making of another kind

Often referred to as cooking or baking, I set to work yesterday preparing to please the crowds. My community group met for the last time for this term and had dinner together. We just ordered pizza (which was delicious) but I took dessert. I whipped up some simple caramel tarts, some jelly slice which is usually popular and the requested choc chip biscuits. Mmm. Now that's delightful creating. Consumption enjoyed by all.

yarn projects bag

I've just been using an oversized enviro-bag to carry my WIPs (Work In Progress) around. And it's getting holey so sometimes my needles stick out. So I decided to head up to the nearby Savo's opshop and see what I could find. I ended up with this. It's a good size--not too big but big enough to fit a few projects in and long enough to fit knitting needles inside. I only had to make a donation for it too. I didn't like the long handles so I twisted them round and wound some green 4ply cotton around the handles to make them stay there. I think it's a great improvement. Now it's easier and funkier to cart my WIPs with me.

I also bought some sock yarn the other day with a gift voucher from a friend. Moda Vera Noir in Fantasia. I haven't knitted anything but flat rectangles so it will be interesting to see how I go. But after our Knit In Public Day gathering I'm inspired to give it a go...not to mention that the socks my sister knitted me for my birthday are superwarm and cosy.

knit in public day

I joined some other yarn-loving people on Saturday morning for worldwide Knit in Public Day! Was a bit of fun too. I sat there with my mocha and delicious mudcake with Sam, Jack, my sister, Tammy, and Joey and yakked and turned yarn into useful things. It was fun to knit socially instead of just at home alone...though technically I crocheted. They're all better knitters than I am. I haven't been knitting as long and I'm also not as crazy about yarn as they seem to be. I dabble in a wide variety of craft. :) It was a very pleasant morning though and it did leave me wanting to have a go at knitting socks.

nothing finished

I feel like a real crafty person now! I'm joining the ranks. I have a line of projects on the go. Ha ha. That's why I haven't blogged in a while...coz nothing's finished yet.

magnetized

Lovely little new creations. Found some cheap and decent magnets a while ago. Finally put them to use and made these felt magnets that are now on sale in my store. I've sewn the magnets inside so the back surface where it attaches to the metal surface won't get scratched by the magnet.

I like this sky set. I like the rain cloud best. It was lovely and wet here today. It rained properly--not the pathetic drizzling it often does. I love it when it rains. I have plans to make more magnets too. So many ideas.

the lone tulip

I painted this picture last year when money was really tight. It was an engagement present for some friends and I had everything I needed to do it already. Just had to put in the work. I chose this picture because I found it quite striking. I love the bright yellow flower against the dark grey sky--like the hope of a little sunshine. Like finding joy and reason to celebrate even in the darkest of times.
I painted it with acrylic paint and persisted until I was satisfied. I then set to work knocking together a frame. I'm not an expert at putting timber together but I know a bit to do alright. Using scraps of wood I chose to staple them together and stain them to be a suitable frame. So the painting, bordered with photoboard and wooden frame, turned out quite well in the end.

tracksuit

It was my nephew's 2nd birthday yesterday and I made him this tracksuit as a present. I thought what he'd love to do was play, climb and run so I decided I would take him to an indoor playground some time. (Coz the weather here is getting colder and wetter as it's almost winter.) A tracksuit would be perfect for doing such things in. Of course, he didn't think it was that great. Clothes aren't very exciting presents for little kids but the fun part is yet to come. I ended up putting a design of my own on the front. I was going to get a cool printed fleece to make it out of but low and behold when I went to our two major craft stores to find some none could be found. It was difficult enough finding plain fleece. Everything has gone to polar fleece and I didn't want to use that. It's a good thing I decided not to make it a little smaller as Mum said the pattern is quite roomy. It fits him well but any smaller and it would be a bit too tight. I put a tie at the top to make sure they stay up. I didn't do any measurements you see. So I think it worked out fairly well.