Upholstery Experiments

We have a couple of lovely window seats in our condo.  One in our living room and one in our bedroom.  We’ve been in our place for nearly 1 year now and there is still no comfy cushions on our window seats.  That's about to change...at least in our bedroom.  Here's a photo of our bedroom window seat.

It's an old photo - just when we were buying the place.  That's the Crafting Widower measuring up the room (sorry, still no camera). 

This past weekend, I went to my new favourite shop, Dressew, and I bought some cheap upholstery fabric - $30 for 3m of fabric.  A bargain for upholstery fabric!  I didn't want to spend too much money on my first attempt - just in case I screw it up.  I just picked up my piece of foam from the “Foam Shop” today, so now I'm ready to go.  Let the experimenting begin!  

Oops

I stayed up until 1am knitting.  Probably not the best decision.  Better get to bed.  What was I thinking?

Leaving me in her crafting dust

OK, my crafty sis is leaving me in her crafting dust.  Check out these awesome pants that she whipped up this week!  

I love the japanese animal print as a contrast on the cords.  The pattern is a sweet pattern from Oliver + S.  My niece is going to love having those pockets to stash all of her treasures in! 

There's a hole in my bucket dear Liza, dear Liza...

Actually, there are holes in 2 of my buckets...this is explained below...  

It was a gardening weekend for me, as part of my attempt to turn my balcony into our 'Urban Oasis'.  I planted some herbs (rosemary, chives, basil, cilantro and parsley) and bought some seeds for veggies -   lettuce, arugula, radishes, swiss chard, peas and pole beans.  We'll see how that goes.  I also planted a clematis in the shady corner of our balcony and I will try to coax that into growing up a trellis.  

Since we have a limited amount of space on our condo balcony, I've decided to try thinking vertically - hence the pole beans and the clamatis.  But my big experiment is that I am going to try growing some tomato plants upside down.  While I was surfing the internet a few weeks ago, I came across some sites where people talked about growing tomatoes upside down in buckets.  It might be a bit gimmicky, but I'm going to give it a go.  Basically, you get a big painting bucket (19L), cut a 2" hole in the bottom, and push the plant through so that its upside down with its root bulb at the bottom of the bucket and the leaves hang out through the hole at the bottom.  Then you fill the bucket with soil and it hangs on a hook by the bucket handle.  Apparently, you can do companion planting - so I'll try planting my lettuce and radishes at the top of the bucket (once I start the seeds).  You've gotta be creative when you have a wee balcony.  I will admit that I am slightly concerned about the strength of the rusty hook that the bucket is hanging from...will it be strong enough?  God forbid it should break off and fall to the ground...

I took some pics, but I will have to add those later once I get my camera back.  

Wool Felted Hats

More pics of the hats, from my Crafty Sis...

Aren't they cute!  They are made from an old yellow wool sweater, that was felted by putting it through the wash.  

Here's a pic of the cozy fleece liner.

And the hat in action!

The dummy holder

The dummy holder in action.

Yeah!

Crafty Sis

I forgot my camera at my Crafty Sis’ place when I was visiting last weekend.  So, with no camera and me fighting a cold ever since I got home, my crating has been slow. Since I can't post my own pics I'm posting some crafty pics from others.  Check out the cute yellow hat that my Crafty Sis made for her daughter!

  

She upcycled it from an old wool sweater.   She appliquéd a felt heart on the hat and added a fleece band to the inside so that the wool isn’t so scratchy.  What a great project!  Yeah Crafty Sis!  Aside: That photo was taken this morning.  It's hard to believe that 5 days ago we were outside in t-shirts and flip flops!

Froggin' it

Do you remember the failed baby blanket?  I figured that I was never going to really wear it as a cowl.  So, I had a very therapeutic session at my knit night tonight.  I "frogged it" (knitter terminology for I unraveled the whole thing).  I'll have to think of a new project for that lovely green merino yarn.   Hmmm...

Spit the Dummy

My "secret project" revealed...it's a soother holder (or dummy holder)...tah dah!  Apparently "dummy" is another term for soother or pacifier.  

It is an accessory for my new niece.  You clip the soother to one end and the birdie can be clipped to my niece (there's a clip on the other side of the bird)!  

Grandma has suggested that it be modified slightly - to cut off the red snap at the bottom and instead sew the pacifier on the blue ribbon.  This is to minimize the chance of the snap falling off and chocking the baby.  I didn't get around to doing that for my crafty sister...so I guess I have left her with an unfinished gift.  Maybe my crafty sis find a few moments to do the modification herself.  Great suggestion by Grandma.  Oh, the challenges of a childless person makes baby accessories.  

Speaking of soothers or dummies.  I learned a new expression this weekend from the Crafting Widower and my brother-in-law - "Spit the Dummy".  It's an Australian/Irish term meaning to lose one's temper or a sudden display of anger.  It's a childish outburst...like a kid spitting out the "dummy" in a tantrum and refusing to be soothed.    

