tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77507207468074037572024-03-13T20:59:09.823+13:00HazelnutsThe Endeavours of a Crafty ArchaeologistJacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01192730590127098720noreply@blogger.comBlogger737125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7750720746807403757.post-19252156433754380842021-06-10T13:12:00.002+12:002021-06-10T13:12:26.778+12:00In which I unexpectedly wallpaper<p>I have wallpapered exactly once in my life, when I did the kitchen in our old house about 10 years ago, and I didn't enjoy it. When I finished I got rid of all the equipment and vowed that paint was the only way in the future. When we renovated 5 years ago I was really keen to do something on one of the walls of the laundry, which is otherwise a rather plain room. </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPbxQg9gFBUfAyPOZ3TpeLWMWMTPwZE01v7FOz7Nmm_5VdH-uBLxyB-_8ZKdYoFr0am_aB68tXEOIbxoan-kbMHV3r3bPy0OKjrGd89REhmvQ4GhNZi09NabgDEOgc5uPt7HREBu0t1q0/s2048/IMG_0633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPbxQg9gFBUfAyPOZ3TpeLWMWMTPwZE01v7FOz7Nmm_5VdH-uBLxyB-_8ZKdYoFr0am_aB68tXEOIbxoan-kbMHV3r3bPy0OKjrGd89REhmvQ4GhNZi09NabgDEOgc5uPt7HREBu0t1q0/w400-h300/IMG_0633.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I planned to do some sort of colourful geometric stencil, but it just never happened. To be honest I just didn't feel like acquiring a new skill! I did actually consider wallpaper but a whole roll for just over 3m² seemed a bit much. When <a href="https://www.photowall.no/?utm_source=jacquelinecraig&utm_medium=influencers" target="_blank">Photowall</a> got in touch to see if I'd be interested in trying out one of their custom printed products I was initially "oh god, wallpaper!" but I had a look at the website and got sucked into their seemingly never-ending options and really liked quite a few of them. My husband thought I was mad (for both wallpapering AND wallpapering a laundry) but we agreed on a couple possibilities. The first one we wanted was called <a href="https://www.photowall.com/int/tangled-jungle-1-wallpaper/?utm_source=jacquelinecraig&utm_medium=influencers " target="_blank">'Tangled Jungle'</a> because it reminded us of old 19thC prints of Polynesia that were popular back in the 1960s. I mean, how great would a laundry look with this on the wall?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmoL1i_rgKOj3JBRvi2qUtvjwwTANu9rYGMn4RMrnVOeBmo2FYL0bLytfc6_1n9FWplJlriJfZSPzktlR5WG9bARTUBdl7VU5oDxQQwJxa6gBzVmS0ibj46MEOjLeIfHAK4xZWbe8XttXU/s1990/Screenshot+2021-06-10+at+12.13.53+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="804" data-original-width="1990" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmoL1i_rgKOj3JBRvi2qUtvjwwTANu9rYGMn4RMrnVOeBmo2FYL0bLytfc6_1n9FWplJlriJfZSPzktlR5WG9bARTUBdl7VU5oDxQQwJxa6gBzVmS0ibj46MEOjLeIfHAK4xZWbe8XttXU/s320/Screenshot+2021-06-10+at+12.13.53+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>But when I put in the dimensions of the wall itself it was quite obvious that it just wasn't the image for us, proportion-wise. You can shift the window around on the image but even so it was such a small amount of it it would kind of ruin the overall effect. I'm really glad they have this function because otherwise I'd have been pretty disappointed when it arrived! If I ever get a wall this shape though...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGPyA5odFoQkVA906ky7kO8MhB-elsxMbj6QN9hTunYlvX9py7NtILjzPxUjAPMO1QPiD_fTUPrrqrr9i-qrKYd3MtO2exyueQWQSmUTAlIxN2592T3oiN78cH-aQAx3Z8g9NbHIoYNaAo/s2358/Screenshot+2021-06-10+at+12.13.35+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1092" data-original-width="2358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGPyA5odFoQkVA906ky7kO8MhB-elsxMbj6QN9hTunYlvX9py7NtILjzPxUjAPMO1QPiD_fTUPrrqrr9i-qrKYd3MtO2exyueQWQSmUTAlIxN2592T3oiN78cH-aQAx3Z8g9NbHIoYNaAo/s320/Screenshot+2021-06-10+at+12.13.35+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>I started looking for patterns that would better accommodate the almost square shape of the wall and found <a href="https://www.photowall.com/int/circles-mid-century-ii-wallpaper/?utm_source=jacquelinecraig&utm_medium=influencers " target="_blank">'Circles Mid-century II'</a>. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGAtJuV4SpZjgU50Z3Ro-1pdr_ruLo_xsJ1UWLBb32Yc5KXKUkjKfduDvtsNtppf3YuPSO-A4WD3iAEs8bDF8BnM4kbv7oCVmyhYtH5AtQS0F98b280JPnAQpFelI0Pc7tkW6TJ-MdaeCB/s1992/Screenshot+2021-06-10+at+12.14.34+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="1992" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGAtJuV4SpZjgU50Z3Ro-1pdr_ruLo_xsJ1UWLBb32Yc5KXKUkjKfduDvtsNtppf3YuPSO-A4WD3iAEs8bDF8BnM4kbv7oCVmyhYtH5AtQS0F98b280JPnAQpFelI0Pc7tkW6TJ-MdaeCB/s320/Screenshot+2021-06-10+at+12.14.34+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>We've decorated our house fairly solidly mid-century and the colours fit too and amazingly when I put in the dimensions the middle three panels fit perfectly! It was clearly meant to be.<br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZfRsG6N5i3njyipOsn9l5DOwg0ps9a7TVMxbr4fT4E55Oj1XytjlQCIEM0z8NkkdbjSzzGy2kwgemsdNib8rdmIMdFurIeV1XRxv0iMPDU0_8EGTWWnfow4f188JO5m3eR4R5xNmsXiS/s1094/Screenshot+2021-06-10+at+12.16.08+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1084" data-original-width="1094" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZfRsG6N5i3njyipOsn9l5DOwg0ps9a7TVMxbr4fT4E55Oj1XytjlQCIEM0z8NkkdbjSzzGy2kwgemsdNib8rdmIMdFurIeV1XRxv0iMPDU0_8EGTWWnfow4f188JO5m3eR4R5xNmsXiS/s320/Screenshot+2021-06-10+at+12.16.08+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /> Once I made the decision the wallpaper arrived in less than a week - from Sweden. During Covid. Globalisation does have its upsides! It comes with the panels all in one roll and a packet of wallpaper paste and you just cut the panels apart, mix up the paste and away you go. I had three full panels and a thin fourth one. My plan was that the dimensions I ordered were just a little bit bigger than the wall and the narrow strip of the side panels that are visible down each side would be cut off. But I was in such a hurry to get it up that I didn't start the first panel over far enough and you can see the little bit of orange in the top left corner. That really irritates me because it's quite visible and I'm going try cutting it out and putting in a little patch of the beige, which being beige will be invisible after it's done 😏 Otherwise it went up really well. They recommend you have a bunch of tools, which I was loathe to go out a get (again) so I winged it with some jury-rigged tools and they worked great except the ruler I used to cut the edges. I HIGHLY recommend getting the proper edge for doing that. And also whisking the wallpaper paste powder as it goes into the water, otherwise it goes really lumpy. And be more generous with the paste than you think you need to be. But other than those completely self-inflicted issues, it looks So. Good. The teenage daughter even came to tell me so and the husband also really likes it so if it can win over those two very tough critics I'm sure not complaining! And all up it took me maybe 45 minutes to do, plus the time it took to clean the wall. Highly recommend!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnoemPa4tO28oSsfpGNQkyb_ar_7e7t-mkl4Yj2PHPYsyJ2htW5soAS4oDvMLYQm9yAfiilhwf9hVsbHgxEcaqgaQkUjAMC4IJIrsW3S2xeT-yL1THD9hNe3zpas5pvyRgu9rb2oaPg6K7/s2048/IMG_0639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnoemPa4tO28oSsfpGNQkyb_ar_7e7t-mkl4Yj2PHPYsyJ2htW5soAS4oDvMLYQm9yAfiilhwf9hVsbHgxEcaqgaQkUjAMC4IJIrsW3S2xeT-yL1THD9hNe3zpas5pvyRgu9rb2oaPg6K7/w488-h366/IMG_0639.jpg" width="488" /></a></div><br /> If you think you'd be interested in giving it a go yourself you can use the code hazelnutgirl2021 which will give you a 25% discount on any product on the <a href="https://www.photowall.no/?utm_source=jacquelinecraig&utm_medium=influencers" target="_blank">Photowall website</a> and is valid from June 11 through August 15, 2021.<p></p><p></p>Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01192730590127098720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7750720746807403757.post-55760299855786630742016-04-27T13:26:00.000+12:002016-04-27T13:28:38.296+12:00Mercury BurstRobyn from <a href="http://www.robynie.com/" target="_blank">robynieland</a> asked if I'd test her Mercury Burst paper pieced block and I leapt at the chance! It looks difficult and fiddly but it's actually not, just involved! The pattern comes with a suggested scheme of lights vs. darks and accent colour placement but also has a blank pattern so you can colour in your own and given its nature you could end up with radically different blocks just by using different combinations of colours. Robyn has some examples on her <a href="http://www.robynie.com/mercury-burst-pattern/" target="_blank">blog</a>. I decided that as I'm what I'd describe as an 'advanced beginner' when it comes to paper piecing I'd leave the fancy stuff for another time! Hazel needs pillows in her new room and as this is a big block at 60cm (24"), and therefore perfect for a big pillow, I made it in colours she approved of but that I liked too - love pink and orange together!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/26294203740/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img alt="" height="640" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1544/26294203740_b1af0eca7f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I hadn't done paper piecing for ages and had pretty much forgotten how to start so I had to look that up. One thing I had remembered was that using a bit of glue stick helps keep things in place. Unfortunately I didn't think far enough ahead so I'd glued into seam allowances and was too liberal with my application (if some is good more must be better right?) so when it came to taking the paper off it was a bit of a fiddly, swear-y, mission in places! Must remember that for next time because when the paper sort of pops off with that ripping along the seam thing it's super-satisfying, right up there with popping bubble wrap.<br />
<br />
