Felted Bag

The main thing I made in my felting classes (which I've only just finished) was a bag.


I managed to use one of my buttons on the front!
It's lined (with pockets and everything)

I also embroidered some pretty sea creatures and random swirls on it.



Also, in personal news, I've got a job and start next Wednesday. To be honest, I was hoping for a longer period of unemployment so I could get stuff done, but I shouldn't complain!

Glass Platter

I arrived back in Melbourne last night without any problems, it was a long drive but it's good to be home, although I think I'll be unpacking and sorting things out for at least a week. I'm already making a pile of clothes I haven't worn in the last year, which I suppose is what you get for moving out, but still keeping a heap of stuff with your parents.

Just before I left Adelaide I did a four week glass fusing and slumping course, which was really cool, and I made this platter which I'm really proud of.

This picture shows the whole thing:


And this is a close up of the center with the gorgeous dichroic glass (expensive, but lovely) and some fingerprints!

Moving

I've just got one and a bit more days in Adelaide. On Saturday morning I'm driving back to Melbourne (and hoping everything fits in my car!). I was going to get help moving but my mum and dad are both overseas (separately) so I've got a long drive by myself...without airconditioning - although the current weather report my computer is giving me is 26*C, so it doesn't sound too bad. I also dropped a few boxes off to get put on the train back to Melbourne the other day, so I'm not trying to take everything I've accumulated over the last year back.

So I'll probably be posting next from Melbourne, and I'll get to play with my sewing machine. Lots of fun!

Felted Needle Book

Near the end of my second felting class I was running out of time so I made a small, random piece of felt using some of the roving that was left. Then I decided to chop it up and use it for something I've needed for a while...a needle book. I've been putting all my embroidery needles in one packet, and most of them are too small for the slots, so I decided to stop losing them, and make something to hold it.

I wanted to use the natural shape of the felt for the cover and it worked quite well, the whole thing has a bit of a rustic look to it but I think it works well, and it's lovely and cushy and soft. It's also doing it's job properly, but I should have made something to hold my needles a while ago.

Felted bookmark

I made this bookmark at a wet felting course I did. It was lots of fun, and helped with some of the intimidation I had about having a go (it's really easy). The bookmark was for a friend of mine who is doing a creativity course so I knew it would be appreciated, and hoped it would also provide a bit of inspiration. She was very happy with it, so that's good! I initially made a bigger piece but it was too wide for a bookmark, so I cut it down and did some bright blanket stitch around the edge which brought it all together nicely.

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! In honour of the day, I made a love related ATC, which is very out of focus, because I scanned it. Never mind.



Anyhoo, I also need suggestions, because my dad might be going to the US and if he does I'm giving him a list of stuff to buy for me (especially as he was going to help me move at the time he might be going). He is however, a boy, and uncrafty, so it probably can't be too big or complicated. Because I'm overworked (I had to steal popcorn from work for dinner last night at 10pm because I was starving) I may have left out something incredibly obvious, so let me know. Here's what I've got so far:
- shrinky dinks
- freezer paper
- candy
- Kool Aid
I'm sure this list was longer last night when I was thinking about it. Anyway, send in your suggestions for stuff I should make my dad buy.

ATCs

One of my friends was going to start playing with ATCs and after getting some goodies at That's Not Garbage the other day, I thought I might as well have a bit of a play.

They were quite fun, and pretty quick to do, although I can see how you could spend a lot of time on them. Seeing all the ones on craftster I didn't quite realise how small they were when you're trying to put stuff on them, but I think that's a good thing because it focused me a bit.



The one on the left is called 'Disco Amoeba' and was just one of those pictures where you draw randomly and then colour in the different areas (other people did them at school didn't they?) and the other one is called 'Woven Tree' (I was out of ideas for names) and is two different patterned papers woven together, with a tree and bird drawn on top. It's actually done in gold ink which is more gold in real life, although the design is still quite subtle.

I think these are quite good for little projects to inspire creativity, because you can spend as much or as little time on them as you want and you come out with something finished that can be anything you like.

February Crochet Squares

Well here are my February squares for the craftster crochet-a-long. It's fun sticking them all together in different patterns and seeing what they look like together.

Naughty me

Ok, so I shouldn't be buying stuff at the moment, because I've got to drag it all the way back to Melbourne in a couple of weeks. But anyway...one of my friends heard about a reuse centre called 'That's Not Garbage' and so we went to have a look.

They had tons of inspiring stuff but I just got a fairly small bag which set me back about $2.50 and is an amount of stuff that I can justify taking home.

