, my stash just seems to be growing and the amount of time I can spend knitting is diminishing. And I must admit, it is a little bit depressing. So, in order to combat it and help my wallet from drying up, I am announcing a knitting pact! I will not purchase any new yarn until I have finished at least 4 of the projects I currently have on the needles, and even then, I will only purchase yarn for one project.

Wish me luck, I think this will be a hard pact to follow, but one I must stick to. I will keep you updated on the progress.

Ten on Tuesday

2010-06-22T18:57:00.000+10:00

10 Things I hope to improve this year...

1. My health - eating better, exercising more and sleeping longer.
2. My teaching - more engaging and inspirational lessons.
3. My sense of adventure - doing more new things, and less of the same things.
4. My savings - save more, spend less (I want to travel next year).
5. My photography skills - taking better photos.
6. My knitting - branch out into clothing.
7. My sewing - get back into making clothes.
8. My cooking - more exotic and difficult dishes.
9. My vocabulary - read more.
10. My eco footprint - use more earth friendly products and method of transportation.

Sydney Craft & Quilt Fair 2010

2010-06-20T13:25:00.000+10:00

I went to the Sydney Craft & Quilt Fair yesterday afternoon. It was a fun afternoon and gave my wallet a good workout. Here is my latest crafting supplies acquisition. Ahh, so much to do. So little time...

You'll have to exclude to poor quality photo. I think its time for a new camera.

Life of late...

2010-06-17T15:26:00.000+10:00

I know I have been neglectful of posting to blogland lately, but I have been keeping up to date with everyone's blog. I just haven't had anything to blog about lately. I have been busy getting ready for my upcoming prac and havent been doing many crafty things in my spare time. I have been reading 'Sustainable Fashion & Textiles' by Kate Fletcher. It's very interesting and informative. I would definitely recommend it if you are interested in anything fibre related and sustainability.

I've also been doing a bit of knitting and trying to plan a trip to Europe next year.

Happy crafting :)

I finished my Monkey's!

2010-05-07T15:02:00.000+10:00

Yay! I finished my monkey socks in the early hours of this morning when I got home from work. I'm so glad they are finished, I just need to block them!

Have a good weekend!

Publish Post

Dear silk, I hate you!

2010-04-29T18:46:00.000+10:00

Well, not really. I love the fibre silk. It is one of nature's most beautiful fibre's. It's just I can't knit with it. It grabs my knitting needles like it's holding on for dear life and makes my life hell. I've tried knitting twice with Kaalund Yarn's Enchante in Wisteria and I end up frogging what ever I'm making in frustration. So, it's official - I will never knit with 100% silk again.

Lush Yarn Lucky Dip

2010-04-10T22:17:00.000+10:00

Yesterday I received a package on my doorstep. It was a box with some pretty yarn in it. Three skeins to be exact. I knew that there would be something green in there, but I had never seen the yarn before. I had purchased a green lucky dip from Lush Yarn. I opened then box in anticipation of whats inside and was surprised by these lovelies!

Twinkle Twinkle

Gratitude

Great Minds

They looked so goo, I had to order the blue lucky dip box. Can't wait till it arrives!

It's Finished!

2010-03-20T21:58:00.000+11:00

I finished my Traveling Woman Shawl! Blocked and ready to rock this winter - very exciting :)

I've already cast on my next shawl/neckerchief project - Ishbel - with some lovely yarn I pick up from Lush Yarns at the CraftExpo. It is a very exciting time...now I must return to the real world and work on my assignment.

Eeep! Three More Rows!

2010-03-09T22:46:00.000+11:00

Only three rows to go. Should be finished tomorrow and then blocking!

I think a trip to the CraftExpo this Thursday is necessary to pick up some new yummy yarn worthy of my next shawl project, Ishbel!

I should be sleeping

2010-02-27T04:23:00.000+11:00

It's 4.23am. I should be sleeping but thanks to my neighbour who likes to play annoyingly loud music at ungodly hours, I am now awake. Not happy. I was looking forward to having a good long sleep in today. Anyway, enough of that.

Just thought I'd share my crafty plans for today:
I plan to continue sorting the array of buttons I have gathered according to colour in these spice jars I picked up from Ikea.

And then I plan to keep on knitting my Travelling Woman shawl. Hopefully finishing it this weekend too!

I hope everyone has a craftly good weekend.
:)

Anywhere but here...

2010-02-18T15:15:00.001+11:00

I sit here struggling to finish an assignment for uni, wishing I was somewhere like here:

Photo by: JSMoral

Isn't it just beautiful!

