Sweet Fabric [Search results for This is

  • This is...what reminds me of my mum

    This is...what reminds me of my mum

    what reminds me of my mum.

    She is our Faraway Tree. She grows in the far corner of our block & when the house is built this is the view I will wake up to every morning.

    A bit about her:

    She has deep roots in this little patch of dirt.
    She is getting on a bit but ...
    She is still as beautiful as ever.
    She is supportive.
    She can weather any storm.
    She can bend in the wind & not snap.
    She is forgiving.
    Occasionally she drops her bundle.
    She is fun.
    Her limbs are a haven for children.
    She is strong.
    She happily reinvents herself.
    She is a protector.
    She relishes a challenge.
    She encourages an adventurous spirit.
    She is a survivor (& in fact a thriver).
    Her canopy is far reaching.
    She is shelter.
    She is home.
    She is much loved by me.

    Happy Mother's Day.

  • This is...my most favourite outfit that expresses my individual style

    This is...my most favourite outfit that expresses my individual style

    This is... hosted by Angela theme from Kitty

    It's a mouthful that's for sure.

    This is... was a group effort & we've got a fair bit of banter this week...

    This morning I asked the big girl to take a pic of me in my current uniform (trackies). I told her what it was for & she looked at me in the way only she can (picture eye rolling & raised eyebrows).

    "That's not your style mum. It's your jeans, green jumper & snowgum jacket!"

    So I logged the big & the small into Polyvore & they created the above sets.

    1. Style Small, 2. Style Mum, 3. Style Mum Work, 4. Style Big

    Then we did a bit of "polyvore at home" and came up with this. I think that the girls have pretty much hit the nail on the head. I'm all about comfort at home & for work I mainly wear vintage dresses. This one is my absolute favourite & selected by my personal shopper.

    I'd been thinking that This is... was going to be really tough & it turned out to be lots of fun & the big girl LOVED Polyvore.

  • Knitting with denim...

    Knitting with denim...

    See more images here

    A couple of months ago I picked up an Avant card for Do it with Denim, a competition run in conjunction with Jeans for Genes & in support of Children's Medical Research Institute. The Institute is celebrating it's 50th birthday this year.

    I got all inspired & made this to enter into the competition. It's what the broomstick needles were fashioned for & what this tease was all about.

    My dear sweet friend modelled for me & I got all my stuff together ready for the entry...

    Hausfrau
    I have taken my inspiration from housewives of the 1950s for this project.

    This garment has been constructed entirely by hand using handcrafts employed by a 1950’s housewife. The garment itself is knitted from hand cut strips of denim jeans (6 pairs) & the gold detail is crochet.

    Many supporters of charitable organisations have been & continue to be housewives. They give their time to assist with labour & fundraising. I am proud to represent this group.


    "To be a housewife is a difficult, a wrenching, sometimes an ungrateful job if it is looked on only as a job. Regarded as a profession, it is the noblest as it is the most ancient of the catalogue. Let none persuade us differently or the world is lost indeed."
    Phyllis McGinley


    Denim jeans are such an everyday garment & I wanted my recreated jeans to also be an everyday & loved as much as the original garment.

    Hausfrau is a vest that can be worn at least 4 different ways.

    ....Then I re read the terms & conditions.


    "Kirsty needs to read the question carefully before beginning a task" (quote taken from EVERY school report I ever received).
    Yikes! The competition is really for budding designers...that's not me! I'm just a girl who likes to make stuff.

    So, I haven't entered. BUT...Hausfrau will be worn to death by me & maybe Trace too. It wasn't a complete waste of time.

  • This is ... my current reading material

    This is ... my current reading material

    This is... hosted by Three Buttons. Theme from My Champagne Dreams.

    It's really piling up now (& starting to feel intimidating).

    I read Goodnight Mr Tom on the Darwin trip. I'm not sure how I missed this book as a kid/teenager. I remember it being a pretty big deal but I think I was all worn out after The Silver Sword (which I loved).

    I confess to being a bit nervous about Mr Tom. I'm supposed to be reading it with Grade 5 during this term. There is one part (& you know what it is if you've read it) which was quite shocking & I think quite a lot to take if you're 10 but I really truly loved this book. It's a fabulous read.

    I zipped through "Addition" in record time. I loved this book. Although I don't have an affiliation with numbers I could totally relate to the rule thing. This book served to remind me that really I'm just teetering on the edge. I'd only need a little nudge (that's not a challenge - just in case you were wondering).

    The remainder of the pile is untouched...I think I'm going with "In Ecstasy" next.