Look what I borrowed from work

Alright, so actually I got asked to look after it overnight, and unlike the normal overnight things where I go into work to check stuff, I'm just putting this little puppy in a crate once I go to bed next to me (so hopefully I'll get some sleep - if it doesn't whine too much!), but until then I'm giving it lots of pats and cuddles.

It's an eight week old puppy and it's only 1 1/2 kilos, how tiny is that!

Beaded Bookstrings

It's funny how life gets interrupted sometimes. I meant to post this yesterday, but I spent most of the day doing nothing and trying to sleep because I had to check a dog every two hours over Friday night. I did however, manage to fall out of my bed at about 2pm Saturday, which I think is a bit of an achievement. I wasn't even actually asleep at the time, I think I was reaching over for a book or something. But today, with a little more sleep under my belt (it's good stuff) I managed to get motivated enough to get my camera out, and I even went outside in an attempt to get some sunlight in the photos. Unfortunately the background is a bit dodgy, I might have to try somewhere else next time, or I'll just keep taking poorly lit indoor photos.

In my ongoing quest to make little going away presents for everyone at work before I leave (only three weeks to go, but I've only got 3 to go...just need some ideas as they're new people who I don't know that well!) I made some beaded bookstrings.

They were very easy to make, and I think they look very pretty. To make them take some beads that look attractive together, something to string them on and some crimps. String a crimp, a seed bead (if the other beads have holes that are too big) the beads that you want on that end, and another seed bead. Then skip the end seed bead and restring the other beads and the crimp. Crimp the crimp, cut the short end of your stringing material and you've done one end. Then measure up your stringing material to the desired length, and add enough to pass through the beads again plus a little extra and repeat the stringing procedure.

A tree trunk

Alright, so I can actually access the internet from my own computer now, so you'll get an increase in the number of posts...although I haven't made all that much lately, my excuses are busy, tired and I don't want to buy more supplies before I move home (in about three weeks now), but I do have a few things that are in the works.

I was walking around this park the other day (it's really lovely, all enclosed and secret, but very neat and with lovely curving paths), and there was this gorgeous tree trunk tucked away in a little corner. For once I had my camera with me, so I snapped some photos and then had a bit of fun playing with the colour and sharpness on a couple of them, because I just loved the texture of this tree trunk.

Hat and Scarf Set

So I haven't posted for a little bit because once again I've exceeded my download limit, so I'm using work computers, which feels weird...but anyway.

The lovely librarylass was having a yarn giveaway on her blog, and I was one of the lucky winners. Anyway, I won this lovely merino-mohair blend (although it now means after working with nice yarn I have to start spending more on it!), and the yarn told me it wanted to be a scarf and hat (I'm not sure when I started picking up psychic messages from yarn, but it is a little scary!). So a scarf and hat it became.



Both patterns are from Crochet me. The hat is The Professional and the scarf is Shelly. I think they'll be really handy once it starts getting into winter.

I've still got a reasonably amount of the yarn left, and at the moment I'm thinking of mixing it with some Alpaca yarn I've got and making a felted bag, but I guess I'll see what the yarn tells me!

And on the topic of librarians (vaguely, but I know two of you work in libraries so I thought I'd go with it) I saw a very amusing movie the other day. It was 'The Librarian 2 - Return to King Solomon's Mines' and it was as good as the title sounds. One of my friends was reviewing it and so had a movie night, which was good, because it's one of those movies that you get lots of enjoyment out of picking the baddies, what's going to happen, what other movie's they're ripping off, and making fun of the malnourished love interest (sometimes audience participation is better than the film!). We also had a librarian watching and he had fun saying stuff like 'He should be wearing gloves handling that book' etc, and a couple of people decided to play a drinking game, drinking when 'librarian like' things were done. Although that game finished when the beer got spilt.

Little squares

For the 2007 Bookcrossing Unconvention (in the UK, I'm not going!) a UK Bookcrosser is making a blanket to raffle off and taking contributions of 10cm x 10cm squares (or 4" x 4") so I got inspired to make a few to send off.

The top left is crossed stitches, top right is a Hawaiian square. Bottom left is spike stitch (in Aussie green and gold) and bottom right is a mitred square.

It was a good opportunity to try out some new stitches, and it's a nice small package to send overseas!

I just feel very sorry for the poor girl who has volunteered to sew all of these together.

