tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86061834593782552952024-02-19T18:04:14.753+13:00PolyCraftualPolyCraftualhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07777851123314135341noreply@blogger.comBlogger93125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606183459378255295.post-46407157155993270952014-10-12T09:14:00.000+13:002014-10-12T09:14:11.903+13:00Ponderings on LearningI have been working on a test pattern recently. Slowly as I've been sick, that utterly exhausted and slow brain kind, ugh. It seriously shouldn't take 2.5 hours to cut something out. But when you lay the fabric on the ground, then have to take a breather to get your energy back, you know you aren't well (also, I didn't like the taste of even chocolate, but I don't like to dwell on that).<br />
<br />
While I was making this garment, I was learning how to do new things and new ways of using my machine. I didn't realise I had a straight stretch stitch. Sure, it uses a heap more thread and takes longer to do a seam, but I really like the result I get from using it.<br />
<br />
It meant I started thinking about how/what I learn. When I got my machine, I didn't go and work out everything I could do with it. I just kept using it how I usually would my old machine. Except for bottonholes, I love my one step bottonholer. I used to just avoid bottons where at all possible. I'm still a bit scared of them, but I'll go for it after doing several practice runs. <br />
<br />
I don't go out of my way to find something I don't know and decide to learn it. Part of that is you don't know what you don't know. Instead, I tend to decide that I want to make something, then learn how to do it if I don't know. I like doing it that way, as it gives me the motivation to learn something new, and also the practical practise in doing it, rather than doing something for the sake of doing it. <br />
<br />
That was it, just a little ramble on my crafting learning style. Curious as to how others decide what they'd like to learn, and how they learn it. Care to share?PolyCraftualhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07777851123314135341noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606183459378255295.post-2181141943773750962014-10-10T11:41:00.001+13:002014-10-10T11:50:09.061+13:00Christmas Crafting already, I feel organisedI realised last week that it was October. For the past couple of years I've done '31 Days of Unfinished Projects'. I didn't even realise this year. Mainly I think because I'm no longer following any blogs that do it, so no reminders. I'm happy about this. Even though I do enjoy that yearly plunge into my UFO cupboard.<br />
<br />
I'm working on Christmas crafting instead. Which is just crazy. Like I've got a little notebook, and have started writing in it what I'm planning to make for people for Christmas.<br />
<br />
The main reason for doing this is I made a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/brickless" target="_blank">Brickless</a> (seriously, I love this pattern, and I can say this even after frogging three times in the current one, once frogging 10% of it, half of what I'd done, for a mistake made 2 days earlier) for a friend after she commented on my one. I really should get around to finishing blocking them and actually writing about them. Anyways, she asked if she could commission me to make some for her as Christmas gifts. I said yes. Maybe I'm crazy, but she's a good friend, the one who always gives of her time to help me declutter and organise. Plus I needed a simple project for after dinner crafting. Bonus was I had the yarn for two of them already in my stash, yarn I'd been offered, said yes to because it was so pretty, but had no idea what to make into. So stashbusting for the win.<br />
<br />
The other bonus of doing this, was I realised I really should work out what I'm going to make people for Christmas, so that I could make sure I had enough time to do everything. I really dont' need last minute stress this year. I've had enough stress this year to last me for ages. <br />
<br />
We do 'secret Santa' in my family for the adults. It's not so secret anymore, it used to be, now we just work out who's doing who and go for it. My husband has my Mum, so I'm making something for her. Plus a sister commented on the Hungry Caterpillar Dress, so I am making her daughter a couple in that style for Christmas. Already have the fabric for one, even have it prewashed and ironed. By the time I add in my mother in law and aunty in law, that's a bit of crafting. I guess I like making things for those I know will appreciate it. <br />
<br />
I kind of can't believe I'm talking about Christmas in October, but I'm still of the opinion that the only shops allowed Christmas stuff up before December are craft shops, because crafting takes time. <br />
<br />
So I'm going to go enjoy the quiet that is currently my house, curl up on the couch with some tv and keep working on my Christmas crafting. Who knows, I might even get it all finished before the last minute.... PolyCraftualhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07777851123314135341noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606183459378255295.post-14193677992440061952014-09-09T22:09:00.001+12:002014-09-09T22:09:16.882+12:00The WSBN Post-Winter Sewing Room Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's been rather awhile since I last posted. I haven't stopped crafting, or telling people about what I've been doing. Life has just been full on and I've been doing things in real life and had barely an online presence. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But Gemma of <a href="http://66stitches.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Sixty Six Stitches</a> had the fantastic idea of a <a href="http://thecuriouskiwi.wordpress.com/wellington-sewing-bloggers-network/" target="_blank">WSBN</a> sewing room blog tour. I said yes , and promptly forgot about it till I was reminded a few days ago. It was awhile ago, at least, I think it was awhile ago, I wasn't quite so busy then.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Warning: This is a photo heavy post. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So I have a sewing room. It's the biggest bedroom in the house, just, but it's also the one that gets the least natural light. Which is why it isn't used as a bedroom. Unfortunately, it means the lighting in here isn't the best. I have been known to move my machines to the dining table when I'm planning to spend a decent block of time working on a project. Also makes it easier to interact with a small one in the lounge. It has various names, sewing room, craft room. But usually it's just my room. It's my space. I keep my things in there, to attempt to keep the rest of the house uncluttered for the rest of the family.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
First, my door. For my 30th, a friend made me this image for my door. I don't know if any of you know the game <a href="http://www.worldofmunchkin.com/game/" target="_blank">Munchkin</a>, but it's based off that. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_nPTwd09TPQwaOquL1OoAEJPYdI_n4S302F2V9mKcr1ln1O3zj0Tk9T1GziFVQS1W_LOTclYxpGnp3tsE20MdESvEbrHkFyNG9RpZA4GZpd9ReLXJTiduCHbcHKN0IwZn2bTybR8fG4B/s1600/IMG_20140908_225045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_nPTwd09TPQwaOquL1OoAEJPYdI_n4S302F2V9mKcr1ln1O3zj0Tk9T1GziFVQS1W_LOTclYxpGnp3tsE20MdESvEbrHkFyNG9RpZA4GZpd9ReLXJTiduCHbcHKN0IwZn2bTybR8fG4B/s1600/IMG_20140908_225045.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
To the left inside my room I have my wool cabinet. There are drawers under it (an entire one of trims, ribbons and elastic), along with various other assorted things. Most of my wool is in there. But there is a sweater lot of bottle green possum/merino and a 1kg bag of undyed 8ply on top as well. I love having the glass front so that I can see all my pretties. It's mostly 8 and 4 ply, because that's what I love. I think I'm heavy on the 4 ply currently, as it's migrated over to the right hand side, having overflowed the left. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HXvYsa2EfxpsxqiLCOpYNnbohdepwNs7zIbYFbO-aslFhy-38T8Mm1gmFMiQO8xhiGyBEI0ugSyLs1InfJvjGDYIkSfclbC0Vu_iTIg_H0wkHGOLD-1OJNeV3oPFDjXh6bND_quCIGfk/s1600/IMG_20140908_225107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HXvYsa2EfxpsxqiLCOpYNnbohdepwNs7zIbYFbO-aslFhy-38T8Mm1gmFMiQO8xhiGyBEI0ugSyLs1InfJvjGDYIkSfclbC0Vu_iTIg_H0wkHGOLD-1OJNeV3oPFDjXh6bND_quCIGfk/s1600/IMG_20140908_225107.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
My worktable, takes up the entire centre of the room. I could make it a little smaller, but I love the space. It often gets covered, but always makes me smile when it's tidied, which I may have done last night before taking photos, I wanted to be able to see the table in them. This table is pretty special to me, it's one of the bits of furniture I got of a very creative favourite aunty. I used to have a table cloth on it, as I was worried about scratching it. Then it got pointed out to me (I can't remember who by), that I could always refinish it. Cloth promptly ended up in a donation box, and while it's got a few scratches now, I always love looking at it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin88BmWdw9J-SmhI-aWwNb3_xoV3YLdBy3bd97MaAZGlz9zFR1c_SW6Oc5Ct7ltCHCYaKLt2othm97kMxMKkppXHXnRZne_yoUahomtjeMAXI2UM6eIjcYkesaayZgZyvyOHgpAOywy5as/s1600/IMG_20140908_225133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin88BmWdw9J-SmhI-aWwNb3_xoV3YLdBy3bd97MaAZGlz9zFR1c_SW6Oc5Ct7ltCHCYaKLt2othm97kMxMKkppXHXnRZne_yoUahomtjeMAXI2UM6eIjcYkesaayZgZyvyOHgpAOywy5as/s1600/IMG_20140908_225133.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Box of things I need to do something with. Including a hip scarf for belly dancing, some cotton a friend spun for me and a shawl I finished knitting early in winter and haven't worn as I haven't yet blocked it.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjloNgXxYZ0PoSZB-Mm05ij7_raeTSyTrVGxyI9pmxScb1WXrSwic0IhyCyu-u0GksVLGmNe70pb20mPbq3wHdq32nCI1h5qvP3dPpiyooDSUnmTjpAyWHdjnv3R26-x2nPmb1BOusC9kzO/s1600/IMG_20140908_225204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjloNgXxYZ0PoSZB-Mm05ij7_raeTSyTrVGxyI9pmxScb1WXrSwic0IhyCyu-u0GksVLGmNe70pb20mPbq3wHdq32nCI1h5qvP3dPpiyooDSUnmTjpAyWHdjnv3R26-x2nPmb1BOusC9kzO/s1600/IMG_20140908_225204.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Pretty sock wool reminding me to hurry up and finish my current almost-brainless knitting project so that I can start playing with them. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_F8Sz0hVW19WCQEe9wB-JAUPsELznDmfXT7mJEIGHV2uAgBd7OJCXiLeh2-x5Y5FevFKIvOXwiF__wC94VdR61_EwEbvsne3CnZhwVcPAHBvvxEF0SFhqnhwAxtcnr9bP84D9m_xqOV-N/s1600/IMG_20140908_225214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_F8Sz0hVW19WCQEe9wB-JAUPsELznDmfXT7mJEIGHV2uAgBd7OJCXiLeh2-x5Y5FevFKIvOXwiF__wC94VdR61_EwEbvsne3CnZhwVcPAHBvvxEF0SFhqnhwAxtcnr9bP84D9m_xqOV-N/s1600/IMG_20140908_225214.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Moving further across the table, but also into the near future planned projects. Table seems to be a good place to keep them. Beats the UFO cupboard, more on that later.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Dark purple linen that I got several years ago in Christchurch and have been trying to decide what perfect garment to make with it, as I love it. Some of it is getting made into a dress to wear to my little brother's wedding, which is next weekend. Guess what I'll be starting on tomorrow night.... The polka dots are a partially made gathered ruffle skirt for Guinevere. I've made two already, not for her, so I think it's time I made her one.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2_YPA33wZqkoGqeeEzUUkkCoERSg98H5cYuwcTK8RHzyOqnQR0UjcmPiUJzb4LPH-y6hSDzWs-vusvY2bq_BWts9OV1EcZ4N8jzJf5mHMIqTRDtlVfbxaNQj3B779r4Nf2WrzoK5fCby/s1600/IMG_20140908_225253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2_YPA33wZqkoGqeeEzUUkkCoERSg98H5cYuwcTK8RHzyOqnQR0UjcmPiUJzb4LPH-y6hSDzWs-vusvY2bq_BWts9OV1EcZ4N8jzJf5mHMIqTRDtlVfbxaNQj3B779r4Nf2WrzoK5fCby/s1600/IMG_20140908_225253.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
So this wedding of my brother's, it's steampunk. These are bits that are getting turned into accessories. A wee bag from that same aunt, which is getting turned into a belt pouch, random bits and the top of my wedding boots which I wore till the soles fell apart.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72nYYHDpNnWy5FwRkVzQIhz-f31jnXzXONoNt8ScoNoxmAJRYbwznTRe87Pz1MmDOAwMUOm-Ckkdg0yyH7yXi_V9zqrq6DN6YOvWo7cMWX-8SEsD_e3WLC7b4AaC4QtmUJIcnyVptepbg/s1600/IMG_20140908_225302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72nYYHDpNnWy5FwRkVzQIhz-f31jnXzXONoNt8ScoNoxmAJRYbwznTRe87Pz1MmDOAwMUOm-Ckkdg0yyH7yXi_V9zqrq6DN6YOvWo7cMWX-8SEsD_e3WLC7b4AaC4QtmUJIcnyVptepbg/s1600/IMG_20140908_225302.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
