Hoppo Bumpo

The visitor

2011-10-11T13:29:00.007+11:00

Don't mind me.
No please, I insist.
I know I look quite big*.
And close.
But just carry on.
As if I weren't here.
I'll ... uh ... be sitting quietly.
Minding my own business.
Yup, yup, yup.

Hey ... is that a sandwich you're eating?

* 52 centimetres

This post brought to you as part of Blogtoberfest - October's blogging festival.

Shiny

2011-10-09T23:31:00.003+11:00

When I spied this thread at Open Drawer, I knew resistance was useless.

I quote from the packaging ...

This thread appears matt grey in ordinary diffuse light but flashes a luminous silver when viewed from the same direction as a light source. It is spectacular in low light or at night.

I wasn't sure why I needed it. Or what I would use it for.

All I knew was: Must. Have. Shiny. Object.

Sometime after the purchase of aforementioned thread, I remembered: I was about to make a coat (Jalie 2680 - Women's City Coat). And as you can see, this baby has a shedload of top-stitching.

Although the pattern instructions don't specifically recommend that said top-stitching should look spectacular in low light or at night ....

... I am sure that top-stitched seams flashing a luminous silver when viewed from the same direction as a light source will be a great asset.

Once I have finished the coat I will be able to go walking at night, secure in the knowledge that I will be visible from miles away.

Look out dear ... what's that in the headlights?
Why I do believe its a princess-seamed coat with wobbly top stitching.

This post brought to you as part of Blogtoberfest - October's blogging festival.

Here's one I prepared earlier

2011-10-08T20:20:00.006+11:00

Here is a little girl's skirt that I sewed a while ago*

I love this cute pattern - the "Insa skirt" - by Farbenmix. The design, with layering and ruching, reminds me of a princess skirt. It makes an excellent twirly party skirt.

The pattern is available individually or as part of the book "Sewing Clothes Kids Love" [Langdon & Pollehn, 2010 Creative Publishing International].

I've made this skirt once before using a dreamy pink fairy print, called the Sprites of Tillbrook. Regretably due to a lack of forethought about print placement, I decapitated some of said sprites.

I'm not sure about the wearer, but personally I still haven't recovered.

For this version I stuck with less risky Japanese sashiko stars in indigo and taupe. There's only just so much of a mess you can make with a bunch of stars.

* "A little while ago" may mean "10 months ago"

This post brought to you as part of Blogtoberfest - October's blogging festival.

If you do wot I say ...

2011-10-06T18:28:00.006+11:00

I just found this partly-penned gem. Clearly Argy has been putting his new-found writing skills into practice.

As Einstein so famously said, "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. So is a lot."

I can only guess how this would have ended if Argy knew more words.

The one in which I mentioned the thread once, but I think I got away with it

2011-10-05T23:33:00.006+11:00

Oooh ... lookee over here at all the pretty threads.

No, on second thought - if you don't live in Melbourne don't look at the overlocker threads. Quick ... avert your eyes. Pretend you never saw them.

And I'll be sure not to tell you that this little shop also has a wall ... yes a whole wall ... of zippers of every description. And beautiful interfacing for just $6 a metre.

Yep, I'm awfully glad you didn't see all that.

Anh Accessories Supply
407 Victoria Street
Richmond, Victoria
Open Monday - Saturday 9:00am - 5:30pm

This post brought to you as part of Blogtoberfest - October's blogging festival.

A bolt of fabric

2011-10-04T08:45:00.001+11:00

Earlier this year, when I made this bed cover as a gift, I learned a number of important things about fabric and bolts.

For example: I learned that you can't waltz into your local purveyor of fine fabrics and request 11 metres of their best. No siree.

Apparently your standard bolt in a patchwork store is liable to hold far less. And you will need to buy shorter pieces of different prints and do something called sewing to join them into a bed cover.

Just between you and I, I've heard that some people do this kind of thing just for fun. Sheesh, it takes all kinds, huh?

Prints by Tanya Whelan for Free Spirit - Delilah collection

But more importantly, I learned that a bolt is actually something your 4-year-old is liable to do whilst you are puzzling (in the aforementioned fabric store) over which prints go together and in what combination and quantity.

Yes, this sort of bolt compels you to run up and down the aisles, with eyes wide and bellowing your child's name like a fishwife.

The sort where other customers are liable to look and think ... Sheesh, it takes all kinds, huh?

This post brought to you as part of Blogtoberfest - October's blogging festival.

From the more-is-more school of thought

2011-10-03T11:59:00.002+11:00

A book of temporary tattoos.
A stealthy 4-year-old.
Four matching limbs.

Tatts a lot of body art.

This post brought to you as part of Blogtoberfest - October's blogging festival.

Simplicity 2506 mouse ears

2011-10-02T13:10:00.003+11:00

Recently it was "dress as your favourite book character" day at school. For the uninitiated this occassion is also known as send-your-mother-to-the-edge-of-madness-with-some-completely-outlandish-costume-request.

So when Argy announced he wanted to go as "The Gruffalo" with his terrible tusks and terrible claws and terrible teeth in his terrible jaws, I had to do some quick thinking.

"Er yes, wow, that's a great choice" I said, all the while trying to fathom how to construct terrible tusks and teeth. But then a brainwave: "How about the Mouse?" I suggested, hopefully. "Isn't the Mouse the hero of the story?" Argy looked a little uncertain, but agreed.

I swung into action (before he could change his mind) and started rifling through my pattern collection. Mouse, mouse, mouse ... surely there must be something here. Sure enough, I found a pristine Simplicity 2506 - view D included a sort of hood with mouse ears. Excellent.

But my moment of triumph dissipated when I saw the words "Costumes for Toddlers".

Yes, there was no denying it: the pattern envelope clearly showed a bunch of smiling babies modelling the costumes. Bother. I looked back and forth between the pattern and 6-year-old Argy's well-above-average crown circumference. This was going to call for a little ingenuity.

I traced off the hood pattern pieces and then after taking a few flat pattern measurements, decided to employ an alteration technique called the LNA ("Large Noggin Adjustment"). The LNA (which is sometimes also referred in the trade as the "Big Head Spread"), involved slashing and adding extra real estate to all the pattern pieces making up the hood.

With the addition of a couple of darts, the fit was good and I was able to make up a snug mousy hood in brown fleece and beige tricot. I was quite pleased with the result. That is, except for a lingering doubt: when I changed the size of the hood, should I have graded up the mouse ears?

I soon knew the answer. On the morning of "dress as your favourite book character" Argy proudly wore his costume to school. "Hey ... look its a koala" yelled someone.

With my costume-making pride just a little dented, I tried to see the bight side. At least that's next year's costume sorted: Argy can go as Blinky Bill.

This post brought to you as part of Blogtoberfest - October's blogging festival.

/blôgˈtoʊbərˈfest/ (noun)

2011-10-01T21:30:00.000+10:00

This poor craft blog. Its suffered months of neglect: no words, no pictures. Some 722 blog posts have been sitting about, gathering dust. The only visitors have been ones with unusual names like Viagra, Toilet Paper, Learn Spanish and Protein Powder (.. granted they do always stop and take the time to leave such thoughtful shopping recommendations).

Anyway, its time to pull up my socks and get writing again (although I am at a loss to explain how socks will help ... unless they are toe socks, because they like, totally help with typing).

To get back into the habit, I'm joining in with the an annual blogging event, Blogtoberfest. So I'll see you again soon .... I'll be the one in the stripey socks.

Nanna

2011-07-01T20:45:00.002+10:00

There's been a bit of a craft and writing hiatus in these here parts. Whoops. Something tells me its time to reorganise my priorities. Can you help? Let's close our eyes and repeat together: a tidy house is a sign of a wasted life; a tidy house is a sign of a wasted life.

Eyes open again? Good.

Last week (as the ironing accumulated, floor gathered dust and children went hungry) I managed to complete a small project. This is my entry for the "Hottie Cover Challenge Exhibition", which is a charitable initiative being run by retail gallery, Open Drawer. All money raised will be going to the Margaret Pratt Foundation.

Now to clarify, a hottie cover is something you put a hot water bottle into ... and not a handsome bloke from the front of a magazine. The latter was guessed by a hopeful family member. (Yes, I'm looking at you Argy and Bargy's auntie!)

My hot water bottle cover has been submitted as part of a large group entry, organised by the lovely Cam from Curlypops.

I jokingly told Cam I was going to do something a bit nanna. Sadly the only nanna-ish thing I could think to make was er, an actual nanna.

Anyway, here is Nanna sitting in a chair with a knee rug and her own hottie.

The front of the cover is osnaburg and the back is made up mystery blue and pink florals that caught my eye in Spotlight.

Nanna is a combination of dimensional applique, beading and free-motion machine stitching.

It was the first time I had tried "drawing" with a machine. This will come as no surprise to those of you who had already noticed that nanna has an unusually square nose and weirdly shaped feet. (Goodness gracious, lucky I wasn't trying to stitch that handsome bloke from the front of the magazine cover. Can you imagine what I might have done to a six pack?)

If you would like to see some absolutely beautiful examples of hottie covers - with not a square nose in sight - do try and pop into Open Drawer between now and 24 July. If you are out-of-town you can take a virtual tour of a selection of covers right here.

Hottie Cover Exhibition
1 - 24 July 2011
Open Draw
1156 Toorak Road
Camberwell

Exhibition opening
6 - 8pm Friday 1 July
All hotties are for sale with proceeds to the Margaret Pratt Foundation

A birthday cake epilogue (or "Happy Mothers Day")

2011-05-08T13:31:00.001+10:00

"I'd like to be the ideal mother, but I'm too busy raising my kids."
Source: Unknown

Its Mother's Day: the perfect day to write a little epilogue to the story of the Octonaut's birthday cake.

I received such lovely, generous comments to last week's birthday cake post, that I thought I ought to set the record a little straighter. Here, friends, is the reality ...

The cake was made with a commercial packet mix
The cake fell apart when I turned it out of the tin - who the heck gets a packet mix wrong?
I ~~swore a lot~~ made a polite exasperated sound
I made another packet mix cake
The bottom fell off the cake - what kind of clown gets two packet mixes wrong?
I ran out of packet mixes. More swearing.
I had to glue the cake back together with fondant icing - a shedload of icing.
There was a disproportionate (and unfavourable) cake-to-icing ratio
The Octonauts decorations were really tricky to construct. I am afflicted with sausage-fingers. I spilt purple food dye down a cupboard. I glared at anyone who approached the kitchen. I spent more time on the cake, than I did holding the party. I swore a lot.
I don't think anyone actually liked eating the cake. Even the small children. That's saying something .... small children will eat anything inanimate labelled cake.
Not long after the party finished, I found Bargy breaking all the Octonaut decorations into small pieces (Look mum, I made a jigsaw). They were only icing. But I cried anyway.

This has been a real blog post from a real mum. All the rest that you see here at Hoppo Bumpo is nice camera angles and the use of a thesaurus.

A very happy Mothers Day to all the mums out there. (Remember: smoke-and-mirrors are your friends.)

Liesl xx

Octo-what?

2011-04-30T12:00:00.004+10:00

Argy recently turned 6 and, as is our custom, placed a request for a special birthday cake. I held my breath. The Octonauts, he declared.

Whew. The Octonauts - a crew of storybook (and now animated) animals who roam the ocean and have adventures - are pretty cute. They would be fun to do.

But then Argy added the qualifier: the Octopod please, mum.

If you are unfamiliar with the Octonauts, may I present the four-armed, glass-domed under-water vehicle they call the Octopod.

Source: The Octonauts

Dear reader, is this a shape that really says cake to you?

Er, non?

After negotiations about the design (where its rumoured I resorted to half-truths about not having the right food colouring to make the Octopod) we decided upon some of the Octonaut characters and an underwater scene.

So we fashioned Captain Barnacles, Kwasi Cat and Peso Penguin (top photo) along with ...

... seaweed and coral ...

... and wee fish, stars and a 6 ...

... and came up with this instead.

Its not quite the Octopod, but Argy was very happy with it.

NB. If you're the gambling type, I'm opening the books and taking bets on possible 7th birthday cake requests: a watch mechanism; the planetary system; a Harrier jump jet; and Brighton Pavilion.