Overall I'm really pleased with how it came out and would love to do a few more as a quilt one day. The pattern is available from Robyn <a href="https://payhip.com/robynie" target="_blank">here</a>. According to Hazel my next project is her super-cool unicorn that has been doing the rounds online lately. Even though she's not particularly a girly-girl Hazel likes to say "you should always be yourself unless you can be a unicorn and then you should be a unicorn". Amen.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="6" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BAAens8qDhe/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Let's go #2016! Happy New Years! 🦄🦄🦄 • Pattern by @robynie • ✂️by @lizfromshush • #tulapink #tulapinkelizabeth @freespiritfabric #iamafreespirit @aurifilthread #aurifil</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by Tula Pink (@tulapink) on <time datetime="2016-01-01T19:03:49+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jan 1, 2016 at 11:03am PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01192730590127098720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7750720746807403757.post-25282035150456645012016-04-27T12:43:00.000+12:002016-04-27T13:34:14.969+12:00Making a Rey Costume - the dyingWell not THAT kind of dying, the fabric dye kind of dying although at times it's been a bit fraught!<br />
<br />
Hazel's school is celebrating May the Fourth next week and of course all the girls want to go as Rey (she's so cool, I wish they'd had her back when I was nine and the first movie came out, Princess Leia was great but not particularly kick ass).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/26573972962/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Rey"><img alt="Rey" height="640" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1540/26573972962_cdf85afa56_z.jpg" width="281" /></a></div>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<br />
I had one look at the commercial costumes on offer and just couldn't go there (and don't even get me started on the whole #wheresrey issue) and of course given the inevitable competition, she wants to have the best costume out of all the dozens of Reys and that means handmade! Fun challenge and it's actually a pretty simple costume in terms of all the elements, a henley tshirt with the sleeves cut short, loose pants gathered in just below the knees and a drapey scarf thing with a belt and a staff. But the colours! Not your typical little girl colours so I had to dye fabric. There's lots of good stuff online (<a href="http://swffaq.tumblr.com/post/129048234827/reys-scavenger-outfit-promotional-photos" target="_blank">here</a> for photos, and <a href="http://theladynerd.com/star-wars-the-force-awakens-rey-cosplay-construction-notes-1/" target="_blank">here</a> for a great analysis of the costume and fabric suggestions) and it's not hard to figure out what is going to suit - a knit for the top, raw silk for the pants and muslin for the drapes. As it turns out I had the perfect fabric in my stash for the pants, not raw silk but a linen in almost the right colour (a bit browner) that behaves not unlike a silk - good enough for a school costume anyways! I bought some Dylon dye (desert sand or something like that) and some white knit and baby muslin and all full of enthusiasm I put them into the dye bath and yeah, too dark. D'oh! Why oh why didn't I test swatches? The muslin in particular soaked up the colour like a giant sponge. They're meant to be a greenish-grey linen sort of colour (although the photos online vary a bit in the colour rendition).<br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/26062801553/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_5786"><img alt="IMG_5786" height="480" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1717/26062801553_952eac65ae_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<br />
<br />
I had enough muslin to try again so I went back to Spotlight to get some more dye and white knit. I came across Rit dye remover and it occurred to me that I might be able to salvage the knit and muslin so got that instead of knit and also got silver grey and olive dyes by iDye. The dye remover didn't work - from a dark coffee brown they've both gone a lovely yellow. Pretty, but as Hazel says "not really what we want". So back to Spotlight for white knit :P<br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/26062802053/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_5788"><img alt="IMG_5788" height="453" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1696/26062802053_8698fb433f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<br />
<br />
In the meantime I'd come across <a href="https://emeraldb.com/2016/02/14/star-wars-rey-costume-part-2-reys-henley-shirt/" target="_blank">this fabulous series of tutorials</a> on making a Rey costume that included how she'd dyed the fabrics and it was extremely helpful. I'd experimented with tea and instant coffee with the muslin after my first round of dying but they hadn't come out dark enough. When I saw the top done with plunger coffee I gave it another go and it worked well. The slight uneveness and a few patches of darker colour just add to the look. To look more realistic all the fabric should be pretty dirty, but I don't think that's going to fly with a 10 year old!<br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/26666941675/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_5789"><img alt="IMG_5789" height="480" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1553/26666941675_a1a5ca73cb_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<br />
<br />
For the muslin I started off with the grey dye with the intention of adding in a little green if needed. I did lots of swatches and got it about right when diluted 40-50% and dipped in and out immediately (it really is that absorbant!). But of course getting 4m in and out of a pot and rinsed isn't quite the same as a tiny little bit of fabric and again it was way too dark. I rinsed and rinsed and then ended up putting it through the washing machine which took out some more and it's pretty good now. Luckily doing it that fast means it's not properly dyed and the colour will come out fairly easily. There is no way I'm fiddling with adding in any green though! I suspect that for muslin you'd have to have the dye extremely diluted, maybe 20% or even 10%? If I had more time I'd experiment because it's more of a purpley grey than a green grey which hurts my perfectionist soul just a little :)<br />
<br />
Next is making the pants and the top. I've taken a pattern off a pair of pants and a tshirt of hers and it shouldn't be hard. The hard part is going to be the staff!Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01192730590127098720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7750720746807403757.post-27183912526192527942016-03-01T14:08:00.001+13:002016-03-01T14:08:53.558+13:00Hemp bagBack in November <a href="http://hazelnutgirl.blogspot.co.nz/2015/11/crocheting-with-hemp-yarn.html" target="_blank">I started making a hemp bag</a> for my mum for Christmas, it was an interesting experience! It was slow going because it took a lot of effort, but equally because the yarn was so heavy it actually made up much more quickly than I'd expected. I made the bag on the cover of the book the pattern came from, 'Hemp Yarn Bag Collection' (ISBN978-4-7778-1482-4).<br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/22141201364" title="Hemp Yarn Bag Collection. ISBN978-4-7778-1482-4"><img alt="Hemp Yarn Bag Collection. ISBN978-4-7778-1482-4" height="640" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/763/22141201364_1d0cbc79a0_z.jpg" width="533" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<br />
<br />
The blue hemp I had was quite fine and I'd hoped that doubling it would result in the same weight as the natural but it didn't quite. It didn't really affect the size of the bag because the yarn held the shape of the hook well, but the top is a little more open-looking than the bottom. Three strands would have been better I think. Anyways, it went really well! When it was done it was oddly twisted which was easily dealt with by getting it wet and blocking.<br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/25094752700/in/dateposted-public/" title="Hemp bag"><img alt="Hemp bag" height="640" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1594/25094752700_e9780750d5_z.jpg" width="591" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<br />
<br />
I'd say its only drawback is how heavy it is! Mum uses it for knitting yarn and I think that's probably a good use, it's a bit hefty to be carrying around as a purse. Perhaps a lighter fibre might make it more useful as an actual handbag? Not sure what would suit though.<br />
<br />
<br />Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01192730590127098720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7750720746807403757.post-40710560547908525872016-02-19T11:03:00.003+13:002016-02-19T11:05:00.438+13:00Tea light holdersMy sister-in-law's parents also spent Christmas with us in Acton and getting them a present was a bit problematic as I've only met them once before. Kate suggested a pair of tea light holders like the ones I'd made for her the year before (always nice when people like your stuff!).<br />
<br />
The idea came from this <a href="http://www.gatheringbeauty.com/2013/07/diy-faceted-clay-tealight-holders.html#.UodHEdK9lbx" target="_blank">tutorial</a>, but it's actually a lot more work to get them looking nice than the light sand it implies you'll need at the end - try a LOT of sanding as the facets you cut don't dry flat or smooth. But when it's all done they look really neat, I love those angles and different shades across the facets.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/23681531066/in/dateposted-public/" title="Candle holders made from air dry clay. I love the play of light across the angles."><img alt="Candle holders made from air dry clay. I love the play of light across the angles." height="640" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5711/23681531066_e1b7025665_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<br />
Like the ones I did for Kate, I decided to put a bit of gold Rub 'n Buff on a couple of the facets, but first I decided to seal them with some Modgepodge so they wouldn't be so vulnerable to water. Big mistake! When I pulled the off the tape I'd put around the facets to put on the Rub 'n Buff it pulled off the layer of modgepodge and it looked awful! I just about cried.<br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/23344724259/in/dateposted-public/" title="Gilding the lily, aka total crafting fail at the last stage. It's not ruined but I'm definitely not almost finished anymore! #craftfail #gildingthelily"><img alt="Gilding the lily, aka total crafting fail at the last stage. It's not ruined but I'm definitely not almost finished anymore! #craftfail #gildingthelily" height="640" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5689/23344724259_6417e77d46_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<br />
