Jul 26, 2012

creative inspiration

I had a weird day today.  Someone I know had commented several times on my 'nana' like hobbies.  My sewing, knitting, crocheting, gardening etc.  Ok on the outside it looks bad but this creative urge has always been a part of me and quite frankly a lot of the time it keeps me sane.


My friends and family support and encourage my creative instincts but it bummed me out to think that to 'outsiders' I appear homely or oldfashioned.  It got me thinking about what a wonderful and supportive creative community we have online.  I read and agreed with Posie's post the other day and personally did vow to leave more comments on blogs.  I love it when people comment on my blog and I always try to respond, providing of course you aren't a 'no reply' blogger.  


So this afternoon I was roaming around on Instagram and I came across Alex Falkiner, an artist from NSW.  She had posted an image of a Catalogue from a Crafts Council Exhibition at the V&A in London.  I was completely struck by the words I read in the image, written by the guest curator Daniel Charny:

Making is the most powerful way that we solve problems, express ideas and shape our world.  What and how we make defines who we are, and communicates who we want to be.

For many people, making is critical for survival.  For others, it is a chosen vocation: a way of thinking, inventing and innovating.  And for some it is simply a delight, to be able to shape a material and say "I made that".  The power of making is that it fulfills each of these human needs and desires.

Those whose craft and ingenuity reach the very highest levels can create amazing things.  But making is something everyone can do.  The knowledge of how to make - both everyday objects and highly-skilled creations - is one of humanity's most precious resources.

These words struck a chord deep within me.  Specifically the part about making being critical for survival and the delight in being able to say "I made that".  So I looked around my home and saw my creativity everywhere and looked at all the things that I have made or that people I know have made and it brought me peace.

And I picked up my crochet hook and kept on creating.....

I hope you can all do the same too  :)

Jul 23, 2012

Baby afghan blankets

Look at this little cutie! This is Sam Jack. And his blanket I made for him.  If you would like to see your little cutie or someone you know snuggling under a blankie like this then you are in luck.  I am now taking orders for blankets in your choice of colours and sizes.  All 100% wool and lovingly handmade by moi! Make a perfect new baby gift.

Email for details.


Jul 21, 2012

Little Guy's blanket - finished

I finished up the little Guy's blanket last night and left it on his bed for him to find this morning.

I actually went the other day to buy some more of the yarn however the only colour they had left was the green. This worked out well for us in the end though as it is his favourite colour and I just did a thick green border.


Jul 18, 2012

yellow

Painting bought online. Very 'me'.

And one of my chairs minus a couple of layers - maybe I should just paint it yellow?



Jul 12, 2012

fun with teeth

Amelie is teething. Enough said right. Getting me up almost hourly at the moment at night. Mostly just for a bit of a cuddle or a little feed. So I'm a bit doughy in the daytime and going to bed early to try and get at least a couple of hours in a row.

Any tips or hints you'd care to share re sleeping and teething?

On happier note I'm having a lovely time decorating my home. With our renovations being so quickly followed by Amelie's birth I never felt like I'd quite finished dressing the house.  I've bought a few pictures for the walls and a new rug and I'm going to buy some Tolix stools for the deck.  Mum and Dad are also having some work done at their place so I'm having fun helping Mum choose stuff too.


Jul 9, 2012

baby blanket for Isabella Grace

<p>Into the mail tomorrow goes a baby blanket for new baby Isabella. The first bub for my bestie over in Western Australia. </p>
<p>Made once again using wool from the Bendigo Woolen Mills this blanket is lovely and soft with a good weight.

I finished the blanket with a cute scalloped edging.



Jul 8, 2012

little Guy's crochet blanket

The little Guy was a bit put out by all the blankets being made for babies around here and not for him so I promised him his own blanket. It had to feature green as this is the current colour of choice.  We had been perusing my usual yarn haunt but I came across this cotton  acrylic mix on sale the other day and loved the colours so decided to give it a try.

I find working with cotton or bamboo yarns a bit different to pure wool. They seem to have less 'give' and I found it handles a bit differently. Although I'm liking the feel of the blanket. Its not scratchy at all and is quite a good weight.  I've used one 50 gram ball of each colour with one to go. It currently measures about 60 cm across so should wind up bring a nice size for the little Guy.


Jul 7, 2012

I wanty

Found on our recent trip to Melbourne. Kicking myself for not buying it. Oh well. Less clutter :)


Jul 3, 2012

chair progress 2

So sanding is hard..... how could I have forgotten that?? I've called in the big guns. Grandad Guy is dropping round his orbital sander! Seeya later 29 layers of hideous green and bluish paint. And also seeya later torn up hands from wielding the sandpaper.

After sanding and undercoating the first chair yesterday and removing the green paint that had graced my grandparents kitchen of 25 years ago, I asked the Little Guy which colour we should use first? His response... green (because it's his favorite). Can't we start with one of the other colours for something different? No apparently.

Anyway I've gone back to some of the gentler arts with a little bit of crochet. Much nicer on my hands.


Jul 2, 2012

chair progress

Progress. One chair sanded and undercoated.

Only three to go (plus 2 kiddy chairs!)


Jul 1, 2012

painting fun

Me + paint + kitchen chairs = fun!


girls day out - part 1

Little Guy has gone to my in laws for a couple of days for his school holiday sleepover so Mum, Amelie and I had the day to ourselves to muck up.
We headed in to Paddington which is a trendy inner city suburb of Brisbane.  Mum had visited a big antiques centre there a couple of months back and wanted me to see it. Incidentally on her last visit Mum bought me some vintage red knitting needles and some vintage sheets. This time we didn't actually buy anything but had a great time looking around.  As someone who watches a large amount of Bargain Hunt it amuses me no end the vast difference in prices of antiques here versus those in the UK. Some things I saw today were up to 10 times the price. Anyway I digress.
As we were sitting in one of the cafes waiting for our lunch the funniest thing happened. In walks Mum's best friend, her daughter and 5 month old granddaughter! These girls live even further away from Paddington than we do so to bump into them there was very weird. Needless to say we all enjoyed a coffee, a chat and lots of bubby snugggles.
Mum, Amelie and I then finished our afternoon off browsing a few of the other shops.





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