Ric-Rac

Speaking of Doctor Who....

2012-01-25T16:51:00.006+11:00

its obvious that the cat I had to unstuff this morning,

was also bigger on the inside

kitchen craft

2012-01-23T20:42:00.005+11:00

I used this shrink plastic (bought on Ebay) and followed the instructions

to make little gauge type buttons for robots.

They say small things amuse small minds.

Where I hope to make sense

2012-01-21T16:49:00.014+11:00

This is the way I am plaiting / weaving my rag rug guys - I got the idea from Sue.

Make a plait and begin to wind it into a circle, Just pin it together for now, you can sew it later.

The three strands above from the left are called white, yellow, blue. (crazy huh ?)Bring the white one into the middle
Then bring the blue one into the middle
Now the white is closest to the rug, so I poke it through one of the loops on a previous plait. I have safety pins on all three strands and I need them 'cause no matter what I tell myself, the plaits on my rug- are tightey whitey all the way.
Pull it all the way through
to continue I would bring the yellow to the middle and start again. and so on and so on and so on.

Ok, I'm not going to pretend this is not a looong process, but I figure it would be about the same as having to hand sew all the coils together..yes ? It is also giving my rug (err coaster) a better heft, it certainly feels like it will be holding together forever.

and this beauty belongs to Brin who left a comment on yesterdays post - How gorgeous is that ?

It's like some crazy fully formed love of rag rugs just invaded my brain from nowhere....It could have been worse I guess, it could have been bread varnishing.

Update

2012-01-20T19:45:00.001+11:00

This morning I popped over to Sue's blog to see how she was getting on with her rug - only to find she has completely changed methods and is now working on a Tunisian crocheted rag rug. The only problem is, that I decided to copy her earlier method which she said wasn't working for her. Oops.

Sue's Tunisian Crochet rug

Clare's is looking awesome, I especially love that stripe fabric on the outer. I am kinda into the idea of using clothing, except most of mine would be black. Clare from matching pegs - winner of the weeks prize.

This is Bec's plait all curled up - you have pop over and see how Bec does her plaiting...

I started off plaiting the one and half inch strands (each one folded in half) but have to admit I just couldn't get my head around all that hand sewing, so I am plaiting mine into itself as I go.

Ok so its a bit less rag- rug and little more rag- coaster at the moment but we have big plans, this rug and I.

Once you get started, pop your pic in the Flickr group so we can all have a look.

Tonight, its me, Jax teller and the rag rag. An incongruent kind of bliss.

testing testing...

2012-01-18T13:58:00.008+11:00

Because the only way I ever seem to get the boring pattern writing done, is to make myself accountable: I am publicly declaring this pattern will be finished by Monday. Do you like the new thinner neck on the left ? I am much happier.
~~So that means I'll be needing a few pattern testers.~~ Hells bells people- I have over 60 emails, I'm really sorry but I only need two or three people. I'll answer everyone tonight but please don't feel bad if you miss out.I'm just going with the first couple of people, there is no selection process. It's not that the existing Senior Management team are not awesome - they are ! But by now most of them speak Jodie fluently so it is a good thing to get someone new to give them a try, unless of course one of them is busting to have a go.

If you think you would like to give it a shot, just drop me an email. There are a lot of bits and pieces to this patterns so I'm looking for people in Australia, as I imagine it'll be a substantial parcel of things I need to post- I'll send everything except threads and stuffing.

You need to have a bit of free time and be happy to be critical. It's lovely when people say the pattern is great and a boost for ever inflating ego, but not actually very helpful...This is a job for someone not afraid to say it like it is! I guess I'd be looking for people who can do this pattern (doll, dress, cape, basket, food) within about 3 weeks ?

So whats in in for you ? err not much actually and I do realise this. One day when I am dead famous or rich or both I'll be able to pay pattern testers...but you know even if I squint real hard and look into the far far distance I can't see that day yet.

and I have been cutting and experimenting a bit more for the rag rug-a-long. Stay tuned for an update on Friday. If you've started let me know so I can pop over and have a look.

OK back to the pattern !

hirsute

2012-01-16T16:24:00.006+11:00

The similarities don't stop at the hair folks.

Musing-a-long and fat necks

2012-01-15T16:39:00.002+11:00

It may surprise you guys to find out I have know idea how to run an a-long....No idea at all.
So here is the plan. I have made a page up there under my blog header called rag rug-a-long and have listed all the definite joiner-inners on it. (If you were a maybe , I didn't add you cause I didn't want add to the pressure but please join in if you want.) Its a great list with some new-to-me-blogs on it that I visited this morning while making the list.

I have also made a flickr group. Don't get stressed about flickr guys , its just a place to upload photos and an awesome way for us to keep an eye on each others progress. You can also post questions and discussions there. Okay so I guess the first thing is to choose what kind of ragrug you want to make.
Today I had a quick go at a bit of braiding or plaiting, just three strands - dead simple. I used selvedges because that's what I had to hand. It was much quicker than I thought...

So I coiled it up and thought...hmmm its a bit flippy floppy, but then again those selvedges weren't one and a half inches wide either.

Inspired by Clare, I thought I'd give the toothbrush method a go....errr.... No, this method is waaay beyond me !

So I went for a tighter plait - and although I had a little moment with that awful yellow where I thought of bad school camp craft, I took a few deep breaths and moved on. The tutorial on Moda bakeshop stresses having a loose braid and I know this is going to be my stumbling block..I'm a tighty whitey by nature.

So I'm definitely plaiting, 3 strands and they will be one and half inches wide.....now do I cut, or can I get away with a bit of snip and rip? Should I try both? Have you decided yet ? Get started, post some pics to flickr, ask questions, email me , bookface, twitter, whatever floats your ragrugging boat people.

Oh and the prize of the week goes to Clare, who not only joined, and started but got her husband to whittle her a "needle" as well. She is a woman of action !

For those people not rag rugging a long, I promise I won't be blathering about it all the time, there are still 3 patterns in the works, and Little red Riding Hood had some liposuction earlier today as well...Why didn't any of you tell me how fat her neck was ?

New Sewing room and a dogs breakfast

2012-01-14T11:00:00.002+11:00

The new sewing room, I posted a pic on Bookface last night and had a few questions so here goes: the tree is painted on the wall, done by drawing a tree and using an overhead projector to embiggen it-then painted. The chart reads "Do not panic it's often worse" and I made it and blogged it a few decades ago.See the three tubs on the table - that is the three projects I am working on at the one time this holidays (or not as the case may be) . I am a firm believer in buying containers in an effort to get organised, I think it is people like me that keep places like IKEA in business...the lure of that perfect container. The blue drawers used to live under the table but then I had sit weird 'cause of the knee lifty thingo so now they are next to me. Top drawer has a cutlery tray in it for all the scissors, rotary cutters etc. (genius idea I have to say -pity the cheapest way to buy one was with a complete unwanted set of ugly cutlery)
This shelving unit used to be Connors chest of drawers when he was little. Now he uses a floordrobe for all his clothes so a coat of paint (Dulux Shampoo) and it now houses batting, wool scraps, wool felt, garment fabric and linen. The little shelves on top used to live on my sewing table, but I am trying to keep the table a little clearer. I will no doubt end up filling these with crap. The basket on the floor is the scrap basket - pieces too small to make toys from. The pile on top I have a plan for.

more shelves, boxes containing zips, bias binding, ummmm, other important stuff. The card basket is full of buttons as is the willow tin on the bottom. The coat hangers need to be put on the wall. One of my favourite things is the 1950's Bakelite cake stand - just love it. (in fact I love it so much I have another one in the next photo.

That's the stash, shockingly small isn't it ? The spotty trolley I covered eons ago and it holds a 1kg bag of stuffing. There would be at least 4 or 5 more bags hidden in other places in the house. I often take this trolley to craft shows, perfect for putting all the shopping in.
Toys on top, either gifted, traded or purchased from other bloggers.
Wee things, lots from bloggers and few purchases bits...very old skipping elephants that was my mums when she was a kid.

I think that's about it for now. I want to paint or put new knobs on the drawers and put some more stuff on the walls.

I want to make a rag rug ?

and was surprised to see how many other people were keen as well. So I say we do it together .

We'll have a rag-a-long. You can braid, stitch crochet, or glue your rug together. I'll set up a flickr group - we'll ignore the rules and just bumble through (Actually I am far too anal for that, I'll work on a kind of vague -lets cut this week type guideline).

There will be no penalties if you go faster or slower, in fact I might just scrounge up some prizes and stuff. Would you like to join in ?

I'll be using the Moda bakeshop tutorial to make mine but you can make any kind you like.

Check out here and here for some inspiration.

Leave a comment if your keen, or of course comment anyway....if we get a few people I'll make a blog list and beg a clever person to make us an offical looking button.

I'm excited !

Watch me pull a rabbit out of a hat

2012-01-11T14:47:00.000+11:00

or try and fit all this (plus the stuff hidden in the cupboards)
into here.

This has to be my biggest avoiding pattern writing procrastination project ever.

In breaking news, I have been thinking of making a rag rug. Yes, it was a surprise to me as well, perhaps I need to back away from my inner Nanna a little ?

but this one from Moda Bakeshop really makes me want to give it a shot.

back away or jump right in ?

snowballed

2012-01-09T08:22:00.003+11:00

The thought that I might move my sewing room from the study (where it is now) to Jemma's old room seemed like a plan.

and then I entered into the abyss

and so it was

2012-01-04T09:41:00.003+11:00

that in the fullness of time, Jodie decided she too should do a round up type post for 2011.

Some patterns were released. It was this time last year that I joined in with the Creative Abundance crew, and yes even though I miss the people interaction of an Etsy shop a little bit, I do not miss folding patterns and chasing payments at all. I am a bit surprised that I did all that in one year to be honest, I always feel like I am getting nothing done. Those beginner patterns still make me happy. (and there just might be one more coming)

Some tutorials were made, and some teaching happened.After my first somewhat disastrous class, I warmed to the whole teaching thing- and had some great classes last year. We don't always get finished but we laugh-a lot! I have some teaching booked in for next year -better add it to the classes page.

Some fun stuff was done, including some sewjourning and visiting. I made a teeny elephant and other bits of silliness.

I went to a screen printing workshops and loved it. I built my own portable(ish) screen printing press and have been having heaps of fun. I am letting go of my anal ways and embracing the blobs and blurs more than I ever thought possible.

Speaks for itself really,doesn't it?

Some maybe perhaps new things, you know I offer this with a grain of salt...as it was this time last year i said i would make a pattern for the knights... These are the folks currently living in the sewing room and waiting for me to decide whether to proceed, make patterns, not make patterns or abandon them completely. Speak up or forever hold your peace. (The big headed guy will probably be a knight)

So I guess you could say crafty wise it was a good year, full bodied, a bit of variety...some same old same old and a bit of new stuff. But the best stuff is right here, hanging out with you guys: getting a comment that makes hot Earl Grey spurt out my nose, getting advice and help and constructive (and not so constructive) criticisms, tips , hints and links to great stuff.