My sewing machine. 30th birthday present from my husband, Best Present Ever.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-NKqOS81sMgA4h7-_p24xBUe5A_kMD_giQAhs5fUfa2y2kl-leIO7rwNo8O1PYPOzlmtC3ybFXJNsgaPTuUmNCV_J_WMryUPwXcZ5dIFYLHz7ZvBREDTbC_zMRiEDMA2h7WPxQozzma6/s1600/IMG_20140908_225323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-NKqOS81sMgA4h7-_p24xBUe5A_kMD_giQAhs5fUfa2y2kl-leIO7rwNo8O1PYPOzlmtC3ybFXJNsgaPTuUmNCV_J_WMryUPwXcZ5dIFYLHz7ZvBREDTbC_zMRiEDMA2h7WPxQozzma6/s1600/IMG_20140908_225323.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Love that my sewing desk has this bit for a jumble of threads, chalk, pins, quick-unpicks and all those other essentials.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBfcIlAGnhFgpABU_sYXqoe5jRtPawHc6U8vaXyl-T_S4owBhrv7doNfi9x6PeMSQui82KIyHrPQsbNyBzWwsXwZFEmLwDE2HdhZ80Nq4tT35kxvjxb6f-p4y6fXm153-fQhrS6KBvF3Fu/s1600/IMG_20140908_225336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBfcIlAGnhFgpABU_sYXqoe5jRtPawHc6U8vaXyl-T_S4owBhrv7doNfi9x6PeMSQui82KIyHrPQsbNyBzWwsXwZFEmLwDE2HdhZ80Nq4tT35kxvjxb6f-p4y6fXm153-fQhrS6KBvF3Fu/s1600/IMG_20140908_225336.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Cupboard, good for holding up ironing board, looks tidy.....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCJWzfv9EZ0LJ9Cs9t4PFjaNtgpSGs5Ai4ZY33oDcGXs6EO709nexv1wfxL_FzdhFKcoJHB8QcLlbcR-I8FAYzBvS6EmOqP29ySQuZF6z86qMDK5tToXU02L-Tp_7wEZzbk2QSYwJo4hX/s1600/IMG_20140908_225358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCJWzfv9EZ0LJ9Cs9t4PFjaNtgpSGs5Ai4ZY33oDcGXs6EO709nexv1wfxL_FzdhFKcoJHB8QcLlbcR-I8FAYzBvS6EmOqP29ySQuZF6z86qMDK5tToXU02L-Tp_7wEZzbk2QSYwJo4hX/s1600/IMG_20140908_225358.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Yeah, not so much, kinda full. Linens and calico on the bottom, knits one shelf up. Pinstripe (yes, that stack of black that takes up nearly half a shelf is all pinstripe), beading and box of cross stitch patterns next shelf up. Top shelf is cross stitch kits and fabrics, knitting equipment, calligraphy, coloured pencils and buttons. On top is a box of patterns and a basket of leather.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRMxbveiIHkAyoHC2vlfg6owfG_bU7jsJykkfOlQa2wv4rVbjSP1-5QFzYishhk_P15ueeqSdAcWNYTHwjZukKHzd3kO-zMW_U0Ibcs82n3wRnRZ0EUQgtf8HtcFF-1xmBe4u1kLWJpNT7/s1600/IMG_20140908_225437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRMxbveiIHkAyoHC2vlfg6owfG_bU7jsJykkfOlQa2wv4rVbjSP1-5QFzYishhk_P15ueeqSdAcWNYTHwjZukKHzd3kO-zMW_U0Ibcs82n3wRnRZ0EUQgtf8HtcFF-1xmBe4u1kLWJpNT7/s1600/IMG_20140908_225437.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Little wardrobe unit. Drawers are full of paper, stickers and tape. Cupboard is full of, well, I can't believe I'm actually posting this online....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnmQrWP9bE9SHJBCtual0eBgHtPDLrTtvAr-1C-0NZgV2YsD9bqHn4L_x85HQm0rgRzw9l-1rRweD1NEM8EwIjbSoRlcwHL60sdcHRi_YHoOA7LO09-d7TPfT_5As4_jvtuNO0VQf3BUQJ/s1600/IMG_20140908_225511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnmQrWP9bE9SHJBCtual0eBgHtPDLrTtvAr-1C-0NZgV2YsD9bqHn4L_x85HQm0rgRzw9l-1rRweD1NEM8EwIjbSoRlcwHL60sdcHRi_YHoOA7LO09-d7TPfT_5As4_jvtuNO0VQf3BUQJ/s1600/IMG_20140908_225511.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is my UFO cupboard. All of it. All of the cupboard, not all my UFO's. Unfinished projects. I'm much better at starting things than finishing them. One day I dream of having it emptied of all but a handful of projects to rotate between to prevent being bored. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcN03cpN_DJB6KhqnBaAjlC4cgI55OAoUGtnE8v91x3jsqknYJCf-p37qCoD-nPJep0_6a4IRQtIG2CHacnVi2QY4OKl67e_2oUauovWc0SZX9cGczVHd4Uc-QpknNgUQdDzS4IfdhwlX9/s1600/IMG_20140908_225523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcN03cpN_DJB6KhqnBaAjlC4cgI55OAoUGtnE8v91x3jsqknYJCf-p37qCoD-nPJep0_6a4IRQtIG2CHacnVi2QY4OKl67e_2oUauovWc0SZX9cGczVHd4Uc-QpknNgUQdDzS4IfdhwlX9/s1600/IMG_20140908_225523.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Top of the wardrobe is my mother-in-law's spinning wheel. Also makes a fantastic hat stand. You can see my iron, which I love and my sewing scissors. Actually, I think they rival my sewing machine for best present, and they're Singer as well. Thanks for those Dad.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDz6wHTTFu-5PCipPpFokj5AVlJhPZ2KvwEvwPz02r3gkc1Ma6rcGTbjS6a2UYdD4KQ1rsDpEBeIm7V55f5ecgrM5bS5FDcpNf4GVN0fl8sQ4YOAZgwrddaatP6Gi2GqvUj8hWcYE1tEF5/s1600/IMG_20140908_225454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDz6wHTTFu-5PCipPpFokj5AVlJhPZ2KvwEvwPz02r3gkc1Ma6rcGTbjS6a2UYdD4KQ1rsDpEBeIm7V55f5ecgrM5bS5FDcpNf4GVN0fl8sQ4YOAZgwrddaatP6Gi2GqvUj8hWcYE1tEF5/s1600/IMG_20140908_225454.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Computer desk. Actually tidy. With a wall of things that make me smile and inspire me.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfMykJtKr34qdAnWBIHfCwAxvbJK-JopVb_4v5yGzcAIJzLCDt77xUGErvw1D3n7H-1vHbPWXAZzHK6qox-sKhDwYsH_Y7NPcYW4Els1NUvQygxuEnPJ_2xv01_NBj-ltERwlH1VL_O17a/s1600/IMG_20140908_225604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfMykJtKr34qdAnWBIHfCwAxvbJK-JopVb_4v5yGzcAIJzLCDt77xUGErvw1D3n7H-1vHbPWXAZzHK6qox-sKhDwYsH_Y7NPcYW4Els1NUvQygxuEnPJ_2xv01_NBj-ltERwlH1VL_O17a/s1600/IMG_20140908_225604.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
More shelving. Magazines up the top (spin off, thread and various cross stitch ones). Shelf of knick knack type things, but all things with meaning and that make me smile. Most of those ones are up there to keep out of reach of small hands, like the glass blown Christmas bauble, or my Phantom of the Opera snow globe.<br />
Next two shelves are mostly cotton fabrics, which a bunch of other ones thrown in as I just don't know where to put them. Bottom three shelves, I know, I can barely see the bottom shelf and I know it's there, it's mainly filled with a 10m piece of green so dark it's almost black velvet. Full of fabrics I really like and love. Like the velvet, like the red silk my Mum brought me back from somewhere overseas, it was years ago, sorry Mum, I don't remember where from.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcqh_tspWoVMrIygNgit0sEUghkp79WKGzWxcZ_SaqTS5TISeOSK-1c-bs50HYm0XDD1qgaf1fLP-Zpg5wtJOrRyzc_2ml1PDi4aJ_w55rJABvcyiKrHRUBPTNmz4WQVLtoS4iL8_uSH2/s1600/IMG_20140908_225731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcqh_tspWoVMrIygNgit0sEUghkp79WKGzWxcZ_SaqTS5TISeOSK-1c-bs50HYm0XDD1qgaf1fLP-Zpg5wtJOrRyzc_2ml1PDi4aJ_w55rJABvcyiKrHRUBPTNmz4WQVLtoS4iL8_uSH2/s1600/IMG_20140908_225731.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Bookshelf. Top shelf is stuff that has no where to go in the bathroom/bedroom. Two shelves of books and more magazines. And another two of fabrics. The bottom one has a stack of pinstripe shirts a friend gave me to refashion, I have a thing for pin stripe. And some pretty fabrics I got given for my daughter, like skulls :) The bookshelf by the door has an entire shelf of notebooks, another unfinished project (which doesn't fit in the UFO cupboard). One day I'll finish the dressing gown for my husband.... Also two bottom shelves are for Guinevere. She knows she can put her toys on them, or play with whats there. Makes it much easier when I'm working/playing in here.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEcNkr_rIjwVuGeMnCeCtbFbkT0vc-UsCo9tSKsgo0OTliR17ADmQFYvacV6Mt2d7-cQy2aKLVKMg9O7WECbOEW60y-9dn4o9XT5kk_7aYlcDNqEyHH1xTw8IctZQBA6OnhOTSq4vwJ44_/s1600/IMG_20140908_225824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEcNkr_rIjwVuGeMnCeCtbFbkT0vc-UsCo9tSKsgo0OTliR17ADmQFYvacV6Mt2d7-cQy2aKLVKMg9O7WECbOEW60y-9dn4o9XT5kk_7aYlcDNqEyHH1xTw8IctZQBA6OnhOTSq4vwJ44_/s1600/IMG_20140908_225824.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I also have 6 x 60L plastic tubs of fabric and another large box full downstairs...... There is also two blanket boxes of spinning fibres, stuffing and medieval dresses. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My favourite makes are my underbust corset, which I have plans to blog about, seeing as how I finally finished handsewing the binding on. The scarves I made for my nieces/nephew. There were 6 of them, I was a little bored by the end, but they're loving them. My wedding dress, which I really need to refashion as small one resulted in body shape changes. My Brickless, you saw it further up this post, it's waiting to be blocked and blogged about. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I love my sewing room. I love having a space that is mine. Chaotic and cluttered, but one day it won't be. In the meantime, I'm just going to enjoy it. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
That's the end of my photo heavier, and wordier than I expected ramble. Tomorrow we have MaryLouise over at <a href="http://thanksimadethismyself.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Thanks! I made this myself</a>! Enjoy the rest of the tour :)</div>
<br />PolyCraftualhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07777851123314135341noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606183459378255295.post-37569032559517101612014-04-20T23:02:00.000+12:002014-04-20T23:02:02.952+12:00De-StashingLife has been a bit busy lately, so I haven't been spending as much time on my computer as usual. This isn't a bad thing, I've been getting things done around the house. Slowly sure, but progress is being made. I've also been spending more time knitting. For some reason I'm on a knitting binge and don't really feel like sewing much. It's a shame for the partially finished projects that are waiting around for me to find my sew-jo again. But my yarn stash is looking much happier for it.<br />
<br />
A friend and I went through my stash earlier in the week. Except for one box of sweater lots that I'm trying to make a decision on, it all fits into my designated yarn cupboard. The box is awaiting a decision as it's mostly 5 ply, and I tend to be an 8 ply or 4 ply girl. I loves me some sock yarn.<br />
<br />
The best thing about going through my stash with someone who knows me, knows crafting and knows my crafting style, she really asks the hard questions, but accepts that sometimes 'cos I love it', is a good reason to keep a yarn.<br />
<br />
27 balls of yarn later, my stash was looking much happier. I feel I should point out that I went through on my own a couple of months ago and got rid of about that much then as well.<br />
<br />
In the interests on honesty, I should also mention that during this process I added 3 balls from my friends stash into mine. I feel absolutely no guilt over this. I got rid of a bunch of stuff I wasn't going to use anytime in the near distant future and stuff that I didn't like or only kinda liked, and made way for three skeins of sock yarn that I love. Well, two that I loved and one my daughter loved. She kept cuddling it and saying 'mine'. I think I'll be making her something with it. Thankfully it goes with another skein I've got, so I have options.<br />
<br />
I've found a project for 2 skeins of yarn that my Mum bought me years ago, which I'll blog about when I finish it. Shouldn't be too far away, in 2 weeks I'm halfway through it. I've also found a project for 2 skeins that I'd bought earlier this year for another project, that I didn't end up doing. Halfway through that as well, and a third (partial) skein is also being used in it. I've knitted over 100g of 4 ply in the past two weeks.<br />
<br />
This is one of the projects I'm currently working on:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAcu3nzAaWlxW3adxdIx1jy7Iix4hhnHx1fHjo9oUTPhqMcSfH4O4Zu_wgT1ghU3uF9LdnHYhoRwFvZ-aRh-hBsF2BTIhzEXqDetdm2mnxQ_BFKggo8Xt0lNWVg8_wEQa5b0Ln3sHKI-E/s1600/IMG_20140419_151817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAcu3nzAaWlxW3adxdIx1jy7Iix4hhnHx1fHjo9oUTPhqMcSfH4O4Zu_wgT1ghU3uF9LdnHYhoRwFvZ-aRh-hBsF2BTIhzEXqDetdm2mnxQ_BFKggo8Xt0lNWVg8_wEQa5b0Ln3sHKI-E/s1600/IMG_20140419_151817.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />PolyCraftualhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07777851123314135341noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606183459378255295.post-51831772991765877002014-03-23T16:00:00.000+13:002014-03-23T16:00:08.821+13:00Hungry Caterpillar DressA few months ago I finished <a href="http://thornecreations.blogspot.co.nz/2013/10/day-5-fo-hungry-caterpillar-dress.html" target="_blank">The Hungry Caterpillar Dress</a> for Guinevere. But I realised I never actually posted any pictures of her wearing it. Which I do like doing, as I send the blog links to Mum, so I can share with her what I'm making.<br />
