Waiting in the capital

A new cardi

2010-04-25T16:15:00.001-07:00

A new cardi
Originally uploaded by redmag

....my children are growing like weeds!!....as I type this they run around in ill-fitting rags....shivering (actually the shivering is artistic license they don't seem to feel the cold except to use it as a reason to get out of the bath before they've even gotten wet because they prefer the feel of filth on their skin to warm soapy water)

.....but we are experiencing a bit of a clothing crisis here on all fronts, mine included..so I've started to make a few things for them and me.....this is a quick baby jumper....(took me three evenings and I'm a pretty slow knitter) ....I used 1 ball of 8 ply Rustica in graphite from Bendigo Woolen Mills ...the buttons were from my stash I think they came off a vintage jacket....and the pattern is a Debbie Bliss one from here (it's free!)....it was originally intended to be for a little girl....i just added buttoms in place of the suggested flower snap closing to butch it up....it works well...my only compaint is that without ribbing along the bottom it curls up making it look a little like a crop top/bolero number and dosen't quite cover the precious kidney region (why do we angst about covering the kidneys?).....I think I'm going to try it again but with either more length or perhaps a little ribbing along the bottom....in another colour....something brighter....i like bright clothes in Winter....but the folks at Bendigo don't seem to have many bright colurs which is a shame....I'll have to find a new online source for yarn....if you have a good suggestion please do leave a comment...

...anyway I have a huge problem finishing things - there are three jumpers slothing about my loungroom that are 80% finished right now....so to give myself a deadline I've signed up for the one-week kids clothing challenge over at elsie marley....wish me luck...

While on white

2010-03-12T15:24:00.001-08:00

While on white
Originally uploaded by redmag

...I signed up for Sooz's teatowel swap....and while I'm a bit late I've finally finished......on the off chance one of my swap partners read this blog....I'm only going to post a sneak peak......

......apart from the obvious joy that has come from the lovely tea towels that have floodedmy mail box ( thank you Claire, Meagan, Justine and Gina...I will post pictures of their lovely work once I receive a couple more) it's also be ACE to re-visit screenprinting...I did find that I need alot more practice at both desigining something good and in the technique department....but I loved it....for those of you in Melbourne I did find a great place to get my image put on a screen - Screenplay, $40 to get your screen cleaned and your imageadded and if you don't have a screen he'll sell you a decent secondhand one for reasonable price. For those you you in Canberra - just join Megalo - it's brilliant!

Kindness of others....or making the most of others gluts

2010-02-28T00:41:00.001-08:00

{59/365} Kindness of others
Originally uploaded by redmag

When we realised we were going to move right at the beginning of summer we mourned the potential of a summer crop in our veggie patch. We compensated by giving away the tender seedlings and seed potatoes we had ready for planting to family members, so that we could live vicariously through the gardens of others and we eagerly accepted any excess produce on offer... all was well
It's only just occurred to me that one unforseen bonus of not having a patch this summer has been not having to endure the inevitable glut - no racking the brains for yet more things to do with zucchinis or growing tired of your favourite dish. The gluts of others - tomatoes and eggplants in this case - have suddenly becoming exciting intellectual problems to solve. So for those of you with too many eggplants and tomatoes, i recommend this lovely dish, adapted from a Gourmet Traveller “Menus” book from 2001.

Eggplant and Tomato Curry
You need:
500g eggplants
500g tomatoes, chopped
A few spring onions
1 tablespoon of grated ginger
1 ½ tablespoons of brown mustard seeds
A handful of curry leaves
1 teaspoon of ground turmeric
½ a teaspoon of ground chillies
1 teaspoon of ground coriander
1 ½ tablespoons of tomato paste
Oil
What to do:
Preheat the oven to 180C and roast the eggplants until tender then chop into small pieces. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil into a frypan, when hot add the spring onions, ginger, mustard seeds and curry leaves, and cook over a medium heat for a few minutes. Add spices, tomato and tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes. Add the eggplant and season with salt to taste, simmer over a medium heat for 5 minutes or until the tomato is pulpy.

Blanks

2010-02-26T02:40:00.001-08:00

{57/365} Blanks
Originally uploaded by redmag

....a roll of twenty blank linen teatowels patiently waiting for ink for the "wash the dishes"swap....actually only 10 of them are for the swap....and 10 are for the gift stash (well a number less than ten that takes into account those that fell in the name of craft)

......I love the potential of blanks.....the seductive pleasure of a crisp white blank linen canvas.......can't wait to mess them up.....I also can't wait to show you my idea.

The organic pant pattern

2010-02-18T20:12:00.001-08:00

{50/365} The organic pant pattern
Originally uploaded by redmag

Loads of you have them....a simple pattern traced of a pair of pants both you and your child love.....that just keep getting remade over and over slightly bigger each time as your child grows.....these were PJs for a two-year old that lived hard and died young ( seen here when they were fresh)

My tip is...well.....i use old cotton sheets....they are nice and comfortable..... designed for sleeping really......and cheap....and its nice to reuse things.....and i like the flowers.

.....a new design for a first birthday next week

2010-02-18T20:03:00.001-08:00

{48/365} .....a new design for a first birthday next week
Originally uploaded by redmag

...OK new design is a bit of an exaggeration....it is a re-work of the trusty pattern that has been a koala, rabbit and a gnome in the past.......this time it's meant to be an eskimo.....what do you think? It's a bit wonky but not bad for my first attempt at using the dreaded fur and while i think i may now have fluff-lung.....it does feel lovely. The only thing I can't decide is whether to make him happy or cheeky...any thoughts?

One of the main reasons I've slowed/stopped making things to sell was that i didn't have the time or the drive to make anything for my family.....so 2010 is all about fixing that.....there have been lots of clothes sewn and knnitted already......but nothing big no major events to celebrate until now......the first birthday (both for this year and ever for the birthday boy) is next week and this is for him......
It feels good to shift things back into the right priority order.....

{40/365} An abondoned project discovered

2010-02-08T20:05:00.001-08:00

{40/365} An abondoned project discovered
Originally uploaded by redmag

.....goodness....look what I found in a big plastic bag at the oppie....158 lovely little squares.....all for $7! ....as luck would have it ...I did have a granny square project on the list of things to do in 2010.....while this seems like cheating on the craft front....I wasn't going to anger the opshop Gods by leaving this one on the shelf..... ........oh well I'm Catholic....I'm terrific at burying irrational guilt ....especially the kind that comes from breaking silly self imposed rules about crafting.....and will surely get over it the moment the grand plan comes off!

Delicious carrot dip

2010-02-08T19:54:00.001-08:00

{38/365} Leftovers
Originally uploaded by redmag

We were on dip duty for last night's celebrations.....we over-catered highlighting that there are some thing that shouldn't be left to google to decide...like how much dip you need for 60 people

....so we had the leftovers for morning tea.....dip (like curry) is better the next day..... the carrot dip ( the mangey one at the top there) was the talk of the night....so here's the recipe...

Delicious Carrot dip
250g carrots - finely grated
Olive oil
1/2 cup Greek-style yoghurt
1 clove of crushed garlic
Salt to taste.

Fry the carrot in a small amount of oil for 5-10 minutes until tender ( they will change into a deeper orange colour when cooked)
Allow the carrots to cool, then add the yogurt and garlic, mix thoroughly. Add salt to taste.

Is better made a day ahead if stored covered in the fridge.

{16/365} A red tangled mess

2010-01-16T19:40:00.001-08:00

{16/365} A red tangled mess
Originally uploaded by redmag

......this is my day....maybe even my life right now.....this expresses all the emotions I felt when I found out the job I had lined up had fallen through without any apology.....the fury.....the confusion....the gut wrenching emptiness when I realised I was discarded without much thought....the frenzied mental leaps as I trawled through the vacancies.....all to no avail there is no solution to be found on a Saturday.....

....so I sought solace in crafting.... a new project that has been dancing around my head....restoring order to this tangled red mess in order to make something......a little thing for the littlest person.....someone I will miss dearly when all this job nonsense finally gets sorted and we spend much more time apart than we ever had........

{15/365} The bare bones for a comfy spot

2010-01-14T21:42:00.001-08:00

{15/365} The bare bones for a comfy spot to watch the year go by
Originally uploaded by redmag

I've always wanted a comfy couch outside to lounge, read and nap on....but somehow i never managed to find the seat to match the spots I've had....until now......
This much abused three-seater was moved down from Canberra with the intention of listing it on ebay for 99cents after I was quoted $900 to have two new cushions made for it.....
...however I've just worked out that it fits perfectly on our back deck and in the past 24 hours....despite only makeshift cushioning its been the focus of family lazy activities.....stories read, pretend naps had, morning coffee in the early morning light consumed.....the couch has redeemed itself....it stays...new cushions to be found and lots of lounging anticipated.

{14/365} Magical peach leaves

2010-01-14T00:36:00.001-08:00

{14/365} Magical peach leaves
Originally uploaded by redmag

....ok this photo...well it's not a great shot....and this little peach tree is one of the few plants in my new backyard that I don't feel any love for...not sure why just don't really get the miniture fruit tree thing...plus I am mourning the loss of my apricot tree when it was looking like it might finally pay off after three years of love.....

...this photo is all about the leaves and the fact that we discovered that when added to homemade custard they add an amazing almody flavour to them.....

My sister and I began a new family tradition this past Christmas - we both made trifles that we ate separately on opposite sides of the world for pudding at our respective Christmas feasts....we're working towards making the ultimate trifle....this year mine was a blend between a Margaret Fulton and a Stephanie Alexander recipe....and the best bit was the custard...because of (as suggested by Stephanie) the addition of peach leaves....I know, I know... the mister and I also muttered what wanky crap when we read it out loud in the throws of our last minute cooking frenzy and had we not had the leave so close at hand they would have been ignored....but if you can add them do you won't regret it!