Lots of you axe-murdering Internet people have become my real life friends, some close by and others far away. Many many of you are now my virtual crazy Internet friends, who, unless a lotto win is forthcoming we may never meet in person, but as we kind of sneak into each others computers and look at each others craft, we learn about each other, our families and our foibles and we do create friendships just as valid as those over the back fence. We care, and this year we saw it in global ways and I felt it in personal ways, so thanks guys. Thanks for hanging out here and joining in the conversation, or just cruising by with a wave, or even just a silent little statistic that never comments - however you do it is fine by me. You guys are the holders of the stakes, my crazy Internet friends.

Goodbye 2011- The year of the arse crack.

In between times

2011-12-31T09:47:00.004+11:00

The in between times after Christmas and before everything is back to normal are a bit weird aren't they? With Mr Ric rac home I can't quite settle in to my sewing room hibernation routine (He would beg to differ) and even though there are new things brewing and patterns to write, I'm kind of ....meh...

but I also have this pressing need to do something....so I do comfort sewing, For me it is elephants so I spent yesterday sewing all those dark grey piles of fabric into elephants.Nothing ground breaking but satisfying in its own way.

In breaking news we actually have New Years Eve plans .....I still hope to be long asleep by midnight but just the fact that I won't be in my dressing gown by 6pm is cause for at least a minor street parade around these parts. Between that, and yesterday's "reclaim the washing basket" march.....I might very well need a Bex and good lie down by tomorrow.

bothered?

2011-12-27T09:25:00.003+11:00

All of a sudden it was the last weeks of school and then a day or two of preparation and Christmas - like some crazy downhill race that cannot be stopped.
The day itself was very relaxed, there was lunch under the cherry tree, a walk with Finn and some fabric cutting in the evening.

I made these teatowels for Jemma and her boyfriend Gav, and just quietly I think they are a genius idea. I would have loved to have a drawer full of these when the kids were at the rotating dishes age and every night was a litany of "I did it last night" - "but we swapped" etc etc.

For the record, I did the dishes.

For the bursar

2011-12-18T18:26:00.005+11:00

The school bursar (the chick with all the money and the magical order book) is an obsessive penguin lover, and I, being the librarian in need of monies to buy books, am an obsessive bursar lover.

So I printed her a teatowel (it would have been a set of tea-towels but my screen printing is still quite hit and miss and the others didn't work out)

yes I do realise they look a little short sighted but you can't look a gift penguin in the mouth can you?

If you have an inkling for the printing, get on over to the new blog of Leslie, where she shows you step-by-step how to build your own silk screen. And whilst your there, take the time to add her to your reader, blogrolls, sticky-note systems. You won't be disappointed - she rocks the craft.

fus ro dah

2011-12-17T10:04:00.001+11:00

Apparently there is a computer game
and apparently in this computer game there is an awesome spell of infinite power or somesuch.

Apparently it allows you to push horses off cliffs ('cause thats a skill we all need)
So apparently these screen printed cushions for Jem's computer- game- loving boyfriend are going to be awesome - the best present ever

or the jokes on me and I have just printed some hidden geek language that reads "I'm a dick"
(I'll let you know)

Screenprinting

2011-12-10T16:11:00.005+11:00

A couple of T-shirts for the vegetarian

because no matter what he says - I totally crack myself up.

12 kgs

2011-12-09T09:23:00.005+11:00

Of lick
and fur

and bounce

I make toys 2.

2011-12-06T17:14:00.000+11:00

Another day, another disembodied animal.

This is head four, five and six. I got sick of making a whole new head after number four, so I just un-stuffed it and tweaked it and re-stuffed it. The good thing about working that way is that it is faster, but the bad thing is that it is harder to exactly replicate those changes on paper...I inevitably make the next head from the paper pattern and it doesn't look the same - so this head, if it is OK will be destined to be unpicked so I can re-draw the paper piece from it.

Much narrower neck and higher under the chin. I do think I like it, but I am a little scared to call it done for fear the next toy will take 300 attempts. Six heads is a dream run !
Part of me wants to make this into a doll-styled toy complete with an olive green winter coat, with a fur trimmed collar.....but another part of me wants to make a more realistic looking animal- kind- of- animal.
I have tossed up the gusseted underbelly kind of look , but I find it hard to let go of my button joints . If I go with an animal- type- animal it might have to be a head and body with buttoned on legs - hmmmm. Join in guys - share your thoughts.
I went to sleep last night imagining how the back of the head can extend down into the body, without getting all weird . I also find myself thinking of the shaggy fur that these guys have on their chest. I'm wondering about colours and fabric , and tails and teensy spots on bottoms kind of Bambi style. I'm thinking the ears might need some tweaking. I also fruck myself out a bit with thoughts of vinyl.......
And as I get ready to bake birthday cakes for my (work) birthday partner that I blithely forgot about today , and prepare Finn for puppy school I can't help but wish, as always that the time between work and bed could be elasticised or gusseted or have its seams let out just a little.

I make toys

2011-12-04T21:45:00.003+11:00

Hi guys, I started a new make today and got to thinking about the whole process and thought maybe you would like to follow along. I'm not promising a series or anything (I'm sure to get bored and wander off into something else) but thought it might be fun to document some of the stages.....

I always start with the head, I guess it is the bit that holds the personality and it is the bit that (hopefully) makes a toy recognisable. This is Head 1, a compilation of heads past, a very basic 3 piece, as you can see the nose area was a disaster.

Front on, I quite like the curve in the lower part of the antler, but that's about it so its time to move on to another head - and yes that's an ugly ear, there's no denying it. I usually don't expect to be even close until about head 5 or 6 so don't stress-
I made a new head with two antlers and ears, pin eyes and some drawn on features....hmmm, its a little chunky isn't it? I usually do all my toy making with sheets. Locally I can buy them quite cheap so I never feel bad about how many botched attempts I make- oh and they must be white - colours confuse me at this point, I really just want to look at shapes and if I use coloured fabric I get a bit stuck on the colour . (anal or what?) Does it look like a toddler to you? The pins are like instant plastic surgery, a little nip here , a little tuck there.
Oh dear - this toy has mumps....
That under chin area is waaay too chunky. I also changed the back by adding a centre back seam so I could get a bit more roundness but then had to pull in the base of the neck so it looked less stump like. I have also decided the antlers can't be sewn into the seam- way too difficult and weird and floppy......felt ???? Maybe not, these were hard enough to turn as it was.
Head 3
What ??? Is anyone else seeing a unicorn here? Lets hope its a combination of bad angle and pins in the forehead... That weird under chin wrinkle is caused by a pin I promise.
OK - I am much happier with the line on the nose area (although I have pinned away a bit more on the chin as you can see) Also my tweaks previously led to some weird blobby forehead thing so I have pinned that as well. Not sure about the line of that side seam.... maybe I need to add a bit to the back and take some from the front to even it up. That will become important once I decide what kind of body I'm making.
Hopefully there will be some after-work-time for another head tomorrow. Look at the back of the head - too round ? Maybe I need it flatter after all - and then maybe to flare out a little at the base...
(its a long and winding road folks)

and they came

2011-12-01T08:04:00.013+11:00

All the relatives and friends gathered and said goodbye, and then we shared our stories and we laughed- a lot. Granny wanted very little in the way of a service - she said to "just get that bit out of the way" She wanted a party with all her family , just like her 100th birthday, so that is what we did.
Like all gatherings of the clan, given half a chance the music will follow. Great grandkids sprang forth with guitars and bongo's and a little bit of didge. Aunts and Uncles and nephews and nieces sang quietly and then sang loudly. People fortified themselves with drinks and food and sang some more , and told funny stories, and those kind of weird happy/sad stories and even a few ribald stories. There were moments of quiet and moments of thigh clenching laughter. We all learnt new things about Granny and her amazing travelling life. and in the mix, somewhere in the laughter and the grief I think we all realised that we do quite like each other as well. We have years of shared history, the inlaws and the outlaws, we have rubbed up against each other for a pretty long time now. Those that we rarely see were greeted and hugged and welcomed and those familiar took up their roles and helped and served and moved things along and kept things flowing.

In her physical absence Granny orchestrated something wonderful

In the early evening as Jemma and Connor sang and played their own (crazy) rendition of Joelene I did think, that when the time comes, that this day in my house with its mess and crumbly bits and embarrassing carpets, would be as good a farewell as one could wish for.

(Thankyou)

Some real life

2011-11-16T20:39:00.003+11:00

Yesterday morning Granny Boo passed away very peacefully. She simply drifted off , which I think is a damn fine exit after 103 years .

So for the next little bit its all about the family and arrivals and the guests and the catering and the details. Next Tuesday we will all be here, gathered to say Goodbye and to share her stories, and our stories.

I did wonder about telling you, but you know what, you're my friend and I wanted you to know.

I'll see you soon.

Today

2011-11-14T20:42:00.005+11:00

I heard a strange noise,
and had to battle with the scary black thing. The scary black thing was very tough, but I wrestled it and I chased it and I dragged it through all the flowers...until I won.

I didn't even know I was so brave.

Merry Christmas (No, really)

2011-11-12T10:23:00.001+11:00

I thought it might be nice to share this tutorial, so you have time to whip up a few for Christmas.

See, I'm always thinking about you guys- always. It has nothing at all to do with the fact that I am doing boring not blogworthy craft at the moment and having nothing to show. Nothing at all.

To begin you will need to pop over grab the pattern pieces document . Cut everything out and iron some medium weight interfacing to the pocket bot body piece and the head side piece.

hmmm, this photo seems to be mising the felt pocket and the felt cover for the base... Brilliant start Jodie !
Sew a line of stitching ¼ inch from bottom of pocket-bots body. (This is a guide for later) and yes you are welcome to sew it as crappily as I have done.
Fold the little felt pocket toward body on fold line and pin in place, no idea why we need the fold really, the felt isn't going to fray, its just that anal thing kicking in again. Sew pocket in place close to the edge of the felt - do not sew across top of pocket ‘cause then it wouldn’t be a pocket !
Fold body piece right sides together and sew centre back seam.
Stand it up and admire it Place your plastic circle(this can be templastic or a bit of old ice-ceam container, whatever you have on hand) in the middle of your felt base. Run a gathering stitch around the edge of the felt circle by hand
Pull your gather stitch to ease the fabric closed around the plastic circle. You may like to run your thread across the back a few times to secure it and keep it all nice and tight.
Fold up the bottom of your bot, using the stitched line as a fold guide and hand sew the covered base to the bottom
Pop a few tablespoons of stuffing pellets into your bot. You may find it easier to make a little cardboard funnel for this. (They go everywhere!) Fill the remainder of the bot with stuffing, until the body is quite firm (I am serious , I mean firm)
·Pin the back of the bots head to the head strip ( right sides together) and sew around, matching the dots on the pattern. Repeat for head front.
Don’t panic if your strip is too long - Just trim it off leaving enough to be able to sew the gap closed.

