tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23724454667165892512024-03-06T01:56:51.802+00:00The Frog Princessthe frog princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11402171162965104873noreply@blogger.comBlogger111125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372445466716589251.post-50903411388305458552012-04-19T22:24:00.004+01:002012-04-19T22:34:26.987+01:00Handy pocket bagI decided ages ago that my delightful daughter needed a bag of her own. One that was easy to get into, without a flap to get in the way of the treasures which constantly need carting about.<br /><br />Enter the cargo pocket bag! We always have cast-off trousers that my husband has worn out (or bleach stained, as in the case of this pair), and I thought the side pocket would do perfectly. So I cut the whole thing off, reversed the back panel, added a lining, some bias binding and a strap. Ta dah! One bag, fit for the treasures of an 18-month-old munchkin.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/6948450986/" title="Yes, I have used different colours of bobbin threads. Sometimes I get lazy!"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7185/6948450986_c754c88f22.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Yes, I have used different colours of bobbin threads. Sometimes I get lazy!"></a><br /><br />The strap even has extra length. I can just move the velcro on the strap to a new position, and the bag will grow with her!<br /><br />It was love at first wear.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/6948452434/" title="Priceless grin."><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7259/6948452434_aec2a6f9bb.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Priceless grin."></a>the frog princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11402171162965104873noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372445466716589251.post-77117027867959967552012-04-11T21:29:00.003+01:002012-04-11T21:35:18.272+01:00CosyYes, Christmas was well over 3 months ago, I know. Here's the present I made for my husband, finally (mostly) finished. A small matter of buttons and loops!<br /><br />I made him a cafetiere cosy, so that our coffee stays warm on even the most hectic weekend morning.<br /><br />Here's the cosy. Our little hectic-maker couldn't help but get involved in the action:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/7060429875/" title="DSC_6407 by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7103/7060429875_558644174d.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="DSC_6407"></a><br /><br />The backside with the to-die-for buttons I picked up at Darn It and Stitch:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/7060437187/" title="DSC_6426 by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5445/7060437187_e34c14e5b6.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="DSC_6426"></a><br /><br />And posing with the yet-to-be buttoned-and-looped mug cosy, featuring the caffeine molecular symbol done in freezer paper stencil:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/6914360578/" title="DSC_6431 by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7127/6914360578_18f98d3cfa.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="DSC_6431"></a>the frog princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11402171162965104873noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372445466716589251.post-66220526368150528622012-03-18T22:08:00.003+00:002012-03-18T22:36:37.956+00:00Viewfinder SkirtOK, it's been over six months since my last post. It's not like I haven't been a bit crafty, it's just that I was blessed with the Amazing Non-Sleeping Child. Recently said child has begun to sleep long periods at night, and even decent stretches of an hour+ at naptime. I can create again!<br /><br />I have come to show you my newest creation, a skirt for me. <br /><br />Ever since I saw this fabric from the <a href="http://melodymiller.typepad.com/photos/ruby_star_rising/index.html">Ruby Star Rising line by Melody Miller</a>, I knew it would grace a skirt for me.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/6994434075/" title="DSC_6318 by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7063/6994434075_e8e44eca28.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="DSC_6318"></a><br /><br />The pattern is a Vogue Elements jeans skirt from Way Back When - I bought it at least seven years ago. I'm awfully pleased with my fussy cutting on the hem.<br /><br />I love the enormous pockets - great for holding a phone and tissues to wipe the ever runny toddler nose.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/6848275564/" title="DSC_6308 by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7202/6848275564_3d37bb94e5.jpg" width="362" height="500" alt="DSC_6308"></a><br /><br />The inside hem is finished with this great <a href="http://www.oliverands.com/blog/2008/08/hem-facing.html">hem facing tutorial</a> I found over at Oliver + S. (The facing fabric happens to be an Oliver + S print too!)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/6994397123/" title="DSC_6294 by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7063/6994397123_a66271b49a_m.jpg" width="240" height="149" alt="DSC_6294"></a><br /><br />I'm pretty chuffed with it.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/6994428563/" title="DSC_6320 by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7208/6994428563_b0f6ac4434.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="DSC_6320"></a>the frog princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11402171162965104873noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372445466716589251.post-83733610108475196922011-08-10T23:26:00.002+01:002011-08-10T23:41:39.232+01:00Oooh, not posted in ages, terrible I know!
