Ollie - the elephant

Ollie - the elephant
Originally uploaded by redmag

This sleepy little fellow is made from recycled curtains. I'm not sure if I'll sell elepahants in my shop because there are already loads of cool ones out there on etsy....but this guy just sort of happen organically. The fabric seemed to want to be an elephant, and while very basic I really like his shape, particularly his trunk - pointing to the heavens for luck.

Keeping with the physicist thing - this little fellow is named after Mark Oliphant an Australian physicist.

WIP - Linen clock cushion

WIP - Linen clock cushion
Originally uploaded by redmag

This was intended to be a proto-type new product for my shop (see profile for link) but its turning out to be a little too time-comsuming - maybe thats the half way through blues talking.

It is starting to look like its all coming together so I'll keep going. It's (hopefully) going to be a clock cushion, I'm going to set the hands to the time of birth of someone's baby, and ebroider the date and the baby's name on the clock face ( or maybe in the side panel of the cushion - not sure yet)

Anyway - I'm loving working with linen - will need to think of more projects!!

A jumper made with love

A jumper made with love
Originally uploaded by redmag

I went to a book sale at the local church over the weekend and picked up a few bargains, one of which was a 1974 Goldern Hands Crafts book called "Gifts to Make". Strangley a large number of the crafts were quite tasteful and could actually be described as "Back in vogue."

This is my favourite a colourful stripey jumper for your sausage dog.

Our dog is German Shorthaired pointer and quite a bit larger than a sausage dog. Sadly he also has an aversion to wearing doggy coats and perfers to lounge in side on the couch when the weather is too hot or too cold so trying to knit a larger version might be a complete waste of time, which is a shame.

I do however have a calico sausage dog from MUJI that I was given a few years ago. Given its very plain looking I thought I might give the jumper a go for the toy dog.

6.5 stitches cardigan - all done!

6.5 stitches cardigan - all done!
Originally uploaded by redmag

I finally finished it . It's meant to have a fabric piece that sits behind the front knitted flap, however I hadn't managed to find the right piece of fabric by the time I finished knitting. Being extremely impatient, I decided that warmer weather we'd been experiencing justified omitting that panel, and sewed it up sans beautiful fabric.

The vital stats - This is the 3 month size. I used 3.75mm needles and two balls (100g) of TLC CaraMia, which is a medium worsted wool. It's an Acrylic (50%), Nylon (19%), Rayon (18%) Angora (13%) blended wool, which makes it feel soft but not delicate. It's recommended that you use 5mm needles with this wool, but I was worried the jumper would end up being too big and opted for a smalled set.

The pattern itself was wonderful - simple and clear. The cardigan looks fantastic on and is easy to put on and take off - which I love. We've already had many compliments on our walks over the past couple of days, including inquiries as to whether it was a pumpkin patch purchase. It's always so nice to be able to reply..."Well actually I made it myself. "

I'm going to try and get some more wool and start making a second one in the larger 6 month size straight away! Partly because he is growing like a weed and will need a bigger one very soon, but mainly because it was so enjoyable to make - and I really should do one with the beautiful fabric panel.

Eadie, Ethel and Elenore - Schrodinger's kitties and shop talk.

Eadie, Ethel and Elenore
Originally uploaded by redmag

It's been a productive day of sewing - three new floral SChodinger's Cats for my shop - Eadie, Ethel and Elenore.

Eadie - the kitten made from the floral fabric I bought over the weekend - is actually much prettier in real life than she seems in this photo. The colours havent come out right in this photo so I'm going to try and take some more photos tomorrow in daylight and see if I can do her some justice before adding her to my store. Her face has the sweetest as a small pink triangle turned up in the middle of her face in the right place to form a nose - completely unplanned which was a happy conincidence. I'll be adding those three tomorrow.

I also posted a message on my shop announcing the arrival of a new range of toys I'm planning to release on Monday 17 September. I'm very excited about having new designs to show everyone, but I did forget that I had people coming to stay with us over the weekend so tomorrow and Thursday are going to be a busy sewing days. Nothing like a deadline to make me get myself into gear...I find i just drift along without pressure, self imposed or otherwise.

Anyway, time to cook dinner - it's brocolli, chilli anchovy pasta tonight.
Hope you had/have a great productive day.

Fifties florals

Fifties florals
Originally uploaded by redmag

This is part of my stash from the YMCA garage sale over the weekend.

The one on the top of the pile is some vintage fabric which I'm currently turning into another Schrodinger's cat - I only have to add a face and its ready to meet the world.

The middle two are table clothes which have been laundered in anticipation of summer and the joyous prospect of outdoor dining.

The bottom one is actually a pillow made from an old tea towel covered in The Cooktown Orchid, which is apparently Queensland floral emblem. All information from the tea towel - who would have thought a teatowel could be such an informative source!. I've given it a much needed bath and will restuff it for adding to the couch for more years of lounging. It does look like its seen many years of traffic already and suffered a bit of damage in the machine but the battered look makes it all the more endearing.

How tall are you?

How tall are you?
Originally uploaded by redmag

This wonderful thing was probably the find of the day. It's a growth chart covered in cute little people and signs in german.

I think some cute pins are needed to mark off heights. Something like these or these only with little people, cars or bicycles on them - if anyone knows of something that will fit the bill please let me know!!