Lanes

2011-04-17T19:44:00.003+10:00

I had to run some errands in the city yesterday, so Argy came along and we made a bit of a day of it. After admiring the treasure-troves at Tessuti and Cake Deco, we spent some time exploring Melbourne's quirky city lanes.

My favourite was Presgrave Place (above) where we found this ramshackle red couch and art prints hung along the brick walls.

I would have felt quite at home in this alley, if it weren't for Argy standing holding his nose disdainfully: eeewwww ... who's making that awful stink mum? (Er, perhaps more like home than I thought).

In Hosier Place, Argy enjoyed blending into the surrounds. We spent ages admiring the amazing artwork. A lovely time had by all.

(Note to self: must remember to reiterate that crayon on walls at home does not fall within the bounds of street art).

Washi out

2011-04-16T20:04:00.005+10:00

Please choose the correct response ...

This lovely new Japanese washi masking tape:

is a unique craft and design product
will have an abundance of creative and decorative uses
will most likely have its life cut short (please refer Exhibit A, below)

Yes: two boys and a roll of (non-washi) masking tape. The elder completely taped to the chair.

I was forced to intervene at the end of this game, when I overheard Bargy saying to his older brother "Now Argy, you will have to be a brave boy".

I'll leave you to imagine where the scissors were poised.

MT masking tape
10 pack - pastels
10m x 15mm

Three cheers

2011-02-07T18:54:00.003+11:00

It was five year-old Argy's first day at primary school today. He was very excited and it all went well. His younger brother - four year-old Bargy - starts kindergarten this Wednesday.

Some days the boys will be at school and kindergarten ... at the same time.

The house will be quiet won't it?

Yipppppeeeee!

Hip-hip-hooray!

[Insert sound of clinking glasses, party tooters and marching band here]

Wooohooooooo!

Today, I wish ...

2011-01-25T08:49:00.006+11:00

... I was a cat*

* Except for the bit about not having opposable thumbs, because I would quite like to do some sewing too

Almost a Choc Ripple

2011-01-24T18:49:00.008+11:00

Do you go through cooking fads and fashions?

I have to admit that I do. For example, years ago I loved the notion of the "copy cat" recipe. In my student days I couldn't get enough of the "secrets" of making commercial foods. McDonald's special sauce or KFC's coleslaw, anyone? Not surprisingly, it was a short-lived phase. Especially when I worked out that spending lots of time trying to recreate convenience food was in fact quite inconvenient. And that on the whole, homecooking is much nicer.

Yet recently I've started to entertain notions of copy-cat cookery again. One of the kids has quite severe allergies to egg and nuts and commercial treats have been off the agenda for a few years. But seriously, how long can one reasonably go without a packet of Arnott's Choc Ripples in the pantry? (I've never told anyone, but I have recurring dreams of the iconic Australian freezer dessert, the Choc Ripple cake).

So last week when I chanced upon "Chocolate Lace Crisps" in Chocolate - 70 delicious recipes by The Australian Woman's Weekly I could barely believe my eyes. The canyony surface; the dark chocolatey colour. Mmmmm - clearly a Choc Ripple doppelgänger, if I ever saw one.

I went a bit crazy and made two batches only days apart. The second time 5 year old Argy helped out. He loved helping roll the cookies and toss them in sugar before placing them on baking trays.

I am not so sure about his technique of blowing excess sugar off the cookies. I don't think they would do that at Arnotts.

Almost Choc Ripple cookies

Adapted from Chocolate Lace Crisps in Chocolate - 70 delicious recipes by The Australian Woman's Weekly

100g (3½oz) chocolate
80g (3oz) butter
1 cup caster (super fine) sugar
1 tablespoon Orgran (or other brand) egg replacer + 2 tablespoons water (or use 1 egg)
1 cup plain (all purpose) flour
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
¼ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
¼ cup icing (confectioner's) sugar

Sift the dry ingredients (except the icing/confectioner's sugar) and combine in a bowl
Melt the chocolate and butter
Stir the melted mixture into the dry ingredients
Refrigerate for about 15 minutes
Roll into about 2 dozen balls
Toss in icing sugar
Space on 2 large baking trays lined with baking paper
Bake for 12 - 15 minutes at 180ºC (350ºF)

Snowing in Paris?

2011-01-23T20:25:00.002+11:00

Its a little bit old fashioned, I know. Maybe a bit nanna. Do you wear one?

I decided I needed a new half-slip after experiencing a mishap in a public place. (By mishap I essentially mean static build-up between my jersey skirt and undies.) When faced with the choice between being a bit nanna and experiencing a wardrobe malfunction that draws attention to my ...er, drawers ... I'll choose nanna any day.

So this is what I sewed this weekend.

I used a piece of slinky tricot. I have to confess that there is nary a natural fibre to be found. The tricot has nylon written all over it ... and I suspect it would go woof if I stood too near a naked flame. But it seems to do the trick - despite high fire danger, there is no more electrical charge.

The construction was very basic. Essentially two rectangles seamed together with a circle of elastic applied at the waist.

There is of course the unwritten rule when sewing Nanna Lingerie that dictates the addition of a lacy trim.

So I used a tight zigzag stitch to attach lace trim (nylon of course) to the right side of the slip ...

... then trimmed close to the stitching to remove the excess fabric from the wrong side.

But what of my reference to it snowing in Paris?

Well, in my childhood I learned that this was the discreet way of pointing out another sort of wardrobe malfunction - a half-slip dropped below one's hemline.

I love this expression. I doubt its heard much these days. Certainly not as often as "Your whale tale* is showing" or "Is that the strap of your over-the-shoulder boulder holder?**".

Or "Hey lady, your skirt is stuck to your bloomers".

* back of a g-string/thong
** brassiere

I have a custom showercap and bathing goodies giveaway in aid of the Premier's Flood Relief Fund that is open until midday this Wednesday 24 January (one entry for every $5 donation to the fund). Do also check out an amazing array of auctions, proceed sales and raffles over at Make It Perfect.

Keeping it real

2011-01-18T13:04:00.000+11:00

What a relief. Frankly there's nothing more disappointing than finding your cookie is made of imaginary ingredients. (Though it does help if you are counting those calories).

Shower cap giveaway in aid of Queensland flood relief appeal

2011-01-17T23:46:00.010+11:00

Shower cap in Trefle by Kokka.
Lined with black nylon.
Trimmed with handmade bias binding.

Do you need a new shower cap? Would you like to donate to a good cause? I am having a handmade shower cap giveaway, as part of Make It Perfect's Queensland Flood Appeals Auctions.

For every $5 donation made to the Premier's Flood Relief Appeal I will give you 2 entries in the giveaway.

If you are the winner, you will receive either this handmade shower cap ... or I will make a custom cap that suits your taste. I will also pop in some bathing goodies, to complement your new shower cap.

All you need to do is make a donation to the Queensland Government's Premier's Flood Relief Appeal and then leave a comment here with your receipt number. If you would like to enter more than once, please leave a separate comment with each receipt number.

If you could ensure that there's a way I can contact you through a blog or e-mail address, that would be great. I am happy to post worldwide. I will randomly draw the winner next Wednesday 26th January 12 midday (Australian eastern standard time).

Any questions? E-mail me at liesl[at]hoppobumpo[dot]com.

Please look at the huge list of auctions over at Make It Perfect. If my shower cap doesn't appeal to you, then I am sure you will see something amazing over there that will!

Update (26 January 2011) : congratulations to Cathie of Melbourne Epicure who won the draw. A big thank you to everyone who entered and for your generous donations to the Premier's Flood Relief Appeal.

The flood appeal

2011-01-12T11:24:00.005+11:00

Friends, this is the study where I write this blog.

Its upstairs and I get a good view. Its high. And by Mr Hoppo Bumpo's reckoning, this window would be submerged if we unlucky enough to be in the path of the sort of flood they have in Queensland.

As I write, a place called Savages Crossing has recorded a water level of 24.2 metres (78 feet). This is an unimaginable amount of water. Its very frightening.

The good people of Queensland need a lot of help: lives have been lost; a large number of people are missing; homes, businesses and infrastructure destroyed. An area greater than the size of France and Germany combined is affected.

If you would like to help, you might like to take a look at the Flood Appeal Auctions being coordinated by Toni Coward of Make It Perfect. All money raised will go to the Premier's Flood Relief Appeal which has been launched by the Queensland Government.

Toni is preparing a list of bloggers and Facebook devotees who have promised to auction, sell or raffle handmade items to raise money for the appeal.

In the meantime have a look at Toni's fabulous auction which kicked off this morning. Its for a signed copy of her beautiful new book Make It Perfect [ISBN 9780670074174 Penguin Books, 2010], as well as some other goodies.

The Premier's Flood Relief Appeal

Crossing my eyes and dotting my tees

2011-01-11T23:14:00.001+11:00

Stupid is, as stupid does [Forrest Gump, 1994]

I seem to be suffering an afflication of the BFs at the moment. If you are not sure of what BF stands for then please refer to the Wikipedia entry for ... ahem ... brain fart. Of course we try not to use that kind of language here at Chez Hoppo Bumpo. The word fart is is never uttered in front of Argy and Bargy, lest they misuse it in an important social situation).

Anyway, where was I?

Oh yes. I've been on a bit of a t-shirt making spree. The three pictured above are based on a favourite Jalie pattern. Its #2005 - ladies t-shirts with scoop, boat and V neckline variations and short or 3/4 length sleeves.

Now given that I've already made a couple of these t-shirts, one might suppose that the third, fourth and fifth would have been a breeze. I've tried hard, I promise; to do all the right things. But, as I mentioned I have been hampered by a touch of the BFs.

Let's see ...

Exhibit A (red)
I attached the neck binding the wrong way round. Although it looks OK, I felt a little annoyed at myself as I did the same thing on t-shirt no.1. Oh well, better luck next time.

Exhibit B (stone)
Apparently luck has nothing to do with sewing. Despite paying careful attention, I attached the neck binding the wrong way round ... again. Seriously. I also appear to have transposed the sleeves, so that the wrong side of the fabric shows to the right side. Ooops. Perhaps not obvious to the passer-by .... but I know ... and now, if you happen to bump into me, you will know too.

Exhibit C (stripe)
Hoorah, the neck binding is the right way round. And my first foray into matching stripes was mostly successful. Sadly I set both sleeves in backwards. Yes, backwards. Luckily this oddity is virtually indistinguishable if I adopt a Mick Jagger-like strut, with my arms sort of bent at an odd angle. And my chest sort of stuck out. Which trust me, would almost ensure that you'd be likely to bump into me ... ahem ... if you know what I mean (but of course, I don't think I should be going down that path today ... as I have already blotted my copy book by mentioning farts.)

Summer days (and a spot of spelunking)

2011-01-10T21:00:00.002+11:00

I am listening to the patter of large rain drops on our roof. Its a muggy, misty afternoon and our family's new year holiday - filled with blue sky, warm breezes and fresh country air - seems an eon ago already.

If you too, are sitting somewhere grey, lean in a little closer to your monitor. Look at the blue, blue sky in this next holiday snap. Perhaps we can pretend its sunny, together?

Hang on. Ooops.

Apparently, that's not the sky after all. We're looking down a steep hill, here ... and that's water at the bottom.

This is Blue Lake in Mount Gambier, South Australia. Isn't it the most exquisite colour? Even more beautiful than a summer sky.

Most of the year the lake is steel grey in colour, but changes in the summer. From memory the transformation is a chemical reaction related to temperature ... rhubarb, rhubarb, rhubarb ... calcium carbonate ... rhubarb, rhubarb ... and wavelengths of light. (Whew, I think I almost got away with that explanation.)

The lake is situated in an extinct volcanic crater; one of a series in the area. The city of Mount Gambier is known for its craters, sinkholes and caves.

We also did a little cave exploration while we were visiting the city. This dark, cool limestone space is Engelbrecht's Cave, which stretches underneath a number of suburban streets. We took a very interesting tour.

Some of the tour party would have heard interesting facts about its formation and features and how its a popular cave diving site. Me? I mostly heard things along the lines of fault lines and collapse and how a power pole in an adjacent street mysteriously disappeared into a cavernous void one evening.

My attention wandered a little as I pondered whether our parked car might suddenly drop through onto our heads.