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<br />And now I'm posting when I really ought to be in bed!
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<br />A quick recap of the last few months:
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<br />Kiddo is nine and a half months old! She's as old as a pregnancy! She keeps me busy.
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<br />The knitting I've been doing? Well, it's all gonna get ripped out. No point in knitting something in two colours if they're impossible to tell apart except in bright sunlight.
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<br />Sewing? Now we're talking!
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<br />Baby trousers: (<a href="http://www.made-by-rae.com/2010/08/big-butt-baby-pants-sewing-pattern/">Big Butt Baby Pants pattern</a>)
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<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5640093856/" title="DSC_0017.JPG by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5182/5640093856_58aefa5600.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_0017.JPG"></a>
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<br />A tutu for my niece: (I did make it bigger in the end, the niece is three!)
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<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5553458998/" title="DSC_0053_2.JPG by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5059/5553458998_604c5f7af2.jpg" width="500" height="368" alt="DSC_0053_2.JPG"></a>
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<br />A sunsuit from the <a href="http://www.made-by-rae.com/2010/06/baby-sunsuit-tutorial/">Made By Rae pattern</a>: (Sadly it's been too cold for her to wear this!)
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<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5736597315/" title="KCWC - Romper by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2499/5736597315_87e9d6fb1b.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="KCWC - Romper"></a>
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<br />Pyjamas, which I didn't manage to photograph together:
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<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5736600429/" title="KCWC - Comfy Sleep Set Trousers by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2461/5736600429_2df326aef2_m.jpg" width="231" height="240" alt="KCWC - Comfy Sleep Set Trousers"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5853591074/" title="DSC_0151.JPG by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3158/5853591074_24be2e0d34_m.jpg" width="159" height="240" alt="DSC_0151.JPG"></a>
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<br />T-shirt and shorts for a swap: (t-shirt "happy animals" from Ottobre 3/11, shorts BBBP as above)
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<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/6030662352/" title="DSC_0155 by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6182/6030662352_3c86f7aa23.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_0155"></a>
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<br />I'm so proud of my twin needle hem! Non serger knits sewing FTW!
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<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/6030110989/" title="DSC_0160 by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6192/6030110989_e15bb3e0c1.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_0160"></a>
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<br />My knitting group was featured in UK magazine The Knitter, and this was my contribution:
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<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/6030113645/" title="IMG_0569 by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6064/6030113645_5ff7b4d10d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_0569"></a>
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<br />And I won a giveaway! Thanks Ali from <a href="http://veryberryhandmade.co.uk/">VeryBerryHandmade</a>!
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<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/6030105567/" title="DSC_0001 by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6150/6030105567_1dbb211a23.jpg" width="500" height="437" alt="DSC_0001"></a>
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<br />Phew! And that's me mostly caught up!
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<br />the frog princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11402171162965104873noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372445466716589251.post-38712775619519298052011-03-21T16:29:00.002+00:002011-03-21T16:52:13.236+00:00Project Selvedge!It's almost the deadline for entries into <a href="http://www.projectselvage.com/">Project Selvedge</a> - the opportunity to post a fabric on <a href="http://www.spoonflower.com/project_selvage">Spoonflower</a> and eventually become a designer with Michael Miller! Oh to dream...<br /><br />I decided I HAD to enter this contest, for which the first challenge is to design a "baby boy" fabric. Now, as the mother of a very small child, I can tell you there is nothing I hate more than simpering pastel blue and pink baby outfits. Oh no, not for my child, and not for my fabric! I'm drawing my palette of inspiration from these colours, which always get read as "boy" on my girl-child.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5546240143/" title="DSC_0038.JPG by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5026/5546240143_419d1d04e7.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_0038.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Of course then I turned around and saw this on my bookshelf:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5546238235/" title="DSC_0043.JPG by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5027/5546238235_86f5ec5c9f.