Turn right sides out through gap in bottom. Mark with pins where you would like the eyes (fiddle around with this, see what you like best)
I used little scrapbooking brads, opening out the little pins at the back to secure in place, but you could easily embroider some eyes.

Add your antennae (a handbag foot) in the same way as the brads, opening out the pins inside the head

Pop it on your finger and using a funny voice, go and talk to your family. Ask for a cup of tea-they won't be able to resist!

Stuff firmly and sew the gap closed.

Now you just have to hand sew the head to the body.
Tuck a small ¼ inch of the body in at the top and sew the head on.

The hardest bit of this will be deciding what to put in the pocket- Personally I think a little message, sharing the joy of the season, is required.

"Dearest Sister in law, if you find an excuse to get out of cleaning up again this year, those crunchy bits in your pudding will not be coins"

If you want to print out the instructions-albeit in a slightly different format, I have made it available to download as well .

Go on share the love !

Little Red

2011-11-06T19:48:00.000+11:00

I don't mind, you know, going to grandma's.

but the basket of treats just hasn't been the same since Grandma joined weight watchers.

Some things..

2011-11-05T21:48:00.005+11:00

grow slowly

(how absolutely zen of me...next thing you know I'll be writing grateful posts )

and just so know - grateful posts are fine...just not me. Although I am grateful for every millilitre of dog wee that occurs outside the house.

in the buff

2011-11-03T20:00:00.008+11:00

Nude, naked, hairy, spiky - in all his glory.

Baxter is finally a pattern

and the first 5 people to purchase him online from Ballarat patchwork will get another of my patterns absolutely free . (chosen at random)

How cool is that ? Of course if you miss out you can check out the stockist page and visit one of the lovely shops listed there, or you could even ask your local craft emporium to get it in for you. (hint hint).

Tomorrow I have the day off, and I thought of putting my to-do list on here to make me more productive - but I'm kidding myself. I am a craft-sloth at the moment it seems, so I'll probably just hang upside from my branch, blink a few times and pass wind.

Don't look at the tights

2011-11-01T17:26:00.004+11:00

because these were the third set of legs I have made, (having tried a grey/white stripe and a red/white stripe) and of course these were the ones where I forgot to tell myself to be extra careful and match up the stripes....so they are embracing the wonk a bit.

but you can look at the shoes with their little Hook and Eye faux lace up thingo's, cause they are pretty cute.

(Just so you know- no amount of cute little doo-dads is taking away from the fact that all I can see is those bloody mismatched stripes.)

I thought I was done

2011-10-29T16:14:00.003+11:00

I really did.

After maybe a month or more and half a zillion attempts, I thought she was super duper ready to share,

But that anal gene tells that the almost finished dress needs one final tweak, (and different binding). So I'll cut out another dress and lining, which means I have to cut out and sew and french knot all those mushrooms (again) .

and just when you don't need it - I had an idea

Which led to another idea ,which means everything will take a bit longer than I first thought. So finished once again turns out to be a relative term.

yeah Ok... and she still had a pin in her brain -obviously I was going to deal with that .

"Not-blogging" or yes there are giant pink strawberries on my pyjamas

2011-10-28T12:58:00.008+11:00

When I am "not-blogging" I'm usually at work. Four days of the week are spent at the day job, hanging with the kids and the books. This week I spent time drying out and destroying books damaged by last weekends crazy storm. I will never be someone who can blog everyday, and really, I'm not that interesting most of the time.

This week a lot of my "not-blogging" has involved spending time in the garden with Finnigan (Dog of Wonder) and also spending an inordinate amount of time mopping! How such a small dog can turn one bowl of water into 25,000 litres of piddle is beyond me. Does he have a super-power?

Some "not-blogging" also needs to be blamed on the newly vegetarianised Master Connor. I have had to put a LOT more effort into meals, and we are all eating vegetarian every second night to make it easier. The worst thing is spending hours making something that looks great and is full of great ingredients...only to find it tastes like crap. (If you have a go-to , fail safe vege recipe that you would be happy to share, please email).

Yesterdays "not-blogging" involved visiting Granny Boo in hospital - and all the awfulness of a very deaf very old fragile person in the medical system. Mr Ric Rac's dad is also in hospital at the moment, in the next town from Granny, so there is all kinds of family-crazy going on , as you can imagine.

A tiny bit of "non-blogging" has been spent sewing.

Some "non-blogging" has involved donating to this Auction over on the book of faces.

Todays "non-blogging" has involved me swearing at bloggers inability to upload photos. I tried approximately 30,000 times but some weird internal error is preventing photos...and I realise this probably makes the title of this post redundant - but I don't care. Blogger can disapear up its own backside today for al I care.

I'm going to boil the kettle and get on with a bit more "not-blogging'.

Just lie back on the couch and tell me where it all began

2011-10-23T21:19:00.000+11:00

I'll understand.

Your fancy ?

2011-10-22T20:10:00.007+11:00

After an impromptu "staff meeting' with Annie today, I got fired up and back into the sewing room.
I fiddled with a few frocks in between Finn-play and took some photos.

and dreamt undersea dreams .

One , two, three

2011-10-17T21:09:00.007+11:00

Finn

Unleash

2011-10-16T17:48:00.004+11:00

the dogs of wool

Yep.......cracking myself up......

In the night garden

2011-10-14T15:14:00.003+11:00

Just playing silly-buggers when I should be doing something else.

In my world

2011-10-13T07:56:00.000+11:00

One day a few years ago I "met" a woman called Vic when she won a giveaway on my blog, we once got to hangout for a little bit while I played hooky from my stall at the craft show. We laughed, with Jess and Kate and talked Teddy bears and hugging and food and kids and craft and preserved bread rolls
I read Vic's blog and she reads mine and we chat and we sometimes hello or "like' on bookface. In my mind Vic is one of my friends - she is just one I don't see very often.
Recently on my blog I mentioned my obsession with Little Red Riding Hood .

Badabing badaboom !

So Vic, just whips up a work of art....does the redbubble thing and has it sent to me! I was (and still am) totally floored. I have no concept of how works like this are created and you all know I have no drawing genes at all, but you know, the time folks and the effort and the thought-that's what kills me. And yes I do tend to get a bit Oprah when talking about blogging and blog community , and yes I know the shitty bits, but on most days, blogland and the people in it and their complete unbound generositywill go a bloody long way to curing what ails you.

Vic, you are a damn fine egg .

Thank you, I adore it. It elicits smiles every time I look at it and today it is off to the framers!

Granny Boo

2011-10-10T19:50:00.007+11:00

My last little breath of weekend before going back to school for term 4 involved finishing off this little girl for un upcoming fundraiser
Teaching some great people how to make legless, faceless dogs (actually I taught them the legs and faces too - we just didn't make it to the finish line)

and celebrating Granny's 103rd Birthday!

(Mr Ric Rac's granny, known as Granny-Boo born in 1908.)

pardon the arse crack

2011-10-07T20:20:00.010+11:00

Quilt quilt quilt...blah blah blah.
The real issue here is those pants. PULL THEM UP- YOU OWN BELTS DUDE!...Who started this crap anyway ? More importantly when will it end ?

I seriously do not want to be in the nursing home looking out of one good but watery eye and seeing some old codger with 6 inches of Y-front poking up out of his flannel P.J's. If it is you there next to me...you know where its going don't you ? I'm going to turn to you, my octogenarian blog-buddy and with a small smile, I'm going to whisper..."let's dack that sucker"

Will you be with me?

too much / not enough

2011-10-04T20:44:00.003+11:00

She is Adelaide.

Adelaide (the softie that took 27 months)

2011-10-03T20:15:00.009+11:00

Adelaide the fox - first dreamt of in July of 2009

Could you love her ?

"A new toy ? what joy" says Mr Ric Rac

2011-09-30T08:58:00.008+10:00

So, what is the difference between Bookface and the blog? Well for me Bookface is faster, which is why if you were visiting last night you would have seen my updates about a new toy.

(Obviously this is not the new toy, it's Beet. I just don't feel right blogging without a photo. Did you know Beet took 13 heads to get right ? hmmm shouldn't this be getting easier?)

It hasn't happened in a while , that consuming feeling of a new project. Even though it totally dements me, I love it. I love the ideas that fire off other ideas- and I love it when, for me, the story of the new person becomes clear. That is the AHA moment. Of course chances of me becoming a little obsessed are quite high too and housework (so often ignored) will simply not be seen, children may get snapped at when they ask me to drive them to town and foods masquerading as meals will become even less gourmet than normal. If you were in the land of bookface last night you would also know that I am having trouble with the her legs - I mean really? legs ! OK so the head may be on its almost 30th incarnation but I am happy oh so happy with it...and from then on I usually expect plain softie-sailing , but no...I was ambushed by the legs.....So here I am stuck in the land of legs when the gorgeous teeny clothing is calling...It was a night of softie-legs dancing through my brain and half untold snippets of stories and props and crazy ideas that had me tossing and turning for hours. I dreamt of teeny softie crutches and little plush pushbikes (that's almost a recurring dream it appears so often).

Really I just wanted to pop in and say sorry I am too busy to take photos and upload and blog and explain - and breaking news might appear on Bookface if your keeping up-but I guess I kind of did anyway.

See you on the other side of the damn legs.

(oh and now I'm worried when I show you the new toy, you'll all be looking at the legs, like when someone has an unusual facial feature and you can't stop looking at it even though you are pretending you aren't. You are all going to be doing that to the legs and thinking....man , all that angst for a couple of stumps.....).

opinions again

2011-09-27T11:03:00.007+10:00

Once again my friend Baxter has made it to the front of the queue. If you haven't met Baxter , you might want to pop up there under the header and read his story.

This afternoon (after a trip to the dentist) I am finally going to decide what, if anything, Baxter should wear when he becomes a pattern. I kind of like him in his natural hedgehog state but maybe that's a bit too simple?

The floofy hat and apron ? the tuxedo bib ? something else entirely?Got an opinion, please weigh in, cast your vote, have your say - lest it be another 12 months before the poor man sees the light of day.

maybe, just maybe I am a little bit too attached to my hairy little friend and I am over thinking things (as usual).

Fruck out

2011-09-26T09:28:00.005+10:00

A friend had a baby
So I am making a quilt
I know I know - I totally fruck myself out too.

