Upcycling...

So I recently took part in a swap at NC with the theme of "Upcycle/Recycle". Was lots of fun thinking up something to do/make and how to go about it. I decided on a bag - even though I'm a bit of a newbie sewer. I crossed my fingers that it would be good enough to send to my swapper lol! Otherwise I had a fallback plan in mind hehe!Here is the bag I made. The material was from an dress I found at the Op Shop. I really liked the colours and patten :) The black handle was actually from the waist strap of the dress and for some stiffening I chopped up a reusable green bag.
The pattern I found on a blog. It was called "The 1 hour bag tutorial" but it took me way longer than that lol! Especially with Laila wanting to 'help' every step of the way hehe. I surprised myself by how it turned out actually! It is even lined and has a pocket. Ok there might be a couple of minor stitching flaws but shhhh ;)
The buttons I pinched from Mum who has a big box of them for just about any occasion. They are Paua Shell and I thought they tied in nicely with the colours of the bag.

I really hope my Swapper likes it. She hasn't guessed yet I don't think and we'll see if anyone reads my blog hehe. I have hung back from posting it until now but thought I would put it up.

I'd like to make one for myself some time too :)

Projects

This is the first thing I have knitted from an actual pattern! I've only ever knitted scarves before. It was also my first ever time at dyeing wool. I'm really happy with the results actually. Not bad for a newbie hehe! I did it with food dyes and it was really easy and fun although I did slightly dye my hands in the process ;)


I've got more wool lined up for dyeing - just need to find the time for it now. Not easy with Laila being the world's clingiest baby!


I'd love to try doing a rainbow one but thats probably a bit tricky for the likes of me!

More Sock Monkey goodness

Here is Laila's sock monkey which I just finished. Loving the stripy colours :) I think she likes it - has been chewing on it lol!

Got word back from Fiona re the bookmarks. Apparently they LOVE them! Hopefully they will pay me soon as I've been a naughty girl ordering some custom stuff from Kirrily (Totel Bag, Day Tripper Bag and some mama pads)!! So excited about those. Our current nappy bag is old and faded and has a fluoro yellow stripe. Shall we say stylish pffft!!!

Pizza tonight for tea because I can't be assed cooking. Got a scratchy throat too :(

Better fly - Laila is scooting around the floor collecting dust bunnies for me - ooops!

Rio the Sock Monkey

Thought I'd have a whirl at making a sock monkey! Made this one for James. Knew if I made Laila's first I'd get continually pestered til I made his hehe. Glad I did this because so far haven't found time for hers yet.

Turned out pretty well. Not the absolute neatest but for a first try = pretty good. Bought some more socks today too. Going to make one for my friend's daughter for her birthday in October.

Will post pics as I make those.

Forgot to update on my friend who had the cancer in her appendix. Tests showed everything else all clear. So relieved fo her an her family :)

Made this necklace today for Nigelle-Ann who (with her family) is leaving to go and live/work in the UK soon. Her farewell party is tomorrow night at bookclub. Will miss her so much :( She is one fo those really genuine people who will go out of her way to do anything for a friend. She also has a wicjed sense of humour and we have always got on great together. I'm really sad....

Anyway I hope she likes the necklace - it is a gorgeous blue colour. Tempted to keep it myself but no lol!

Yesterday Mel from NC came over with her two kids. James had a ball playing with Seb and Laila and Ollie scoped each other out hehe! Mel took a gorgeous pic of Laila while she was here.

Just after Mel's camera batteries died Laila produced ten tonnes of smiles! Typical!!

On Friday another NC-er Tanja dropped over too as we had swaps to exchange. Was lovely to meet her and her two lovely kids too.

Not much else to report. Laila is a fraction away from crawling. Is getting up on her knees and rocking and scooting backwards. Amazing! I can't remember the exact time when James crawled. Terrible isn't it how the memory gets blurry over the years? James is loving playing with her so much more now that she can sit up and interact. He loves tipping the entire Duplo box out on the floor for "her" to play with ;)

Well after that long post - time for a cup of tea and some Lindt Chilli Dark Chocolate I think :)

Finally finished the bookmarks. Unfortunately the place I got my blood drop beads from in the U.S. only had 299 in stock when I ordered 350. Then when they got here about 20 of them were broken (being czech glass) :( So the grand total I have done is 273. Today Keith and I punched the holes and attached the tails to the carded bookmark thus --->

Pic doesn't show them up as nicely as they look in real life. The blood droplet is a deep garnet red.

I was saying to Keith they are lucky I am charging per bookmark and not by the hour lol! Would have cost them several thousands haha! ANyhoo I'm so glad they are finished and I can't wait to jump into some other craft projects that I am keen to try - namely appliques on tshirts and fleece pants for Laila, dyeing wool and some other general sewing things I'd like to try.

Going to take the finished bookmarks to Bookclub tomorrow night then hopefully Fiona (aka Lauren Crow) can pass them on to the Burnside Library for distribution.

Yummy Woolies

Mum just finished knitting up these gorgeous Longies and matching Beany for Laila from some lovely 8ply I got on OzeBaby. Next project is some Shorties from some 12ply that the lovely Suzanne from NC dyed for me for a swap :) Can't wait to see how those turn out!!


My little girl is growing so fast. She is officially sitting up now at 6.5 months. She has been sitting for short periods from about 6 months but it is only now that I feel safe leaving her there without a barrage of cushions surrounding her in case she topples over!

She is also attempting to crawl. Gets up on her knees and shuffles backwards a lot. I remember James doing exactly the same thing when he was trying to crawl too. Memories huh!

Must get some new Nappy Stash pics soon. It is forever evolving though. In the process of acquiring more D'Lish because we're needing Large now to accomodate her long rise and chubber thighs ;)