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_0043.JPG" /></a><br /><br />I'd say it was a colour combo that was meant to be!<br /><br />I've slowly been whittling away at my design, which is going to be northern North-America nature themed. (If you are in the top 10 of the first round, you move on to design four more coordinating boy fabrics.) This will include a fox fabric (probably foxes from above, perhaps combined with pin stripes?) and a polka dot with paw prints as some of the spots, oh yes.<br /><br />Anyways, here's my entry in progress. I still need to finish the trees and the shadows, but the bears are pretty much done.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5547324770/" title="black bear boy fabric web by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5255/5547324770_85262bf6bb.jpg" width="417" height="500" alt="black bear boy fabric web" /></a><br /><br />I'll let you know when voting opens! (On the 24th)the frog princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11402171162965104873noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372445466716589251.post-57817239530390357242011-02-27T17:15:00.002+00:002011-02-27T21:51:30.991+00:00Charming scraps, oh my!I've become very interested in sewing lately. I think my knitting has hit a bit of a rut, and sewing is almost instant gratification.<br /><br />I'm starting a half-square triangle quilt. (Let's see if I can find a CC image for one of these, ah, here we go:)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jessyroos/4873346072/" title="A New Project by jessyroos, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4093/4873346072_5e0cca96c7_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="A New Project" /></a><br />By Flickr user <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jessyroos/">Jessyroos</a><br /><br />And mine will have zig-zags like that and oh so much more.<br /><br />With that in mind, I joined Very Berry Handmade's <a href="http://veryberryhandmade.wordpress.com/2011/02/09/swaperoony/">scrap swap</a>, since I love having as many different fabrics as possible in quilt.<br /><br />Here is what I sent to H.J. of no-known-blog, a scrap bundle which I called "stormy seas":<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5481220363/" title="stormy seas bundle by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5253/5481220363_13d5ffce42.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="stormy seas bundle" /></a><br /><br />And here is what I received from Sew Quine Stitches:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5481822300/" title="swap goodness by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5094/5481822300_b96c13a319.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="swap goodness" /></a><br /><br />A Fantastic selection of prints & solids, plus an assortment of riches in the form of zips, ribbons, and buttons. Awesome, thanks swap buddy!! :D<br /><br />I have already cut into some of the scraps to start on my charm square-sized pieces for the HSTs. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5481223185/" title="charm squares by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5300/5481223185_a3f4d96b83.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="charm squares" /></a><br /><br />I "only" need 172 (!) coloured squares, and the same again of white. I just wish I didn't have a compulsion for every square to be a different fabric/pattern. Yikes.<br /><br />That being said, I'm collecting small pieces of quilting fabric, 5"x5" or bigger. Got any to share, especially in the above palette? :)the frog princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11402171162965104873noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372445466716589251.post-31539542208496378392011-02-27T12:46:00.003+00:002011-02-27T18:24:02.194+00:00Wedding Guest DressI had the honour of attending the lovely wedding of <a href="http://thomasinaknits.blogspot.com/">Liz</a> a few weeks ago, and as I am a fan neither of pink concoctions nor their prices, decided to create B's frock myself. (I am a fan of party frocks!)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5481896306/" title="DSC_0028.JPG by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5057/5481896306_77fd7db232.jpg" width="332" height="500" alt="DSC_0028.JPG" /></a><br /><br />This is based on the <a href="http://www.made-by-rae.com/2008/04/free-itty-bitty-baby-dress-pattern.html">Itty Bitty Baby Dress</a> (free pattern!) from Made By Rae, somewhat enlarged and with different straps. All of the dress materials came from our lovely local shop <a href="http://darnitandstitch.com/">Darn It & Stitch</a>, including these fantastic vintage glass buttons.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5481297847/" title="DSC_0062.JPG by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5211/5481297847_998664b16c.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_0062.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The shoes were one pattern combined with another pattern's idea. I used the <a href="http://www.homespun-threads.com/hp_zencart/download/pleatedballerinashoes.pdf">Pleated Ballerina Shoe [pdf]</a> pattern from Homespun Threads but added lacing loops like the ones at <a href="http://www.mesewcrazy.com/2010/12/baby-ballet-shoes-tutorial.html">Me Sew Crazy</a>, resulting in something that looks a bit like a highland dancing shoe!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5481895440/" title="DSC_0076.JPG by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5015/5481895440_a242ed47f6.jpg" width="402" height="500" alt="DSC_0076.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Little minx unlaced them. :D<br /><br />I think I must like these colours. Before B was born I knit a 1-year size baby cardigan. Here it is, it still needs a zip though!