Hazel wanted a photo-shoot with Scopes - lousy lighting but so many things are fixable with Photoshop! I just wish I knew how to use it more effectively. Not that I need the whole program, next time I need to upgrade or get a new computer I'm just going for that pared down version.
10 January, 2009
09 January, 2009
The Christmas nightie resized
Well it's meant to be a nightie, although Mat thinks it looks more like a sundress. I guess I think of it as a nightie because they can be all matchy-matchy and slightly twee - in fact it's kind of de rigeur isn't it? Normally I have an abhorrence of those kinds of clothes so it's actually nice to allow myself to make something like that! Actually I'm not sure on the matchy-matchy front, it's actually a LOT harder to match fabrics in an artless, just-threw-it-together kind of way than I would ever have suspected. I respect people who can a lot more now! Amy Butler for example. I'm actually quite conventional in my choices I've found - I love that wacky completely mis-matched but that actually goes together beautifully look, but somehow when it comes to actually making that choice I get scared and go with the obvious. Some people get it absolutely wrong I must say; I'm not one of those, but I lack the "wow" factor. That's ok, I can admire wow in others :)
Despite both fabrics being from the same designer (Sandi Henderson) and both with 'lime' in the title (Lime Bouquet Toss and Lime Vintage Dots) I'm not sure the lime is actually the same! Or maybe it's the white surrounding the dots that makes it look paler.
The bunny is from the Print A Day download I posted about last month.
Despite both fabrics being from the same designer (Sandi Henderson) and both with 'lime' in the title (Lime Bouquet Toss and Lime Vintage Dots) I'm not sure the lime is actually the same! Or maybe it's the white surrounding the dots that makes it look paler.
The bunny is from the Print A Day download I posted about last month.
06 January, 2009
Darn it!
Yes Donna, there are darners out there. :) I thought the egg was a brilliant idea, not one I'd heard of but it made me go "hmmm...clever!". Last year I finally bought myself one of these classic little beauties
Well it's a cheapie, but I still love the darning mushroom! I actually enjoy darning, it's contemplative, fiddly, and has a nice defined point (haha) to aim for. With darning you know where you are and what's going to happen. And when it's done you've got a useful item again. Satisfying on so many levels :P
On the way out into the yard to try and photograph it in the last of the remaining light I was assaulted by a cloud of passionfruit vine hoppers that errupted from one of the hydrangeas, dashed around the corner of the house wildly waving my arms without somehow dropping the camera, dislodged the one that had made its way down my cleavage, and was greeted by this dahlia in the light of the setting sun (bigger image if you click on photo)
I was actually trying to include some of the dahlias in the shadows beyond but I think this first attempt actually captures the glow best. Then I thought the position was odd; but again, I think it's actually quite successful. The next image manages what I had in mind but is just kind of meh.
I'm not usually a huge fan of dahlias, but I'm coming around to them gradually. This one is a beauty. I still don't like the very regualar pompom ones though.
Yeah, so that's what happened to me on the way out to photograph a darning mushroom.
Well it's a cheapie, but I still love the darning mushroom! I actually enjoy darning, it's contemplative, fiddly, and has a nice defined point (haha) to aim for. With darning you know where you are and what's going to happen. And when it's done you've got a useful item again. Satisfying on so many levels :P
On the way out into the yard to try and photograph it in the last of the remaining light I was assaulted by a cloud of passionfruit vine hoppers that errupted from one of the hydrangeas, dashed around the corner of the house wildly waving my arms without somehow dropping the camera, dislodged the one that had made its way down my cleavage, and was greeted by this dahlia in the light of the setting sun (bigger image if you click on photo)
I was actually trying to include some of the dahlias in the shadows beyond but I think this first attempt actually captures the glow best. Then I thought the position was odd; but again, I think it's actually quite successful. The next image manages what I had in mind but is just kind of meh.
I'm not usually a huge fan of dahlias, but I'm coming around to them gradually. This one is a beauty. I still don't like the very regualar pompom ones though.
Yeah, so that's what happened to me on the way out to photograph a darning mushroom.
03 January, 2009
Pretty!
Awhile ago someone on a blog somewhere posted some pictures from Quilt Fair (I think, it's all so hazy) and one of the things they posted was a 'cheater quilt', which wasn't something I'd really heard of. Well I suppose I had because I've seen the panels for things like that at Spotlight but I thought they were pretty tacky and never in a million years would I want something like that! But the one in this picture was neat and I was all "oooo, what a great way to get a nice quilt with all the fabric sorted and ready to go, especially for a beginner!". The fabric line wasn't out yet so I pretty much forgot about it until today when True Up posted some highlights of the year and this cheater quilt (which I'm pretty sure is the same one from before) was one.