Dead posh

2011-09-16T19:48:00.006+10:00

OK, folks I have the biggest scratchiest pair of cranky undies on right now. You guys know the busy beyond busy thing I have going on with concert - well, the body has revolted. I have fluid behind one of my ear drums and its a bit like being drunk (without the alcohol). I am a bit off balance and a bit nauseous and a whole lot cranky.
If I sit perfectly still, its fine...which you would think is manageable wouldn't you ? except I don't think I have sat perfectly still since about 1988...I'm not good at still.
So here is where we are folks...everything is half finished, half started , half arsed and half cocked.

But just so you know I love you ...I took the photo again minus the half eaten apple.

man, this could be a design blog.
(snort)

Animal X-ray wings (A tutorial of sorts)

2011-09-10T15:36:00.000+10:00

Our school concert is a mammoth affair and it takes over our performing and visual arts programme for a whole term. Each child works on his or her own costume and props. Part of my role is to help the art teachers design costumes or props that the kids can recreate. One act this year required wings - no problem ! However the wings had to be able to be hidden for part of the act and then we wanted a bit of a POW ! moment as the wings unfolded...so far so good until we were told the wings had to close again.
We played around with a huge variety of materials for this and spent ages working with dismembered umbrellas, the umbrella idea was great but we could get the wings to retract...
Eventually the laced X-ray wing was born. This wing is based on a fan design and I have to let you know that the genius of the X-rays was the art teachers idea.

Obviously I am not going to post the kids from school here, so here is Mr baggy-pants standing in. He is considerably larger than the kids these were made for but they are a kind of one-size-fits-all thing.

We started by joining X-rays together (sourced from the local vet and hospital) into a long rectangle which we cut diagonally. Each wing needs four but you could do more. The X-rays here are taped together but the kids used a hot glue gun.

We then framed each triangle back and front with bamboo strips (from an old window blind). Again this was done with hot glue.

Once dry we drilled a small through the bamboo at the pint of each triangle (actually I did this bit , we don't let the kids loose with the power tools)

We then put the four triangles together by placing a button between each one and wiring them. We used buttons because we had them but the effect here is really one of a washer. We need to separate the bamboo triangles enough so the don't catch on each other when they open and close. You could use cardboard or metal washers here instead.

Close off the loop and repeat for the other wing.

Into each wing, about halfway along, we drilled three holes. When laced up this creates the opening and closing mechanism. if you want your wings to close completely (as in only be as wide as one section , completely folding over each other) then you need your holes close together. The problem with that is , when open the triangles will tend to turn and you will get a "windmill' effect as each of the triangles angles open.

We then laced the wings together, tying off the plastic string at the beginning and end. We overlapped the wings, only the width of the bamboo.

To finish we simply wired the two loops together and added some elastic which is worn around the shoulders. The kids also covered the wire in black fabric so it didn't show against their black costumes. They also cut a design into the end of their wings. To open and close the kids simply grab them and raise their arms.

Back-lit on the stage we think they are going to look spectacular.

You know there would be a thousand ways to vary this. I think they would look good with the bamboo painted black as well and black string .

The kids have LOVED working on this project. For a start they loved the X-rays and had a ball trying to figure out what all the bones were, especially on the animal X-rays, they got to use hot glue guns and wire cutters - always a blast and they made something that actually works. We loved it because for the most part the kids could all the work , the only cost was glue gun sticks and the kids really enjoyed themselves.

Just for the record I wasted so many hours trying to figure out the configuration of that lacing method- I knew in theory that it would work but I just couldn't make it happen for the longest time so I decided I would make a tutorial and save the next librarian-come-concert-helper from the headache.

Coming out

2011-09-09T17:05:00.001+10:00

4:59 Friday afternoon.
Pyjamas : On
Kettle: Boiled
Family: Out
Sewing machine: Ready

My "inner Nanna" is out !

In case you are thinking of guitar lessons...

2011-09-03T16:43:00.000+10:00

So "the band" are off playing an all-ages gig this afternoon and it is sigh of relief. An all ages gig means that the Mr Ric Rac and I (and all the other parents) don't need to be there to supervise.

Whilst a good parent would never dream of denying her child the wonderful opportunities and experiences that being in a band offers, it must be said that I would be happier if I didn't have to share all those experiences.

Of course I am always as supportive as I can be from the greatest distance possible whilst still maintaining supervision. Under strict orders to go nowhere near the stage, the parents tend to hang in an uncomfortable cluster by the bar. The bar is sticky, as is every other horizontal surface in the place. The floor ? I try not to look but I know it is there because I can usually feel it vibrating.

After the first hour or so as we watch the support bands support we all resign ourselves to the fact that even if we put out lips right into each others ears and yell, we cannot possible hear each other. I usually read all the band posters and mentally correct the grammar and spelling. we text each other comments about what is happening on stage and have a polite shandy.

As the evening wears on, the patrons get drunker and the skirts get shorter. There is a whole world of weird parenting in the observance of drunk girls with their push-up "personalities" at the fore, ogling the 15 and 16 yr olds.

Once the band has played their set, they usually have a juice or two and kick back to watch the other bands (it doesn't matter that it is WAAAY past my bedtime, I have definately turned back into a pumpkin and my whole body and brain is vibrating- nope it is band etiqette to stay and watch the others bands, after all , they got you the gig).

Of course by now I can't even hear the music or tell the difference between one mop of hair and another as the crowd is thick and I am trying to keep my eyes on all four boys at the same time. The polite shandy has kicked in, my eyes are watering and I am clenching the lady muscles to the point of no return. I may or may not try and stare down the bouncer in the hope that he will kick us all out. The polite shandy way back at the start of the night is always a mistake - be warned. There is no horror like the horror of a sober 42yr old visitng a night club toilet in the wee hours of the morning.

Trust me on this and buy them a chess set.

The stuff I forget to tell you

2011-08-29T20:54:00.002+10:00

Concert preparation continues guys and I do have some photos but of course most stuff is still unfinished so there is not a lot to show yet. Being too busy to do much of my own stuff gives me a chance to tell you about all that stuff that I plan to blog about and then get distracted. I love Cart before the Horse. I love their humour, (you have to check out Dylan's movies) I adore their art and I was the lucky winner a super long time ago of one of their paper dolls, Miss Clemontine. A rare entry into a giveaway for me as I could not resist.
That immediately prompted my purchase of Little red Riding Hood. (Do you know I have a red riding hood obsession? - total full blown waking sleeping obsession?)

I stole these pictures from Dylan and Jo's Etsy shop as it is night time and I am determined to post tonight. Dylan and Jo work together - how cool would that be? Imagine having a partner in craft, to bounce ideas off and share the light bulb moments. I mean not that I am complaining, its just that Mr Ric Rac's responses to craft are pretty much the same whether I make a pot holder or a frock of selvedges. So now I own both of these beautiful articulated dolls but I just can't bring myself to cut them out and assemble them, even though I know how good they will look all framed up.

Oh and last weeks lotto win ?... non existent.... so Finnegan won't be coming home to live with me just yet.

yep...fox obsession too (as you know)

more experiments in screen printing

2011-08-23T19:48:00.001+10:00

After the success of the pillowcases (and no I won't be making any available for sale guys but thanks for the offer Mrs B. )I got to thinking about multicoloured prints. Of course each colour needs its own stencil so the time factor is a biggy. I knew from the outset that the danger of stuffing up was high so decided to work on paper instead of fabric.

Grey blob Blue blobs

red blobs
black blobs

and yes I made about 6 so the photos might not match up exactly - the grey blob disappeared and the photos suck. BUT I learnt that the registration thing is not too bad and if you wanted the "offset" look then its even easier. The paper is a bit less forgiving than the fabric (I was using a fabric screen) so I was happy with the amount of squidges and blurrs. All of this so far has been using a stencil method of screen printing, I just need a bit of time so I can have a go at the screen filler type method. I am truly fascinated by this idea, its is so easy and yet can be so detailed and complicated...my head is awhirl I tell you !

And if it is OK with everyone I think it might be my turn to win the lottery tonight - I mean I seriously need to give up the day job and play with screens and ink and fabric.... hmm...wonder if there is a government grant for noodling and fardarkling ?

Experiments in Screen printing

2011-08-21T11:35:00.010+10:00

What do you give Miss 20 for her birthday ?

A choice of course !

(screen printed onto fabric and then made into pillowcase. The whole negative /positive thing nearly did my head in. I made the stencils by borrowing an image and then editing and 'posterising' it in Picnik. I'm sure if you spoke photo shop this would be as easy as winking)

yep, totally loving myself sick.

Destination dressing gown

2011-08-18T20:10:00.005+10:00

On the week that your first born leaves their teenage years and hits 20 you need to:

get a haircut and colour

buy and wear new stylish flattering clothes

receive at least 15 disbelieving "Oh my , you have a 20 year old ?" type comments

have a rich exciting rewarding week, with people to see and soirees to attend

Do not :

have a cold which leads you to sandpapering the end of your nose off , so you look Rudolph all week combined with a skin outbreak of High School Musical proportions

have so little sleep that coherent sentences are beyond you

wear the same tired clothes to work that you have been wearing for years because you are determined not to buy new clothes till you lose weight.

get a cold sore

be growing out your hair so you now look like you have scalped an eight year old boy for his lank, hanging dead straight at your ears type hair (only with grey bits)

look forward to your dressing gown as a weekend destination

(The voice of experience)

Learning

2011-08-16T21:16:00.000+10:00

I have a few more classes this year and am already booking in some for next year. I struggle a bit with things so far in advance I have to say...I mean I don't usually know what I am doing next month let alone at the end of next year.
September 23rd- Millrose Cottage Ballan, I will be teaching the tea-set pattern. I'm really looking forward to this and even though it is the last day of school term(and the week of concert) I promise I will be as bright as a button.
October 1st-I'll be back at Amitie. I didn't take my camera with me last time but rest assured it was the funnest class ever. Lucy had everyone in stitches all day.
October 8th - I'll be travelling all the way to Ballarat Patchwork to teach Smith the dog. This would be a great class if you have never made a softie before. Beginners most welcome!

...and in screen printing news? I have actually printed something successfully, and it will be gifted on the weekend and then I can show you - excited ? lets just say I am now buying Depend in bulk !

pop !

2011-08-13T00:41:00.001+10:00

Just like little mushrooms , some of the new beginner patterns are popping up completed.

Mary of Drapers of Mt Macedon has Sally in her shop.Look how she is snuggling that fabric.