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5481894862/" title="DSC_0125.JPG by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5016/5481894862_2b28d3191d.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_0125.JPG" /></a><br /><br />It's a basic round yoke cardigan, knit in Lana Grossa Meilenweit Mega Boots Stretch and some other random red sock yarn. No real pattern, just made it up to suit the measurements. :)the frog princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11402171162965104873noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372445466716589251.post-77780582135319724372011-02-04T22:46:00.004+00:002011-02-12T13:18:33.453+00:00Month-Old Cards<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5186870611/" title="DSC_0053_2.JPG by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4110/5186870611_a85ae7e0f4.jpg" width="332" height="500" alt="DSC_0053_2.JPG" /></a><br /><br />When my niece was born, her parents were gifted with a set of cards, one for each month in the first year of the baby's life. The deal is that you take pictures of your baby with the cards. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5273287367/" title="DSC_0017_2.JPG by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5006/5273287367_e843bee161.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_0017_2.JPG" /></a><br /><br />I always loved the pictures of my niece that resulted, and before B was born, searched for a set to buy but couldn't find them. What to do but make my own!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5382465686/" title="My creation by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5130/5382465686_a30f7bc37b.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="My creation" /></a><br /><br />And then share them with y'all.<br /><br />A 6-page PDF with 1 month through 1 year on half-sheets. It's probably best printed on heavyweight A4 stock. It will probably do just fine on US Letter size paper as well, there is plenty of white space on the cards.<br /><br /><a href="http://download1153.mediafire.com/9cl9mb2a7qzg/c9c668sdl6c87k0/month_cards.pdf">Download the cards</a><br /><br />Enjoy, and let me know if you get on with them. :)the frog princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11402171162965104873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372445466716589251.post-20369775456558934772011-02-04T11:31:00.004+00:002011-02-09T14:06:42.983+00:00Baby TrousersThese are fun to make, and pretty darn quick once you know what you're doing. Excellent for covering those cloth-nappied bubble bums.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.made-by-rae.com/2010/08/big-butt-baby-pants-sewing-pattern.html"><br />Big Butt Baby Pants</a>, pattern from <a href="http://www.made-by-rae.com/">Made by Rae</a><br /><br />Pair 1, in some insane striped jersey. (The pattern is written for wovens, but seemed to worked fine with this cotton jersey.)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5333846107/" title="004 by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5130/5333846107_6ffcded2f0.jpg" width="332" height="500" alt="004" /></a><br /><br />Pair 2, made from a pair of old shirt-sleeves plus a bum panel of fun fabric. :)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5336594244/" title="005 by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5165/5336594244_21c9c63056.jpg" width="332" height="500" alt="005" /></a><br /><br />The pattern goes way into the toddler sizes, so I'm certain to be making more of these!the frog princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11402171162965104873noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372445466716589251.post-49789520310153200922011-01-13T17:39:00.004+00:002011-02-09T14:06:23.153+00:00And that was Christmas......Which I'm only now managing to post about.<br /><br />I made a few things this year, in snatched bits of time, as B still refuses to nap anywhere but on a person.<br /><br />I decorated a couple of hoodies for my husband:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5351790745/" title="DSC_0117.JPG by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5001/5351790745_fe20973cd6.jpg" width="404" height="500" alt="DSC_0117.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5351787103/" title="DSC_0128.JPG by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5010/5351787103_8ffd80c94f.jpg" width="500" height="356" alt="DSC_0128.JPG" /></a><br /><br />And made potholders for my two SILs and MIL: (Lacked in thematic material for FIL. Next year?)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5351785933/" title="IMG_0412.JPG by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5042/5351785933_693aab35ab_m.jpg" width="231" height="240" alt="IMG_0412.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5352395452/" title="IMG_0413.JPG by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5164/5352395452_dee3d5e7ac_m.jpg" width="215" height="240" alt="IMG_0413.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5351783717/" title="IMG_0414.JPG by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5167/5351783717_cf28c0154c_m.jpg" width="240" height="228" alt="IMG_0414.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Also, I recieved some faboo Urban Zoology fabric from <a href=http://www.annkelle.com/">Ann Kelle</a>, for winning a giveaway at <a href="http://www.fabricrehab.co.uk/index.php">Fabric Rehab</a>. Wahey! I feel lucky. :)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5351789655/" title="DSC_0114.JPG by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5207/5351789655_11c99f5e6b.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_0114.