A Family

Recently I read a post that asked the question "what makes a family". I posted my response in the appropriate section and merrily went on my blog hopping way.

That question and the thoughts that come with it began rattling about my head again recently as I was asked to make 'a family' of dolls for a friend.

I replied to my friend "I'd love to but, what does 'a family' mean to you? "

My friends response was beautiful and inclusive of all but, she said, "I can't fit everyone in the dolls house so could you just make a Dad, a Mum, a boy and a girl and a dog please".

So I did.

To keep this great dialogue going.....What does ' a family mean to you'?

Messenger Bag-MADE!

Back in July I stumbled upon some links to bag patterns thanks to Sandra.

I loved the idea of making a bag from scratch and then came the flood of thoughts of "oohh I could make all sorts of bags for the family and friends for Christmas, birthdays etc" and off I went on my imaginary bag making creative explosion.

The minor snag being that I hadn't quite made friends with the machine yet - in fact I still don't know if we are friends, but 'it' didn't sew my finger this time so I think we are making progress.

Armed with the tutorial/bag pattern of my choice 'the basic messenger bag', I went hunting for fabric.

It is my preference (where possible) to use stuff that has already had some type of a life, so I went to my local 'op-shop' and found some old upholstery fabric.

Whilst I was there I also bought 20 pre-used zips for $1.00! I am not sure why (since I don't know how to put them in), I just thought I could use them at some point in my creative future.

This is where my bag making adventure came to a halt - I got a bit scared by the whole 'following a pattern' (of sorts) idea, and the technicality of machine sewing - given that I am most comfortable with a needle in hand (for felting or hand sewing).

As always, I was encouraged by the 'sew-wise' Nikki to just 'have a go'.

So I did.

I measured, cut, interfaced (that was a whole language learning curve in itself).

Then I embellished.

This is what can happen when you sit cross legged with you embroidery on your knees as you sew!

Whilst the fabric seemed thick and strong enough I worried about the general shape of the bag once it was loaded up with the secret business of woman.

Upon discussing this issue with Nikki-sew-wise - I was sent a link for a bag base tutorial using template plastic.

For this I am very grateful to both Nikki's.

So here it is my very first bag.

As I was so pleased with my attempts so far I thought I push it a bit further...I added on a zip!

Ta Da!

I am ridiculously proud of it - and grateful the machine didn't bite me again!.

Cheers.

My (away at work) creative space

My 'other job' (the one gives me with money in return for my efforts) - at present, requires me to leave home, often for up to five days straight. The days are long and the nights can be longer (depending on how much work I am asked to undertake). I miss my children and the Mr and the undulating love bound tidal chaos that is our home life.

However, the fact is, that I am in and out of a house of which I am the sole occupant for five days straight (with frequent 'work' interruptions) and it is not lost on, nor unappreciated by me as, I get to leave it looking like this!!!

And as I am the only one coming and going from it - I can pick up directly where I left off OR NOT! As the case often is.

I might just move on to some other project...and pick back up again much later where I had left the other one off earlier.

There are scissors left with gay abandon, pins dangerously close to rolling off the table onto the floor, patterns (even though I can't follow them properly), a sewing machine - left plugged in and set up! bags of wool tops, a rainbow of felt, needling tools, note pads with ideas and scribbles (not from the kids), bags of choke-on-able buttons (but I don't have to worry - unless I should have some kind of sleep walking button eating mishap).

That is of course unless the Mr and kidlets have come to visit.

In which case I run about like a (very excited) mad woman trying to tidy and put away my fabric, my oh so dangerous pins and needles, the bag of choke-on-able buttons, my felt, my books of inspiration, my unfinished or perhaps even not yet started projects in some sort of order so that I might feel inspired to start creating when they depart rather than slowed down by the enormity of sorting it all out again..

It is, generally speaking, 'my place of creative chaos' (some of the time anyway - it is not my home nor is it my shag pile carpet - for those who were alarmed at it's presence and colour) and I thought I'd share it with you all.

In half an hour I will again depart for this house of creative whimsy. In two & a half hours I guarantee it will again look like this!

Have a great and creative week. Check out some other creative places at Kootoyoo.

Felt Booties

My lovely neighbour recently had her third baby - a gorgeous wee girl.

I wasn't sure what to make for her.

I'll take a slight tangent here (or "waffle on a bit" as I have been recently advised).

