28.9.12

BALI FILM


Mount Batur - one of the four volcanoes in Bali



The view from Alila

4.8.12

BITS & BOBS

Here are a few projects that I've been working on in the past month...


My ascot scarf which I just finished! Pattern from Mel P Designs & 100% Australian Superfine Merino in Scarlet Twist from Morris & Sons. I love it!!!


Newborn mittens and booties for Moli. Probably the most ridiculously cute items I have crocheted! Pretty sure they will only last a week or two before they're too small!


Crepe paper flower garland. This was the original idea for Andrea & Derrick's wedding, but I ended up making 58 flowers and tying them them to the bonbonnieres.


Lastly, a wedding bunting for Andrea & Derrick's wedding in Bali!

7.7.12

GRANNY UPDATE


I've almost completed all the square for my granny square throw!!!!! Just 2 more to go, and I'll be done! Then I'll begin weaving in all the loose ends and then finally joining them all together. My least favourite part, and the least transportable (the joining part) because I won't be able to do it on the train! I've been crocheting 2 squares per day - 1 square on the way to work, 1 square on the way home. Going to use this technique to join my squares together... I'm very excited! 

4.7.12

COCKATOO ISLAND

The 18th Biennale of Sydney is on! 

Last Saturday some friends and I went to see the art installations on Cockatoo Island. There was so much to see that we only managed to cover half the island. The installations that incorporated fabric and paper were my favourites, but I think the most amazing one was definitely Cloud Parking in Linz by Fujiko Nakaya. The pure-water mist started so slowly but then eventually engulfed the all of the open space... I could barely see past my arm and it felt like you were in a cloud. I guess this is the answer to all my wonderings when I'm in the plane up in the sky...




Industrial Doilies by Cal Lane. So pretty! 


This one reminds me of my childhood... 


I really loved this one by Monika Grzymala and Euraba Artists and Papermakers. 
The light from the windows paired with the paper gave it such an ethereal feel.



This installation was so intricate and such an adventure! You enter a paper maze and when you eventually reach the centre, you are rewarded with a huge paper column with peep-holes at random heights. When you peer through, this is one of the many things you see...



I think this was felt. I love felt! 





Because it has been a little wet in Sydney, there was moss everywhere! 



27.6.12

POM POMS


Pom poms! One of the many forgotten things from my childhood (this includes slap bracelets, Stretch Armstrong and yo-yos). I'm not sure why, but I had this sudden urge to make some! Probably has got to do with me looking for a beanie pattern... I'm still trying to figure out what to do with all these pom poms that I've been making on the train (excellent time killer). I could make a mobile, but I think I'm leaning towards a floating pom pom garland.

I'm bridesmaid for a good friend this July, and I'm helping out with the decorations. I'm making some flowers from scratch using crepe paper, which I really love working with. It comes in so many beautiful colours and is pretty much stretchy paper, which I think is so amazing. For the wedding, the flowers are going to be attach to the bombonieres, but I've also made a garland using the flowers which looks so pretty! I will be posting up photos after the wedding, to be sure not to give anything away...

I just bought a pattern for an ascot scarf by Mel P, and I can't wait to start! Thinking of making it in either a deep red, mustard or navy. Perhaps if my first attempt is successful, I might make it in all colours.

17.6.12

HAMISH THE STUD


This is Hamish, the stud. Isn't he the cutest??? 
He is wearing a crochet bow dog collar that I made for him. It the first crochet item I have made without referring to a pattern! Hooray! Moving up in the crochet world... 

10.6.12

NECKLACE


I made my first piece of crochet jewellery! I am pretty happy with the results, although there is definitely room for improvement. The ends of the necklace aren't very straight, and I mean to improve on this. You can find the pattern for this necklace here


I made another trip to Lincraft, and came away with some 4 Ply Mercerised Cotton. This is the finest yarn I have ever bought, so I hope I will be able to crochet well with it! I have in mind to make more doilies and perhaps necklaces as well... 

9.6.12

LATELY

I've been busy with everything other than blogging lately, especially crochet! 


A crochet bunting for a very old and dear friend - my first crochet item I have gifted!
(pattern here)


My first crochet doily - made especially for my Mum.
(please excuse the dirty table!)


A little crochet flower that I might turn into a brooch.

15.5.12

CROCHET JAR COVER


I had a sick day today, so I decided to crochet a jar cover (pattern here). Jar covers are great for a jar hoarder like me, because I can actually use the jars instead of letting them sit in my kitchen cupboard. This jar is now a crochet hook & pen holder. I intend to make crochet a cover for my makeup brush jar and maybe covers for some of my candles. I'm getting better at reading patterns which has opened me up to so many more crochet possibilities! Also, my secret crochet project is now complete, so I will post photos of that soon... 

I have a few more sick days to come,  so my crochet hooks will probably be kept quite busy...

13.5.12

MORE YARN & PLANTS


Made a trip to Morris & Sons and Lincraft to buy more yarn. My collection is expanding! 


My friend, Elie, gave me some cut-offs from her plant.

9.5.12

CROCHET MADNESS


I've been...