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Mostly, however, I just took care of this one: <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5323751140/" title="001 by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5241/5323751140_b485853a1c.jpg" width="332" height="500" alt="001" /></a>the frog princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11402171162965104873noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372445466716589251.post-48408595299668036062010-11-15T17:25:00.003+00:002011-02-09T14:06:58.680+00:00Look what I made!OK, it's been four weeks now since she was born, but I think I've got the valid excuse of busy and tired!<br /><br />It's a girl! 8lbs, 2oz, born October 18th. :)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5147359246/" title="first bath by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4062/5147359246_56b5d5573c.jpg" width="365" height="500" alt="first bath" /></a>the frog princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11402171162965104873noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372445466716589251.post-582227408224287492010-10-08T18:09:00.004+01:002011-02-09T14:07:21.695+00:00A finished quilt!I am ridiculously proud of this quilt, especially as it's only the third one I've ever made.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5062069267/" title="The finished quilt! by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4114/5062069267_096e803f03.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="The finished quilt!" /></a><br /><br />I had a bit of trouble photographing it, between the auto-timer, the sun, the wind, and my well overdue bump. Plus trying to avoid all the enormous spiders and spiderwebs which are everywhere in the garden at the moment!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5062675224/" title="wind, sun, spiders, oh my! by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4126/5062675224_80da0182eb_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="wind, sun, spiders, oh my!" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5062066777/" title="quilt back by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4110/5062066777_6b3b09c563_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="quilt back" /></a><br /><br />You can see the back of the quilt there, in all its chartreuse-ness.<br /><br />Here are some close-ups of the quilting, which I did in a swirly zig-zag, with accents of stippling and swirling.<br /><br />I used 7 colours to quilt with, because I couldn't stand the look of light thread on dark fabric, at least for this project! I also could use a machine with a stitch regulator, I've got horribly uneven stitch lengths. For my first go with a free-motion quilting foot, however, I think it's pretty good. :)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5062055043/" title="Church and clouds by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4130/5062055043_c5b24e1b6e.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Church and clouds" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5062058053/" title="The inner circle by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4148/5062058053_de78a2080e.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="The inner circle" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5062670354/" title="Castle and sun by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4085/5062670354_3c4428694f.jpg" width="500" height="343" alt="Castle and sun" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5062063011/" title="School, Post Office, and Shop by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4092/5062063011_ce879633df.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="School, Post Office, and Shop" /></a><br /><br />If I were to do this over again, I would make a narrower road, with no white dashes - these were boring to sew and a real pain to get lined up around the middle bit!<br /><br />Finished dimensions: 44" x 59"the frog princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11402171162965104873noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372445466716589251.post-78099256322710938282010-10-07T09:50:00.004+01:002011-02-09T14:07:44.152+00:00While I'm waiting...My version of nesting seems to consist solely of a) cooking and b) crafting. The freezer is chock full of yummy eats (the fridge is particularly empty however. Oops.) and I am sewing to fill the time when I'm not too tired.<br /><br />I knitted this hat-and-bootie set while at my antenatal classes. (Seemed appropriate!)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5025415037/" title="hat plus oh baby booties by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4127/5025415037_d35fbcbc61.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="hat plus oh baby booties" /></a><br /><br />That's a modified-for-DK <a href="http://grosblog.wordpress.com/2007/05/16/sweet-baby-cap/">Sweet Norwegian Baby Cap</a> and some <a href="http://www.doublediamondknits.com/free.html">Oh Baby Booties</a>. (Picture taken before I realised that the tops of the booties fold down. :) )<br /><br />And some sewing:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5058940083/" title="Baby Stuffs by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4084/5058940083_0ac142ff8d.jpg" width="423" height="500" alt="Baby Stuffs" /></a><br /><br />In the background: A simple swaddle blanket from <a href="http://thelongestyear.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/06/tutorial-easy-peasy-swaddle-sheet.html">My Longest Year</a>. Behold the power of variegated thread!<br /><br />Then a little crinkle square (that's the one with bees on), crinkle provided by Oreo packaging; a tiny taggie blanket, idea shamelessly gacked from <a href="http://www.oxfordkitchenyarns.com/blog/2009/05/29/sewing-for-a-short-person/">OxfordKitchenYarns</a>; and two soft fabric balls (in medium and small), pattern by <a href="http://grandrevivaldesign.typepad.com/grand_revival_design/2007/12/time-on-my-hand.html">Grand Revival Designs</a>.