<br />
So, today I got Guinevere to model the dress for me. I think she had fun....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhS7y2EMRd9MwRQTUGqMEE__twBMXv_ff7zJp7hZs4uHBIaly5w_HsnR4nUC8ff2KjDhWWqNziW6hyL0tp4_f7YT-ixPSrloRliKtkVlb3GjGhI7Va1MJEY4iTKxEv0yyllvmrSV6bORca/s1600/IMG_20140323_151426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhS7y2EMRd9MwRQTUGqMEE__twBMXv_ff7zJp7hZs4uHBIaly5w_HsnR4nUC8ff2KjDhWWqNziW6hyL0tp4_f7YT-ixPSrloRliKtkVlb3GjGhI7Va1MJEY4iTKxEv0yyllvmrSV6bORca/s1600/IMG_20140323_151426.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNSusvlovyyuoXTQaAscdo3YIPXeKcr_pPt2B91MRtT7oFTOjYffk3rRVilr3qPTmqaWb3_CAdztIRvCv213ppPd2HEBIUzisVH70kYvmfHtKey0m3VmxK8JRK1xNoUsK_5IzOoSzQkN0/s1600/IMG_20140323_151439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNSusvlovyyuoXTQaAscdo3YIPXeKcr_pPt2B91MRtT7oFTOjYffk3rRVilr3qPTmqaWb3_CAdztIRvCv213ppPd2HEBIUzisVH70kYvmfHtKey0m3VmxK8JRK1xNoUsK_5IzOoSzQkN0/s1600/IMG_20140323_151439.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUcrqLKBhC95ODKPVxvbwpVJScrMcMhekjy2qlDpBbQE7Q7twkV9xvVGX_617nOt2X3mZuCdSNGfQzvAAYKNUSogzGu5IUB1rPwEgxozux7YJ6rpNx9wLWRxunh2v5sTendGdWZ-35IaDm/s1600/IMG_20140323_151447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUcrqLKBhC95ODKPVxvbwpVJScrMcMhekjy2qlDpBbQE7Q7twkV9xvVGX_617nOt2X3mZuCdSNGfQzvAAYKNUSogzGu5IUB1rPwEgxozux7YJ6rpNx9wLWRxunh2v5sTendGdWZ-35IaDm/s1600/IMG_20140323_151447.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After I took the last photo she said to me, "there you go Mummy, all done." And hopped off the couch to go back to her playing. </div>
<br />PolyCraftualhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07777851123314135341noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606183459378255295.post-20191845125073542902014-03-09T20:23:00.001+13:002014-03-09T20:23:18.655+13:00Stripy JumperA while back I agreed to knit a shop sample for <a href="http://www.mademarioncraft.co.nz/" target="_blank">Made Marion</a>. <a href="http://sentfrommyiron.blogspot.co.nz/" target="_blank">Maryanne</a> picked out a gorgeous little stripy jumper pattern, some absolutely scrumptious yarn, and told me to knit it in a size that would fit my little one come winter.<br />
<br />
There is a photo of the design <a href="http://www.cottontailcrafts.co.uk/peter-gregory-knitting-patterns/PGR-DK-805.html" target="_blank">here</a>. I'd take a photo of the copy I have. But it got rather, um, loved by Guinevere when she had a look at it to inspect what I was knitting. Plus I was knitting it while out and about, so I gave it a bit of loving too.<br />
<br />
The wool was Rare Essentials, an alpaca/merino blend. So lovely to work with. It's seriously one of the nicest yarns I've ever knitted up.<br />
<br />
Now to show you the photos I took of Guinevere wearing it. Unforunately the light isn't great, but you can get a good idea of what it turned out like. I tried to put her in some non daycare pants. But she's at that age where she wants to pick her own clothes, and wasn't having any of it.<br />
It always amazing me how many facial expression this little girl can go through in such a short space of time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSexznNBNMX-vZkBZMBh_GfVIgiMv4nxkJPrpHMSc4oCiBbBxKA6cXODGByzA36G-bGIkyQo8SR93jxSlJEDl3L0Q1hlcX0vS8K1vg9mmUqZk2SP2V4x3Fq6mMcWEl-_hF7pSrQqb4aqB/s1600/10001532_10151898253162142_2099857228_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSexznNBNMX-vZkBZMBh_GfVIgiMv4nxkJPrpHMSc4oCiBbBxKA6cXODGByzA36G-bGIkyQo8SR93jxSlJEDl3L0Q1hlcX0vS8K1vg9mmUqZk2SP2V4x3Fq6mMcWEl-_hF7pSrQqb4aqB/s1600/10001532_10151898253162142_2099857228_n.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsddPBHQNAAV8J6K297a97GpKBP7oTIGVzT-GqmmdKtIb7eG2qyGRDsii5S9hLZUIreNjrIJvN6I7mhfKGvIzyqj5QTd2YUG3upy8qpheIlS_Tdt2uVlg0s2srE1eLRGygPAPFctIjcBG/s1600/1623589_10151898253442142_1923094105_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsddPBHQNAAV8J6K297a97GpKBP7oTIGVzT-GqmmdKtIb7eG2qyGRDsii5S9hLZUIreNjrIJvN6I7mhfKGvIzyqj5QTd2YUG3upy8qpheIlS_Tdt2uVlg0s2srE1eLRGygPAPFctIjcBG/s1600/1623589_10151898253442142_1923094105_n.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDIVd3S4SrKZBpS2pTpV77lADhofEHimQI12J09UqZum-I995Hm4YJ096X0e5GoFYM3GLopRMeo05wRp-Jh-BY5hG9Eza9WoAcE_GxRaIi4ztpoVJOHmdBi-jMPQYODht6NiOLWLaoYAwq/s1600/1625724_10151898253322142_644420652_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDIVd3S4SrKZBpS2pTpV77lADhofEHimQI12J09UqZum-I995Hm4YJ096X0e5GoFYM3GLopRMeo05wRp-Jh-BY5hG9Eza9WoAcE_GxRaIi4ztpoVJOHmdBi-jMPQYODht6NiOLWLaoYAwq/s1600/1625724_10151898253322142_644420652_n.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EoTGBB1efr-yWNuplkB7fBe8c8trBcpU4Wg917iTc2XdD9i8JRFnN9Ah4-fBgqGJMu3BWwpuxk9nGUAN1oa_tiwPVqrsZxz59JYpDzWqq7_rw45b5NyCWvr6j4W0ea9_dVBm5F9P427d/s1600/1901346_10151898253762142_291021862_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EoTGBB1efr-yWNuplkB7fBe8c8trBcpU4Wg917iTc2XdD9i8JRFnN9Ah4-fBgqGJMu3BWwpuxk9nGUAN1oa_tiwPVqrsZxz59JYpDzWqq7_rw45b5NyCWvr6j4W0ea9_dVBm5F9P427d/s1600/1901346_10151898253762142_291021862_n.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmMaR4wPCLhmS71hJSMVv0EWYyvGKXhCdZsIkB7etHpuCqkyISVzmywO_9g3_Q2rfSe4nUFB9ySX2SFyjqf9WBdHYGVIRkm_KCNRptFBV13i6yjor5bXAg2anznBKmGlNa3hmTsgCxgHaw/s1600/1623769_10151898253257142_1968497147_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmMaR4wPCLhmS71hJSMVv0EWYyvGKXhCdZsIkB7etHpuCqkyISVzmywO_9g3_Q2rfSe4nUFB9ySX2SFyjqf9WBdHYGVIRkm_KCNRptFBV13i6yjor5bXAg2anznBKmGlNa3hmTsgCxgHaw/s1600/1623769_10151898253257142_1968497147_n.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
And some of teddy modeling it, with close ups of the roll cuff and collar. I didn't get a close up of the hem, but it's done the same way.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZTUd6f4qplIlxCMhI5B20aF8yPTd4AyhtGtLgon0p_gQBznprgZHolk7oxbZdWpvZmjHL5CF0vtuT07c_khvORiKqERgi_UmrDIoD64wPiCkdWrej9_hgoxQxVThdTrVikjhWhWBtxFjn/s1600/IMG_20140217_131342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZTUd6f4qplIlxCMhI5B20aF8yPTd4AyhtGtLgon0p_gQBznprgZHolk7oxbZdWpvZmjHL5CF0vtuT07c_khvORiKqERgi_UmrDIoD64wPiCkdWrej9_hgoxQxVThdTrVikjhWhWBtxFjn/s1600/IMG_20140217_131342.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up on the roll neck</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEO0KC1bLZThW5xCNT8WGpEqegzJK0-PnCLiXaoe1LWkgHdJwW-bSe_ibEtCGstp6X2LJ2-EEnlEGVTNJ-L0O1A1wNDeicrGVQQgGtNJm4K7SBvtTZGzmZN7Va4GhNMRjrcQdNsDKq2J-l/s1600/IMG_20140217_131351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEO0KC1bLZThW5xCNT8WGpEqegzJK0-PnCLiXaoe1LWkgHdJwW-bSe_ibEtCGstp6X2LJ2-EEnlEGVTNJ-L0O1A1wNDeicrGVQQgGtNJm4K7SBvtTZGzmZN7Va4GhNMRjrcQdNsDKq2J-l/s1600/IMG_20140217_131351.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up of the roll cuff</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_hrKi6A91_d_kFoSxH9oSQleh1Ho7x6OF5Ql2Hfv5tINMXLoV2nOzCgLFkAaS1_l_VL43gbn7iGtiNPlO2IyA_Oant9OmAAzEa08O930sojIBulxxTP_erH9YsIAbm01ULDG0uEBw-3x/s1600/IMG_20140217_131328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_hrKi6A91_d_kFoSxH9oSQleh1Ho7x6OF5Ql2Hfv5tINMXLoV2nOzCgLFkAaS1_l_VL43gbn7iGtiNPlO2IyA_Oant9OmAAzEa08O930sojIBulxxTP_erH9YsIAbm01ULDG0uEBw-3x/s1600/IMG_20140217_131328.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teddy feeling nice and warm on top of Guinevere's clothes shelves. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />I'm really happy with the top. I love the colour blocking on the front, even tho it meant I had so many ends to weave in, which isn't my most fun part of knitting. I love the roll collar, cuffs and hem on it. It's big enough that Guinevere has some grow room in it, or can fit a couple of tops under it. Plus there is a good amount of grow room in the sleeves without them being too long. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I wish I'd taken a photo of the side seam, as I was so proud of that. I lined up the stripes beautifully, and you can barely see the join at all.<br /><br />
When I'd taken the photos of Guinevere wearing it, I tried to take it off her, so that I could a)put it away before she got anything on it, and b) so that I could get her to try on something else I recently made her. She clutched at the front of it, twisted her body away and stated, 'Mine!'. Girl's got taste.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
PolyCraftualhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07777851123314135341noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606183459378255295.post-19885885697021569982014-01-21T13:01:00.000+13:002014-01-21T13:01:20.348+13:00New and Improved Sewing RoomI'm never quite sure what to call my sewing room. I tend to alternate between sewing room and craft room. While I do more sewing in here than any other craft, I do store all my other crafts in here. Sometimes it just gets called my room. I'd love to call it my studio, but it just doesn't work in my head for this room, as studio calls up images of windows and light. I have one window, not large, that doesn't get much natural light. So I've always got the light on when I'm in here.<br />
<br />
I know I've called this post 'new and improved', but it's not really new. I'm in the same room. But improved, has it ever!<br />
I don't know if you know this about me, but I'm not naturally an organised person. This makes it challenging for me to get my space organised, as I'm never quite sure how best to do it, and do it in a way that makes it simple for me to maintain.<br />
<br />
One of my friends however, is a born organiser, and she loves it. She came up last Friday and while our daughters kept each other amused, we spent 4 hours sorting my room out. So 8 hours work, and it was transformed. There is no way I could have done this on my own in 8 hours, not even if I didn't have my little one with me while doing it.<br />
We rearranged furniture so that the room appears more open. Put things into big plastic tubs that I'd bought. The table has been cleared. The floor has been cleared, and vacuumed. A space has been cleared to put objects that make me happy.<br />
<br />
I need to go through the drawers, cupboards, shelves and boxes in here, to remove items I no longer see myself using, and put them all in proper homes, fold fabrics, that kind of thing. But the room is completely usable. Plus because it is so tidy, pulling the contents out of one drawer or off one shelf to sort them isn't the massive task that it would have been a week ago. It also makes it easier for me to put things away, as I know where I want them to go, and it's the work of a minute to pick things up and put them away.<br />
<br />
So my room is totally usable, inspiringly so (according to spellcheck, that isn't actually a word, but it's the only one I can think of to describe how my room currently makes me feel towards my crafting). I've managed to keep it completely tidy since Friday. I've finished one UFO, made progress on another, cut out and partially sewn a skirt from stash fabric (using all of it too) and found about 70 things that don't need to be in here.<br />
<br />
We didn't take a before picture, and I'm kicking myself for that. But picture a table piled with stuff, on, under and around it. There was a walkway to my computer and sewing desks, but really, that's about all the usable/visible floor space there was.<br />
<br />
