i'm a tree

Check it out!! My tree costume whipped up in 2 days in between work. Hanging out with a friend in Melbourne this weekend. Going to roam markets, craft shops and fabric shops tomorrow. Woohoo. Anyhoo, she forgot about a party she said she'd go to tonight. So she asked and I can go too. It's an Alice in Wonderland theme so I'm going as a tree as there are a bunch of significant trees in the story. I intend on being the one with the hole that Alice fell down following the rabbit. ^^

I bought some cheap cotton gloves, dyed them with coffee (so they smell a bit like old coffee) and did a quick, rough sew job for the headpiece. Then I hand-sewed leaf-shaped felt cutouts onto the fingers of the gloves and the tips of the headpiece. Sufficient enough I think. I kinda like the leafy hands. I think they'll get in the way a bit but they are fun to wear.

So I'm off on the train shortly...with my brother actually. Turns out he's tripping to and from Melbourne same times as me to catch up with his fiance who is doing some work training there. We shall ride together. Fun!

shrug in the making

It's in preparation for the final stages!! Woo. I got this pattern from a link off Ravelry and thought I'd try it. My first lot of lace work for knitting, first blocking and first item that's not a scarf or fingerless gloves. (For a knitting project that is) It's a shrug I'm making out of 12ply Rustic Red Current from Bendigo Woollen Mills that my sister kindly gave me from her overflowing stash. I thought it looked too loose when I started though so I double it. It will be a nice thick wooly shrug to keep the chill away on those nights/days when it's just a little too warm for a jumper. I decided to block it today to get the right shape. Next I have to put ribbing along both the long sides, do a little stitching and it will be ready to wear. Yipee! So far so good...

it's a wrap

I started this project weeks, maybe months, ago. I struck some design challenges though that I couldn't figure out my way around. So I left it sitting on my desk which got piled with dumped mess and stayed that way for quite some time. However, today I woke feeling creative and crafty so my desk got cleared and I spent the morning happily working away.

I made this yarn work tools wrap from two lots of fabric I love together. Not the best for this project as it was some kind of stretchy stuff. I ended up with a lot of bumps and gatherings that I didn't plan but I don't care. ^^ To make it sturdier I put a firm liner between the fabric and to make it that much prettier I put brown ribbon around the edges to neaten it all up.

It has ten knitting needle slots and six crochet hook slots. Gotta have my crochet hooks in there too. The flap is to stop the knitting needles from sliding out when it's rolled up and being carted around. And I decided to put a little pocket in the left over space in case I get adventurous and try a pattern that requires stitch markers or such. Lastly, this evening after work and some errands, I made the tie to hold the roll together. I am quite satisfied with the end product and happy with a productive day. I love beautiful things that are practical--especially with the glee of knowing your own hands have made them.