My slightly modified version of the custar in Stephanie Alexander's Peach trifle recipe from the Cook's Companion

1 cup milk
1 cup cream
6 peach leaves washed and dried
8 egg yolks
1/4 cup castor sugar
1 tablespoon plain flor
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Bring milk, cream and peach leaves to simmering point in a heavy-based saucepan. Remove from the heat and allow to infuse for 15 mins, meanwhile whisk egg yolks with sugar and flour. Remove the peach leans and whisk in the warm milk mixture into the egg yolk mixture. Put mixture back onto the heatand cook over a moderate heat, stirring constanly with a wooden spoon and the mixture thickens. Remove from the het and add the vanilla. Allow to cool before using.

I'm going to use this in strawberry flan this weekend - given i didn't snap a trifle shot I'll showyou how it turns out.

{11/365} 44C in the shade

2010-01-11T03:30:00.001-08:00

{11/365} 44C in the shade
Originally uploaded by redmag

.....while this does beg a say no more description....I just checked and at 22:15 it was still 37C....which does entitle me to a whine...I'd guess it's at least that in every room in my stinkin' uninsulated (sans aircon) house - I'm actually a magnet for houses that do bad in the heat.....which a're usually good for the cold.....BUT given it doesn't snow here I don't think that's much of a special gift....
F*CK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S I'm doing the 1 photo a day thing over on flickr.....the ones that bring me to explain/rage/whine will get a run here....

P.P.S Happy New year.....hope to see you round these parts a bit more this year!

Broken camera lens

2009-09-30T20:19:00.001-07:00

Broken camera lens
Originally uploaded by richardmasoner

....this isnt my lens....but mine is broken too....I'm very upset.....the camera is only a few months old....and i didn't even do anything spectacular or stupid to console myself with.......anyway....needless to say this has interrupted my week of projects....I'll be back later today or early tommorrow depending on your time zone with the next project...once i did out my trusty old instamatic...and the enerygy to haul myself out of my pit of misery

Project Two - A simple vest

2009-09-29T03:58:00.001-07:00

Project Two - A simple vest
Originally uploaded by redmag

This is a lightweight cotton vest for the in-between months - the ones when it’s too cold to go without something to "protect the kidneys" as Nan would say but not cold enough to convince little people to put on a coat.
This pattern is for an average two year old.

What you need:
6 balls of Patons Serenity* in black
1pair of 7mm needles
1 stitch holder
1 needle
1 tape measure

Note the gauge is 13 stitches by 23 rows for a 10cm square after washing.

What to do:

Using two balls of yarn combined at once (i.e. as if they were a single strand) cast on (CO) 76 stitches.
Row 1 **knit (k) 1, purl (p) 1, repeat from ** until the end
Row 2 **p1, k1, repeat from ** until the end
Repeat the previous two rows until the garment is roughly 23cms from cast on. Finishing on Row 2 or the pattern

Next row - Continue the moss stitch pattern for the next 38 stitches (i.e. k1, p1,....) and transfer to the stitch holder, finish the row in the established moss stitch pattern.
***Continue the established moss stitch pattern on the remaining 38 stitches until it measures 11 cm from the row where half the stitches were placed on the stitch holder.
At the beginning of the next two rows loosely cast off 8 stitches and continue in the established moss stitch pattern.
Continue the moss stitch pattern for another 10 rows and cast off very loosely.
Transfer the 38 stitches on the stitch holder back onto the knitting needles and repeat everything from ***.
Sew together the neck/shoulder seam and the side seams and to daa!

More photos here....and here.

* This is a DK Bamboo and Cotton yarn that comes in 50g balls but feel free to substitute.

Project one - Liddle girls

2009-09-28T03:55:00.001-07:00

Liddle girls
Originally uploaded by redmag

This is Project One of Five for my week of blogging a project a day....

Fabric Paper Doll Garlands
These were inspired by the need to use metres of heavy-weight iron-on interfacing that I got for free.

You will need:

Heavy-weight iron on interfacing approx 20cm high and how ever long as you'd like your garland to be - mine is 1.5 meters long. You need a heavy weight interfacing because this is what makes the fabric stiff enough to behave like paper and give you pretty erect little dolls.
A length of fabric cut slightly bigger than you length of interfacing - to make it easier to attach the two together with the iron - I allowed 1 cm clearance but it can be smaller if you are methodical and cut straight - which I am not and can't do.
A doll template (I've attached mine here but feel free to use your own)
An iron
Scissors
Small metal rings (optional)

What to do:

Attach your fabric to the interfacing using the iron following the manufacturers instructions.
Trace the template out on the back side of the fabric/interfacing strip. I found it too difficult to cut all the dolls out at once like you would with a normal paper doll garland and so traced the template out over the entire strip - it takes time but gives you a much nicer end product.
If you are using the metal rings leave some material on the end of the first and last doll that can be folded back to make a loop that will secure the metal ring.
Cut out the dolls
If using the metal rings, sew them into the first and last doll. I found that the rings made it easier to hang the garland but they aren't

...and ta daa you have a fabric paper doll garland.

Some options to customise....If you'd prefer a garland of liddle boy dolls...just trim the skirt of the dolls in the template.....I've made a nice garland that had pairs of boys and girls.

Also you can have different fabrics along the garland - just make the join at their hands using the template to determine how wide each piece of fabric needs to be.

A comment on the picture - while not the prettiest of shots - i just loved that the two-year old's first instinct upon laying eyes of this harem of liddle girls hanging around his room was to grab his liddle Cambodian boy doll and proceed to get him to give them each a kiss...........owwwww.......which reminds me of a little picket fence my dad built when we were kids that got a similar treatment from my little sister....although she went further and declared they were her boyfriends....I guess she expected a commitment for her kisses....

See you tomorrow night with Project Two.

My creative space

2009-09-24T02:26:00.001-07:00

invent a new product that doesn't need a label
Originally uploaded by redmag

.....due to technical problems I've missed most of this week's fall colour challenge..........
..............so instead I'm setting myself the challenge of posting a new "how to" every day next week....starting with fabric paper doll garlands...
....................so today my creative space is all about following my own instructions to make sure they make sense......it turns out they don't make as much sense as I'd hoped so this is a photo of my successful garlands from a few weeks ago.....but you get the idea!

See you on Monday....and more spaces over here

Red Baby

2009-09-21T04:06:00.001-07:00

Red Baby
Originally uploaded by redmag

....Not quite brick red....and pulled from the archives....I have a photo like this for most members of the family....it's not planned they just seem to find themselves bathed in red light just when I have a camera in my hand....ok maybe bit a bit staged....still working out how to get the dog to sit still up the top of the climbing tower with its nice red roof in the local park....

I'm playing along with the Autumn colours week over at Elsie Marley......check out this one its terrific

A few friends

2009-09-08T19:22:00.001-07:00

A few friends
Originally uploaded by redmag

Apologies for my absense - I've been sewing....Here is a sneak peek at the collection I'll have with me at this weekend's Handmade Market at the Yarralumla Woolshed (just of Cotter Road for those of you in Canberra and its surrounds planning on coming along)

I'll be inside on the Friday night - between 6-9pm and outside on Saturday between 10am and 4 pm......(please let it be a glorious day like last weekend)

...even if you're not in the market for a toy do stop by and say hello!

My creative space

2009-09-03T17:55:00.001-07:00

The production line
Originally uploaded by redmag

....it's still Thursday somewhere in the world isn't it?

I started this yestyerday with the best of intentions and somehow didn't publish it....this is my creative space.....I'm trying out a couple of new designs for the upcoming Handmade market in Canberra next Friday and Saturday at the Yarralumla Woolshed.....I'll post more details over the weekend.....but this is my interpreatation of a "Dusty Gnome"

My house is obessed with them...all of us even those that don't attend playgroup.......and here is their little song....

"I met a little dusty gnome
Who said it's time to pack away
Round, Round, Round
Swish, swish, swish
It's time to pack away"

More creative spaces over here.

Robo Hendrix

2009-08-15T21:16:00.001-07:00

Robo Hendrix
Originally uploaded by redmag

This is my contribution to the plushteam's tribute to Woodstock - Plushstock. See the Plush team blog for more AMAZING free loving hippie plush. There will be voting to come I'll post the details here when it's all ready to go...
.....I do wish I was at some open air outdoor festival right now...sunshire...loud music.....*sigh*

There was one in the bed...

2009-08-11T21:52:00.001-07:00

A new bed
Originally uploaded by redmag

..and the little one said roll over, roll over.....so we all rolled over and one fell out....

Ok the little one didn't actually say roll over....he's only a few months old....but he did roll over in his basinette last night and tried to escape....so it's out and everyone gets a promotion bedwise......from cradle to cot....from cot to bed....oh.....why....do....they keep....growing....up?

They'll be into our liquor and smoking ciggies down at the bus station next thing!

My creative space (and a shameless brag)

2009-08-05T20:36:00.001-07:00

My creative space
Originally uploaded by redmag

On my table today is:

Broken wings in need to some glue
A new wallet needing to be filled with my pocket litter
Some pretty floral fabric for a custom order from my first repeat customer!
...and most excitingly a fresh copy of Peppermint magazine....I love this magazine but hadn't managed to get this latest one yet...silly really because this one quite remarkably contains one of my owls - I had no idea he was in it until yesterday....this has made my week (well year actually nothing like a close brush with the uber-cool to put a spring in ya crafting step - and I have added some owls to my shop if your interested.

but....Canberra is de-frosting and the sunshine and two-digit outside temperatures beckon...creative things will need to occur after dark....