This is what it looks like now:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihM82JDym6efroURkXZMuAawH4znOd2azXbgm4CnA1iIwoJu5QGJKKz5yI9NWDlWb6HSeHtXCVEXb6O3JFIcRZxAI5g2VZZQxtq2tOzMAtuIMZbsrFGXpFkQplPrq6WduAuPFHTr7UHC2b/s1600/IMG_20140119_093144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihM82JDym6efroURkXZMuAawH4znOd2azXbgm4CnA1iIwoJu5QGJKKz5yI9NWDlWb6HSeHtXCVEXb6O3JFIcRZxAI5g2VZZQxtq2tOzMAtuIMZbsrFGXpFkQplPrq6WduAuPFHTr7UHC2b/s1600/IMG_20140119_093144.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View looking in the door</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZL3W4ZS5Iiv3Y1Exbz9zmP7H9HVTIs73OXmCjOCKbF4NLV93jHno34cxlp9W2xXRW2fJpw4rdHuw77zPuupewkhL1o7EI-SzDtjGVnOV8mn4YjOW1ERx7KDvsS_RR_9CHZEGBeyWwsq0i/s1600/IMG_20140119_093205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZL3W4ZS5Iiv3Y1Exbz9zmP7H9HVTIs73OXmCjOCKbF4NLV93jHno34cxlp9W2xXRW2fJpw4rdHuw77zPuupewkhL1o7EI-SzDtjGVnOV8mn4YjOW1ERx7KDvsS_RR_9CHZEGBeyWwsq0i/s1600/IMG_20140119_093205.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yarn storage and drawers that need organising</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKXtuUFe2aZYoFWbZTYtMqd6stIe2caQ8DLltqcLv5X_Atkh96PBO9USYVkCb7bqI3RdtzNQLIyZTlHsOHJT7w1NH3cvvdRkK53XxJFLPgzNiW5V9W08JXeH02okOjkCyJdmDcQ2nKXHd/s1600/IMG_20140119_093214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKXtuUFe2aZYoFWbZTYtMqd6stIe2caQ8DLltqcLv5X_Atkh96PBO9USYVkCb7bqI3RdtzNQLIyZTlHsOHJT7w1NH3cvvdRkK53XxJFLPgzNiW5V9W08JXeH02okOjkCyJdmDcQ2nKXHd/s1600/IMG_20140119_093214.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giant stack of plastic tubs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEhcYSM5dZxo0NNtUeoKoEoiv9-mg07pvTM6zPC9JvviXIxafEdFh9NXtj4jBxYS5EFEVJ081mXaW8cFjkkMWOGhOuf_KFlNW5JLbgJsjSAcgHahFXLY-uhre4NtYmxYV2sDpPowJY_IQa/s1600/IMG_20140119_093228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEhcYSM5dZxo0NNtUeoKoEoiv9-mg07pvTM6zPC9JvviXIxafEdFh9NXtj4jBxYS5EFEVJ081mXaW8cFjkkMWOGhOuf_KFlNW5JLbgJsjSAcgHahFXLY-uhre4NtYmxYV2sDpPowJY_IQa/s1600/IMG_20140119_093228.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Usable worktable, currently there is even less on it</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJRLdLnSOa1HocOo4kwOzPhXN5XbzPHOQSk60GibexIReE-0SBYgDQn3OEdNpqcBCxwnjIN5Cw4UpRejXJVgXMkrYhu33fSSjl4Jl2wGONYJkYRZvLYnIUqjB-Tb9tFuzEginA05ScZ9bD/s1600/IMG_20140119_093239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJRLdLnSOa1HocOo4kwOzPhXN5XbzPHOQSk60GibexIReE-0SBYgDQn3OEdNpqcBCxwnjIN5Cw4UpRejXJVgXMkrYhu33fSSjl4Jl2wGONYJkYRZvLYnIUqjB-Tb9tFuzEginA05ScZ9bD/s1600/IMG_20140119_093239.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sewing table, with two boxes of yarn beside it</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjkhqUkiZEOzjDhhne8rt5HT8ewtx1EbuSWqZiozkMNEGZcvFLaUP4DOIQ-hpJ70bAGGR2D1xTn6SZL47rrzJS76jOtcIaB28JH4v4fmR5zCefcsi3R3oeedX9wY6-wuodxNxrulMDng9/s1600/IMG_20140119_093254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjkhqUkiZEOzjDhhne8rt5HT8ewtx1EbuSWqZiozkMNEGZcvFLaUP4DOIQ-hpJ70bAGGR2D1xTn6SZL47rrzJS76jOtcIaB28JH4v4fmR5zCefcsi3R3oeedX9wY6-wuodxNxrulMDng9/s1600/IMG_20140119_093254.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cupboard with fabric and random craft bits, smaller cupboard is (full) of UFO's</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17gZGdbTRfatN0Hu-MEKG2cPYo0SNtcw7N9rjDo-WwmegG67jemVqri5J-vHelByUymDLfO6v1-g_DDtSa-k2ursp5lUXVkDrrvD8EyXziQ_B9H-igEmHRitrXXFXhR__jKxKY2BVPsTh/s1600/IMG_20140119_093320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17gZGdbTRfatN0Hu-MEKG2cPYo0SNtcw7N9rjDo-WwmegG67jemVqri5J-vHelByUymDLfO6v1-g_DDtSa-k2ursp5lUXVkDrrvD8EyXziQ_B9H-igEmHRitrXXFXhR__jKxKY2BVPsTh/s1600/IMG_20140119_093320.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Computer desk/workspace</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4M4as2iMlp_4u_DxrOw8xTYr3Xb9nqsdSALP7Ma9yLQDZouERqENkR-X1AfEG-0JCRe7asiB6iT5UShVsGfo9FUld4LjjhY42hU6jXxYw6tnKZU48iqMo3hieu-smr2YPxaHjHaw7OB9a/s1600/IMG_20140119_093341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4M4as2iMlp_4u_DxrOw8xTYr3Xb9nqsdSALP7Ma9yLQDZouERqENkR-X1AfEG-0JCRe7asiB6iT5UShVsGfo9FUld4LjjhY42hU6jXxYw6tnKZU48iqMo3hieu-smr2YPxaHjHaw7OB9a/s1600/IMG_20140119_093341.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shelves of fabric and books and bobs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><div>
I've got quite a large space, and there is a lot in here. I would like to make it a bit more open. But I now have some wall space to put up posters I've had nowhere to put for 4 years. It just feels so much more peaceful in here. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I should stop raving about it, I just can't believe how good it feels. </div>
PolyCraftualhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07777851123314135341noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606183459378255295.post-26890949273832596762014-01-12T12:58:00.002+13:002014-01-12T12:58:56.244+13:00Short of Creative TimeI realised a few days ago that I hadn't written blogged in ages. Not since half way through my 31 Days of Unfinished Projects. Which I did do a little more on, but there were no more completed projects in October.<br />
<br />
I have done some craft work in the past three months, I've even managed to finish a couple of things. And by couple, I mean about 4 small things, 3 of which were crochet washcloths. The main reason for this is I haven't had the time. I started working 4 months ago, instant loss of a whole bunch of time, then when you factor in there are lots of people on leave this time of year, I'm working even more. My husband also moved to another city for work, so during the week, I get to solo parent. A typical day currently is get up, drop little one at daycare, work, pop home for lunch, occasionally have time to put on washing or do some other housework task, back to work, pick up little one from daycare, go home, make dinner, spend time with little one till she's asleep (about 10pm) while trying to get some things around the house down, do the things that are needed to be ready for work/daycare in the morning then it's sleep time for me. Eeep, makes me exhausted just reading that. But it doesn't leave very much time for me.<br />
<br />
I'm also working on a new project for me, right now, habits and decluttering. Which uses up what time I could find to create in.<br />
<br />
I'm hoping in the new year, work will be a bit lighter, so I'll have some more time. In the mean time, 'real life' gets in the way of my being able to create.<br />
<br />
I did finish a UFO this morning. I had decided yesterday, after talking to a friend who has a friend expecting a baby, to crochet her up a little baby hat. They're simple projects, don't take much time or wool and are so simple that I can do them in my spare minutes when I wouldn't be able to do a project that requires me to look at a pattern. Plus I think every baby needs handknits, especially if it's something made just for them. I decided which colour I was going to make it in as well. This morning, while slightly rearranging a cupboard to more easily get to the things that I use most frequently, I came across a nearly finished baby hat, in the right colour. It was tucked in the back behind a box. Why it was in there, I have no idea. 8 minutes later (yes, I timed it), I had a planned project completed and a UFO I didn't even know I had completed. Plus it used up an entire piece of ribbon from my trims drawer. So it was kinda stashbusting too. Yay :)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrw0WIBWj2MduFUdqRt-GE5IqXWE4SWaLEcpgNfOoIGBKelzDgzEBzKwyICaUMCT7DsSX4tlZ34F9ECBO9WnFMzKGLlBzpUb42Ao_W7oMLYZsi2rihyphenhypheni3BlEXYWDS7eiJAuDTdojVNEJWu/s1600/IMG_20140112_124047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrw0WIBWj2MduFUdqRt-GE5IqXWE4SWaLEcpgNfOoIGBKelzDgzEBzKwyICaUMCT7DsSX4tlZ34F9ECBO9WnFMzKGLlBzpUb42Ao_W7oMLYZsi2rihyphenhypheni3BlEXYWDS7eiJAuDTdojVNEJWu/s1600/IMG_20140112_124047.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink Baby Hat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Now to go continue with resetting the house for the week ahead.PolyCraftualhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07777851123314135341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606183459378255295.post-22000973186314764522013-10-19T07:40:00.001+13:002013-10-19T07:40:53.919+13:00Day 18-19: Dress Hems and Early NightsI didn't write yesterday as I was working all day, then I had the house to myself for the entire night. The rest of the family went up to my mother in laws, I didn't go as I had work at 7am today. So I made myself a nice dinner and sat down with a good book. About 20 minutes after dinner, I realised I couldn't see the page properly, as I could barely keep my eyes open. So I toddled off to bed, at 7.30, while it was still light, and went to sleep. Oh it felt so good.<br />
<br />
I had another craftless day yesterday. But the day before saw some progress made on the baby blanket and on the hem of my teal dress.<br />
<br />
As I'd also just worked out that the state of my worktable influences the amount of sewing I feel like doing, I cleared some of the table off. To do that I had some bits that needed stored. But the drawer that they should be stored in was a mess, overflowing with papers. So I cleared it out. A large shoebox of paper recycling later, that drawer is much tidier, has much more space, and the bits on the table have been put away in their home. I still have a scattering of papers across the table, but they'll get sorted in the next few days. I'm currently still looking at my now organised drawer and smiling.PolyCraftualhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07777851123314135341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606183459378255295.post-39980063772366692672013-10-17T15:19:00.001+13:002013-10-17T15:19:12.383+13:00Day 17: A Craftless DayIt's happened the past two Wednesdays, I get to the end of the day and realise that I haven't done any crafting. It's not a long work day, I'm finished by 11am. But there are groceries to get and put away. There are 4 extras to feed for dinner, so cooking takes longer, especially as there are usually two options, meat and vegetarian. I also tend to do a bunch of my housework on Wednesday. So it's more a house day than a craft day. Even though I do spend some time in my sewing room, it's normally around looking after the little one so her Daddy can run his role playing game.<br />
<br />
While my worktable was clear, my husband used to come into my sewing room, sit down and talk to me, something he hasn't really done in the past. He'd usually stand in the doorway to talk to me. Now that there is less visual clutter, something that really doesn't work for him, he is happy to come chat. It's quite nice.<br />
<br />
I've also noticed that over the past few days my worktable has slowly gotten itself covered. I seem to have a habit of putting things down on it, as it's a clear and available surface, well, it was, currently isn't. And thinking about it more, the amount of time I've spent working on projects seems to have decreased as my table clutter increased. Coincidence? Who knows. I think it means that I'm going to have to make more of an effort to organise my sewing room. Which really should involve some destashing, as seriously, I could go for years on what I've got in here.PolyCraftualhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07777851123314135341noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606183459378255295.post-65298720279307718532013-10-16T13:03:00.002+13:002013-10-16T13:03:43.059+13:00Day 16: Halfway through the month. Yesterday I was working on my teal dress. I know it's been worn out before. But I was doing the whole last minute thing, and just ironed and safety pinned up the hem. No one could tell...<br />
But I want to wear the teal dress this weekend. We're having a cocktail party for my husband's 33 & 1/3 birthday party, and I want to wear something pretty. I have one dress in my wardrobe that would be suitable, but it doesn't fit my post baby body. I haven't yet decided that I'll never fit it again, so it's still there.<br />
<br />
So I'm hand hemming the skirt. I don't recall the last time I did that. But I underlined the dress. If I hand hem it I can hem it onto the lining, and it won't show on the front. Which just meant I couldn't let myself machine hem it. Today in a gap between clients I sat in the car and worked on it for a bit. Then later in the afternoon I had another, slightly longer gap. I was sitting in a cafe, with a hot chocolate, and some hemming on my lap.<br />
<br />
I even called my mum to check that I was meant to be using herringbone stitch on the hem. Really doing this properly. Definitely getting quicker as I get into the hang of it again.<br />
<br />
It's also the halfway mark for the month, so a round up of where I'm at so far.<br />
<br />
Progressed Projects:<br />
<br />
Baby blanket - I always seem to make progress on this, I think because it's a simple thing to pick up and do, plus it's portable. I also don't have any other simple knitting projects on the go currently, and haven't had the inclination to cast any on.<br />
<br />
Teal dress - The hem is now partially hand stitch. I suspect this will be my next finished project, unless I pick up and finish a simple one.<br />
<br />
Finished Projects:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://thornecreations.blogspot.co.nz/2013/10/day-3-fo-cabled-baby-cocoon.html" target="_blank">Cabled baby cocoon</a> - Needed stitched up and buttons added<br />
<a href="http://thornecreations.blogspot.co.nz/2013/10/day-5-fo-hungry-caterpillar-dress.html" target="_blank">Hungry Caterpillar Dress</a> - Only needed buttons added, can't believe it took me so long to finish.<br />
<a href="http://thornecreations.blogspot.co.nz/2013/10/day-9-fo-wetbags.html" target="_blank">Wetbags</a> - I now have 4 of them for daycare, rather than 1.<br />
