11 posts tagged “craft”

Where have I been? Well... I won't bore you. ;)

But what I will talk about is my creative mojo, that seems to be back... whoop whoop. I think I blame the socks... round and round knit knit knit..... sorry YAWN. Still not finished. *sigh*

It all started when I realised I needed this xmas to be cheaper, but still as fun as ever. So begins the search for bags to make, cupcakes to bake and fun hand made gifts i can buy to give others.

To start did I ever find some cool bags, thing is, now I don't know where to start.

first and second image: craftapple, tinyhappy, better homes, mamas pocketbook, something like whats mentioned on soule mama, this lady has a great pattern.. these are some bags she sells.

A quick update before I head off for some adventure. Finished another vest. I made this one out of some leftover yarn from a sweater I made a couple if years back. I brought one more ball in a dark pink for the fair isle.

The crafty group I and my friend started is going strong! The last meeting was so good I was wearing a goofy grin part way through it when our French member brought out her accordion and played the Amalie theme. I now want to learn and own one.. so beautiful!
I got the images from this site, there are some more detailed there aswell... It's such a lovely portable instrument! Anyone know of people who teach it in chch?

I will add it to the guitar I don't know how to play that I picked up for NOTHING, the piano that I may finally get into my new house once the old family home is sold and they don't need it to make the house look prettier. I have a hidden desire to be a musician but I can't play anything accept the piano badly.. mmmm missing something here (can't sing either)

Knitting my socks STILL, I had to rip rip RIP them out the first time around. To small as I thought. But they are better now... being honest here, finding them a bit boring to knit. But I havn't reached the heel yet so we will see.

Have a good weekend everyone!

Seen some pretty things in the last few days!

Baobab Crafts
A NZ crafty girl, Laura has started a blog and regularly adds new items, here is one:

I love the idea of the wooden leaf!

Green Leaf and Owl
A link I stole from soulemams's page, quite whimsical and beautiful designs. Accessories inspired by nature and designed by Eva Bush.

Blog:http://greenleafandowl.blogspot.com/
Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5012856

Now I have to go and deal to a cat who can't decide if its hugging or playing that she wants to do and is digging at my clothes, purring madly.

For the crafters out there we have lovely communities we can join. Two of my favorites thus far are:

Ravelry... ahhh yer of course. (search for SimoneQdM) Its run by two amazing entrepreneurs and you still have to be invited to join... server and bandwidth reasons I suspect. They are planning to make it so you don't need to be invited. For now you can go on the waiting list.

Burdastyle.com. Three words: OPEN SOURCE PATTERNS. eeek.

Thats that.. of course it goes without saying vox rocks! Except I may be joining independent blogland soon.... a taste for it is here: www.simoneqdm.com

Its Monday and what better way to start the weekend than a cat on the lap and a blog post. Just to feel like I have achieved something by 8:30am!

First off here are some more links to New Zealand made goodness.

Cloud of Birds

They say it so well themselves: "Cloud of Birds brings you pretty crafts and fashions for kids and adults. Cloud of birds mixes illustration, craft and fanciful imaginings to create original, playful designs. Have FUN!" {I love this sort of quirky stuff... it makes me smile and reminds me of being a kid again}

Babylicious

Babylicious is an online shop selling items made by the owner Martha Craig and others in New Zealand. There is lots to like in here, make sure you check out the bibs and changing mats, so simple but funky.

Weekend Madness

Snowboarding at porters with a group of ten mad people, me sober driver (allergic to alcohol...) But as you will see good times were had.. these photos are taken by Briar.. Very grateful she took one of me upright and looking like i know what I'm doing!

Seven minutes past 8:30! Better get my week started...

Last night was the first craft night with more than just myself and Gretchen! I had a ball with such amazing woman from all walks of life... gotta love it really. The crafts that everyone was up too is pretty fun to see aswell.

It reminded me of what talent there is about and I wanted to show off what we have in New Zealand, rather than complain about the attitude towards crafty things. We were all sitting around discussing the different people making stuff and how beautiful they were so here are some of the ones I know of on the net.

First Tiny happy I met this amazing lady at the Nelson markets, if i had kids then i would in like flyn! But none, so when my sister in law starts "popping them out" she might get a few packages from NZ or presents when i visit (they are in Michigan :(  ) Check out her instruction on how to make a shoulder bag.. yum yum....

Second Nanna Sunday, featured this lady before... badges and toys that won my heart!

I have a few more up my sleeve but want to show them to you slowley,or read them and find you my favorite posts.

Have a lovely day! The sun is shinning here and I am LOVING it!

I have been looking forward to posting about this shop I went to this weekend. For those of you in Christchurch, you must know of or have heard about what they are doing to the alley way off the corner of tuam and High Street (behind C1, has the C4 coffee bean roastery on it, along with the twisted hop and another bar) Well they also have a few shops all up and running. They are little rectangular shops, one has handmade soaps and body beatuy things, but my new Fav is called "Dusk" The woman, Lenore Farrelly, who makes all those lovely blocks with new zealandery pictures on them has opened it and not only is it full of her stuff but full of craft handmade contemporary cool things! I brought two broaches and my friends brought magnets with NZ pictures on them for the new zealanders she is going to see in America and a bag. I wish I had a digital camera so I could take pictures of the shop to show you, but alas I do not. One day I will and you will all get totally sick of my pictures.

I have a dream...weeeeell we have a dream (hello Gretchy)! To form a group of individuals into a crafty group to come together every second thursday. If you are a chch craft person lurking and reading my blog (I think this may be wishful thinking) then get in touch if you are interested in meeting like minded people who like making stuff.

Venues are still up for debate, so suggestions welcome. Thinking about a pub/cafe somewhere in town, maybe change it about now and then until we find a fav venue.

Well my mum just brought a Ashford Spinning wheel from our version of ebay trademe.co.nz it cost her $122 (new $500 odd). If feel very involved in the process because it was me bidding essentially (she doesn't have an account). We also decided to learn together. This all came about because my mum has a big plot of land out in Loburn (beautiful rolling countryside!) and wants to  eventually get alpacas. She is also allergic to wool, and as some of you know this is an expensive allergy for a knitter. So i am a little scared, but very excited! Any book or website recommendations in the spinning area would be much appreciated.

The wheel is a single drive

No posts in ages, yes, excuses? Nope, none.. except busy i suppose.

What I have been up to includes knitting lots, a headband, rosette, fingerless gloves. The crochet side of things still a little sketchy but found another good crochet book to reference and have brought some Patons yarn for a hat (winter coming) I might try more rosettey thingies for decoration. I finished a jacket, well the pieces anyways, have to sew it up and I don't have an iron, so waiting to sort that out.

I started another painting for my Mum, first it will decorate the big family house soon to go on the market to be filled by a new family, then it will follow her where ever she wants to take it.

I have also found a new mountain bike buddy or two maybe! Which is very cool, one of them is pretty much same level as me, so yay for someone to laugh with about the difficult bits. She is also into climbing, so double yay!

Business is busy and I am loving it, get a bit annoyed tho it seems to be zapping my brain of all the "on to it" energy and the rest of my life is full of forgotten air head moments.

I don't have a digital camera to use today, so here is some screen shots of things i have stored in my "inspiration " folder.