Luckily I was able to sand off the modgepodge fairly easily and that fixed the wonky edges as well so it wasn't a total disaster, just a lot more sanding! The candles were a little big to start with but they'll burn down to a good size fairly quickly.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/23126024003/in/dateposted-public/" title="Finally finished. I'll be very happy to wrap these up and send them on their way. I think I still like them but it's marred somewhat by the ridiculous amount of work I made for myself by experimenting when I should have kept it simple. #candles #candlehol"><img alt="Finally finished. I'll be very happy to wrap these up and send them on their way. I think I still like them but it's marred somewhat by the ridiculous amount of work I made for myself by experimenting when I should have kept it simple. #candles #candlehol" height="640" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/716/23126024003_c63e031c29_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<br />
Entirely unrelated but I just stumbled across a couple of new online New Zealand fabric/pattern shops that I hadn't known about until now so I thought I'd share in case anyone else is interested! They're <a href="http://www.missmaudesewing.co.nz/store/c1/Featured_Products.html" target="_blank">Miss Maude</a>, which sells some lovely fabric, haberdashery, scissors, vintage stuff (including fab buttons) and a few patterns; and <a href="http://www.dressesandme.com/store/c42/New_In_Store.html" target="_blank">Dresses and Me</a> owned by the same person, which sells Indie paper patterns. I found them when I wanted to buy the <a href="http://www.dressesandme.com/store/p130/Cascade_Duffle.html" target="_blank">Cascade Duffle</a> pattern. It seems a little crazy to be considering warm clothing at the moment, but I'm sure it'll be cold by the time I get around to making it! I had initially wanted to buy the <a href="http://www.wafflepatterns.com/products/pdf-sewing-pattern-women-short-duffle-jacket-caramel-size" target="_blank">Caramel jacket from Waffle patterns</a> but it's only in small sizes and although Yuki does offer a personalised drafting service it was just too expensive to justify! So a Cascade it is, and I'll make it a little more A-line which will be simple enough. I'll definitely be making it in plaid (The Fabric Store here I come!), and with the buttons at the top like on the Caramel. Let's face it, an Auckland winter doesn't require many buttons on a coat! I'm half tempted to try the <a href="http://oliverands.com/liesl-and-co-patterns/OLV-LC002WS-D.html" target="_blank">Woodland Stroll</a> cape by Liesl + Co. too. I saw someone wearing one a couple years ago and it looks great.Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01192730590127098720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7750720746807403757.post-88662859819167789032016-02-16T17:00:00.001+13:002016-02-16T17:00:35.169+13:00February alreadyHoly cow, how did it get to be February already? I went a little quiet before Xmas because of all the things that I couldn't show but then somehow I forgot to get back on the blogging horse after spending 6 weeks in Canada and the States soaking up enough cold and snow to last me for another few years. Sadly, thanks to global climate change, it wasn't all that cold (up to 20 degrees C in Acton just before Xmas!) or snowy but I enjoyed it very much anyways.<br />
<br />
I went a little nuts with making stuff this year to be honest, but I got it all done and I think that aside from stuff for Hazel and Mat, I made most of the presents. I have no idea why my immediate family doesn't qualify for handmade but there you go! I might string it out over a couple posts just to make them a little easier to wade through.<br />
<br />
I made a couple of lap quilts for my brother and his wife and they were actually done in plenty of time.<br />
<br />
I made another red and white 'maths fact' quilt for Mike because he loves the Swiss cross motif. I do like this pattern even though I find it awfully repetitive to cut and sew! I think if I were to do it again (never say never) I might just do the plusses instead of alternating them with the multiplication block.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/23781669330/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="I made this quilt for my brother for Christmas, it looked perfect with the tree! The pattern is mathfacts by @crazymomquilts #quilt #mondaymodern #patchwork #swisscross #xmasinacton"><img alt="I made this quilt for my brother for Christmas, it looked perfect with the tree! The pattern is mathfacts by @crazymomquilts #quilt #mondaymodern #patchwork #swisscross #xmasinacton" height="640" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5723/23781669330_8352f9d718_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<br />
I think their gigantic Christmas tree sets it off to perfection!<br />
<br />
For Kate I made a Sweet Daisy quilt (pattern by Red Pepper Quilts). This photo is from before it was quilted but I didn't get a good one of it all finished up. I had an awful time with either the batting or backing shrinking and just about despaired but some very vigorous stretching while ironing got it flattened out to a reasonable level. I'm not a wrinkly/puffy quilt fan, but I definitely had to get over it for this quilt!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/19347285631/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Lap quilt using the Sweet Daisy pattern by @redpepperquilts and various Bonnie and Camille fabrics mixed with solids. Fun and fast! #quilt #patchwork"><img alt="Lap quilt using the Sweet Daisy pattern by @redpepperquilts and various Bonnie and Camille fabrics mixed with solids. Fun and fast! #quilt #patchwork" height="640" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/319/19347285631_ca35a7f266_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<br />
I did the back in a zigzag pattern which I liked almost as much as the front!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/25031787576/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Untitled"><img alt="Untitled" height="640" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1512/25031787576_33483dbbba_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<br />
We spent Xmas in Acton, just outside of Boston, where Mike and Kate live in the most amazing old house. Such a lovely part of the world even with no leaves and no snow. The house backs out onto woods that merge into a regional park so it feels like you could walk for days (aside from the occasional golf course and large house)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/23321984344/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="A walk in the woods this morning. I think it must have gone up 5 degrees C while we were out, really strange! It's up to 20 today 😳#acton #xmasinacton #christmas #massachusetts #unitedstates"><img alt="A walk in the woods this morning. I think it must have gone up 5 degrees C while we were out, really strange! It's up to 20 today 😳#acton #xmasinacton #christmas #massachusetts #unitedstates" height="640" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/565/23321984344_1f7ef021e0_z.jpg" width="512" /></a></div>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/23842005682/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Beautiful little lake an hour's walk from my brothers place. The light mist on the water doesn't really show but just added to the picturesqueness of it all. #nagogpond #acton #xmasinacton #massachusetts"><img alt="Beautiful little lake an hour's walk from my brothers place. The light mist on the water doesn't really show but just added to the picturesqueness of it all. #nagogpond #acton #xmasinacton #massachusetts" height="640" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5715/23842005682_8fd642c79b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Concord, Massachusetts (apparently pronounced Kon-kerd by the locals so now you know), is also nearby and in addition to buying nice cheese and looking in nice shops and admiring freaking amazing old houses, we visited the old cemetery and I loved paying my respects at Louisa May Alcott's grave where, along with other authors there, people leave pens next to the headstones.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/25058134015/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Untitled"><img alt="Untitled" height="640" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1614/25058134015_ee46907b16_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01192730590127098720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7750720746807403757.post-15307737665833391192015-11-18T15:12:00.000+13:002015-11-18T15:12:33.708+13:00Spoonflower organic knit fabricI was so excited when Spoonflower had their annual free shipping day just when I was wanting some neat knit fabrics to make tshirts from, and I ordered two fabrics for me, and one for Hazel, all from <a href="http://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/andrea_lauren" target="_blank">Andrea Lauren</a>. I was surprised how thick the fabric was when it arrived, although I suppose I should have been able to figure that out from the weight given for the base fabric. Anyways, I washed them (the ink was very stiff and had a strong smell) and made them up and they look great at first glance but I have some real issues with how the fabric behaved after that which is super disappointing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/23072777276/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Spoonflower organic knit issues"><img alt="Spoonflower organic knit issues" height="640" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/636/23072777276_cb7e9a488b_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I mostly sewed them using my overlocker and despite having ballpoint needles in, and never having this issue with any other knits, the fabric developed little holes where the needle went in. Here you can see it along one of the side seams. It's almost like the fabric is brittle, in that where it's bent back on itself the stitches have cut at the fabric, along with the hole caused by the needle going in. It's not all that obvious when the seam's not pulled back, but I don't know how long until it looks really tatty. The first wash didn't make it look much worse so I'm hoping for the best.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/23110119321/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Spoonflower organic knit issues"><img alt="Spoonflower organic knit issues" height="640" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/761/23110119321_322e079ea2_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