More spaces over here

A moment

2009-08-03T02:01:00.001-07:00

A moment
Originally uploaded by redmag

A rattle found at a garage sale over the weekend....some flowers gifted to me by my neighbour from her garden....sun still streaming in my front window after 5 pm...both me and the season seem to have turned a corner.....sleep has been in short suuply at our house and I havnt been able to do more than make lists and think about the crafting things I'd like to be doing - new fabrics for old designs, new designs for old fabrics.......but we making adjustments and sometime this week I'll actually get something done....in the meantime I might just sit on the couch and enjoy the sunlight

Sweet Hat

2009-07-24T04:53:00.001-07:00

Sweet Hat
Originally uploaded by redmag

....this sweet hat arrived in the post along with two other - also beautiful - hats for the bigger little one last week as part of a swap and while they boys have been wearing them non-stop I haven't managed to get a photo of them until today!

The hats are made from recycled wooly blankets and were designed and crafted by the very talented gabrielle. Having road tested them for a week they are great! Gabrielle is offering the pattern in all sizes imaginable - see this post for details....but do check out the rest of her blog she takes the most wonderful photos of her kids exploits and they are always having loads of fun!

Thanks gabrielle...

The candlelight scarf

2009-07-21T21:01:00.001-07:00

Candlelight scarf
Originally uploaded by redmag

...As previously featured....I finally finished my "lace" scarf....only five years in the making

It's funny but taking a few years out from it makes it clear that my tastes seemed to have come full circle....I went from loving the colour and the wool to down right hating it (hence the project shelving phase) back to loving it again....I found the pattern slightly hypnotic to do and so I thought I'd share the pattern with you

A candlelight scarf

Materials
3 50g balls of Ramie by Filature di crosa
1 pair of 3 1/2 mm knitting needles.

This scarf is knitted using the candlelight lace pattern in repeat. The pattern requires multiples of 10 stitches plus an additional 11 stitches. I used 51 stitches but feel feel to use more of less depending on taste.

A copy of the chart is here, A tip to stay on track - there should always be the same number of stitches at the end of the row as you had at the beginning despite all the knitting together and making new stitches.

If you do make this scarf please leave a comment to let me know I'd love to see it....in the end I feel a certain fondness for the old candlelight pattern.....and I loved to see it out and about more.

Stuffed

2009-07-21T05:47:00.001-07:00

Stuffed
Originally uploaded by redmag

The very wonderful Christina sent me a copy of the latest edition of Stuffed magazine....it has a feature on the Etsy Plush team and they used some of my photos for it. I've never beeen in print before so this made my week!

For those of you interested in making soft toys its actually a prettty good magazine...contains a wide ange of artists, loads of pictures, a couple of patterns (most of the artists featured don't really use patterns hence only a couple) and lots of technique and tips ranging from online stockists to fabric selections - It's definately worth a look - here's the online sneak peek.

In my garden...

2009-07-19T23:39:00.001-07:00

In my garden...
Originally uploaded by redmag

Day one of blogging daily...and so far so good....

This is what our brocolini looked like about an hour ago....before I picked it clean for tonight's dinner (recipe below)...........

Penne and brocolini with a balsamic butter sauce.
Ingredients
500g Brocolini (or Brocoli or asparagaus) chopped into bite size peices
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon brown sugar
500g penne
100g butter, cut into pieces
Grated Parmesan cheese

Pop the vinegar into a small saucepan. Simmer gently until 3 tablespoons remain. Stir in the brown sugar and once it has disolved remove from the heat.

Meanwhile cook the penne and brocolini in a large pot of boiling - I usually add the brocolini when the pasta is nearing completion because I like my brocolini with a bit of crunch.

Drain the pasta and brocolini. Add the butter to the reduced vinegar and sugar mixture and stir until it has melted and combined - you should end up with a beautiful dark glossy sauce.

Toss the brocolini and pasta through the sauce and add grated paramesan to your taste and serve.....this one deosnt keep so serve immediately....

Been away.....

2009-07-19T05:01:00.001-07:00

Soviet Vision of the Perfect Family Holiday
Originally uploaded by tatraskoda

I should probably have poped up a note saying things would be quiet here this week before our little holiday.....but I've never been all that good at goodbyes.....

We've had a holiday of sorts.....celebrated a birthday, grew a first tooth, weathered the storm that is the aftermarth of immunisations, received glorious packages from far away places, slept ( sometimes but never for very long), ate, explored and of course crafted......to make up for a the silence I'm going to (try) and post every day this week just to catch everyone up!

The perfect dress

2009-07-10T21:00:00.001-07:00

The perfect dress
Originally uploaded by redmag

....this morning I fell in love all over again
...it was love at first sight....
....on first touch it felt so right.....
....i know this is going to be a rocky one....there are already signs of high maintenance....perhaps this will be a short but fiery love...and you clearly have tell-tale marks from previous lovers
....but already I can't take you off
...thankyou

Friday love

2009-07-09T21:44:00.001-07:00

Friday love
Originally uploaded by redmag

I love looking through old holiday photos and all the thoughts that come with it
I love the good stories - the ones about kindness and honesty when it didnt have to be like that
I love yellow
I love playing along

See more friday favs here

My creative space

2009-07-09T03:59:00.001-07:00

My creative space
Originally uploaded by redmag

...today it was on the edge of the garden watching one little one potter 'round the garden while listening out for the other one to wake up from his nap.....this is a scarf I started more than 5 years ago (!!!!!) I always suspected I had a problem seeing things through but five years of kicking round in the knitting bag is quite serious......

.............more spaces over here

A jar of honey

2009-07-03T20:36:00.001-07:00

Originally uploaded by redmag

we bought this this morning....from a local lady who keeps bees in her backyard only blocks from our home....I quite like the romantic notion of bees buzzing around my garden and then knicking off to their hive to get to work on making this big jar of golden goodness..........plus i get to feel like I've done something good for the environment - reducing my carbon footprint and all that - while eating crusty fresh breaad smothered in honey.

Doing acts of good never seemed so easy!

My creative space

2009-07-01T20:08:00.001-07:00

My creative space
Originally uploaded by redmag

....this was yesterday arvo and a storm was brewing.....and it was all dark and moody......I'm working on my rattle design.....it's currently being roadtested as I type......so far it passes the chew test.....more creative spaces here.

Wooly booties

2009-06-26T20:50:00.001-07:00

Wooly booties
Originally uploaded by redmag

I accidentally "felted" my favourite grey jumper at the end of last winter ....and as the hoarder that I am decided to add it to my stash rather than get rid of it....and there it languished for nearly a year....

.....until this week when I dug it out in the hope of making something useful from it....these two wooly boots are from one sleeve......the buttons (again from here) are largely ornamental....

....I think they're cute and they stay on reasonably well....maybe next time I'll put some elastic on the inside of the boot at the back of the ankle to make them extra secure......if you'd like the pattern (for 3 month old feet) just leave a comment and I"ll email it to you....

When does collecting become an addiction

2009-06-24T19:52:00.001-07:00

A nana rug collection
Originally uploaded by redmag

...is it when the Mr begins lunchtime conversation with : "....so did you buy another nana rug this morning?"

Is it when you look in any direction in your house and you see at least one thing from your ever growing "collection" ? (Confession: There are another four blankets off camera in that room alone!!)

Is it when you make a beeline straight for the manchester section of every op shop that crosses your path in the hope of finding another one?

I think i have a problem...... at least its a warm fuzzy one

Rainbow chard

2009-06-23T22:16:00.001-07:00

Rainbow chard
Originally uploaded by redmag

For years and years I've bought punnets of Rainbow Chard seedlings and never once have I ever gotten anything other than the red chard - I don't really mind, I quite like the red chard with its small stems that you can eat, soft leaves and pretty colour - but still, I always felt a little misled when none of the other colours appeared.....this year I actually have all three colours growing in my garden - remarkable!!

This bunch is due to turned into a spinach, chili and chickpea soup....it's still in the making stage so no recipe to share yet.......and given the string of disasters I've had in the kitchen and craft area this week - in the interests of public saftly it's probably best I dont share it .......here's a very flat cake from Monday for instance.....hopefully I'll be graced with some creative mojo tomorrow.....

Here are some very funny shots of other people's cooking distaster photos.

Happy hump day

Otto strikes a pose

2009-06-17T05:54:00.001-07:00

Otto strikes a pose
Originally uploaded by redmag

I think he felt sorry for me....... he actually sighed and then struck a pose which he held for a few seconds.....he's a bit of a duffa but a very nice looking one.....

The Ramones meet Dr Suess

2009-06-15T03:50:00.001-07:00

The Ramones meet Dr Suess
Originally uploaded by redmag

....my husband packed up a bunch of clothing to send off the the op shops over the weekend and I spotted an old Ramones tshirt amoungst the pile......and given I'm trying to reduce reuse and recycle as much as possible i fished it out and refashioned it into a toddler tee during naptime this arvo.....when i tried to coax said toddler into trying it on later in the day...with promises that it was cool....he countered with a very firm - "not cool" he's probably right but until he gets a part-time job I get a bigger say in his wardrobe than he does....and I quite like it.....here's the "making of" picture.

Firing it up

2009-06-14T03:58:00.001-07:00

Firing it up
Originally uploaded by redmag

It's done - and while it still needs some cosmetic things done to it given it sits smack bang in the middle of the backyard and can be viewed from every point on our block - and many of the neighbours - today we enjoyed blue skies (thank god)....and wood-fired pizzas (delicious!)

....there was some tragically doomed crafting activity - booties for the baby made from patterns intended for babes much smaller than mine. Although it was funny to see you could only squeeze 4 toes into the finished product and dont even ask about how far the straps got round his sturdy ankles...............also a first attempt at mittens for the toddler - sadly his hands are stumpier than the ideal toddler the pattern was designed for (even more sad is that his hands take after mine - i may as well have 5 thumbs - and now I think about it finding gloves that fit me is impossible, maybe I'll strike mittens of the winter to do list for everyone's sake he can just stick his hands in his pockets!).

