Sewing machine woes

I have an old sewing machine my mum gave me. I haven't sewed properly for years, but I know how to *theoretically*.

Anyway, today I decided to make a superhero cape for a 3rd birthday I went to this morning. I'd cut the cape out and I figured it would only take about an hour to sew it. So I wandered down to my sewing table. My mother-in-law recently gave it to me. It's kind of exciting - the sewing machine lives in the middle of the table and there is a pneumatic lift that pushes it up to the top when you want to sew, then back down for storage.

My son Mr McGillicuddy was asleep, so I was in a bit of a hurry to finish before he woke up. I worked out how to use the pneumatic lift and started to thread the sewing machine. The needle went and snapped on me!!! Not good. I don't seem to have a spare needle either, or if I do I can't remember where I put it.

So I had to resort to one of my back up presents, a view finder. Oh well, the capes will have to wait for another day.

Tut tut and tutu

Well, so much for one post a day in August! First I forgot, then blogger was running really slowly and then - well, then I was just very very slack. Anyway - I'm back now!

I'm half way through making a tutu for Chingypingy.

Once I'm finished, I'm going to make a few more to give as birthday presents. I'm also going to sew some capes to help me get reacquainted with my sewing machine.

The longest craft project

The longest time it has ever taken me to complete a craft project is 21 years. Yes, 21 YEARS.

When I was 9 years old, I started a latch hook kermit the frog. I finished it a few years ago - just in time to present it to Chingy Pingy. As a 9 year old, I never would have guessed that I was latch hooking for my future daughter!

New craft book

I've just received a new craft book -

I've had a flick through and it looks great! I've been hoping to find some craft projects that utilise things around my house - partly to be environmentally friendly and partly so that I can start some rainy day projects with Chingy Pingy (my daughter) without having to buy lots of stuff.

I'm particularly keen to try making little pendants - I've bought Mod Podge especially for the occasion. I think these might make cute little take home gifts for Chingy Pingy's birthday party later this year.

Book Club

Did you know I'm a member of two book clubs? Well it's true, I am.

I've just started a blog for one of them - it is a work in progress, so far all I've managed to do is post the next few books.

Pattern lost - and found again!

A tale of procrastination.

When my daughter was born, I decided to knit her a sweater. I found a pattern I liked in a Family Circle magazine. I started to knit. I knitted and I knitted. Then I knitted some more. Then I put down the knitting.

For many months, I carried the knitting and the pattern around with me everywhere I went. Although I never knitted a stitch, my daughter's sweater and I were inseparable. By now, my daughter was 2 - and the sweater was a size 1. Oh dear.

Eventually, the inevitable occurred. I lost the pattern. By then I was pregnant with my second child and hormonal as all hell. I wept. And I wept. And then I wept some more.

My husband posted a classified ad asking for the pattern. Eventually a kind lady sent through the pattern. By now my daughter was 3 - and the sweater was a size 1. Oh dear.

I decided to knit a new sweater - using the infamous pattern - for my newborn son. This time, I actually knitted it (rather than carrying the knitting around with me). I finished it too! Don't you love a happy ending?


P.S. I happened to be at a book sale not so long ago - and found the magazine with the pattern. Exciting.

P.S.2 What is it with this pattern? My mother in law came around the other day with the latest Family Circle for me - they had reprinted the pattern!

Musings

Why does my daughter like to watch TV sitting on a soccer ball?
Why does my son squawk like a macaw that has sighted a worm?
Will I ever sit down and use my sewing machine?

Shady monkey

If you see me in an alley way - back away slowly. I am the monkey from - so you better beware!

Beanie or Beanies?

Recently, I knitted a beanie for my very young son.


Now I am most of the way through knitting a beanie for my young, but not quite as young daughter


It's a little tricky working with double pointed needles but these are still really quick little beanies to knit up. I'm using Debbie Bliss wool - so the beanies feel really lovely and soft. Mmmmmm.

Just finished reading....

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer. I really loved this book - it is about a boy whose father was killed in the attacks of September 11. The book is clever, funny and sad. I laughed, I cried and I thought a lot about things that happen in the world.

Family of sock monkeys

Meet the monkey family. I made papa monkey and baby monkey. My good friend made mama monkey. Her daughter (and my niece) made teenager monkey. They're cute aren't they?

This is what they looked like a couple of hours before they were completed -

My first design

Here is the very first amigurumi animal that I have designed. Lovely little piggy.

Making

I am in the middle of making

• Striped beanie for my daughter
• Crocheted Totoro doll for my husband (you can find the pattern here)
• Crocheted bookmark for me (you can find the pattern here)

I am about to start making something for a 1 year old girl - but I can't quite decide what to make. It's a problem because I need to complete it by Saturday....time is running out!

I always need to have a few projects on the go - it helps distract me from finishing anything!

Sad...
because I couldn't go to craft night
because I know I'm not going to get to sleep all night


Happy...
because I mopped the floor
because the boy has finally fallen asleep
because I'm having chicken burritos for dinner

Exciting new purchase!!

I'm so excited - I just got an e-mail from Little Diva with a picture of the dress I am buying. It is gorgeous!!! I can't wait to see it on my little girl.

Giveaway at Little Diva!

Head on over to Little Diva for a gorgeous giveaway!!

One post a day in August

Oh dear - I've already missed a day! Hey Bubbles is doing a post a day in August and I said I'd join her. Hmmmm.

I'll have some crafting updates soon - I've been working on a few things. I'm knitting a beanie for my daughter and also trying my hand at some fine crochet work.

I've also bought some laminated cotton - Michael Miller designed and covered a table with it...I will put up some pictures soon.