Here it's happened particularly badly at the thick point where the shoulder seam meets the neck binding. The crappy stitching is my machine catching on the seam, can't blame that on Spoonflower! You can also see how it's pulled at the stitches along the shoulder seam.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/23110123661/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Spoonflower organic knit issues"><img alt="Spoonflower organic knit issues" height="640" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5651/23110123661_c879f4836a_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
And then to add insult to injury, I discovered that I'd managed to miss a giant slub in the fabric - and placed it dead centre on the front of course.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/22680434388/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Spoonflower organic knit issues"><img alt="Spoonflower organic knit issues" height="640" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/722/22680434388_6ed0aa807f_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
So yeah I have a couple of cute tshirts that are wearable but I definitely won't be buying the organic knit fabric again. Anyone have experience with the woven fabrics? I bought some tea towels on the linen/cotton canvas that I'll be curious to see after they've washed.Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01192730590127098720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7750720746807403757.post-12351609520764105162015-11-15T16:24:00.000+13:002015-11-15T16:24:16.892+13:00Impeccable timing<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/23024768935/in/dateposted-public/" title="Kitchen sewing"><img alt="Kitchen sewing" height="480" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/698/23024768935_85f6145fe9_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<br />
Half way through quilting a Christmas present my machine has decided to start skipping stitches and to get all funky with the tension. Poor old thing, it was never designed to do as much sewing as it has over the last 15 years and it's definitely starting to feel its age. I just need to nurse it through a bit longer until I can afford a fancier one, so I hope the repair place can sort it out asap and I'll see if I know anyone I can borrow one from for a bit. Of all the times for it to happen though - I've got a couple more projects to get done before Xmas!<br />
<br />
I'm using our crappy old outdoor table to sew on as our kitchen currently looks like this and will shortly be lacking walls and a ceiling. I wanted to get as much done as I could while I had the space, although the state of the floor means that even if I wasn't planning on washing the quilt before I give it to my brother, it would certainly need it now! The straight lines of the floor boards are just too good to not use for sandwiching and squaring up though, my only quibble with them is that they seem to be metric boards, not in inches :D<br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/22606420728/in/dateposted-public/" title="Kitchen sewing"><img alt="Kitchen sewing" height="480" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/701/22606420728_689550584d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01192730590127098720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7750720746807403757.post-65204947876851138912015-11-04T14:28:00.002+13:002015-11-04T14:30:57.311+13:00Crocheting with hemp yarnMy friend Yumiko has a huge collection of Japanese craft books of all sorts, and she brought a few of her crochet ones to our stitch group a couple months ago to show me. I fell in love with two of the flower ones so I searched them up on Yes Asia and bought them, along with this book on hemp bags (ISBN978-4-7778-1482-4). I had no idea what was in it really, I managed to find a few photos online, but it was a bit of a gamble! When they arrived I was pleased I'd taken the chance and am looking forward to doing several of them.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/22141201364/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Hemp Yarn Bag Collection. ISBN978-4-7778-1482-4"><img alt="Hemp Yarn Bag Collection. ISBN978-4-7778-1482-4" height="640" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/763/22141201364_1d0cbc79a0_z.jpg" width="533" /></a></div>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<br />
Hemp isn't the most common yarn but luckily the Hemp Store on K'Road here in Auckland carries twine, which is the same thing I think, and there are sources online. I don't often go down to K'Road so it was a nice outing and the Hemp Store was pretty much as I'd expected - incense, reggae, bongs and a really good assortment of different weights of hemp twine, along with rope and some webbing. I did feel like I should have a big sign with me that said "I'M ONLY HERE FOR THE TWINE" though. That's probably hopelessly middle-class of me! Actually I probably <i>looked</i> hopelessly middle-class with Hazel in tow and no-one had any illusions about me at all, but I'll pretend I'm hip enough for there to be doubts ;) I was hoping Yumiko would be at group this morning to help me get started but she wasn't, so I puzzled through the pattern instructions with the help of Christina. Yumiko did tell me that Japanese patterns aren't nearly as prescriptive as western ones, so there's no gauge or hook size, and as usual, very little in terms of instructions just good illustrations. It's not like a bag is hard though, do a rectangle (this one is just back and forth) and then start up the sides by going around and around. Oh boy though, it's hard work doing the actual crocheting because the twine's so stiff! The others were laughing at me making little noises of effort at the end as my hands tired, and I'm pretty sure they will be sore tomorrow! It's clearly not a project I'll be done in a hurry, an hour here or there will be the only way I can survive. The twine itself is nice to touch as it's waxed so it has a smooth texture and a pleasing stiffness when crocheted. It does twist and curl though, so depending on whether the sides push the bottom flat, or if they twist themselves, I may need to investigate how to block hemp.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/22750304102/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Crocheting hemp twine. Great texture and look but it's a serious test of hand and finger strength! #crochet #hemp #hempyarn"><img alt="Crocheting hemp twine. Great texture and look but it's a serious test of hand and finger strength! #crochet #hemp #hempyarn" height="640" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/708/22750304102_988c8b449b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<br />Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01192730590127098720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7750720746807403757.post-51343158284488516502015-11-02T14:55:00.000+13:002015-11-02T14:55:19.752+13:00HexiesAfter our quilt show at Alberton we decided to make them some coasters as a thank you for being so lovely and helpful and promoting us as they did. Four inches* square was the size we decided on and whatever we wanted to do after that. I was going to do a postage stamp one with really little squares, but then <a href="https://flic.kr/p/zyvrpt" target="_blank">Mel did something similar</a> and despite the fact she told me to just go for it with mine I thought nope, I'm going to go even tougher than little squares. The only thing fiddlier than that I could think of was little hexies and I knew there was a project with them in one of the Zakka books I have. It ended up not being what I wanted, but there were bright colours and linen, so I found a page of 1/2" hexies online and just whipped out this pretty thing.<br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/22693466925/in/dateposted-public/" title="Coaster for Alberton"><img alt="Coaster for Alberton" height="640" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5772/22693466925_5bb61334f7_c.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<br />
<br />
And no I didn't actually "whip it out", it went in fits and starts and I've only just finished it today and our meeting is tonight. I work best to a deadline :D I was going to sew on the backing right sides together and just turn it out, but as I discovered when I'd sewn it all together, it was slightly smaller than the pattern I'd devised and only just made 4" at its largest dimensions. I ended up trimming it square and doing binding which was a pity as I think it looked great cut before the binding went on and the binding itself looks a touch bulky on a small item. I'm not even sure if turning it would have given that really nice straight-edge look but I don't know how you could achieve it without getting fraying.<br />
<br />
Anyways, it IS pretty and I quite like it, I'd even use it myself I think! Maybe I'll have to make some more, although it's kind of a pity to cover it up with a big old mug, so perhaps mine would be used more like this<br />
<br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/22704628741/in/dateposted-public/" title="Coaster for Alberton"><img alt="Coaster for Alberton" height="640" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/739/22704628741_73b6700298_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<br />
<br />
*yes it's kind of weird that we do these things in inches when in all other aspects of life we're metric! At the very least though, quilting has given me some idea of what 5 or 10 inches is, when before I would have had no idea (I visualise the cutting mat markings). Don't ask me about Fahrenheit or pounds though, or how many inches in a foot.Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01192730590127098720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7750720746807403757.post-41469000939658091742015-10-20T10:04:00.000+13:002015-10-20T10:04:38.961+13:00All my stuff looks the sameI was sitting on the couch eating breakfast this morning when I looked over and saw this pile on the shelf next to me<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/22324042321/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Patchwork and yarn parallel evolution."><img alt="Patchwork and yarn parallel evolution." height="640" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/576/22324042321_fb98d6e70b_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