<br /><br />I should really be making more useful things, like reuseable baby wipes, but that's much boring-er! :)<br /><br />Also, the quilt is finished, so a seperate post about that if it stays sunny and I get a nice photo of it....the frog princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11402171162965104873noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372445466716589251.post-12471629243179846672010-09-21T11:46:00.003+01:002011-02-09T14:08:00.590+00:00All the fun of amazing, crafty peopleI had some people over to help me decorate baby clothing, and just look what they turned out! Some people have asked where I learned the freezer paper stencil technique from. I used <a href="http://www.make-baby-stuff.com/how-to-make-a-stencil.html">this tutorial</a>, but there are lots out there!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5011520660/" title="My creation by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4124/5011520660_cbeac20fd1.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="My creation" /></a><br /><br />L-R from the top: 1. Toad, by <a href="http://landoffrogs.blogspot.com/">Mikal</a> 2 & 3. Boom box and Film camera by Abstar 4. Ducks in a row by <a href="http://mootthings.blogspot.com/">Mootthing</a> 5. Sun and Moon by S* 6. Tulips and Black Cat by <a href="http://ruthcrafts.blogspot.com/">Ruth</a> 7. Owl by <a href="http://thomasinaknits.blogspot.com/">Liz</a> 8. Ninja and Random Pattern by myself and my partner* 9. Die net and Totoro by C* and J*<br /><br />*Let me know if you want your real names published or not!<br /><br />Additionally (I am such a lucky girl!), two of my best buds in the states <a href="http://librarinth.net/wordpress/">Jacicita</a> and <a href="http://www.katofalltrades.com/">Kat</a> sent me a care package with even MORE painted (and geeky!) baby clothes in! Woo! (Can you get all the references?)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5010901831/" title="IMG_0368.JPG by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4130/5010901831_28ab182551_m.jpg" width="240" height="178" alt="IMG_0368.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5011504286/" title="IMG_0367.JPG by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4130/5011504286_0e09345232_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="IMG_0367.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5011503432/" title="IMG_0366.JPG by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4144/5011503432_3fbe6b1f2f_m.jpg" width="240" height="165" alt="IMG_0366.JPG" /></a><br /><br />And also got me this awesome baby book from <a href="http://www.nikkimcclure.com/">Nikki McClure</a> and made an amazingest nubbly bunny which I'm sure baby will love chewing on. :D<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5010908047/" title="IMG_0362.JPG by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4091/5010908047_1cda2ce453_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="IMG_0362.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />There is more baby-crafty goodness coming from me and friends. I just wanted to say, THANKS EVERYONE!!!the frog princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11402171162965104873noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372445466716589251.post-60943763523052245592010-09-20T17:52:00.003+01:002011-02-09T14:08:25.848+00:00The quilt top is FINISHED!It took what seemed like forever (although in reality I had a week off while waiting for interfacing... more on this later), but the quilt top is finished. Today I bought wadding and curved safety pins and three (!) different colours for quilting with. I just need to sew together the back and away we'll go...<br /><br />Here's the whole quilt top (click thru to get a bigger picture on Flickr), measuring 47" x 62", pretty good considering I was aiming for 45" x 60". Yes, it's going to be a floor quilt at first, although it's going to need a lot of floor space!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5008352641/" title="town quilt top by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4112/5008352641_ab4b1ee754.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="town quilt top" /></a><br /><br />The light blue sky fabric was problematic: I picked it up from my local stacked floor-to-ceiling fabric shop, and it was in with the solid quilting cottons, so I didn't think twice about buying it. Almost straight away when I got it home, I realised that it was a MUCH lighter weight cotton than quilting cotton is. I had visions of it tearing to bits under baby's bum scootching. Oh dear.<br /><br />I ended up getting the lightest weight fusible interfacing, which seems to have worked really well. Its somewhat heavier than the rest of the fabric, but the seams press down nicely and it looks good, which is really all that matters.<br /><br />Oh, and a bit about design: I thought very carefully about which colours I was going to use, and I settled on a palette of true red, green, and blue. I was not allowed to use purple at all, so periwinkle blues were out, and I also kept out teal. There's a limited amount of yellow and pink, just enough to add a bit of splash and verve. :)<br /><br />Every house is in a different fabric, stretching the resources of my very small stash! There's only so much fabric I can justify buying for any one project, though. Most of the fabrics are fairly new but two came from my mother's stash and are at least 25 years old!<br /><br />Here are some detail pics of some of the trees and houses I sewed since the last post.<br /><br />Terraced Housing:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5008954554/" title="terraced housing by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4112/5008954554_70a0712f92.