<a href="http://thornecreations.blogspot.co.nz/2013/10/days-10-14-its-been-long-weekend-but-i.html" target="_blank">Shopping bag</a> - The one mum got me. Is more a repair, but was in UFO cupboard, so had been needing repaired for awhile, it counts.<br />
<a href="http://thornecreations.blogspot.co.nz/2013/10/days-10-14-its-been-long-weekend-but-i.html" target="_blank">Underbust Corset</a> - So happy to have finished this.<br />
<a href="http://thornecreations.blogspot.co.nz/2013/10/day-15-fo-pj-pants.html" target="_blank">PJ Pants</a> - Technically a repair job too, but was a big rip. Plus turned out I had to redo all seams.<br />
<br />
Halfway, and I've finished 6 projects and made progress on 2 more. I also can't recall any new projects I've started this month, so I'm definitely making inroads into that cupboard. I'm happy with that.PolyCraftualhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07777851123314135341noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606183459378255295.post-31994246170782733472013-10-15T21:41:00.002+13:002013-10-15T21:41:26.885+13:00Day 15: FO: PJ pantsI had pulled a couple of projects out of my UFO cupboard yesterday, well, three. I was trying to decide which one I wanted to work on first. Then I decided that while I was working that out, I was going to work on yet another one, so wandered back to the cupboard and pulled out a pair of PJ pants that needed repaired. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I made these PJ pants, along with two others, late in pregnancy, when I had sore hips, and nothing much was fitting me, so really needed some comfort clothing for around the house. So I got some pretty flannelette fabric and whipped up pj pants. These particular ones were a bright blue with butterflies. I'd take a photo, but am having camera issues, grrrr. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I thought it was just the fabric had torn by the inner upper thigh seam. But no. Closer inspection revealed that ALL of the seams had pulled fabric around them. This is where my trusty overlocker came in. I just redid all the seams with that, trimming it back as needed with each seam. Made it such a simple fix. 15 minutes and they were ready to go again. I had to try them on to make sure they still fit. Then Guinevere had to try them on. Oh I wish I'd managed to get a photo of that, she looked hilarious holding them up. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Sometimes it surprises me just how little time it actually takes to complete some of the projects in that UFO cupboard. If I spent less time staring at them feeling overwhelmed and more time just working on them, they'd actually get done. </div>
PolyCraftualhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07777851123314135341noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606183459378255295.post-54804209437102229432013-10-14T21:12:00.001+13:002013-10-14T21:12:09.076+13:00Days 10-14: It's been a long weekend, but I finished things. I haven't blogged for several days, for a variety of reasons. Mainly because between work, home stuff, social commitments and migraines, I just haven't had the brains/time to sit down and write.<br />
<br />
I had one craftless day. I got to the end of it and was somewhat surprised to realise I hadn't touched my craft work. Unless fondling some gorgeous blue buzzy bee flannelette than <a href="http://silvernswan.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Nicola</a> brought over for me to make nappy inners out of counts. It's making me smile while it dries on the airing rack, so I know it's going to make me smile when I see the inside of the little ones cloth pull ups.<br />
<br />
Exciting new for me on the house front, I've arranged to get our downlights replaced, with LED ones which means the insulation going in can go straight over top, rather than needing a gap like the existing ones do. Will make for a much warmer house. I also discovered that the current ceiling insulation stops just before my sewing room, so it's going to make hiding in here and sewing so much more pleasant.<br />
<br />
Finished Project: shopping bag that my mum bought me, which had torn down the side.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_cjjXWzDNzfR9pv2xgn27FbInU2awfPfB-2azTeGcW0CCf8P-9dbdxBtRMPb0QKknKSUm-YDPu8XlkPN7Ckx_SCmf0gpFUXicK_hF30jJMbG6gJsoey4QScd7ASDWD3KcT3YBVKZ0iKOy/s1600/IMG_20131013_141805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_cjjXWzDNzfR9pv2xgn27FbInU2awfPfB-2azTeGcW0CCf8P-9dbdxBtRMPb0QKknKSUm-YDPu8XlkPN7Ckx_SCmf0gpFUXicK_hF30jJMbG6gJsoey4QScd7ASDWD3KcT3YBVKZ0iKOy/s320/IMG_20131013_141805.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All torn and not at all usable</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Wasn't too hard to fix, just a little fiddly, had to cut away the frayed fabric, then pin it back in to the binding. Slippery satiny fabric.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlcLGhXWYzMaL7IEHHYuF0hyphenhyphenqXqkufti1irwFqMak1MEiKocuwpZjJHShIU9oQwzc1gLeCjZABJbWgSgz2xsHUYRE2nwpH4jykWmwTZbP7zDf9bLasqby8hJBCKD11SqIQTsANyHOg__Fm/s1600/IMG_20131013_145720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlcLGhXWYzMaL7IEHHYuF0hyphenhyphenqXqkufti1irwFqMak1MEiKocuwpZjJHShIU9oQwzc1gLeCjZABJbWgSgz2xsHUYRE2nwpH4jykWmwTZbP7zDf9bLasqby8hJBCKD11SqIQTsANyHOg__Fm/s320/IMG_20131013_145720.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slightly more curved at the side, but all usable now</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-dCzSLqiE7blQ_qfgE8smhTPpJ_JWAFi_gNRoQOae47mQaLbLgWpayQbthUYCR7dJdF-pYlKKi27MkPBG_D5Rt9u37jptBtehuTqt5RdoMt4vu0z0W9heBNcxpRMwhaZDmFHGagESXrf/s1600/IMG_20131013_145854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-dCzSLqiE7blQ_qfgE8smhTPpJ_JWAFi_gNRoQOae47mQaLbLgWpayQbthUYCR7dJdF-pYlKKi27MkPBG_D5Rt9u37jptBtehuTqt5RdoMt4vu0z0W9heBNcxpRMwhaZDmFHGagESXrf/s320/IMG_20131013_145854.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wording on the case is why Mum bought it for me</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Finished Project: Underbust corset.<br />
Now, this deserves an entire post on it's own. But seeing as I'm so happy to have finished it, 6 months after finishing the class on it, and it got it's first outing, I'm going to put up some pics anyway.<br />
The first two aren't the best, the sun was quite bright, but check out the view from our balcony :)<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKo6IlVJYni0Wcq0VYi7ldk1Rx7wgM3x81AwUR4F4BTPIwY3Z6RR6Rga-UlnfpqT3fH9UCPmyDFtXPWG7D1rSv0vxvksnYrnIOtOBnnGwbQqaT3m0_9HaBqiGMMhl5wNuiYTJqq0UCXIfh/s1600/IMG_20131012_130622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKo6IlVJYni0Wcq0VYi7ldk1Rx7wgM3x81AwUR4F4BTPIwY3Z6RR6Rga-UlnfpqT3fH9UCPmyDFtXPWG7D1rSv0vxvksnYrnIOtOBnnGwbQqaT3m0_9HaBqiGMMhl5wNuiYTJqq0UCXIfh/s320/IMG_20131012_130622.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bright sun, yay for hat to stop glare</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjips5PgotEKcOeHkEcnbL__O3nmamaM_FeB6w5rQGDgOBgkht9Mb_AOREd25XYwk47SD8HGZ2GHlchCg7E1wqJHg_8fO6aQYM7BFCa02iksKkmqBDT1qKBcv72ddU8y0MqW4eCs8_fEh39/s1600/IMG_20131012_130634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjips5PgotEKcOeHkEcnbL__O3nmamaM_FeB6w5rQGDgOBgkht9Mb_AOREd25XYwk47SD8HGZ2GHlchCg7E1wqJHg_8fO6aQYM7BFCa02iksKkmqBDT1qKBcv72ddU8y0MqW4eCs8_fEh39/s320/IMG_20131012_130634.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Different angle to try for different light</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
This one gives a better view of it. I love it. So comfortable to wear. Good for the posture too, I can't slouch in it. I hadn't actually noticed how the pattern appears to have a black strip running horizontally on it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRJLezOXtVw5mjWNqPusBPMHd8X2vUltjpQvjRy5UuRfKWmtixsrtdA1aEdsvfEMvHWvNX29hQmVIVpAcktcNlF_TGcccLc2_llBfwctv6iEznu8SJf6by7YrQHrd-63W-y1ktWC6GI2z/s1600/IMG_20131012_130712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRJLezOXtVw5mjWNqPusBPMHd8X2vUltjpQvjRy5UuRfKWmtixsrtdA1aEdsvfEMvHWvNX29hQmVIVpAcktcNlF_TGcccLc2_llBfwctv6iEznu8SJf6by7YrQHrd-63W-y1ktWC6GI2z/s320/IMG_20131012_130712.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
And the back. Still got enough room in it to lose a little more weight. I was surprised how well it fit given how much I'd lost since it was made. Definitely glad that it was made a bit smaller to allow for that.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5_N5QnlQKtNCVHB_xEmig_-eKZcXqzmRJcvxj2mrR5FKp5gJywKQmMvxAbYBUCVqLxdBnRRYhNEoWKYDoMKwE6fi-xbyeeanjCtrDDiVWMUOTRgXIbP1_xsGjBq-GvyMm7CKx2leLxAk/s1600/IMG_20131012_130722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5_N5QnlQKtNCVHB_xEmig_-eKZcXqzmRJcvxj2mrR5FKp5gJywKQmMvxAbYBUCVqLxdBnRRYhNEoWKYDoMKwE6fi-xbyeeanjCtrDDiVWMUOTRgXIbP1_xsGjBq-GvyMm7CKx2leLxAk/s320/IMG_20131012_130722.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Looking at my hair from the back almost makes me think it looks medusa like.....</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Definitely need to make myself another one, or ten. In all the colours..... And properly make the rest of a steampunk outfit. The skirt I'm wearing still need the waistband properly brought in, rather than the massive fold pinned on the right side in the above picture. I also want to put metallic D rings to pull up the skirt, rather than the pink ones that are currently on it, but they were all I could find when I first started refashioning it. I also need to position them further inwards. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
There has been a bunch of knitting on the baby blanket, another couple of small repairs done, and my sewing table is still mostly cleared. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Even though I haven't managed to write every day, I'm still managing to work on my projects nearly every day. Even finishing some, yay. Now to decide what are my current priority projects. </div>
<br />PolyCraftualhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07777851123314135341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606183459378255295.post-65533146895425332902013-10-09T22:24:00.000+13:002013-10-09T22:24:01.628+13:00Day 9: FO: WetbagsI finished the final two wetbags last night. This shall be my last post on them. Yay. I'm sure you're all probably glad of that too. I had help while I was finishing them. Guinevere was standing on a chair, leaning on my table supervising me while I pinned the bottoms of the bags. Then she sat on the desk beside my sewing machine while I did all the stitching. She gets to hand me the scissors to cut the thread, then put them away again. There was one moment where she attempted to cut the wetbag she was holding rather than putting them away.... Thankfully the scissors I use for thread are blunt near the tip, deliberately chosen so the little one can 'help' with less stress to me.<br />
<br />
The bobbin thread ran out just as I finished the final seam. So glad that it was right at the end. Sure, I always have a couple<br />
<br />
Here they are. I finished another red one, but it's already in use.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNIfZiowEocoIp0E8PAwcXvCAy-uY5wv211VAuysTjPlxDdHJkItfI8dt2_QgBdE3gyOwWb3Df2qw2IqTrxWySE3ZeQOLAzApKLT_XwU2P7vnPsp4v4nou38Aomg5JOEUNaS0VW7zgIqAt/s1600/IMG_20131008_212048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNIfZiowEocoIp0E8PAwcXvCAy-uY5wv211VAuysTjPlxDdHJkItfI8dt2_QgBdE3gyOwWb3Df2qw2IqTrxWySE3ZeQOLAzApKLT_XwU2P7vnPsp4v4nou38Aomg5JOEUNaS0VW7zgIqAt/s320/IMG_20131008_212048.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two finished wetbags</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Having them finished means that I have enough wetbags for daycare, and won't get dirty nappies coming home in plastic bags. Better for the environment. Especially as they were made from the remnants of two shower curtains that I got given. It also means I'm finally done with that project. Can you tell I'm over it? I'm actually kinda pleased with myself, that rather than moving onto another project, I kept going with it till it was finished. I think it helped that I knew it shouldn't take too much longer.PolyCraftualhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07777851123314135341noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606183459378255295.post-55643281523239801422013-10-08T20:49:00.000+13:002013-10-08T20:49:00.210+13:00Day 8: More Wetbags...I'm getting a little sick of these wetbags. I just want them finished. They should be a quick project, the first one I'm pretty sure only took an evening. So spending several days making 3, especially when they were already cut out, seems a bit excessive. But that's part of being sick and lacking focus I guess.<br />