There is an almost-finished crocheted coat hanger and yarn from that, and fabrics I've been making hexagons from. My first thought was "they all look so good together", my second thought was "they're actually mostly the same colour, I just need to add some aqua to the coat hanger" and then I thought "I'm going to make a matching hanger with aqua in the middle and orange on the outside". And then all my stuff will look the same! :)Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01192730590127098720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7750720746807403757.post-89241105713348038712015-10-11T17:25:00.002+13:002015-10-11T17:33:28.541+13:00GraffitiWe're embarking on a fairly major renovation which will involve knocking down quite a few walls so yesterday Hazel and I started drawing on them. Why don't we do this more often? I think it's because Pinterest makes it look super easy and cool but the indelible nature of sharpies make it a bit fraught! <br />
<br />
I copied this from a pin on Pinterest, but to get it remotely symmetrical involved a lot of measuring and pencil erasing and a definite lack of effortless cool. It's still kinda cute though!<br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/22057670956/in/dateposted-public/" title="Untitled"><img alt="Untitled" height="800" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/570/22057670956_1c5f02fb1a_c.jpg" width="538" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<br />
<br />
These others are more free-hand although I admit to copying the cat off Pinterest as well and depriving a vinyl wall art store of a sale.<br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/22057672966/in/dateposted-public/" title="Untitled"><img alt="Untitled" height="800" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/715/22057672966_1c5894ca8c_c.jpg" width="600" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<br />
<br />
Hazel's mouse is cuter than mine below, she got the eyes in a better place I think. The caption is because I made the mistake of thinking it was a French Bulldog when I saw it sans eyes, whiskers and tail. I should have kept my mouth shut as it caused the artist a fair amount of angst!<br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/22071366242/in/dateposted-public/" title="Untitled"><img alt="Untitled" height="800" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/689/22071366242_80d87d5746_c.jpg" width="600" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/21896943939/in/dateposted-public/" title="Untitled"><img alt="Untitled" height="800" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5786/21896943939_6e5f395b26_c.jpg" width="600" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<br />
I can picture a whole house of cool little doodles but we're only at foundation stage for the new bit so there won't be any walls available for awhile and let's face it, I'll probably chicken out and go for plain, unadorned white with a few other colours - other than the ubiquitous Half Tea which the house is currently painted. Kiwis will know it only too well, for people who don't have Resene paints I've heard it described as 'new house brown' - the bland colour that's so inoffensive it's actually kind of offensive! <br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/21462912963/in/dateposted-public/" title="Foundations"><img alt="Foundations" height="480" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/742/21462912963_203aa23df1_c.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01192730590127098720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7750720746807403757.post-22223802590610667092015-09-29T15:28:00.002+13:002015-09-29T15:29:28.127+13:00New Quilts for Alberton Beds<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/20747677163/in/dateposted-public/" title="New Quilts for Alberton Beds - ballroom."><img alt="New Quilts for Alberton Beds - ballroom." height="480" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5780/20747677163_db57681466_c.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<br />
The New Quilts for Alberton Beds finished yesterday afternoon when we gathered up the quilts into big piles and took them away, leaving the house looking a little less colourful! I think it went pretty well, we've had some nice feedback and quite a few people stopped by to talk to us on Saturday and Sunday as part of Heritage Week. Unfortunately the exhibition had been put into the Workshops section of the brochure, along with an invitation to come along for free workshops on quilting which sent (some of) us into a bit of a tizzy (ok me) but in the end it was ok. There were a few people who showed up expecting something, but I don't think they were too put out to get some time on a design wall making quilt patterns and then getting to try out hand quilting and binding. One lady, when we mentioned coming along to our group, announced she was a traditionalist and really didn't like the colours of modern fabrics and flounced off, apparently with a mouth like a cat's bum. We all just looked bemused I think! :D So if that was it in terms of active negativity then we did well.<br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/20746072954/in/dateposted-public/" title="New Quilts for Alberton Beds - attic bedroom"><img alt="New Quilts for Alberton Beds - attic bedroom" height="800" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/762/20746072954_b7d49f0969_c.jpg" width="600" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<br />
<br />
Now what the heck do I do with all these quilts I have back in my house?<br />
<br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/21180672000/in/dateposted-public/" title="New Quilts for Alberton Beds -sewing room."><img alt="New Quilts for Alberton Beds -sewing room." height="800" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/681/21180672000_c295fbe808_c.jpg" width="600" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/21342493236/in/dateposted-public/" title="New Quilts for Alberton Beds."><img alt="New Quilts for Alberton Beds." height="800" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5809/21342493236_88749ff759_c.jpg" width="600" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/21342545036/in/dateposted-public/" title="New Quilts for Alberton Beds."><img alt="New Quilts for Alberton Beds." height="800" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/657/21342545036_872687f46c_c.jpg" width="600" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01192730590127098720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7750720746807403757.post-81529382883178178652015-09-21T11:12:00.000+12:002015-09-21T11:12:00.152+12:00CrochetDuring my blogging break I've been doing quite a bit of crocheting as well as making quilts - well ok <i>some</i> crocheting and making quilts!<br />
<br />
A teething ring for my little niece Eva. I saw a similar one on Pinterest and also in a tutorial. The rings are curtain rings and the beads are just wooden ones from Spotlight that I sanded until all the varnish was gone so nothing will come off when chewed :)<br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/16600571367/in/dateposted-public/" title="Wood and crochet rattle/teething ring for my niece Eva. #crochet #crochetbead #rattle #teethingring"><img alt="Wood and crochet rattle/teething ring for my niece Eva. #crochet #crochetbead #rattle #teethingring" height="640" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8600/16600571367_26344c3dd6_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<br />
Some egg cozies<br />
<br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/16831177337/in/dateposted-public/" title="Happy Easter everyone! #Easter #crochet #bunnyears #egg #eggcup"><img alt="Happy Easter everyone! #Easter #crochet #bunnyears #egg #eggcup" height="640" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8787/16831177337_4b6677ca79_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/20220238795/in/dateposted-public/" title="Egg cozies - breakfast just got cuter. #crochet #eggcosy #egghats"><img alt="Egg cozies - breakfast just got cuter. #crochet #eggcosy #egghats" height="640" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/422/20220238795_71d14de353_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/20220272625/in/dateposted-public/" title="At the risk of offending the bunnies the mouse is my favourite. #egghats #eggcosy #crochet"><img alt="At the risk of offending the bunnies the mouse is my favourite. #egghats #eggcosy #crochet" height="640" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5617/20220272625_8397644087_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/19599489563/in/dateposted-public/" title="And if you prefer your egg to come more hockey flavoured I can do that too. #egg #eggcosy #egghats #montrealcanadiens"><img alt="And if you prefer your egg to come more hockey flavoured I can do that too. #egg #eggcosy #egghats #montrealcanadiens" height="640" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5617/19599489563_e1a5087560_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<br />
<br />
and some kittens<br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/19976563478/in/dateposted-public/" title="Three little kittens have lost their mittens #crochet #amigurumi #kitten"><img alt="Three little kittens have lost their mittens #crochet #amigurumi #kitten" height="640" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3669/19976563478_959a50bbb0_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<br />
I also made another crocheted hanger, from Mollie Makes No. 41.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/16336812827/in/dateposted-public/" title="Crochet hanger No. 3. Pattern from Mollie Makes 41"><img alt="Crochet hanger No. 3. Pattern from Mollie Makes 41" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7348/16336812827_75b20e059c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01192730590127098720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7750720746807403757.post-50010523878317659392015-09-17T10:54:00.000+12:002015-09-17T10:54:00.346+12:00I've got a style!Last Christmas we did a little <a href="http://hazelnutgirl.blogspot.co.nz/2014/12/oven-mitts.html" target="_blank">present swap at our Monday Modern group</a>. I made a pot holder and when Lou unwrapped it she knew straight away who had made it (and so did everyone else). I was puzzled because as far as I know I don't really have a definite style.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/16112048281/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Oven mitt with HST patchwork."><img alt="Oven mitt with HST patchwork." height="800" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7561/16112048281_efab81c28e_c.jpg" width="584" /></a></div>
<br />
