Flickr Favourites Friday

I love this photo.

"The other Nikki" (as the wee girl calls her) made up my kids hat pattern for her toddling twins. You can read more about it here.



Sooz made one for herself out of the Adults hat pattern.


EDITED TO ADD THIS ONE... because it's so darn cute! Carmel made this for her gorgeous boy.


Have you made up one of my hat patterns? If you'd like to share your creations you can join the Flickr group or leave a comment with a link to your blog.

I never tire of seeing what happens to my little 'ol pattern designs after they leave home...

My Creative Space

...is stifling.

A week of mid-30 degrees and no air conditioning means that the studio would be perfect for raising bread or making yoghurt, but not for doing anything constructive* or entertaining a small child.

For now I'm holed up at home, working on a new design. I've been busy sampling and tweaking the pattern and now I'm onto the instructions. In a very geeky sort of way, I'm enjoying making these diagrams in CAD. Learning a few new tricks with the software always gives me a little thrill (sad, I know).

Hmmmm... that's a funny looking bag....?!

For more creative spaces, pop on over to Kirsty's.

*Note - I've relocated tonight's patternmaking class to the air-conditioned training room at the BBI.

Got the pool in at last

Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa - Swimming Pool
Originally uploaded by Official Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa

Ok... so it wasn't that particular pool....

It actually looks more like this -

The wee girl and her Daddy built a cubby-house out of her old cot (I say nothing about it being a perfectly good cot that may have been useful to another family.... encourage creativity, encourage creativity....).

The wee one was in charge of interior design and art. That's a portrait of "Daddy with the Very Hungry Caterpillar" and one of "B.Barry" (her toy frog that disappeared some time ago but has by no means been forgotten).

And now it has an indoor pool. Luxury, I tell ya! The main house is surely (and sorely) lacking in that department.

Note to self: Buy winning lottery ticket or move to the antarctic craft colony by next summer.....

Presents

I haven't been very present in blogland of late. A combination of a hectic teaching schedule, working on secret-squirrel stuff and my WILTING in the hot weather (!!) have all conspired to keep me away (....and there's also a small matter of the home - read: blogging - computer being in a room other than the one with the air conditioner).

But I've had some lovely presents lately, including this portrait of me, made out of Hama Beads by Bec's gorgeous girl on Saturday.

These booky presents arrived, too. A present to me... from me. I needed some fresh eye-candy and these also double as "sewing library reference books". (Phew!...Justified that one!).


Edited to add: Yes - I had read reviews about errata in the Heather Ross book, but as I'm NEVER likey to use a pattern or follow instructions in it, I didn't mind. (I only have to look at something and can work out how it's made.... it's been my job for 20-odd years). I really did buy the book for its eye-candy value. It's also good for me to keep a finger on the pulse by knowing what's going on in craft book world.

And I've been giving presents, too... just forgetting to blog about them. We drew our October "Spend over $50" prize last week and Wendy from Heathmont (Vic) chose some new gadgets.

For the November prize..... let's say a $25 voucher to spend in our shop. All you have to do to be in the draw is spend more than $50. We'll random-number-thingamy the invoice numbers for the month of November - and the first over-$50 WINS!

Ok... I'm off to find an air conditioner.... and think about secret-squirrel projects.

Button it.

Like a woman possessed....

The wee girl has worked out how to cover buttons (with a little help) and won't rest until all available kits are used up.

When little fingers can't manage, the toy hammer does the job. These new-fangled kits require no stitching. Love 'em.

I also love that I have no fear in handing over pointy fabric scissors to a nearly-four-year-old. Her dexterity amazes me (...and as you can see, I've given her all my best manicure tips...!).

If I can keep any kits out of sight long enough, we'll be selling them in the shop soon. And If I can save any finished buttons from the destined-to-be-hair-ties pile I'll be putting them in the centre of Kanzashi or yo-yo flowers.

This really has got to stop... some time... eventually... maybe.

Oh, what the heck - I really like buying new fabric.

Surely there are worse habits....and more expensive hobbies...?

...and anyway, these were on sale.
And Quilt Home kindly notify me every time they have a "today only" sale on a particular designers fabrics. Nice of them, huh? I couldn't NOT follow up those useful links that they send to me...now could I?

And it means I get to spend a small fortune on gorgeous prints MOST weeks..... Which has to be good for the soul...does it not?

Please meet the Erin McMorris gang (above) and the Tina Givens ....ummm...extended family and ..ahem...associated friends (below).

...and it's not as if it goes off or gets wasted, is it....?

I see Liesl's been justifying fabric purchases, too.

Long Weekend

Determined to have a break from the computer over the long weekend, I watched a bit of TV in the evenings....

And we now have hairclips and pony-tail ties to last the wee girl well into High School. (I don't sit still very easily).

Laundry was done, vacuuming, a spot of Ikea shopping and curtain-making, more laundry and a bit of sleeping.... and it's back to work tomorrow. Just when I was getting into the holiday groove....