Craft Schmaft

I’m in a stitches and craft frenzy. Wall decals have been ordered, new table cloths are being sewn up, signage is being put together. I’m having a double stand at the show and with the extra space I would like to make a good impression. on all you Victorians.  In my vision of a perfect stand I’d be swanning around in new yellow pinnie made from this 1978 pattern. It’s one of many seriously cool things (and one or two shockers) in the Readers Digest “Useful things to sew” book.

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There’s just one major flaw in this vision – I’m pregnant.

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I have to tell you that the 70s were not kind to bumps. Bubba Waring the 2nd  is growing at a rapid rate and, quite simply, will not fit into anything unless it’s elastic or smocky. We could fast forward to 80s maternity fashion but  puffed up princess Diana in a smock with bow detail is simply not part of the look I was going for. Damn!

I bought the very first issue of MixTape Zine when it came out a couple of years ago. I loved it. I’ve been buying it ever since. So I’m very chuffed to have a profile in the latest issue “The kids are alright!”. The cover (stunning colours) is by Jess Greenfield and there is a very cool tooth fairy pillow tutorial by Cintia not to mention the mouth watering vanilla orange cordial recipe by Ms Sadie and Lance. Yum!!

Vintage Tuesday is back! Sorry about the absence last week, hopefully this gem will entice you to forgive me. I thought that Patons “Fine knits for fellas” was appropriate as it’s my last week freelancing in adland. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a fella in a knit in all my time in advertising. Not even when I worked in London. Perhaps that’s because I hang out with the digital chaps who are found wearing t-shirts and trainers – not a neck scarf in sight!

Miss Milla’s is a fantastic new online store for craft supplies specialising in “kits to get your creativity flowing”. I’m not sure what I’m drooling over the most, the funky website design or the embroidery and amigurumi patterns. Miss Milla’s also stocks Craft Schmaft kits and patterns… hooray!

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Especially loving this Spaced out embroidery pattern from Sublime Stitching.

It’s been a week since my last post, and what a week it was!

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Mr Schmaft was off in Germany on business so I was playing single mum – hats off to you single mums I don’t know how you do it! Oscar was sick with bronchitis, I was diagnosed anaemic, the fridge completely broke down and all food went off, the internet broke down and I had my 19 week scan for bubba number two. I had promised to cover a friend at work in adland for a few weeks (he is on paternity leave) and of course there was crisis after crisis at work too. In the middle of it all a well meaning gymbaroo teacher cornered me to suggest that Oscar may have food allergies because he is so active (read completely beside himself with excitement and running around like a mad thing). I found out on Tuesday that Oscar needed a “creative hat” for the Easter Parade on Thursday. Then I was told that the Stitches and Craft show in Sydney for April had been moved to August.

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Chaos. Complete and total chaos.

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I am happy to report that the toddler, fridge, internet and ad campaigns have now been fixed. The easter hat was created and worn proudly. The husband is back from Germany. I am now best friends with steak and iron supplements. The gymbaroo teacher has been told to shove it. The baby is doing very well and I have an envelope with the gender waiting to be opened tonight.

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The only thing I can’t fix is the Stitches and Craft show. I was so excited about it but I guess I’ll just have to put all my energy into the Melbourne show for May instead.

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I’ve been stitching sample softies for Koskela this weekend. They wanted to have some on display with the kits so these little fellas along with little owls have been created. Hopefully I can get some pics of them in the store this week to share…

Miss All Star G-Raf

Mr Plaid Pup

Well the Sausage dog worked! The wheels are attached, a few different attempts at how best to attach them but the toddler has pulled and the dog has followed. Yippee! Photos to come tomorrow.

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I promised myself that I’d have the pattern ready for Stitches and Craft in Sydney and the pattern is well underway but I’d love a few people to test it for me. Interested? I’ll post out the wheels and dowel so you’ll just need the socks, stuffing, fabric. If you’d like to take part leave a comment or email me claire {!at!} craftschmaft {dot} com. It would need to be finished by the 6th of April and you need to be in Australia to receive the wheels. There’ll also be a variation without wheels so if you are overseas and would like to help test lemme know and I’ll send you that version.

Thanks!

Claire

I made an apron for my little chef. He luuuurves cooking with me although it has to be said that he ends up wearing more food than gets cooked. I curse the day I taught him about licking the spoon and bowl at the end.. what was I thinking?  So an apron has been in order for quite some time now. I got the pattern from via Sophie - it’s a Michael Miller. The kids size is a little too big for him but I really wanted something that would cover most of his clothing. The neck band I cheated on and really should have used d-rings so that needs to be fixed. I also skipped pytting a pocket on the front – I just had  visions of cake mixture puddles gathering in the bottom of the pocket, or sticky marshmallows being stashed in there for later. Cheeky Monkey!

I received the sunshine award from the gorgeous Snickerdoodle, who has beautiful crafty bits and a very cute new bubba,  a little while back and it’s time for me to pass it on!

So I started thinking about bloggers that brighten my day, which led to more thinking about inspiration generally and what drives me to create sock softies.  I’ve always had a passion for making things – ever since I was a toddler.  When I was a creative in advertising people used to ask me “How on earth do you keep coming up with ideas all the time? I’d say…. “Ummmm…. I don’t know… it just kind of happens” but actually, when I really think about it, I loved creating campaigns that people got to participate in – games they could play, interactive worlds they could click on. I get such a buzz out of people having fun with things I’ve created. It’s exactly the same with making sock softies and blogging. Inspiration comes from people creating their own softies from my patterns.

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So this blog award goes out to all of you who inspire me and keep me going by making sock softies…

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Steph @ Moobear and her Tag Monster for Bubble
Tania @ Myrtle & Eunice and her Odd Sock Club
Knitter Sue and her hip hoppin twin G-Rafs
Susan @ Rocketfuel and her raaaaawww Monsters
Nikki @ MyBlackCardigan and her mobile
Sarah @ shopkeeperswife and her mobile for baby Grace
Bek @ Red Chocolate and her scrumtpious little owls
Jodi @ RicRac and her little owl mentions
Greta @ ItLiterallyIs having a hoot or two
Charlotte @ Snailblazer and her little owl

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