I can feel Winter coming on.

It is a sure sign that Winter is almost here...

There is a certain hum in the air...

the hum of the sewing machine in the sewing room that has laid dormant since last Winter.

The first creation.

Made with a certain young lad in mind.  It has a variety of textures and includes braid from his Great Grandma Gwen's sewing box.  The back is black and white spots coz all bubbies love to look at contrasting black and white. It has big eyes to stare into and it even rattles. 

Littlies

You know that little fairy egg I blogged about yesterday?  It is just the next post, so scroll down if you didn't see it already.  Well, I crocheted a little egg cup for it.  

I found a chrome flange on the side of the road when I went for that picnic the other day.  I picked it up because I thought I could crochet it onto a rock or something.  It made the perfect little base for this.

And on the subject of smallness,  here are some gorgeous little violets that have popped up next to a brick. 

Just yarning

Now be honest, no one is looking, put up you hand if you thought my recent crocheting of rocks and taps was a little strange.  Mmmm!

Well check out Wunderkammer for some very clever and interesting crochet.

I love these Lovely Textiles!

Or perhaps you fancy a bit of Yarn Bombing.

I also found the knitted room in Tasmania.  The mix-master, lamingtons and radio are my favourites.

And lastly, here is one a friend sent me, just to prove I am in vogue.

So you see, I am not THAT strange...a bit disappointing really.

Tap dancing

The tap dancers from Bath.

PRIMA:  she was the first and is disappointed to find herself in a tap dancing troupe she really wanted to be a ballet dancer but didn't have the figure for it.

S. PIGGOT: Thinks he is the main man in the troupe but the girls know they control the flow!

EILEEN: is feeling her age and has a nasty scoliosis of the spine.


I know some of you are worried about my apparent slide into crafting insanity.  I also know that some of you are feeling vindicated and thinking, 'I always knew she was mad'.

Well in truth I don't really mind either being a bit mad or you thinking I am,  but I thought I would do a web search to see if I was alone.
There was a long list of results among them, Knitalatte's etsy shop  and even some people who crocheted a fence at Crochet Me.

Strangely though, I searched for crocheted taps
and didn't get a single hit.

So, maybe I am mad, but at least it appears I am original!

Beware the rocky path

This is what can happen when you see something on someone's blog and have some time on your hands.  

You find your head full of rocks.  At night you lay awake thinking about what you can do to the next rock.  Sad, I know, but true.     

You spy a wooden curtain ring, a brass ring, a washer and strangness ensues.  Then when one isn't enough, you add another and another...

I think these look a bit like creatures from a rock pool.

 But really what could you do with them? 

Paper weights?

Then, your mind goes off thinking about what else could be crocheted.  

Be warned, there is more strangeness on the way.  

A group I have named, "The Tap Dancers'.  

Whatever could that be?  

Stay tuned.

Current projects.

You have met Violetta before, but I added a few extra touches, like the chain with the heart, a few wrinkles and a badge before I sent her off to her new home.  The message for the recipient is to take better care of herself.  I truly hopes she listens!

These are the feet of another little creation.  Her name is, Precious and she is very special.  I can't show you much more yet because I want to send her to her new home and she needs to be a surprise.  


I will have to stop crocheting rock covers, I have a callous forming on my right index finger, a sore pinky on the left that holds the cotton to maintain even tension, and a twinge in my left elbow.  I have experimented with crocheting a cover for a stack of three.  I think it has possibilities but am not happy with the first one.  Maybe I will go and mow the grass!

Rock Art and a question for you

I have to admit this isn't an original idea...I saw it on a blog but thought it looked like fun and I gave it a go.  

There is something really pleasant about handling these rocks with the juxtaposition of the cotton and the hard rock and the way the crochet moves slightly over the smoothness of the cold rocky surface.  

The oval one with the hole is particularly good to hold...it fits in the hand comfortably and you can run your thumb over the smooth surface of the stone showing through the hole.  It is a bit meditative.

I just used some stones I had been using as mulch on pot plants in my previous life.  In the summer I will be looking in the creek for friendly and interesting stones.

And the question:

I planted my broad beans early, they are as tall as me and have been flowering prolifically for a few weeks.  When can I expect them to set beans?

Traditional skills

I am one of those lucky baby boomers who learned a lot of traditional 'women's' skills at the sides of my mum and sisters.  Being the youngest of four girls, with large age gaps in between, was a blessing in this regard.  At every stage in my growing up there was someone cooking, sewing, knitting etc.

In the 1970s when my children were small and money was short these skills were put to good use.  I made overalls, dresses, jumpers, cardigans and more.  I could complete a small jumper in about 5 nights in front of the TV and sewed small garments using remnants and left over bits and pieces from a couple of my more prolific sewing sisters.

Like so many others, I became busy with a career and only knitted occasionally and didn't sew at all.  Now that I have retired and decided to change the way I live I am so glad that I have these skills.  Almost as important, my experience and existing skills mean I am confident in my ability to tackle new projects that I may not have done before.  For instance, I have never quilted, machine embroidered, or smocked but I am ready to have a go.

One of my lovely brothers in law recently gave me these books which are full of ideas and simple instructions for a wide range of crafts.  I have been enjoying dipping into them and can't wait to start on a few new projects.

I am also very excited to be heading off to the Melbourne Agricultural Show next week.  I want to see all the animals, especially the chooks, and the craft (of course)!

Take my advice...

Whether you working hard, laying an egg or...

preparing a bathroom for painting...

remember to take time out for a rest or...

to sing a song and always remember to....

Hooray....spring is here!  

Keeping busy by the fire

My new pin cushion

A very tired, overworked guardian angel with attitude.

Decorating

I haven't had time to blog for a couple of days because of necessary trips to the city demanding my time. In addition we have swapped our dining room and lounge room. The new lounge room gets lots of sun during the day and is a very pleasant place to be. The current dining room was a little dark and too small for our couches. This configuration works much better.

I have also been busy making new curtains for the dining room and making some fabric collages to go in the frames on the new shelf on the wall. I am feeling very satisfied with my homemaking.

Material girl

I promise to get back out to the garden soon, but in the mean time, here are photos of some of the material I have been collecting. Most of it is remnants or clothes from Savers. I made another creature and sent it off to another grandson today.

I am thoroughly enjoying creating and sewing as I will again thoroughly enjoy sowing when the weather picks up.

Sewing Room

I thought I would give you a peek into my sewing and craft room. I am a little worried that I am becoming a little obsessive. However, I have sent three toys to grandchildren. One arrived at its destination today and was a big hit and there has been an immediate request for another. I think an obsession that gives joy is not a bad thing.

Don't scare the baby.

Here is the latest creation from the sewing room. People told me that the green and yellow one was too scary so I made a gentler version for the new grand daughter due in about 10 weeks. She is cut from an old dressing gown (the toy, not the baby).

Today I went to a garage sale and got more, very cheap material and some ribbon and lace. I think I am becoming obsessive. Good thing August is here and the Spring planting preparation will drag me outside again.

Winter pursuits

I have set up a sewing and craft room to keep me busy on the cold days and evenings. Having decided not to have television (although there is a TV and a Blu Ray player for DVDs) I find there is lots of time for other activities. This is the first creation which is for a grandchild.

It is made from a recycled chenille bedspread and some scrap material I had so it fits in with my aim to live sustainably.