....so tomorrow I renew my love affair with the sewing machine while I search for new things to knit that might actually fit my apparently misshapen family.....

…..hope your weekend was what you needed it to be....and for those of you in Canberra let us please have more of this weather and less of the only 4 degrees at 3pm kind this coming week.

Three finished items

2009-06-11T03:50:00.001-07:00

Three finished items
Originally uploaded by redmag

Three little cardigans all done and dusted (ok I didn't block them but I am an instant gratification type and blocking before sewing them up was just never going to happen - they will be washed in good time.)

The one closest to the camera is a six and a half stitches cardigan (I actually knitted that one two years ago but it needed to be repaired before it could be worn this time round and so counts for this weeks knitting related activity.

The middle one - is my favourite - it's the duffle coat from Debbie Bliss' Essential Baby. I used Paton's Serenity (DK Bamboo and Cotton) in Black. The buttons are japanese vintage and charcoal in colour from here and were added using red thread. It's just a lovely shaped hooded coat (The hood is not shown here but trust me it is nice)

The far one is also from Essential Baby - but I used some of my own tweaks - the sleeves are longer to provide real protention from the cold (this is Canberra and my house is made from monocrete!) I also didnt really like the contrast and suck at picking up stitches along the neckline so to save the jumper I just machine sewed black bias binding along the neck line and continued it on to be the tie.

Apologies for the crap photo - while it was sunny today it was bitterly cold and there wasnt much motivation to go back out and re-shoot.

Knitting inspiration

2009-06-10T02:50:00.001-07:00

Knitting inspiration
Originally uploaded by redmag

The week of knitting continues and the clickety-clack of knitting needles can be heard at odd hours of the day and night....although that makes it seem like a knit like a train which is far from the case - what sound would a snail make if it could knit I wonder?.....

I am making terrific progress on my half arsed half finished piles of projects (based on my normal performance level anyway) and we should all have winter woollies before winter ends this year....one problem - crappy weather, terrible light and so no photos....instead here is other people's knitted eye candy.....

Also an oven update for those eagerly awaiting wood fired treats....nearly done - ONLY one layer of concrete to go I'm told ......here's a blow by blow pictorial account of its erection thus far for those of you who like to see how these things are done.

A week of knitting

2009-06-07T17:44:00.001-07:00

Neat (ish) stitching
Originally uploaded by redmag

I have so many knitting projects lying around that I thought this week I'd devote myself to all things knitting and hopefully finish them all (fingers crossed) off.....I've never been a fan of seams in knitting - I'd always thought you just use backstitch to join all the bits together....leaving a bulky and usually ugly seam in your wake - it really never worked for baby clothing....well apparently there are other stitches you can use....like Mattress stitch.....while I still need more practise because if i was still in Year 8 Craft I'd be asked to rip this seam out and do it again neater (and this is one of the better ones)....this seam (using mattress rather than back) looks almost like a real jumper from a proper knitter.....so no more avoiding seams like the plague......

…although you do still have to weave in all those annoying threads so I'm not exactly a seam lover just no longer a seam hater.....

I'm just waiting for the shops to open tomorrow to get some buttons for this one and I'll show you the finished thing and tell you all the details in a day or so.......

For the Australian readers hope you're having a lovely extra day of weekend on this the Queen's (un)birthday weekend.

Thank God its friday....

2009-06-04T20:45:00.001-07:00

Otto takes this moment of calm to also nap
Originally uploaded by redmag

...and all is quite and EVERYONE is actually asleep ( yes at the same time)....we've all been sick this week....and every time I feel like we're all on the mend someone breaks ranks and gets cranky and snotty....so I've given up dreaming of life without mucus..even the dog seems to have had enough and has curled up in the sunniest comfiest pozzie in the house for a nap....I'm torn between enjoying the silence and popping my head on a lovely cushiony cloud and catching some zzzz but given Otto has claimed the good spot I might soldier on....

I also have a strange craving for homemade vanilla slices. I hope it’s not a snot related association rather just a craving for some comforting sugar infused custard. ....anyway just wanted to say were still here and to anyone I haven’t emailed or replied to this week - sorry - and I'll get to you as soon as we stop coughing ourselves awake in the wee hours of the morning and need hugs to get back to sleep....have a great weekend and if you have a killer vanilla slice recipe please shoot it my way....

More brave new pants

2009-06-01T22:39:00.001-07:00

More brave new pants
Originally uploaded by redmag

....those of you who've seen my back catalogue might remember me making some pants from a couple of Dreamworld tea towels about this time last year....well during last week's dream op-shop run I picked up a very bright and very cool 1970's tea towel covered in the cutest (although very un-pc) pictures of Aussie cowboys working hard with their animals in the outback....and it was huge!!! One tea towel easily became a pair of pants for my smallest child (they are either a big 000 or a small 00). There are close ups of the pictures here, here and here.....

Those of you who know me in real-life might have heard me complain about how terrible the range of clothing for little boys is when compared with the choice and variety offered to little girls once or twice (or a 1000 times) while these pants aren’t everyone’s cup-of-tea and I’m sure that he will grow up and have a phase where he is embarrassed by them…I love them – bright, colourful and just kitsch enough to be interesting without being totally clown like (although others might disagree) I just wish I could buy little things like this – if someone knows of a magical place where you can get lovelies like these I’d love to hear.

(Edited to add - forgot to give the woodfired oven update - we now have gravel in the base making it actually base like....and the frame for the opening has been cast....next weekend is a long weekend here and the oven is due to be finished then)

The robot thief

2009-05-31T21:35:00.001-07:00

The robot thief
Originally uploaded by redmag

....you know...I started making toys just after my first child was born....and well....he never really showed much interest in them....it's not that he didn't like soft toys....he has a blablah lion that never leaves his side even now that he's a toddler.....he just wasn't into mine....

.....until recently....I made him a robot that he got a little while ago and seems to love....he requests that it comes to bed with him....but yesterday he spotted my first mini robot ...made for the plushteam fundraiser 5 minis for $5 for the next 5 weeks check it out if you like little softies... at $5 they are cheap!....

anyway he grabbed it and wouldn't let go....it rides around in a little trailer he has.....it didnt really bother me that he showed no interest in my toys...but now that he does it's nice to think that he loves them

My second quilt - finished at last!

2009-05-29T21:22:00.001-07:00

My second quilt - finished at last!
Originally uploaded by redmag

Here it is....the second one down......it was intended to be a blanket for my oldest child to take to day care for naptime....but it seems too lovely to send off so i might need to make something else for day care....although at the rate I make blankets he might have stopped napping by then…so off it will go.

It is blue on one side, white on the other, with red and white hand embroidery. The quilt layer (the bit in the middle not sure what it is really called) is a piece of polar fleece I had lying around.

The brave use of white was inspired by a lovely quilt I once saw on esty but forgot to bookmark (grrr!) I used a flat sheet for the white side; it came in a sheet set that we didn't use - idea nicked from here.(scroll down to find a very cool red and orange quilt) The colours and hand embroidery were inspired by this photo on flickr (found via here).

This quilting thing is quite addictive I can see why people get hooked...maybe my next one will be a full patchwork one machine quilted.....now there's a challenge!

Stitching up the NGA

2009-05-27T20:12:00.001-07:00

Knit Wit
Originally uploaded by roctopus

...I found out about this via consumption-rebellion....

Stitching up the NGA
Knitters are invited to help create pieces that measure 10–20 cm wide and 140 cm long, which will be stitched together to create coverings for 6 large concrete poles at the front of the National Gallery of Australia. Any colour, yarn and technique is accepted—the brighter and wackier, the better!

Send your knitted pieces to the address below before the 7 July or drop them off in person to the NGA security entrance, located near the NGA car park off Bowen Drive. Include a small note stating your name, location and age (optional) because each knitted strip will have a small label stating the maker’s details.

Please send your completed knitted pieces to:
Knitta Project
Public Programs
National Gallery of Australia
GPO Box 1150
Canberra ACT 2601
AUSTRALIA

For enquiries please contact knitta@nga.gov.au

This event is part of Knitta Please, a festival of events from 5 to 12 July, which celebrates the final week of the exhibition Soft sculpture.

I think this is very exciting....and my head is spinning with ideas....none of which I actually know how to execute but that is minor detail....Please leave comment if you're planning on making something I'd love to see what everyone is planning so that I can play spot the strip when it goes up in July.

From puzzle piece to handy hook

2009-05-27T03:03:00.001-07:00

From puzzle piece to handy hook
Originally uploaded by redmag

....I find winter in Canberra drives me inside where I develop an overwhemling urge to clean and purge......its started and in up ending a box of odds and ends I came across these two puzzle pieces.... I couldnt bear to throw out after the dog managed to destroy the other two bits because they were too lovely......anyway with a bit of blutac on the back they have been transformed into handy hooks on the wall nearest the change table....they're cute and hold medium weight things like baby cardigans and face washers....one box down only an entire house and a shed to go!

This little guy arrived yesterday

2009-05-25T21:07:00.001-07:00

This little guy arrived yesterday
Originally uploaded by redmag

...and we already love him...he's only the size of the palm of my hand and can actually be cuddled by a baby....made by the very talented Monika from monkeytonkey. She has lots of other lovely things.

New drawers

2009-05-24T22:15:00.001-07:00

New drawers
Originally uploaded by redmag

....we picked these up from a second hand furniture place yesterday......they look great and now the baby has a place for all his stuff rather than just a box on the floor....and as my husband says...it looks like something you'd find in a real person's house....nice.....we also started building our much anticipated wood fire oven yesterday (ok I'm pretty much a spectator for this project) the base - which looks like a water tank but is actually designed to be a raised garden bed - is now in place.....construction will continue next weekend....and there is already much talk of entire days spent wood firing.....and eating

Thank you

2009-05-24T00:19:00.001-07:00

Tired but happy
Originally uploaded by redmag

....wow yesterday's market was a wonderful joyous and tiring day....as many of you know it was my first one...and it was an incredibly supportive and fun event for me - so much more than I'd even hoped for.