Fishy Photos

When I was at university I had to do lots of work experience during my holidays (so I didn't really get that many holidays!). Anyway, I managed to go to the aquarium quite a bit which was lots of fun, particularly when I got there before it opened and I could go behind the scenes and everything. Anyway, here are some of my favourite photos.




For some reason, I've always thought sharks were really cool and misunderstood. This little one was cute, and I kind of wanted to pat him, but I didn't.

70s crafty goodness

I got this book the other day, and it's just fabulous! I'm not sure if there are any projects that I'd actually make, but I love it just for the tackiness value.

First we have the cover, and while the frog and toilet roll holder and blanket (which isn't actually in the book, I guess it was too tasteful) aren't too bad, it slowly gets worse with the poodle doorstop (the blue thing, which is apparently useful as well as ornamental) and the tulle rabbit (this book has an entire section on tulle). The tulle rabbit's description actually states that 'everyone who sees him will want you to make one for them' and 'no one will pass without comment'. Probably, but I'm not sure that they'd be complementary comments. I'm also questioning why you'd make a soft toy out of something that's not all that soft?


Then we have another tulle creation, perfect for the man in the house, this toilet and cistern cover. To be honest, I'd think a requirement for bathroom things is normally 'easy to clean' but I guess sometimes you need to sacrifice practicality for style.


And finally, we have this adorable monkey string holder. I can't say much about this one apart from "I'm scared".

December and January Crochet Squares

I've finally finished my December and January squares for the Craftster crochet-a-long. The December squares are on the left, January on the right, with experienced squares at the top. I think my gauge was off slightly on all of them, but I'm sure it'll be fine later on! And if I'd taken the time to place them properly they'd look straighter.

My Boys

So these are my boys, and I miss them a lot when I'm in Adelaide, although last time I went home they initially ignored me because they weren't very happy with me for going away for so long, luckily after a day they forgave me.


This is Deefa and this photo was only set up a little bit. He came and lay on all the sheets in the laundry and then I tucked him in a bit, but as he was still like that 10 minutes later I then took a photo. Deefa is a big softy.



This is Barney and he's a bit more naughty, but just as loveable. His favourite game is sneaking out the house if someone has left a gate or door open. He just goes across the road, but if you don't notice he gets bored and comes back, and he manages to have a specific "I've been on an adventure" look, which lets us know that he's very proud of himself for tricking us, and that we have to go and check all the gates. For some reason Deefa never goes on those adventures, we're not sure if it's because he's being good, or he just doesn't realise the possibilities for escape (he's not the smartest dog around!)

Sewn Dammit Doll

One of the guys at work is a bit grumpy, sort of like Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh. Anyway, I thought I'd make him a Dammit Doll as a thank you present for when I finish up.



It's one of the first things I made on my sewing machine, and I dragged it all the way to Adelaide (the doll, not the sewing machine) to be stuffed and sewn up. And honestly, the tongue was almost in the right spot before I stuffed it!

And here is the Dammit Doll Poem:
Whenever things don't go so well...
And you want to hit the wall and yell...
Here's a little dammit doll
That you can't do without.
Just grasp it firmly by the legs
And find a place to slam it
And as you whack the stuffing out
Yell, "DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT!"

An amusing tale of mistaken identity.

Yesterday I was walking into the city to have a bit of a break from my flat (after lying around doing nothing all day Saturday because I was very tired), and walking past a massage centre, thought I might see if I could book myself in for the following week. I'd been past this place a few times, but never actually been inside.

Anyway, I walked in, and it just smelt a bit smoky and seemed a bit dingy, but I waited for a few seconds and a woman came to the desk, so I asked if I could book in for a massage for the following week. She looked at me a bit strangely and said "We only do adult massage.". Not completely getting it, I looked at her blankly thinking "But I'm an adult.", she then asked what type of massage I thought they did and I said "A back massage", she repeated "We do adult massage, and we get mainly male customers". At that point I realised I'd accidentally walked into a brothel. Oops.

Anyway, I was telling this story to people at work (because I think it's pretty funny) and one of the vets said "I'm surprised they didn't ask you if you wanted a job.". I wasn't quite sure how to take that one!

Goodies

I love reading Miss Meshell's blog* . She makes and features lots of pretties. Anyway, her birthday is soon after Christmas so I thought I'd send her a package of random goodies, because it's lots of fun, and I love crafting for people who appreciate it. I'm posting it now because I stuck the Christmas and birthday presents in one post.

As well as these hand made goodies, I sent her a couple of bookcrossing books, and some postcards.