Luckily my attention was diverted as the tour guide cheerily told us that the word spelunk means "to explore caves for fun". Which is funny, because I thought it was more likely to be the noise I'd make if I lost my footing on, say, quite a steep stair case. Arrrrrggghhh ..... spelunk.

Thankfully, I managed to descend this particular set of stairs without incident. They lead to another of Mount Gambier's beautiful natural features - the Umpherston Sinkhole.

That's natural in the sense has-had-a-formal-garden-planted-smack-in-the-middle-of-it.

Apparently one Mr J. Umpherston thought that this spectacular limestone sinkhole would look better as formal sunken garden. The one-time cave is full of ivy, ferns and moptop hydrangeas arranged on terraces. Planted in the late 1880s, it remains a lush green garden to this day.

I have to say I liked the pretty hydrangeas ... and roofless cave ... very much.

No cars or power poles to fall through on one's head.
(Are you sensing the joys of spelunking were a little lost on me?)

Umpherston Sinkhole
Jubilee Highway
Mount Gambier, South Australia 5290
Open sunrise to 1am (floodlit at night).
Entry free.

Engelbrechts's Cave
Chute Street
Mount Gambier, South Australia 5290
Entry fee applies. 45 minute guided tour.
Mon - Fri: 10am - 2pm
Sat: 10am - 2pm
Sun: 10am - 2pm
Public Holiday: 10am - 2pm
Good Friday: 10am - 2pm

Blue Lake
John Watson Drive
Mount Gambier, South Australia 5290
Free (3.6 kilometre road and walking track)

Farewell 2010

2010-12-31T22:05:00.007+11:00

Another year done and dusted.

Best wishes to you and your loved ones for 2011. May the new year be filled with health and happiness and (if you are so inclined) lots of craft.

To everyone who dropped by Hoppo Bumpo this year - thank you! Without the warm and funny people who drop by here to read and leave comments, it wouldn't be half as fun.

Luck

2010-12-30T22:29:00.005+11:00

Luck (n): unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another

For example, in the pan above we see 3 cups of sugar, 2 cups of water, a stick of butter and some bicarbonate of soda at a rolling boil. The fact that 30 seconds later the volume of the mixture exceeded the pan's capacity is what we might call bad luck.

By contrast, the example above is one of "good luck". Here we see that commenter number 4 from this giveaway has won a 2011 Sewing Calendar. Congratulations to Peppermint Penguin and thank you so much to everyone who gave me such a laugh. All of your excuses were brilliant and I enjoyed reading them very much!

Sprite skirt

2010-12-27T11:43:00.016+11:00

Its the most wonderful time of the year
With the kids jingle belling
And me sewing lots of girls frilly gear
It's the most wonderful time of the year
It's the hap-happiest season of all
Making holiday dresses and pink ruffled messes
Oh I have a ball
It's the hap- happiest season of all

[With apologies to Mr Andy Williams]

How I love December and all it brings. Most particularly the chance to sew gifts for little girls. Pink, pink, pink, pink, pink, pink, pink, pink, pink, pink.

(Permission to slap me: granted).

This is a little party skirt I made for one of my nieces. Its a two-layered, gored skirt with a yoke and elasticised waist. The over-skirt gores have nice vertical gathers, using elastic. I had so much fun making this.

The over-skirt seams are embellished with a bit of pink ribbon.

The underskirt seams are top-stitched with the fanciest stitch I have on my machine. (I call it the cardiogram stitch, but you might know it by something else. Something, ahem, eminently more sensible.)

The prints I used are from Alexander Henry's beautiful Sprites of Tillbrook range. I adore the fairy and toadstool prints. Regrettably, after labouring over positioning of said fairies on the skirt panels ...

... I must admit the yoke cutting was a bit slipshod. Headless sprites, anyone? Hopefully my 5 year old niece hasn't noticed the decapitation situation.

The pattern I used for this little skirt is by Farbenmix. The Insa skirt pattern is available individually or as part of the book "Sewing Clothes Kids Love" [Langdon & Pollehn, 2010 Creative Publishing International].

If you a fan of the whimsical Farbenmix childrens' patterns, the book is a great way to purchase a selection of patterns. There are 10 patterns all sized from babies 18 months through to kids size 12. And the designs are gorgeous.

Skirts, dresses, leggings, shrugs. Frills, flounces, ruffles. So much pretty eye candy. Hmmm ... Clothes Kids Love, you say?

It might not be the sort of book you'd invest in if you had say, eight or nine sons. None of the designs are specifically for those of the more Y-chromosonal-persuasion and only a couple of the 10 are unisex (that is, unless your boy child is open to wearing something twirly called the Feliz Party Dress).

Never-the-less, its a delightful book with beautiful patterns and excellent instructions. My only qualm is with the title. (Though I should think that my alternate title - Sewing Clothes That Boys May Object To - would be knocked back by a marketing focus group.)

My review of the Insa Skirt pattern can be found over here at PatternReview.com

If you would like to enter my 2011 Sewing Calendar giveaway, click here.

Excuses, excuses (or: "How to use a sewing-related giveaway to gloss over a 50 day absence")

2010-12-26T23:00:00.004+11:00

Alibi, clearance, confession, cop-out, cover-up, excuse, defence, extenuation, facade, gloss, immunity, guise, indemnity, justification, lie, mitigation, pardon, pretense, pretext, rationalisation, reason, sham, story, subterfuge.

Goodness gracious; its been a while. What reason could there possibly be for not writing one's blog for so long? If you could think up a suitable excuse, I would be very much obliged.

If you leave a suggestion here, I will also pop you in the running to win a copy of the "2011 Sewing Calendar" released by Accord Publishing. Entries are open until 9am Thursday 30 December (Australian Eastern Standard time) and anyone is welcome to enter. A winner will be drawn at random and - being as 2011 is almost upon us - the calendar sent post haste.

(Remember: Outlandish is good. Mirth is encouraged.)

In the meantime, here is a little more about this lovely calendar.

2011 Sewing Calendar
Page-a-Day Calendar, 430 pages
Megan Smith (editor)
ISBN 0740797077
RRP AUD$27.99

The year-round sewing enthusiast will love this calendar. There are over 100 terrific projects for everyday home use, as well as lovely gifts for giving. If you enjoy reading sewing blogs, you will recognise many of the contributors, including these talented ladies. There's a new project every three days, presented as a handy fold-out page. Step-by-step instructions are accompanied by illustrations and pattern pieces.

Thank you to Megan Smith, for including a project from me too. Coincidentally it falls exactly one year from today - 26 December. Maybe I'll see you this time next year for a spot of sewing?

Hoppo Bumpo and the Pants of Misfortune

2010-11-07T08:05:00.002+11:00

A few months ago I decided I was rather fed up with making toiles. All those calico practice-runs were slowly sapping my sewing spirit. Darn it, I wanted to take a pattern out of the envelope and just make something. No re-drawing this, that and the other; no taking a bit in here and letting some out there; nothing. So I started looking for a short cut.

I started my quest with Kwik Sew 3716. The blurb on the envelope said it was a semi-fitted jacket. Perfect. As we all know, semi is the Latin for not really.

So after a few cursory measurements, I cut the pattern and fabric and got sewing with some nice grey Ponte di Roma. It was so much fun just to sew something without labouring over all the alterations. Liberating even.

But as I got closer and closer to the finish (and started trying on 3716) I could see things were going a little awry. The shoulders were droopy. The back looked awfully wide. The jacket was going to be swimming on me. The sewing started to become slower and slower as I tried to put off the inevitable - completing the ill-fitting Jacket of Doom.

To this day, Doom sits waiting for its sleeves to be set in and a hem to be stitched.

But not to be defeated (read: not having learned my lesson) I decided to look at smaller pattern companies for my magic-no-alteration-needed pattern. Then I found it: an independent pattern line promising that it had been drafted for people with big stomach bones. My eyes lit up. This was my ticket to alteration emancipation. I snapped up a pattern for yoga pants*.

I raced home with the pattern and cut and sewed the yoga pants.

Everything was great. Well, except for the fact that the pants were a bit short. And the top was all puffy and the legs too narrow at the bottom. In fact I looked a little bit like MC Hammer.

Never mind. I went back to the pattern and cut a smaller front and a longer, wider leg. Then I cut and sewed the yoga pants.

Everything was great. Well, except for the fact that the top of the pants was still too puffy. And the crotch was a bit short and I had to speak with quite a high voice.

Never mind. I went back to the pattern and redrafted the crotch curve and took a tuck out of the front of the pattern. Then I cut and sewed the yoga pants.

Everything was great. Well, except the back of the pants looked saggy and there was a funny protrusion at the centre front seam. And I looked a bit like Harry High Pants.

Never mind. I went back to the pattern and added two darts at the back and reshaped the centre front seam. I lowered the waist at the back to account for my sway back. Then I cut and sewed the yoga pants.

Now as you can see above, everything is great. Well almost. OK ... not quite.

Lesson learned.

* For British readers I mean "pants" in the sense of "trousers" and not "pants" as in "undies". Because frankly it would a little bit wrong to do an exercise class in your undies. Unless its that really weird Bikram Yoga where the room is heated like a furnace. I've never been to one of those, but I should imagine that everyone would need to be in their undies.

Overheard

2010-11-03T20:46:00.003+11:00

Argy: Hey Bargy, look at this red flower.

Bargy: [prods centre] What do you think the middle is made out of?

Argy: [confidently] Its black fabric.

Bargy: Wow.

I can see how easily the rumour that the moon is made of cheese started.

And the production line starts ....

2010-11-02T20:57:00.001+11:00

This week - following a few pattern tweaks - I started on my Jalie #2005 t-shirt production line. As the old saying goes "when you're on to a good thing ... make at least 50 of it". Or was that "too many knits are never enough"?

Anyway, the first cab off the rank was this plain black tee in a cotton-lycra blend.

For this version of the t-shirt, I replaced the fabric neck band with fold-over elastic (below). I'd never tried fold-over elastic before, so had a few little practice runs on scraps.

It was fairly easy to apply and I quite like the finish it gives. My pattern had a V-neck, so I cut it a little rounder. (I'm deeply suspicious that stitching elastic into a point could end up in all kinds of ugly).

I finished the hems on both the sleeves and at the bottom of the t-shirt using a twin needle. The sleeves are passable but not my finest work. A channel appeared between the two lines of stitching and harsh words were said (most of them naughty, unrepeatable ones).

Luckily when I got to the main hem, I remembered to fuse Vliesofix tape inside the fold for a bit of stability. The stitching sits quite nicely and I think I have a finished garment that looks vaguely store-bought. (Or maybe just vague. Oh, no, that would be me, the wearer.)

Now I am looking forward to getting started on some more tees using nice colours from my collection of knit fabrics. (The floral print is a stretchy Liberty Print, which I am working up the courage to ~~hack into~~ cut.)

Now a little footnote to my previous Jalie t-shirt post. This is for those readers who left unsolicited comments regarding ... ahem ... my rack.

Yes, you know who you are. This is just for you.

Its a close-up of my big pear.

Gift voucher winner

2010-11-01T15:45:00.001+11:00

I have drawn the winner of my Mooo Design gift certificate.

So just what is the probability of #1 appearing when one uses a random number generator? Anyone, anyone? I don't think I was paying attention in maths that day. And others for that matter. I dread the day the boys ask me for help with their quadratic function homework.

But I digress ...

Congratulations to the lovely Beck - you were #1. Keep an eye out for your certificate which will arrive by e-mail. Enjoy!

And thank you very much to everyone who took the time to enter the giveaway. Stay tuned for another one coming up very soon.

Bloomin' marvellous {Blogtoberfest day 31}

2010-10-31T20:30:00.005+11:00

This is how the garden looked a couple of days ago. See how the mass of spring blooms swaying in the warm breeze and dappled sunlight were cluttering the place up? Ixia flowers everywhere.

Thankfully some 50mm of rain has taken care of the problem.

Yep. Shredded. Decimated. Shuffled off the mortal coil. Ex-Ixias.

Along with that pesky rose. The one with dozens of buds that were threatening to flower. The branches fell off overnight. (That should save on pruning).

I'm not upset. No. No. Its fine. Really.

