This really has got to stop... some time... eventually... maybe.

Oh, what the heck - I really like buying new fabric.

Surely there are worse habits....and more expensive hobbies...?

...and anyway, these were on sale.
And Quilt Home kindly notify me every time they have a "today only" sale on a particular designers fabrics. Nice of them, huh? I couldn't NOT follow up those useful links that they send to me...now could I?

And it means I get to spend a small fortune on gorgeous prints MOST weeks..... Which has to be good for the soul...does it not?

Please meet the Erin McMorris gang (above) and the Tina Givens ....ummm...extended family and ..ahem...associated friends (below).

...and it's not as if it goes off or gets wasted, is it....?

I see Liesl's been justifying fabric purchases, too.

Long Weekend

Determined to have a break from the computer over the long weekend, I watched a bit of TV in the evenings....

And we now have hairclips and pony-tail ties to last the wee girl well into High School. (I don't sit still very easily).

Laundry was done, vacuuming, a spot of Ikea shopping and curtain-making, more laundry and a bit of sleeping.... and it's back to work tomorrow. Just when I was getting into the holiday groove....

Gone Fishin'

Fish Skeleton Crochet Pattern
Originally uploaded by stripeyblue

Well, not really. I taught all day today and will be again on Monday night... but we're going to be out of the office on Monday and Tuesday this week.

The Melbourne Cup (a little horse-race in these-here parts) means that not only is there a public holiday on Tuesday, but lots of businesses and schools take the Monday off as well....so we're calling it a long weekend. I think we all need it to catch up on family time (and ....ummmm... housework?). We'll be back in on Wednesday.

Oh, and if you like these crochet fishies, you should see the rest of this crafty gal's cute Amigurumi patterns (available at this Etsy shop).

SuperPops Challenge

This is my wee girl's entry in the SuperPops Challenge, over at CurlyPops. It's a drawng on paper (which I think would look cute as a calico doll.... Hmmmm... inkjet fabric...?)

Check out all the other entries here.

My Creative Space

Yesterday my creative space was going to be all about writing up a project for yet another deadline.

A trip to Officeworks in the morning resulted in the purchase of some fabric markers and a stroke of genius. My hobby-fill-obsessed child-of-an-artistic-bent would be occupied for HOURS while I was busy with my work.... She could make a calico doll!
Turns out she had plans for a production run.

I was kept busy at the sewing machine and slip-stitching station while she was in control of drawing and stuffing. We now have a family of calico dolls. And the wee girl is excited by her plans for us to "make clothes for them"....

Some days I have to just let go of plans and enjoy the moment - especially after a hectic few weeks. Recharge the creative batteries. Soak up my beautiful girl.

For more creative spaces (lots of!) pop in to visit Kirsty.

Definitely Twisted

Another slightly-wrong weather forecast (and a deadline met early) gave me reason to whip up a new top... and gave me a break from the computer.
The body of this top is a single piece of fabric - twisted, sewn and generally hacked into shape, with a couple of (freehand cut) sleeves sewn into randomly-placed (and freehand cut) armholes.

I'm not really sure how I did it or if I could repeat it... trying it on, whipping it off and doing a bit more "overlocker patternmaking", trying it on again, trimming bits off.... It's truly sculptural clothing (....as in "get a piece of fabric and cut away all the bits that don't look like a twisted, draped top").

And yes - that is the bustle skirt (again). I did a final tweaking on it and think it's ok now.

This was another sculpture piece that began as a 3 metre length of cotton-linen and a vague notion of what it might make. I have plans for a re-working of the idea. Next time I'll make some changes (and perhaps even a pattern or a formula..) and I'll document the process in case it works.

And I'll get someone else to take the photos next time. Have you ever tried to take a (preferably flattering) photo of clothing detail on your own behind...? Not easy.

Just talk amongst yourselves....

No new sewing to show... so here are a few bibs I finished a while ago....

...backs of bibs....
and tarted-up singlets.....
For a gorgeous baby boy. Safe to blog them now.

Welcome to the world, little one.