  • This is...

    This is...

    Angela has gone with a theme free This is...

    & this is something that is very old (nearly as old as me)! She's my bluebird of happiness gifted to me by my gorgeous Grandma. She used to have a windup music mechanism. Does anyone know if there is a piece of Bluebird of Happiness music? I'd love to track it down.

    In other very exciting (& happy) news. My Softie for Mirabel has been listed in the first round of Ebay auctions. He's a silver lined cloud. I poured so much love into the making of this guy that I'm sure you'd have to feel it dripping out of his little silver limbs.

    Go ... bid & bid high!

    Thank you Mikes for organising & working hard & being nice!
    .

  • This is...my inspiration board

    This is...my inspiration board

    Pip's This is... is a goodie.

    I actually have a few inspiration "boards". To the right of this collection is a large foam & fabric covered board that holds a whole swag of interesting stuff & to the left is a little collection of baskets with lots of red goodies inside.

    These cork table mats are my favourite though. There is a lot of local content here. I've got:

    one for near & dear

    one for Brown Owls

    & one for the moment.

  • For people on the nice list ...

    For people on the nice list ...

    My nice list is a very long one.

    We've got busy kids so that means there are lots of gym coach & swimming teacher types who need a little something.

    This is what I'm gifting this year.

    Morning Fresh Tissane
    A beautiful blend of calico & soap. This tea bag is designed to be left steeping in the shower with the soap inside. Flavour & performance improves overtime. A joy for the eye & the senses this blend will invigorate & revitalise.

    The best part about this tea bag is that it can be filled with all those otherwise useless endy bits of soap.

    Product currently being tested by me.

    This girl is trying something similar for her washing machine & I'm bursting to hear the results.

    &
    Giveaway.

  • This is...my pet

    This is...my pet

    This is... hosted by Angela - theme from Kyla

    This pic is from December. His name is Buddy & he is a schnoodle (one of those designer puppies everyone thinks are so awful...but he's a ripper).

    I can't show you a pic of him at the moment because he has just been clipped & he looks awful!

    He's a good little guy. I like him. He can stay.

  • scheDUEL [handmade holidays] ...

    scheDUEL [handmade holidays] ...

    Click image to enlarge

    Thinking lots about Christmas & giving & sharing & eating & drinking & making & appreciating...

    I'm trying really hard to give handmade this year & I thought this might be a good way to spread a bit of Christmas Spirit around.

    The Winner Takes it all!

    Vintage Father Christmas pillowcase filled with great holiday gift ideas all handmade by me from mostly thrifted/recycled materials. I think that this would cross a LOT of people off your nice list this Holiday Season. You could win the lot! I'm happy to post anywhere! You can view this image with notes on Flickr.

    I like to be organised...

    Here's a list of places I've been & things I've seen to help me prepare for the upcoming holidays.

    COPY FROM HERE:

    Still feeling totally inspired by the handmade issue of mankind mag from my favourite design blog.
    Q What is the blog author's first name? ANSWER:
    use the first letter - LETTER:

    We like to keep lunch casual, I've found some fabulous BBQ recipes for the big day.
    Q What type of meat is pictured on the rotisserie? ANSWER:
    use the first letter - LETTER:

    Getting some great ideas for upcycling (my favourite craft) & enjoying the revamp over at this fabulous craft website.
    Q They list everyone's favourite Portland based author mama as one of their inspirational sites. Which Portland based author mama is she? ANSWER:
    use the second letter of her last name - LETTER:

    Looking forward to being able to buy handmade at the shopping shindig with the craft book Queen.
    Q What type of car is pictured? ANSWER:
    use the first letter - LETTER:

    All these letters unscramble to reveal:
    WHAT? is all you need.

    STOP COPYING

    Your post needs to go live at 6am SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER Melbourne Time.

    Please make sure you visit here to make sure that your scheduled post goes live at the right time.

    Don't forget to check the scheDUEL rules before you play.

    SIGN UP TO PLAY BY COMMENTING ON THIS POST with "I'm in". Sign ups will close at 5:45 am Sunday 30 November Melbourne Time.

    If you want me to let you know when I post the next game please complete the form in the sidebar.

  • This is...what makes me happy

    This is...what makes me happy

    This is... hosted by Angela. Theme from Jacinta.

    I try to keep this space happy. I talk alot about the small things that I appreciate & make me happy. I know I've raved a bit before about the smalls, the date & the extended family. It really is true...love is all you need.

    So...what makes me "happy" is 2 date made Capiroska. Chatty, relaxed, giggly... it's a pretty fun version of me.
    .

