Project Therapy
66/100 complete
Yesterday I completed Challenge 22 - to teach a friend a new craft. My lovely friend Rachel is recuperating from an op and it was the perfect time for her to start some needle felting and quilting.
So we have been working together and she is creating 3 very special and personal masterpieces and I have been part of making that happen.
A bit of the Progress
It is funny how sharing a hobby can also be significant to someone. Sometimes wise words and fixing aren’t actually needed. Sometimes company and a shared idea and excitement can be a gift to someone too.
Master 4 likes pikelets
Master 1 enjoyed making mess and playing in her kitchen sink to warm his hands.
YUM
We all enjoyed eating pikelets together.
He Mahana te Wai
I am right in the midst of a crazy August and I have visions of blossoms that seem to be never-ending and never enough. Hopefully the deadline will be met – here is a sneaky peak.
The Blossoms
In the bright blue sky we let 2 balloons go sailing away. They went up and up and up – after a moment of being stuck in a tree!
Balloon In A Tree
We hope they sail like a happy thought to someone who needs them.
Can You See It?
Together
56/100 complete
I’m not a great finisher – I’ve said it before and a while ago I began a very cool little project. I have to say I worked hard and I was pleased but the rest of the work had to be done in the garage. I don’t really like to work out in the garage. I like to be in the midst of any action and near a warm fire.
In this instance it was delightful daddy, husband extraordinaire who finished the project. It required 3 coats of varnish. And he did it as a suprise for us all.
From Above
Previously it was a plain white chair that was a bit tired. Master 4 loves buses and maps so he is WELL pleased. So am I.
From the Front
The chair only cost $1 so it wasn’t an expensive project!
Back View
I also made some felt brooches last night. One for a gift the others to be put in the Christmas present box. Deb has a Christmas present a week challenge going on her blog that I want to get involved in – but then some of you will know what you are getting for Christmas! These brooches will be for my girly friends but I need to make another 10 or so. From here on I’ll try to photograph subtle elements of the gifts. Not sure I’ll complete one a week but every bit helps!
Christmas Gift Brooches
6 To Go…
50/100 complete
Not 6 challenges but 6 recipes to go and I have completed Sophie Gray’s first book. Today I made waffles and the caramel sauce (which didn’t work!) so that is 2 more recipes completed.
Blueberry Waffles
Luckily we had a house half full of football watchers - (not me!) - to eat the produce.
Caramel and Banana Waffles
Last night I went to my lovely friend Ruth’s house and did some wet felting which I hadn’t done for a long time. I just played about but I liked the end result.
Felted Tree
Make It Work!
36/100 complete
Tonight I am working on Master soon-to-be 4′s handmade birthday gift. Lots of hand-sewing means I can at least watch the final of Project Runway while I work.
Last night I also made some needle felted brooches which I think I will use for the giveaway.
Felted Brooches
Fabric and wadding for Master 1′s quilt also bought and I have bought the equipment I need for my mystery project too.
Hopefully tomorrow I might have a sneak peek of the birthday gift ready.
Day 114 & 115
31/100 complete
The outfit was finished on time. The final applique had some work at coffee and crafting (thanks Chrissy) but all was done and ready to wear for Saturday night.
Felt Hearts on Skirt
I was a little disheartened with the skirt along the way but then I applied the felt ‘garden’ and now it is totally redeemed. I call this my ‘love garden’ skirt because all the ‘flowers’ are hearts in circles.
The Outfit
The top is plain but not black which I am trying to remove from my wardrobe as much as possible. While I have no problem with black I just don’t love the way it looks on me. I don’t really think it suits my colouring, my personality or even the style I dress with.
I received these gorgeous photos today from my lovely quilt recipient. I cheekly asked if she might send me an email of the quilt in its new home and here it is!
Getting to Know the New Family
Apart from that I am heading into a week without my camera so I will have to work harder at my descriptions and hopefully have lots of things to show you by next weekend.
Last night I had the treat of a dinner out with lovely husband at a fabulous Christchurch restaurant – Chinwag, Eat Thai. I love going to a restaurant that has great food, interesting decor and staff that seem to love their job. A great experience.
Also this weekend I crossed off the French Toast recipe. Husband and I enjoyed French Toast for Saturday lunch.
French Toast
It was improved by the fact it was made using my home-made bread and topped with home-made ‘maple syrup’.
French Toast with Maple Syrup
Then we watched the heats of the 48 hour film festival and went home for a sleep without our babies. Thanks to the grandparents we had a blissful sleep in this morning and I am feeling thoroughly spoilt. Aren’t families such a gift from God?