Knitting my way to happiness

2010-02-09T12:41:00.000+11:00

I wonder if this is possible??? I haven't been in much of a sewing mood lately, so I have been knitting the Traveling Woman shawl. I'm fairly pleased with the progress and there have only been a few minor mistakes - but they will add character! It is my first time knitting a shawl and I am quite enjoying and looking forward to wearing it this winter!

The yarn is Morris Empire 4ply in Bluestone. The picture doesn't do they colour any justice - it is much nicer. A nice deep smoky blue.

Happy Tuesday - hope you have a great day

Good things...

2010-02-05T21:26:00.000+11:00

Today has mostly been filled with good things.

Firstly, I found out that John Mayer is coming to Sydney in May - I'm very excited about that!

Secondly, I bought a pot and planted a bay leaf tree that I got late last year as a gift - it's the first time I've tried gardening so I'm a bit proud of myself :)

Here it is before a massive storm hit. I hope it rained just as hard over the dam as well. We need the water.

And third, I'll soon be able to partially reclaim my sewing room. I'll have to share the room with mum, which means so big table and a lot less storage, but I will be able to have my machines set up permanently :)

I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Its been a while baby

2010-01-29T17:46:00.000+11:00

Has it really been that long since I last posted??!!?? I know i have contemplated many times over the last month about blogging, but I haven't for reasons that now escape me! Not cool I say. Maybe it was the few weeks I've been at summer school for uni. Or the fact that not only did my brother move home, but we renovated our kitchen over xmas, making our dining table our make shift kitchen. This took away all the decent amount of space where I could set up my sewing machine away from me.

But there is some good news. The kitchen has been moved back to where it belongs. And the bro is moving back out. The bad news is I will not have the space I used to craft. It is a bittersweet feeling I tell you. Maybe it will be for the better - teach me to really consider things before I purchase them and to be a little tidier. Hmm, only time will tell.

I will be back soon with some pictures of a new project that I am working on. You have seen a sneak peak of it so it may look familiar to some.

Until then, happy crafting.

New Year Resolutions

2010-01-02T15:17:00.000+11:00

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a fantastic start to 2010!

I rarely make new years resolutions because I find them next to impossible to keep. But this year I have decided to make a change, so here are the things I want to do this year:

sleep better
eat better
live better
make more
appreciate more
learn more
smile more
laugh more
save more

2009 as a whole was a very uneventful year, so here is to making 2010 a year that is eventful and filled with joy and happiness.

Recent happenings

2009-12-30T13:55:00.000+11:00

I know I've been MIA a bit lately. It has been a busy month and I felt like I didn't have much to blog about. Until now!

I made this elephant softie for my sister for Christmas. I'm very pleased with how it turned out, considering it was my first softie. And I apologise for the poor picture quality. I think I need a new camera or some photography lessons. Or both!

I also made some cushion covers with some of the fabric I bought at the Stitches and Craft Show from Ink & Spindle. Such lovely fabric.

.

I hope everyone has a happy and safe New Year!

Finders Keepers Markets

2009-12-07T12:31:00.000+11:00

I went to the Finders Keepers markets on Saturday, after only finding out about them that morning! I was so glad that they were open till 8! I got there around 3pm with a friend and stayed there spending money and looking at some amazing wares!

It was well worth the trek! Here are my spoils from the day:

I bought some beautiful fabric from Saffron Craig, Umbrella Prints and Kristen Doran. I'm seriously considering buying Kristen Doran's Matryoshka panel, but can't decide what colour. Hmm, maybe I'll decide on payday, but let me know your favourite colourway! Plus I love her advent calender kit, but I think I might have to wait till I get a place of my own.

I bought this lovely dish from Kim Wallace. She had such beautiful ceramic dishes, plates etc that I could've spent a lot more, however I'm prone to break these sorts of things (accidently of course) and I have limited room to disply it at the moment, but I highly reccomend her designs. Absolutely beautiful.

And finally, I bought these fantastic prints from Bespoke. These where an impulse buy after I had spent what I had originally said I was going to spend at the markets. But they were such a good price and I love them so it was hard to resist. Hmm, I'm never going to be able to save money if I keep going to these sorts of markets!

I can't wait to use the fabric! I'm thinking I will use it to make a quilt, but I think I'm going to do a practice quilt first. But I will keep you updated!

Have a great week :)

Shopping Spoils

2009-12-02T18:22:00.000+11:00

Well here are my spoils after my fabric shopping expedition today.

I got the first two from the Patchwork Heart.

I bought some linen/cotton to back some cushion covers I'm going to make with some lovely hand printed fabric. I think I like this print for the elephant I'm going to make for my sister for Christmas. It definitely falls into the not too girlie category whilst still being suitable for an elephant I think.

These are the lovely prints I bought from Fred the Needle. I also like the ladybug print for the elephant but can't decide! Help me by telling me which one you lie better.