Bye, bye October - it was fun being part of Blogtoberfest. Thanks Cathy for hosting the month long blogging festival.

A Mooo review ... and a giveaway too {Blogtoberfest day 30}

2010-10-30T14:30:00.004+11:00

When Ben at Mooo Design contacted me recently and asked if I would like to review a product, I was delighted. Yes, yes, yes I would!

If you're not familiar with Mooo Design, its an Australian store online, that specialises in unique baby and children's gifts and clothing. They offer a range of really beautiful personalised products for baby, toddlers and kids. Their website is brimming with eye candy.

Anyway, Ben's offer was serendipitious. Back here at Chez Hoppo Bumpo, I'd been bemoaning the fact that the main wall in the playroom was looking a bit shabby (read: decorated with tattered Star Wars posters and some unauthorised orange pencil). So I asked whether I might review the (removable) Chalkboard Wall Stickers.

And this is what turned up - a beautiful mixed pack of large stars, space ships, cars, robots and other fun shapes.

Argy and Bargy were pretty excited and gave me a hand with putting the stickers up. The shapes were up in no time at all and looked fantastic (see above).

The boys have really loved drawing and "writing" on the fun shapes. The robots and cars have been particularly popular.

Even after being heavily decorated, the high quality chalkboard wipes perfectly clean with a soft cloth. Fabulous!

If you are looking for a fun way to decorate a wall at home - or for a gift idea - I can highly recommend these Wall Stickers. With a range of shapes and sizes to choose from, what's not to love?

A special thanks to Mooo Design for your generosity - you've transformed our playroom!

Now for the fun bit for you.

When I was looking around the Mooo Design website I noticed that the store has gift certificates. So, I would like to give one reader a gift: a voucher to the value of AUD$20 to use for a spot of shopping at Mooo Design.

To be in the running all you need to do is leave a comment here (... and don't forget to go take a look around Mooo Design, too!).

Please make sure that you leave a valid link or e-mail address so that I can contact you if you win. Everyone is welcome to enter. I will randomly draw a winner from the people who have commented before midnight on Sunday 31 October (local time, Melbourne Australia) the following morning. The gift voucher will be e-mailed.

Good luck!

EDIT: Entries have now closed for the giveaway.

To see more of October's blogging festival Blogtoberfest hop over here.

Captive {Blogtoberfest day 28}

2010-10-27T23:43:00.006+11:00

Stockholm syndrome: paradoxical psychological phenomenon where a hostage begins to have positive feelings towards his/her captor

I found this so-called technical book in Mr HB's possession this morning. But look closely at the title. Is there not something a little odd there?

Friends, have the mountains of stashed fabric at our place finally taken their toll?

For more of Blogtoberfest pop over here.

An elephant birthday cake {Blogtoberfest day 24}

2010-10-24T20:24:00.005+11:00

Here is Bargy's 4th birthday cake depicting (as requested) his cuddly elephant, Ellie (below).

I fashioned the sugary Ellie using Wilton's Ready-To-Use Gumpaste. Its quite pricey in Australia, but is easy to work with and sets very well.

The hardest part was trying to reproduce Ellie's sad mottled grey-blue, saggy appearance. (Her replica is possibly just a hair's-breadth away from being Cake Wrecks-worthy).

Jalie t-shirt {Blogtoberfest day 22}

2010-10-22T18:15:00.002+11:00

If you look carefully, this blog is littered with evidence of unequal numbers of project starts and project finishes. Put bluntly: my craft completion rate is slower than a herd of turtles stampeding through peanut butter. Thankfully a lack of summer attire and a patch of warm weather have forced my hand a little on the "finishing" bit.

This ladies' top was sewn yesterday. I used Jalie pattern #2005. Its a popular t-shirt pattern with variations on sleeve length (3/4 and short) and necklines (V, scoop and boat). My version has the V-neck and short sleeves and is made up in a knit that I purchased from Spotlight a while back. The pattern is great - I will definitely make more tees from this.

However, I must not mislead you into thinking that this was a project started and finished in a single day.

Source: Jalie patterns

You see, Jalie #2005 is out-of-print pattern - available only as a download. At USD$8.99 its very reasonably priced and delivered as quickly as you can press Add to cart and Purchase. But there are some 72 pages to print and tape together.

And according to records it took me more than 6 months to complete the sticky taping. I don't think paper-craft is really my thing, do you?.

My review of this pattern can be found at PatternReview.com

My creative space {Blogtoberfest day 21}

2010-10-21T09:52:00.001+11:00

Sitting on my desk this week is a small stack of Jalie patterns. The near parity between the Australian and US dollars means that I was able to buy these online for nearly half what I would pay in Australia.

To avoid too many questions about this purchase, I have arranged the acquisitions so that this trouser pattern is on top.

Friends, there is no way Mr HB will want to investigate said purchases if he thinks that I might want to sew him something. You know ... to wear.

Of course if you have used Jalie patterns before, you'll know that they are multi-sized from child to adult. This one is intended to be new trousers for Argy and Bargy. But there's no need for Mr HB to know that ... we'll keep that our secret. OK?

In fact I might even add a tape measure and a pad and pencil close by ... with alarming things like inner leg jotted on it.

To see more lovely Creative Spaces head over to Kootoyoo.

Head over here for more of Blogtoberfest.

Happy birthday, Bargy {Blogtoberfest day 20}

2010-10-20T10:14:00.006+11:00

Bargy ...

... master of disguise ...

... and wanton vandal ...

... is 4 today.

Now if you could excuse me, I think you'll see the necessity for investigating why its gone so quiet downstairs.

Four warned {Blogtoberfest day 19}

2010-10-19T23:59:00.004+11:00

Do you ever have a brilliant idea ... only to find that the execution is completely flawed?

Its Bargy's 4th birthday this week and as is customary, we needed to make a little something for his kindergarten classmates. My smashing idea was to colour ready-to-roll fondant (white) icing, before cutting out simple decorations for cupcakes.

I rifled through the playdough cutters and got to work on cutting out blue circles and two dozen red fours.

It wasn't until I'd embarked on this venture and passed the point of no return (read: coloured half a kilo of icing in an alarming shade of carmine), that I realised there was a problem.

Yup. The triangles. Can you guess how tricky removing the middles from two dozen fours is?

Four crying out loud: please always check your playdough cutter font before getting started.

This has been a community service announcement.

Jersey how quickly it can all go wrong? {Blogtoberfest day 17}

2010-10-17T14:39:00.002+11:00

A couple of weeks ago I stumbled across this beautiful piece of black and avocado jersey (when I say stumbled I do mean in the sense drove 8kms to a fabric shop and looked for half an hour). The beautiful drape and slightly abstracted tulip motif looked perfect for a skirt. I decided to use my new self-drafted knit skirt pattern and set to cutting out the two yoke and skirt pieces.

The fabric was lovely to work with.

The pieces sat obediently flat as I cut - there wasn't even so much as hint of a curl at the edges. It pinned together and machined like a dream. I gazed at the soothing green print. I began to think it was the nicest fabric I had ever used. In fact - I loved it.

That was until the incident.

Now as you might be aware, that most sewing events that are classed as an incident, involve an overlocker. And this was no different.

As I tried to make unfinished edges look pretty, something alarming happened. Nom, nom, nom said the overlocker as it took saw-toothed bites out of the fabric and then vomited thread everywhere.

As I was at my dressmaking class, my teacher came to see what was happening and gently explained that overlockers don't much care for single layers of jersey. Being as its so slinky.

Argghh. I felt like a tight-rope walker who had happily made it half way across the highwire. Before looking down. Whoa - whoa - whoaaaaaaa. I lost it. I took the skirt back to sewing machine to finish the waistband and hem. Suddenly the fabric was a slippery, stretchy nightmare. I was swerving all over the place. I lost the motivation to finish - it was hideous to work with.

As you can see I did eventually complete the skirt. But you know what? I hate* jersey. It can jolly well go and live with velvet.

* I mean "hate" in the sense of I will never use it again until the next time I see it on special

See more of Blogtoberfest right here.

Irrefutable evidence the world has gone mad {Blogtoberfest day 16}

2010-10-16T14:29:00.008+11:00

I awoke this morning to find the world out of kilter.

To begin, there was white powdery stuff outside. Snow in spring? In suburban Melbourne? Strange.

Then there was news that at the stroke of midnight, one Australian dollar had bought one US dollar. Parity? Fabric bargains online? Strange.

And then Mr HB said he must learn how to use the sewing machine.

What the .... ?

My 1000 words {Blogtoberfest day 11}

2010-10-11T10:40:00.007+11:00

I was going to sit down and write a witty thousand word piece.
But in the interests of cutting verbosity, I give you this photo instead (you know: pictures, 1000 words and all that sort of thing).

Sunset, Sunday 10.10.10

The arrrghh-I've-run-out-of-cocoa chocolate cake {Blogtoberfest day 10}

2010-10-10T19:35:00.003+11:00

Isn't it annoying when you are part way through cooking something and you discover that an ingredient is missing?

Take for example, the the time I was dining at a beautiful Thai restaurant. The dessert orders had not long been taken, when the waitress returned with news from Chef. Apparently the kitchen was all out of bananas. It wouldn't have been issue but for the fact that all the desserts on the menu contained banana. Hmph.

I had somewhat of a banana moment myself today.

There I was part-way through making a chocolate cake to take to Curlypop's place, when I discovered that I was clean out of both cocoa and chocolate. I doubted my ability to sell the merits of the lesser-known chocolateless chocolate cake, so started frantically hunting for a substitute.

Ah-ha. There it was: granular and brown. My ~~patent disregard for baking rules~~ quick thinking, saw the addition of a heap of super sweet, rich Green and Black's drinking chocolate.

I think the result was quite passable. And infinitely better than it would have been than if I decided to use gravy powder.

The arrrghh-I've-run-out-of-cocoa chocolate cake

Adapted from this recipe at taste.com.au

1 1/3 cups plain flour
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
2/3 cup sweet drinking chocolate
2/3 cup caster sugar
1 cup milk
2 tbsp lemon juice or vinegar
2 eggs, lightly beaten (I used 1 heaped tbsp Orgran No Egg, an egg substitute)
125g butter, melted and cooled
1 teaspoon vanilla essence

Pre-heat the oven to 180oC.
Grease a 20cm (8-inch) round pan; line the bottom with paper.
Sift together the flour, soda, chocolate and caster sugar.
Stir the lemon (or vinegar) into the milk, then combine with the eggs, butter and vanilla.
Beat the dry and liquid ingredients together with an electric mixer for 4 minutes.
Pour into the cake pan and bake for about 45 minutes.
Cool the cake on a rack, then ice and decorate (I used marshmallows for the flowers).

The red button {Blogtoberfest day 9}

2010-10-09T16:19:00.005+11:00

The boys and I were out and about in the car this afternoon. During a lull in the requisite and relentless back-seat squabbling Argy called out. Hey mum, what's that red button for?

"The one on the dash?" I said nonchalantly "Why that's the eject button."

Er, yes I know. Wrong, wrong, wrong. I shouldn't have. I know that. But somehow I just couldn't stop.

The boys were fascinated. And I was on a roll.

When quizzed as to the function of an Eject Button I sort of described how it could be used to jettison back-seat passengers from the car. Through the roof.

Well I can tell you now, that there were no more fights on the way home. It was quiet. So very quiet. Especially when I went to tune the radio.

My creative space {Blogtoberfest day 7}

2010-10-07T22:20:00.002+11:00

As various sewing projects languish (read: gather dust), I have been mucking about this week (read: not dusting) with a tablet pen and my ancient graphics software.

The result is a herd of Ellies in party hats. I'm not 100% sure what is to become of them just yet - they might decorate some cup cake boxes.

I don't think I will show my latest handiwork to the soon-to-be-birthday boy. After all yesterday's request was for an Ellie-in-relief birthday cake ... his next one might be for an ice-carving.

To see more lovely Creative Spaces head over to Kootoyoo.

Ellie {Blogtoberfest day 6}

2010-10-06T09:24:00.009+11:00

Meet Ellie. Apparently she is having a birthday in a few weeks.

Unfortunately her outward appearance is a complete misrepresentation of her age. Despite looking like she has been smoking Gauloises and swigging back gin for the better part of forty years, Ellie is only going to be four.