Sue, who won a pattern here on the blog has already whipped up her own sweet Sally. (and is planning few more)I just love the bow- what a great idea! The gorgeous Minx, daughter of Moogsmum made a spotty Smith.
Isn't he fabulous?. Love the idea of the spots. I was so excited to see these and super excited to get the email from Minx telling me how much she liked the pattern and she also dobbed her mum in for a bit of swearing too.
I managed to stuff these guys and add their faces during couch time this week. They come together pretty quickly and I am thinking that these are going to be my new go-to gift for a while. I have to tell you I am secretly loving myself to death over these patterns, I am just so pleased that they work and that people like them and almost every fabric I look at is begging to made into a new dog.

This week in amongst the chaos I am going to make a couple of Gulliver's - these guys are about 27 inches long and take a bit of stuffing. If you would like to win a Gulliver pattern just leave a comment. Tell me what your go-to handmade gift is at the moment. Feel free to leave a linky so other people can check it out to!

(Off to the hardware shop-one step closer to the screen printing guys....)

Tis a lonely life

2011-08-10T14:32:00.001+10:00

being a blog- especially being a blog belonging to someone all caught up in the school concert. Yes she tosses the occasional thought my way and says "I should blog that" but she inevitably has no photos and its too dark and another day passes.
To be honest she is not doing anything very exciting anyway, She has a basket of half-done stuff and occasionally a dog will get stuffed or a head will be attached. Long car trips are actually a 'sit down and rest bonus" at the moment.

One new toy is trying desperately to emerge but he is fighting an almost pathological obsession with screen printing that will definitely result in "she-who-owns-the-blog building herself a mobile screen printing press. (As soon as time permits).
She is home today, and as usual expected to achieve 50 things before breakfast. She thought about some stuff, she talked on the phone about some stuff, she should be emailing some people, she needs to buy some clamps, she needs to think about dinner and she probably should have responded to her son's SOS about being at school with no lunch - but she blogged.

In haste

2011-08-06T18:02:00.005+10:00

I thought that bag of stuffing was heavier than usual.

Screen printing (love) or you can call me Buck.

2011-08-02T07:43:00.012+10:00

On Sunday I attended and intermediate Screen printing workshop at Red Brick Gallery and had a ball! I have always loved the idea of screen-printing and of course some elements are similar to Mr Gocco (and you know I love Mr Gocco). This is not my stencil with very neat circles cut out- I have to admit I am more at home with a pair of scissors than I am with a cutting blade thingo- my curves were a little jagged in places.
This screen had had the design applied and the filler, then the design-y bit washed away ready to print. (also not mine)
Super cute two-toned rabbit printed on fabric
The delightful Laura (our teacher) with the screen all ready to go, pinning the fabric underneath. If you are local-ish (She is based in Melbourne) and you get a chance I recommend taking one of Laura's classes, its laid back and fun and relaxed but informative and Laura tells you everything you need to know. the FUN bit !!!! I could have easily become a screen-hog during this bit, it really is so much fun I just wanted to print and print and print.
The T-shirt. This design is Maree's, whom I met on the day. It worked out beautifully and she printed me one of her designs on fabric to bring home. Maree is the textiles teacher I wish I had when I was a kid.
This is a design that I took from the Ed Roth book Stencil 101. The plan is to use the screen print as a background to some embroidery.

I am mildly obsessing with a screen printing / embroidery combo something thingo, and have been for about a month...but if I try and put one more thing in this brain at the moment I am sure to have a meltdown. Why is it that the busier I am (and lo friends I am BUSY) , the more ideas I want to try out? It's like some sort of weird Creative hyper-drive... Remember Buck Rogers ? when he went through that coloured tunnel thing in his little rocket ? that's me guys - I am the craft equivalent of Buck Rogers.

(How embarrassment)

brain soup

2011-07-30T09:53:00.006+10:00

bamboo framed crepe paper elephants, moving wings made from bamboo and animal X-rays, striped strong men unitards, purple pants to be hemmed, tie dying, stencilling, tomorrows screen printing class, giant cartoon styled weights, flamenco skirts, Mondrian dresses need facings by Friday for painting, bollywood costumes, painted muscle suits, more fabric needed for flouncy shorts, pink panther tails need to be stuffed, need to find wire to go inside tails.

Is it any wonder that sleep is an elusive beast these days? In amongst all that, one little voice has been quietly and persistently asking to be heard.

and for days I have felt like a harassed mother saying not now, not now, there is absolutely no time....but I guess it is now after all.

Sally by Master 16

2011-07-26T18:00:00.008+10:00

Some not-overly consistent top stitching with crazy back tacking +

a little bit of who can be bothered joining up , I'll just sew right off the edge +

a uniquely placed tail with an extra bit of kink=

Sally, as made completely by Connor (master 16).For a boy who still struggles with the concept of dirty clothes going INSIDE the dirty clothes basket he pretty much nailed the softie making.

If you would like to get your mitts on a copy of the Sally and Smith pattern, just leave a comment telling me about the first thing you made that actually really truly worked!

Rant

2011-07-24T10:02:00.006+10:00

You guys know that I work in a Primary school don't you? I'm the library-chick. Naturally those kids with a love of fabric or sewing or general craftiness gravitate my way at my school and I often have little friends eagerly waiting to show me their sewing or glueing or crochet on Monday mornings. I share my supplies with them and lend them my own craft books. Its a great gig. Then these crafty little kids head off to High school and to the wonderful world of the textiles classroom.....or not.
Now, I know this can't be true of every textiles classroom in the entire world, but man, I have so many kids tell me how much they hate textiles at school - how boring the projects are, how they have to all do the exact same thing with the fabric that the teacher chooses. Yes I know that the logistics of teaching means it can't all be a free-wheeling roller coaster of fun...but I just hate it when these kids seem so 'flattened out" by something they were so looking forward to.

(A Christmas present for me from one of my Grade 6 friends-made from a jumper Thanks Martin)

So I was discussing this kind of thing with a parent one day and she said - "You should make a pattern that Jess could sew-something fun that would help her learn some basics.". That planted the seed which I then ignored for at least 6 months.I kept coming back to this idea of a really super easy pattern, I thought about the size and the things that made sewing patterns daunting but for a long time it just felt a bit too hard. Then there erupted a small "discussion" in blogland, in the quilting circles mostly. This discussion raged over a lot of topics but one of the them really stuck with me. Some people seemed to be upset by people who write and sell easy patterns (they were talking quilting), they seemed equally upset by people who made ten or twenty of the same quilts and didn't try and grow or expand their skills.
So, you know I stopped and had a think about this for a while and I got a bit disgruntled about it all. You know I don't want to belong to a craft group (online or in real life) that is going to dictate what I must make, or what is too easy or what my next step must be. I was particularly perturbed by the idea that people should not be allowed to sell simple patterns of their own design. Seriously , no-one forces people to buy things. Yes, I have seen patterns and thought to myself "You hardly need a pattern to make that - its so easy" but that's me, bringing my crafty logic and experience and knowledge to that pattern; ten or fifteen years ago I would have needed that pattern to get me started. So, I then applied that logic to the idea of toy-making and my thoughts returned again to the idea of patterns for absolute beginners. (of course being told not to do something is a great motivator ) If no-one writes simple patterns ..... what happens to the people who want to start to make /sew/quilt create. Where will they start?
At that point I rounded up some new pattern testers, Evie (9), Sarah and Lucy (13) Indi (10) and Connor (16) Kate (32) and together we fudged and bumbled and created three new patterns. To say that working with these guys was fun is a total understatement. Apart from the incident with the hair all the kids were absolute stars. The finished products and the sense of achievement these guys had (yes even Mr too-cool proudly showed off his two dogs to the boys in the band) made me think that I was on the right track. And of course we are talking months and months and months here. Pickle, Sally and Smith and Gulliver from the previous post are the three new beginner-friendly patterns. Pickle is the easiest and I am talking seriously basic info. We cover right and wrong side of fabric, back tacking, seam clipping - all the things you need to know, then they get a little bit harder as we go on and add button joints to Smith and then some super stuffing and a teeny hat accessory for Gulliver. So there is a bit of a rant or a reason , or an idea about what I was thinking and where these new friends came from. I am pleased, really pleased to have made these and of course I hope other people like them too. I'll be banging on about them for a few more posts, with some giveaways and stuff and I'll show you the ones that the kids made as well.

A picture tells a thousand words ...or not

2011-07-22T11:31:00.006+10:00

Pickle

Sally and Smith

Gulliver

Smith

Today is lunching, art shopping, visiting,

Tomorrow is teaching

So come back on Sunday for the rant. (I'll try to keep it to 1,000 words)

My heart

2011-07-20T20:08:00.005+10:00

It's hard enough to lock them away in a box,

but it's when they try and escape

that it really breaks my heart.

It's contagious

2011-07-17T15:40:00.005+10:00

Dear Boss,
Please excuse Jodie from day-job attendance for at least the next school term. She is suffering a bubonic type illness, generally known as "cannotus-be-stuffedus", coupled with a distinct inability to arise from slumber at a time conducive to attendance. She is exhibiting a not uncommon but somewhat unhealthy attachment to flannel pyjamas and chenille dressing gowns that will in time, require a full intervention before she can resume her regular work schedule.
She also appears to be experiencing increasing dread at the ten concert preparation weeks ahead and I am led to believe may have, already, thrown one winged-costume induced tantrum. This, along with the patients slight obsession to move no further than 10 metres from her sewing room, leads me to believe that forced attendance would be detrimental to her fragile state.
Jodie has recently exhibited subtle signs of dissatisfaction with certain elements of her day job, most obviously the issue of actually having to go there and I feel she may need to be given some time to work through these issues.
I recommend Jodie be allowed to work completely from home, puddling and noodling at whatever takes her fancy with absolutely no restrictions, deadlines or meetings. I strongly believe this to be the only treatment conducive to a cure.

Sincerely
~~Jodie~~
Important medical type professional a white coat.

Odds on

2011-07-14T19:58:00.003+10:00

It's the Head of Senior Management's birthday today . Happy birthday Annie !

(and the son ? The one who texted his mother and woke her to that brain addled slightly panicked state that only an early morning phone call can conjure up, at 3.34 AM to tell her he was still awake and would therefore be requiring a sleep-in and to please pass that info onto the father , so that said father didn't accidentally wake him ? ...That son ? Chances of him making it to his next birthday are getting slimmer by the day)

Mooched

2011-07-09T18:17:00.007+10:00

Dallied, fiddled, faffed,

Noodled, pootled, lollygagged,

tinkered, puttered and shilly-shallied my way through a weeks worth of holidays already.

Is someone stealing my days ?

Craft Clock...or exactly how long did that take?