Also managed to squeeze in a bit of Christmas shopping too. Feels good to finally start now that all the birthday presents for the year have been bought, wrapped and hidden.

Happy Crafting

Fabric shopping tomorrow!

2009-12-01T16:53:00.000+11:00

I'm going fabric shopping tomorrow for the first time in a while. Very excited. U'm looking for some suitable fabric to make an elephant softie for my not-quite-goth sister. SO the fabric needs to be suitably dark but cute at the same time.

I'm using the pattern that is is the "More Softies" book that I bought last week. I will post pictures of the progress. I hope all this cold and gloomy weather isn't getting everyone down!

This last month...

2009-11-28T13:17:00.000+11:00

I have been absent from blogging land for almost a month now. I have been keeping up with all the lovely things you have been posting about, but have not had anything interesting to blog about till now. I think it has been caused by the devastation of loosing my sewing room. These wounds are finally repairing themselves and I'm ready to dive back into the wonderful world of craft!

The last month hasn't been completely void of crafting. I have been doing a little bit of knitting and crocheting in order to try and finish a few more things on my craft challenge list but they were even slow going! But the other day I bought two books: Softies and More Softies! Ahh, these are some seriously cute little critters that will make good use of my stash!

Also, my granny square blanket is growing nicely now that I have more free time on my hands.

Have a great weekend :D

Music Monday

2009-11-02T22:07:00.000+11:00

I love John Mayer (ohhh, his velvet voice makes me melt!). Very excited about his new album coming out next Friday :D

Finished!

2009-10-23T19:41:00.000+11:00

Yay! Uni is finally finished for the year - handed my last assignment in today :) I do have an exam, but thats not for 3 weeks.

I will post some pics of the major textiles assignment I have been working on over the last 12 weeks once I've gotten it back from marking.

Hmm, now to begin my lazy weekend of sleeping, reading (I want to finish the last Twilight book) and catching up with friends.

8 days and counting

2009-10-14T18:34:00.000+11:00

Yay! 8 days till uni is over :D

Hmm, I love (read hate) this time of semester. The time when you're so close to the end that you can taste the freedom, but you still have a massive assignment to finish. The time when procrastination fills a large amount of time. Oh well, only 8 more days to endure.

On Saturday (I know I'm more than a bit late with this!), I went up to Leura to have a look at the annual garden festival and village fair. It was a great day despite being pretty cold and it didn't start to rain until we left to go back home. There was some really nice stalls at the village fair. Lots of local artisans, yummy food and friendly people. My favourite stall was selling 1920' s fashion prints. And a visit to Leura wouldn't be complete without a trip to the Wazygoose Cafe. They have really yummy flowerpot scones and an amazing jam to go with it too!

The garden's were great to. A few of them have beyond amazing views of the Jamison valley. Oh how I would love to live there! Anyone got a spare few million they wouldn't mind investing? Here are some of the photo's I took in the gardens. Hope you enjoy!

Yes, I do like tulips!

19 days an counting!

2009-10-05T12:58:00.000+11:00

I know I haven't been around lately (well I have been looking at everyone's wonderful blogs!)because uni is starting to get crazy busy. 19 days and counting till its all over for the semester. I'll be very glad that my last few assignments will be handed in and I can start crafting again - and tackle my craft challenge before the year is over.

And here is a photo from Floriade. My family went down there yesterday whilst I was at home sick, working on assignmments...
Enjoy the rest of the long weekend!

Fluid Sculpture

2009-09-28T22:15:00.000+10:00

Fluid Sculpture from Charlie Bucket on Vimeo.

Just found his awesome video! Enjoy :D

Pippijoe bag photo

2009-09-19T19:20:00.000+10:00

Here is the photo of my Pippijoe bag. Enjoy :D

Pippijoe bag finished!

2009-09-17T20:38:00.000+10:00

I finished my Pippijoe sling bag tonight! Will post pictures soon. Now to cross that off my craft challenge....

My Craft Challenge 2009

2009-09-08T22:27:00.000+10:00

I know it might seem a bit late in the year to start a craft challenge, but I figure what the hell!

What am I challenging myself to I hear you ask? Good question! I am challenging myself to fulfill the following crafting endeavors:
- Finish the 2 pairs of socks I currently have on my knitting needles
- Finish one of the scarf's I have on my knitting needles
- Make one piece of clothing for myself that I will actually wear out of the house. I am thinking of a skirt. I like this Kwik Sew pattern. If you have any favourite skirt patterns I'd loved to her which ones they were!
- Finish the crochet blanket that I have started.
- ~~Finish the Pippijoe sling bag I have started.~~

Hmm, let's see if I can do it!