AONW - Market Bag

I couldn't disappoint...I've whipped up "Another One Night Wonder" (AONW) the night before heading off on a long weekend...ok...the wee hours of the morning before having to catch my flight.


I had some lovely vintage floral fabric, and I managed to pick up some not-so-bad coordinating fabric today at the thrifts.  I decided to try to make a funky market bag in cheery yellow.  


Here's my pattern sketch.

And the work in progress.

And the finished product.

What I'm really happy with:
- I'm very pleased with my finishing.  I tried my first French Seam where the two different fabrics of the bag are sewn together and I also covered the raw edges of the side seams with fabric scraps.  It looks really good on the inside, for a non-lined bag, if I do say so myself.  


What I might change:
- Possibly make it narrower next time.
- Make a 'stash bag' or add a cord to tie it up and tuck it away in my purse when I'm not using it.  I could always add that next week.  


Time to sign off...only 5 hours until I have to wake up & dash to the airport!  I'll take my new market bag with me on my trip to test it out.    

Crafty Inspiration

My crafty sister sent out a picture a while back with my new niece in a moss bag.  The moss bag was a gift to my sister, after the birth of her third daughter.  I was made by the mother of one of my sister's friends.  Doesn't my wee niece look cozy?

This piqued my interest.  I decided to do a bit of internet research to find out more about this First Nation handicraft.  This is what I found out: 

The moss bag was used as a child-rearing device by most North American indigenous societies.  A moss bag was made of hide and filled with dry moss, cattail down and sometimes buffalo chips were added. Babies were wrapped in a moss bag and the soiled moss was emptied and replaced when needed.  The moss bag was tied to a cradle board and the mother would tie the cradle board to her back and go about her work, or she could lean the board against something. 

The moss bag also played an important spiritual aspect in the Metis and First Nations culture with the mother being the symbol of creation and the child being the symbol of spirit.  It is believed that due to the restrictive function of the moss bag that the children developed a natural disciplined and secure character.

What a beautiful gift.

Snack Bags + a secret project

I finished my snack bags last night – 4 snack/sandwich sets and an extra sandwich bag for me.  There are a few stitching errors here and there, but overall, I’m quite pleased with them. 

I’ve been using my little snack sized pouch to take my veggies to work – it seems to work well.  I like the idea that I’m not using as many Ziploc bags and I also like how they don’t take up any room in my purse when they are empty (as opposed to Tupperware).  I have another pattern for a sandwich wrapper, from my Sewing Green book, that I might try out as well. 

I am also working on another project.  Here’s a ‘sneak peak’ of the prototype...the ‘reveal’ will take place later this week.   

Vote on my next knitting project

I bought some beautiful organic cotton yarn...a steal at $2.00/ball.  This stuff usually retails for $10.00/ball.  In a lovely grey colour.  

Now, what the heck am I going to use it for?  Talk about putting the cart before the horse...but I couldn't pass up a great deal!  So, I am now trying to think of a project for me...this is your chance to give some input on some potential contenders (in no particular order).  

1) Bolero sweater (I'd skip the rosette)

2) Another ribbed bolero

3)Botanica vest

4) Cable jacket

5) 3/4 sweater

Do you like any of these, or should I keep looking?  The yarn is cotton, so the sweater won't be overly warm. I'm thinking that it'll be a good spring/summer sweater/coverup...either in the chilly mornings or in my air-conditioned office.  

And I'm counting on having some extra yarn at the end to make Elijah the Elephant!

Snack bag assembly line

My free give-away has been a little slow in coming.  I finally set up an assembly line tonight, since I'm meant to deliver the snack bags to the winner this week.  I'm such a procrastinator.  

I'm making a few extras, just in case my sis in Geneva is interested in them as well (since she missed the free give-away!).

I making some out of a cute space print, in addition to the babushka print.  Two down, ?? to go.

AONW - Rate the craft

I decided to whip up AONW tonight.  I was motivated for a couple of reasons:

1) I belong to a "colour club" at work.  I don't know how/why I was foolish enough to join the club...and now I can't be the first to drop out.  Anyway, the short version - it all started when two girls happened to wear the same colour to the office. Now each day a colour is drawn to help determine what to wear the next day.  Tomorrow is yellow day.  Crap.  I don't wear yellow.  Last time we had "yellow day", I wore a necklace with some yellow beads and carried around a yellow mug.  Apparently that didn't cut it.  I stopped by the thrift store on the way home today and picked up a yellow shirt...but it isn't the greatest.  

2) I've been meaning to try making a fabric covered button for awhile.  And I saw some cool flowers on one of Heather Bailey's blog posts - so, I figured that I'd give it a go...make a yellow coloured brooch, test out the button maker, and use some felt flowers that I got as a 'gift' from one of my Etsy suppliers.  