I was wrong, I do! I only just realised it though, when I was making up the info sheets for the quilt exhibition and my four quilts were on the same page briefly. I was quite taken aback when I saw them together like that, particularly the first three, because despite being quite different quilts, they're all remarkably similar when judged purely on colour. The oven mitt fits in perfectly so I can see how I was outed so easily!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/20773969403/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="My quilts at Alberton"><img alt="My quilts at Alberton" height="800" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/764/20773969403_d93754f560_c.jpg" width="565" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/20772294934/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="My quilts at Alberton"><img alt="My quilts at Alberton" height="800" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/597/20772294934_c8fef5d2e8_c.jpg" width="565" /></a></div>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
I'm currently working on a red and white quilt and one with Lotta Jansdotter fabrics in oranges and blues and greens so I'm hoping that means I'm not going to typecast myself too much! I think having a style is great, but not if you don't push yourself to do different things sometimes.Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01192730590127098720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7750720746807403757.post-90076346151714395132015-09-14T10:34:00.000+12:002015-09-14T10:44:17.531+12:00Modern Building Blocks QuiltAges ago I did <a href="http://hazelnutgirl.blogspot.co.nz/2015/01/crafting-not-blogging.html" target="_blank">a post about starting to make the Moda Modern Building Blocks quilt</a>. I did actually finish it quite quickly for such a big quilt (and for me!), but then it went off to a display case at Alberton without a photo of it finished and it's been there for almost 2 months. We finally set up the quilts for our Monday Modern 'New Quilts for Alberton Beds' exhibition and I got a proper photo at long last.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/21394378505/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Moda Building Blocks"><img alt="Moda Building Blocks" height="589" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/569/21394378505_5d8bf3992e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<br />
The colours aren't that great as the only place we could find that was big enough that we could hold it out fully was on the verandah where the lighting wasn't the best. This pre-quilting photo I took for Instagram shows it more clearly.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/16907341286/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Finished! It's crazy big, I had to stand on a ladder and use panorama function on my phone to get it all in (hence the distortion). Still think it's super-busy. #modabuildingblocks #modernbuildingblocks #mondaymodern #quilt #patchwork"><img alt="Finished! It's crazy big, I had to stand on a ladder and use panorama function on my phone to get it all in (hence the distortion). Still think it's super-busy. #modabuildingblocks #modernbuildingblocks #mondaymodern #quilt #patchwork" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7641/16907341286_d2d109907b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<br />
It was quilted in an all-over geometric pattern by Carol Fearon at Art Quilts in Onehunga. I love the way the shapes reflect the angles of the block patterns. Although part of me likes it for the bright solids and some of the blocks are great and I'm glad I did it, I'm still not a fan of the sampler quilt - they're just too busy and jarring to my eye. Luckily not everyone's like me and it's going to a friend who does like them!<br />
<br />
If you're in Auckland come along to the exhibition at Alberton - not only do you get to see a bunch of nice quilts there's a fabulous old house to look through as well!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/21207028088/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="MM-Alberton-flyer-final-new-date_v2"><img alt="MM-Alberton-flyer-final-new-date_v2" height="640" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/704/21207028088_35f85eb7ee_z.jpg" width="453" /></a></div>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01192730590127098720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7750720746807403757.post-54398477902301633232015-01-31T08:00:00.000+13:002015-01-31T14:49:02.154+13:00Crocheting hangersI've been wanting to make crocheted hangers for quite awhile now but we only have two of the really basic wood hangers in the house because, really, they're totally crap on their own! I had a look around Spotlight the other day for some but couldn't find any and gave up. Then the other day I was in there to get some more solids for the Moda quilt and the lady at the counter in front of me had about 10 packages of them and when I asked where she'd got them the assistant pointed to the shelf right behind me and voila! Adult and kid sized ones. I only got one pack of 6 each, goodness knows what the other lady was going to do with so many hangers!<br />
<br />
Anyways, the first one I did was for Hazel from the tutorial at <a href="http://karenmandersen.typepad.com/karen-m-andersen-mixed-m/tutorials.html" target="_blank">Karen Anderson</a>. The colours and flower were chosen by Hazel (art direction), the crocheting by me (labour). It's pretty cute!<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/16367041701" title="Crocheted coat hanger by Jacqui, on Flickr"><img alt="Crocheted coat hanger" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7452/16367041701_4d240d9b3e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
I got a bit cocky after that and decided I was going to do <a href="http://dottieangel.blogspot.jp/2010/03/happy-hanger-how-to.html" target="_blank">Dotti Angel</a>'s hanger in a lighter yarn and it would turn out ok. Well it did - in the end! I finished one side and then realised it was too big so pulled it all out and reduced the number of chains to start with and that was perfect. And it was still perfect when I realised that it was going to be too narrow to go around the hanger and I'd have to add an extra row of single crochet around it to make it bigger. But then it wasn't ok when I did the second row of sc to stitch the two sides together - suddenly it was two shells too long. I kidded myself that I could pad out the ends of the hanger and make do, but after getting half way around it I realised that was a no-go and pulled the whole thing apart and started with two shells less chain. Perfect (for real this time!). Of course, I could have made two and a half in the time I've been messing around with the one, but at least I can do the whole pattern off by heart now!<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/16218044320" title="Crocheted hanger by Jacqui, on Flickr"><img alt="Crocheted hanger" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7320/16218044320_e56046fb63_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<br />
For my next hanger (remember I have 10 more to cover), I'm going to do the spotty one in this pattern from <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/194991858841080123/" target="_blank">Mollie Makes</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01192730590127098720noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7750720746807403757.post-38229127994534239772015-01-28T08:00:00.000+13:002015-01-28T08:00:00.105+13:00Crocheting stonesI never really got the whole crocheted stone thing when it was really big a few years ago, at least not until lovely Ellie over at Petalplum sent me a couple of little ones she'd done and I realised how neat they are, not the least because they are oddly very satisfying to hold and touch. I have no idea why, they just are! I've always meant to try for myself, but aside from a very brief and unsuccessful attempt to crochet over a piece of beach glass a couple years ago, I never got around to it. My interest was revived by my mum who was very taken with Ellie's and wanted to find a pattern to make some herself. I spent quite awhile searching for patterns online and got interested again! I need to take some better photos but in the meantime here is my first attempt along with a little clay bunny I made a couple of weeks ago. It's surprisingly hard to make something perfectly smooth and rounded, with ears that stay on but I do like my rather amateurish attempt to rip off a bunny I saw on Pinterest.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/16170968010" title="Little clay bunny and crocheted stone. by Jacqui, on Flickr"><img alt="Little clay bunny and crocheted stone." height="640" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8590/16170968010_6fd4576270_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01192730590127098720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7750720746807403757.post-45982910965062983272015-01-26T14:52:00.000+13:002015-01-26T14:52:20.582+13:00Crafting not bloggingI sometimes think I'm all talk and no action on the crafting front but I've been a busy bee for the last couple of weeks! Mostly I've been making Moda Modern Building Blocks blocks, but there's been some crocheting and other things too. I tend to put things up on Instagram these days and almost forget I have a blog, a trend I've noticed in others too! If you're on IG I'm Hazelnuts<br />
<br />
After the solids I ordered online came I got stuck into the first of the 36" blocks. I knew it was big but hadn't realised exactly how big until I made my own. Amazingly it came out quite well considering all the seams on the bias and the fact I wasn't starching or anything.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/16312084722" title="It's not every day you have to stand on a chair to photograph one quilt block, but now I'm in the #modernbuildingblocks club! The pieces were too large for me to use the blues I wanted so it's not quite like I wanted but I can live with it. #modabuildingb by Jacqui, on Flickr"><img alt="It's not every day you have to stand on a chair to photograph one quilt block, but now I'm in the #modernbuildingblocks club! The pieces were too large for me to use the blues I wanted so it's not quite like I wanted but I can live with it. #modabuildingb" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7505/16312084722_d1aeb66881_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
In fact the pieces were so huge I couldn't use the 1/2 meters I had of a couple blues as they were literally 1/4" too small! I was pretty annoyed, but I don't mind the compromise I came up with too much.
