Pinkerton Manor

A few nights ago I started my first freehand embroidery. It’s an owl for my Nanna, but I didn’t have time to finish it before I saw her. I’m going to finish it off when I get chance in the next few days and post it. I also need to decide whether to make it into a brooch or make a little frame for it. I’m thinking I would really like to do some more sketchy freehand embroidery too.

Speaking of sketches, I found this while cleaning out the spare room. It’s hard to believe that it’s actually eight years old. I remember doing it and everything. I was so annoyed that we didn’t get more male models. Drawing women is great, but variety is the spice of life. As soon as I have some kind of reliable income sorted out I’m going to go to life drawing classes. Drawing from photographic references just isn’t the same.

Also, I made cupcakes! Vanilla rose cupcakes. I added rose nectar as the liquid in vanilla cupcake batter. The rose flavour was very subtle and I really want to experiment more with it. But everyone seems to have liked them anyway. Next I think I will make chilli chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter frosting or maybe Ming‘s beetroot cupcakes. Hoorah for cupcakes!

So, I have a few posts drafted that I haven’t been entirely happy with and I’m making it my goal to have at least one of them finished over the weekend. I’m writing a sticky note to remind myself and everything!

Ok, so, there’s not really anything naughty about it.  I just like the way those two words sound together.  But I made a top, people!  I’ve really been digging the nautical stripes I’ve been seeing around lately, but not enough to pay $60 for a pretty straight forward top (Sportsgirl, I’m looking at you!).  Plus there’s my whole second hand/handmade thing to consider too.  I couldn’t really be bothered trawling op shops for nautical striped tops and as much as I would love to support an independent, I just don’t have the money.  So, when I saw mens stripy tees on clearance at Big W I thought to myself, ‘Amie, you’re a smart kid, you could just buy one of those and make it into something awesome’.  And I totally did.

I started with a mens size L tshirt (I tried on different sizes in store to find the perfect amount of slouch) and added elastic at the waist (just zigzagged inside), rolled the sleeves up and tacked them in place and added some cute buttons.  I wanted silver buttons with anchors on them, but stuffed if I was going to pay $2+ per button for plastic buttons just because they were silver!  So, I got these little white ones with a kind of overlappy pattern thing on them instead.  I looked at some others with rope patterns too and I don’t even remember why I didn’t buy them, but I’m sure I had a reason.  I think the ones I got were about 30 cents each.

I think I might add some crochet belt loops at either side of the waist and get some rope style cord to wear as a belt.  Other than that I’m pretty pleased with the outcome.  And even though it was just a small refashion, it was nice to be sewing again.  It’s gotten me excited about all the other projects I’d been thinking about, but not really acting on.  And it was kind of nice to have something new to wear too.  I really don’t know why I don’t sew things more often.

I started two knitting projects this week.

I started knitting my ‘corn’ scarf – made from Lincraft Snowball yarn to (hopefully) look like variegated corn.  I’m probably going to add a fringe of fine threads at either end to look like corn silk too.  I also started on a cowl, inspired by Orchid Grey’s tunnel scarf.  I got some super soft dark green yarn at half price the other day and it was just begging to be turned into a nice big cowl.

I’ve never knit anything other than scarves, but I really want to give this circular shrug that I found over on Craftster a go.  And ever since I saw it, I’ve been aching to make this Secret Garden tam.  I must teach myself more knitting skills.  And crochet too.  I have books about both, but just can’t seem to get past very basic stitches.  I’m going to make it a goal for this year though.

I love wearing knit and crochet clothing, so it definitely makes sense to learn.  I can’t wait for it to cool down a bit more so I can start wearing my ever-growing collection of beanies, tams and berets too.

Cardigan – thrifted, tshirt – Big W, jeans – no idea, shoes – Dunlop Volleys.

I knew I needed my hair cut, but having seen these photos I think I ought to make it a priority.  I worked out yesterday that it’s actually been almost eight months since my last hair cut – eep!  I didn’t get it cut in Canberra because it was either go to a hairdressing chain (no thanks) or be prepared to fork out $100+ (and I spent years cutting my own hair to avoid paying less than $50).  I would have cut it myself, but I seem to have lost my scissor confidence and it’s gotten so long that it would be difficult to do anyway.

