made for you: felt story board

Made sometime ago, but here is our felt storyboard with characters from the gingerbread story,  printed, laminated and with a velcro sticky dot on the back that stick to the felt, but don't wreck it when pulled off.

 

 

the clouds, sun, tree foilage, moon and flowers are interchangable after using the press-snaps on both parts.

This project is one of those that you have packed away, and pull out on a day when things aren't happening right, and keeps little fingers occupied.

 

L.

LMCG: new project

Since last holidays I was hoping to get together with the LMCG (little miss crochet group) for another session, but this term has just flown by and we are now headed to end of year school holidays, and I haven't had my get-together. But last weekend saw two of the LMCG members under our roof for a night, both with recently completed projects. Here and Here.

 

It was just before dinner time and I asked M if she took her crocheting along by any chance and what was she currently working on. Her response was that she took it along, 6 or so balls of yarn and her hooks, and no she hadn't started anything new. With my daughter at the same stage, I went straight to Lucy from Attic24, I know she has simple and VERY CLEAR instructions with loads of photos. Knowing the girls are keen to move on from the granny square, I headed for the Neat Ripple Pattern, which would teach them to crochet in a foundation chain, changing colours regularly, turning your work to work in rows and also increase (mountains) and decrease (valleys).

With a set of instructions printed for both of the girls, they made a start still before dinner reading the instructions and with counting chain, working out how long they wanted their project to be - we decided on a cushion cover - and that they had to work in multiples of 14 plus 3. Out came the calculator and they worked it out together. Working their foundation row they found tricky. I made them persevere trying to work out where to put their hook in the chain, aswell as trying to figure out the increase and decrease. They both got about a 1/3rd along the row, with many pull-outs before my softspot gave in and I finished the foundation row early Saturday morning for them, so they could practice the valleys and mountains on an established row.

 

Thats all they needed, and away they went. Yesterday when I spoke to M, she was up to her fifth colour change and cruising along, even taking it to school for during recess! Our muffet is onto her third colour change, but being home from school today and with thunder outside, she is curled on the couch, with busy fingers.

 

Hopefully there becomes a time in these school holidays where I can get the girls all back together for another fun evening.

 

 

L.

made for you: activity bag

A few years ago I made some 'activity bags for the three children, to take on road trips and holidays, filled with a few special items, new book and a drawing pad with crayons, or for the youngest one, it was baby toys. What they could fit in, was what they were allowed to take along. 

Made from fine cordouroy with a drawstring top, I cut up a loved t-shirt and added some colourful buttons for a herbie-loving son. I stitched with a straight stitch 0.5cm around herbie to allow the stretch fabric to roll. This still hangs happily in his room, ready for the next road trip. 

I have kept their drawing books. Nice to look back on and see what they drawed in the back of the car, how their scribbles turned into drawings and what kept them occupied early in the morning while they were still in their camp beds.

Now with the youngest one requiring one for this holiday season, I based it on the Hobo Sack tutorial via  Belle Cherie Handmade. With some girly cotton, its all set to be filled with treasures.

L.

made for you: cotton summer bag

A summer drawstring bag. 100% cotton.

 

 

  Perfect for a little lady. Just the right size to carry little important bits, slung across the body, so no falling off the shoulder.

 

L.

chunky basket

A quick project to make. I have had this pattern printed for some time, and with other projects done, I dug up the pattern. Made with double strand, and a large size hook, it whipped up rather quick.

just perfect to hold another current WIP.

PatternLink: chunky basket

 

L.

 

 

mail: bendigo mills

After a quick email, I got mail - in the letterbox.

(I really miss getting handwritten letters in the mailbox. Those days are really gone...)

 

 colour choice aplenty

 Alpaca. One day. Something special I think.

 

(look at all those nice 100% cotton colours...)

Thanks Bendigo Woolen Mills. You shall be hearing from me as I plan my bedrunners.

Have you ordered from Bendigo before? Love to hear from previous Bendigo shoppers. What was your experience? How did you find the quality and how about pricing?

L.

Lego post #3

Two weekends ago, I managed to finish off my lego project that I started in the holidays. This is the last photo to finish off my Lego post from a few weeks ago.

