More making

Just a warning that there may be too many exclamation marks in this post...


Buttons!


Screen printed gift tags!!


More cushions!!!

..as it's been a long day and I need to be DONE ALREADY, but I'm not. Cos I'm not organised. But that's OK, as I've been having fun with making things new and old. Now I just need to do a million things before tomorrow, so I'd best be off. Happy Friday!

PS. I got to meet a little baby possum today, being looked after by one of my many new neighbours. Sooo cute!

Pom-pom mania

I've wanted to make some pom poms for yonks - they're something I've not done since I was a kid (I think at one stage my sister and I were a bit of a pom-pom-making factory). This one took me a week to finish off, doing it here and there, and it's definitely wonky but is also definitely a start. I'd love to add a few of these to the bottom of one of my many scarves.

Small home

I finally got around to making my little Ashley G house mentioned last week and oh my, how very cute it is. And yes, next time I'll remember to cut the window/door out. Oh well. How very sweet it would be to have a Christmas tree hanging a bunch of these.



In other news, I've finally got around to stocking some of my patchwork elephants and tea towels in a couple of lovely shops - both here in Melbourne (thanks to the great guys at Mike's - hope shopping night was fun last night and wish I could have made it - and the fab Bamakko) and in Adelaide (at the gorgeous Nest Studio).

And I have also put these guys (below) in my own wee small Etsy shop.

They were seeds...

And now they're plants! Tomato plants! I can't believe they grew, actually, given the lack of sunlight they receive on our south-facing balcony. But here they are - firstly uprooted from their first home - a pot they were accidentally dropped into (above top) and in their new, more spacious homes (well, one of them, above bottom).

Summer, you surely are not too far away.

And very excited about making one of these Ashley G houses - so cute!


Image copyright Ashley G, via Kitty Genius

Birds on boxes

Have been organising, cleaning, culling and doing other spring-like things lately. Odd, as it's virtually winter (and rather cold) here. One of the things I've been putting off for ages is re-covering a small but sturdy box that once held fancy mint chocolates (like After Dinner Mints but even fancier). So that's one of the things I got to cross off my list of to-dos yesterday. The paper is from Zetta Florence and the box has already put to good use, holding various little note books.



Speaking of being organised, my current desktop wallpaper might just inspire more orderliness, also created yesterday in a flurry of computer-based organising.

Elephant #31

Welcomed into the world this morning, and going to his new home this afternoon ... finally.



Will he be the last elephant made with one of various borrowed sewing machines, before I finally get my own? Possibly not, as sewing maching-buying is a rather involving (and overwhelming) task - where to start and stop? How many stitches could I possibly use? Which brand is better than the other? And do I really need a computer to sew? Argh!

It's a clock

I had a rather crafty weekend, and even got to (nearly) finish everything I started, which is great. There's nothing worse than the project that is started - with enthusiasm and the best of intentions - only to find you've run out of time near the end. And then the project sits, unfinished, until there's time to look at it again, and that can sometimes take months.

Anyway, a friend and I decided to go to Spotlight on Saturday and pick up some fabric, just in case we felt like making something. While wandering the many many aisles just looking at stuff, we discovered clock parts - hands, motors, numbers etc. This sparked an idea that we had discussed previously - "We can make clocks!" And so we did.

They're pretty simple to make (although we managed to stretch it out over hours) and rather fun. I bought some wooden numbers which I then painted white, but I ended up leaving them off mine as they seemed a bit big and clumsy.

Anyway, here's how mine turned out.

The clock hands were originally gold (ick) so I painted the big and little hand with a glossy white enamel, and painted the second hand red.

And the best big - it actually works! Quite a fun project for a 40-ish degree day.

Elephant #30

Finished another elephant this morning, and from my very rough calculations, it's #30. I love this fabric and found it hard to chop up (a beautiful soft thick cottton), but now that it's all done I'm quite happy with how she turned out. And she's on her way to her new home today!

Finally finished

These two have been hanging around looking forlorn (and somewhat flat) for quite a while, until I realised tonight that they have homes to go to, and they need to get there quick. They look much happier now.