Ooooh, a pretty crocheted panta. Pattern from here




The pattern for the red and green flower (at the moment my favourite crocheted flower) is from here and the other two are from here




Hee hee hee, I was having fun with shiny beads and grommets, so it's an interactive card.

*Meshell, I'll be sending you the advertising bill soon.

Buttons, buttons, buttons

Ok, so Meshell is officially a bad influence on me. She posted all these lovely pictures of buttons she'd bought on ebay and I was thinking "Buttons, why do I need buttons?...Oh, but they're pretty and, why do I need buttons?"



I now have buttons.

Seven goals for 2007

Happy New Year everyone. I thought after re-capping 2006 I should do a post of my goals and plans for 2007. There are no real resolutions here, just stuff I'd like to happen.

1. Learn some new crafts (I'm kind of cheating here because I've paid for some classes already, and I also have a new sewing machine and spinning wheel to play with, but it's a goal anyway!)

2. Get a new job (my current job was just for a year, so it finishes in February so if I don't get a new job I'll be unemployed most of the year, so I pretty much have to do this one!)

3. Only use re-used or re-useable wrapping materials on gifts. I've started doing this a bit, but once I use up my roll of wrapping paper I'm either wrapping presents in fabric or scarves, giving them in fabric bags, or those re-useable gift bags. This also has to be appropriate, so I wouldn't give my dad a gift wrapped in fabric (well actually I might, but I'd steal it back, because he wouldn't use it)

4. Try not to get any more plastic bags. I've got lots and I don't need them. I just need to remember to take green bags to places other than the supermarket.

5. Organise my craft stuff (admittedly it's not too bad at the moment, but I can see problems looming when I move back to Melbourne in February because I have accumulated over the last year). I think I need to buy a cupboard for some of my stuff, but I'll get to it once I move back and I have everything in one place.

6. It's a secret, that way if it doesn't happen, no one knows! Plus I think you have to have at least one private goal!

7. Read at least 15 more books from the Angus & Robertson Top 100 Books list. Currently I've read the bold books. Books in italics are those I definately want to read this year.

1. The Da Vinci Code – Dan Brown
2. The Lord Of The Rings – J.R.R. Tolkien
3. Pride And Prejudice – Jane Austin
4. To Kill A Mockingbird – Harper Lee
5. Memoirs Of A Geisha – Arthur Golden
6. Angels And Demons – Dan Brown
7. The Lovely Bones – Alice Sebold
8. My Sister’s Keeper – Jodi Picoult
9. Tomorrow, When The War Began – John Marsden
10. Magician – Raymond E. Feist
11. The Bronze Horseman – Paullina Simons
12. Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire – J.K. Rowling
13. The Hobbit – J.R.R. Tolkien
14. Bridget Jones’ Diary – Helen Fielding
15. Cloudstreet – Tim Winton
16. Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban – J.K. Rowling
17. The Power Of One – Bryce Courtenay
18. April Fools Day – Bryce Courtenay
19. Tully – Paullina Simons
20. Across The Nightingale Floor – Lian Hearn
21. The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho
22. The God Of Small Things – Arundhati Roy
23. Ice Station – Matthew Reilly
24. The Pillars Of The Earth – Ken Follet
25. Tuesdays With Morrie – Mitch Albom (2006)
26. Perfume – Patrick Suskind
27. The Bible
28. The Bride Stripped Bare – Anonymous
29. Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix – J.K. Rowling
30. Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone – J.K. Rowling
31. The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe – C.S. Lewis (2006)
32. Cross Stitch – Diana Gabaldon
33. Looking For Alibrandi – Melina Marchetta
34. Mao’s Last Dancer – Li Cunxin
35. The Secret History – Donna Tartt
36. Year Of Wonders – Geraldine Brooks
37. Gone With The Wind – Margaret Mitchell (2005)
38. The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy Series – Douglas Adams
39. Jessica – Bryce Courtenay
40. The Notebook – Nicholas Sparks
41. The Catcher In The Rye – J.D. Salinger
42. The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini
43. One For The Money – Janet Evanovich
44. Little Women – Louisa May Alcott
45. The Shadow Of The Wind – Carlos Ruiz Zafon
46. Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte
47. Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason – Helen Fielding
48. The Five People You Meet In Heaven – Mitch Albom (2006)
49. Great Expectations – Charles Dickens
50. Life Of Pi – Yann Martel
51. The Poisonwood Bible – Barbara Kingsolver
52. The Poet – Michael Connelly
53. A Child Called It – David Pelzer
54. Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas – Hunter S. Thompson
55. On The Road – Jack Kerouac
56. Tell No One – Harlan Coben
57. Nineteen Eighty-Four – George Orwell
58. Almost French – Sarah Turnbull (I bought this for my mum for Christmas)
59. An Equal Music – Vikram Seth
60. The Ancient Future – Tracey Harding
61. The Blind Assassin – Margaret Atwood
62. The Day After Tomorrow – Allan Folsom
63. Desert Flower – Waris Dirie
64. The English Patient – Michael Ondaatje (2006)
65. The Eyre Affair – Jasper Fforde (2005)
66. Fight Club – Chuck Palahniuk
67. A Fortunate Life – A.B. Facey
68. Girl With A Pearl Earring – Tracy Chevalier
69. The Godfather – Mario Puzo
70. Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets – J.K. Rowling
71. The Horse Whisperer – Nicholas Evans
72. Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte (2006)
73. Middlesex – Jeffrey Eugenides
74. The Pact – Jodi Picoult
75. The Time Traveler’s Wife – Audrey Niffenegger
76. Wild Swans: Three Daughters Of China – Jung Chang
77. Animal Farm – George Orwell (2005)
78. Anna Karenina – Leo Tolstoy
79. Atonement – Ian Mcewan (2005)
80. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin – Louis De Bernieres
81. Cold Mountain – Charles Frazier
82. Crime And Punishment - F.M. Dostoevsky
83. Emma – Jane Austen
84. Enduring Love – Ian Mcewan
85. The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald I've got a copy to be read!
86. The Handmaid’s Tale – Margaret Atwood
87. Interview With The Vampire – Anne Rice (2006)
88. It – Stephen King I've got a copy to be read!
89. Like Water For Chocolate – Laura Esquivel (2006)
90. Not Without My Daughter – Betty Mahmoody
91. Plain Truth – Jodi Picoult
92. 1st To Die – James Patterson
93. A Fine Balance – Rohinton Mistry
94. Alias Grace – Margaret Atwood
95. Assassin’s Apprentice – Robin Hobb
96. Atlas Shrugged – Ayn Rand (ok, so I didn't finish it but it still counts!)
97. The Potato Factory – Bryce Courtenay
98. The Redemption Of Althalus – David Eddings
99. Retribution – Jilliane Hoffman
100. River God – Wilbur Smith

