I can't take it anymore!

I have no doubt that there will be another break after I post this but honestly, how long can one person go without blogging? The first and worst day of lecturing is over and tomorrow's load is heaps less so I feel I can nip in and say "hi!". I've been managing to do a bit of sewing while I've been gone, although it's taken a bit of a hit to say the least. I'm making up a flowergirl dress for a friend's daughter that is proving to be a huge challenge for me because it's made of sheer fabrics, and add to that it needs to be done in two weeks and I'm not sure it's helping my stress levels! I've also joined up Bad Skirt's Icecream Social (button with link over in side bar there) because I want to sew a dress for Hazel's birthday present from this combo

Of course, I'm behind already but can always sew through in one big blast after I get the flowergirl dress done.

The other big thing that I was desperate to blog about was the lovely lovely lovely parcel that came from Ellie at Petalplum a couple weeks ago. Awhile ago she asked for volunteers for a Pay It Forward (PIF) and needless to say she didn't have to ask me twice! She's also Red Seed Studios so I knew that anything she sent was going to be fabulous. Subsequent to that her kids and Hazel have started writing to each other and a parcel arrived with some lovely (did I mention lovely?) things for both of us. It was like Christmas in July and high standards have been set for my own PIF that must now follow. The photo has tags so if you're interested in what's what, click over to Flickr.

Ok, that's my lot for the time-being. See you all in a week or so, I have some birthday things to blog about!

Little Pups

As part of the gifty meme from earlier this year I made a wee stuffed dog from the More Softies book for my friend Jennifer in England. The pattern is called 'Little Pup' by My Little Mochi. He turned out so well that I made another for Hazel for Christmas.



When I first got the body sewed up it looked pretty dodgy, not at all like the one in the book! But as I stuffed it it looked better and better and by the time I got to sewing on the arms I was in luurve. The nose is a triumph of cute.

Mum's tea cosy

Remember these spots?



They were from a tea cosy I made for my mum



I hope she likes it! It seemed a good pattern for a cold winter's day - perhaps the bright colours and busyness will confuse the cold molecules :) It also comes with a wool pad to sit the tea pot on (not shown because it's boring and grey).

Business card wallet

I think I'm safe putting this up... if not Hi Mat!

A couple months ago Mat suggested that a business card holder would be a good present, and then I promptly forgot all about it. I ended up getting him a disposable pre-loaded Visa card so he can buy obscure reggae music online - and then I remembered the card holder idea. I did a quick Google and came up with a great little tutorial and this is the result:



open it up and voila! some Heather Ross Mendocino fabric. I think it's fairly 'guy-looking'.



Perfect to put the Prezzy Card into and partially disguise what it is when wrapped. I'm half-hoping he doesn't like it and I can take it over, I think my "business card" looks pretty snappy tucked in there!

Sewing Green slippers

Sewing Green slippers, originally uploaded by Ansis68.

Here are the slippers I was working on in the '5 Minutes Peace' post. My brother-in-law Ewen requested a pair for Christmas after seeing Mat's - which is very flattering! They're made from the pattern in Betz White's 'Sewing Green' book. I originally made myself a pair, and then Mat liked them so much he commissioned some, and now I'm on to the extended family!

It's a bit tricky making them for someone who's not around because all I had to go on was a tracing Mat made of Ewen's foot and it seemed improbably long and skinny. Well I know the long bit is right anyways, big feet run in the family!*

They're made from an old woollen jacket (woven), unfelted, and cut on the bias to give them stretch. They're a bit tight at the ankle getting them on, but works well elsewhere. The cuff is wool knit, also unfelted. The main reason they're not out of a sweater is that none of the ones I had were large enough (after felting) to get the pieces cut out! I had to enlarge the pattern 105% to get a size big enough. :P It's also why they have the leather on the bottom as the pattern called for and not the whole sole as I'd prefer - no leather long enough. Like I said, big feet are impractical! I'll leave the blanket stitch around the edges until he's tried them on and I've made any size adjustments.

They look so lovely and Christmassy, unfortunately they probably won't get worn for another 5 months or so until our winter kicks in!



*And no, this does not refer to the usual jokes on this subject, I just want to know why do guys have such big feet? They seem impractically big. It's not like either of them are a third as big again as me, while their feet certainly are!