My creative space {Blogtoberfest day 21}

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.

My creative space {Blogtoberfest day 7}

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.

My creative space

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.

My creative space

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.

My creative space

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.

My creative space

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.

My creative space

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.

My creative space

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.

My creative space

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.

My creative space

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

This week's space contains my first go at McCalls M5522. To use an expression of disdain favoured by Mr Hoppo Bumpo, the outcome has really been a bit pants. But I mean pants in the sense of a not-a-very-good-shirt ... if you follow?

I'm working on View D, the least frilly and puffy version below.



This week I have sewn together the 10-piece bodice. I omitted the front placket, collar and sleeves for this first toile. While I see potential in the style (the empire line helps create a sort of inny-outy bit in lieu of having a real waist), there really are loads more alterations to be made before I continue.

The vertical drag lines coming from the shoulders mean there's not enough real estate in the bust department, so I have put an FBA on the list. I think the horizontal drag lines in the region-that-used-to-be-my-waist might be partly related to a sway back. I will need to consult Fit For Real People to see what alteration gurus Pati Palmer and Marta Alto have to say.

But that obvious gap in the centre front ... we all know what that means: yes, I shouldn't have eaten icecream for dessert last night.

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.

My creative space

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

This week's creative space is all about getting creative spaces ready for other people. In the background you can see an array of stunning limited-edition, hand screen-printed Pippijoe prints. They are destined for the "Handmade Shower Cap" craft lab which I am running next week at at the Melbourne Stitches and Craft Show 2010. As I prepare the patterns, fabric and notions I am feeling equal parts of nerves and excitement.

So, are you going to the Stitches and Craft Show? Its open daily between 5 - 9 May at the Caulfield Racecourse. It will be heaps of fun and entry is only $10 (can you believe a two day pass is just $15?). So much to do - pop along to craft labs and studios, make stuff, learn stuff, meet people, be inspired ... and of course stock up on your craft supplies! The full show guide can be found here.

And I had better not forget a bit of shameless self promotion! If you fancy sitting down for an hour and making a shower cap for yourself - or maybe as a gift for Mother's Day - do come along to my craft lab. (See for yourself whether I really am a blue hippo in red overalls!). Full booking details (along with dates and times) can be found here.



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.

My creative space

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

This week's creative space is feeling distinctly un-creative just now. In the background there, you can see lots of cut pieces for a trial-run of my first shirt, McCalls M5522, View D. And I know its about to cause me grief; lots of it.

You see I've reached a point in my sewing where my ability to alter patterns is lagging behind my ability to construct garments. I would love to make lots of shirts, jackets and trousers, but sadly there is little point unless they fit nicely. And for someone of the full-busted-sway-backed-protruding-tummy-you-really-need-to-stop-slouching-like-that persuasion, there's a lot of altering to be done.

So I am sitting at the cutting board this week, contemplating the hard yards ahead. (Its not a good place to be, if your secret favourite quote is work fascinates me; I could watch it for hours.)

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.

My creative space

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

This week I am doing a little jewellry repair: re-stringing a somewhat fragile, but beautiful and unique necklace.

I believe the beads are the rarely seen Macaroni-ite Dye-us. I would have run them through my teeth to check their authenticity, but oddly the words colour run keep springing to mind. Anyway, I have replaced their original stringing (a piece of pink yarn) with some nice stretchy hat elastic.

I am told that you can make a good replica of these beads by combining a couple tablespoons of rubbing alcohol, food coloring and some uncooked pasta. The beads need to be left to dry for an hour on paper towel before being used. (And I am assuming that wearing them in the rain would be a disaster waiting to happen.)

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.

My creative space

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

This week's space is again dedicated to finishing my hand-beaded and couched name tag for a swap (for Sew It Together, a sewing and craft blogmeet being held in May).

My brand new reading sewing glasses turned up late today: just in time to see how bad my eyesight has really been. The couching is a debacle with stitches all over the place. The glasses confirm that I should have focused on couching more in the sense of lazing about on a sofa. At least it wouldn't have been so messy.

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.