I just wanted to say a big thank you to all of you who stopped by to look...those that said hello (apologies to those of you who got a quite a stunned mullet look of shock and some incohenerent mumblings when you said you read my blog) ...and those that said nice things about my toys.... you made my day a complete joy....

To those of you who bought some things I hope you love them as much as I did making them......

....you know one of the best things was seeing that lovely child-like look of wonder on faces of all ages when they saw a toy they like....I guess we all still love toys.....and as a crafty type selling things to real people face-to-face is so much nicer than selling things on the internet (having said that I had a handful of things left over which I'll put in my etsy store during the week so if you regreted not buying something on Saturday there is still time)

Two sleeps to go

2009-05-21T00:53:00.001-07:00

Two rabbits
Originally uploaded by redmag

....although these two look like they party hard and sleeping isn't a priority for them.....

They will be at this Saturday's Handmade market along with georgeous things from over 80 talented locall artist and crafters.....

Only three sleeps to go

2009-05-19T17:18:00.001-07:00

The Hilbert Owls
Originally uploaded by redmag

....until the Handmade Market....oh crap ....I have so much to left to do!

These three Hilbert Owls will be with me on Saturday. Check out more soft toy threesomes looking for new homes here and here.

Also for those of you who don't live in Canberra and won't be at the market on Saturday....all the toys left over at the end of the market will go into my etsy store - and if you see something you like here you an always send me an email and I can keep it for you.

On a separate note - has anyone seen the ad for the Cosie? It's bascially a polar fleece monks robe - that might or might not do up at the back (there are no rear shots on the infomericals)....a very strange product.....I prefer lap blankets myself and when the market is over I'm quite keen to try and keep up with Pip's A Granny a day activities....look at the beautiful squares people are making...

Four Marvin Minsky Robot boys

2009-05-18T17:58:00.001-07:00

Four Marvin Minsky Robot boys
Originally uploaded by redmag

Only four sleeps to go til .....

The Handmade Market.
This Saturday (23rd May 2009)
10 am - 4 pm
Albert hall - Yarralumla.
Music on the lawns from 12noon.
FREE ENTRY & PARKING!

I'm going to be right out the front with these fellows and more so say hello as you wander past

Pile of toys

2009-05-17T20:21:00.001-07:00

Pile of toys
Originally uploaded by redmag

.....With less than a week to go....all spare minutes in the day seem to be earmarked for Handmade Market preparations.....my loungeroom has taken on the air of a sweatshop....I think i may even be developing a case of fluff lung.....Anyway given I'm not really doing anything else I thought I'd do a plush count down this week to give you a taste of what I'll have with me on Saturday.

I'll also flag the other stalls I'm itching to spend some money in....None of the shots of 5 (i.e five sleeps til the market) worked out so instead I thought I'd show you the pile that accumulated just out of shot.

Eat your way to love and Beauty

2009-05-13T19:35:00.001-07:00

Eat you way to love and Beauty
Originally uploaded by redmag

I picked this up a couple of weeks ago at the local op shop and with a title like "Eat your way to love and Beauty" how could I go wrong....

Written by Swami Saravati and first published in 1971 it’s a gem..

The philosophy of the book is: "Eating for love and beauty is eating for health. Smooth wrinkle free skin, lustrous hair, a sensuous shape and warm loving smile come naturally to a healthy girl or woman" - sounds good doesn’t it?

Other words of advice include.....

"Girls, to keep your marriage fresh and exciting, you must keep yourself and your husband youthful and vital".....

And in answer to the question "How does food make me more loving?" the author has this to offer....."We live in a society that is becoming more and more stressed and anxious each passing year (don't forget this was written in 1971 so we must all be a complete mess by now).....The results are everywhere: irritable parents, neurotic husbands and wives and confused children. A well nourished woman will have the strength to be a patient and understanding and loving. Your children won't turn to drugs"

Overweight people are called fatties!

I haven’t tried any of the recipes yet.

My little sometimes crafting corner

2009-05-12T21:19:00.001-07:00

My little sometimes crafting corner
Originally uploaded by redmag

...the plush team are being featured in a magazine and the we needed to provide photos of our workspaces....sadly all i had was this work in progress shot......it wasn't until yesterday - my toddler free day - that I realised that I don't really have a work space ( i do have a table in the spare room/computer room/nappy changing room that is meant for crafting but it is really piled so high with things that it's really a storage area) ....

What I have is crafting time and the area that I'm in at that time becomes my workspace....when i can spread out without little fingers to worry about the dining table (pictured above) is my favourite spot......it's sunny and I sit in a corner with windows facing out in two directions....I can sit there watching the comings and goings of everyone in my street like the nosy neighbour that I have a tendancy to be......at other times my space is my lap while I sit on the couch watching tellie or in the car when we're driving round....everywhere is a crafting space but only for brief moments in time...

Another WIP

2009-05-03T21:06:00.001-07:00

Tent WIP
Originally uploaded by redmag

I literally have piles and piles of half finished things around the house - its driving me and everyone else insane.....this one is a tent I started last November when it started to heat up as we headed towards summer....its now Autumn and given the sudden burst of sunny days I dusted it off and put it up....its made from two single bed sheets and only took about an hour to make (ok it doesnt yet have sides) ....but it does work and we lounged in it all morning......milk spills dont need to be cleaned up in outside rooms - yeh!!

Autumn Harvesting and the missing words

2009-04-21T23:07:00.001-07:00

Autumn Harvesting
Originally uploaded by redmag

....I've been a little short on words lately and I've sat down to blog a few times this week only to find I have nothing to say....this might become a photoblog for a while....I'm not sure why its happened maybe it's a side effect of spending the majority of my time with small children with my daily dialogue has been reduced to:
Child - More cake? (Despite the fact its been over a week since he's seen cake)
Me - No more cake
Child: No more cake
.....
Child: Cake?

I need to find something else to use as a bargaining chip in getting good behaviour at the supermarket before the weekly shop tomorrow...

Or maybe its just that the colder months are clearly coming this way and my brain has decided to hibernate this year....

Either way here are some of the last of the summer fruits from the garden....we have loads of green tomatoes and I'm not very good at throwing things away. I plan to make this with some of them......

Green tomato relish from Robert and Maria Strybel’s “Heritage Polish Cookery” – it’s a fantastic cookbook if you like polish cooking – I warn you though – there are very few pictures so its not one of those very lovely food porn numbers you can pour over on a cold winter’s night – here’ an abridged version

Slice one kilo of green tomatoes and 500g of onions thinly. Combine with one and a half tablespoons of salt. Leave over night at room temperature.

Preheat your oven to 195degrees C. Pack the tomato/onion mix into small clean jars (no need to sterilise them – yea!). Separately in a saucepan combine 1¼ cup of water, ¼ cup sugar, ½ cup of vinegar, some peppercorns, mustard seeds and a bay leaf. Bring to the boil and then pour into the jars over the tomato/onion mix. Cover loosely with the lids and pop into the oven for 20-25 minutes – This will pasteurize them. Once out of the oven seal tightly and allow to cool.

But for the rest not sure - might have to try fried green tomatoes and see what all the fuss is about!

If you have a delicious way of using the poor late tomatoes that missed the sun leave a comment I'm all ears - There are actually about 5 more kilos of the things beyond those in the picture.

On review maybe I’m not as short of words as I thought…

Easter in the big city

2009-04-17T01:19:00.001-07:00

Toddler help in the big city
Originally uploaded by redmag

This photo sums up my easter break.
A flying visit to Melbourne - a city I love because its big and noisy and exciting but not in a too big way , its colourful and filthy all at once and while I dont live there.....its home

That blur in the middle is ours - a toddler, nicked named the cyclone months ago, who found a sense of determination over the weekend which is both wonderful ( he now does puzzles) and frustrating for everyone and manifested itself in insisting on pushing his own pram everywhere for miles and miles.

For more pictures of cute grafitti see here, here and here.

Hope yours was a good one!

An update

2009-04-04T16:26:00.001-07:00

An update
Originally uploaded by redmag

This isn't going to become one of those blogs that is just a vehicle for sellig things and it will largely continue to be a document of my mundane daily goings on.......but given things on the toy making side have been so quite for so long I thought I'd just add a short note to let people know that I've added some new toys to my etsy shop.....and there are more on the way in the next couple of weeks....I'm also open to swaps and special requests.

For those of you in the Canberra area I'll also be at the next Handmade Market on 23 May, 10am to 4pm at the Albert Hall ....its my first market and is looming as very daunting so stop by and say hello.

9: A new project

2009-04-01T20:41:00.001-07:00

9: A new project
Originally uploaded by redmag

Just over a week into my things of joy project and I'm fasting working out that often the most joyous things sneak up and hit you out of the blue and dont lend themselves to photographing - things like a little person's first smile at you ever - while some things can be photographed later without introducing a fakness many can't so rather than feeling bad about skipping days both on the blog or on flickr I figure I resolve to capture what I can.....

Here's something that has been making me feel pretty good for the last 24 hours.....its a new quilt in the making.....I love the intial stages of project....any project really but especially a crafting one......I love the big piles of fabrics that get assembled and disassembled as you look through your stash for just the right things.....and then the trip to the fabric store to buy what you dont but absolutly must have....

I love the way it feels to make things......its weird I once had a house mate who upon completeion of her Arts/Law degree announce that she wished she learnt a trade instead because she thought it would be more fulfilling to work with her hands - at the time as someone from a decidely working class background with parents who both had hands that had suffered terribly in order to earn a crust it seemed like the utterings of a middle class fantasist....and I guess part of me still does think that it was.....but I also agree that there is something deeply satisfying about making something with your hands - however the real joy comes from being able to also do it on your own terms - your time, your design or idea.

