Friday, August 31, 2012

Patchwork, quilting, and tees


Inspiration popped into my head this week.
It's always an interesting thing, demanding to be acted on, and sometimes I'm not sure where it's arrived from.
Not this time!
My brain has been full of quilting and patchworking for a while now.
I've been studying pictures of beautiful combinations of fabrics and colours.
My favourite place to do this is over at Maggie & Sparrow. If you haven't been over for a look, go and visit! Make yourself a cuppa, you could be a while.
If only I could run my hands over the pictures and feel the fabrics I couldn't be happier.
Then, of course, I've been mucking about with my own little bits of fabric making a start on a quilt for us.
Somewhere in all of that, and the arrival of some beautiful new blue organic cotton and bamboo tees, here's a new tee for the coming season.
I might just call it the Quilter's tee.


Tuesday, August 28, 2012

This and that and a few new tricks

I'm feeling like an old dog with new tricks this week!


A friend generously came over this morning with her photo tips and tricks, oh, and a few lights as well.
We looked properly at my little camera, and discovered a few settings I didn't realise I had.
Did I tell you I was a bit lazy when it comes to all things techie?
Hmmm. Lesson learnt? Do take a bit of time to look at your instruction manual....
And, I'm feeling a bit empowered this afternoon!


My other project on the go goes all the way back to here.
I've always admired a good quilt, and I had dinner with another good friend and fantastic quilter on the weekend. 
She inspired me to get going on making a start on my own quilt.
It'll be made from lots and lots of scraps of lovely Liberty of London tana lawn that have been collecting in a special tub in my stash cupboard.
I just needed to start.
And, I figured that the way to start was to decide that each 'block' would be 20cm x 20cm. Any combination goes, and I'll work out how they go together when I get all 144 of them done!

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Something other than scarves


Every year at this time I get a little breather from scarf knitting. 
August is that funny limbo month between Winter and Spring. Oh, it's still cold in our part of the world at any rate, but aren't we are all dreaming of warmer weather and ditching the layers and layers and layers?
I'd been wondering what to do with a bit of left over yarn in my stash. A beautiful Jo Sharp yarn in a gorgeous red, but an odd not-quite-enough-for-anything 6 balls, and then a while ago I found this pattern.


I bought myself the needles, and discovered I could use that yarn I had.
Hooray!
Now, I'm a skinny needle knitter. I like an 8 ply and number 4 needles. I can clack away with that quite happily. So, I'll be honest, working with 2 strands of 8 ply yarn on great big number 9 needles wasn't my favourite knitting experience!
The upside? A brand new cardigan in less than a week!
And I love it.
(especially with my Delilah Devine brooch)
Knit your own with a free pattern download over here!

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Colour and pattern


I'm loving my Liberty cottons.
I finish one little shirt, and I'm onto another.


So far, they've all been one of a kind.
(Although, depending on how much of each fabric I have, I can do a repeat or two.)
Guaranteed to keep me interested, and itching to find that next combination of fabric colour and pattern!

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

In between

In between Winter and Spring.
In between markets until September.
In between breakfast and lunch.
And in between making and organising!


It's been just over a fortnight since my friend Sal and I embarked on this crazy idea of bringing some beautiful wares to a charming old hall in Apollo Bay on Melbourne Cup weekend in November.
Today we are half way to a full market.
I am filled with admiration for all the wonderful makers and their work who'll be taking the plunge with us on our adventure! I'm already making a shopping list and saving my spending money.
In between now and then, make sure you keep an eye on our facebook page and our blog to find out more about the fabulous things that will be coming our way!



Friday, August 3, 2012

Market, market

I am so happy to be taking part in this fantastic little market tomorrow.
Run by the charming and funny Fiona from Squirt Baby, who manages to juggle about 12 of life's balls (so to speak!) without ever losing her cool.
So, I just know this is going to be one fabulous outing.
Plus, there will be some seriously good stallholders there too. 
But wait, there's more! Music, food, an art auction, book readings....
I'll see you there!