Sixes for 2006

So, it's almost the end of 2006 and what have I accomplished this year?

6 Things I've learned
Don't turn down any invitation (you can meet some wonderful people and it gets you out)
How to live on my own
Jewelry making
VERY basic knitting
That making blankets takes a long time and can be pretty frustrating
Good medicine practices

6 New People I'm glad I've come in contact with
Rosie - a wonderful Bookcrosser/Backpacker who has taken me to plays in Adelaide and who I've had lots of fun with
Meshell - a wonderful crafty blogger, it's been great reading her blog but
we've also exchanged birthday gifts (you get to open yours soon) and
postcards.
Dr House (name changed for privacy!) - one of the doctors at work. Can be a bit of a grump but he's taught me a lot.
Dr C (name changed for privacy!)- introduced me to a lot of new people and got me involved in various things. Always has time to help.
D (name changed for privacy!)- made me welcome in SA when I was feeling loneliest.
S (name changed for privacy!)- makes me laugh at work!

6 New Things I've done
I've moved out of home
I've got my first real full time job
I've moved interstate
I've started using ebay
I've taken part in two craftster.org swaps
I've given several talks to vets who were paying to listen (Yikes!)

6 Numbers
128 - the number of books I've read
121 - the number of blog posts I've made
60 - the number of projects (According to this blog) I've completed. I think there are a few more things that I haven't photographed though so I'm going for about 65. I'm pretty impressed with that, especially as it included 3 blankets.
13 - the number of times I've been on a plane
3 - the number of things I've won(roving, yarn and a book/DVD pack)
1 - the number of times I've watched all Angel episodes

So that's a bit about my year, I hope everyone else has had a good one, and I'll post some plans for 2007 in the New Year!

Look what I got

Look what I got for Christmas (I know, I should have posted it a few days ago, but that's not the point).

It's all shiny and comes with an instruction book (highly important) and I haven't mucked up anything I've made with it yet (although I haven't done anything challenging!). I've had a bit of a play with it, but I think I'll have to wait until I move back to Melbourne in March to really start having fun, because I'm not taking it back to Adelaide for two months.



So I guess now I have to accumulate a fabric stash?

