give aways

This is a quilt that I started for little Isa. I am hoping to finish it buy Christmas. We will see. At the moment, she is lying next to me on the floor playing with her elephant and making some serious gurgling noises.

I am doing a big clean out and am sorting through the craft and jewellery stash. I have found so many half finished projects. I think with most of them I'll have to take them apart and start over. But I found a lot of finished things just lying around, not being worn by anyone. So, since they didn't sell on Etsy and I can't be bothered spending the time to re post them up there, I've decided to give my knitted cuffs away. If anyone is interested, just leave a comment with your name and the colour you like and I'll announce the winners on Friday.

four season scarf

I sent my sister a parcel for her and the kids birthdays in July. I necklace for Oona, a school bag for Aiden and a 4 season scarf for my sis. I embroidered 4 sections of the scarf with different flowers keeping the season theme in mind. I don't know why, but I enjoy embroidering. I guess it's because it's fiddly, intricate and takes forever to finish.

To be honest, I wish I had kept this scarf for myself. I think I unconsciously made it with myself in mind, not my sister. I know it's not really her style, but I hope she still enjoys it.

I went on an early morning (7:30) walk with the dog and Isabella. It's pretty cloudy but not too cold. I would love to role out of bed and have the motivation to do this every morning, we will see.

a sunny day at last

I awoke this morning with the urge to paint. This is odd, because I am not a painter and I sure as hell can't draw. I took a water colour class about 7 years ago and that was the last time I have held a paint brush to paper. I figured I must do whatever my pregnant self is feeling like at the moment, so I went and bought some acrylics and canvas paper. Our bedroom walls are pretty much bare at the moment, so I thought I would let the flowers on our curtains inspire me. I am not quite finished and I don't know how I feel about it, but I did enjoy doing it. It was the first sunny day in a while and so I sat outside and painted. I never realised it would be so relaxing. My painting may look juvenile but I enjoyed it so much that I will continue to paint on a regular bases.

Je suis un lapin

Wow, it has not warmed up at all today. Not much natural sunlight to take pictures in either. I finished the bunny. He is so very soft. I didn't follow the pattern exactly. I wanted to make him stripy and with floppy ears. I enjoyed knitting something other then a scarf and I guess I like how he turned out.

I also started making these 'baby announcement' cards. I was so excited when I woke up at 4am and thought of this idea. But I don't know about how they look now that I have made a few. It is that old side of the fist trick, dipped in fabric paint, pressed on fabric and then sewed onto a card. Does it look like a babies foot to you? That is the point I was trying to get across. Speaking of babies feet, the novelty of getting kicked in the stomach 80 times a day has warn off.

another day

As promised, here are a few pictures from the 'Loop-d-Loop' knitting book by Teva Durnham. Not only are the knitting projects a little on the odd side, but the pictures are as well. I love it. I've had enough of the fuzzy pictures of pasty children in pastel coloured knits. I really like this scarf, but the pattern is so confusing, I don't think I should attempt it. And how about this guy, not something you see everyday.

And here is my finished robe. I do like how it has turned out and it has served it's purpose for the cold Autumn mornings. I am now working on knitting up the velvet bunny, I will post about that soon.

How is it I had months of no motivation to do anything productive with my hands, no inspirational ideas and absolutely not a single drop of creative blood running through my veins, and now all of a sudden I have a million things I want to do and just have to get done before this baby is born?! I guess it's part of that whole nesting thing. I've got it bad, sometimes cleaning the house at 2 am. The littlest things bug me, like when Matt puts the hand towel back on the rack crooked. And I've got a box of perfectly good dishes I am about to take to the op shop because they have small chips in them. Ridiculous.
I just wanted to thank everyone who visits my blog and to the comments you have all made. Rachael, I have discovered reruns of Beverly hills 90210 and Melrose Place on in the afternoons which has become a guilty pleasure in these last few weeks

i'm so bored

I know that I should be enjoying this quiet time because it will never be like this again, but I am really bored. I try filling my days with doing crafty bits and doing things that I have been wanting to get around to. But all day, my mind is filled with thoughts: like what is my labour going to be like, am I in labour now, oh my god, I still don't have a baby bath!! Which really doesn't matter, cause the bubs will most likely end up just getting washed in the kitchen sink, but my point is that I think I am over spending so much time with myself.

I made it to the library today and got a few knitting books. One has the most amazing photographs for a knitting book, I'll have to post some pics of it next time. I thought I would attempt this cute bunny found in a book by Erika Knights. I have been wanting to knit a soft toy for a while and am happy I finally found a good pattern. Although, I am not so sure about those eyes, maby buttons would be better.

