something practical this time

I got this lovely lovely yarn on Friday, at a local op-shop (thrift store). It really was a lucky find - I'd gone to get cash from the machine, and when I came back to pay, the lady was putting it out for sale.  I said how much, she said '.....oh, $4?'. Yes yes!

A whole bag of yarn balls. 7 full + 2 with only a little bit already gone. 60% wool with 40% nylon - though it feels really soft and woolly. It's in the most delicious dove grey colour. Someone bought it a long time ago from Coles for about 0.75c, they still have the labels and price stickers.

I've been thinking I needed to start on a lovely blanket - so that's what I did. But then, lying beside the fire last night, Sam mentioned that we really do need some big floor cushions. So - this became a crochet floor cushion (still in the works). I'm planning it big, as big as I can go with the yarn I have. Perhaps I'll get two?

There's no pattern. I just started out as I know how - crochet in the round. And then I added five little corner tab bits (with double stitches and chain rows), to form a pentagon shape. It's just evolving as I work each new row. Changing stitches as I feel like it. I did say at some point today that I was already a little bored with it (after all this tiny rock crochet, this really is a big project for me) - but changing stitches helps to keep me going. And it really is quite yummy yarn. Soft and so easy to work. It's crocheting up quite quickly. And the whole family is taking interest in it, which really does help.

I was using orange embroidery thread as corner markers (oh, I do need to get me some stitch markers, don't I!). The orange was a perfect pop against the grey (especially on this overcast, rainy day). And then, a quick look in my tiny stash bag to discover some orange yarn for the occasional row or two.

It's sure to be ready in time for next Winter - I know myself too well. I get a great start on things, and then go now-where with it. Here's to a finished cushion before the 'lying in front of our fire season' is over!

 and this last one, taken by candle light, and the extra light of a torch. It's hard holding a heavy torch in one hand, and taking a photo with the other hand. I've realised (or thought about it) this week, that we have been living here for 15months now - with no electricity....... 

Crochet by candlelight seems to have become my life!

my pair

I printed and sewed some red pear cushions last week.

With the sun shining (finally) I thought how wonderful to get some fun images with the kids holding the cushions.

While the photographic evidence is proof that they could both pass as models (yes, yes, I can be a doting mama, can't I?); you only have my word that the behaviour when I asked them to get dressed in what I wanted, and not what they wanted is further proof they are either perfect models (as in little prima-donnas) or not at all suited. The littlest one spent a good while whinging and telling me she didn't like blue, and wanting to wear some hot pink floral thing.... The big one argued that the orange pants he had on were a good thing to wear. Eventually I enticed them into something. {You may notice that the little one is actually wearing pink, and not the blue top I put out for her. Oh well.}

So - while my camera and my photographic skills aren't too good - I do think that the models and the styling and of course, the product, are pretty something okay. What do you think?

You can order your own over here, any colour you like. And any other designs, if pears aren't your thing. There's a few purses in the shop as well. More things to come soon, as I start getting settled into my new studio space {more on that soon.....}.

from Sandrine

I received an email the other day, from the beautiful Sandrine. Such a lovely person to know, to spend market time with, to be inspired by. I so love her felted pieces, and pretty little hats. 

At one of our Christmas markets, Sandrine took home one of our cushion making kits, and finally after the holiday madness of family life and running your own small business, she had a spare moment to give it a try. 

It's always to lovely to see my designs in someone else's home. 

Thank you Sandrine. 

I do believe I'm not wrong in saying that Sandrine will soon have her own cushions available for sale at her market stalls and online shop. I have seen some with special felted flowers and other details adorning cushions.

In other news of seeing our things in people's homes - Sam came home from work the other day (he rides his bicycle across the bridge), saying that he'd seen a young woman carrying one of our smoke design tote bags. He'd felt like stopping her and saying Hi! Always makes one happy. 

In shop news - I'll be loading some new products - cushions and little things I've starting work on - later next week. School holidays are almost over, which means that I'll have time to get back to work and settle into making for the market.

*Image used with thanks from Sandrine.

ferny and soft

I've been sewing cushions lately, amongst a heap of other stuff (and then a heap of stuff that is not yet sewn, but either in my head still or half started, half finished - whatever you may call it).
This is one that I stitched up today.
It's our beautiful fern fabric, a soft lightweight hemp/organic cotton. The ferns are multi-printed; blues and greens merging together along the fronds.I've overstitched parts of the print - which I'm really loving doing at the moment. Getting quite addictive actually.
The whole back of these purses were feature overstitched (squiggle stitched).
This ferny cushion is backed with the most beautiful and soft and strokable velvet. It's a green mossy-ferny colour. A Vinnies (or some other op-shop) find - or maybe from the Lifeline Bin. Can't remember now.But I just had to match the ferns with the velvety green. Just had to. No choice in the matter.
You know when fabric talks to you. And if you don't listen, then.. well, you often regret it.
So, this cushion, amongst some others I've been working on (and more that will be talking themselves into being in the next few days), will be at the Stitches and Craft Show.I'll show you the others tomorrow (too dark for photos now); cause I'm really loving them all. They are just morphing themselves, and each one is different, with offcuts and reclaimed fabrics. Which means that I will never be able to make a cushion like that one ever again. That's pretty cool, don't you think.