<br />
I did finish one of them yesterday. Then overlocked the handles on the final two, and stitched the side seams up. By that point the little one was ready to go to bed. I was tired too, so I tucked myself in with her. So for today that leaves the bottoms and handles of to bags to do. Then they'll be done. All done. Never to be looked at again. I hope.<br />
<br />
I also did a repair, another nappy insert, same as the day before. Real quick fix, but was nice to repair it between airing rack and putting it away. Especially as it's already in use again today.<br />
<br />
Plus there were a couple of rows knitted on the baby blanket, while sitting on the couch watching the tv.<br />
<br />
Once again, another day of small, slow progress on projects (as I'm counting the wetbags as one project even though I'm making 3 of them). But it's another day of progress.PolyCraftualhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07777851123314135341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606183459378255295.post-90040343944988487752013-10-07T21:32:00.001+13:002013-10-07T21:32:44.672+13:00Day 7: WetbagI was intending to make cloth pull ups and work on my corset this weekend, but I just haven't been able to. I'm feeling a bit better today, managed a couple of rows of simple knitting. I didn't think that starting a new project or working on one I wanted to do a really good job on was a smart idea. So, onto the wetbags it was.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After changing the thread colour in my overlocker, one thread I had to redo a couple of times as I missed one step, I was all set up to go. I had a look at my existing wetbag, and decided that even tho the fraying isn't bad for 6 months of being washed sometimes once usually twice a week I would overlock the edges.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCecAhx7Hi6GFYITIlbh-9pfy67TFpnvD13gDT6tB7YEHh4T4_7OVdw8vknGE5HBR-A1G9OtT3irXZ9hx3mNDTnUxsAOYl9OGGNyEgF8gUN-u0_Y_o2ntWQabCXxepI0PxOxgpzj0VIIZk/s1600/IMG_20131006_191917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCecAhx7Hi6GFYITIlbh-9pfy67TFpnvD13gDT6tB7YEHh4T4_7OVdw8vknGE5HBR-A1G9OtT3irXZ9hx3mNDTnUxsAOYl9OGGNyEgF8gUN-u0_Y_o2ntWQabCXxepI0PxOxgpzj0VIIZk/s320/IMG_20131006_191917.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fraying on existing wetbag</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Because I drafted the pattern for this directly off a supermarket plastic bag, the handles on this have a curve to them, which I really like the look of. However, my overlocker doesn't like going around the curves. I have no idea if this is a my overlocker, my skills or a general overlocker thing, but trying to work that out today, not happening.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOA8uNnkvjgMX74LMxAs0J_pOkYsT9PKFR1ojCx9Yul2RJAqJu5dUQ7BCES0_A0JSxtPplmL977Z2kyq0iEyc0uKRG-ZW-qYcEHFwATKvIsBRzFDfM96skeCcWn-V1MQ4DJdStHXOndFXU/s1600/IMG_20131006_191837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOA8uNnkvjgMX74LMxAs0J_pOkYsT9PKFR1ojCx9Yul2RJAqJu5dUQ7BCES0_A0JSxtPplmL977Z2kyq0iEyc0uKRG-ZW-qYcEHFwATKvIsBRzFDfM96skeCcWn-V1MQ4DJdStHXOndFXU/s320/IMG_20131006_191837.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Previous handle curves</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So instead I decided to trim out the pretty curve and have a straight line, much easier to overlock. Plus the bonus of barely any effort to it. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrFwdx0zQGy_3AtnXbr2uBGl9hZme_Ll59iEKHsHFXHMXdXIJHMrgJur6iW273qp_7dKnypOZvpw8VtOH3LFXjFAK2dnFff5xn38ZwZOZAAhkAWHi-rRfnNcbGF5EkmYnXwOtnWj2aM-aZ/s1600/IMG_20131006_191858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrFwdx0zQGy_3AtnXbr2uBGl9hZme_Ll59iEKHsHFXHMXdXIJHMrgJur6iW273qp_7dKnypOZvpw8VtOH3LFXjFAK2dnFff5xn38ZwZOZAAhkAWHi-rRfnNcbGF5EkmYnXwOtnWj2aM-aZ/s320/IMG_20131006_191858.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New handle curves</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I got one bag partially constructed. But I don't think my brain is firing on all cylinders. After having to unpick seams multiple times, seriously, I didn't think it was that hard to sew the handles together the right way, I decided I might be better reading my book. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I did complete a small repair job. When I was taking dry washing off the airing rack, I noticed that one of the nappy inserts had come away on one side, so I overlocked that back together. Just as well I'd changed the thread colour, otherwise it might not have happened.<br />
<br />
Another day of small progress, but another day of progress. </div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
PolyCraftualhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07777851123314135341noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606183459378255295.post-77080375974109467732013-10-06T10:16:00.003+13:002013-10-06T10:16:36.884+13:00Day 6: Never HappenedWell, I'm wishing yesterday never happened.<br />
<br />
I spent the entire day sick, barely able to move. And everyone else in my little family was feeling sick too, thankfully they weren't as bad, so the big one was able to look after the little one while I hid in bed. Tried to read, but could only do so in short bursts. Crafting just didn't happen.<br />
<br />
It did make me glad that I'd drafted most of yesterday's post the previous night.<br />
<br />
Fingers crossed today is a better day.PolyCraftualhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07777851123314135341noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606183459378255295.post-66168050968713389962013-10-05T22:40:00.000+13:002013-10-05T22:40:02.085+13:00Day 5: FO: Hungry Caterpillar DressYay, another finished object. That's two, and I'm only 5 days into my 31.<br />
<br />
The Hungry Caterpillar dress just needed buttons sewn onto it. It's been around for awhile, I cut it way back in <a href="http://thornecreations.blogspot.co.nz/2013/04/restlessness-and-startitis.html" target="_blank">April</a>. It's only been ready for buttons for about 2 months tho. Gah, 'only', especially when sewing two buttons on is about a 5 minute job. And that was while doing it with a small one snuggled up in my lap.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTqdgt5ktnfNGM2FFCDTce9X8Nz_rVj8UJkKo5UZr9wgjMqEVqCJHPwXjKIgwat90xOYJ61LMDc1lUrzl2Z1mFanqXMAsu3cnBKuosI_4nrzL3FbMdFoXL1g6PFjyoDO51zXlrlD4AFMb/s1600/IMG_20131005_222910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTqdgt5ktnfNGM2FFCDTce9X8Nz_rVj8UJkKo5UZr9wgjMqEVqCJHPwXjKIgwat90xOYJ61LMDc1lUrzl2Z1mFanqXMAsu3cnBKuosI_4nrzL3FbMdFoXL1g6PFjyoDO51zXlrlD4AFMb/s320/IMG_20131005_222910.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hungry Caterpillar Dress</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />I need to get a photo of her wearing it at some point, but preferably when we're not both sick.<br /><br />
I am aware that both of the projects that I've finished so far have been small ones. But it's still progress. Then there is the fact that completing something motivates you to work on something else, meaning that gets done. Rinse and repeat several times, and I might even make a dent in my UFO cupboard.<br />
<br />
I did discover something interesting about myself. It was less than a week ago that I <a href="http://thornecreations.blogspot.co.nz/2013/09/cleared-worktable.html" target="_blank">cleared my sewing room worktable</a>. I dumped my new fabrics and work stuff onto it on Thursday evening, and headed to bed. Yesterday between clients I went to work on my projects and I just couldn't. I couldn't face working on a table that was no way near as cluttered as it used to be. So I cleared my table, just in time to go back to work, so that I could work on projects when I got back home. Gynn just laughed at me when I told him this.<br />
<br />
I also completed two repair jobs. One was a nappy cover that a small section of stitching on the binding had come off. I'm still not sure how it ended up on my worktable. As it wasn't there when I cleared my table last weekend, Gynn says he didn't put it there, and I don't recall putting it there. Either way, it made it onto my worktable, I had the right colour thread already on my machine, so it got stitched up and put away. The other was a pair of underwear that had ripped down the side seam. I wanted to change my overlocker thread, to work on a different project, but it was currently the right colour, so I fixed them and put them away.<br />
<br />
I also had a box of fabric arrive from <a href="http://www.greenbeans.co.nz/" target="_blank">Green Beans</a>, 7 different colours of PUL, a bunch of elastic and two different bamboo fabrics. Guess what I'll be doing over the weekend....? Starting on making cloth pull ups.<br />
<br />
It seems a bit silly, writing and putting out there in public all these little things that I got done today. I mean seriously, each project took less than 5 min. But for me it's important. I haven't had motivation in ages to get things done, except for a spurt of 'oh god I need these things made before I go on holiday'. The 'I want to get these things done' is a different kind of motivation to 'I have to get these things done'. It's nice to be enjoying the latter.PolyCraftualhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07777851123314135341noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606183459378255295.post-20214856261407583682013-10-04T21:12:00.002+13:002013-10-04T21:12:30.803+13:00Day 4: Fabric ShoppingI didn't actually work on any UFO's yesterday. I had them with me, but I didn't touch them. Actually, that's not quite true, I did take the Hungry Caterpillar Dress out of my bag to show it to <a href="http://coffeandjellybeans.blogspot.co.nz/" target="_blank">Lily</a>, who I spent the day visiting.<br />
<br />
Before visiting Lily, I went fabric shopping. Fabric Warehouse has their pop up shop open at the moment, with nothing over $5pm. Too good an opportunity to pass up.<br />
I found:<br />
A gorgeous blue satin, which I currently don't have a photo of as I gave it to Lily for her birthday. Apparently it's likely to become her wedding dress, which makes me happy :)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYtZZknPLLqA4z0c39KxVS7zk7k0SuZdellsR4NDuPAzwMSnb1zk8_i70C2vOlY6X3YJQAsTRWnlQijGi__EuioqzvD2Gc4ZZSyeLHSN0IexWDA6HSTi1oIqC8sJjCX40KidSJw70IQe0M/s1600/IMG_20131004_124454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYtZZknPLLqA4z0c39KxVS7zk7k0SuZdellsR4NDuPAzwMSnb1zk8_i70C2vOlY6X3YJQAsTRWnlQijGi__EuioqzvD2Gc4ZZSyeLHSN0IexWDA6HSTi1oIqC8sJjCX40KidSJw70IQe0M/s320/IMG_20131004_124454.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Knit fabrics, cotton and cotton blends</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The grey cotton is destined to become a t-shirt muslin and a bunch of underwear. The blue and black stripe are intended for tops. As I've realised I need some tops, especially short sleeved tops, that aren't baggy t's and that don't have writing on them.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOb0IRh36sK6oN8EgVCebv8fLRGBvHRV7vTa6a0EZtUV0cIffOJZK9efzOgpU5-iDo7HB01XWE_w4CIevU-fcfccD6OwT85Xy0rkG1q429ZKN8GnDb_-XoOXfHlUUGq-7G0KHxYP5-Kevl/s1600/IMG_20131004_124514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOb0IRh36sK6oN8EgVCebv8fLRGBvHRV7vTa6a0EZtUV0cIffOJZK9efzOgpU5-iDo7HB01XWE_w4CIevU-fcfccD6OwT85Xy0rkG1q429ZKN8GnDb_-XoOXfHlUUGq-7G0KHxYP5-Kevl/s320/IMG_20131004_124514.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black wool, it's darker than the picture shows</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
$5pm for lightweight black wool. (Yet another) panel skirt I think, this one for next winter.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2sRjujr-f2nDbTpmK9pQ57WvQzdLl4BJEvghxmCKQZur492znrtWgIVy7GaVEoLp0Hvnf0jHoBpnO65g7pNPcxfyQqcRRM7CWm7IfNYVMMHSKk16XyJjilmpmx8BNBHRDS6mLbzblWfQ4/s1600/IMG_20131004_124531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2sRjujr-f2nDbTpmK9pQ57WvQzdLl4BJEvghxmCKQZur492znrtWgIVy7GaVEoLp0Hvnf0jHoBpnO65g7pNPcxfyQqcRRM7CWm7IfNYVMMHSKk16XyJjilmpmx8BNBHRDS6mLbzblWfQ4/s320/IMG_20131004_124531.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black on black</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Gynn mentioned ages ago that he wants me to make him a waistcoat, with a black on black damask type pattern. I've always had a look around for it, but never seem to find it. So when I found this for $5pm, I was stoked. Showed it to him, and he likes it, apparently it's just want he had in mind. It's really lightweight, so I'm going to have to underline it. (I think that's the one where you cut another piece the same then sew them as if they were one piece in the pattern). Just what I needed, a new project to start.... But given I've been keeping my eye out for the right fabric, I wasn't going to not get it.<br />