2011-07-07T15:53:00.005+10:00

Tired ? Feeling rushed? Is the hectic pace of modern life getting you down? What you need is a craft clock. When everyone around is flagging at 11pm - you can keep on rockin' through until 13 or 14 O’clock and get all those projects finished. With a Craft Clock you need never rush again! Make one today and stretch those crafting hours into crafting bliss.
So, the craft Clock in its first guise first appeared on the blog in about May 2009 and people asked me then if it would become a pattern...Oh sure I answered blithely. Of course, telling people to go and butcher a clock for parts was never going to work so it eventually moved so far past the back burner that I forgot all about it. Then along came the Daylesford Craft Experience and the need for a project with embroidery and Bob's your uncle ! Two and a bit years later - we have a pattern. Check out the stockists page to see if there is someone local to you, grab it online, or ask your local craft dealer to get it in for you - Just email me and I'll set you up !

(Now you will have to excuse me, its school concert preparation time again, and my brain is filled with jazz-hands, sequins and bed sheets masquerading as Mondrian influenced baby doll dresses......)

Teaching and learning........

2011-07-05T20:38:00.006+10:00

The rumours of my stupidity may be greatly exaggerated...but then again maybe not.
Yes, it was raining, but I was under a bridge, yes I had a very wet bottom from sitting on the ledge before I could jump down into the canal thing. Yes I took 50 bajillion photos of a new toy without looking at my camera settings and yes they were all a disaster. Yes after coming home and uploading them all, I went back to the canal for a second visit (I was already wet). Yes I was being careful and double-checked everything. Yes one of my new toys did in fact roll ever so slowly sideways down the incline and into the rushing water.

So I'm obviously no life-coach, but if you'd like to learn how to make a small bilingual donkey -I'm your girl. I'll be teaching Reuben on July 23 at Amitie in Melbourne. Give them a call if you would like to join in.
I can almost promise that no-one will fall into a canal.

personalised doll tutorial

2011-06-30T18:26:00.000+10:00

So, here is a really really rough tutorial showing how I made the initial Jackson doll, and now a Connor doll as well. You will need to download the pattern pieces over on the sidebar and then come back and follow the instructions. Imagine making the whole band - and then having a little photo shoot ? I sooooooooooooo need some more hours in my day . I use Matilda's Own Ink jet Printable fabric to print the face and any other accessories you might want. This will only work with an ink jet printer but it just runs through like a piece of paper - super easy. I have to apologise for that scary head but when you ask Mr 16 to let you take a photo of his good self for the blog...well you know its never going to end well. Arrange all the pictures you want and print on regular paper first to check out sizes etc. The printed area of Connor's head is approx 2 3/4 x 3 1/2 inches here.
You will need a piece of fabric about 10 inches square for the shirt and sleeves. Cut from the square a strip measuring 4 inches and put it aside for the arms, cut another 2 inch strip and put it aside for the collar. You should now have a piece left measuring 10 x 4 inches. Cut this into two 5x4 inch squares. These will be the shirt. Create a tiny fold in the centre of one of these squares, this will created the front false overlap for the shirt. Sew in place, close to the edgeCut out two shirt pieces (right sides together). With the right sides together, place the trouser fabric in place and sew in place according to the line on the sewing pattern. Open out and press seam. Repeat for the shirt back.
Place the shirt(and pant) sections right sides together and sew around leaving the bottom open. Stuff firmly (no really, I do mean firmly) and pin closed.
OK time for the head. On the back of your head picture, trace lightly the outline of the head. This will be your sewing line...You can fudge around the hair a bit. Place your head piece right sides together onto a piece of fabric that will become the back of the head. (Unless you are very clever and took a photo of the back of their head as well). Sew around, but make sure you leave a suitable opening at the neck. if you make this too narrow, turning will be a nightmare! Clip your seams carefully and turn the head out the right way.
Stuff the head firmly and pin it in place on the body. Poke the neck of the body up into the head. Sew this in place but don't get too stressed about neatness as the collar will cover this join.
Take your paper collar pattern piece and place in on a folded piece of fabric. Trace the collar onto the fabric and sew directly on the traced line. Cut out the collar outside your sewing lines and clip the little collar notch. Turn collar right sides out through on of the ends and press. You can top stitch the collar on the outer edge if you like. If the collar looks to large , just fold under a little bit from the top before hand sewing it in place over the head and neck join.
To make the arms, we need to sew the arm strip of shirt fabric to a strip of white fabric, along the long edge. After pressing the seam open you might like to top stitch on the shirt fabric. Now place the arm pattern piece on the fabric with the cuff line aligned to the seam. Cut four arms.
Place two of the cut out arms right sides together and sew around leaving a turning gap. Clip around the arm and turn right side out. Stuff and repeat for the other arm. Ladder stitch the turning gaps closed.
Check this out . Does it make sense? This is basically how you do a button joint. Secure your thread (under the arm is good so it wont be seen)then you just go in and out through all the pieces shown a few times.Pull your thread firmly. You will know you have it tight enough when the arms will hold a position if you move them (This is why I said to stuff firmly- we don't want to squish it all into oblivion).
The legs are two simply tubes. Sew them, turn them, and the hand sew them into place, closing the base of the body as you go. After they are in place you can stuff them.
To make the feet you simply sew two pieces of felt together using the pattern piece supplied. Clip , turn and stuff. Hand sew them to the bottom of the legs. Super easy !
In the photo you will see Connor also has some buttons - simply sew them in place. The belt is a strip of vinyl and a small buckle (I think the buckle might be a scrap booking embellishment)

I took one look at the narrow neck of that guitar and realised I would never be able to turn it through, so for the guitar I simply interfaced the guitar to be reasonably stiff and then used Steam-a- seam to adhere it to some felt.
I know this tutorial is really rough , but I figured if I showed every single step we would be here for a month. The scarf is just a bit of knit fabric chopped to length - no sewing at all. You know you could just go on and on with these guys - hats, jackets, bags, friends, pushbikes.......

ooh a plush pushbike.......

Slight pause

2011-06-27T18:45:00.000+10:00

The tutorial is on its way I promise, I just need one more photo and I'm done , so hopefully I'll post it tomorrow. In the meantime , I had an awesome fun exhausting day in Sydney at the ASG Industry day. I met some wonderful people and got to share a few things as well.

This is my new pattern, the Work-In-Progress bag - a super simple bag to hold whatever it is you are working on. Of course I would need to be making these by the dozen to keep up with the amount of stuff on the go in the sewing room at the moment.The pattern is brand spanking new and already available at Under the Mulberry tree . Also while we are talking patterns, my patterns are on sale at Ballarat Patchwork as part of their stocktake sale if your interested.

This bag is also being completely kitted by Merrilyn of Threadneedle Craft Daylesford if you want to drop her a line. Sheesh I think that's it for the blatant self promotion tonight guys. Tutorial tomorrow and then finally the new toys I have been promising !

In no particular order

2011-06-19T20:34:00.012+10:00

This Saturday I am flying to Sydney to speak to the ASG at their Industry Day. Just thinking about it makes me clench at both ends. Why oh why do I say yes to these things and stress so much ?

I am working on a tutorial for the little dude in the last post but I ran out of light for photos so it might take me a few more days as I grab photos before and after work. It'll be a pretty rough tutorial , otherwise we'll need about 50 photos.

I am teaching at Amitie next month - and hoping to use it as an excuse for a long weekend in Melbourne.

I recently met two of the finest eggs you can imagine.

I am hanging out on bookface sometimes, come and like me (how weird is that as a sentence ? I mean really do we ask people to like us these days ? ........this stuff makes me feel old.)

I joined pinterest but it hasn't grabbed me.This also makes me feel old

The thought of going to work tomorrow makes me feel like this...................

Mother of the year

2011-06-17T19:43:00.011+10:00

This is Jackson, in his funky liberty shirt.

He has a scarf, beanie, coat and man-bag.

Inside the man-bag is a teeny tiny music book.
Jackson is in the band you know

He plays keys.

God help me when the drummer has a birthday.

The lure of the Lilliputian

2011-06-11T16:26:00.014+10:00

Dear friends, I think I might need an intervention

Parsley and Beet pattern reduced to 50% in size..

If I start talking doll houses-just shoot me.

The eyes have it............

2011-06-09T16:12:00.002+10:00

Daylesford

2011-06-07T21:03:00.000+10:00

Once again I seemed to have failed in the photography department on the weekend. As you can imagine it was a dignified affair, lots of quiet sewing and sharing of ideas. Rumours of people line-dancing and swimming laps in their spa are grossly exaggerated.
Tales of busted zips, failed french knots and people finishing their swap projects at the breakfast buffet are also to be taken with a grain of salt.
I met some great people on the weekend,learnt heaps from stitchers far more experienced than I, ate quite a lot and drank some as well. and I laughed, and laughed. I snickered, chortled giggled and guffawed for the best part of three days. I laughed loud and long, I clenched the lady muscles at times and I snorted more than once. If the level of exhaustion I feel now directly correlates to the amount of laughing I did on the weekend , then I am happy to feel so tired.In boring health news, the toothache that doesn't exist is not a sinus problem , the scan showed no problems at all. So we are back at the start, and looking at another visit to the dentist. At my chirpiest I am fine - a few painkillers a day and its all manageable , but at 2am when it wakes me up and I either get up for painkillers or try to go back to sleep I am ready to remove all my teeth with the first kitchen implement that comes to hand.

What's the time?

2011-06-03T11:40:00.004+10:00

On the Craft Clock ?
Time for the Daylesford craft Experience !

free kick

2011-05-31T18:49:00.006+10:00

X-ray of the head tomorrow.........

O.K. your turn - bring on the empty vessel jokes.

It's not often I break out the pom-poms

2011-05-29T21:01:00.000+10:00

I'm in a new-toy making frenzy at the moment - mind you it is a long drawn out old-sick-lady paced frenzy but a frenzy nonetheless. This coming weekend I am heading over to Daylesford with Kristen and Melly. Saturday is all sold out but I think Merrilyn can squeeze a few more people in on Sunday if you want to come along. After the weekend I will have two new patterns to share, a sensible grown-up one and a not-so-sensible one...no prizes for guessing my favourite!

and the new toys? Well part of me hopes they might just piss people off !

Clearly

2011-05-25T15:13:00.002+10:00

All in one go.

2011-05-23T18:17:00.000+10:00

Last week through the land of Bookface I learnt that Textile Traders had started to stock my patterns and the patterns of other designers from Creative Abundance. I had heard of textile traders through the WA bloggers who rave about them, but I had no idea how big they were. They have 11 stores and they stock everything you can possible need -including fake turf. (I am strangely drawn to fake turf but that is a whole other story). They have a great video on their site and oodles and oodles of information. I am dead jealous there is not a Textile traders over here in Victoria. (actually in Ballarat would be perfect). Anyway they are having a promotion right now Buy 2 get 1 free on all their patterns, including mine and the other Creative Abundance chicky-babes, so its a good time to buy if you are a WA crafter.The promo runs until June 4th. In fact the weekend at Sewjourn made me realise once again how much we lack a good all-round fabric shop in Ballarat..one for garment fabrics I mean - we are not lacking in the patchwork fabric shops at all.