Generally speaking I don't buy many gifts or 'thing's for people as I prefer to make them stuff instead.

I guess I have the romantic notion that 'handmade stuff' is made with and from love, has been given much thought, has been constructed especially for that particular person and maybe just maybe they'll like it - maybe like it enough to keep it for a long time. And one day, when they are older, they'll maybe still have that 'thing' that was made just for them because they will know that they are loved, liked, cared for, family, friend, neighbour, etc and their heart will sing.

I also have the idea that by making the 'thing' myself, the receiver of such finery will not already have one. (or at least not like the one I've just made!)

Anyway I digress....

The gift... after much thought, I remembered that a few years ago friend gave me a super simple bootie pattern made using......FELT of course!

So after a bit of cutting, pinning, blanket stitching and artistic licence....

TADAAAAAA!

These are dangerous things to make for those teetering dangerously on the cusp of having the third, fourth, fifth, second whatever numbered child would come next... VERY DANGEROUS INDEED.

Just looking at them has been the catalyst for many a "oh I'd love another baby" themed comment.

It's like looking at the clothes your own babes wore, feeling them all soft and lovely. The wave of nostalgia gently urging you to reminisce about times they were worn.

The mere sight and touch invoking all manner of maternal/paternal urge.

What do you think? Does that urge ever dissipate?

A Large Mushroom House & a Family

Sometime ago I suggested that you 'watch this space' as I was making a big Mushroom House for the small girls Kinder.. *

Well here it is all finished.

I really enjoyed needle/dry felting the roof, it was such a big area so I used two shades of red to give it a bit more character.

The 'stalk' section is 28cm height and although the felt was about 7mm thick it still needed a bit a support to stand upright without buckling from the weight of the roof so I used the rather interestingly named "stiffy" - a fabric stiffener.

I used it in vertical sections rather like pillars to provide support as I didn't want the whole house to become stiff and hard, I wanted to retain the natural soft fibrous feel of wool felt where possible.

I think it worked well, the house stands with no sign of buckling and it is still soft and natural to the touch.

I think the people are fairly happy in their new digs too.

Ooh Babies! It would seem the people are very happy in their new digs indeed.

* I am aware I also stated we'd be "off to Africa" last week but my journey has been delayed - my apologies for this.

We will most definitely be going though - soonish.

...And on that farm there was a...

Young MacPippi' had a farm

ee i ee i o

And on that farm there was a....

ee i ee o

and a

and some

Mother hen gather your chicks and RUN quickly from that sly fox.

and some

and some

and finally, a Wombat.

Next week we'll go to Africa!

Have a great weekend.

I Made This - Felt Food

Some time ago I began telling you about how I had stated that I could "most definitely make felt food" and of my subsequent desperate search for felt food patterns and ideas.

I loosely followed the patterns and suggested designs from Hiromi Hughes - Felt Cuisine for the pizza, the pikelets and berries and the cake.

How would you like to have some nice warm piklets with strawberries, raspberries and blueberries on a chilly winter's day?

Would you like a slice of "The Lot"?

Or perhaps some Strawberry Cake?

This little Corn Cob is all of my own designing and doing! I definitely Made This

I needle felted a cylindrical shape then needle felted it over with yellow corriedale wool. I then 'divided the corn cob from end to end with embroidery cotton until I had divided into 16ths.

I then back stitched my way around the corn from the top to the bottom to make the 'kernels'.

It took forever! And nearly a whole skein of cotton but I am very pleased with it.

Can you pick the 'impostor?'
I also figured it really couldn't be too hard to make fried eggs and a 'bit of steak'.

I simply cut out a wobbly 'egg white', sewed it(with the machine!) and turned right way out, then I blanket stitched the yolk on and lightly stuffed both the white and the yolk.

The steak was the tricky one, it took me ages to come up with this - I needled felted a 'rough ' steak shape then covered it with the red wool felt. I then sewed on the 'fat' with the white wool felt.
So there you have it. Sometimes I tell semi-truths that turn out to be 'truths'. Sometimes I learn a hard lesson about telling such semi-truths but mostly I am amazed at what I can actually do when I put my mind to it (especially when there is a witness to my "sure I can" response!).

This 'play' food will be going to the small girl's Kindergarten and I get to have a 'bit o play money in return'.

Have a great play today!