She's had a hard life. But is the much treasured friend of a small boy who will soon also turn four.

The small boy asked if I could draw a birthday picture of Ellie. So here she is in her glory days. Back when she could still hold her head high (... being as there was still stuffing in her neck).

The small boy has asked for this picture to be recreated as a birthday cake. Yep, sure. That will be right before I have cause to take up the Gauloises and gin.

Sewing a Jedi Robe {Blogtoberfest day 4}

2010-10-04T23:15:00.003+11:00

Argy, an ardent Star Wars fan, was thrilled to receive a birthday party invitation. The dress code was to be Jedi robes. Master 5 was beside himself with excitement and began counting down the days.

Meanwhile I surveyed our Jedi kit. Whilst we seemed to be blessed with a surfeit of lightsabers, there was nary a robe to be seen. So I turned to the font of all knowledge (Google) for advice. I felt sure there might be a tutorial or two showing how to construct such a robe.

Indeed there was.

But as I waded through the search results, I began to feel as if I had entered a parallel universe. Rather than finding simple instructions for making Jedi robes, I started to find passionate essays arguing fabric selection and seam placement.

For example, its seems that no Jedi worth their telekinetic powers would be caught dead in polyester. Not even a poly-blend, for more your wash-and-wear Jedi. No siree, apparently its natural fibres or nothing. And don't get me started on the two-piece sleeve. Apparently seams are a monumental fashion faux pas. Its enough to have you declared padawan non grata.

I realised as I kept reading that there are people out there, bless them, that think they are actual Jedi Knights. At this point, I'm afraid I ran screaming for the reassurance of a commercial pattern book.

And so it was, that I ended up finding McCalls 3789 - a costume pattern for a hat, tunic and robe. In a stroke of legal genius (and clever avoidance of trademark infrigement), it was described in the pattern book as Lord of the Stars. Feeling confident in my ability to tell my Boba Fett from my Bilbo Baggins, I snapped it up.

Of course I almost fainted when I examined the envelope and realised that a hooded robe would need nearly 7 yards of fabric. Are you kidding? For a costume? For a 5 year old?

Warning: if there are any real Jedi Knights reading, please avert your eyes now.

I made an executive decision that loose-fitting Jedi robes were very 1980. All that excess fabric should have gone out with shoulder pads, leg-o-mutton sleeves and leg warmers. So, I ~~crossed to the dark side~~ altered the pattern.

I cobbled together various pieces of Views B (robe) and C (tunic) and effectively used about half the fabric requirement. There were a few bits of redrafting to do, including a bit of lengthening and spreading, but all in all it went remarkably well.

Pivotal to the success of course, was that old dressmaking rule: always include 8" of fitting ease to allow for the wielding of a lightsaber.

Tricked {Blogtoberfest day 3}

2010-10-03T23:10:00.007+11:00

Last week I needed to travel to Sydney for an appointment, so Mr HB took time off work and looked after Argy and Bargy. It was the second week of school holidays.

We all know what that means don't we?
Yes. Mr HB was conned.

You see, an unwritten rule says that during the second week of holidays, sibling must turn against sibling. There should be a lot of whining. And people looking at each other the wrong way. And general affray. Not to mention odd bouts of hand to hand combat. And rain; lots of rain.

As you can see, my trip to Sydney was tough too.

(But I might keep that thought to myself)

Plastic brain {Blogtoberfest Day 2}

2010-10-02T20:45:00.001+10:00

This week I began reading the most fascinating book. Have you read bestselling The brain that changes itself?

I'm about a third of the way through this non-fiction work, by research psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Norman Doidge. His very readable book argues that the adult brain is "plastic" or malleable. The stories are amazing. The idea that the brain has the ability to re-wire and change structure right into old age is truly inspiring.

I've already started to rethink some stuff.

For example: some while ago we purchased an exciting bit of computer periphery. The tablet pen looked so promising - I was awfully keen to try doing some digital illustration. But sadly I was thwarted by my hand-eye coordination. Even stick figures were appalling; some might say unrecognisable. I started to think things about old dogs and new tricks and eventually decided to stick with the humble pencil. I gave up.

This afternoon I noticed Mr HB had plugged in the tablet pen. Plastic brain, I told myself. I sat down and started scribbling random stuff over and over again. I drew little flowers and smiley faces and tried signing my name. Then I tried a little Spring drawing (above). Its not quite what was in my head ... but it was fun all the same.

I'll keep exercising my plastic brain.

The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science
Norman Doidge
Viking 2007
ISBN 067003830X

Ode to Blogtoberfest (a blog festival)

2010-10-01T09:38:00.009+10:00

Its the first day of October
And as tradition now dictates
Tinniegirl gathers together
A bunch of blogging mates

They make a most solemn pledge
To write at least once a day
Throughout the whole of Blogtoberfest
(And not konk out just half way)

The lovely Curlypops is 2-IC
She looks after the giveaways
You should go take a look
And enter them without delay

To keep up with all the bloggers
Joining in with the festivity
You'll need very strong spectacles
And some speed-reading proclivity

And so begins this blogging month
Do sign up if you wish
A post-a-day for all October
Its going to be rather swish

(And I'd better apologise up front
You see, I'll go well to begin
But content is likely to get tawdry
The minute the material runs thin)

Parking problems

2010-09-27T23:48:00.007+10:00

Hello, I'd like to report a parking problem.
Yes, the vehicle is right outside our house. Been here since last Friday.
Someone has just left it here.
I think it might be an abandoned vehicle.
A description, you say?
Um, well I'm not very good at these things.
Its kind of unusual: yellow; a two-door; and sort of flashy.
A coupe? Er, more a scoops clay, I think.

Improbable

2010-09-26T18:58:00.005+10:00

Please choose the correct response.

An hour after taking these photos at the Royal Melbourne Show, Liesl ...

competed in the Woodchop finals
rode out of the showgrounds on a prize winning Huacaya Alpaca
vomited on spectators standing 30 feet below a ride called The Hangover
realised that she should have packed raincoats and an umbrella

Yep, never saw it coming either.

Phrases for spouses/partners of home sewers

2010-09-21T21:41:00.006+10:00

Correct
√ No, no ... you could never have too much fabric
√ Of course you need a coverstitch machine
√ I would be proud to wear something you sewed me

Incorrect
X Can you make me car seat covers?
X Changing this button fly front on my jeans to a zipper
would be pretty easy, yes?
X Can I see that Jedi robe you're sewing for Argy? I need to
make sure you got the design right.

Flying the flag

2010-09-20T10:55:00.012+10:00

The following is going to dent my pride. (But as they say: there is no such thing as bad publicity ... or bad blog material. Its all good.).

If you have followed recent entries here, you might know that I entered a couple of sewing categories in the Arts and Competition at the Royal Melbourne Show. You see last year, the garment categories were remarkably quiet - and some were empty. I thought it a bit sad that dressmaking languished in the shadows cast by other burgeoning crafts such as quilting.

Next year, I said to Mr HB, I will fly the flag. I'll enter something.

It would be worth noting that at the time he asked (some would say unkindly) as to how I might feel if I was the only entrant and didn't get a prize?

Hmmmph!

But, as it turns out he was on to something. There were three entrants to Class 79 Childrenswear. One received a prize. Third prize. Needless to say it wasn't me.

I know judging would have been to very high and exacting standards. I wonder if I was disqualified? Was it the press studs on my little girl's blouse (pictured above)? Or the machine (not hand) sewn continuous binding on the plackets? Did I break the rules ... or was I way out of my league (read: frankly rubbish)? I guess I will never know.

At least I can say I gave it a go. I flew the flag ... even if was a little bit tattered and at half mast.

Looks like neither Sheeps Clothing nor I got a brass razoo in the scone category either. Rats.

The circus is in town

2010-09-19T20:23:00.004+10:00

Last week Argy, Bargy and I visited the circus. It was a lovely evening - if a little ambitious as a pre-schooler outing. Still the free tickets we'd been given seemed to outweigh the 9:30pm finish.

It was the boys' first visit to a circus and they were transfixed by the music and lights. They ooohed and aaahhed and applauded wildly as we watched clowns, dancers, acrobat and magicians.

Not surprisingly the illusions were a particular hit. There were gasps of awe as things appeared and disappeared. (Though I am a little concerned: do the boys now suppose that if they set fire to a box and throw a cloth over it, that 30 seconds later two attractive ladies in sparkly swimsuits will jump out?)

My favourite part, on the other hand, was the acrobatics.

Chiefly for the fact that Bargy kept turning to me and whispering Mum, can you do that too? I loved his unswerving - yet misplaced - confidence in my physical ability. Of course if you know me in person, you will vouch for the fact that I am far more Rubber Lady than Circus Acrobat.

Melbournian ... or Goth?

2010-09-17T23:26:00.007+10:00

This week I decided to have a little try at creating my own skirt pattern.

For some while now I'd been thinking it would be nice to make a yoked skirt in a nice drapey stretch fabric. I figured that with my sway-back and mahoosive bottom, that a yoke line might look quite flattering. Never underestimate the powerful trick of chopping one's derriere in half (er, horizontally as opposed to the natural vertical division).

Anyway I digress.

After sketching the pattern onto paper (using several existing garments for inspiration), I checked the stash for suitable fabric. I rummaged through the stretchies. There was black jersey. Black bengaline. Black ponti di roma. Black interlock. Not to mention several lengths of black jersey.

Um, should I choose the black ... or the black?

Suddenly it occurred to me. Despite being the most unfashionable person I know, maybe I really am a slave to Melbourne fashion: head-to-toe black. Either that ... or I am a latent Goth.

Perhaps I will stick with Goth. Yes. Forget the yoke: the next skirt can have a jolly big Victorian bustle. No-one will know whether I have a mahoosive bottom or not.

Would you like that on white, rye, multigrain or ...

2010-09-17T19:27:00.004+10:00

... rainbow?

Today's sandwich bread, from our local bakery.
A little bit wrong.
But strangely irresistible.

The cover-up

2010-09-13T19:56:00.003+10:00

Cover-up: (n) concealment of evidence of wrong-doing, error or other embarrassing information

I love a good cover-up - especially if its in the creative domain. So when I saw a craft idol discussing the judicious placement of a faux cabbage rose or spray of feathers to disguise a millinery mistake, I was full of admiration.

In my mind it completely legitimises the use of the cover-up.

For most, "quick, hide the evidence" is a last resort. For me: a personal mantra. If I had a dollar for every sunken cake back-filled with icing, or decorative applique sewn over a scorch mark, I'd be a wealthy woman indeed.

Of course, not every cover-up is a success and there are many traps for the young player.

Take this early sketch, for example. Following a number of failed nose renderings, the furry marsupial got a ... leaf.

Its all about the context, people. Hat with cabbage rose: good. Possum with naso-mandibular-foliage-substitution ... well I'll leave you to decide.

How about you? Do you engage in the creative cover-up? Do tell - it will just be our little secret. I promise.

She scone crazy

2010-09-12T17:19:00.001+10:00

After rising early and baking frenetically, I have just ferried my last Arts & Crafts Competition entry to the Royal Melbourne Show.

I baked scones. Lots of scones. More scones than any home-cook should ever reasonably make before 8 in the morning.

To be honest, those that made the final selection looked a little lacklustre. There were no standout prize-winning attributes. Not bad; just not great. A bit meh I think. But if nothing else, at least I can say I gave it a go.

And I can confidently say ... following the Great Transposition Fiasco of 2009 ... that they have been entered into the correct category.

This year I have selected Class 204 - novice, plain (4).

Pausing to reflect, I do hope this means 4 plain scones baked by a novice. Fortunately should it transpire that its really 4 scones baked by a novice who is plain, my entry will still meet the criteria.

Blouse

2010-09-11T16:28:00.001+10:00

This is my second entry in the competitions at the upcoming Royal Melbourne Show. Its been submitted to Class 79 which is for "children's wear".

I used two beautiful Liberty prints in the construction. The main one was found at Hazel Green and the contrast (and lovely green trim) was purchased at Tessutti.

The main print was bought well in advance of deciding what to make. My only forethought: I don't have much time, I'd better make this as easy as possible. Making something pretty for a girl will be much quicker than working out something super-duper for a boy.

