We've had a tough couple of weeks with all of us getting the dreaded gastro. One of the worst bits about this virus is seeing your loved ones be so sick - all the time knowing that it is a 'sure thing' that you'll be suffering likewise sooner or later.

But we are all good now and I'm ready to face my uncompleted projects:

Clockwise from top left

1) Little granny sqare blanket.  I've just got to finish stitching the rows together!  My aim is to have this done in the next couple of days so I can dispatch it off to the newest baby on the block :-)  It's small, but just right for keeping a newborn toasty in a pram, bassinette or carseat.

2) Two skirts.  The same A-Line skirt pattern as before.  All that's left on these is the closures and the hem of the polka dot skirt.  I think I've nearly come to the end of my enthusiasm for this skirt pattern and it's time to move on.... maybe a to a tunic style top.

3) Latch Hook Rug. Last Saturday (just before I got sick), I took an Adult Ed class with Jo Wild - latch hooker.  I made a start in class and will continue once I've got the crochet project finished. More on this later!!!

4) Linoprinting. Me and my friend Kate have planned a linocutting/printing playdate for tommorow :-)  I love my creative friends!

In other news, Jasper started at 'Family Day Care' last week.  I am very ready for some respite after nearly 15 months.  So once a week he gets to spend 6 hours with a nice lady and some other children and I get to do whatever the hell I want!

Winter in Hobart is glorious. Today it's cold, but it's also very sunny and clear.  Perfect for walking around with a pram and a rugged up (sleeping) baby :-)

Here's a few piccies I took in our backyard today :-)  I should have taken a photo of the washing on the line... always a cheery sight (unless it's raining, then it's very uncheery!)

I've constructed a pleated and gathered pocket to attach to the front of my latest wrap-around skirt to groovy it up.  Plain black denim = BORING.  There's only a tiny amount of work left on this project, but I haven't managed to settle in and finish it for over a week.  I'd better get my act together!

I was going to hold off posting again for another couple of weeks, but I've been lured back by a meme :o)  Thanks Kathryn.

 

1. Which pattern/vintage style have you been thinking about lately?  I like simple sewing, so I've got lots of wraparound skirts and baby pants in the pipeline :-)  I've got the fabric, I've just gotta find the time!


2. What's the one place you want to visit that you've never been to before.  Ha!  given all our recent real estate searching I'd like to visit our future home ASAP.  We're hoping that we'll know it when we see it.  In terms of destinations...I'd really love to go skiing in New Zealand.

3. How do you relax?  Making stuff is my favourite way to relax.  Sewing, embroidery and playing with wool...


4. What is your favourite holiday.  I'd take any skiing or kayaking holiday right about now.  My favourite trip has probably been the Port Davey/Bathurst Habour kayaking trip we did a number of years ago.


5. What is one sewing skill you want to learn/try out? Well it's not so much 'sewing' but I'm taking a one day adult education course in rug hooking next month.   A craft I've wanted to try for ages is weaving, I'll get to it one day :-)

6. Can you knit/crochet? Other crafting talents?  Knit, crochet, spinning, feltmaking, quilting, fabric dyeing... and the list goes on, and on, and on.  I like learning new stuff.


7. What garment/accessory do you wear the most?  Apart from normal every day clothes; at the moment I'm wearing scarves and tights to try and stay warm.  My sister knitted me a pair of wristwarmers recently and they are a very welcome addition to my wardrobe... I should be wearing them now considering how cold I feel. 

8a. How much time do you spend reading blogs?  Maybe too much time :-p  Thank goodness for Google Reader!

8b. Your motto/mantra  Right sides together LOL  It's amazing how often I muck that one up!  Other than that, my most oft spoken phrase lately is 'Jasper NO!  don't touch the knobs on the oven. HOT!'   or  ' Jasper, here, let me wipe your nose please'.

Hello!  We have moved, my workroom is set up and today I sewed my first seam in for-ever.

This lovely, soft, drapey knit with silk content has been turned into a multipurpose scarf by sewing the ends together to make a circle.

After a long think I have decided to continue blogging.  Thanks to everyone for your feedback and encouragement :o)

However, I will be taking a break of 2-3 months while we travel and get settled into our new home.  So please check back in mid to late July.

