change something

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is it a duck? is it fox? is it a bear? is it just like that dog?

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During the week I bought some old blankets from a thrift store, soft and wooly and warm, and am enjoying cutting them up and turning them into softies. I don't really know what these dudes are, but they turned out cute. Something about the thickness of them, like fur but not quite, that I find lovely. I also picked up a vintage fabric cushion cover and old pillowcases with yellow roses. I've made some other monsters too, with antlers, but today is overcast and they will have to wait for the sun to come out for photos.

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Only after I'd finished did I see that they turned out quite like some plushies made by awesome plushie maker, ninon (If you haven't seen her plushies, do go have a look, they're tremendous). I find a lot of inspiration from looking at other people's work, new faces, embroidery ideas, new ways of arranging colours and pattern making; new things to try and experiment with. I didn't mean this one to be quite.so.similar, but they do say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!

(ninon appearing in the WhipUp calendar)

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Do you gather ideas and techniques form other people? have you made something after seeing someone else make it? Have you ever seen something that you've inspired, and did you feel ripped off or flattered?

my bedside

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The light isn't very good which doesn't make for good photos, but I think you've seen this before; my quilt, my pile of books to read, an embroidered cushion from my sister, suitcase of fabric and flip clock that clicks in the night. Usually a pile of bobbypins, a used mug or two, my phone with an extra alarm set, just.in.case.

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For this weeks 'My Place and Yours' meme from Meet Me At Mikes. I'm enjoying peeking at what other people have by their bed, you can see more here.

via don't foget to fly

I really love this bedside.
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from HomeSweetHome

And oh my, isn't this the sweetest? I've always wanted an alcove bed like this, so darn cozy.
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I also like this bed very.much.

and this one too.

he said

(credit, via)

there's a new kid in town

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There's a new type of graffitti/urban art /guerilla knitting around these parts. Eye catching, pretty and inviting, these colour co-ordinated pieces are in my favourite park. They're made up of knitted strips, ribbons, fabrics and buttons, woven between twine on tree guards.

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I love that they surprised me and made me smile, that they brighten up the place and serve no purpose but to look pretty and maybe make people pause in the day.

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I have no idea who's behind them, but if it's you, they're lovely; and do keep it up, won't you?

more interesting to draw than ipods

illustrations by Marc Johns

eating her words

My friend Rachael has a photography blog. And photos in her flickr group. They're ace. Her photography is ace. She's ace too.

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on the shelf

from Pip's meme 'My Place and Yours' over at MeetMeAtMikes.

What's on your shelf?

say it with a cushion

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I little whiles ago I made a cushion for some friends housewarming party. I tried to sum up the house in a few words, and came up with 'hell yeah'! It was ace. The party I mean, and the cushion too. I drew up a speech bubble and improvised, and stitching the letters on the machine was easier than I expected. I meant to tell you ages ago, but you know I've been a bit sick and I'm just catching up now!

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So I improved on the prototype and created another one. hello. This one has cursive writing, a better pattern and a handle on the back for easy posing when the occasion arises, so you don't have to hold it awkwardly.

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They are big enough to be comfy and squishy, made from heavy calico so they're durable and are fully washable. They're in my store now as a custom order (with ideas for personalised text) and I plan to make some off-the-shelf ones too. My (french) housemate would like 'bon jour', and I was thinking 'sweet dreams', 'you're lovely' and 'uh-huh'.

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What words would you see on a speech-bubble cushion?

(here's the original cushion, now I feel a bit bad because they have the prototype, and perhaps I ought to replace with a better one?)

girls rule and boys drool

I don't know about sugar and spice, or that thing about snails and puppy dogs tails, but girls do rule. Last night we had a 'Girls Night In' dinner for the Breast Cancer Foundation and had a swingin' good time. Lovely lasses, loads of delicious food, wine and lots of chat and catching up and hugs. Every now and then it's just ace to gather up a dozen girls and be silly. Just ace. Plus we raised some dough for a great cause, and had a great time. Happy Breast day everyone!

Thanks so much for all your kind get-well wishes. It amazes me how much snot can come from one person, but I bet you didn't need that mental image, did you? I'm still sniffling and giving a hearty cough every now and then, but feeling much better and off to the library today and dinner with friends tonight. It's nice to come back into the world.

I like this bag

(credit via)

sniff cough splutter

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I have not posted for a little while, I'm sorry I have missed you, too. I have been suffering from some major lack of motivation, with a side of sniffles that have just turned into a full-blown cold, with sore throat, chills, and more snot than you really want to see. (Any snot is really too much, actually. Yes.) I have been reading a lot, which is nice. And I'm sure somewhere, in the back of my brain, ideas are percolating, ready to bubble to the surface when I can breathe through both nostrils at once again. When my motivation returns along with a desire to wear something other than trackpants and t-shirts. When the sun on my skin is welcome and my idea of heaven no longer necessarily involve soft quilts in a dark room. I will be back soon.

worth it? or just a nuisance?

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I have an ad on the sidebar there now. A sponsor, if you will. Spruiking lollipops by way of a puppet flashing his bottom. I'm not sure how I feel about this. I wish it didn't flash so much (ha! pun not intended!) but any method that can buy me more time to do what I love (and buy fabric supplies. mmm... )... Are silly ads worth it? Or just a nuisance? Sometimes when I visit a blog with lots of ads I feel it can cheapen the feel of the whole blog. And I know some people wear the 'ad-free blog' badge with pride.


How do you feel about ads on blogs? Would you put an ad on your blog? Will you still visit me and say hi if you must be affronted by an ad here and there? Or shall I take the darn thing off?

tgif, seriously

(Happy Friday everyone)

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you had a guitar, I had a blue hat

very cute series of illustrations called Missed Connections, about, um, missed connections. I love.

via DudeCraft

steps to make a scared bunny

Step 1: As I was unlocking the door to go into the office, I saw a shape on the pavement near the busy road. You know that thing when your eyes trick you and make something look like something familar when it really isn't. It looked all the world like a bunny, crouching by the side of the road. I squinted. It was a plastic shopping bag that flew off with the breeze of a truck.


Step 2: Think that it would be interesting to make a cowering bunny plushie.




Step 3: Find an overpriced vest at a thrift-store (remember when everything was 20c?) that would do perfectly. Buy it.



Step 4: Rip vest apart at seams and lay flat. Draw a simple pattern when the fabric becomes.. temporarily indisposed.




Step 5: Cut out shapes, watch Glee and stitch. Rinse and repeat. Stuff with polyester fill and choose four old buttons to keep legs on.

Voila. Scared bunny from an old vest. I have no idea what I'm going to do with him.

I've got my eye on you

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oh, I do so mush

through the park, past the joggers and on the way to the duck pond.

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I love you so mush?

oh gosh

(pictures via I-don't-remember. oops. bad form I know, but too good not to share)

antler boy

New little guy with antlers. I do like how he turned out. A mini beast, with obligatory scarf for chilly days.