Craft Schmaft Sale
June 18, 2010
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50% off all PDF patterns, all weekend.
http://craftschmaft.bigcartel.com/
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Call it a weekend celebration if you will.
Happy Crafting!
Claire
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Vintage Tuesday: 80s Club Knits
June 14, 2010
This week’s pattern makes me feel like it really is OK not to knit.
Woman Cave inspiration
June 14, 2010
The woman cave is in full swing. I’ve been trawling the interweb for inspiration and for some reason am drawn to old things, vintage if you like. Actually it’s more than vintage, I think I’m drawn to items that have stood the test of time – things that have character. I’m loving ladders as shelves, this is a project from Sunset Magazine:
I’ve even gone so far as to go to a timber yard to find planks for my ladder shelves but it has to be said that the timber yard men were far less than helpful. They just couldn’t get their heads around me wanting to use timber meant for construction to put between two old ladders. They also seemed to have a panicked glint in their eye, a fear that I may give birth at any time or perhaps go on a pregnant hormonal rampage. You may think this is ridiculous but I have spent a fair deal of time in hardware stores and other man domains and, before the big bump, got a very different reaction to needing some help with purchases. Fear not, I will persevere. There are plenty more timber yards on the northern beaches!
In love with Far Far Away II
June 13, 2010
It an be hard to find cute fabric for boys. It’s out there but it feels like you have to search it out much more than girly coloured fabrics. Heather Ross is one of my favourite designers not only for her gorgeous illustration but the way she works blues, reds and golds into a colour palette. Her latest collection Far Far Away II has the most gorgeous Owl and Pussycat designin Aqua. I’m afraid the paypal account is about to get a beating!
See the full colour palette on Heather Ross’ Blog.
Nursery sketching
June 10, 2010
I’ve been planning and experimenting with sock air balloons and thinking that I might make a sock pup with flying goggles as a bit of a feature too. The first prototype is going quite well, the shape works and I think with a more interesting sock (I used an old one) and some bunting it could be quite nice. More pics soon!
Notebook sock owl classes
June 9, 2010
I’m going to be teaching a sock owl class in Sydney for Notebook magazine on the 10th of July. It runs from 9-12 in the morning, suitable for beginners through to the very experienced. All supplies provided with a big range of socks and fabric to choose from and a pattern for you to take home so you can create an entire parliament of owls. I really loved teaching the class at Stitches and Craft in Melbourne, meeting gorgeous crafty ladies and seeing all the little owls emerge was great fun. Check out Jacinta’s gorgeous owl over at One Little Acorn.
The class is filling up but still some spots available, you can book online here:
https://tickets.moshtix.com/online/seatSelect.asp
PS: It’s etsy’s birthday next Friday, 18tgh of June and all around there world crafters are getting ready to party. Notebook are having a BYO craft party in Sydney to celebrate. I’m going along, would love to see you there! Details here:
http://www.meetup.com/Etsy-Craft-Party/7389/
Vintage Tuesday: 50′s Fuzzy Wuzzy
June 8, 2010
It is well and truly winter around here. So feral has the weather been that I’ve been tempted to knit. I really would love to knit. That may sound innocent enough but I promised myself last winter that I wouldn’t ever knit again. I just don’t have the patience to keep doing the same stitch over and over again. I end up getting sloppy, making holes and abandoning the project half way through.
Anyway, this week I thought I’d post something a little more stylish than the 70s crochet pants suit. I bought this pattern because I loved the black and white photography and the elegance of the silhouettes. I can only imagine how much corsetry was involved but I think that the 50s was more stylish than any other era. What’s your favourite vintage era?
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Woman Cave
June 7, 2010
It’s official. I’m in full nesting mode. I can tell you this with authority because I found myself spontaneously cleaning all the cupboard doors, inside and out, on the weekend. Any voluntary or spontaneous cleaning on my part is definitely nesting. I also went quite nuts buying minky fleece to turn into snuggly wraps and spent hours pouring over images of nurseries and trawling the net for baby clothing patterns. Yup. Nesting.
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This time around I seem to have added a new dimension to nesting. I’m feeling the need to have a space where I can craft. A retreat from screaming children, piles of washing and curious little fingers. There is no corner of our flat for such a place so I am moving myself into the garage. I am creating a woman cave. A place with jars of buttons and stashes of fabric. A place where you can leave scissors on the table. A place where all my vintage patterns just invite me to browse them. I know that I won’t have much time to spend down there once the baby comes but I’m thinking that even an hour of time down there might just be the bliss that I need amongst newborn chaos. I even have visions of the baby taking naps there while I relax and stitch (yeah right, keep dreaming love!).
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It is highly likely that my woman cave will be a jumble of junk storage and abandoned projects but in my mind it’s filled with vintage suitcases, jars of buttons, a big clear cutting bench and a comfy arm chair. Perhaps the odd newborn swinging in a terribly designer linen hammock. Bliss.
Weekend sewing pics
June 3, 2010
I’ll let them speak for themselves…
Bump inspecting the hood (Thanks for the photos Belinda, is that a good enough bump shot for you Steph?)
Oh my god… it actually worked!!
The true test was on the pram though…
hooray! Just the binding to be done. Only problem is that I like the inside more than the outside.
I also made up a little doona cover for Oscar. We’ve been snuggled under it this week watching DVDs while the rainy weather goes on and on and on.
Vintage: 70′s clingy pants suit
June 1, 2010
This patons crochet book from the 70s starts out innocently enough…
…but before you know it, BOOM!
“So you’re a girl, and you don’t mind who knows it. You wear these V neck culottes with their front zipper opening. “
“No man minds a woman wearing the pants when they’re like this!”
Well… um… I’m not so sure!
Hello. My name is Claire. I have a sock toy addiction. It began two years ago when I was pregnant and nesting. At first I dismissed it. I hadn't sewn in years. "Craft Schmaft" I said. Well it seems this crafty thing is here to stay. This blog brings you the delights of making sock softies, fabric finds and crafty inspiration from round the interweb.