Earrings

How nice is it to spend a whole day pottering around, listening to music and making things (and having cups of tea and flicking through books/magazines etc). Today I finally got time for earring- and jewellery-making. Have been trying a few combinations of hanging this from that with this or that, some of which I'm not 100% convinced of, but these earrings - the most simple and quick to make - are my favourites.

Also made a necklace out of some lovely heavy, chunky, wood-like rectangular beads, strung on a simple silver chain. It's an odd combination, and I'll possibly hate it tomorrow, but for now I'm happy.


Looking forward to seeing this guy perform tomorrow night (Rufus, that is), although secretly wish it was his sister...maybe she will be there too.)

More elephants & some earrings

Slowly more elephants are popping up around the place. This one's Alfie, to go to his new home tomorrow.


No time for much more fun stuff at the moment, except for a bit of jewellery making.

These earings are made with the old old old buttons I picked up a while back. They hang pretty freely as there's just a bit of wire holding them together, and I don't think they're too heavy, but will see how they go next time I'm riding on my bicycle in the wind - always a good test! Kinda like the hanging wire bits at the bottom but that'll have to go - too scratchy. Earrings are sooo hard to photograph well (like any small detailed thing, I guess) and the fact that this is the best shot is saying a lot, as they're kind of hard to see.

And oh how I want some of these - a Camilla Engman Chuck, brilliant - but are they available in Australia???

Two-colour Nectarine

Looking at the cut nectarine of the previous post made me think of hearts, and with Valentine's Day coming up I thought about turning that into some sort of heart (not that I condone the overly syrupy-ness of V's D). As with many ideas that seem great at the time, that was hard to do, but instead it has morphed into an abstract two-colour pattern. Can you tell I'm really into simple graphics, often with no more than two colours?


I may also have gotten some round-about inspiration from one of the books that arrived for me in the post today (thanks to an Amazon voucher from my lovely sister). So much fun is ahead of me.

Merry New Year (and Christmas!)

Where did December go and how is it now 2-0-0-8? Crazy how fast time flies. But here it is, so...



Have just had an rather long unintentional computer/blogging/craft break after an overdose of all in the lead-up to Christmas (whew, handmade Christmas was exhausting! Made a bunch more things that I never got time to photograph, including tea towels - will have to make more!) but time to get back into it, I say. Starting with the first batch of elephants for all the babies who've arrived recently. Here are their ears -



And I'm looking forward to putting one of my Christmas presents through its paces - especially Fiona Dalton's Albert Monkey (monkeys are THE best animal!) and Carly Schwerdt's Beetle Bug - so cute!



And speaking of Christmas, here's just some of the baking a friend and I did in the lead up - no, we definitely didn't go overboard (and these photos don't show the huge batch of gingerbread) as it's all gone now!

More handmade & Cookie Christmas

Things are going along, slowly, but so far I've stuck to the handmade for Christmas theme. Am sure I'll stray as I run out of time (um, that'll be pretty soon), but so far it's been fun and rather satisfying. Now just have to hope the recipients dig 'em too!


On the left is one of a batch of singlets I screen printed, to go with the first set of sewn pj shorts (taken from the Amy Butler Lounge Pants pattern but shortened - super comfortable and with a neat drawstring to hold them up).

And I discovered the joy of the crafty swap the other day, following a brilliant suggestion from Aunty Cookie. She sent a wonderful pack of fabric samples, cards and more, along with a Cookie doll (which I loooove most of all). Here she is, hanging up in our window along with the only Christmas decorations in our place - some suction cap-stuck baubles. She looks so cute there, I love looking up at her. Thanks Shannon, enjoy your holiday :)

Handmade Christmas 2

OK, I'm slowly moving along with my handmade Christmas gift making, and here's the first half of the second batch of gifts - more cushions.



Have been pondering what to put on the cushion covers for aaages, but inspiration hit when I was in the country a little while back and found a most beautiful leaf.

They're two-colour - a yellowy-green for the larger leaves, and a grey for the smaller leaves. I'm thinking the next batch will be maroon and grey. It's a little hard to see in these photos, so here's another pic to get an idea of what they look like close up.