I am struggling tonight with a toothache and a very non-productive visit to the dentist who tells me nothing is wrong, so I will just say that : Sewjourn + teaching at Drapers of Mt Macedon = exhaustion of the most laughter-filled kind.

Winners of Nikki's book = Mistea + Lynne + naturally carol

Me + drugs = a decent nights sleep (I hope)

Sewjourn (again)

2011-05-20T09:04:00.001+10:00

yep, I am off to Sewjourn again
and while it would be awesome if you could all come along....
how about I share a bit of "Nikki" with you all instead.
While I am off at Sewjourn with the real-life Nikki, you guys can leave a comment and win one of three copies of her book that I have to giveaway.
Nikki's book has prompted the wonderful Tanya to embark on a Julie/Julia journey and she is sewing her way through the book. Really, can higher praise be given to a craft book? Nikki's book is much like Nikki herself, its good-looking, friendly, accessible and full to the absolute brim with hints tips, and easier, neater smarter ways of doing things.

There is no jumping through hoops required to enter but I would love to hear your experience of Nikki's patterns, the book, or any Nikkiness you'd like to share- even if it is just that you read her blog. I have to say I think I must have made about 20 of Nikki's tiny purse pattern over the years - it is definitely my go-to gift (for those people crazy enough to not want toys).
and right now I am still in my P.J's, everything is piled by the door ready for the car to be loaded, the baked goods are baked and the last minute additions are added, I just need to get myself moving !

Happiness is..............

2011-05-17T18:22:00.004+10:00

a many-bobbined woman

Minutes - staff Meeting 1

2011-05-15T18:55:00.002+10:00

Apologies: See previous post for comments

Attendance : Annie, Deborah, Bellinda, Rachael, Jan, Lizzie, Me.

The first staff meeting was held yesterday and it was awesome fun. I think all staff meetings should involve the purchasing of fabric and the eating of fine food.Upon arrival, attendees received their badges, unfortunately we didn't have a president but Jan admirably took on the role of Vice president. We also had a Tea-lady and a Work Experience girl. I was very sad to see that we had not attracted a rich patron, but who knows? Maybe at the next meeting.

The first order of business was the purchasing of fabric and it was noted that all staff performed admirably in this area. Some staff may have actually helped themselves to the yet-to-be-unwrapped bolts and one particularly zealous staff member went so far as to "help" by opening some boxes herself. (and no it wasn't me).

After that we headed next door for lunch and got down to business. Discussions ranged from one end of the spectrum to the other and the difficult questions were posed. "What is the difference between a mug-rug and a coaster?" Bold statements were made: " I just don't speak Bunting" and new ideas formed.

It was a perfect day for a get-together and great fun to meet Bellinda ,I can't wait to do it again - although the calendar is looking a little scary at the moment. I'm off to sewjourn again this weekend but don't be jealous, its not all swanning about and crafty holidays - I am teaching Reuben the Donkey at the Drapers of Mt Macedon on Saturday.

other than that I'll be working on numbers four five and six of a brand new toy. His name is Algar (of course) and I really really like him.

Staff Meeting

2011-05-08T20:03:00.002+10:00

Dear holders of the stakes, you are all invited to the first staff meeting ( any excuse for a crafty day out) on Saturday 14th May at the beautiful Millrose Cottage in Ballan.

11.30 at the patchwork shop, followed by lunch next door if you are interested. Items for the agenda can be emailed through and will be added to the list. Everybody is welcome and it is well worth the drive from Daylesford, Geelong or Melbourne. Drop me an email if you are coming and I'll make a booking for lunch. For those further away I shall try and remember my camera this time and post the illustrated minutes here ASAP.

And actual craft ? well it has been a bit light on it has to be said, I'm just kind of noodling along, making a few samples and waiting once again for the next bolt of inspiration to hit. I seem to be stuck in second gear, unable to rev up and do anything. I'd like to tell you that I am appreciating this time of quiet and that I am learning a new slower perspective and thinker deeper thoughts....I am beginning to understand the creative rhythms and truly appreciate the beauty of quieter times that allow the mind to rest and the spirit to regenerate. I'd also like to tell you I am a size 8 supermodel !

Saturday

2011-05-07T12:15:00.000+10:00

Please excuse Jodie from blog attendance today.
She had the best of intentions,
but the Grim fandango's are rehearsing here today
and a mothers love can only extend so far before her ears begin to bleed.

Baxter had long given up on the idea of a great romance...

2011-05-04T18:30:00.014+10:00

A bit of my sewing turned into computering and at long long last I have added Baxter's story to the blog in the correct readable order (as opposed to the way it was posted). It's up there just under the header. Funnily enough it was the sewing of a little herd of hedgehogs that made me realise he has been missing for a while.I think (but don't hold me to it) that Baxter will be the next pattern...he is all done and ready and ...you know...I'm just not sure. I wonder if he should have clothes. At the moment he is just a naked little hairy hedgehog on his own. I love him of course but I wonder if he is enough? Maybe I need to add the floofy hat to the pattern, or the little tuxedo bib? (with actual buttons in place of the pins)
I can't tell you how much I would love to add his little bathroom ensemble but "Get a scrap of fabric from your scrap bin and wrap it around Baxter's head" is probably not an acceptable instruction.

and Master 16 would not even enter the discussion " Mum, seriously, you are waaaayyy too attached to that hedgehog".So go on, why not go and read his story and let me know if you have any thoughts.(and just for the record I love all my toys equally - there are no favourites....)

I'm not ignoring you....

2011-04-30T12:49:00.004+10:00

I'm sewing.........

Discombobulated.. or Jodie is sick of the sight and sound of herself

2011-04-26T13:15:00.006+10:00

Most of the last two weeks has been disappointingly discombobulated ...Why ? well because I am an idiot basically. As usual, I set myself HUGE MASSIVE UNREACHABLE goals for the two weeks off work and then got the total shits on with myself for not even getting close to achieving them. Team that with a dose of E.I.T.T.T.S and that's a whole big overflowing cup of ugly !
It's so easy to concentrate on what I haven't done , or haven't had time to finish...
So pardon me while I indulge in a bit of reality therapy won't you?
Hi my name is Jodie and in the last two weeks :

Reuben got released.

I went to AQC with Annie and Lizzie where I bought a new sewing machine !
I was introduced to an awesome new fabric shop
I made a tea-set

I dressed an elephant

I made a truly beautiful tea-pot out of Liberty fabric from the aforementioned fabric shop.
I wrote a whole new pattern that is off being tested as we speak
I made an awesome chicken with Sooz and Amy during a fabulous visit. I mended clothes for the no-longer-living-at -home teen
I spent a day sewing with the hairy-still-living-at-home-teen.
I read 5 books (kids lit-nice and easy)
I finished the final tweaking of (as in totally finished) three projects for Daylesford Craft ExperienceI cooked, cleaned (not very much) mothered, daughtered, wifed, transported and generally did all that other boring non-blogworthy stuff as well.
My inability to logically look at that list and be happy with it drives me almost as insane as the ridiculous expectations I have in the first place. Seriously I should go to Cash Converters and trade my brain in for something useful - like a fondue pot!

Countryside Softies Giveaway

2011-04-21T20:41:00.011+10:00

Hi guys, Welcome to Ric Rac...if you are visiting for the first time as you follow the book tour then please make yourself at home. We are all pretty nice around here, a bit odd at times but in a good way . A little while ago I got an email from Amy Adams asking if I would like to take part in 'blog tour' of her book, Countryside Softies.... what you guys need to know is that I am a huge fan of Amy's work and more than a little bit envious of her talent. Amy has such a distinct style and her softies have such personality's. Sometimes as you trawl the internet you might chance upon a link of link of a link ...this has happened to me and in my mind I think - Oh thats Lucykate's !!! Thats how distinct her style is...
I was sent a digital copy of the book, and while reading a book from the computer is not my natural state (we librarians like the actual turning of paper) I have to say as I scrolled I still got that excited feeling and a few little gasps as I went through. The owls and the fox on the cover are my absolute favourites.

Amy has created 28 unique fabric softies that can easily be sewn by hand or machine. Using cast-off woollens Amy's toys are soft and warm and they embrace all levels of ability - a little bit of wonkiness just adds character and personality !In fact the softies are all graded according to how difficult they are .
Look, Lets be honest Amy is a dead-set superstar and her toys are just gorgeous. The book takes you through the whole process of felting your wool and making your softie, and adding the cute embellishments to bring them to life.
So yes, here is another book destined to be bought and added to my shelf but you don't have to buy one . The people at Stash Books have a copy of Countryside Softies to give away...in fact jump on board the book tour - as they are giving one away at each stop. Isn't this guys awesome ? Amy posted this pattern for his little pond over on Whip-up at the start of the blog tour....

If you want to jump on the tour..here are the rest of the dates- go and visit everyone.

April 23 - Syko

April 24 - Lucykate crafts - Amy herself

April 25 - Treefall designs

April 26 - I heart linen

April 27 - Sometimes crafter

April 28 - Plush you

April 30 - Allsorts

If you would like to win a copy of the book, just leave a comment and tell me which animal you would like to see as a softie - I'll close the giveaway on Sunday evening....and the winner will be chosen by the random number thingo...

(and Amy, that fox just kills me)

All in one day

2011-04-21T14:26:00.001+10:00

At the AQC last wekend Lizzie got to telling us about her "local". We visited their stand at the show and made plans to visit.

Oh MY Such a beautiful building- with restaurant cafe next door where we had a delicious lunch .
Filled with pretties and 2,500 bolts of fabric.
Mt heart was definately set on bringing home some liberty, I had seen it at the show and had decided I needed a largish piece, Ok and maybe a mixed pack as well.
and this classroom /exhibiton space is enormous and so full of light. Situated only about half an hour from us in Ballan, Annie and I were amazed that we hadn't heard of Mill Rose before.

After a great chat with the owner, we finalised our purchases and headed next door for a restorative coffee and piece of cake. I have to thank Lizzie for all the photos (more on her blog) as I left my camera at home. I agree with Lizzie when she says you should come along and visit her local - it was a perfect ! Annie and I have decided it should be the venue for our monthly staff meetings ( they are just get-togethers really but if we call them staff meeting they sound more important)
I'm sure we won't need to twist Lizzie's arm to get her to attend....

Millrose Quilting & Gallery
Main Road Ballan
92 Inglis St
Ballan, Vic.

So we set off home with my head all abuzz with plans for the delicious liberty fabrics, only to find an even greater excitement on the kitchen table ! (You can see Master 16 started to open it and then thought better of it - clever boy!)
Now if I can just brave myself to actually turn it on - I might be able to do something with that Liberty fabric.