  • My 2011 calendar...

    My 2011 calendar...
    Calendar

    This is a little something I made for a giggle & for you.

    I'm hoping that I'll give Pickering (mine's safe for work folks - I promise) a run for his money & grace the back of toilet doors globally...nationally...locally...ok at least at Claire, Christie & Shazza's places because they encouraged me to take on this project in the first place.

    I've been tinkering away on this for a couple of months...since you first got a laugh out of my noticing & beret shots. All crafty "disguises" have been fashioned by me, some especially for the project & some were just loitering about the house in various states of completion.

    I dragged the little guy in to check out my "folio". He watched in horror as I flicked through the images & then we had this conversation...

    Little guy: "Mum, this is terrible. Nobody is going to want this."
    Me: "It's free buddy."
    Little guy: "Even then Mum. Only your friends will look at it, because they'll feel sorry for you."

    I'm confident that anyone who reads here regularly will enjoy the calendar & take it in the spirit in which it's intended. For any new-to-me folk who are saying to themselves "This girl's got a touch of the Warren Beattys about her." - well, there's something in there for you too. x

    Get your free 2011 calendar here.

    A very happy weekend to you all.

    PS: Thanks Jod for the scribd assistance.

  • How to Stem Stitch (sort of)...

    How to Stem Stitch (sort of)...
    S

    It was so nice to have a bit of time to myself yesterday.

    I've had a few emails asking for pointers on stem stitch & again I think that this is the kind of thing best learned by watching & listening rather than still shots or sketches.

    I stitched a bit of lettering & thought that I'd share the video. I've kind of adapted my traditionally taught stem stitch over the years. Vick...if you're reading this - click away now. This is my "go to" stitch. I use it for lettering, for outlining & for anything with a curve. I love the flexible nature of this stitch. You can very easily rocket ahead on straight sections & then slow right down & do teeny tiny stitches around sharp turns. It's a forgiver...I like that.

    Hoping that this helps you out & you become a (sort of) stem stitcher too.

    Now that I watch this video...is it any wonder my stitches are so tight. Just look at how I "correct" each stitch.

  • This is...my creation

    This is...my creation

    Betty the Geek chose a great theme for This is... this week.

    Surprisingly, I found this quite hard. I show my crafty creations on the blog already & the creations I'm most proud of are emotional & hard to photograph. I think it was the tenderness of the image of the hands cupping the earth that threw me off.

    So...my offering this week is a pair of knitting needles I've fashioned myself today. They are made out of broom handles & I've got some rather exciting plans for them. They need a bit of a sand to get them in tip top shape but I'm confident that they are up to the task.

    As for my most treasured creations I'm just going to list them:

    three wonderful children, a happy marriage, a house filled with love, enduring friendships & unfailing support of & from my family. Luck may have had something to do with all this - but I work hard too.

  • This is...my favourite cup...

    This is...my favourite cup...

    Angela has started another fun game. This is...

    Some of my favourites are playing along & I look forward to checking out some new-to-me blogs as well. Thanks Angela.

    It's 30 something years old & made in Italy by Chicco. This lived in my grandma's home & was used by my brother.

    The design is brilliant. It is weighted so even if it spills it quickly self corrects.

  • On my desk...

    On my desk...

    House stuff
    Since I posted the plans things have gone a bit off the rails. I'm not getting ahead of myself. Just focusing on breathing in & out when there is mention of the house.

    Small stuff
    Fabwic stitching in progress.
    A note which reads: Mum tell me where my camera is.

    Beautiful stuff
    My print from Geninne arrived yesterday from sunny Mexico - even the stamps are beautiful!
    I'm nearly beside myself over Geninne's Bird. I love it so much.

    A little ACEO I bought from here also arrived in the mail. It's gorgeous. I'm on the hunt for Brown ACEOs if anyone has any tips.

    We've picked up some new players this week. Stop in & say Hi. You can find them on the player list here. That's also the place to post a comment if you'd like to join in. I'll be updating the list regularly.

    On my desk... Wednesday has a Flickr too if you'd like to send pics this is the group.

    Finally if you would like an On my desk... button for your blog this is the code:

    <a href=" http://kootoyoo.blogspot.com/"><img src="//farm4.static.flickr.com/3141/2607211450_e50e1fc40b.jpg?v=0"/></a>

    Just copy & paste the above code into your sidebar & if you don't want to...that's fine too.
    .

  • This is...my demon

    This is...my demon

    What Your Latte Says About You

    You don't treat yourself very often. You find that indulging doesn't jibe with your very disciplined life.