Now I just have to hope the recipients don't look here and see their "surprise" gift!

Handmade Christmas 1

I'm starting to feel, um, a little behind in my Christmas preparation, but today I completed handmade gift number one. Not sure if a gift for a dog actually counts, though...




The pic is an outline of my parents' dog, Emma, screen printed onto a cushion for her basket. Hope it doesn't freak her out! And here's the obligatory dog snap -


She's rather shagging in this old snap, and is wearing a tshirt that me or my sister wore as kids. Aww.

And was reminded on the weekend that it really, well and truly is summer here -

Wow, cherries are amazing. As are strawberries and pretty much every other summer fruit. And not a single one of them was picked by me, which made them taste even better!

More for Mikes

Took this batch of stuff over to Mikes Fitzroy the other day, complete with custom-made paper bag (with Akzidenz type on the outside). The bag is super wonky (I really should have used a ruler from the outset) but did the job!

And here's a close up of the loot -

This is a behind shot of the elephants, complete with new hang tags. And the middle one - with blue and brown - is now sitting in the Mikes Fitzroy Christmas window. Yay!


And there is the batch of lavender bags with tags.

It's always nice seeing everything finally finished off, tagged and ready to go - that alone always makes it all feel worthwhile. And funnily enough two people I know bought my stuff at Mikes shopping night the other night (that's definitely a novelty for me!) Wooh!

Saturday & Sunday

Whew, had a fun crazy weekend. On Saturday morning I found out that Idlewild Press, a letterpress studio based in the Nicholas Building in downtown Melbourne, was having having an open day that day. How exciting! It's a one-person studio run by Carolyn Fraser of the Girlprinter blog. I went and had a look and as expected, the space is beautiful and the equiptment and type drawers and type pieces and various pieces of paraphernalia were just asking to be photographed.



I had to stop myself by only buying this set of cards - so sweet - but could have bought everything



While trying to find my way out from the sixth floor of the Nicholas Buidling I stumbled upon this great shop called Buttonmania, that just happened to be having its twice-yearly button sale. I got a handful of great looking buttons along with these great old knitting patterns.



Melbourne Design Market was excellent, as ever, and picked up a few great things including some coasters by Lightly, some earings (which punch out, how fun) by Limedrop, and a beautiful vase.

And stitching at Mikes was fun. Here's a before and during shot. The glass of bubbly explains the slight wonkiness in the pole!

Design Market & Stitching

Yes, the Design Market (no longer the ReadyMade Market, possibly because of my favourite magazine) is back on Sunday (Fed Sq carpark) and I am hoping to get there early so it won't be so crowded (this plan never works as everyone else has the same idea!) Oh well, should be fun for some pre-Christmas shopping & getting out early on a Sunday morning.

And no, the photo above is not an indication of what it is like in Melbourne at the moment - it was taken pre-name change in winter last year, hence the grey sky. That seems a long way from today's 28 or 29 degree heat.

And on Sunday night I'm going to my first stitching night at Mikes - should be exciting. Rather than go for some cutesy thing (which was tempting), my stitching will be of a light pole and electricity wires (I made a line drawing from a photo I took). Yes, definitely not cutesy but the kind of thing I find interesting to look at.



Whether it works for stitching is another thing, but there's only one way to find out. Not sure how many colours to use but think I'll stick to just a couple. Can't wait, bring on the cupcakes.

Mikes Mirabel Softies & Elephants

Look what I discovered today -



Yes, the softies for Mirabel have been 'installed' and look so great. I was only outside the shop for a couple of minutes, and EVERYONE walking past stopped to look an oh-ed and ah-ed. So impressive and great to have been a part of. Good one Pip! And they'll be there for just one week before heading to their new homes. And there are more photos here and here.

And I got through another batch of elephants today. Well, almost. They still need to be stuffed and stitched up, but nearly there. Whew. Some are bound for Mikes soon, and some for the many babies that I know who've been born lately.



And a find for today -



Not a bad find, all for $1 at Industria in Fitzroy. Like everything from Industria, these have an untold history - they're not shiny new buttons but seem to be used and a little scuffed. They're all the same otherwise - utilitarian and puposeful-looking.