So I decided on a girls' blouse.

Then looked for a pattern.

And you know what? I couldn't find the right one. Anywhere.

All I could find was a lovely little pattern for a boy's shirt. Thwarted. So I redrafted the front placket and the collar. Mmmm, yes .... that was quick. Hmmph.

This is the first shirt I have ~~made~~ finished, so it was a great experience learning how to sew plackets, a collar and cuffs. Given judging will focus on technique, my dressmaking teacher suggested I learn a new seam finish: the insides of the blouse are finished with little enclosed hairline seams.

Just quietly the judging criteria also decrees that "all decorations, hems, bindings, facings and button-holes are to be sewn by hand". Now while I am not adverse to the odd bit of hand-sewn binding or a hem, hand-worked buttonholes sounded like all kinds of torture.

Needless to say two hours before entries closed, press-studs looked enticing. In my defence they were ... ahem ... sewn by hand.

Stay tuned for news of a disqualification.

Recycled

2010-09-10T22:16:00.001+10:00

Recycling: the act of processing waste to create a new product.

For example, this abandoned material ...

... has been salvaged and converted ...

... into a completely new product called "Class 152. Applique hand or machine pieced".

Say it with me: reduce, reuse, recycle.

(Have I diverted everyone's attention from the fact I was too lazy to make something from scratch?)

One of three entries I am putting into the Arts, Craft and Cookery Competition at the 2010 Royal Melbourne Show (18 - 28 September 2010).

Holey bargain tables, Batman

2010-08-29T07:59:00.005+10:00

Picture this: I'm at the counter in the fabric store. I've located a knit on the "bargain table". Its perfect for the the yoga pants I want to make. The sales assistant is busy unfurling 2 metres of fabric.

Me: Um, there appears to be a hole.
Sales assistant: Yep, you're right ... its quite big

We are both peering at the significant tear and extending run.

Me: Oh - its plum in the middle of where I'd be placing a pattern piece.
Sales assistant: I'm not cutting it off and starting again. You can't complain - its a bargain. Do you want it or not?

What should one do in these circumstances?

Mutter something about a golf course having less holes and leave in a fit of pique.
Take the fabric. Make a costume. Tell people you are dressing as Rip Torn.
Suck it up baby. Just buy extra fabric and work around the flaw.
Buy the fabric. Make the yoga pants. Rehearse: "sorry about that gapey bit at the back which does nothing for my modesty, but the fabric was such a bargain."

Bobbin organisation for cheapskates

2010-08-24T14:03:00.007+10:00

Its not fancy. Its not pretty. Its a teeny bit fiddly. But heck, its cheap and it works.

I have started using rubber bands to match up my spools of thread and bobbins. The band keeps the thread on the bobbin secured, too.

So here's how it works ...

Find a rubber band. Poke it through the spool of thread. You might need a long, thin, pointy thing (tailor's awl, doll's needle, skewer) to help guide it through.

Now hold each end tightly (or the band will keep springing out and you will feel like stabbing yourself with the long, thin, pointy thing).

Wind it twice around the bottom of the spool to anchor it.

Place the bobbin at the other end of the spool and feed the rubber band through the middle.

Pull the rubber band nice and tight and wind it several times around the bobbin to secure it.

Et voilà! Organised bobbins for next to nothing.

The tail of the new computer peripheral

2010-08-22T19:31:00.006+10:00

Do you ever have the sense something is different?
But you can't quite work out what?

I was sitting at the computer for more than half an hour ...
... before I noticed.

Apparently using a mouse is so very 2009.
Yep. All the cool people now have a cat instead.

Well, at least that's how the cat ...
... who is not supposed to be on the desk ...
... explained it to me.

Labradorable

2010-08-20T18:16:00.005+10:00

Motorcyclist and faithful companion, snapped in
the city centre in Melbourne

Baa baa - ah - ah - ah

2010-08-16T18:50:00.004+10:00

Earlier this month I took my two little city slickers on a bit of a road trip. We drove 285 kms due west: our destination, Sheepvention. If you're not so familiar with this event, its Australia's largest wool-growing industry show held annually in Hamilton, Victoria. And its heaps of fun.

Despite the bracing wind and ever-present rain, Argy and Bargy had a whale of a time. They loved meeting woolly White Suffolks and baa-ing Poll Dorsets. They admired the enthusiastic sheep dogs and ogled shiny new farm machinery. And how could they resist indulging their passion for splashing through puddles and falling in gloopy mud? A good time was had by all (I managed to fit in a spot of shopping in one of the trade marquees - at the delightful My Poppet).

On our return home, I wondered what the boys had enjoyed most. The sheep? The tractors? The mud? Hmmm, lets see ...

Nope. Apparently it was the Gala Wool Fashion Parade. See? They have started installing aluminium foil "lights" on their catwalk.

Thankfully it seems their inspiration lies with the kids who presented Hazel Green's beautiful collection (and not the buxom lasses modelling black sequined hot-pants and dancing to a bit of Lady Gaga's Bad Romance*).

* Apologies to fans of the song about the title of this post.

Three weeks

2010-08-09T19:05:00.008+10:00

Our Mr HB went away
For three long, long weeks
A "technical conference", he did claim
(methinks: sightseeing with beer and geeks)

As is custom, the minute he left
The computer went on the blink
The phone line developed a fault
And an odd smell came from the sink

To add to this, there was an intruder
In our carport one dark 4 a.m.
Then shortly aft we all got viruses
That created a load of phlegm

The children's need to engage
In hand-to-hand combat
Meant dreams of craft or blogging
Remained nothing more; just that

I'd like to think that solo parenting
I handled with great aplomb
But frankly that stop ringing true
The minute I shouted: I want to resign as Mum

Welcome home Mr HB, I've really missed ....
... my sewing machine

Time for an upgrade?

2010-07-27T17:12:00.006+10:00

When quizzed about the game they were playing, Argy and Bargy told me they were speaking to each other on Skype.

Do you think I should tell them that if they get the latest version of the Skype software, they won't need to draw each other's picture on an Etch-a-Sketch?

Trying

2010-07-26T14:42:00.003+10:00

With Mr HB away for three weeks, I've been encouraging the kids to really pitch in and help around the house. Of course, in our household there is a fine line between help and hindrance.

Take 3-year old Bargy, for example: here is his version of making the bed. Ah, see how he is trying? And I do mean "trying" in the sense slowly-sending-me-bonkers-by-putting-the-mattress-on-top-of-the-bedding.

(I am much too afraid to ask for help with dinner).

Mr Harvey's fabulous emporium

2010-07-21T22:11:00.009+10:00

It was the very first evening of my very first sewing course that I heard the name RJ Harvey & Co mentioned. At the time I took mental note but little else: I was too new to sewing to pay more than fleeting attention. Over time, however, the idea of perusing a little shop of tailors trimmings became more attractive.

So when I recently ran out of pattern tracing paper, I decided an excursion was in order.

Although I'd heard that the store was a little old fashioned, I was still taken aback and entranced when I arrived: RJ Harvey & Co is a slice of history.

The shop is located in the beautiful old Nicholas Building in Melbourne. Located on the third floor you can climb the well-trod marble staircase or catch one of the three (manually driven and beautifully decorated) old lifts.

Walking into the little shop, its hard not to admire the beautiful long wooden counter ...

... and these fabulous drawers ...

... and the way the notions are stored.

I discovered that the business was started way back in 1895 by Mr Harvey's grandfather. The tailor's trimmings shop was first located in the Queens Walk (site of the current city square), then Swanston Street before moving to the Nicholas Building in 1983. The gorgeous shop fittings have travelled with the moves.

After admiring the array of interfacing, interlining, linings and pattern-making tools, I made my selection. My tracing paper, pattern card and assorted bibs and bobs were carefully wrapped in brown paper and tied with string. Bliss.

There was something about this shop I really loved. I can't quite pick the feeling: novelty or nostalgia? I wonder now if I had been there with my grandmother when I was little. Perhaps?

I suspect very little would have changed.

RJ Harvey & Co - Tailors Trimmings
3rd Floor
Nicholas Building
37 Swanston Street
Melbourne
Telephone 9654-7047

Renovations

2010-07-19T20:44:00.009+10:00

Yesterday the boys and I waved off Mr HB at the airport. The poor chap is off on business again.

What a trial to have to go away overseas for three weeks. That northern hemisphere summer will be difficult.

And I felt especially sorry for him, when I finally saw his itinerary. The bit described only as Weekend - New York sounds gruelling doesn't it? ( I don't think the dear man wanted me to worry, because he kept that leg of the trip quiet. So thoughtful.)

Never mind. I have a lovely surprise for him when he returns - I am sprucing up our house a bit! For details, see the plan above.

Hats a bit silly

2010-07-18T20:03:00.001+10:00

Three-year old Bargy tells me my little watercolour and ink sketch isn't quite finished. Apparently the bird still needs a hat?

21 again

2010-07-17T23:14:00.002+10:00

Do you think there is a limit on how many years in a row you can announce "21 again" on your birthday? I rather suspect I reached it yesterday.

Never mind - it was a lovely day regardless. Thank you to all the kind people who e-mailed and left messages here - it was a very nice surprise. I was also spoilt by family and friends.

Would you like to see the craft-related eye candy?

The pretty vintage florals, pictured above, were a lovely surprise from Curlypops ( ... thanks for increasing the girly quotient in my stash, Cam!).

These beautiful sharp sprung snips are from my auntie and uncle. They have the most amazingly fine point I have seen and will be really handy.

This very exciting hot fix applicator is from my sister - I can't wait to try it out! Amongst all the interchangable fittings are some amazing teeny tiny ironing tips.

Also from my sister is this fabulous upholstery-weight print from Darwin, that she thought would be good for a bag. I think it will look sensational made up as Nikki's beach bag, which I have in my pattern stash.

And more from my sister. This fabulous hardcover book (complete with flocked cover) is written by Charlotte Smith. Its the story of the some 3000 vintage gowns she inherited from her godmother, Doris Darnell. The colour plates throughout are gorgeous.

And finally courtesy of Mr HB, Argy and Bargy, this interesting gadget is currently winging its way from the US. Its Simplicity's Bias Binding Maker - a little machine that guarantees to make 12 feet of bias tape in less than 60 seconds. Woohoo!

I am really looking forward to trying out all my new gadgets and supplies. Perhaps a clever combined project is in order?

Do you see where I am about to go with this? Yes, a Dior-style vintage evening gown. Cut - daintily with pointy snips - from vintage florals and a turtle print. Carefully pressed with a teeny tiny iron. Trimmed with handmade bias binding. Embellished with hot fix rhinestones over the turtles' eyes.

Did I cross a line yet? (Well at least at 42, I am not also still pretending to be 21)

My creative space

2010-07-15T07:38:00.004+10:00

I am joining in with Thursday's My Creative Space at Kootoyoo.

This week there's been some quilting happening in my creative space. The quilt top that has been languishing for so long - orphaned from batting and backing - was basted for me by some very kind mates.

I'm not much good with crawling around on the floor and less so with following rules. So when I heard just how many pins I needed to affix into said quilt, naughty thoughts of shortcuts entered my head. Thankfully I was saved from myself.

For now that is. Wait til I show you my quilting ...

Thank you very much Kirsty for hosting My Creative Space. Its great fun seeing what everyone is doing. To see who else is showing their creative space today (or to join in), head over here.

Vive le béret

2010-07-14T10:16:00.020+10:00

This day 7 years ago, I was nearing the end of a cookery and language course at Ecole des Trois Ponts in the south of France. I remember sitting on the terrace enjoying the balmy evening with a glass of wine. It was warm and peaceful. Every now and then the chirrup of the crickets was punctuated by the faraway bang of Bastille Day fireworks. Tout parfait.

Now as 14 July rolls around again, my time at the chateau - conjugating verbs and curling quenelles - is a fading memory. And Bastille Day isn't quite the same, half a world away in a grey Melbourne winter.

At least I can mark the day in this brand new béret.

The pattern I used is a new release from Nicole Mallalieu Design. I had the good fortune to test the pattern before it went on sale this week. Its an absolute dream to sew. Nikki's instructions are so easy to follow and the project itself is lovely and quick.