    You can be quite silly at times, but you know when to buckle down and be serious.

    You have a good deal of energy, but you pace yourself. You never burn out too fast.

    You're addicted to caffeine. There's no denying it.

    You are responsible, mature, and truly an adult. You're occasionally playful, but you find it hard to be carefree.

    You are complex and philosophical, but you are never arrogant.

    What Does Your Latte Say About You?

    Hmmm a very tricky This is... week for me. Steph's theme is a curly one.

    I've really thought a fair bit about this & I'm offering my addictive personality as my demon. I don't think I'm dangerously addicted to anything (except maybe coffee). However, it is certainly something that I have to be mindful of.

    Some of the things that I consider teetering on the edge of becoming demons are also the things that I am successful at or work hard at...interesting isn't it?

  • This is...my best Op Shop find [Slide 3]...

    This is...my best Op Shop find [Slide 3]...

    This is... hosted by Angela theme from The Lino Forest.

    Just about everything on, around & inside this bar is Op Shopped. There are notes on Flickr if you're interested.

    The Bar itself was picked up at St Vinnies in Kew. It is so far & away my favourite piece of furniture in the house & best of all it holds all the ingredients for making pretty drinks.
    .

  • On my desk...

    On my desk...

    There has been a bit of layering happening on my desk this week. All the stuff from last week is still there but there have been a few additions.

    Grey wool for a new softie project.
    Inspiration 3 which I printed this morning & read while I ate my toast. Erin has done a terrific job.
    This gorgeous Yellena print which arrived in the mail this week is resting up against the pile of craft books from last week. She is currently at Poppytalk Handmade with lots of lovely prints to buy. This is my favourite.
    The packaging from my most recent online purchase. They know a thing or two about presentation - let me tell you!

    If you are new to On my desk...let me know so I can stop by.

  • Fabric covered toy box...

    Fabric covered toy box...
    Tresure box

    & as an added bonus the fabric is totally reusable.

    We're all about the new house at the moment. The kids are so excited about their new rooms.

    The smallest needed a toy box to store her super favourite things & so we set about covering an old Australia Post box. This is a great project to tackle with kids as they can handle much of it alone & therefore really feel as if they've made it themselves. I thought you might enjoy a "how to" for a bit of rainy holiday fun.

    Fabric Selection

    Select your fabric & trim the box up. You need to keep the "lid" of the box as this will become the base.

    Cut fabric & trim box

    Position your box so that the fabric folds up the sides & down the inside of the box (just reaching the base of the box on all sides). Cut to size.
    Tip: we used a single doona/duvet cover & it was the perfect width for the standard Australia Post mailer, so we only needed to cut a bit off the length.

    Spray both the fabric & the box with spray adhesive.

    Secure with masking tape

    Smooth all the sides flat & secure with pegs. Once you've done that you can manipulate the corner fabric so that it gathers nicely. Once you're happy with the placement just masking tape the fabric down to secure.

    Push the base into the box

    Now just cover the base piece of the box (formerly the lid trimmed to fit) with a contrasting fabric & push it into the bottom of the box.

    I say that this is temporary but I made one of these for the big girl 8 years ago & it's still going strong!

    I love her treasure selections...owl by me, crochet granny square blanket by a family friend, peg bear by One Red Robin, knitted ballerina by Aunty Pat & the pink softie is Loobylu's project from Meet Me at Mikes The Book.

  • How to share HTML in Blogger without it being "read"...

    How to share HTML in Blogger without it being "read"...

    .
    This girl & I were chatting about how frustrating it is that we haven't been able to share HTML on our blogs without that pesky (but cute) button popping up in our posts. We know the Typepad girls can do it - surely there must be a way!

    If you've got some HTML you'd like to share on your Blogger blog this is a step by step how to share the code without having that oh so cute button appearing in your post or sidebar.

    First things first:
    You've got a brilliant idea/game/meme that you'd like displayed in sidebars all over the place.

    Then
    Re-write your code replacing the <a the >< & the ></a> as pictured above in red.

    Copy & paste this code into your compose window in Blogger. Blogger will convert it back to useable code for use by others. Like this:

    <a href=" http://kootoyoo.blogspot.com/"><img src="//farm4.static.flickr.com/3456/3178070433_bfd5f8c0f8.jpg?v=1231386060"/></a>

    Ask your readers to copy and paste as a button in their sidebars (in Blogger this is done by adding Third Party HTML via Layout & Add a Page Element)

    Now
    Watch your button pop up all over the place.

    Yay hooray.