more matryoshka's

It's funny how things creep up on you. I don't really know how but I have a bit of a "thing" for making matryoshka's at the moment. I've been painting quite a few of them on tops and now I've made a little soft one for Tully for her birthday. I found the pattern in a great op shop score, "How to make soft toys and dolls" by Sunset Books. It's been on my "to do" list for a while. I love how the dolls sit in little pockets and have a similar idea to the original matryoshka doll.

Tully got a set of Matryoshka dolls for Christmas and she is still really intrigued by them and so I hope she loves this doll too. Although, it has pretty stiff competition in a hideous plastic Sleeping Beauty princess that sings when you press a button on her back. Gosh could they be any more different? Tully loved the hideous plastic thing and requested it for her birthday. I really tried to turn her against it but no, she loves it. Oh well, I love the matryoshka's....

on my desk.....

Today's desk was the lounge room floor which Tully and I covered with lots of fabric scraps, wool, little pom poms,pegs and other crafting bits in the great pursuit of making peg dolls. Oh such fun! Tully's are all princesses and mine aren't! Can you pick the princesses?

More desks to check out over at kootoyoo

all ready for bed

Today I finished off this nighty for Tully. She's super stoked and so keen to pop it on. She wanted to leave it on when I tried it on her to check the arm and hem length. Me.....ahhhh well I sort of like the style of it but those princesses. Here's hoping she gets over them pretty quick!

I was good and followed the pattern mostly. I didn't bother with the ties around the kneck or the elastic casing around the arms and didn't finish my seams properly. My mum would be horrified! Following the pattern though it doesn't tell you to finish seams. I would normally but oh well if it falls apart so be it.

The afghan in the pic was made by my clever little Mum. She used to make heaps of these to go on our beds in winter. It's double sided and so heavy and warm.



And this is what I found in my mailbox today. A very generous friend sent this to me and I was so surprised and stoked to find a package for me! Not for the kids, but for me!!! Such a beautiful bag made from very special vintage fabric. Love love love it

no fish today.....Friday archives

I decided to hunt through some old sketchbooks for today's friday archives contribution and came across this little sketch that I did in 1995. It seems that a lot of the sketches that I'm sharing are from this year. It must have been a productive year for me.

I used to go fishing a lot with friends. That happens when your friends are doing aquatic science degree's. I was the art student who would sit and sketch whilst everyone else fished. I'd have a go at fishing but often became a bit bored or scared that I might actually catch something. Down the side of this sketch is a little note "No fish today" which actually happened quite often and still does when I go fishing with Lach, my partner. I have also noted the place we were fishing, Jubilee Park (a caravan park) on the outskirts of Warrnambool. If you look carefully you might spy a little bus on the other side of the river.

I also figured out how to add the friday archives badge this week. Thanks Sherrin!

today.....

a couple of mermaids visited our garden and picked all our sourgrass. How delightful.

a bit of sewing .....on my desk

Seems like ages since I did some sewing for the kids. This isn't exactly the sewing I really want to do though, it's more for neccesity.

Some new flongies for Asher as his old ones from last winter are absolute ankle bashers. Flongies are fleece longies and are great for over cloth nappies as you don't need a separate cover and they are super warm in this chilly weather.

And a nightie for Tully which could have been absolutley gorgeous except she choose the most hideous material. She looooves princesses and anything that is too pink. A true girl! She needs some new nighties and this pattern is just perfect. I'm making the really long one (even more princess like) and am trying to tone down the overt pinkness by mixing in some pale pink spotty flannel.

more desks over here

a pixie for Mirabel

One little pixie all ready to head off to mikes for softies for Mirabel. If you haven't heard of this fantastic charity click on the badge in the sidebar to go and see some absolutley fabulous softies that have also been donated and find out what it's all about. I really love the thought that this little pixie is heading off to bring a little magic into a little person's life who really needs it.

knitting gibberish

Tonight I sat down and read and reread this pattern of tikki's for a beanie that I want to make for Asher. I have some beautiful, beautiful wool that I got from Katanya that it just hiding away in a basket with the rest of my wool stash and UFO's. Damned if I can read the pattern properly though. I get it, but must admit I get a bit lost and just "know" that the beanie will end up sitting with all the other unfinished knitting attempts I have. The only thing I have ever finished was with a lot of help from Tikki. I'm not really sure why I don't "get" knitting but all that weird knitting gibberish just leaves me damned confused and I always, always have to wait until I see tik to get her to fix whatever stuff up I have made. So sadly the wool and needles (I have the right size too mind you!) will sit and wait in the hope that I can talk someone (I'm thinking Lach's Mum at the moment) into making this cute little beanie for me.

Anyway, I love this beanie and the little chick wearing it. I pinched the picture from tik's blog - she's my sis and even though I didn't get permission to use it (naughty blogging etiquette hey), I know she won't mind. If you are gifted with the knitting bug give it a try. I think it's a winner. Me, I'll just keep collecting wool and picking up all my unfinished attempts in vain (I really want to finish the everlasting wonder soaker as Basher NEEDS more soakers). As for the wonderful felted slippers I dream of, well I think I'll keep dreaming cause me and knitting just don't gel. BAH!!

friday archives

It's been a while since I played. Well it's actually been a while since I blogged. No real good excuses, just no camera as Lach took it away with him and for some reason my pics on the hard drive couldn't be found. I am sooooooo uncomputer savvy it's not funny. So hopeless in fact am I that I can't even figure out how to pop the Friday archives badge on my page. shesh....

Anyway today's archived sketch is a conte drawing from when I did my teacher's diploma. We had a wonderful lecturer who allowed the art students to create visual images for assignments rather than write them. This sketch was about the different ways students take in knowledge. I'm sure there must have been some sort of written component to the piece but it's long gone now.



This is a little chick who is hanging out on my desk waiting patiently for some stuffing for her legs. Gee I hate it when you run out so close to the finish line. She's a special custom for a little unborn princess. I don't usually take on customs but I couldn't say no to this request. There are also a few more lasses and one lad hanging out waiting for their turn at some attention. That's if the little squirt who likes to accost me every time he sees me sitting down and demands "juice" allows me .

new stock

Norman Gnome, along with two little friends will be going up in the shop today. He's a new favourite so I think there will definitely be more little Norman's to come.

on my desk

Brrrr it's so chilly at my desk today! I think I might have to pull out the little fan heater to bring a little warmth into the room or else these little tee's on my desk are not going to make much progress today.

I'm really loving the little gnomes. One is for a trade but I loved him so much I decided to do one to go up in the shop as well. I may just have to do one for Asher too. The others are more matryoshka's which will also be making an appearance in the shop some time this week. Of course this is dependant on how much work the ankle biters allow me.

I also have some wonderful cards I was lucky to receive as part of a giveaway from Glorydaze They are so lovley. The owls were my first love but now I'm really loving the birdie the most. Lucky me, my first blog giveaway



My latest little fabric purchases. Little as I generally only get 25cm cuts, as I'm a bit of a tight arse and like a bit of variety in my stash. I soooo love love love the Amy Butler lillies.



Wanna see more desks? Check them out here

Oh and lots of little wool felt hairclips are up in the shop right now. Go along and check them out.