Owls Are in the Eye of the Beholder

The hat has eyes! I followed Lyn's suggestion and featured one owl. So this one is wide awake whilst I imagine the other ones asleep. Considering how much time babies spend snoozing that's kind of apt, don't you think?

Would you believe what my husband said when I happily thrust this in his face?

H: Don't you think the eyes are a bit close together?
Me: What? Too close together? I can't put them much further apart. They need to be inside of the head!
H. Sure, you could put one here and one there. points in the middle of two different owls' heads
Me: That's two different owls! Are you kidding me? Why should I make monocular owls?
H: OWLS?
Me: Duh, don't you see this is an owl? This is the head, the body, the feathery stuff on top.. points.. There's six owls all in all! points some more
H: Sure. laughs Great owl! laughs as if I'm the insane one here..

Yeah, sometimes he doesn't get it. Still love him, though.

As you can see I finished my cowl. I still have to weave in the ends and make the eyes/no eyes decision. A trip to the shop to stock up on thread is in order, anyway, so I can take a look at their button selection. Do you reckon mother of pearl would be an interesting option? I'm compose a post with all the details and proper pictures soon.

Today I'll be working on block number three of my Fish & HSTs. I'm becoming way too attached to these! Don't I always?

Happy sewing!

Sunday Stitches

This weekend I made some mini HSTs with the 1 1/2" Triangles on a Roll that I won in Hadley's giveaway a few weeks back. Really a time saver if you want to make several HSTs of the same combination but especially helpful with such tiny pieces. Well, today I sewed them up a first batch with some of my precious Heather Ross fish.

L-o-v-e it! So much that I'm already auditioning fish for the second panel.

These triangles are really disappearing under the machine, they're so tiny. Just look!

I'll definitely be making more of these. Mini quilt? Cushion covers? Tote? Pouches? I don't know yet but I'm definitely enjoying the process. Unfortunately there's no fish with my nephew's name or these would totally be his. Though there's an unnamed one - I could stitch up his name... Hmm, we'll see where this goes.

What have you been up to?


Happy sewing!

T.G.I.F.F. - With a Little Help From My Friends...

Spot the mistake!

I've been working on my little owl hat. By the way, did anybody notice my glaring mistake in Wednesday's picture? Yep, I totally skipped the cabled row that turns simple knitting into proper little owl heads! Gah. Well, I had to frog this. Thank goodness for the generosity of the crafting community that shares their wisdom because I really didn't want to go back three rows stitch by stitch. I'd pinned the solution a while back and could finally apply it. There's a silver lining to everything, eh?

It was a bit fiddly but the last pic shows my knitting back on track. Yay. I then rewarded myself with these. Nom nom.

The hat's now finished but I'm a teensy tiny bit stuck. Eyes or no eyes? Don't fear, I'm convinced my firend won't leave little C unattended to play with and choke on buttons, so we can put decoration over safety issues for once.

Unfortunately I don't have enough of the bottom two buttons (salvaged from shirts) to decorate all six owls, only three each. Anyway, what do you think? Eyes? No eyes?

For a glamorous parting shot, let me introduce my beloved childhood doll.

You can tell she's a true 80s girl from that terrible terrible fluffy fringe. One hot mess! I love her nonetheless and think she's one of the reasons why I've always been envious of natural gingers. Dye for me if I want to look like that. Anyway, look how much cuter she looks with the hat to cover that fringe!

I'm falling in love with her all over again!

Happy sewing!

Linking up with TGIFF, this week at What a Hoot!

W.i.P. - Knitting Edition

So, like a true crafter I've been procrastinating my quilting of Red Riding by starting a new project. It is, however, also of the owl kind and also meant for little C - a baby hat! I've made up Comfort Wool's pattern before. This time I've decided against the rolled hem and made a ribbed one.

I'd told you that I was unsure about the cowl I'd cast on. Well, yesterday evening, off it went and something new was cast on. Approximately four hours, 210 stitches, two knit rows, six in moss (or seed stitch, depending where you're from), and three rows of the owl pattern later, this is what I've got.

