Chrissy gifts

I didn't want to post these before Xmas, just in case the receivers saw the blog, but here are the very few things I managed to make in time for Xmas gifts. I was pretty slack this year. Not intentionally, but with the job and the move and all that stuff, I just plain ran out of time to put much thought or effort into making presents for people. What I did manage to make though was....


This necklace for the work secretary....








This rosary for my Dad. I think he was surprised I made it....

And this pendant necklace for the lovely Brona, one of the PhD students at work. This year was her first Aussie Xmas.

2010 shall be interesting with my move. Thinking of starting a Brown Owls chapter with Amelie and Atticus. Any other takers? Would love to meet some new crafty people. The chapter will be around Sydney, the Shire/St George region most likely.

Tonight's project

Tonight was a bit of a lesson in pain. Weaving a lot of wire around a tiny knitting needle is not good for the thumbs. Lucky I don't really have to use them much to type!

Unfortunately I didn't get any action shots whilst in class (too busy concentrating on how to make the wire S shaped sections of the necklace). Of course, being the slow poke that I am, I didn't finish my project in class, so I bought the pieces home to finish it off. I think I will let the photos speak for themselves...

And the final product!

The question now is. Do I keep it for me?! Or do I give it away? My greedy inner voice is telling me to keep it. I think I will ponder that one a little longer...

Craftin' Crazy

I am still alive and kicking! Work has been hectic (as usual) and whilst I have managed to keep up relatively well on the craft front, I haven't really had a chance to blog. By the time I get home I am pretty beat, so I have been putting off blogging for a week or two. So time to catch up on things. I have been productive with my stitcheries and my jewellery. First, to finally reveal the present I made for my friend Lori, an awesome chick who works, studies and has her little kidlets (with another on the way). She is amazing, and so I thought I would send her a little something to show her she is appreciated. Knowing she is a butterfly fan, here are the results.....

The earrings and...

The necklace.

As I mentioned the stitcheries are done....

And I even fit in some time for a workshop with Christine Book. Mum and I went along and it was a good day (despite my massive headache!). Below is the result of my hard work (much more fun than proper work).

Mum did the same pattern. We are going to turn them into softies and I guess use them as decorations at Christmas time.

And I have finally moved onto my next project. I showed the Cinderberry Stitches pattern in my last blog. Well, I have actually started on it, with much thanks to Michelle and her wonderful ability to help me choose colours. I have decided to do the patchwork bits in the same fabric as my table runner, so all I had to do was find the threads.

I also manage to master french knots!!!!!!!!!!!! No more cheating (well, until I forget how to do them again)

And onto the ladybeetles....

Oh, on a random note, Grug is coming to town!!!! SO excited. I am currently trying to negotiate stealing someone's child so I have an excuse to go and see him and get my photo with the great man himself!

Back to crafty things now.
Last night in beading I made this creation....

I think every time I look at it the colours look different. I wore it tonight to the movies, where I also got up to a little mischief....

Got the craft mojo back!

Okay, well my mojo wasn't really gone as such...but I was otherwise occupied with work and my blog (and craft) was thus neglected. I can say I was too lax with craft though. Before I headed off to Melbourne last week I had a craft day with Amelie and Atticus. I was semi productive I guess. I managed to tack my table runner....

I am actually really scared of the hand quilting. I think I am going to cheat and do some bits on the machine because otherwise it is going to take me 10 years to finish this!

The other thing I worked on was my pincusion from The Home Patch. So far I have cut out all the tiny felt bits....

All I need to do now is iron them on and then whip stitch them. Hopefully it is easy enough! Guess you will see when I am done.

Tonight I am also working on another project. I am making a pendant for a friend of mine. I am going to make it into a necklace which she is giving to a friend for her b'day. Anyone who is my facebook friend would recognise this pendant, as I made a similar one earlier this year for my friend Christine.

Getting ready there

Fabric in, now to add the dragonfly charm

Drying time!

I hope I wake up in the morning and it all works out.

Anyway, a long blog, so I won't elaborate on my Melbourne trip this time, other than to say I paid a visit to Patchwork on Central Park and got some fabric for Amelie and Atticus, as well as myself....

I have no idea what I am going to make with it yet, but it's Alice in Wonderland design and it's COOL.

Time to go and read I think. Next time, a few piccies from Melbourne, and some talk about future projects and BOOKS!

Coral creation

Tonight was jewellery/beading night and another creation was born. I think my perfectionist streak made this take a little longer to make than it should have, but I managed to get it done by the end of the two hour class. The longest part of it was making the wire links with the coral beads (those are the three red beads you see every second link). To make them I wrapped the wire around a knitting needle and wire wrapped it, then the wire was beaten (in a loving way) with a hammer to give it that flat effect. I won't bother explaining the rest, I think I will let the pictures speak for themselves...

I really really like it and I am very tempted to keep it for myself, but I think I have been greedy lately keeping all my creations. Instead I think I might give it to the secretary at work. She has been a bit sick and I think it would really suit her and her fashion sense. I will keep note of the design though, as I wouldn't mind making it again for another friend, but maybe in purple.

Time to go and pack for my trip to Melbourne. I head off on Tuesday, but I am going via Sydney so I need to take everything with me tomorrow when I head down there. I feel very underprepared and disorganised!

If I don't post for a week, you will know why! There will be plenty of shopping to do in Melbourne. I hope to somehow make it to Meet Me at Mike's and Patchwork on Central Park, so I may return with crafty goodness :)

Alyce