I did blocks 5 & 6 next to finish off that section, it's funny how an 18" block seems positively small after 36"!<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/16128601389" title="Block 5 and my little helper (who really really wanted his dinner). #modernbuildingblocks #quilt #patchwork #pug #pugsofinstagram #dog by Jacqui, on Flickr"><img alt="Block 5 and my little helper (who really really wanted his dinner). #modernbuildingblocks #quilt #patchwork #pug #pugsofinstagram #dog" height="640" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8638/16128601389_3f4e9204c0_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/16296774996" title="Block 6. After all those triangles this was insanely quick and easy to do. #modernbuildingblocks #modabuildingblocks #patchwork #quilt #yellow by Jacqui, on Flickr"><img alt="Block 6. After all those triangles this was insanely quick and easy to do. #modernbuildingblocks #modabuildingblocks #patchwork #quilt #yellow" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7471/16296774996_73fb817dc1_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/15700361224" title="Section B - Blocks 1, 5 and 6 done by Jacqui, on Flickr"><img alt="Section B - Blocks 1, 5 and 6 done" height="451" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7479/15700361224_700f058ee7_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
Block 2 sucked, I really didn't enjoy it at all and the bias seams didn't go as well for some reason. Amazingly though, it sits fairly flat considering how awful I thought it would be and I think it will be fine after quilting. I also managed to sew several of the navy and light blue triangles wrong sides together, then I sewed a few with the navy on the left instead of the right and then realised that they all should have been that way but it doesn't really matter as long as they're consistent!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/15702857433" title="Block 2. Loathed this one! Big pieces on the bias and sewing the wrong sides up several times just sucked the fun out of it. Amazingly, it sits fairly flat! It's also a mirror image of the pattern because I wasn't paying attention at the start. #modabuild by Jacqui, on Flickr"><img alt="Block 2. Loathed this one! Big pieces on the bias and sewing the wrong sides up several times just sucked the fun out of it. Amazingly, it sits fairly flat! It's also a mirror image of the pattern because I wasn't paying attention at the start. #modabuild" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7471/15702857433_66996fe188_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
The rest of the Block 2 section is made up of 6 6" squares and I've done 4 of those so far. My favourite was 22, the orange and pink block, although it was definitely the fiddliest! I just love that colour combination.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/16343358131" title="Block 22. No need for a chair to photograph this one, it's a petite 6". #modernbuildingblocks #modabuildingblocks #patchwork #quilt by Jacqui, on Flickr"><img alt="Block 22. No need for a chair to photograph this one, it's a petite 6". #modernbuildingblocks #modabuildingblocks #patchwork #quilt" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7503/16343358131_649bf862e2_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
Block 25
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/16162427030" title="Block 25. Another 6" but not very exciting. Still, another one finished! #modabuildingblocks #modernbuildingblocks #patchwork #quilt by Jacqui, on Flickr"><img alt="Block 25. Another 6" but not very exciting. Still, another one finished! #modabuildingblocks #modernbuildingblocks #patchwork #quilt" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7477/16162427030_0aa65f7029_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01192730590127098720noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7750720746807403757.post-4029107447006626842015-01-10T11:25:00.001+13:002015-01-10T11:34:12.405+13:00Classic Baby CardiganThe first cardigan I made for my impending niece was the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/classic-baby-cardigan-2" target="_blank">Classic Baby Cardigan</a> by Lisa van Klaveren in the 12-18 month size. It's been done for ages so I can't actually even say what pattern I used for the booties! The cardigan has a kind of odd shape, very long across the yoke to the sleeves but since I don't have a tester baby to try it on I can't really say how it looks on but it's cute in the pattern photos! It's possible I did one too many ribs in the yoke, I found it hard to know when I'd done the right number of rows for some reason!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/16235851902" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Baby cardigan and booties with a dress to come. by Jacqui, on Flickr"><img alt="Baby cardigan and booties with a dress to come." height="480" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7552/16235851902_15eab97c06_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The only reason I haven't blogged it was that I needed some ribbon for the booties and I wanted it to match the dress I was going to make except I couldn't find any fabric I liked. I had a real <a href="http://www.posiegetscozy.com/" target="_blank">Posy Gets Cosy</a> outfit image in my mind and nothing matched! I finally found this pale yellow Japanese lawn at Spotlight the other day and it was the closest so far so I grabbed it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/15616816043" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Baby cardigan and booties with a dress to come. by Jacqui, on Flickr"><img alt="Baby cardigan and booties with a dress to come." height="480" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8600/15616816043_73a4d0ca86_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I'm using <a href="http://www.simplicity.com/p-4994-babies-1950s-vintage-layette.aspx" target="_blank">this retro Simplicity pattern</a> for the dress (View A), again I had a mental image and short of ordering gorgeous French <a href="http://citronille.fr/produit.php?id_produit=80#pid_80" target="_blank">Citronille</a> patterns I thought this was pretty close and it has the little Peter Pan collar and puffed sleeves I was after.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhywDFrVYSUMEJlE0XBHbd7a_V4M1qGX7p2Z44jaQfeFgH6XbqDtgBzKoeELuI21ZE6MWskbw1IU6dciNFKdSLm3_tTezWysXLzt_WprPMq5QgqOmXjHhqctjrKFw9WG1OWrzJgK4kYvLN/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-10+at+11.19.24+am.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhywDFrVYSUMEJlE0XBHbd7a_V4M1qGX7p2Z44jaQfeFgH6XbqDtgBzKoeELuI21ZE6MWskbw1IU6dciNFKdSLm3_tTezWysXLzt_WprPMq5QgqOmXjHhqctjrKFw9WG1OWrzJgK4kYvLN/s400/Screen+Shot+2015-01-10+at+11.19.24+am.png" /></a></div>
<br />
It's all cut out and ready to go - the question is whether I hold the parcel for it or send it on later? I'm scared if I hold the parcel the baby will be born by the time it gets there, but also scared if I don't hold it then the dress will be too small when I finally get around to sending it on! Of course, I could just sew the dress this weekend and send the parcel on Monday...Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01192730590127098720noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7750720746807403757.post-19322323368590795572015-01-04T13:57:00.000+13:002015-01-04T14:02:41.205+13:00Moda Modern BlocksAlong with several people in my quilt group I'm going to be working on the <a href="http://www.fatquartershop.com/modern-building-blocks-moda-quilt-kit" target="_blank">Moda Modern Building Blocks</a> quilt, a few blocks at a time, over 2015. It's quite a challenge for me on a couple of levels: firstly, I'm not a big fan of quilts with a variety of different blocks, they don't appeal to me aesthetically - to my mind they look random and jarring. That's just me I know, other people who I like and respect love that sort of carry-on so there's obviously something in it and because this one doesn't immediately offend me I'm going to dip my toes into the deadly seas of chaos. Secondly, I don't like all the colours used in the pattern so I'm going to have to choose quite a few for myself and to be honest, for me that way madness lies. I'm going to be doing a hell of a lot of second-guessing myself and over-thinking but I figure as long as they're all colours I like then it should be ok in the end.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I went through my stash to find solids and discovered that I don't have a lot and that my warm colours don't play well with my cool or some of the blues in the pattern so I'm going to have to buy a bunch to bulk out the warms and all of the cools. I've been such a good girl on my fabric diet for the last couple years and now look, I'm going to be kicking off 2015 by falling off the wagon. Let's hope it's not the start of a slippery slope! I'm going to make do with fewer fabrics than the pattern does, I think that might provide a bit more cohesiveness as well as being cheaper. Here's what I have so far<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/15959370707" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Solids for Modern Blocks quilt by Jacqui, on Flickr"><img alt="Solids for Modern Blocks quilt" height="640" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8587/15959370707_ec70870ce9_z.jpg" width="518" /></a></div>
Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01192730590127098720noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7750720746807403757.post-15091880544816078842015-01-01T21:31:00.000+13:002015-01-01T21:31:00.108+13:00Happy New YearHello 2015!<br />
<br />
I'm so boring I didn't even do anything last night, my 18 year old self would be horrified and disgusted with me and would be struggling to turn into someone else with all her might :D<br />
<br />
But I can do things she couldn't, including taking out-of-focus photos of the Christmas Tree and mantel to post on Instagram. Oh boy 18 year old me would have loved all this social media carry-on (judging by my slightly older nieces at Christmas, so many selfies!) but I'm kind of glad I didn't have to worry about it as well as zits and boys; some mistakes should remain but a distant and hazy memory, not on someone's phone lit by a flash.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/16141633111" title="Christmas light bokeh by Jacqui, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas light bokeh" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7537/16141633111_dfbac2b840_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
18 year old me also wouldn't have appreciated black and white Christmas lights<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/15957827097" title="Xmas lights in black and white - I can pretend it's a gritty nighttime shot of some large anonymous city, taken as I roamed the lonely streets in search of some meaning in my life. Yeah that, not sitting on the couch in suburbia. by Jacqui, on Flickr"><img alt="" height="640" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8630/15957827097_f6df3986ba_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
Or captioned it "I can pretend it's a gritty nighttime shot of some large anonymous city, taken as I roamed the lonely streets in search of some meaning in my life. Yeah that, not sitting on the couch in suburbia." You get cynical when you get old.Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01192730590127098720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7750720746807403757.post-48276240902579074562014-12-31T21:23:00.000+13:002014-12-31T21:23:00.037+13:00Oven mitt(s)The Monday Modern quilt group did a Secret Santa for our December meeting and I decided to make an oven mitt/glove/cloth for it. I don't know if there is a proper term for this style where the gloves are joined or not.<br />
<br />
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/16112048281" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Oven mitt with HST patchwork. by Jacqui, on Flickr"><img alt="Oven mitt with HST patchwork." height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7561/16112048281_efab81c28e_z.jpg" width="468" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
I was only going to make one, but then the way I made the HSTs unexpectedly (because I hadn't really thought it out very well!) gave me 8 of each fabric and I wanted a good range of prints, so I ended up with enough for two more! Excellent, one for my mum for Xmas and one for me. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/15928205197" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Oven mitt with HST patchwork. by Jacqui, on Flickr"><img alt="Oven mitt with HST patchwork." height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7488/15928205197_a96b342ba9_z.jpg" width="565" /></a></div>
<div>
<br />
They're linen on the outside and inside they have one layer of thick wool blanket and one of cotton batting. My machine really struggled with that thickness so the binding was finished by hand on the back. Hopefully it will be strong enough.<br />
<br />
I got a super-duper wheat warmer thing (again, is there a proper term for them?) from Lou, it's the prettiest thing, filled with buckwheat and scented with lavender. I sat there sniffing it which probably looked rather dodgy but then she was wearing the oven mitts so maybe a quilt group isn't the most normal of gatherings anyways :D<br />
<br /></div>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/15959370357" title="Wheatie warmer from Lou by Jacqui, on Flickr"><img alt="Wheatie warmer from Lou" height="318" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7582/15959370357_5fc267056e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01192730590127098720noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7750720746807403757.post-65865178395085827582014-12-30T21:07:00.001+13:002014-12-30T21:07:31.293+13:00Hot Water BeachWell THAT happened pretty fast. Things got a bit crazy after my last post and have only slowed down today! There were Christmas preparations, my parents arrived, Hazel got an inner ear infection that makes her feel really lightheaded, school finished, we went away to Hot Water Beach for a few days, I caught the cold from hell complete with a fever and then Mat got it, and then Mat's family came for Christmas and Boxing Day. Phew. Now that's all over summer can start!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/15926712390" title="Hot Water Beach by Jacqui, on Flickr"><img alt="Hot Water Beach" height="480" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7468/15926712390_97626799b3_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<br />
<div>
<br />
Here's a few summery photos from <a href="http://www.thecoromandel.com/new-zealand/Hot-Water-Beach/" target="_blank">Hot Water Beach</a>. For those not in the know, it's called that because there are two hot water springs that come out on the beach (just at that little rocky outcrop in the middle of the beach) and at low tide you can dig holes in the sand, which fill up with hot water, and sit in them like a outdoor bathtub. Unfortunately the waves were too high at low tide for us to do that so we joined everyone else in the surf and wiggled our feet into the sand. Too deep and it was too hot, on the top was cold from the sea, so you had to wiggle to just the right spot :) To be honest I think I probably enjoyed that communal spirit more than all the digging and jostling for space with holes. You can see photos of the hole-digging on the link above, it looks a little less jolly than nearly being sucked out to sea with a bunch of strangers.<br />
</div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/16088218326" title="Hot Water Beach by Jacqui, on Flickr"><img alt="Hot Water Beach" height="356" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7475/16088218326_875f23f9b9_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<br />
<div>
<br />
We stayed in a very basic (and dog friendly) bach up above the beach. It wasn't anything to write home about but the view certainly was! Here is my view from the deck chair - 5 minutes down to the beach, it was fan-tabulous.<br />
</div>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/15928258627" title="Hot Water Beach by Jacqui, on Flickr"><img alt="Hot Water Beach" height="302" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7522/15928258627_48c6af3f04_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01192730590127098720noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7750720746807403757.post-11345584842734759332014-12-03T13:35:00.000+13:002014-12-03T13:35:00.255+13:00Scrappy colourI'm at the start of a project for Christmas and have been a bit worried about my colour choices. I had started out with all reds and then had a sudden change of heart and went with oranges and pinks. Doing that always stresses me out because I start second-guessing myself; but as I was clipping corners off I looked down at my pile of scraps and realised that I think they look great together! I've got quite aways to go on this as there's nothing like adding patchwork to a simple object to make it an inordinate time suck, but at least I can relax with my colours.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqui_craig/15892516996" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Colourful scraps by Jacqui, on Flickr"><img alt="Colourful scraps" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7505/15892516996_2dca7263ff_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
Jacquihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01192730590127098720noreply@blogger.com2