4: Some new pajamas

2009-03-30T22:43:00.001-07:00

4: Some new pajamas
Originally uploaded by redmag

The biggest little one needed some new pajamas - I couldnt find anything I liked in his size and so set to making some. These are crafted from things I already had in my stash - a floral bed sheet and some elastic for the waistband. The pattern is based on a pair of pants he already has and bingo.....cheap warm pjs.

He even seems to like the flowers - although it might be he knows the word for flower and just likes pointing to them, reciting flower, and then getting praised over and over and over again.

The joyful moment came the next morning when he happily played in them and had to be forced out of them to get dressed for the day.

2 : A sudden unexpected downpour

2009-03-25T23:53:00.001-07:00

2 : A sudden unexpected downpour
Originally uploaded by redmag

Today's thing to be happy about was a sudden and unexpected downpour (unexpected by me anyway - perhaps the weather boffins at the bureau knew it was coming but I didnt).....and only days after we started planting our new garden area in the backyard - I'm not sure I've commented on this before but when we moved into the house the previous occupant seemed to have declared war on nature every tree had been chopped down to the ground and the blocked had a deforested feel about it...as complete non-gardened its taken us a while to work out what to do to fix the devastation.....today everything is nice and wet and happy !

Things that bring you joy

2009-03-24T20:50:00.001-07:00

Things that bring you joy
Originally uploaded by redmag

I read an article about a women who took a polariod photo every day for a year of something that she was grateful for.....it was a reinterpretation of the 365 days project that many people do on flickr inspired by the suggestion of a nun - its in the April 2009 issue of Notebook magazine if you want to read it for yourself......anyway it struck me as a nice thing to do....something to give structure to chaotic days and weeks....get you in the habit of looking for good in your day...and it fit very much in with the resolutions I'd made weeks ago all aimed at enjoying the precious year I have ahead of me - a year where I'm able to take time from working and be at home. I think I might blog about those resolutions some other time they need their own space....anyway I'm going to give this a try....rather than things I'm grateful for I prefer to call them things that bring me joy.....here are today's:

The one pictured - A reminder that beauty will sometimes just appear without you having to do all the work.
Sleeping in
Waking to find a tiny baby in the crook of my arm in the soundest sleep he's had all night - while you want them to sleep on their own its nice to know they like it best when they are close
A simple lunch of leftovers with my husband - just the two of us
He remembered the word I taught him yesterday - stick - and its his new favourite
The dog follows me from room to room - flopping down where I stop to work because he too likes to be close.

A new take on an old design

2009-03-19T18:04:00.001-07:00

A new take on an old design
Originally uploaded by redmag

.....This is a reworking of my Koala design.....while I love my little koalas - especially their round bottom bodies - I found that they werent all that popular and so with a small change to the ears and the face I now make rabbits....this one is in my shop right now!

We're off to the park to feed the ducks - i hope you have a lovely weekend.

My day - the more fun bits pictured

2009-03-17T17:00:00.001-07:00

My day
Originally uploaded by redmag

....I don't think I've completely adjusted to not working - there's no routine yet....and I seem to get to the end of the day and wonder where all those hours that stretched endlessly ahead of me in the morning have gone.....so back to keeping lists to keep me on track.....today's tasks are:

Boring admin phone calls to sort out a bill
Precleaning under the toddler feeding area - yes its gotten so bad that it needs a preclean before its able to be cleaned the usual way you clean floors
A couple of loads of washing
Go to shops and get vitals we've run out of or never bought but need for tonight's dinner (sweet potato burritos for grown ups, zucchini dip for arvos for the little lad) - Weetbix, sugar, dipables, sour cream
Cook chickpeas for the dog's dinners - he's on a low allergy diet

Fun stuff:
Finish a pair of "Harry highpants" for the even littler lad - I had been trying to knit a pair for the last week ( in the back of the photo) but they looked pretty lame so last night I took to a jumper that I loved but had worn into the ground - small holes had started to develop - and 20 mins later I have a pair of pants for popping over all those summer clothes that still fit and are too cute to retire but arent warm enough for outside in autumn. Just need to decide on straps and buttons and I'll be done.
Plant the Kale - ok Kale isnt fun and I'm stuggling to get excited about cabbage even if it is an exotic one but does very well in Canberra weather and I like a bit of digging in the arvo so the planting bit is fun.

ALSO must remember to water husband's broadbeans. I was also going to start raising my Australian wildflower seeds - but then I've been planning on doing that for 3 weeks now!

In reality I will most likely spend most of my active time wandering the streets out in the sun and still have most of this list left for tomorrow....but that's ok too

A wrap-around cardigan

2009-03-08T01:13:00.001-08:00

A wrap-around cardigan
Originally uploaded by redmag

It's amazing just how much more energetic I am now - OK energetic isnt the right word because I'm really not getting as much sleep as I'd like....it's more that I just have a desire to do things and create things that I had been putting off and lacked any interest or motivation for recently.

This little cardigan is a case in point - it was actually in a pile of things that were due to be thrown out (or dontated to the op shop really) I had done all the knitting and half the stitching but had somehow lost interest in finishing it. I dont really like the colour and I suspect that my last child had probably out grown it by the time I finished knitting.

Anyway...20 mins of sewing and I end up with a nice little cardi that fits my second child perfectly - at least for now.

I also found a bunch of other half finished projects - some are mine some are ones that others had started and then donated to the op shop - so I'm off to finish those.

Two recent projects

2009-03-05T21:00:00.001-08:00

Two recent projects
Originally uploaded by redmag

Here are my two most recent crafting projects:
EJ - Own design 9 months in the making
Baby Blue cotton/bamboo blanket in moss stitch.

Both have turned out rather well

gold

2008-12-10T02:24:00.001-08:00

A beautiful hand knitted scarf - I've already been wearing around the house despite the summer heat - I love it, it feels so soft and the colour is so vibrant

frankincense

2008-12-10T02:23:00.003-08:00

Delicious polish fudge - there were lots more that didnt make it into the photo

myrrh

2008-12-10T02:23:00.001-08:00

Just one of the lovely and extremely thoughtful little gifts sent to me by the wonderfully talented Claudia....I'll reveal one of the others when we finally decorate the tree over the weekend

...mine is making its way across the country to you as we speak.....

If you want to see more of the wonderful gifts people have made check out the flickr pool, or the backtack blog

A beautiful prize from moyou

2008-11-30T02:46:00.001-08:00

A beautiful prize from moyou
Originally uploaded by redmag

This was a prize from the very talented Amy of moyou.

A pair of earings - red my favourite colour!! Cincidently my husband bought a pair of these as an Xmas prezzie for someone (sadly not me) a few days before this package arrived......
Some of her very own fabric range which I love. I think I'm going to have to buy some more - I particularly love the grey concentric circles one in the front.

You can check out her etsy store here....and a new Australian store in AUD for those of us not blessed with harder currencies.

My first quilt

2008-11-14T17:21:00.001-08:00

My first quilt
Originally uploaded by redmag

...and it's nearly done - while it's not perfect ( certainly not square and a few wonky things here and there - I'm telling myself that they add charm)...but it turned out better than I'd hoped which is good because its a gift for someone its it's rather poor form to hand over a complete mess.

It's mostly hand done - my sewing machine seems to be possessed and has developed a taste of fabric so I figured it might be easier to go slowly by hand...its made from a mixture of new and some recovered bits of fabric - the backing which you cant see is from an Ikea sheet set, the green panels are from a tea towel I found in an op shop which must have been a souvenir from a gardening magazine earlier this year - I loved the colour and the pattern and couldn’t resist slotting in the year (not sure if that is a bit too cheesy interested in your thoughts)

I also used that marshmallow type wadding you get in craft stores and it's given the whole thing a cushiony type look that I'm not 100% happy with - I'd love to here what other people use for in-between layer that gives flatter smoother results.

Either way I'm proud of my little effort and it has spurred me on to get to work on the previous quilting project which didn’t make it much past the initial thought stage.....a quilt for our next child due in February. This is the planned design...read more here.

Anyway back off outside to enjoy beautiful - hot- spring sunshine, admittedly from my rocking chair in the shade. Hope your weekend is great!

Duck Duck the Pelican

2008-11-11T13:05:00.001-08:00

Duck Duck the Pelican
Originally uploaded by redmag

We picked this little guy up over the weekend in a junk store....pelican proved too difficult to say so he's been named "Duck duck". He's quite a remarkable little fellow - his head bobbles back and forward as you pull him along and his mouth snaps open and closed as the wheels spin.

Broadbeans and strawberries

2008-11-08T00:23:00.001-08:00

Broadbeans and strawberries
Originally uploaded by redmag

We've been away.....and while I had grand plans to blog from the road, those of you who stopped by in the last week or so will notice that I just didn’t manage to......must stop overestimating my organisational powers.

There were more broad beans and two little strawberries....in the garden to show you. This time I made broad bean and pea risotto - it didn’t "show" the broad beans off in quite the same way that the pasta dish I shared with you last time....but if you're a risotto fan this will definitely hit the spot....I just ate the strawberries....there were small and delicious.....and made me realise I really do hate those monstrous bland ones you get at the shops.

Broad bean and Pea Risotto Recipe
(Also adapted from the Green River Cafe Cookbook - those ladies love their broad beans!)