Taking the time to reflect about what I'm doing here has been a good thing as I have identified areas where I can make changes to improve the experience for me and hopefully for you too:

Blog Identity and Networks: I've been blogging for a long time (blog-wise) and I continue to be very interested in textile art and innovation.  However my main creative outlet is currently utilitarian textile creations (craft?), and I realised that I haven't been making much of an effort to connect with the many like minded bloggers out there! 

At the suggestion of Gina, I linked into the Kootoyoo's 'My Creative Space' meme over the last couple of weeks which has intoduced me to many bloggers with similar and inspiring interests.  This has lead to new commenters too :-)

Comments:  A few of you suggested that the comments part of the blog could be improved.  I asked Chris to look into this and we have made some changes.  I hope that commenting is now easier for everyone. 

I've also asked Chris to find a way to have comments sent to my email address to make responses easier for me. Another option is to respond to comments within the the blog itself  e.g. ungtblod.

Content: Most of your feedback indicated that you are interested in crafty content with some glimpses into what's happening with my life.... the past year 'life' has been a bigger factor than usual - I had a baby!

I also had a good look at some of some of my favourite blogs and the quality of images is a huge factor in my enjoyment of them. So I'll be keeping the camera close by over the coming months to work on improving the quality and quantity of my photographs.

Signing off for now:

Thanks for reading everyone.  I'll see you in a couple of months.

I thought I'd better refresh my memory of crochet by making up a couple of granny squares.  I used these fabulous video tutorials from Meet Me at Mikes to refresh my memory.

The problem is that I can't seem to stop!  Combining the colours is my favourite part :-)  I'm not sure just how far these tiny balls of wool will go, but I plan on continuing until they run out.  My ideas for 'things to make' depending on the amount I can eek out are:

1. cushion cover

2. scarf

3. bassinette blanket (even though blankets are 'on the outer' due to SIDS)

4. pram blanket (ditto)

5.cot blanket (ditto)

6. lap blanket

I seriously doubt that I'll get anywhere near lap blanket size... but it's there as an option. Just in case. 

I have contempated weighing the squares done so far, weighing the balls of wool and calculating the number of squares I could expect to achieve.  But where's the fun in that?

Crochet for the road!  It's decided.

I browsed around the net looking at yarn options and not finding anything that gripped my crochet imagination.  Then, eureka! I remembered that there were 4 skeins of white handspun wool yarn in my craftroon AND my little stash of dye out in the shed.  SORTED!

I seperated my yarn into many mini-skeins - winding between my thumb and elbow.

And I've got a new dye method - after an initial microwave disaster I moved operations to the oven.  My containers are teensy, disposable pie tins and each mini skein is dyed in it's own tin.  I roughly followed the directions from this Hello Yarn tute. The tins went onto tray and into the oven at 180degC for 20 minutes. 

Last night I just switched the oven off when the time was up and I retrieved the tins this morning.   Which is a Useful Thing when you are caring for a very sooky baby.

I used Landscape Dyes for the pinks/oranges and Procion MX for the greens/blues.  I think I threw out my blue Landscape Dye as I can't find it... so that's why I tried the Procion on the wool.  I seem to recall that I had problems with Procion on wool in the past, but this time it worked fine.  I just added a good glug of vinegar to the dye mixtures

I'm chuffed with the results.  Jasper is too, even if he looks unimpressed here, the nano second before I took the photo he was smiling an pawing all over the wool with his vegemite fingers.

Today I'm participating in My Creative Space.  Which feels a bit fraudulent because I haven't done anything creative since Sunday.  Until today that is. Today I took my camera into my workroom and took a photo of the only orderly thing in there.  My button box.

 

My friend Erin emailled me a few months ago - she said she'd like to learn to sew and did I think she'd be able to do it?  Uh YES! and I'd happily show her how any time, any place. 

Well let me tell you, Erin has put me to shame!  She now whips up cute little outfits for her baby at an astonishing rate and you should see the big monster softie she made - FANTABULOUS!!!  Erin isn't afraid to tackle things... drafting up outfits, sewing on elastic, applique - you name it, she'll try it.  I'm so inspired! 

And she's set for buttons for life... She 'accidentally' bought another 2000 buttons on ebay last week LOL

So I'm now scouting around for a portable project to take with me on the road.  I'm thinking crochet, paper piecing or an embroidery project.  But I want it to be something a bit different, a bit exciting.... Any suggestions?