With variations in shape and size, its a lovely versatile pattern. My version - in grey wool with a emerald bemsilk lining - has a medium sized crown depth. And I already have plans for others.

Why not try making your own?
I should think you'll be beret glad you did.
(Très amusant, non?)

Quick Beret
by Nicole Mallalieu Design
To fit head sizes 54cm - 60cm (with option to alter to fit up to 63cm)
With three crown depth options
www.nicolemdesign.com.au

Sew, was it just a dream?

2010-07-13T16:58:00.003+10:00

At nightfall I closed my eyes.
And when I awoke, there I was: in a beautiful place in the country.

Was it a dream?
How else does one explain this?

I don't know what dreaming about storks means ...
... but the rest of the message was clear.

Sew all day and into the night.

And enjoy the wonderful company: the conversation and laughter. Not to mention the food (oh, the food!).

Yesterday as I looked through my bag, some sewing and sketches confirmed that I must have lived the dream. No matter how distant it already seemed.

And blimey ... that stork in the leg warmers and scarf must have been real.

"Sewjourn"
Quilting and craft retreat
92 Main Road
Lancefield
http://www.sewjourn.net.au/

Collage

2010-07-07T19:46:00.003+10:00

Every term break, I try and be a good mum and bring out an array of craft projects for Argy and Bargy's amusement. Every term break, I am reminded of what a deluded optimist I am.

Today, for example, we tried collage. I laid out stacks of brightly coloured paper, newsprint, luminous pencils, glue, scissors and tape.

The boys quickly got to work. It took no time to see their preference for mixed media collage. I do mean mixed media in the sense of trawling coloured pencils through glue, sticky-taping scissors closed and adhering things to the floor.

Avant-garde? Or masters of wanton destruction?

I'll leave you to decide. Perhaps some of their previous arts and crafts ventures will assist?

Misunderstanding where the artist should stand in relation to the easel

Creating a masking tape installation whilst parental attention is diverted

Thinking too far out of the square about how to decorate a satchel

Oh well, at least I had a lovely time with my red and blue assemblage (pictured, top). I've stuck it on the fridge.

May the clotheshorse be with you

2010-07-03T16:48:00.006+10:00

There's really nothing more satisfying than a quick garment-making project.

Take this stylish bias-cut cape, for example. It was drafted, cut, fitted and finished in virtually no time at all.

(The famous model is apparently retraining as a Jedi Knight)

A winter's day

2010-07-02T17:23:00.004+10:00

My creative space

2010-07-01T16:33:00.001+10:00

I am joining in with Thursday's My Creative Space at Kootoyoo.

This week's space is filled with a stack of books. They are on loan from my local library and look well-read. They have serious titles like "Metric pattern cutting" and "Pattern making for the home couturier". I am reading about the basics of creating patterns.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm under no illusion as to the complexity of pattern-making - I don't really see a line of Hoppo Bumpo evening-wear in my future. I am, however, enjoying looking at how pattern pieces for various styles are created and how shaping is achieved. Its handy to have a point of reference when you are altering and sewing from commercial patterns.

That said, I'm enjoying the texts with a certain amount of caution. You see, upon spying books full of beautiful line drawings, 3-year old Bargy gushed: "Sank you for borrowing the colouring books, mummy".

Thank you very much Kirsty for hosting My Creative Space. Its great fun seeing what everyone is doing. To see who else is showing their creative space today (or to join in), head over here.

A story of toile and error (or what the heck do I do with all these misfits?)

2010-06-30T15:35:00.003+10:00

The more I learn about dressmaking, the greater my enthusiasm for constructing toiles.

Toiles (or muslins) are my insurance policy against my regular mismatch of intention and actuality. My buffer against buffoonery. Take McCalls M5522 as an example. Without a trial run I would have most certainly created a blouse that made me look like overcooked frankfurter bursting out of its skin.

At the time of writing, I am now up to toile #3 for this particular garment. Like its predecessors, its flawed. And missing bits. And sewn with white thread on black. But despite its failings, it - along with its kin - has helped me complete extensive alterations to the original pattern. Sometime soon I will be able to cut into my fashion fabric and make a properly-fitted, pretty blouse.

But what now for the toiles? And the two toiles of this Folkwear empire dress. And the two for these Burda trousers. And another this Simplicity tunic top? The list goes on. I am accumulating half-made, ill-fitting garments in ugly fabrics.

Help me here: what do you think I should I do with my growing collection of misfits?

Pictured above: Toile #3 - a one-sleeved, placketless, collarless, buttonless beauty. Please note that the picture has been edited and a posterize effect applied. That shadow round my chin and armpit are not of the 5 o'clock variety. Well, that's my story and I am sticking to it.

A media distortion

2010-06-26T20:05:00.000+10:00

I have to admit, I really can't resist a sight-gag.

So when my dad recounted the shock of unfurling the morning paper, I fell about laughing.

Remember folks: always unroll the whole newspaper before reading the headline about the new Prime Minister.

My creative space

2010-06-24T11:30:00.007+10:00

I am joining in with Thursday's My Creative Space at Kootoyoo.

This space has been a little quiet of late: a case of craft versus winter ails (craft has put up a valiant fight, but is punching above its weight).

Sitting awaiting some attention is a pristine brown moleskine book. It arrived from half a world away earlier this week and is part of The Sketchbook Project. The plan is to fill the little sketchbook over the next 6 months, before returning it to a vast collection (thousands of sketchbooks!) that will tour galleries and museums across the U.S. next year. The collection will then be permanently housed in The Brooklyn Art Library.

The theme I have chosen for my book is "Happy thoughts". Do you think a sketch of a large bottle of cough medicine is too obscure?

Thank you very much Kirsty for hosting My Creative Space. Its great fun seeing what everyone is doing. To see who else is showing their creative space today (or to join in), head over here.

Make a wish

2010-06-21T20:34:00.000+10:00

As the refrains of Happy Birthday concluded and the knife touched the cake, a small voice interrupted the all-important wish.

Wish for a duck, suggested Bargy.

So sincere apologies to Bargy's auntie, who may shortly find herself in the possession of a waterfowl instead of a tropical holiday, sports car or lotto win.

I made these cupcakes to accompany a magnificent birthday cake from Arnold's Swiss Cakes. The kids got the cupcakes; the adults the Sacher Torte. The children are still none the wiser about the injustice.

40th birthday cupcakes
250g (½lb) butter, melted
1 cup caster sugar
4 eggs (I used an egg replacer, which works very successfully)
2 cups plain flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
4 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
6 tablespoons milk

Preheat the oven to 160ºC (325ºF)
Place the dry ingredients in a food processor and pulse to combine
Add the butter and process until combined
With the motor running, add the milk
Spoon into 12 large paper patty cases and bake for about 20 minutes

Buttercream
75g (3oz) cocoa, sifted
300g (⅔lb) icing sugar, sifted
1 teapsoon vanilla
125g (4½oz) unsalted butter
125g (4½oz) white shortening*
Edible decorations

Beat the butter and shortening until fluffy
Beat in the cocoa, sugar and essence until well combined
Ice cakes (I piped the icing) and decorate

* In Australia, you could try Solite which is a commercial product available from cake decorating stores. Crisco, a shortening produced in the USA, would also work very well.

That other Cup

2010-06-15T23:59:00.004+10:00

Isn't it amazing how advertising slogans can stick?

Nearly 25 years after the fact, I still remember being challenged by a jeans ad campaign: Do you fit the legend? Ah, that stretch denim; the high waist; the red tab. I remember so well. Mostly of course for the fact that I fitted neither the legend - nor the garment in question - particularly well. My fragile, youthful self-esteem was of course dented by my lack of legendedness.

Oh well. As I've grown older I have tried to take less notice of slogans and buy-lines.

Which is why I should have exercised a little more caution when I saw a ladies' pattern line called Made For You. A pattern made for moi? Really? Yippeeeeeee.

Sadly the bubble burst early. While the patterns boast bodice pieces between an A and a D cup, the NY Times tells us that the best selling bra is now a DD cup. What a pity the pattern companies are not keeping ... ahem ... abreast of trends.

Its a disappointment, that's for sure. And unfortunately feeling deflated is in no way matched by any actual physical deflation. So, multiple pattern alterations and three toiles later, my suspicion is that Made For You doesn't really mean You in the sense of Me.

I can only hope one day there might also be a Made For You Even If You Have Big Bazookas. Now that would be both fitting and legendary if you ask me.

My creative space

2010-06-10T09:44:00.005+10:00

I am joining in with Thursday's My Creative Space at Kootoyoo.

This week my creative space is full of pins and batting. They await a meet-up with this quilt-top.

This is my first quilt, so its best no-one looks too closely at the seam intersections. Or the seams themselves for that matter. That ⅝ inch garment seam allowance is a hard habit to break ( ... and frankly those 5" charm squares are now looking a bit on the small side).

And in case you were unsure of the scale of the quilt, here's a comparison. And a cat in flagrant breach of the Hoppo Bumpo no bed-no chair-no cushion-no blanket rule. (Its a harsh operation we're running here). I'd better add quilts to that.

Thank you very much Kirsty for hosting My Creative Space. Its great fun seeing what everyone is doing. To see who else is showing their creative space today (or to join in), head over here.

Monty

2010-06-08T23:59:00.001+10:00

Sketch of adopted feliney friend.
Ink & aquatone pencil* on watercolour paper.

* In those shades that escaped the great preschooler Derwent annihilation of 2010. The one that occured shortly before dinner. And proved the complete solubility of water soluble pencils. All I can say is thank goodness Monty is ginger and not chartreuse or magenta.

Danger is not my middle name

2010-06-07T20:30:00.003+10:00

I worry a lot. I am faint-of-heart.

I imagine all sorts of craft-related accidents. Like cutting my hands with the rotary cutter. Or dangling my hair into the path of overlocker blades. Or searing my fingers whilst ironing bias binding.

Frankly, I don't do dangerous particularly well.

Which is why my attention was diverted from the promise of rich, intense and profoundly dark on the packaging of "Velvet Black". And how I came to hone-in on the warning.

Blah blah ... breathing difficulties ... blah blah blah ... serious skin and eye irritation ... blah blah blah ... allergic reaction ... blah blah blah.

Perhaps the restoration of my favourite skirt - and removal of an infuriating bleach mark - need not involve fabric dye at all.

Call it unconventional ... or even a little bit wrong ... (and correct me if I am mistaken) but I am yet to hear of a serious mishap involving a Sharpie marker.

Deciduous

2010-06-06T23:59:00.003+10:00

I find trees really tricky to draw.
Thankfully this one will get easier with time.
By next Sunday, I'll only need a brown pencil for the trunk.

Sew ... what are you?

2010-06-04T20:45:00.003+10:00

Subculture (n): a group of people with a culture that differentiates them from the larger culture to which they belong

When my machine went kaput last weekend, I joked to a few people that it "must have been the quilt". You see, since learning to sew I have focused on clothing. This quilt was a departure and patchwork was, as it were, quite unfamiliar territory.

Was I paying for crossing to the dark side?

Now, before anyone sets upon me with a rotary cutter and basting pins, I promise this was all said in jest. I have the greatest respect for quilters (despite their funny quarter inch feet). I really did mean dark side in the sense of craft-in-which-I-display-complete-and-utter-ineptitude.

But it has got me to thinking.

Is this craft I have been calling sewing a practical art in itself or an umbrella for some very distinct crafty subcultures? Quilters and embroiders and garment makers all use a needle and thread, but do quite different things. And one doesn't necessarily give you license in another.

My embroidery is horrible and the quilt-top above bears all the hallmarks of some rather dodgy, slapdash practices. I like to think on the other-hand that I finish garments quite nicely.

When I consulted the font-of-all-knowledge Wikipedia, I discovered that sewing is even used in taxidermy. I don't know about you, but despite my love of sewing I have never been the least bit interested in stuffing and mounting a vertebrate.

So, do you sew? What are your thoughts? Do you consider yourself a sewist ... or as something more specific?

My creative space

2010-06-03T09:00:00.008+10:00

I am joining in with Thursday's My Creative Space at Kootoyoo.