Quilt At New Home
Day 111
31/100 complete
The raffle is drawn. I used a computer program to do the deed for me so I could maintain non-bias.
Quilt, Quilt
Enter a number:
I want a number between 1 and…
//
Result:
Goodbye Quilt
Lovely Wool
For Felting
Day 105
28/100 complete
Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing that it is stupid.
Albert Einstein
I saw this quote today and I adore it. More than that I think it isn’t just the judgement of others that leads a fish to feel it’s stupid. Sometimes the fish spends too long thinking that climbing a tree is where it’s at instead of enjoying the delight of being able to ‘swim like a fish’.
Felted Brooch
Tonight I completed Challenge 72 – I have made both the boys a gift that will be there for them in the morning to unwrap. For Master 1 a little Elephant made out of 2 leg-warmers. It’s quirky and wiggly and I like it.
The Leg-Warmer Elephant
For Master 3 a super man cape – because we have decided that superman is cool.
The Cape
And a couple of photos of my little felt bird brooch. It makes me smile.
Brooch
Today I made chocolate coconut slice and peanut butter biscuits. Love those calories!
My Brooch
Day 95
25/100 complete
Today we were on a mission to buy hot water bottles. The ones we had last winter are no-where to be found. So today we purchased 4 and this mama proceeded to make hottie covers from 4 felted jerseys.
The Hottie Covers
Each has initials on them or in the case of Master 3 his initials and the number 11. One has dad written on it.
The Backs
I am pleased with them. There is something so good about snuggling up with a hot bottle that cannot be replicated by an electric blanket. It is a quintessential winter experience.
Masters 3 & 1 also had some fun running around and I caught this classic of them tonight.
Boy + Boy = Action!
Master 1 did some dancing to the Bee Gees.
Moves
Master 3 used my knitting needle gauge (which has never been used!) as a ‘ticket’.
'Just Check Your Ticket In Here'
Other than that I bought ‘Julie and Julia’ on DVD today so I will watch that with Husband this evening. He is yet to see it. I love it!
After a shopping trip with my sister I am also excited about the ideas I have for sewing some new things for my autumn wardrobe…fun, fun, fun!
Day 84
23/100 complete
I’ve been musing table settings for the Easter dinner today. Normally I’m one of those people who dreams of amazing table settings and finishes last-minute with a partially clean table-cloth and on the odd occasion some serviettes I found in the back of the pantry! So at least the leap will be huge however it goes.
Tonight I have a little sewing to do for myself. I have a birthday gift and a you are special gift I want to get done too but as I’m felting those I can work on them during project runway.
The sewing for me is going to be one of those impossibly easy tops to sew that you can just wear anywhere and feel comfortable. I’m using the fabric I got from spotlight the other day – on sale.
Here it is the 15-20 minute top, which is all it takes from cutting out to trying to take photos of yourself wearing it using the self-timer mode on your camera! In real life it’s less blurry!
I saw this Mark Twain quote today and I liked it – Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.
Day 65
Make, Give, Contribute, Challenge. 1 year, 100 creative challenges. 16/100 complete.
Today was a lovely mix-y kind of day. A morning full of 4 little lovelies – bus rides, park play and library then this afternoon a chance to craft, chat and chill. I met the lovely, crafty, blogger Deb (see her comment day 31 – I think to link to her blog) for an afternoon at the Addington Co-op Cafe – all fair trade and lovely vibes. She brought crochet and 2 gorgeous girls and I brought felt buttons that will become brooches and we had fun. This is set to become a monthly thing for anyone who wants to craft and catch up so I’ll give you a heads up next time.
Felt Button Brooches
Sadly I left one of my little felt hearts there – probably on the floor so I can only hope it is a treat for someone who finds it!
Here is my ‘work’.
Little Master 1 caught my attention this evening with his own delights. He carried around an empty clear dental floss case with his own little ‘treasure’ inside it – a small stone. He also liked the look of the cotton reels I had out as well.
Little Blue Thing
Little Treasure
Little Green Thing
On Thursday and Friday at Playcentre we made our own pillow case covers and this gorgeous one is Master 3′s effort. Now I just need to iron it to heat set the textile paint – finishing is such hard work!
Master 3's Masterpiece
I think I’ll continue with my felting tonight just because I really do need some things for the present box and it’s so quick and after and afternoon of talking creative endeavours I have to continue!
I also need to check the challenge status and make sure that I have a couple sorted in my head for next week. Until then remember Master 3′s tip for cleaning your bike – ride it through the sprinkler and my tip there is much beauty in little things so open your eyes and look….