My Creative Space

2009-09-04T18:15:00.000+10:00

So here's my go at "My Creative Space" - not sure if I'm doing right, but here I go.

I did make a spreadsheet yesterday of all my knitting yarn because I was procrastinating about doing uni work. Probably not the smartest idea since I have a mountain of uni work to do that is bigger than I ever had before, but I just could not get motivated!

I also started a project to used up some of my stash - and venture into crochet. I have attempted crochet before, but not like this. I've decided to make a granny style blanket using yarn that I have no project idea for. Here is my progress so far:

It hasn't been as difficult as I found crochet to be in the past, so this is turning into a very good project to sit in front of the TV and do, as well as something where I don't have to finish a round before putting it down - which is another bonus!

Here are few details about the project:
* 4.5mm hook
* Yarns used included: Carnival 8 ply in grey
Bendigo Woollen Mills Colonial in Eucalypt and Cadet.

Have a good weekend :)

How do you manage your stash????

2009-09-03T14:13:00.000+10:00

It is a very dull and miserable day here in Sydney and I'm finding it very hard to get motivated to do anything! Well, any uni work anyway...

I've been thinking about ways to reduce my knitting yarn stash recently and have been searching for patterns on Ravelry. I dont keep my stash up-to-date on ravelry, so I was thinking of another way to keep an inventory of what I have so I can decide if a project is suitable for what I have or not. So I have decided that I will put together a spreadsheet of what I have in my stash. So here are the headings I think I will need for my spreadsheet:

Brand name
Yarn name
Colour
Fibre
Weight
Amount

If you can think of any other headings that would be useful in managing my stash, it would be great to hear from you. Or of any other ways that you manage your stash!

And here is an image to hopefully brighten your day :)

Pippijoe bag

2009-08-31T20:16:00.001+10:00

I started my Pippijoe sling bag today :D Will post pictures when it's finished, but that probably wont be for a few weeks due to uni work :(

Ink & Spindle Bag

2009-08-28T14:28:00.000+10:00

In my last post I mentioned all about the goodies that I bought at the Stitches and Craft show, including a tote bag kit from Ink & Spindle. Well, I spent last night and this afternoon putting the bag together! It was so much fun, and felt kinda naughty because Is should've been doing uni work. Sewing won that debate hands down!

I added a magnetic clasp and a zipper pocket to the bag to add a little bit extra functionality. It was the first time I added a pocket or a magnetic clasp to anything, but they were very easy - so I can now add those skills to my skill set :D

Here is a close up of the lovely hand printed fabric from Ink & Spindle.

I think I will make the Pippijoe bag next... Now I really should go and do some uni work.

Stitches and Craft show goodies :)

2009-08-26T17:34:00.000+10:00

I know the Stitches and Craft Show finished a few days ago, but I finally found time to come and share the goodies I picked up at the show. I went on Friday and Saturday because I could only fit in a few hours each day, but it was well worth it. The Incubator up on level 4 was my favorite part of the show and is the place where I spent most of my money. The indie designers that were exhibiting there were seriously talented. I'm very envious of them and in awe of their talent all at the same time! Here are some shots of what I bought at the show:

I bought a lot of lovely hand screen printed fabric. Can't wait till I get to use them, but I must make sure I use it for something worthy of the fabric!

Here is a better shot of the lovely fabric I picked up:

Up the back is fabric from Kristen Doran Design
Then on the left is fabric from Pippijoe. I also bought her sling bag pattern, so I will be using this lovely fabric to make that. Very excited!
And the remaining three lovely fabrics are from Ink and Spindle. I also picked up one of their tote bag pattern kits (the bottom left of the first picture). Again I am very excited to make it up

And here are all the buttons and hair ties I picked up from Cloth, Please Eloise and Berlinski. A few of the hair ties have already been put to good use!

Oh, before I forget, I also picked up issue 9 and 10 of the Mixtape zine. Will definately subscribe as soon as my bank account recovers!

Hmm, I had an awesome time at the show. Can't wait for next years :)

Old Blog and camera question

2009-08-24T21:55:00.000+10:00

First of all Blogger wont import my XML file of my wordpress blog, so if you want to read my earlier blog entries, click here.

Secondly, I would like to get a new digital camera and work on improving my photography skills.If you can suggest a good digital camera, I would really appreciate it. I mainly take photos of crafts that I do (mainly sewing and knitting) and friends and family etc. Basically I'm looking for a good all-purpose camera. Please leave a comment if you have any suggestions :)

And lastly, I will post my photos of the goodies I came away with from the Stitches and Craft Show tomorrow :)

Under maintainence...

2009-08-23T14:16:00.000+10:00

Hi, I currently having trouble importing my wordpress blog, so bear with me as I figure it out