Following a weekend foray into DIY fix-it, I am lamenting the demise of my sewing machine. Yes, a lost screw was retrieved from the depths of the machine (and I am most grateful for reader advice - thank you all!). And yes, I did manage to reassemble her. I even miraculously preserved her ability to stitch. But in the process I introduced the sort of loud hammering that one associates more with carpentry than chain stitching. Ooops.

So I'm admitting defeat: sending the machine away; ignoring The Great Pile of Unsewn; and switching projects.

Given my current dose of inept-fumble-fingeredness, I have settled on something chunky: Kirsty's wonderful hexagonal Granny Shrug. I have never crocheted anything more than dodgy granny squares, so I am taking my instruction from her excellent video tutorial and Lara's fantastic downloadable pattern.

After a bit of experimentation (read: unravelling), I am crocheting with two stands of super bulky yarn. The work is most enjoyable, but of gargantuan proportions. See the hook up there? Its almost the diameter of your arm. And frankly, the yarn is the thickness of a garden hose.

I am feeling a bit like the tiny version of Alice down the rabbit hole ( ... and of course ever hopeful of finding a piece of cake labelled Eat Me).

Thank you very much Kirsty for hosting My Creative Space. Its great fun seeing what everyone is doing. To see who else is showing their creative space today (or to join in), head over here.

Tutorial: sew a personalised mouse mat

2010-06-01T23:30:00.007+10:00

I recently asked the kids what they would like to give their dad for his birthday. They were quick off the mark with ideas. Bargy thought necklaces, whilst Argy was adamant it should be Star Wars. No, no ... Lego. No wait ... maybe Star Wars Lego.

While the necklace idea came and went, Argy continued incubating his Lego plan. Finally one afternoon he built a dazzling array of Lego vehicles and pronounced them all to be gifts. They were very intricate and rather good. But frankly there was no way the plastic engineering would survive more than a day or two. If Bargy found them, they'd be toast. In a rare moment of inspiration I grabbed my camera and recorded them for posterity.

Which is how the boys came to present their dad with a one-of-a-kind mouse mat depicting, amongst other things, a Lego tractor being driven by Darth Vadar.

Happy birthday, Mr HB!

PERSONALISED MOUSE MAT

Requirements
A digital image
Good quality printable cotton fabric for top of mat
Contrasting quilting or decorator weight fabric for reverse of mat
Heavy weight fusible interfacing
Batting
Matching thread
Scissors, iron, sewing machine

Instructions

Print the image to your printable fabric, following the manufacturer's instructions.

Take the printed and contrast fabrics and cut both to size - remember to include an allowance for hem turnings. (I cut mine to 24cm x 21cm [approx. 9½" x 8¼"] which included 1.5cm [approx. ⅝"] hem allowances.)

Place the printed and contrast fabrics face down. Turn single fold hems on all sides. Press, then open the folds out again.

Mitre the corners of the hems. (The dotted lines indicate the fold lines for the hems and the third diagram shows a trimmed corner). Press with an iron as you go.

Cut two pieces of heavy-weight fusible interfacing and one or two pieces of batting to size. Their length and width should be about 2cm (approx. ¾") smaller all round, than your fabric.

Fuse the pieces of heavyweight interfacing to the wrong sides of the printed and contrast fabrics. Make sure you centre the interfacing so that you have a 1cm (approx. ⅜") perimeter left clear for stitching the mat.

Sandwich the batting between the printed fabric (face up) and the contrast fabric (face down). Match the edges of the fabric carefully.

Staying as close as possible to the edge, machine sew around the perimeter of the mat.

All finished!

(And just in case there are moments at work when Darth Vadar is inappropriate, we have a flip side)

In for a penny, in for a pound ( ... or why this is going to cost me a few bob)

2010-05-30T11:00:00.006+10:00

Click click-itty click clack ... snap.

The loud noises and snapping thread are ominous. And perhaps inevitable. The poor sewing machine has never had a grease and oil change.

I try a new needle. Then a different bobbin. Finally I acquiesce and get the screwdriver.

Presser foot: off. Shank: off. Throat plate: off.
So far, so good.
Bobbin thingummy: out.
Wow ... look at all that felt. Oops, that's not felt. Out with the lint.
Better take a few more bits out - its looking ugly in there.
Two screws in the dogwhatsits unscrewed and out.
White whosywhatsit: out.
What's this screw for? Hmmm, its stuck. Can't go any further.
Give up. I have no idea what I am doing.
Better reassemble everything.
I'll just pop this screw ... arrrrggh.
The screw.
How did I drop that?
Right inside the bowels of the machine.
Oh %$#@^&.

So let's stop right there. What would you do at this point?

Would you pick up your machine and give it a jolly good shake, imagining this would magically dislodge the screw? Would you tip the machine upside down, hoping said screw would fall out?

You're right: what kind of imbecile would do that?

Perhaps the kind who would might go on to frantically undo screws that scream "warranty void if removed". Or who might attempt to jemmy open the side of their (computerised) sewing machine. Clearly the kind of imbecile who might think well, this is already going to be expensive, what have I possibly got to lose?

Now if you could excuse me, I must go and consult the Yellow Pages.

My creative space

2010-05-27T08:30:00.007+10:00

I am joining in with Thursday's My Creative Space at Kootoyoo.

During the week I made a start on my first quilt top. Under the watchful eye of a craft buddy I learnt to how cut my squares properly. I duly noted the exacting methods - the right angles, the straight lines and the precise measurements.

Of course as soon as she had left the premises, I started taking liberties. (Warning: real quilters are advised to turn away now.) I stacked piles of fabric up and frantically sawed through their ample layers with my rotary cutter.

Predictably there were casualties. But it was all for the greater good. More squares; less time. See? All good.

So, this week I am going to begin piecing together the quilt top (with a selection of less-than-squared squares).

Oh hang on, it appears I already have. It seems there has been a bit of sewing prior to the finish of the cutting. Just a teensy bit (... but I think I got away with it). OK, I admit I did get a tad impatient with all those squares and wandered off to the sewing machine in the middle of it all. Talk about attention deficit craft.

So today its back to the cutting board and the squares. Maybe ...

Thank you very much Kirsty for hosting My Creative Space. Its great fun seeing what everyone is doing. To see who else is showing their creative space today (or to join in), head over here.

Run boys, run

2010-05-26T16:21:00.004+10:00

There's been little sewing
Since the mister took his leave
He packed a bag the other week
and left for overseas

Its been pandemonium
I've had no reserves left
For projects needing thinking
Or requirements to be deft

A new approach was called for
And its a good one, I should say:
I yell "Run boys, run!"
Throughout every day

No rests or being stationary
Not even a few seconds
Wear em out by day's end
Because sewing always beckons

The sleep-in

2010-05-23T08:56:00.002+10:00

Dear Argy and Bargy,

When I said I would like you to try and sleep in this morning, I really was thinking more about time than location. Deciding to sleep in ... front of the door, for example, is not really the restful respite that your mother was hoping for.

(Does anyone remember how many sleeps it is until your father gets home?)

Love Mum xx

Facing the truth

2010-05-22T21:46:00.004+10:00

I found this picture by 3 year old Bargy this morning. Staring out from the Etch-a-sketch was an almost cartoon-like face. I love drawing, so it makes me happy whenever the boys sit down and create something of their own volition.

I was feeling particularly impressed with the overall proportion and arrangement of the features - perhaps even a little motherly pride ( ... you see a bit of naive scribble, but of course I see a portrait!). Then Bargy pointed out his error.

Apparently what I thought was hair was in fact legs. And as every kindergarten kid knows, these should be sticking directly out of the bottom of the face.

As they say, back to the drawing board.

Goodbye old friend

2010-05-21T22:25:00.003+10:00

I'm sad. Today I farewelled my ~~rusty~~ trusty steed.

This was my first-ever car. With two decades and 248,969 km behind it, my little white hatchback had long exceeded its life expectancy.

I've been told that it is being "sent to auction". I think the car dealer might have meant auction in the sense of having its guts ripped out and being squashed like an ant.

My creative space

2010-05-20T21:34:00.001+10:00

I am joining in with Thursday's My Creative Space at Kootoyoo.

I have been left ~~in the lurch~~ to my own devices for a couple of weeks while Mr Hoppo Bumpo ~~enjoys a junket~~ travels overseas on business - so what better pick-me-up than a new* project?

*Its best that no-one enquires - no matter how politely - about the status of various other new projects that have been started. If you do, I shall have to point and exclaim look over there! while running in the other direction.

Tomorrow afternoon I am cutting these prints up into 5" x 5" charm squares under the watchful eye of a craft buddy. The aim is to refashion a favourite vintage bed sheet (and a supporting cast of print purchases) into a quilt top.

I'm looking for a quick win here; nothing fancy. Especially after a number of previous false starts with quilts. The aim is to have the quilt finished and displayed as a couch throw rug before Mr Hoppo Bumpo's return.

In our house there is a direct correlation between soft furnishing proliferation and days spent on business trips. If Mr HB thinks there might also be cushions in the pipeline, maybe he will call off his trip in July.

Thank you very much Kirsty for hosting My Creative Space. Its great fun seeing what everyone is doing. To see who else is showing their creative space today (or to join in), head over here.

Embellishing your craft searches with Google

2010-05-19T23:20:00.003+10:00

I love the idea of trademarked name becoming a verb. Take Hoovering the carpet. Or Xeroxing a copy. Or Cadbury-Dairy-Milk-Chocolating a bad day. (Okay, maybe that one is not common venacular, but its is most certainly common practice.)

Then of course there is the most universal: don't worry, I'll Google it.

Google [verb]
Googled [past participle]
Googling [present participle]

Have you ever wondered whether you can conjugate Google? According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the answer is yes. Google is the real deal - a recognised verb. And I have heard my mum talk about Googling. So that seals it.

But enough of conjugation - I have chanced* upon something far more exciting. Did you know that the Google search engine has its own secret language? Special stuff you can add to refine your searches - its magic.

* I mean "chanced" in the sense of following a comment left on my blog by someone called Generic Viagra. Its a long story. And possibly not easily explained. So I think I should stop now.

define:word/phrase

Use define: to search for definitions of the words listed after it it. For example if you Google ...

define:stitch in the ditch

... you will receive definitions for "stitch in the ditch" sourced from various websites. Each version is referenced back to the original source.

link:URL

Combine link: with a webpage address and you will see a list of webpages that have links to the specified webpage. For example if I wanted to see who links to Hoppo Bumpo I would Google ...

link:http://hoppobumpo.blogspot.com

related:URL

Combine related: with a webpage address and you will see a list of webpages that Google identifies as being similar to the page you have specified. For example, if you Google ...

related:http://www.sewing.patternreview.com

... the search will return a list of websites related to sewing patterns.

info:URL

Combine info: with a webpage address and Google will return some background information about the page. The information is usually about 23 words.

filetype:file type

Combine filetype: with a file extension, such as PDF or PPT to locate specific file types. For example if I Google ...

filetype:PDF "pressing ham"

... the search will return an excellent list of PDF documents that mention pressing hams.

site:domain

Adding site: to a search restricts the results to those websites in the domain you have added. For example if you Google ...

garbage site:hoppobumpo.blogspot.com

... the results will show all posts on Hoppo Bumpo refering to garbage (as opposed to showing all the posts that are garbage ... which would retrieve my blog in its entirety)

allintitle:keyword/s

Using this modifier ensures that only webpage titles are seached for the keyword or words you specify. The text within pages is not searched. For example, if you Google ...

allintitle:pattern alterations

... the results will show only pages that have the words pattern and alterations in the title. None of the page text will be searched. Allintitle cannot be combined with other search criteria.

intitle:keyword/s

This works like the allintitle modifier, but you can can combine it with other search criteria. For example if you Google ...

intitle:pattern alterations

.... the results will show all pages that have the word pattern in the page title and the word alterations somewhere in the text of the webpages.

allinurl:keywords/s

Using this modifier ensures that only URLs are seached for the word or words you specify. There's no search of the webpage text. For example, if you Google ...

intitle:dress pattern

... the results will only contain websites with both the words dress and pattern in the URL.

inurl:keyword/s

This works like the allinurl modifier, but you can can combine it with other search criteria. For example if you Google ...

intitle:dress pattern

... the results will contain websites with the word dress in the URL and the word pattern somewhere in the text of the page.