My creative space

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

This week's space is full of teeny tiny beads. I'm working on a name tag swap for Sew It Together, a sewing and craft blogmeet being held in May.

My partner's name is being couched in satiny red braid and I am filling the background with little aqua sequins, round beads and bugle beads. I hope she doesn't mind a bit of sparkle.

I have to admit that I have found the near-work incredibly tricky. While I have been joking for some time about my eye-sight, it never occurred to me that I might need spectacles. Mostly because I already wear glasses.

According to an eye test yesterday, I now need two pairs. But not at the same time of course, because no one wants to be called six eyes (unless you are a fly, in which case that is a compliment).

The new glasses won't be ready until the day after the swap is due, so between now and then there will be much stitching at arm's length.


Oh look ... more sparkles.

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.

My creative space

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

This week's space is just a bit of fun: watercolour pencil scribbled on a large white jotter. No reason; no purpose. When life gets a bit crazy* isn't it nice to do a few things just because?

* I mean crazy in the sense of being the mother of a three-year old who emits as many decibels as a jet plane at take-off

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 (or to join in), head over here.

My creative space

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

Clockwise from left:

• Reader's Digest Complete Guide To Sewing (a surprise gift from someone very generous)
• Burda World of Fashion 8/2008
• Bengaline suiting

Sitting on my sewing table this week is a Burda World of Fashion pattern for some trousers. I have no real experience of making ladies trousers, but am aware that I will need to make a few alterations to the pattern. I am currently reading about how to accommodate a sway back and the kind of derriere that would be best photographed using a panoramic lens.

The pattern is rated as being "Easy to sew, with simple features", so I am hoping that altering the pull-on style won't be too complicated. (Did you like the way I glossed over the fact that I am making trousers with an ... ahem ... elasticised waistband? A little bit wrong, but oh so right.)

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 (or to join in), head over here.

My creative space

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

Clockwise from left:

• Dried hydrangea from the garden
• Absolutely delicious, hand-dyed blue felt by Ewe and Me (do look at Trudi's other colours)
• Glass beads in shades of blue

This week I have a plan for a table runner. You see, our beautiful redgum dining table is currently under a large piece of plastic. Its a little bit nanna really, but I make no apologies. I don't want Argy and Bargy touching the surface of that table until they are at least 28.

Do you think a hydrangea-inspired runner will divert attention from the fact that the rest of our napery is PVC?

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 (or to join in), head over here.

My creative space

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

This week's creative space contains Butterick 5206 sitting about in pieces. Lots of pieces; some might say, more than intended.

The pattern I am using is meant to be a mock-wrap frock with a flared skirt and tie. The project was going quite well until The Monumental Mistake.



You see, I failed to heed the warning signs.

Front and back bodice sides don't quite match? Front longer than the back?
Heck, just ignore it. Throw caution to the wind.
Sew up the side seam. Without question as the cause of the mismatch.
Yes siree, keep sewing that knit fabric.
Use lightening stitch; a teeny tiny zig-zaggy stitch.
Follow Butterick's instructions to the letter. Sew the seam twice.
In black thread, on black fabric.

Ahem. Can you see where I am going with this?

Yes, by the time I realised I had forgotten to sew the bust dart (which incidentally existed only because I added it as part of a pattern alteration) unpicking the side seam was impossible. That baby was stitched tighter than Sandy's bodysuit in Grease. So after a hasty purchase - along with more cutting and sewing - I now have a skirt and two bodices. One of which is a little bit wrong (but sewn very securely).

Let's hope I remember to sew the right one to the skirt.

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 (or to join in), head over here

My creative space

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

I very much doubt that I can hoodwink anyone into believing this to be my creative space, so I had better come clean. This wonderful space (a studio, of the recording variety), of course, belongs to someone else.

For the record, though, the soft light and muting walls were so calming, that I should rather like a space like this at home. Note to self: investigate the viability of using egg cartons and craft glue on the walls ... or failing that, perhaps on the children.

Anyway, I was lucky enough to be invited to this studio today, to chat about the creative space that is blogging. I was a little nervous - especially fearing that my rumbling tummy would also be captured by that huge microphone - but it was great fun. Thank you very much for inviting me, Penny!

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