Secret Santa

I've done a Bookcrossing Secret Santa this year (and this post has been sitting in drafts for some time until it was sent off and recieved), and participants had to send one book, and whatever else you wanted to. So my Secret Santa-ee loves vampire books, so I thought I'd make an amigurumi vampiress. It was lots of fun, although she is a very stereotypical vampire with her black hair, white skin and corset!



She's been really well recieved, it's just fantastic! At the moment she's still waiting on a name but it shouldn't be long.

I also made a book string. I'm very pleased with that, hopefully it will look very appropriate sitting in some gothic romance novel.

Merry Christmas

All of my family is currently doing the whole "Why did I eat too much, I'm going to sit on the couch and go to sleep" thing, so I thought I'd take the chance to wish everyone a happy Christmas.


My mum asked me to do up a bit of a voucher for my sisters Christmas present from her and dad, and I wasn't happy just doing a voucher, I had to do a stocking for it to go in as well.

All I had in Melbourne was yellow embroidery thread (actually I might have had blue as well but it didn't go so well), otherwise I might have done holly and stuff too, but I think this looks cute!

All the gifts I made went over really well and I got some good presents (including a sewing machine, ooooh!)

Swap Goodies

So, I've just done my second swap on Craftster.org, and it was my first swap where I had to craft something. It was the Aussie 2006 Xmas card with small gifts swap.

My partner chose an embroidered tote bag, but I had to cheat a little and get someone else to make the bag, so while I was waiting for that I made a little amigurumi birdie. Isn't it plump and cute?



So, as well as the bird, I embroidered the bag (that bit was all me) and then I had to send it off (I think that was the hardest bit). I guess the thing is though, that if I didn't want to keep the bag (and the bird), I wouldn't be happy with the job I'd done and I wouldn't want to send it off.




I also included some FruChocs (apparently they're only available in SA) and some x-rays (because I can get hold of them fairly easily, but most people can't) and it all went over very well. Yay!

Aussie swap Goodies

I've just participated in my second craftster swap (the first one where I had to craft stuff though, the Aussie 2006 Xmas Card with Small Gifts Swap) and yesterday I recieved a wonderful parcel from radish_spirit.


I got this gorgeous felted turtle which I'm going to call A'Tuin (see if you can work out the reference). I'm so in awe of this, I think it's just amazing!


I also got some spicy smelling felted soap, some badges, a candy cane and an origami box. So I think I'm very lucky to get all these goodies, and I think I may officially have the swap bug now!

Christmas Cards

I got inspiration for my Christmas cards quite early this year. I think it was from a corset, and I like the simplicity of them. Admittedly there are a few people who don't have them yet who might see them here, but that's ok because they haven't seen the inside.



I made these in front on the tv in an afternoon. They have Christmas stickers on the inside saying "Seasons Greetings" or "Happy Christmas" and putting them on straight was probably the hardest bit.

Crocheted hairclips

I'm heading back to Melbourne for Christmas tomorrow so while I'll still blog, it may be less frequently, and less craftily (as most of my supplies are in Adelaide). I'm really looking forward to a bit of a break and time with my family! I thought I'd leave you with some cute flower hair clips I made.



The pattern for this one came from here.

Pretty roving

I was lucky enough to be a winner of one ofsheep geek's Blogiversary prizes and I won some gorgeous roving.


Look how nicely it was wrapped, and with the added bonus of chocolate.


And here it is, the colours are more distinct in real life because I have dodgy lighting, but I think even this picture is gorgeous.

So anyway, my goal is to be able to spin well enough that I can do this lovely roving justice, so it won't be spun straight away, but it will be spun.

Coptic books

This is a pretty old project (over a year old in fact!) but I figured I may as well post it. When I graduated university I wanted to give my friends something special, so I made them all coptic books, that they could either get people to sign, or could do whatever they wanted with them.

Some of them had bookmarks and others didn't, but did have small images scattered throughout the pages. I tried to personalise them all but it did get hard by the end.



The monster one was mine, and when you opened it's mouth my photo was in there. Coincidentally the one with the map was a map of Hong Kong and after I made it that particular friend unexpectedly ended up getting a job in Hong Kong and is living there now. Spooky hey?



The one with the leopard print and lace was actually for a guy, but he came to one end of lectures fancy dress day in drag, and it was a little scary how pretty a girl he was. The sailor one is for a friend who came to another end of lectures fancy dress day as an extremely gay sailor.




None of the other covers have particularly good stories to go with them, but they were lots of fun to make and went over really well.