things I've done lately

 It has been a busy summer. 

I've made some things...

placemats

playful quilt

 Plum and Cinnamon Jam

I've been lots of places

Rocky Cape National Park

 O'Neil's Creek, Gowrie Park

walking in Liffey River

 Mid North Tas

Such Pretty Drugs

Hogarth Falls, Strahan

Met some locals

And wondered - what plant is that?

I'll be getting out the Tasmanian Plant classification books shortly....

and I need to make some blueberry muffins

sewing retro love

There really is so much joy in recycled crafting.  There is the delight of finding treasures in opshops, the delving into the stash of inspiring but yet minimally used craft books and planning the perfect gift for that special one in your life and then pulling it all together and creating the new object of desire which will hopefully bring lots of others joy too.

Yesterday morning I took the kids doona cover I found in Deloraine and turned a piece of it into a dress for my lovely friend Nicola's 1 year old Olivia.  I used the sewing machine for the first time in months, had some trouble with the bias binding edges, but ultimately achieved a very cute 'pillow case' dress from Betz White's Sewing Green,  and then the oos and ahs of recognition, and "i think Mum still has those sheets at home!"  big smile.  Can wait to see Olivia in it this summer.

Tasmanian Craft Fair and Deloraine op-shop goodness

I have never before been to the Deloraine / Tasmanian Craft fair which has grown to be a huge event in Tasmania every year.  Surprising but true - but then neither had Mum, so that is probably why.  So I proposed a trip and off we went on a perfect mum & daughter bonding adventure day.  We left South Hobart at about 8.20am and arrive back pretty much 12 hours later. I have well and truly gotten used to the required three hour drive after my time in SA and that meant we had about 6 hours to wonder and look, and buy and chill and eat and wonder some more! We both got lots of inspiration, but didn't buy to much, except my weakness came when I took Mum to Fresh Fabric - probably the best fabric store in Tasmania.  The first time I every walked into that shop I exclaimed I wanted to move in and live there!  And of course it is surrounded by three country op-shops in which i found so many yummy bargains....

there were some great displays, which i sometimes admired more than the products...

Lunch was a Mum special of Spinach & Ricotta pie with salad, in the car in the green green padock

Fresh Fabric and 2 Quilt Ladies, fat quarters

bargain bundles

 I have a bit of an orange / yellow container thing happening lately, not normally my thing

came with 6 cups and saucers, and a found one matching tea cup and saucer

tea cups for cactus

  can't wait to make some kids clothes with this!

We hardly got any rain during the day, until it was time to leave.  We went the scenic route through Westbury and stopped for local ice cream from Andy's - and it was amazing.  I had Jaffa and Chocolate Hazelnut and Mum had Chocolate Rough and Hazelnut - and it was full of roasted crushed nuts and little chocolate chunks and was just bloody good way to finish the day.

pieces for peoples i love

i've been playing catch up with birthdays from the first half of the year and trying (and failing) to stay on top of all the current ones.  but hopefully when the parcels finally arrive they are worth the wait.

I love making things especially for friends, choosing the project, colours, and style just for them and taking the time to make it just perfect, even if that means unpicking or unravelling a little to do it again just right, i never mind.

A pretty reversible apron for the 30th birthday of Alice (Queen of Cupcakes)
pattern by sew liberated!

plus and pretty curly scarf - because she deserves to be spoilt

crochet hand cuffs

and a scarf for April the best sister (iL)

my first attempt at a hat for the gorgeous Emila (19months)

Some more hand cuffs for the brilliant Jac

and a special beanie for Jac and Josie's gorgeous Marty Roo (1 year!)

who rarely is still! ;-)

As I'm housesitting a fair bit at the moment the crochet is more portable, and can be done in front of the TV, or movie on the computer, even in bed, making crochet my favourite winter creative indulgence.  and there is many more special people to make for!

Barossa Treasures

The gorgeous Alice F and I had a girls road trip to the Barossa on Saturday and I couldn't have thought up a more perfect way to spend a day.

We left pretty early (7am ish) and headed down to the Barossa Farmers Market and headed straight to the breakfast - coffee, fresh oj and egg and bacon rolls - so very good.  I had mine with beetroot relish - yum

barossa fm breakfast

sated we then had a good look around.  my first stop was Careme for gorgeous cake and pastry.  I picked up sourdough fruit bread - my absolute favourite bread and a lush chocolate brownie with fig.  I convinced Alice to try the lemon tart - they are too good.