A piece of jarrah skirting board found in the back corner of the shed, some satin varnish, 6 packets of cup hooks, measuring tape, pencil and a drill (not to mention the sore fingers!) resulted in a nice hanging shelf to hold all the instruction booklets.

Put on the wall in our dining/playroom, it makes easy access for the children for their daily lego-burst.

I also share with you two photos from Ruth, who was busy with this project sometime ago, and passed the bright idea onto me.

 She has used two IKEA Brundtal towel rails to hold their lego booklets..

 

Thanks again, Ruth... :) We now have lego booklets which will hopefully last out our children's lego-lifespan



L.

made for you: summer dress

With summer almost popping its head around the corner, and the purchase of those Red Shoes, I completed my WIP on friday. Our little miss-2 loves any skirts or dresses, and will only wear shorts or pants if she really has too. She calls them a wee-skirt or a wee-dress, because when you do twirly-whirls, you say "weeeeeeeeee". So I had to look for a pattern with frills. More frills the better. I borrowed a childrens sewing book by Ottobre and used the skirt pattern from a dress that I liked, and altered it to fit the bodice.

 

 

My sewing machine had a bit of a belly-ache at first, and wasn't happy stitching for once. After a bit of oil, new needle, lint removal and some good thread, it was happy to go again. (its is in dire need of a service) With it being my first project to use fabric and crocheting together, I am very happy how it turned out, and so is little miss.

 

Here is the link to the bodice pattern. I did alter it slightly - I made the straps a little longer, and also added more rows at the bottom where it joined the dress - top pic. A very simple pattern, and quick to make too.

 

I machine stitched the bodice to the skirt, and surprisingly you cannot find the stitching back!

 

 

 With the bodice made from 95% cotton, 5% silk, and the skirt being open and loose, it is going to be nice and cool for summer.

 The hems of each frill was finished with a small, close zigzag.

 

 A matching headband quickly whipped up from here, thanks to Bec for the link!

 

pretend play yesterday - heels just finish it... :)

and for a two-year-old, it does the perfect 'weeeeeeeee......'

 

and what I like best about this dress... is that it isn't pink. or purple. and it is still so ever girly. must be those frills.

Its ready for the wash. I really dislike washing things for the first time.

L.

LMCG: granny pillow

With what started off as a simple granny square... another member of LCMG has finally finished her first project too. My Miss 10. The last bit took extra encouraging to get it completed and not be a UFO. (unfinished object)

 

With a visit to Spotlight the other week, I picked up some especially-requested-had-to-be-green backing material and a pillow insert. With me coming home with that, renewed desire to finish it kicked in, and she did.

do I, or don't I?

Look at those ends. They still need burying. I am so tempted to do them for her, but on the otherhand, she has done all the rest by herself, and it is all part of completing a project....

...my pondering thought for the afternoon...

This was my first attempt at stitching crocheting to material using my machine. Very happy and a whole lot stronger then handstitching.

 

This morning while she was at school, I backed it, and it has turned out rather nice. It is now competing with the blooming flower cushion on her bed, waiting for her to come home. I think I see a ripple pillow requesting to be made, to bring the two cushions together.

Am I being a nasty-teacher not to finish the threads for her?

L.

made for you: millie (monday) monkey

Meet Millie. Monkey Made on a Monday Morning.

 

 

Made for a special friend, who I got to have a catch-up visit with. I chose to make Millie out of a pair of Explorer socks (nice thick socks that are generally worn inside workboots) because of her love for the outdoors. **So happy I could find female coloured Explorers - and striped at that!  And to be honest, I will make future sock monkey's out of Explorers too. I am so much happier with Millie then Rio. I think it is because of the thickness of the socks.

 I wanted to have the Explorer sock tag visible so made sure that I cut the right sock for the legs. I also wanted to leave the fluffy-rolled top that Explorer socks have, visisble.

 

 

It is a relatively easy pattern to follow, using machine and handstitching, with beautiful clear photos.

 Rio and Millie

pattern link: Sock Monkey from CraftPassion.

**photo update: during cooking dinner time last night, master 8 comes into the kitchen and proudly tells me that he has "found a pair of socks in his cupboard, that would make a nice sock monkey for his birthday" (it's not till next October.) This morning I found it pinned up on my board. Thank you son. Consider it done. Another one to join Rio coming up.**
 

L.