Yep, some owls for me, too. I've loved them for a long time and why shouldn't I be wearing them, too? So far I like the texture of the moss stitch - simple, yet effective - and how it looks with the beginnings of the owls, all 21 of them. I had a bit of a hard time to decide on a stitch for the edge and am glad I went with this one.

Happy crafting!

Stats

Finishes - 1
bibs and burp cloths

Ongoing Projects - 4
EPP hexies - 52 finished flowers + 14 nearly-theres
baby things
Grecian Waters/Emerald HST quilt - finished the top! - still pinching pennies for batting
Red Riding

Stalled Projects - 1
EPP parallelograms/stars

Planning Stage - 5
Wedding Anniversary quilt
Quilt for the husband - will possibly be downgraded to a pillow case
Two summer dresses & a skirt

Linking up with Lee, come and join us!

Preparing for Nephew

The first batch of presents for my nephew has finally been finished. I hope my sister is adhering to the temporary reading ban I've imposed upon her. If you're reading this, honey, please get off the blog now! You know you're allowed back post-birth...

This...

...has become quite the lovely pile...

Another two more pictures to showcase the other fabrics.

Riveting the studs with a hammer proved fun, especially because the noise made the husband ask what the heck I was doing...

Other than that, I cast on a cowl on my knitting needles yesterday evening. Let's see how that goes because a) I think I made a negligent mistake somewhere and b) I'm not sure I really like the pattern. Hmpf.

Anyway, I've also been brainstorming ideas for more embroidery on Red Riding.

Having learnt that the parents have a weakness for owls I might just stitch up one or two. Do you remember Jenelle's incredibly cute Vintage Owl Embroidered Cushion? I'd like to aim for something similar - only smaller and worked in my blue quilting thread only, obviously. What do you think?

Happy sewing and to a great week, friends!

Linking up! Come on and join the fun!

Sunday Stash

So, you know it was my birthday the other month and you know how some stores throw discount codes at you... well, I succumbed to fabric.com a few weeks back. I'd been playing with my shopping cart's contents anyhow and I think I've come up with a pretty decent selection. Parcel brimful of fabric - bliss.

I'm taking a page out of Molli Sparkle's book and am dividing this haul into sections - stash building / re-stashing, nephew fabrics, and fashion fabrics. Yeah, three posts only. After all, this parcel is no magical suitcase filled by a generous grandma. If only. My adorable nan, unfortunately, doesn't sew, though she's still very generous. She had an old Singer in her house which we used to play with as kids - as in moving the huge pedal -, but I think it belonged to my great-grandmother. Nobody ever used it. I should really inquire whether it's still in the cellar or something. It was so pretty with its ironwork pedal and the wooden table. I think I even remember intarsia?

Anyhow, let's start with the stash building /re-stashing.

I absolutely love the Outfoxed Chain Link and I've still got remnants of both. In fact, they worked so well for my hexies that the remnants will be depleted further. Re-stashed for future non-hexie projects. Similar story regarding the Michael Miller Garden Pin Dots and the Pearl Bracelets. Worked so much better for projects than I ever imagined that I had to re-stash and get more colours, charcoal, grey, and hunter green respectively. 

Something new and blue also went into my order. I can never resist blue / teal. Seriously, can you?

And then this. Midwest Modern Martini in Mustard has been on my list for bloody ages so I finally gave in.

Happy sewing!

Linking up with Sunday Stash as usual. This time over at Kate Quilts.

W.i.P. - Red Riding Returns

The sun is back. Warm temperatures are back. Yes, both aren't a permanent fixture yet but I'm sooo happy and excited. I just love spring and summer.

Anyhow, I've been very slow working on my Little Red Riding Hood cushion cover. You saw it last three weeks ago. Although I finished the tiny corner elements, I was lost for ideas to fill out the whole triangles and I still am. I knew, however, that I wanted to add the baby girl's initial to one of them.

Alas, the name was still a secret and my hands tied. No longer! Little C has finally been born - oh, she's gorgeous - and I got working. I found the letter here and freestyle transferred it to the fabric. Thank goodness for trick markers.

The first pic was taken yesterday evening in artificial light, the second one this morning with the trick marker lines erased. Now I still need inspiration to strike for the rest...