AQC

2011-04-19T15:35:00.003+10:00

So , whilst I bought very little at the AQC on Saturday - I did buy something that I chose not to carry home with me on the train.

I think she's almost here.

Blog bore

2011-04-15T20:14:00.001+10:00

I know I have been a bit of a blog bore lately,

in my defense, to get to this.............

there is a whole stack of this, and a mind-numbingly lot of this !

None of which make for very good blog.

BUT tomorrow I am heading off to The Australasian Quilt convention with Annie and Lizzie, where I plan to investigate the new sewing machine somewhat. I'm also hoping to find some fabric that will shake me out of my E.I.T.T.T.S .

I'll be visiting one of Reuben's buddies on the Ballarat Patchwork stand and keeping my eyes peeled for Lara, and Carmel, and Fi, and.......if Annie is willing there may even be a crochet lesson on the way !

MON DIEU !!! ' ERE SHE GOES AGAIN !

Avoidance

2011-04-13T08:28:00.006+10:00

OK. That's it . I have cracked it.I need a new sewing machine. I have saved a not inconsiderable amount of money and the time has come. (I have been muttering about a new machine for at least a year)

I currently drive a Janome QC something or other and I'm guessing it is eightish years old....

Short of some sewing machine company wanting to sponsor me to the tune of a new sewing machine, I'm in the market for a change.

Bernina seems to be winning at the moment.

What do you drive ? What do you love about it?

What features can't you live without

(oh and don't bother trying to sell me on quilting functions - you know I don't speak quilt)

I'm heading off to AQC on the weekend and I think I might talk turkey to some of the dealers.

What questions should I ask ?

Thanks for the depend.

2011-04-11T21:15:00.008+10:00

Front man in the band.

(Grim Fandango's you can like them on face book and freak him out)

Too cool for school.

Recently purchased and took a sandwich toaster to school to toast other kids sandwiches

(for a price)

Incredible indignation at its confiscation.

Incredible indignation at most things....

Agreed (for a price) to do some test sewing.

because, as he said - "I have mad-as skillz"

"Mum ! Why doesn't your sewing machine go around corners"

Cue some instruction and lots of "I knew that "

"Wow this is cool"

"I totally rock this sewing shit"

"mum.... Mum..... F#%* My hair is caught in your sewing machine"

(quietly wetting myself with laughter in the corner)

Friday night

2011-04-10T11:53:00.006+10:00

It was a big night at Chez Ric rac on Friday night night. The one remaining teenager was out and the scene was setMr Ric-rac could not stop smiling and I had something very very special planned

yep, Nikki's Book !

While Mr Ric-rac headed off to the boy-cave to watch football, I poured a glass of something yummy and settled in. I had dressed for the occasion in unmatched pyjamas, chenille dressing gown and socks.( I know Nikki would approve) Of course, you guys know that I know Nikki, we frequently sewjourn together where I even saw some of these projects get worked and tweaked and photographed. Rumour has it I even pattern tested something for this book. But do not think I'll be letting that friendship get in the way of a hard-hitting warts and all review ! So I have actually read this book cover to cover, I started with the dedication and finished at the photo credits. The thing I love about this book is that is almost a journey in itself. You can start at the beginning with a cute little zipper rose and work your way through the book until you are whipping up your own pattern-free clothing. Of course , depending on where you are with your skill levels , you can just jump in half way through and learn some new techniques.

Actually I think the techniques and tips are the best thing about this book - I am always in awe of the stuff we learn from Nikki at sewjourn - she often had an easier , faster and DEFINITELY NEATER way doing things, and she always has a gadget to help. The book explains some helpful gadgets and has a whole chapter on techniques.There is heaps to learn in that chapter. (She even shares the magic 3cm rule) If I picked this book up for a flick through in a book shop , I'd be impressed with the amount of step by step photos, I'd smile at the writing style - informative and friendly and then as I progressed through the book, I'd begin to imagine making some of the projects and then I'd get to the pattern free clothing section and my wallet would be out as I headed to the counter.

Then as I put the book on the counter, I'd tell the surly young man with the stapled-on eyebrow I'd say "This is a great book, actually its written by a friend of mine"

"She's an author you know" and I'd smile as he put it in a bag and sticky-taped it shut

and I'd think to myself, "Holy shit Nikki, it's a real-life actual book"

(Oh and the word on the crafty street is that Nikki's book is sneaking onto her stall at AQC next week !)

The fat lady dances

2011-04-07T18:04:00.000+10:00

So while I am still suffering a shocking case of EITTTS, I was reminded today that it is not always so.

Sheesh , he's done pretty well for a small town postal duck hasn't he?

Milligan is in this months issue of Homespun magazine and he is in some very fine company indeed. and today sees the last working day of the school term for me, I don't have to be back at work for 19 sleeps. At approximately 3.31, if the wind was blowing the right way , and you were listening, you may have heard the faintest whoop and felt the earth tilt ever so slightly on its axis, as I danced a little fat-lady dance through the library shelves and out the door.

E.I.T.T.T.S

2011-04-04T19:27:00.007+10:00

Yes, just like one of those nasty "social diseases" I'm afraid it's back.

My recurring nemesis in the form of crap sewing, crap decisions and all round crap crap.

Yep I have a serious case of E.I.T.T.T.S, in fact bubonic-plague-like-case my be a more accurate description. For those of you lucky enough to be immune or at least symptom free, you can find out more information here, here and here . I'm telling you , if you don't see some evidence of craft in this space by the end of the weekend, write me off as the first known fatality and make me a little plaque.

(nothing over the top of course - something tasteful...perhaps with underpants ?)

Hook up catch up and hang out

2011-04-02T18:57:00.004+11:00

Next Saturday "Making it Handmade" is going to be shown here in Ballarat.

Anna brownfield who is from Ballarat, followed four Melbourne crafters and documented their stories and the rise of craft. There is an article about it here if you'd like to take a look.

Anna sent me an email this week offering a double pass to give away here on the blog, which I gratefully accepted on your behalf .

(Don't worry guys this weeks list of refusals has included UGG boots and rugs )

So if you can get to the screening , and want the chance to win the double pass please leave your details in the comments.

I'll pop back tomorrow and announce a winner.

I am really looking forward to it - not just the movie but the chance to meet Anna and have a bit of a local crafty meet-up as well.

What say you guys to a movie and then some coffee /cake afterwards?

Some days I think its the whole world....

2011-04-01T10:03:00.002+11:00

and other days I'm happy its just me.

(I'll be in the sewing room if you need me)

Heavens to Betsy !

2011-03-27T16:23:00.034+11:00

As sometimes happens in blogland - an innocent comment can travel a long way. Some time ago I left a comment over on The Long Thread , admiring some beautiful wool.

A few days later I got an email from Erica saying she would like to send me some of the beautiful Heaven to Betsy Wool - I demurred only slightly before saying "YES PLEASE". Time passed and no squishy package arrived in my letterbox...however a HUGE box thumped on the back verandah reading....

Oh man ! Opening that box required some serious clenching of the lady-muscles. It was packed to the brim with delicious wool. I couldn't quite believe it and may have mentioned the word craftgasm once or twice.

but you can see why can't you, this wool is just beautiful. It is so soft and just perfectly woolly. Go and check out the far better photos at Heaven To Betsy...My favourite is probably Ferngully, but I love rustic Rooster as well and Hot Potato is destined to become a scarf ! These wools have been screaming SOFTIES at me for more than a week.

But really ! I can hardly keep all this for myself so I held a retrospective giveaway and Maree, Kirsty and Maxabella will all be getting a squishy parcel soon.

and everyone else ? You guys get a little down loadable pattern and tutorial to make some little birds of your own, its up there on the sidebar.

I am so sacked

2011-03-25T14:18:00.006+11:00

Really, I deserve to be sacked......What happened to the midday winner ?

Without further ado and thanks to the Master Ric Rac random number picker - The winner is

A PEPPERMINT PENGUIN !!!!!

Thank you all for entering and please pop over to Jo's blog and visit some of the other raffles and auctions that are still running.

Baxter and I are off to dig some holes.

Hi Jodie, This is the Powerhouse Museum....

2011-03-21T18:17:00.001+11:00

A little while ago I got an email from the Powerhouse Museum. (as you do) That email led to some fun phone calls with Deborah and ended with my Zipper mouth Monsters joining

Craft Punk.

Craft Punk is running at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney on April 30 /May 1st with drop in workshops and longer book-in type workshops. I can't be there, but my monsters will be and you can sign up and be taught how to make one by Colette of Tessuti fame. I'm so excited, Colette and I have been conspiring to make some not-too-naughty things for the monsters to say.

The patterns and all the fabrics, zippers , buttons and doo-dads are included in the class, and Colette is of course awesomely skilled so you can be guaranteed a successful monster.

How good does the diabolical doily workshop sound?

and you know what, if you fancy yourself a zipper mouth monster and can't make it to the class, you might think about donating $5 to the japan Quake appeal and joining my raffle. If you win I will make you a toy, pretty much any toy you have ever seen on my blog (No, Carmel not a robot from the bus-stop story)- a donkey, a craft clock, a little message-bot or one of the guys from my patterns. I could make you a Zippermouth monster with the rudest saying you can imagine inside his little zipper.

The choice will be yours.

Japan Quake Appeal

2011-03-18T18:35:00.005+11:00

I know you guys who read here, are good eggs it has been proven time and time again, and unfortunately I find myself again - asking you for support.'

Jo from A bit of this and a bit of that has launched the Japan Quake appeal, and if you click HERE the link will take you a master list of auctions and raffles.

I can't get paypal to work with the red cross but it works through Global giving. Seriously I don't care who you choose to donate through....

I decided to run a raffle along the same lines as the raffle earlier in the year for the Flood relief Auction.

No, the prize is not a pile of donkey parts , The prize is a toy of your choice.

Click on my patterns page and let me know which toy you would like from one of my patterns - and I will custom make it for you - I can't guarantee those exact fabrics or anything but I will discuss it with the winner and do my best to make sure that you get something you are happy with.

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

•This giveaway is open to everyone no matter where you live.

•I will cover all postage costs and endeavor to make your toy in a timely manner.
•To enter this giveaway you must donate $5 to the Red Cross.
•You may enter as many times as you like but each entry / donation must have a separate receipt number. (eg: donate $5 ten times if you want to donate $50- then comment ten times with your receipt number and yep its a pain in the bum, but that is as fair as I can make it folks)
After you have done this , return here and leave your comment telling me which toy you would pick and your receipt number.
If you don't have an account to leave a comment you can click on my profile and email me your name and receipt number and I will comment for you.

If you do not leave a receipt number I will delete your comment (not just because I am a grumpy old witch, but because it will make the random number picker doo-dad easier).

This raffle will finish on Friday 25th March and a winner will be selected at Midday on that day.