I'm slightly less enamoured of it now than I was before, it seems a bit busy or something, but I still like it a lot. It's from Denyse Schmidt's Country Fair line The idea of a cheater quilt still really appeals to me, although I think ones like this are few and far between - most seem to be of the more traditional type. So maybe this one, maybe another, but the idea is firmly there in my head because I think I'd need to take a course on how to cut and piece a quilt, and figure out how much fabric and all that, but I can quilt by hand already.
I'm slightly less enamoured of it now than I was before, it seems a bit busy or something, but I still like it a lot. It's from Denyse Schmidt's Country Fair line The idea of a cheater quilt still really appeals to me, although I think ones like this are few and far between - most seem to be of the more traditional type. So maybe this one, maybe another, but the idea is firmly there in my head because I think I'd need to take a course on how to cut and piece a quilt, and figure out how much fabric and all that, but I can quilt by hand already.
Stuck
I really should be doing my thesis corrections, it's stupid not to be but a couple things get in the way. No three!
1) I find it very hard to care about it anymore, I've spent too much time on it and I'm so over it.
2) I was given an examiner's report to do them from rather than a second-hand list of corrections (don't get me started on why!) and it's hard reading, makes me mad and resentful, and feel sort of rebellious like "stuff you, I'm not doing this!" which is so childish and pointless I know but I can't help it!
3) I'd rather be sewing something nice for me, or doing the alterations to Hazel's nightie or putting the velcro on to her house. I'd rather be getting stuck in to finally and at long last redoing the kitchen chairs, or learning how to sew a tshirt.
So what do I do instead? Pfaff around on the internets and not get anything done. Oh, and the dishes need doing and the living room's a bomb-site.
Sigh...
1) I find it very hard to care about it anymore, I've spent too much time on it and I'm so over it.
2) I was given an examiner's report to do them from rather than a second-hand list of corrections (don't get me started on why!) and it's hard reading, makes me mad and resentful, and feel sort of rebellious like "stuff you, I'm not doing this!" which is so childish and pointless I know but I can't help it!
3) I'd rather be sewing something nice for me, or doing the alterations to Hazel's nightie or putting the velcro on to her house. I'd rather be getting stuck in to finally and at long last redoing the kitchen chairs, or learning how to sew a tshirt.
So what do I do instead? Pfaff around on the internets and not get anything done. Oh, and the dishes need doing and the living room's a bomb-site.
Sigh...
02 January, 2009
Still sharp...
When I was back home in Edmonton in August I paid a visit to the best hardware/gardening/craft shop, Lee Valley Tools, with my friend Jess. As we wandered around saying "look at this!" and "ohhh I'd love that" I noticed in passing this seam ripper kit which duly arrived as a Christmas present. At the time I think I commented to Jess that they looked pretty deadly - which may have been part of the attraction! How to add spice and excitement to your sewing experience! Live dangerously! I finally put the blades on this morning to unpick Hazel's nightie which is miles too big and needs resizing.
I should have taken a picture of putting on the blades because if you've ever used scalpels and put on blades you'll recognise both the way these blades are packaged and also the way the handles work and realise that we're talking serious sharpness here.
Using them requires a slightly different technique than the standard unripper but nothing too strange.
This section went really fast! The only thing it's not good at is ripping out top stitching where you can't pull the two sides apart and put some tension on the stitching, but I've got the old unripper for that kind of thing. It will take a bit of getting used to but I think they'll be worth it. Thanks Jess!
I should have taken a picture of putting on the blades because if you've ever used scalpels and put on blades you'll recognise both the way these blades are packaged and also the way the handles work and realise that we're talking serious sharpness here.
Using them requires a slightly different technique than the standard unripper but nothing too strange.
This section went really fast! The only thing it's not good at is ripping out top stitching where you can't pull the two sides apart and put some tension on the stitching, but I've got the old unripper for that kind of thing. It will take a bit of getting used to but I think they'll be worth it. Thanks Jess!
01 January, 2009
Going on holiday
Not me, yet, but Hazel's toys. We decided to try rotating them, so this afternoon we sat down and put them into two piles "staying" and "going on holiday". She had a great time, me? not so much. I just get SO invested in stuffed toys, and have ever since I was little with my own collection. It's especially bad when the toys I've made her end up in the "holiday" pile. I have to bite my tongue and tell myself that it's only for a month! So up into the attic go
Bunny
Olive and Archie
Spots
and pink monster who appears to be photo-less!
It would be nice not to get so darned emotionally tied up in these creations and to feel sort of slighted when they're not loved as much as a cheap-ass bunny named Foofoo who was bought on a whim from a department store. I love Foofoo because she does, but you know?
Bunny
Olive and Archie
Spots
and pink monster who appears to be photo-less!
It would be nice not to get so darned emotionally tied up in these creations and to feel sort of slighted when they're not loved as much as a cheap-ass bunny named Foofoo who was bought on a whim from a department store. I love Foofoo because she does, but you know?
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