100g butter
Fresh Boradbeans (I used about 300g once podded or ~600g before podding)
Equal amount of peas - i used frozen because we didnt have any fresh ones
Handful of shopped fresh parsley
2 litres of Chicken Stock
One small chopped onion
300g of aborio rice
100g of Parmesan - freshly grated
Cracked pepper

Bring the stock to a simmer. Pop the butter in a heavy bottom pan, make sure that its going to be bring enough for the risotto, and melt slowly. Gently fry the onion in the butter until soft and starting to colour. Add the rice to the butter and onion and stir until the rice if coated with butter. When the rice begins to turn opaque add a ladle of the stock. Stir continuously (I enlisted the help other others and plied them with liquor to make the time pass more quickly). Add a new ladle of stock once the previous one has been absorbed by the rice. When the stock is down to the last ladle or so add the broadbeans and peas to it - this is just to heat them through.

When the rice is al dente - add the peas and beans and take off the heat. Now stir through the parmesan and parsley. Add cracked pepper to taste if you like - there shouldnt be a need to add salt because stock is pretty salty and serve.

Know your future

2008-10-27T03:24:00.001-07:00

Know your future
Originally uploaded by redmag

Sadly no I havent just popped back from India....this is one from the achieves....it just seemed pertinent... you see I had the chance to get my future told way back when and was too chicken to find out what was install for me..... I wish I had I'm sure Saturday's trip to the hairdressers would have featured.....the cut was great...nothing bad there...but ....welll.......when i had my hair coloured....they used that steam thing - THE ONE THEY USE ON THE OLD LADIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's taken me two days to get over the shock enough to share.

...maybe it would have been good to have been forwarned....next time I'm in Mysore I'm totally stopping by at Room 55 in the Hotel Dasaprahash....some things shouldnt be allowed to sneak up on you.

P.S I'm working on some new toys - a new design even! Hope to have something to show you later in the week.

A lovely moral for a chilly day

2008-10-23T01:27:00.001-07:00

A lovely moral for a chilly day
Originally uploaded by redmag

.....OK....its not THAT cold....but I had been lulled into a false sense of spring time warmth... I even needed a jacket today brrrrrrr....anyway it made me think of this .....it's the last page from my copy of Brian Wildsmith's illustrated version of the La Fontaine fable, "The North Wind and the Sun" - the whole book makes me smile.....especially the moral... I'm looking forward to all the sun will achieve over the coming months. Another couple of pics over on Flickr, here and here.

Vroooooooooooooom

2008-10-20T03:15:00.001-07:00

Quiet time
Originally uploaded by redmag

A little boy with a toy car - strangly gentle and quiet......almost contemplative .....the beauty of those french curves

First spring harvest - Broadbeans

2008-10-18T18:55:00.001-07:00

First spring harvest - Broadbeans
Originally uploaded by redmag

This is our first spring harvest for the year. Broadbeans.....and they were delicious. Soft and sweet and a lovely shade of green.

We had them with pasta - I adapted a recipe from the River Cafe Green book - there were second helpings all round. We're mentally willing the remaining beans to hurry up and get big enough to eat with all our might.

Here's the adapted recipe:

200g of shelled broadbeans
2 handfuls of coarsely ripped basil leaves
1 clove of garlic
Salt and pepper to taste
Juice from a lemon wedge (a quarter)
100g of grated pecorino
Cooked pasta for 4.

Put one half of the beans along with some salt, the garlic clove and one handful of the basil into a mortar and pestale and grind to a coarse looking mush. Combine the mush with the remaining broad beans, basil and all the cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste and squeeze in the lemon juice. Add to the freshly cooked pasta and serve immediately.
Yum!

A couple of today's finds

2008-10-13T21:45:00.001-07:00

A couple of today's finds
Originally uploaded by redmag

Can you tell that I have the day off to myself ? No work no child? Of course it's too precious to waste inside at the computer.....here are a couple of things I picked up this morning at the op shops. I honour of our apricot tree growing its heart out this year and producing fruit for the first time, coupled with the fact I finished our last year of homemade apricot jam from last year (apricots 'borrowed' from the neighbours tree that hangs into our yard at twilight for that batch) I've decided to start collecting dollies so that this years batch can be tarted up, each with a lovely little frilly top.

Anyway back to me time - Hope you're enjoying your day too!

A beautiful bag

2008-10-13T18:53:00.001-07:00

A beautiful bag
Originally uploaded by redmag

....It's been a tough old week and a bit.....I'm single parenting at the moment and while I love my little boy - he's at the charming cheeky stage - he's discovered the power of loud noices particularly the ones he makes himself with his very well developed lungs and he's also discovered the tantrum so its been a tiring week with highs and lows...mainly highs and tired bits than lows i guess....

Anyway one highlight this week for me was the arrival of a very beautiful package from Charlie over at The pigeon loft. We were swap buddies for the Russian doll swap Katie hosted months ago and well.....Charlie was kind enough to allow me loads of slack and we extended the swap date. This is the beautiful bag so sent me....actually her whole package was georegous and colour co-ordinated. Anyway it made my week and i smile as i glance over at it hanging on the kitchen dresser while i wipe pumpkin from strange places around the kitchen - he also discovered that feeding oneself is more fun than being fed by others this week.

Marvin Minsky - aka Count Dracubot

2008-10-13T18:40:00.001-07:00

Marvin Minsky - aka Count Dracubot
Originally uploaded by redmag

This is my entry in the Plushteam Halloween contest. It's a robot dressed up as a Vampire ready to go trick or treating.

Check out the other entries and vote for your favourite over at the plush team blog here.

A belated welcome to spring

2008-10-03T21:08:00.001-07:00

Giving direction
Originally uploaded by redmag

Note to self - never promise to publish more tomorrow - it seems to lead to a four month long sabatical.

Anyway, I've been off away from the computer resting up and am now easing back into life.....catching up....and trying to get back into the swing of things.

Last weekend we added spring time flowers to the mural in the nursery....little red ones...it looks like a giant flowering quice. Baby N helped this year.....admittedly removing more than he added but he did get into it which is nice.

Although I think he's had a growth spurt 'cause during the week he woke up with blu-tac in his hair and a few petals at his feet - I underestimated his reach and how lively his night time activites are!

A bit of a tidy up

2008-06-14T03:16:00.001-07:00

...after reading pips tips on blogging - i felt like i had to do something....so i made a banner (almost typed new but what i had before wasnt really a banner)

while i'm not sure it really captures me or the theme of my blog....a big stop sign and a fence around parliment house did sort of scream "waiting in the capital"

I really need to do more things to spruce the place up....but I'm sick....so i might stop now......will post more tomm.

2008-06-11T02:21:00.000-07:00

It arrived in the mail first thing....and its all I've thought about all day.....I just got my invite to SpoonFlower - in their words.....

"Spoonflower gives individuals the power to print their own designs on fabric that they can then use to make quilts, clothes, pillows, blankets, framed textile art and many, many other things that might surprise you. "

I'm giddy with the possiblities....and although others might not agree with me - I think that $18 a yard and $7 international shipping for up to 5 yards, is quite reasonalbe given you get to make your very own fabric!

I'd been keen to hear from anyone else who has already dived in and got something they've designed printed. Off to try and make some worth putting on fabric! Should have gotten some photoshop lessons when my sister visited last year!

Queen's birthday long weekend

2008-06-09T02:19:00.001-07:00

Aust Day fire works - focus blur yay!
Originally uploaded by Allyeska

Today is a public holiday here in Canberra....we're celebrating the Queen's birth - its not actually her birthday & WA doesn’t seem to celebrate it today with the rest of the country both of which are terribly confusing but I'm not about to look a public holiday gift horse in the mouth so I'll happily enjoy it even though it makes no sense whatsoever- and because the obvious thing to be waiting for on the last day of a long weekend is for it to end and the horrible working week to start, both things I'm trying not to think about, there wont be a "Waiting" post today.

But seeing as Canberra is known for the fireworks (and porn I guess) and this weekend is the one where Canberrans gets to go crazy letting fireworks off in their backyard - i thought I'd post this amazing photo by local Canberra photographer. Allyeska.....can you believe its not photoshopped ? Check out her stuff - its great....found via a search of Canberra and fireworks in Flickr - be sure to select interesting rather than relevant!

Ladybird, ladybird fly away home

2008-06-06T21:50:00.001-07:00

Ladybird, ladybird fly away home
Originally uploaded by redmag

While doing a bit of op-shopping this morning I picked up a little book called "Ladybird ladybird Flay away home" by Judy Hawes - sadly i cant find a link to a picture of the cover anywhere - amazon.jp seems to stock it but my japanese is terrible so who knows...... I bought it because I loved the pictures (they are by Ed Emberley).

.....but on the way home I started to read it and it had some wonderful things in it about ladybirds that were so adorable and I had to share them:

The farmer's wife believed that ladybird's cured toothache, colic and measles (it doesn’t explain how but judging by the picture it might involve letting them crawl all over you! Also not quite clear on who the farmer or his family are)
The farmer’s daughter believed that if a ladybird walked over her hand it meant that she would be married within a year
When Ladybirds are scared they fall to the ground and pretend to be dead! and if the situation gets worse they can apparently squish an "evil-smelling" liquid out of the leg joints.

There's also a wonderful story about 500 Australian ladybirds (apparently ours are different) being sent off to California way way back in the 1880s to eat the cotton-cushion scale which was killing all the orange trees. Needless to say the Ozzies kicked major scale ass and saved the day!

Too cute!

Edited to add a link to this cute story about a ladybird invasion - which according to my book is good luck and a sign of good weather and great crops in the future!

Waiting for...... inspiration

2008-06-02T02:02:00.001-07:00

Day 230 :: sitting. waiting. wishing.
Originally uploaded by Meredith_Farmer

This isn't mine....I typed waiting into flickr and this came up....isnt it beautiful.....I want that bag....and those hands....you see i have stumpy hands....homer simpson like stumpy hands and I've always wanted long beautiful fingers.....I guess you always want what you dont have.....and that brings me back to the lovely green bag!