...busy making granny squares for my crochet throw. I've finished all my purple and grey yarn! Off to Morris & Sons tomorrow to buy more... I have a feeling this throw may end up costing me quite a bit! Should've been more thrifty when selecting yarns...

...busy figuring out how large I want my crochet bows to be, and deciding whether I should be using ribbon for the middle...

...busy buying crochet books off Book Depository and borrowing crochet books from lovely friends...

...busy combing through archives of some crochet and knitting blogs I've recently discovered...

...busy teaching my colleague how to crochet during our lunch breaks, being called pensioners because of that and practising crochet stitches in the air during work training courses (he he)...

...and busy completing a secret crochet project for a close friend. Pictures to follow when I complete it and she receives it!

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Also, one other thing I have been doing in a mad woman fashion is reading the series of A Song of Ice and Fire. Obviously I watch Game of Thrones and am completely obsessed!!!!!!! I just started A Clash of Kings and am contemplating overtaking the TV series and powering way ahead!

Do you prefer watching TV series/movies or reading the books? I'm undecided......until my will power to wait for the next episode or sequel runs out!

23.4.12

WEEKEND IN PICTURES


I bought a vintage brooch with my initial in Newtown, my old neighbourhood, which changes every time I go back for a visit. It is fast filling up with chain stores and many of the cafes and shops with so much character that used to define Newtown are closing down one by one... I did not make it in time to A Coffee and a Yarn as it is now closed down, and can only hope that some of my favourite shops that are still standing will remain...


I started using some of the new yarn I purchased for my crochet throw project. It is obvious that when I was crocheting the mint green granny square, I was highly strung as it was mid-work week. While  I was crocheting the purple granny square, I was nice and relaxed as I was having drinks and joking with one of my good friends on the weekend... The grey granny square was made on Sunday which shows hints of anxiety (about the work week starting) leaking through my calm weekend disposition.


Reuben Hills did not fail me again, as I caught up with a high school friend whom I have not seen since 2003! My most favourite cafe at the moment, but also the most crowded!


Watched Moon Holiday, who is now a two-piece band...


...and Devotional, whom I love and remind me of Twin Peaks... 


...both at Hotel Hollywood, that recently has started inviting bands to play, 
which I am very glad about as it is so close to my apartment. 


This French Onion Soup did not happen on the weekend, but is a nice start to the new week. 
I successfully cooked it but will try to add less salt next time. You can find the recipe here.

19.4.12

YARN!


This is the result of my visit to Morris & Sons and Lincraft. 

The three balls of yarn in the middle are for my bows on bag project with Mimi, and the grey and purple yarn are for my crochet throw to go with the mint green yarn I have. 

One of my friends is having a housewarming party in the near future, and I thought I'd make a doily for his coffee table! Just need to find a good and easy pattern... I love the idea of giving handmade presents, instead of store-bought presents. 

Also, in other crochet news, I've joined Ravelry! It's an online community for people who knit and crochet to share their projects and patterns... It is so inspiring! There are some crochet lace shawl patterns that I have my eye on! But first, I have to complete my two concurrent projects! More crochet news next time.............

17.4.12

CROCHET BOW


After fretting over not having a crochet or tapestry needle and trying to find one online, I opened my sewing kit and realised I had one all along! This meant that I would be able to complete my first crochet project ever - my crochet bow!!!!!!! Not a very ambitious project I must say, but I have great things in store for this little bow... And her other siblings that I have yet to create!

Now it's off to the yarn shop to buy way too much yarn and way too many crochet hooks! Yay!!

16.4.12

GRANNY SQUARES, BOWS & ROSES


The day of my crochet class finally arrived on Saturday! It seemed like forever since I booked the class at Morris & Sons. Spots were snapped up so quickly and rightly so, as the teacher (Tia) was very friendly, insightful and funny. The class went for four hours and I came away with such sore shoulders and arms. But I was hooked! (no pun intended :\) I have completed two granny squares in two days! I also have mastered the slip stitch, chain stitch and the treble crochet stitch, and have decided that I will be making a multi-coloured crochet throw with the granny squares which will be so perfect for cold winter nights... I'm deciding on colours to add to my throw and am leaning towards a pastel colour palette... Pastel pink or yellow to go with this amazing mint green merino blend yarn I got from the Camberwell Markets during my trip to Melbourne.


I've also started another project (yes - two concurrent projects already, and it's only crochet day 3!). I am learning to make crochet bows (pattern here). To make crochet bows I had to learn how to do a double crochet stitch. theknitwitch is such a good YouTube channel to learn how to do stitches off because they are just so crystal clear!

So on the last day of the Easter long weekend, D and I decided to visit the Royal Botanic Gardens again to see how the rose garden was going and check out the herb garden. It's pretty amazing how the gardens change throughout the year - different areas flourish and others die down during the different seasons...



Mr Caterpillar on a rose bush leaf.


A pair of little lost pants!


Beautiful roses - I will never tire of them. I can't wait for when they all start to bloom at the start of winter! 
Definitely worth another visit to the gardens...