He’s back

Not that he really went anywhere, but Arthur Cabbage, My sweet little friend is back from the pattern testers and ready .You know, it is the things that I make and really love that I find hardest to share, maybe because I love it so much I worry that other people won’t.

(or maybe I am just a bit mental)

Your local shop can get him in for you, just ask and if you get stuck there are lots of places online – check out my stockists page.

 

I just realised, if it wasn’t for pattern-writing-avoidance, my house would never get cleaned.

pop !

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....)

Slight pause

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 !

Mind Control.

Do you remember that I met Miss Marzie at stitches and Craft? That, apparently lovely friendly crafter.....well, It would appear she is an agent of mind control. I know it is hard to believe isn't it?
She is sneaky alright, you hardly even know its happening. But slowly and insidiously she plants thoughts in your mind and then reinforces them until you have no control over your own mind and you bow to her great will. I know you may find this difficult to comprehend , that sweet mild-mannered crafter, but trust me it's true.
I have proof.
Exhibit A : Check out this seemingly innocent comment on this post about the need to make cowboy and Indian dolls. (She comments as Cathy). Seems innocent enough and I discounted the idea as too difficult.
Exhibit B: Whilst chatting at Stitches and appearing to praise my dollies, she again reiterated the need not desire guys but NEED for me to make cowboy and Indian dolls. She poo-pooed my concerns about the level of difficulty and told me they would be so cute.
So the original seed of thought was planted and now it began to grow.
Exhibit C: Not content with leaving me to ignore her advice, she followed up with a comment on this post ,again with the cowboys and Indians.

That was it !!! I would like to say I was strong enough to withstand her brain invading thoughts but I wasn't I succumbed to the pressure and began....................................................................................

From here on in it is all her fault.

• One small forest worth of kitchen towels destroyed in pattern-making - Blame Miss Marzie

• One bottle of red wine drunk - Blame Miss Marzie (and your lucky I stopped at one)



• Two nights of popping out of bed(very late) to quickly scribble things on a bit of paper that just might work - Blame Miss Marzie



• One exasperated visit to Lincraft to wander around aimlessly because I didn't really know what I want - Blame Miss Marzie



• Endless hours of Internet time wasting looking up cowboys and cowboy hats (actually there was some serious eye candy involved in that search which was an unexpected bonus) - Blame Miss Marzie.



• Flying dash to the supermarket to replace the Easter chocolate I may have needed to eat to keep my strength up during hobby horse pole insertion.- Blame Miss Marzie.

So, this is Isak, one of the cheekiest little cowboys you are ever likely to meet. He has a lovely horse called Marzie and he loves to tie things up.

He is not allowed to play with guns so he is just a "chasing-cows" cowboy not a "shooting-things" cowboy.

O.k , apart from his general naughtiness, he is pretty cute, difficult but cute.

If he lassos me , or his horse poops on my carpet I am blaming you Miss Marzie!!!!