I also had my weekly trip to the op shop. They had a $2 fill a bag sale, which I would love to take advantage of, but the big belly thing always discourages me from looking at clothes because I usually can't find any that fit. But I did find this beautiful brightly colored baby sling. It is in very good condition and you just can't go wrong when something is only $2.

in the making

I started making this robe/dressing gown last week. I have wanted to make one since
going to the Mapua Easter Fair and seeing some made with really beautiful fabrics. And then I found this green apple set of sheets at the op shop and I new I had to attempt the robe. I have not used a pattern, which I know is stupid. I seem to just wing it when it comes to sewing, but most of the time it doesn't work out. To my surprise, this did work out. I have lined it with green flannel for those cold nights I will be getting up to tend to baby. And now I just have to ad the finishing touches such as pockets and cuffs. I have to say I am proud of myself.
Another thing I attempted last week was knitting a cable. I always found the idea quite daunting, but actually found it was way easier then it looks. Just a matter of following the instructions. The only problem here was that I knew I was going to run out of wool, so I had to make this poncho shawl thingy very short. Turns out the only thing I like about it are the buttons. Oh well, at least I learned a new knitting skill. I must go and eat a snack now. I have been craving popcorn ever since I walked by the movie theatre yesterday.

hello

Well, it has been a while! Almost 3 months. My excuse is that things have just been a little crazy and I honestly have not had much interest in crafting. But I finally started getting into the need to make things again. I have a few projects on. One, being a cardigan for the baby, that has taken me way longer then expected and when I went to sew the last bit on, it didn't work out. I have tried to fix it, but I think I need to focus on something else and come back to it later.
The other project was this fabric lantern I sewed up. I had these little bits of beautiful fabric but it wasn't enough to make anything substantial. So I thought I would give this idea a go and it actually turned out okay. I have another one to make that I will post when it's finished. I really wanted to put these over our lights, but I am afraid it might catch fire, so they will just have to be pretty hanging things.
I also started an Etsy shop under the name evesbijoux. I stopped doing the market a while back and I have all this jewellery collecting dust. It is strange not working or doing the market, I am not used to not contributing to the bills. I thought Etsy might be a good way to do that.
I have got a little over 5 weeks left till the baby is 'due'. I am looking forward to having my baby in my arms and not in my body. I guess you could say I have reached the point of being over being pregnant.

I hope that everyone has had a wonderful Christmas, that the holidays treat you well and you have joy and peace in your life. I had a good Christmas. Very quiet, just me, Matt and the dog. But I savored it, because it will be the last quiet one for many years to come. My mind has been somewhere else this year, so I didn't get into the spirit much, but what really upset me is that I forgot Solstice. I always make a point to acknowledge Solstice, I used to celebrate it with my family and friends back home. Realising this makes me miss those friends and my family, oh so far away, so if yours are near, relish it.


Anyways, Matt's favorite present was this baby-t I made him. I tried dyeing it black(he loves black) and it ended up this streaky grey/blue. The streaky bits suit the shirt because it looks like grease stains, like the baby has been working on the car with it's papa. I just had to ad the Motorhead logo(Matt likes them lots). You always think boys will grow out of loving heavy metal and black, but some just don't.

a few good links

These are some brooches that I have been selling at the market. They are made with fimo. They have a better colour selection of fimo now, then when I was a kid.
The baby really doesn't feel like posting anything else today, so I thought I would give a few links to some blogs I have recently stumbled upon.

Beesnest is a great read with lovely photos.

All buttoned up does really amazing quilts and had a post on fabric boxes.

Abigail Percy's jewellery makes jewellery to be admired.

denial

The other day, I made my very first shirt. No pattern, just kind of winged it. I had one mistake towards the end, a twisted strap, but I unpicked and fixed it. When I was finished, I was so pleased with myself. Isn't it pretty?



Am I in denial? Did I not think to make sure the shirt would actually fit my new puffy self? Well, as you can see, I am sad. That is my best pout, I am not pulling an Angelina Jolie. I will have to take this to a clothes swap and hope someone with a smaller frame enjoys it.

okay, now the crafty bits

This is a "quilt" that I have been working on for Matt and myself. I know, you're thinking I should be making quilts for the baby. Well, this is the first project I have ever used a sewing machine for and I figure making mistakes on things for me is okay. Mistakes oh plenty! The main one being the squares are not all the same size. Please, anyone who knows how to quilt, don't look to closely at this picture. This is very difficult for me because I am a bit of a perfectionist, but this is a learning experience, right? I am learning that all those fancy expensive quilting tools might be a good purchase.