This is the result from my 1 hour of crafting. 

Ok, it might be reading more pink/purple than yellow...the "colour club" rules are pretty loose.

The Crafting Widower wasn't too impressed.  What do you think?  Totally ugly?  Does it look like an agricultural fair award, gone bad?  

So, give me some feedback on my newest creation.  Be honest.  Don't worry, I'm not going to wear it tomorrow.  I think I'll be wearing the yellow thrift store shirt, along with my yellow beaded necklace.  I don't have the yellow mug anymore - it went to the thrifts when I was decluttering my life!  

Another surprise from the Crafting Widower

The Crafting Widower has surprised me again.  He made me a new crafting table.  Check it out! 

It is bigger than my last one.

And it has telescoping legs...which might come in handy if I decide to do some cutting and want to work standing up.

The tabletop was a find from IKEAs scratch-and-dent area.  

And I like the white - it reflects lots of light from the window.  

Lucky me!

Notice how close our neighbours are.  My neighbour was giving me the evil-eye the other day, when I was sitting at my new crafting table and gazing out the window.  Well, she's going to have to start using her curtains if she doesn't like it... cause the craft is back and it's here to stay!

Eye surgery

Scary Glenda has some eye surgery tonight.

My crafty sis suggested that Glenda might look a little friendlier if I changed her eyes.  I figured it was worth a try.

Here's eyeless Glenda.

And Glenda with her new eyelashes.

My crafty sis was right.  She does look more peaceful now.  I might order some light pink felt and give her some rosy cheeks as well (another suggestion from my crafty sis).  

I still need practice on my embroidery techniques...maybe I can get a book out from the library.

Before eye surgery:

After eye surgery:

What do you think? Can I call her 'Peaceful Glenda' now?

A surprise from the crafting widower

I came home last night to find a wonderful surprise from the crafting widower...

Sadly, Easter Monday was not a holiday for me.  It was for the Crafting Widower though...sigh.  So, I hauled my butt out of bed and went off to work in the morning, as he lay in bed.  It was a very busy day, and I didn't get home until about 7:45pm.    I was a bit of a grump and really tired.  The Crafting Widower was kind enough to come and pick me up (I had to carry 3 giant binders home for a meeting today; normally I walk as it's a 10 minute commute by foot).  

Anyway, I got home to find this!

Our painting is hung!  

The Crafting Widower hung this big heavy painting while I was at the office.  Yeah!

We bought this painting as a souvenir after our wedding and honeymoon in Hawaii.  We've had the painting for a few months now, and it has been propped against the wall (see it against the wall in my last post...that photo was taken on Saturday).  It's just been a busy few months and the Crafting Widower was trying to sort out the best way to hang it so that it doesn't come crashing down.  

What a great surprise.  

It makes me happy looking at it. 

How's that for tropical inspiration!   

I love it!  

Spring cleaning

It was time to get some zen in my life this past weekend, so one day was dedicated to going through a few huge boxes of stuff that I had squirreled away in my storage.  Oh, the chaos.

Among my finds were a box of toys, clothes and mementos from childhood - check out the cabbage patch kid, barbies, monchichi and wrinkles dog/puppet!

There were also a couple of crafty creations - some bunnies I made for my Grandma when I was twelve (there was a teacher's strike on during grade 6).  I also made that teddy with the scarf.  

 I've given away the girl bunny to goodwill but held on to the boy.  I'm thinking of making him a new outfit!  

And even a couple of crafty quilts that my Grandma made when we were babies.  

These quilts were great - made from cozy flannel.  You can see that they were well loved.  I'm pretty sure the small blue one is mine and the larger yellow one my sister's.  Maybe I will return the yellow one to my sister when she visits in a couple of weeks from Switzerland.


Three giant boxes opened...and two giant boxes shipped off.  I've realised that you just can't keep everything.  I relived some happy memories, took a few snaps, and then packed up many goodies to send to goodwill.  Yeah me!  

Meet Glenda

Sometimes things just don't turn out the way that I picture them in my head...

I can imagine these beautifully crafted pieces, but sadly my execution doesn't quite measure up.  

This is Glenda.

She's got a crooked smile,

lovely wings,

and puffy sleeves on her dress.

 She also has a little pocket, to store little teeth.

Glenda is a tooth fairy.

Maybe I should call her "Ugly Glenda" or "Scary Glenda".

She didn't quite turn out as I had imagined,

but I think I'm starting to like her.    

A new project

I am working on a new project

There are quite a few little bits... 

so it will not qualify for AONW status which I've blogged about before.

To be continued...

Spring in my step

I love the spring.

I couldn't help but take a few snaps on my walk to work the other day.

Spring has sprung!  How inspiring.