<br />
Between finding a black on black for Gynn and finding perfect blue fabric for Lily, it was totally worth the trip to check out the sale.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I also visited Asia Gallery, where I'd never been before. But after seeing the photos from <a href="http://thedreamstress.com/2013/09/the-great-wellington-craft-crawl-part-1/" target="_blank">The Great Wellington Craft Crawl</a> that Leimomi, <a href="http://thedreamstress.com/" target="_blank">The Dreamstress</a> organised, I really wanted to take a look.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2MRyWZmSusfOuXf7yUkErZtCF4zwSnNfUOVOeK34-VZiBI9sDuzR1HVg55ZOB1Dxm1sQ5C6PDqNnL39ZHJH0VtkHzFisw-1pEk5Y_b3tLfYdB1AyjAfbQNHaYS1_z5JrRvxntY_S4bILI/s1600/IMG_20131004_124641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2MRyWZmSusfOuXf7yUkErZtCF4zwSnNfUOVOeK34-VZiBI9sDuzR1HVg55ZOB1Dxm1sQ5C6PDqNnL39ZHJH0VtkHzFisw-1pEk5Y_b3tLfYdB1AyjAfbQNHaYS1_z5JrRvxntY_S4bILI/s320/IMG_20131004_124641.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty blue and black. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The blue and black is going to become a jacket, something I've always wanted to make myself. Still not sure on the pattern yet, but something about hip length I'm thinking.<br /><div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I got a couple of other fabrics, but they really didn't photograph well. I have a suspicion my mum might want one of them when she comes up next month too. They had so many pretties in there. The racks of kimono's were amazing. There is also a massive bin of $5 kimono. I had a bit of a rummage, while wishing I could tip it out and get to all of them. Came home with a couple more than intended, but I now have a black kimono to be used as a spring/summer weight dressing gown, one for Lily, one for Gynn, plus a couple of others that I loved the fabric on.<br /><br />
So rather than working on UFO's, I got the materials for a couple of projects I want to do. It almost seems the reverse for this months intention. But you know what, my crafting is about enjoyment. There is often an element of money saving, as I tend to buy fabrics on sale. There is definitely an element of having things that I like and that suit/fit me. But primarily, I craft because I enjoy the process of creating as well as the satisfaction of the finished project. I don't ever want to lose that enjoyment in my crafting.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /></div>
PolyCraftualhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07777851123314135341noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606183459378255295.post-30398769510370379742013-10-04T11:41:00.000+13:002013-10-04T11:41:10.265+13:00Day 3: FO: Cabled Baby Cocoon This post is a day late, due to a migraine that had no consideration for things I wanted to get done. However, it's still getting written.<br />
<br />
Wednesday was a good day. I worked away the morning. The afternoon was spent in the kitchen, two lasagna's and a dish of spinach and ricotta cannelloni later, I had dinner for 7 people, leftovers for a meal on Thursday and a lasagna in the freezer ready for another night.<br />
<br />
The evening was spent working on my Cabled Baby Cocoon, using <a href="http://tinkerknits.blogspot.co.nz/2012/03/cabled-baby-cocoon-free-knitting.html" target="_blank">this</a> pattern. Which I finished!!! The story being me making this, was a few months ago, I decided to cut my hair. I went from hair down past my waist, to hair just past my shoulder. Before getting it cut, I decided I needed photos of just how long my hair was. Unfortunately, I can't find the disc, so I can't share any of the before photos that Jackie of J-Photography took, but here is her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jphotographynz" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jviljoen/" target="_blank">Flickr</a> if you want to check out her work. I've looked in all the obvious places, but I must have put it somewhere very safe when I cleared my computer desk prior to going away. In return for her taking the photos, I was going to make a newborn prop for her, being this baby cocoon that she'd seen and loved.<br />
<br />
And here it is<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAzViJZSd0WrWqDEkG7AxxEU8yCj8gvwVMh6l1jA-LdxnaONYGiX_UPlWav3dbqPdoLGnE9KaCyNiEeSz7abR1UUIekVpr6Qm7-iDF830UeoKVrGyLgfBgnQl4oPnJYGIhASQIfc3sZNKX/s1600/IMG_20131004_110649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAzViJZSd0WrWqDEkG7AxxEU8yCj8gvwVMh6l1jA-LdxnaONYGiX_UPlWav3dbqPdoLGnE9KaCyNiEeSz7abR1UUIekVpr6Qm7-iDF830UeoKVrGyLgfBgnQl4oPnJYGIhASQIfc3sZNKX/s320/IMG_20131004_110649.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cocoon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVH6Aoi5jPqc9uGFqtXyYpOS4zX_H8JQUALRgWLIM6QOM8R5zO-Glvb7CdHxG15S1h0zJvNxO9yzD6YOS6JfN9LSdvShVP2bIjqixsvPX7EqFXxAK-g5aWEDJAmK1d6FAzB5r2mXFBMpco/s1600/IMG_20131004_110822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVH6Aoi5jPqc9uGFqtXyYpOS4zX_H8JQUALRgWLIM6QOM8R5zO-Glvb7CdHxG15S1h0zJvNxO9yzD6YOS6JfN9LSdvShVP2bIjqixsvPX7EqFXxAK-g5aWEDJAmK1d6FAzB5r2mXFBMpco/s320/IMG_20131004_110822.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cocoon with a doll of Guinevere's in it</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />PolyCraftualhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07777851123314135341noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606183459378255295.post-78353211616272101522013-10-02T19:42:00.001+13:002013-10-02T19:43:12.378+13:00Day 2: Bits and BobsYesterday was a busy day, I spent most of it working, then the evening I was trying to get things done with a daughter who wanted attention and didn't want to sleep. I went to bed when she did, and was asleep about 15 minutes after her.<br />
<br />
In the middle of all my busyness, I managed to get things done.<br />
My UFO progress was small. While I had a few minutes between clients, I sat in my car and did some knitting on a baby blanket. It's been on the needles for awhile, and looks pretty much the same as <a href="http://thornecreations.blogspot.co.nz/2012/10/day-24-knitting-and-finished-project.html" target="_blank">this one</a> that I finished last October. Actually, this one might have been started then, as it got started not too long after I finished the first one.<br />
<br />
I spent time cutting out and taping together a cloth pull up pattern, I'm trying out <a href="http://www.trimsies.com/index.shtml" target="_blank">this one, the Trimsie Trainer pattern.</a> So I had managed to measure Guinevere to work out what size I need (the largest! Eeep, she really got her mama's thighs, good for walking long distances) so I could work out how much fabric I needed. Then it was picking out the colours I wanted. Which Guinevere helped with. She was pointing to all the bright colours (and black) on my computer monitor, saying 'red' to most of them. Still trying to decide exactly how many I'm going to make. And what I'm going to use for the inner layer. I'm thinking flannelette, so she knows when she's wet.<br />
<br />
I know working on cloth pull ups isn't working on a UFO, but it's working on something that's needed. Plus I've found when I start new projects with a UFO completion mindset, I'm more likely to finish my new project, meaning no new UFO's filling the cupboard.<br />
<br />
I was hoping I'd get as far as working on my wetbags, but that might have to wait.PolyCraftualhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07777851123314135341noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606183459378255295.post-68549932573434701052013-10-01T20:56:00.000+13:002013-10-01T20:57:10.590+13:00Day 1: Corset and WetbagsSo technically today is the first day of my 31 day series, but I'm not writing about today. As I decided after doing this last year, I'm going to write about the previous day. With the little one I'm never quite sure when I'm going to get free time to write. Especially as she's a night owl. She goes to bed late and gets up late. I have tried to change it, but it's never worked, she takes after her dad. I also have to find time around the job I started a week ago. Anyways, back to what I was saying.... So my plan is to write about the previous day, regardless of what time of day I get a chance to blog.<br />
<br />
But I did work on UFO's yesterday. Two of them even.<br />
<br />
I spent some time unpicking binding I'd stitched onto my underbust corset. I'd sewn it on as a single layer, not doubled. Whoops. I'm not going to say much about my corset until I have it all finished, which I'm planning on doing within the next two weeks.<br />
<br />
Ages ago, like about 6 months ago, I made a <a href="http://thornecreations.blogspot.co.nz/2013/03/daycare-wetbag.html" target="_blank">wetbag</a>. I cut another out at the same time. Even though it was such a simple project, and it worked well, I just never got around to making the second one. Yesterday I cut out the other two. Meaning I now have 3 cut wetbags sitting on my worktable ready to go. Cutting out the other two wetbags does count as working on a UFO, as they were planned and the fabric was sitting with the cut one in my UFO cupboard. I plan to work on them maybe later today, more likely tomorrow.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIdq2vyBgjo-cEM0WtJ33dZ7V8sB9VH-XiNn5QJ3Detpp82f1AkDm6F2zfVtv5b4BtP6M7WK63p2dF5MXIMyoH4_c5mAyF_rNachi4LHfr7MjQB_8_hyphenhyphenIwsCQaCoMNf9El5VfSGRzn7oC/s1600/IMG_20131001_200708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIdq2vyBgjo-cEM0WtJ33dZ7V8sB9VH-XiNn5QJ3Detpp82f1AkDm6F2zfVtv5b4BtP6M7WK63p2dF5MXIMyoH4_c5mAyF_rNachi4LHfr7MjQB_8_hyphenhyphenIwsCQaCoMNf9El5VfSGRzn7oC/s320/IMG_20131001_200708.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3 cut wetbags, patiently waiting stitching. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I have discovered that even with being washed once or twice a week, the old wetbag has barely frayed around the cut edges of the handle. So I haven't decided if I'm going to overlock what will be the exposed edges of these ones. I know I should, as it's better workmanship, but really it'll probably depend on what time of day I start working on them. And if I feel like switching my overlocker from black to white thread.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Oh, and I'm also not going to be blogging every day this month. I go away at Labour Weekend to the <a href="http://wellingtonfolkfestival.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Wellington Folk Festival</a>. I don't even have cellphone reception out there. So it's a technology free weekend. It's such an amazing weekend too. Camping with friends. My mother in law is usually down the other end of the camp, and will probably take Guinevere for a night, which means a night with no child climbing into our bed in the early morning hours wanting cuddles. There is a ceilidh (dance) on the Saturday night, with a caller, so that even if you don't know the dances beforehand, you will after. Then of course there is the homebrew and singing later that night. The Sunday night is the main concert. It's just a weekend full of family, friends, fun, music, dancing and relaxing. There is a good chance I'm not even going to work on UFO's that weekend. Well, not a UFO from the cupboard. I could count my daughter as a UFO, she's totally a work in progress. And is the most amazing thing I've 'made'. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'm rambling.... Time to go play with fabrics I think. </div>
PolyCraftualhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07777851123314135341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606183459378255295.post-11008325050984588772013-09-29T23:50:00.000+13:002013-09-29T23:50:25.484+13:00Cleared WorktableOn Friday night I started pottering at my worktable, slowly picking bits up and working out where they should go. Nothing too serious. Just as I went past each time, which admittedly is pretty frequently, as I walk past it to get to my computer, I'd pick something up and sort it.<br />