To fringe or not to fringe, that is the question now.

Matt and I don’t do Valentines Day gifts, but I decided I still wanted to make something little and cute for him.  So, I made a bunch of lollipop flowers.  They’re cheap and super easy to make.  Here’s how.

Draw or download and print a flower template and cut it out.

Trace the flower onto some felt.  I chose dark red for Valentines, but I think I might try some other colours for birthdays and things later.

Cut the flower out of the felt and snip a little hole in the centre.  I found the easiest way to do this is to fold it into quarters and just snip the corner.

Insert your lollipop into the hole.  I also cut out a set of freehand leaves for mine, but I think that’s pretty optional.  Now just shape the flower around the lollipop a little and you’re done!

Happy Valentines Day!

I’ve been wanting to post a some progress photos of my latest projects all week, but by the time I go to take photos it’s always too dark and the photos aren’t very good. So, here is just one of my latest projects (the only photos that were semi-decent).

Data Structures In Pascal? It’s a hardcore university mathematics textbook, from what I understand. My uncle is a doctor of maths and I found it in my grandparents junk pile when they moved interstate. Random mathematics book, yes please! But now it’s not just any book. It’s a secret book.

Almost. I still need to hollow it out a bit more and clean it up, but it’s coming along nicely.

Back in 2007 my friend Steve drew a few sketches of what he named Demonio Llama.  So, for Christmas this year I made him a felt Demonio Llama.  I used The Shishi Girl’s Alpaca pattern and gave him red faceted bead eyes.

I still have to post it to him, so I hope he’s not reading this.

As of today I have finished both Curtain and curtains.  Confused?

I’ve been addicted to Agatha Christie for the past year or so and last week I started reading Curtain.  Coincidentally, I also started making curtains last week.  Our flat has quite a few windows (including one in the bedroom that opens out to the living area).  There are trees all around and it’s great.  We loved it when we first moved in, but now the afternoon sun shines right in and that’s not so nice.  Also there is a street light right outside one of the windows.  We did have a towel hanging over it (the window, not the street light), but curtains do tend to look better on windows than stripey bath towels.  And so, I made curtains.

It was my first time machine stitching a blind hem.  I’d heard it wasn’t easy to get right the first time around, but I seriously don’t know what those people are on about.  It was so easy!  And waaaay faster than doing it by hand.

I still need to make curtains for the front windows, but that’s not urgent and frankly I’m kind of over curtains for now.  I think I’ll make the camisole over at Weekend Designer in the meantime.  I’ve also fallen in love with American Apparel’s Le Sac Dress and I’m pretty sure I could make my own (and for less than $US38 too).

For now, I leave your with a photo of the possum that lives in our roof.

Last year I started making my own Christmas ornaments.  I thoroughly recommend it, it’s a lot of fun.  Here’s how it turned out last Christmas.

This year I’m making peg people.  Inspired by Martha Stewart and these cuties on Flickr.  Here’s a sneak peek of my work so far.

Two down, twenty four to go.  I plan on keeping six for our tree and giving the rest away as gifts.  Suggestions for characters are more than welcome (so far I’m making some more 18th Century style people, Mr T, a little drummer boy and a hobo).  And if anyone knows where I would buy teeny tiny screw in eyelets I’d be totally in your debt.

PS Photos of buttons are on the way, I swear.

When my little brother Louie was about 3 years old his favourite adjective was ‘good’ (or ‘dood’ as he said). So, one day I had a chat to him about other words he might like to use instead. We discussed words such as ‘awesome’, ‘brilliant’ and ‘fantastic’, but he remained loyal to ‘good’.

“I’m really good at helping Mum hang the washing out,” he told me.
“You sure are,” I replied. “And modest too.”
“No, Amie,” he corrected me. “I’m not modest, I’m fantastic.”
He learned a new word after all.

So, when I read the Craftster needlework challenge was going to be favourite quotes I knew exactly what mine would be. Unfortunately I didn’t finish in time to enter the challenge on account of a back injury which had me out of action for over a week. However, I really enjoyed working on it and I can’t wait to give it to Louie.

This was also my first attempt at stitching that wasn’t just backstitch or French knots. The border is laced double stitch worked in three colours. I really like the way it turned out.