If you're waiting too I'd love to wait alongside you. so please leave a comment and let me know. Otherwise hope your week is wonderful

Plushteam scavenger hunt

2008-06-01T13:56:00.000-07:00

The Plushteam is celebrating its one year anniversary!
As a thank you to all our customers and Etsy we are having a BIG team contest.
It's a scavenger hunt, where team members have hidden our team mascot "PT Stitchy" into our shops. Once you have found him - you need to send me an Etsy convo with the item listing numbers you've found.

The game will run until June 6, with the winner announced Monday June 9.
Check out the Plushteam website http://www.plushteam.com/for details of the participating stores and some pics of the wonderful prize!
Good Luck!!

Winter woolies and quilts

2008-05-30T16:14:00.001-07:00

A bright red scarf
Originally uploaded by redmag

Tomorrow marks the beginning of winter and its time to admit it really is cold... I delay this admission off every year - continuing to wear light weight jackets and saving the big winter coast until I can't take it anymore!

I love all the other seasons so much...summer because its bright and you can spend most of your time outside, autumn because in Canberra its so beautiful with mother nature turning on a spectacular show of reds and yellows, and spring just smells wonderful and marks the start of my three favourite seasons....in spring everything seems to have so much potential.

While winter is cold and I do seem to spend much time in doors (which I hate) I guess it does allow for wonderful crafting...scarves, socks, jumpers, hats blankets and throws....and maybe for the first time ever it might even mean a quilt.I made this scarf last night over a few beverages which did a nice job of washing away a very long, tiring and boring week.....its 10 stitches wide and about 30cms long and knitted in a bright red wool (100%) bought from Big W last winter...sadly it no longer has a label so I tell you exactly what it was....I think it might be a bit too scratchy and so am already planning a couple more in a softer cotton. The button means el escapo cant pull it off the way he does with hats and jackets....so far its worked well.....its also a good length long enough to fit down the front of a jacket but not so long it impedes crawling. Highly recommend them....took now time....very little wool and I felt a sense of achievement.

Also I've been wanting to make a quilt for a long time but have no idea how to go about it and so have always pulled out at the last minute and knitted or crocheted something for the bed instead...However after seeing so many other wonderful quilts, like this one....and this one...well there are too many to list....I've decided to do it....I don’t actually know how to do the quilting bit so I'm going to start with the pretty patchwork bit first....taking inspiration from Brian Wildsmith's wonderful counting book - "Brian Wildsmith's 123". I thought one side might look like this....or this...wish me luck and if you have any tips I'd love to hear them.

Waiting for an eclipse

2008-05-26T03:36:00.001-07:00

Waiting for an eclipse
Originally uploaded by redmag

There was an eclipse over central Australia a few years ago......this is a group of my friends staring at the sun waiting for the big event to happen. This is literally in the middle of nowhere which happens to be a bit north of the Flinders ranges.

It was the perfect setting - the landscape looked like it was another planet, red and rocky and mars-like.

The whole day....actually the whole road trip to get here (two and half days of driving just to get there) was all part of the lead up-to the big event.....and we werent disappointed....the eclipse was breath-taking and magical.

This was the ultimate waiting holiday....this road trip came at a point in our lives where most of us were heading off to do new exciting things in other cities far away from each other....and this road trip filled in time in December while we waited for the year to end and the next phase in our lives to begin......it was an amazing trip....and the best way I could have imagined to bide my time.

The busy women's cookbook

2008-05-25T00:06:00.001-07:00

The busy women's cookbook
Originally uploaded by redmag

Not sure why I bought this ...I guess it just spoke to me as things often do when you thrift shop... I guess for me though it was what the book was saying and why I had to have it that was unusual....it wasn’t for the kitsch factor or nostalgia......it wasn’t because that wee little lass on the cover is adorable (although she is - great yellow dress don't you think?)... or because I still entertain fanciful ideas about sitting down to dinner by candle light....

I guess I bought it on impulse..because - I cant believe its only just dawned on me....that I'm a busy woman....not sure when it happened or how....but I'm frazzled and spread too thin and all those other horrible cliches

Weeks of sickness - me and others in the family - broken up by flying visits to family - which while nice aren’t holidays - on top of my job have taken its toll.....and I guess by buying this book I felt like I wasn’t alone and while I was pretty sure this book wasn’t going to have the answers just the fact that there was a cookbook for busy women somehow means that there might be a solution out there for pulling myself back together (think liquid metal guy from terminator) anyway after a weekend of list making and crossing things off (mainly boring things like buy new shower curtain)... I'm starting to feel like things are starting to get back on track on the home front anyway......As you can see from my book apparently red candles are key to making it all work....so must pick some up when I’m at the shops!

Edited to add.....tomorrow is Monday so I'll be waiting....

Waiting for a train

2008-05-19T02:50:00.001-07:00

Waiting for a train
Originally uploaded by redmag

This was taken in a train station in India back in January 2005. I love visiting India; I love the colours and the movement. I went to India before I went to Europe. Mumbai with its British influenced architecture, green cricket fields and double decker red buses seemed like a fantasy London built in the tropics to me.

Anyway.... I love that travelling in India is paradoxically all about waiting around.

This photo captures all of that for me and that’s why I've decided to start my waiting journey here.

I'd love it if you'd wait along with me… leave a comment if you decide to join in so that I can see too.

Yellow

2008-05-18T00:59:00.001-07:00

Yellow
Originally uploaded by redmag

Winter hit hard this weekend (yes it is worth noting that its still only May! AND there's probably 5 months of this to go!! - Yesterday was nothing more than miserable.....anyway yellow staves of winter blues - my new Orlon cardigan and some Japanese bowls with lovely little egg yolk like centers...both made it all worth venturing outdoors….there were more multi coloured purchases…..but I’ll save those for later.

A heads up - I'm starting a new weekly themed blog entry starting Monday. It's titled "Waiting...." - basically I'm going to feature a photo I've taken while waiting for something....a train, a bus....for anything......I think waiting's so much better if stop and enjoy it.

I'd love it if you'd wait along with me… leave a comment if you do so that I can see too.

See you tomorrow...waiting in transit.

Built for speed

2008-05-14T03:19:00.001-07:00

Built for speed
Originally uploaded by redmag

Those pants turned out well...and are apparently built for speed

Tweedles

2008-05-13T04:05:00.001-07:00

Tweedles
Originally uploaded by redmag

A dum to match my dee

A lucky find!

2008-05-12T03:11:00.001-07:00

A lucky find!
Originally uploaded by redmag

Over the weekend I did a bit of a wardrobe clean out and discovered that there was a chronic shortage of pants for the little lad. I had suspected for a few weeks that this might be the case - even when I'd just done washing there didn't seem to be much choice in the pant stakes when it came to getting him dressed each morning....I'd put it down to me not being a morning person. And his little bottom had started to appear over the top of the few pairs we had left in regular rotation.

So I've decided to make a couple of pairs myself - They're quick and easy and I like seeing him wear things I make.

Months ago while op-shopping my husband and I came across a Dreamworld teatowel complete with little Dreamworld Koalas riding on a train.

He convinced me that it would make a very cool pair of baby pants - sadly after diving in head first and cutting out one leg before planning how I'd place the pattern I found out that it wasn't quite enough teatowel to make pants. The one sad leg has spent the last few months sitting in the bottom of my sewing tin.

As luck would have it I saw another Dreamworld teatowel in an opshop last weekend ( I know two dreamworld teatowels who would have though two separate homes would have let them go!) So these bits of fabric are now set to become pants. Possibly the type of pants I and the baby will regret years from now when they reappear in a faded photo pinned to a board at a birthday celebration.....but I dont care

Little feet

2008-05-11T04:02:00.001-07:00

Little feet
Originally uploaded by redmag

Happy Mother's day to all those mothers out there.....this week these toes turned one....which is a remarkable and wonderful feat - for the toes and his parents.

Needless to say like most birthday milestones there are things that come with age....honey being on the menu is just one of them....so this mother's day started with a wonderful breakfast with the whole sticky family in one bed eating crumpets with honey.

Hope your weekend has been a good one!

P.S A big hello to any of you who have come this way via ohdeedoh - I started working on next seasons theme this weekend so look out for that in a couple of weeks time....after a visit with family last weekend it seems that its a good time to work on creating a family tree....so that's winter's theme.

A work in progress

2008-05-09T18:04:00.001-07:00

A work in progress
Originally uploaded by redmag

I feel like I've been working on this forever!
I haven’t I just ran out of wool just before going away last week and then while I was away I couldn’t find anymore - despite visiting 3 stores! So after a mad dash to Lincraft during the week its back on track!

It's hopefully going to a blue version of the little hooded jackets in the top right hand corner of the pattern book.

Already I know that I'm not going to make this one again - firstly, its a European pattern from 1973 and well....21st century babies – mine in particular – seem to be a lot larger than the age recommendations they had for this one (it was ages not dimensions which is a bit frustrating although to be fair I tend to dive into things and there might dimensions somewhere in the back that I missed)……….there was quite a bit of unravelling and making everything larger.

Secondly, for some reason it requires me to knit with two balls of 4 ply - which smacks of writing a pattern just to use a particular wool - it probably could have been knitted in a thicker ply which would have suited me as baby wool is expensive and doesn’t come in a very exciting range of colours.

Lastly the jacket has too many parts - the sleeves and the front and back yokes could have been knitted as one piece and the bottom of the coat could have been one part too! It would have been a much neater piece - less casting one and off, less ends to work in and less sewing up at the end and less bulky seemed bits – I really don’t like seams.

I do love the way it looks but I think next time (and there will need to be a next time in the near future as even with my modifications this isn’t going to fit for too long) I might use this an inspiration and just work up my own design.

P.S Don't you just love the face of the little boy on the left - such joy!