Yesterday I did a little bit more. I was even able to start seeing the table top. You can see how covered it is in this photo (yes, same photo as in my last blog post)<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHt6wc7Tn53r3QtisX8LcUs2Ik75cWVTTZgLa60F5rlEv-gx1hEKQAK77hlcgiqMME75fELaZWAd98nEa2bwbnDkZyjDut8b43DpugF7HQ4fk41s4Ote6T0lsYtMDtPseO8t6osZc16e7-/s1600/IMG_20130928_231350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHt6wc7Tn53r3QtisX8LcUs2Ik75cWVTTZgLa60F5rlEv-gx1hEKQAK77hlcgiqMME75fELaZWAd98nEa2bwbnDkZyjDut8b43DpugF7HQ4fk41s4Ote6T0lsYtMDtPseO8t6osZc16e7-/s320/IMG_20130928_231350.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Worktable used as dumping ground</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And that photo is after I'd spent some time sorting things on it. Previous there wasn't space for the black and white bag at the front. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This is what it now looks like:<br /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftdUNmeejOduWCDZv4eBdqqy57mijQGPd1TBPJu4JZWOZy0Yp5gFct5F1NxCLBxERNthxwrno27wbEx7e-sQ08d8sHVanM0T585eFmILw_EOT3H9XosdrkrHEaznM8oHm9ZuwadxpeXeb/s1600/IMG_20130929_233515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftdUNmeejOduWCDZv4eBdqqy57mijQGPd1TBPJu4JZWOZy0Yp5gFct5F1NxCLBxERNthxwrno27wbEx7e-sQ08d8sHVanM0T585eFmILw_EOT3H9XosdrkrHEaznM8oHm9ZuwadxpeXeb/s320/IMG_20130929_233515.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tidied worktable</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
All that is on it is my overlocker, a basket of craft bits that need new homes (most have new homes, they just need to get there), and a tray with my priority UFO's. I think there are 4 in there. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I don't think my worktable has ever looked this clear, apart from the day it got moved into my sewing room. It's definitely going to make it easier to work on my UFO's for the next month as I do my '<a href="http://thornecreations.blogspot.co.nz/2013/09/31-days-of-unfinished-projects-take-two.html" target="_blank">31 Days of Unfinished Projects</a>.'</div>
PolyCraftualhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07777851123314135341noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606183459378255295.post-23705116555290737832013-09-28T23:48:00.003+12:002013-09-28T23:48:40.674+12:0031 Days of Unfinished Projects, Take TwoLast year I participated in <a href="http://www.thenester.com/2012/06/31-days-in-2012.html" target="_blank">Nesters 31 days blog challenge</a>. <a href="http://thornecreations.blogspot.co.nz/2012/09/31-days.html" target="_blank">Here</a> is where I started talking about it last year. I've decided that I'm going to do the same again this year. Partly to once again give me some motivation to work on my UFO's. The other part is I've been pretty slack in the blogging department for the past few months, I keep saying to myself, 'I'll do it tomorrow', and then don't. This means I have to do it today, and will hopefully get me back into the habit.<br />
<br />
I still have a cupboard full of UFO's. Plus a box of cross stitch ones in another cupboard. Plus a few on the (very cluttered) worktable. I'd like to say I have less UFO's than last year, but looking at my <a href="http://thornecreations.blogspot.co.nz/2012/10/day-one.html" target="_blank">list</a> from last year, too many of them are still UFO's. But that's okay right? They say that good things take time.<br />
<br />
I have a quote on the wall behind my computer, no idea where it came from, but I really think I need to embrace it a bit more, 'Let go of projects that feel like obligations not opportunities.'<br />
I know I finished a bunch of last years UFO's, as I wrote about <a href="http://thornecreations.blogspot.co.nz/2012/11/31-days-of-unfinished-projects-finished.html" target="_blank">here</a>, but not as many as I would have liked. I was tempted to challenge myself to finish more UFO's this year, but I've just started a new job this week, and am still getting my head around that. I think it will be enough challenge to work on UFO's and blog about it daily.<br />
On a side note, I'm glad I've gone back and read that, it's reminded me of something I wanted to do differently this time, writing in the morning about the progress I made the previous day.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi801QIRFdt3ICm-QRdsQIx39z9zMjQuBS9KLCIuGSiTnZblPWuPK3NZ31dyjGislmBFTTfIZt-7BrQaq-n2B8aH8R3ixHR9046FjbKK0A03rf12XVUB-NWLrAoQd4V4GSL8iS0zR4KSgWT/s1600/IMG_20130928_231350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi801QIRFdt3ICm-QRdsQIx39z9zMjQuBS9KLCIuGSiTnZblPWuPK3NZ31dyjGislmBFTTfIZt-7BrQaq-n2B8aH8R3ixHR9046FjbKK0A03rf12XVUB-NWLrAoQd4V4GSL8iS0zR4KSgWT/s320/IMG_20130928_231350.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mostly un-usable work table</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I can see 3 UFO's in that photo. In the stripy bag is a knitted baby wrap that needs sewn up and buttons added. In the black/white bag at the front is the Hungry Caterpillar dress that only needs buttons sewn on. It also contains my underbust corset that needs the binding sewn on. That bag is going with me to social sewing tomorrow, so progress will be made. I also know that at the end of the table are a couple of cut but not sewn wetbags which I really should finish.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3mxNbR81U8-mYy3OUZbGKS2S7vgVYm4FEgroLjo8JAVNNx7IJgGq7x5uA0yKDwhiRBgBV7QHuNtIQLMb1Y93fcnnY4CeZrR78HNAz29vsYqx1Bta77e8L0CgpB5wY399G2mWW4Y8-UTcj/s1600/IMG_20130928_231502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3mxNbR81U8-mYy3OUZbGKS2S7vgVYm4FEgroLjo8JAVNNx7IJgGq7x5uA0yKDwhiRBgBV7QHuNtIQLMb1Y93fcnnY4CeZrR78HNAz29vsYqx1Bta77e8L0CgpB5wY399G2mWW4Y8-UTcj/s320/IMG_20130928_231502.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My UFO Cupboard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This is my UFO cupboard. Sorry for the bad photo, there is an ironing board and a worktable in front of the cupboard, so I can open it, but there isn't much space to take a photo of the whole thing. But you get the idea. There is another shelf below the three that you can see. As you can also see, it's a mess of unfinished projects. They're all just kinda crammed in there.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbj1AOOPRuzRxpCsgoevPRSlNIISsdShh-742WoKZQlKY8zJtMKeETwE5k5dhkYV5m-HlUBRLDggXB_UzgYpA7cq27HOoYGcrBnbd_NShTo7qRC89PGCoSLn4__dIfzE9vxF4uVZDqjjj/s1600/IMG_20130928_231640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbj1AOOPRuzRxpCsgoevPRSlNIISsdShh-742WoKZQlKY8zJtMKeETwE5k5dhkYV5m-HlUBRLDggXB_UzgYpA7cq27HOoYGcrBnbd_NShTo7qRC89PGCoSLn4__dIfzE9vxF4uVZDqjjj/s320/IMG_20130928_231640.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cross stitch box</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
All my cross stitch supplies are stored in one box. Except for the thread, there are three thread boxes for those, they're on another shelf as they won't fit in the box. There are kits, pretty much all of which I think I've started. Plus a whole bunch of fabrics. Fox Collections used to do packs of 10 pieces of random aida for $25, and I might have bought two of them, back when I was doing a lot of cross stitch. And when I say back when I was doing a lot of cross stitch, I really mean about 10 years ago.... The rational part of my brain knows I don't need all that fabric, and knows I could easily replace it, but it's still hard to get rid of it, as it's aida I would use if I started another cross stitch. Which I really shouldn't do until I've finished some of the ones currently in progress.<br />
<br />
You know, I'm a bit ashamed of just how many UFO's are in that cupboard, and how much of a mess it is. Please tell me I'm not the only one with a space like that.... Makes me realise just how much of a good idea this will be. Only 3 more days till October. But that doesn't mean I can't start work on UFO's now. Well, not now, I'm going to bed now. But tomorrow....PolyCraftualhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07777851123314135341noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606183459378255295.post-33318370124285218172013-09-11T16:31:00.002+12:002013-09-11T16:31:46.409+12:00Belated Cape-Along It's been a few weeks, and not for lack of anything to write about. I spent the first four weeks after my last post making things and preparing for an overseas trip. The past three weeks have been spent overseas with my little family. The past three days have been spent home sick. Not nearly as much fun, but glad it happened as I was heading home from holiday rather than heading on holiday.<br />
<br />
One of the things I made before I went away was a cloak for my little one. Actually, I made two cloaks, as I made one for myself, but I'm going to ramble about the little one's one first.<br />
<br />
Over at <a href="http://themonthlystitch.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">The Monthly Stitch</a> the August challenge was making a <a href="http://themonthlystitch.wordpress.com/2013/07/22/capering-around-the-cape-challenge/" target="_blank">cape</a>. Now, I know I made a cloak, and it's not quite the same. But with all that I had to do before going away I wasn't going to have time to make myself a pretty little cape, so I'm totally counting what I did make.<br />
<br />
We went to Burning Man. My husband has a large cloak he wears, that keeps him warm as he wanders the nighttime playa and doubles as a blanket. Plus when you wear it on the plane it counts as a jacket and doesn't take up luggage allowance. I decided I was going to make one for myself and for our daughter.<br />
<br />
For Guinevere, I found a neon yellow fun fur on clearance. I had some polarfleece I'd gotten in a 40% off sale, enough for the middle layer of both our cloaks, plus some rainbow swirly satin for her, just like her Daddy's cloak. I also had some calico for an additional, velcro out layer, that would have EL wire sewn to it, to provide light when wandering around at night.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJtHtXHPkYvE6eFunY0Q9qfw5awCgb4RpDa6tSjMRfsfQhZti5bl9kyGOadFGEP5V6wOgqO2XYmERUrgepD3wCaryXQQRNUKUVy5RvzfrxvYcdHS6YsXzj7Leh5GQE-meBQlAChVUk02U/s1600/IMG_20130801_122951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJtHtXHPkYvE6eFunY0Q9qfw5awCgb4RpDa6tSjMRfsfQhZti5bl9kyGOadFGEP5V6wOgqO2XYmERUrgepD3wCaryXQQRNUKUVy5RvzfrxvYcdHS6YsXzj7Leh5GQE-meBQlAChVUk02U/s320/IMG_20130801_122951.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guinevere telling me how she thinks I should lay out the pattern pieces</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNCB160UXfXCEeqQiAebKxezsUCdY1sGAlO7-9q0qC4Wf_kEwSeALeYhDHvdCuo6AgKbbgymPuQKRlImQJWq3cYM1vMcX2HyF5pqSAVS7tYvMhAOEhgdQh1nymwHSmsU2hWyirhYrq0tOq/s1600/IMG_20130801_123250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNCB160UXfXCEeqQiAebKxezsUCdY1sGAlO7-9q0qC4Wf_kEwSeALeYhDHvdCuo6AgKbbgymPuQKRlImQJWq3cYM1vMcX2HyF5pqSAVS7tYvMhAOEhgdQh1nymwHSmsU2hWyirhYrq0tOq/s320/IMG_20130801_123250.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guinevere attempting to cut out the fabric using her little scissors</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_TE4llMmCRp0tz_QXYCVMGT4uJdg31OuJRysGRVZgfOEodXIQOj_5s9Hq2ns9sfWrDGbfaP-v3sQTtH_xOrAHGg1rmrLdx5DC8-E2o8wT9ze5NrH5KjvRIP6ztj7_nFzvt8RUpWcFQKa/s1600/IMG_20130811_164531+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_TE4llMmCRp0tz_QXYCVMGT4uJdg31OuJRysGRVZgfOEodXIQOj_5s9Hq2ns9sfWrDGbfaP-v3sQTtH_xOrAHGg1rmrLdx5DC8-E2o8wT9ze5NrH5KjvRIP6ztj7_nFzvt8RUpWcFQKa/s320/IMG_20130811_164531+(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guinevere happily snuggled up on the couch wrapped in her cloak and grinning at Daddy (who you can't see, but is wearing his cloak)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">
I don't actually have any photos of her wearing it at Burning Man. Two reasons, one, I didn't take very many photos. Two, the cloak turned out to be impractical for wearing, she kept taking it off, which is no good when I was using it to light her up. So I sewed EL wire onto her little jacket, and used the cloak as a blanket in the wagon we were pulling her around in. She did spend about 30 minutes one evening running around the camp in it, but as soon as we went to head out, off it came. It wasn't helped by it being quite a warm burn, usually in the evenings she was topless under her jacket. Previous years she would have needed a layer or two of merino under it. </div>
<div style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">
My cloak, which I'll share photos off when I've taken some, didn't get worn at all, it was just too warm at night. Most nights I was still in just a t-shirt by the time we made it back to our RV for the night. </div>
<div style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">
So, blogged about a bit later than August, but still made in August, so I'm totally counting it. </div>
PolyCraftualhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07777851123314135341noreply@blogger.com2