Careme goodies on offer

I wanted to buy a Careme shopping bag as a keepsake but they gave it to me for free!

after the market we hit the towns Angaston and Tanunda for op shopping adventures.  The awesome secondhand clothes shop in Angaston was shut but I managed to pick up a couple of funky aprons...

$2, $5, $1.50

some lovely glassware

 10c - $2.99

and some retro craft books for inspiration

$1 each

I also grabbed a couple of shirts and an old sheet for craft fabric projects - not sure what yet.....

I seemed to be inspired by autumn colours on this outing

After so much shopping - for so little money we headed back to Angaston for a late late lunch at Blonde Coffee a gorgeous cafe and deli/food store that I love for it's atmosphere and simple yet tasty food, great coffee and chai and lush cakes.  it is the kind of place I would love to run one day and the kind of place I so wish we had in the Riverland.

It was the best of days, with fun window shopping and antique browsing, bargain buys, such good food and the best company.  sweet memories - thanks alice :-)

soft love

I've had some visitors in the church for a while longer than i had planned but they kept me company until i got a round to arranging their travel.

I got news today that one had safely arrived in Kingston and since they set off together I am assuming that the others got to Howrah and Glenorchy by today too.

My friends had to see Tasmania and couldn't wait till I was ready to head home - so they flew Australia Post and now with their new families where I'm sure they will have lots of love. And I will see them again in a couple of months!

one year of crochet

Last Easter I taught myself to crochet, I don't remember doing it as a child - I certainly knitted and sewed but don't remember the stitches so maybe not.  I love crochet, so much faster and playful than knitting, although so far I've only played with scarves, straight and curly....

A couple of weeks ago I finally attempted my first Granny square and one year on I can say my world of crochet is opening up. 

 Thanks Pip for Meet me at Mikes fabulous granny square tutorial!

I love the simplicity of the granny square and how much I can play with patterns.  For now I'm just using up a batch of wool of the same ilk to make a knee rug - eventually 5x5 squares - 6 down, 19 to go! 

 so much  fun

It was good to sit and watch Angel on DVD and crochet a good part of my Easter away.  Things have been so hectic, hence the lack of blogging for a while.  My chilling out was interspersed with lots of cleaning out and packing ready for the move back to Tasmania.  I have 8 weeks left in the Riverland and my things might be heading back a few weeks before me.  I am such a nester and even though i didn't unpack half of my things when I moved into the church I still have so much to sort through and prepare for months of storage.  Was good to make a BIG dent in the task, now I should be able to attack bits and pieces over the next few weeks after work and such.

I must make a list of crafty projects to get done before I go too - have a few important items to make for special peoples.......

op-shop stash

ah, sometimes it pays off living in a little(ish) country town and dropping into the op shop.  Yesterday I got quiet a stash for just $10.  Lots of interesting bits and pieces for crafty things.  if only I had more time.....

 

some fabulous retro gems in there

  

not very pc but very cute

 

and cotton to match, how thoughtful

bags & more softies

another crafty weekend.  the heat here is so oppressive i can't go out and enjoy summer but staying inside means time to sew - so not so bad.

A friend asked me for a photo for a charity auction for the Cystic Fibrosis foundation, but i'm not quite that confident with my photography to think people would want a blown up print of mine on their wall, but have had many comments about my bags over the years so it was time to make another 'waddington'!

I like to feature a fabric and keep the rest simple and complementary and i like my bags to be practical.  Years of various variations have lead to the current incarnation that is big enough to fit an A4 diary or notebook but not so big you put too much in it.  Something fun and stylish, yet functional, that can take you from the office to dinner or shopping, 

As i'm trying to reacquaint myself with all my sewing prowess i also had a go at making a little makeup bag with a zip.  for some reason i've been afraid of zips - not sure why - was not so bad.

I was pretty happy with my products.  the photo is a little reflective as i've put a protective plastic over the feature panel, one of those little extras - like my matching pocket and contrasting lining. 

little things that are not hard but make the bag a bit more special.  I hope this set goes to a nice new home.

I also played with another softy from meet me at mikes

 

any ideas?

i couldn't decide so started three

I've had fun with all the embroidery.  I love blanket stitch and got back into back stitch. Next i have to try chain stitch...

 

how cute is he!  and he cooks!!

when i finished my first udderly lovely cow i was smitten.  will be hard to send him on to his new home...  none of the three are for me?  

I think I'll be ready to design my own softie soon, getting a feel what what style i like.  Before then I want to try to master granny squares.  Got  the crochet happening but not the square - the challenge will be on this weekend.