I aim at finishing it in about two weeks. Originally I'd planned to have it ready for postage the minute after the announcement, yeah, plans, but now I'm thinking I want to present it personally. So giving the new parents a few weeks to settle in before invading their happy baby bubble seems like a good idea to save them - and me - stress.

Stats

Finishes - 0

Ongoing Projects - 4
EPP hexies - 52 finished flowers + 14 nearly-theres
baby things
Grecian Waters/Emerald HST quilt - finished the top!
cushion cover

Stalled Projects - 1
EPP parallelograms/stars

Planning Stage - 5
Wedding Anniversary quilt
Quilt for the husband - will possibly be downgraded to a pillow case
Two summer dresses & a skirt

My list really isn't changing at the moment. I'm okay with it, though. Still de-stressing and enjoying the better weather.

Happy sewing!

Sunday Stash

Sometimes you don't take a break but the break takes you. I cut down my online time and, first thing, the sniffles take over. As in proper sore throat, runny nose, dizzy spells,... as in needing bed rest. Ah well, that's life. Guess I was hanging on for too long. I'm so much better now, though, as is my head. I'm even getting things done that I hope to show you soon. How fab, the break is paying off! Thank you for having my back, friends. Makes it much easier.

I've also freed the recent addition to my special Australian stash from Customs. So so pretty. I'm pretty sure a new handbag is in order. And with that I'm off again, easing back on soon.

Happy sewing!

Linking up with Fiona.

Taking a Break

I'm in a bit of a sewing and blogging slump. There's so much I'd love to do but there's so much else I've got to do first that I feel a tad overwhelmed and end up not really sewing. Most importantly I'm busy scouring job ads and fine tuning my applications. On top of that I'm dealing with a high migraine frequency, whether that's due to the weather changes, the stress, the too long hours in front of the screen, or the sniffles I caught... Most likely it's a combination of all of the above and I know it's going to abate but there's a few things I can do to actively improve the situation rather than whine.

Sigh... I'll significantly reduce my funsies online time for at least a week to give my eyes a rest and free up time for walks in the park and exercise after the day's work. So please don't think I go all silent on you, friends, and won't ever return. I will and I will still answer mails. I just need to prioritise at the moment, reschedule and re-energise, spend a little less time reading and commenting in blogland.

Not going without a sneak peak of something that will finally be finished during this break, though.

I scored some Prym press studs on the cheap for the bibs.

Still not cheap cheap, true, but cheaper than usual because these are way old. The packaging still says "Made in W.-Germany" and I haven't seen four-digit postcodes since 1993! But hey, press studs don't mold or suddenly disintegrate, do they?

Stats

Finishes - 0

Ongoing Projects - 4
EPP hexies - 52 finished flowers + 14 nearly-theres
baby things
Grecian Waters/Emerald HST quilt - finished the top!
cushion cover

Stalled Projects - 1
EPP parallelograms/stars

Planning Stage - 5
Wedding Anniversary quilt
Quilt for the husband - will possibly be downgraded to a pillow case
Two summer dresses & a skirt

Happy sewing and speak soon!

Sunday Stash

So what did I buy with those birthday gift cards I mentioned earlier?

An incredibly satisfying haul! Let's dissect it, shall we?

First, a fun print chosen by my sister who would like me to make a loop scarf for her. Fabric for the other side as well as fabrics for a loop scarf for her partner's mum are on their way via mail.

Next, a fat quarter adopted from the sales section. New oven cloths to go with the apron I still plan on making?

Next up and so much more important, 1.2 metres of a terribly lovely soft and drapey Kokka double gauze to be turned into a skirt. The dots, the anchors - so adorable they make me feel little lightheaded every time I look at them.

Finally, and probably even more important because of my New Sewing Year's resolutions, 2.5 m cuts and 5 m of bias binding each of two wonderful lightweight floral prints.

I'm pretty sure that one will be turned into a Darling Ranges dress. But which one? Currently I'm considering various Burda patterns for the second dress. No hurry as it's still cold and nephew projects are really taking precedence now.


Happy sewing!

Linking up and looking forward to seeing everybody else's treasures.