Sweet Fabric:
MAD

I've banged on before about how I've lived my life on Map 46. I was born on the map, grew up on the map & married a boy from the map. Both our siblings live close by & we spend a lot of time with our families.

It was a tearful farewell when my sister & her husband made the move to Darwin 5 years ago. We've visited often & they came back each Christmas. I thought they'd never come "home".

The decision to move back was made swiftly and definitely.

They've moved into a gorgeous house (just a stone's throw from us) & I've been helping to get them settled in. She's done a sensational job of decorating on-a-shoestring. I finished off the family room with half a dozen cushions made from Warwick Fabric samples which serendipitously pull everything together.

It feels like she never left. I'm so grateful that she's made it home.

Just look what the big girl made for her tiny cousin!

I can't believe how beautifully it's come up.

She was reluctant to try something new but once she started playing around with the fabric it came together very quickly.

All about the speed she certainly wasn't interested in the quilting so that was outsourced (to me).

She's enormously proud of it so I think the next one will be quilted entirely "in house".

I've eased myself in slowly.

The style was was limited by my fabric choice (just one flour sack).

The bag is lined for strength. I had a bit of fun with the raw edges and the stray threads & an Op Shopped suede belt was hacked into & fashioned into a bag strap.

Slouchy & casual & fun.

They stink!

I actually did a U turn on the highway to take this pic. The alpacas were yarded & I guess ready to load onto a truck. It was very considerate of the alpaca farmer really as having them in a confined space made it easy to photograph them.

I haven't really taken much notice of alpaca before except for the fact of how divinely soft alpaca yarn is. I had no idea they smelt so rank nor did I know about the possum like hiss they make.

Dear FriendO,

Today I ran a long way.

I haven't been on the long run for a couple of weeks. Before the break I was afraid of stopping & last night as I drifted off to sleep I was afraid of starting again.

I certainly needed a little break from this space & I'm glad I had it but as I ran up the hill this morning (& thought I was actually going to die), I realised that if I didn't start again today I really never would.

I'm going to have to make the habit all over again...for me that's 21 days.

I'll probably bore you witless with drivel because to be honest I haven't made anything for ages...the machine's lying dormant...the hooks have cobwebs on them...and I frankly can't think of anything less appealing than a skein of floss...but I'm always planning & thinking & reworking.

Perhaps just think of the next 21 days as kootokoo rather than kootoyoo & I'll understand completely if you don't stop in.

Looking forward to another year with perhaps a bit less of the fear.

Thanks for being ace!

Love

Kirst
x

The wedding on Saturday was a real group effort.

Friends of the bride & groom shared their talents and helped out with cake decorating, invitations, photography & personalised chocolates as place settings!

I had a hand in the centrepieces for the tables. They looked beautiful and created a lovely romantic ambient glow. These are just perfect if you're planning a DIY wedding because they can be made well ahead of time.

The glasses were picked up for 50 cents a piece at local op shops. We chose to wrap in bamboo which had a lovely sheen & looked very pretty in the daylight.

wrapped tea lightView more presentations from kootoyoo.

Obviously these can be used and reused for different events & as either tealights or vases.

Perfect for your holiday table too.

Christmas stars or festive flowers ... totally up to you.

The beauty of this speedy project is that the flowers can be enjoyed all year round. You could make a garland or use them to adorn gifts.

Another 5 minute craft. I'm all about the speed at the moment. Maybe you've made something similar out of strips of card separated to make a bauble?

no sew star flower decorations
View more presentations from kootoyoo.

Other decos I've seen around & loved...

Meg's dove
Blair's doily tree
Maya's countdown

Enjoy & have a great weekend.

It's totally faker crochet! If you are a purist...power to you. Hook yourself some little caps for soap.

I confess I find the gifting of handmade items something of a challenge. It's one thing to give something you've painstakingly hooked, or stitched, or knitted, or sewn to someone else who makes things & appreciates them. It's quite another to gift the same items to folk who've no idea of the time involved. Faker or not - it's all the same to them. So...at this time of year when you're crafting to give I heartily recommend the faker route.

I got lucky at the oppy a couple of weeks ago & picked up a set of 6 crochet coasters which were a bit stained & yick. I slung them in the washing machine & stared at them for a while & wondered if a soap cosy might be just the ticket? Loofah & soap in one...yep! Time to have a crack folks.

Five minutes flat per soap...maybe less.

How to make faker crochet covered soap
View more presentations from kootoyoo.

I wasn't quite ready to pack away the remaining pony fabric.

Words scrawled by me & then embroidered using two strands of floss. Stem & chain stitches...play to your strengths I say.

I've never upholstered anything in my life so it's absolutely the have a crack make it up as you go along type of thing & really more for decoration than feet which is a bit daft...

Made for someone very special who occasionally needs a little reminder. xx

Isn't it excellent?

Of course all our bathrooms are unisex so this little cross stitched bit o signage is just perfect.

Tarn made it for me! It does actually hang in the doorway of the powder room...just as intended. I love it & am absolutely chuffed that she took the time to make something just for me.

I've been thinking a lot lately about relationships & marriage. The Date & I are fast approaching our 15th wedding anniversary. I'm just ever so grateful really ... for all the things he is & for all the things he isn't. I'm mighty glad to be sharing my bathroom with him. x

The kid will play netball (& she might enjoy it).

I figured I might as well help the cause & I've made Harriet a coaching aid mobile.

This is exactly the kind of thing you might find on Regretsy or What not to crochet but I'm semi-confident that the netballing freak mother of the child will like it.