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="terraced housing" /></a><br /><br />Shotover Park (a big foresty park near to our house):<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5008334133/" title="Shotover park by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4146/5008334133_7b56d94e55.jpg" width="500" height="339" alt="Shotover park" /></a><br /><br />A barn on a hill:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5008937134/" title="Barn on a hill by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4153/5008937134_b4f271569c.jpg" width="400" height="500" alt="Barn on a hill" /></a><br /><br />A castle and the sun:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5008934782/" title="castle and sun by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4132/5008934782_92e25915f8.jpg" width="500" height="352" alt="castle and sun" /></a><br /><br />The school, post office, and shop, which will all eventually have embroidered signs on them!:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/5008323793/" title="School, post office, shop by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4154/5008323793_7ba7e45104.jpg" width="500" height="433" alt="School, post office, shop" /></a>the frog princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11402171162965104873noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372445466716589251.post-44867047309779690892010-09-02T14:46:00.004+01:002011-02-09T14:08:46.102+00:00Maternity Wrap TopI made this top ages ago. It's a knockoff of an Isabella Oliver top by Megan Neilsen. <a href="http://blog.megannielsen.com/2010/02/wrap-maternity-top/">Here's her post about it.</a>) The pattern was free when I downloaded it, but it looks like it's $5 now.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/4950827647/" title="Maternity Wrap Top by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4083/4950827647_4f3d03b689.jpg" width="379" height="500" alt="Maternity Wrap Top" /></a><br /><br />Anyways! I was determined to make this top, even though I'd never had success sewing with stretch fabrics in the past. I did my research, bought the right needles for my machine, and had a go. Good thing it worked, because the only place I could find 4-way stretch was John Lewis, and it was a bit spendy. (I have enough left over to make a pair or two of baby trousers though, so win!)<br /><br />And here's a side shot of the bump. 35 weeks! And I totally need a haircut.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/4951418802/" title="Bump, 35 weeks by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4085/4951418802_480f7b4caa.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Bump, 35 weeks" /></a>the frog princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11402171162965104873noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372445466716589251.post-43011151097638089472010-08-30T16:26:00.003+01:002011-02-09T14:09:12.886+00:00Bank Holiday WeekendWhat I've been up to this bank holiday weekend: I started a massive mission to create a quilt for the child-to-be, something I dreamed up a while back. Since it will definitely be a floor quilt to start, it made sense to make a quilt that would be interesting to lie on and use. I thought about those car mats, whiere there are lots of roads and buildings and things to interact with, and went from there.<br /><br />Here is my current rough plan:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/4941502387/" title="car quilt plan by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4073/4941502387_6498c093df.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="car quilt plan" /></a><br /><br />Not too many roads, no. My first plan was much more literal, an attempt to reflect our neighbourhood. This one's a bit looser, but still includes our house, one of the semi-detacheds in the middle bit. Each square represents 6 inches of quilt.<br /><br />I finished the middle bit today, which is very pleasing, as it involved a lot of brain-rending piecing. I had to be extra careful, because I only had a fat quarter of the green-with-daises-and-snails. I made it with a small bit leftover spare. Phew!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/4942095170/" title="Our neighbourhood - centre piece finished by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4143/4942095170_956af21d19.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Our neighbourhood - centre piece finished" /></a><br /><br />Here are some other houses, plus a church, which I've completed for the project:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/4942088868/" title="houses #1 and 2 by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4123/4942088868_fb168380ac_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="houses #1 and 2" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/4942093202/" title="house #3 by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4074/4942093202_f8f38042df_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="house #3" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/4942091090/" title="church by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4081/4942091090_a0013f994f_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="church" /></a><br /><br />I feel like I've completed the most difficult bit. Next up I'm going to create lots of road!the frog princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11402171162965104873noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372445466716589251.post-17300254028386618202010-08-24T11:02:00.003+01:002011-02-09T14:09:39.927+00:00We Are Two MarinersWhen I saw this fabric, I knew immediately that it should become a bag for <a href="http://librarinth.net/wordpress/">Jaci</a>, who is ever interested in all things seafaring. I bought the aqua green fabric at last year's NEC quilt show, picked out a pattern... and then did nothing to it. And then I got pregnant and tired and busy blah blah blah, you know how it goes? And finally, this summer, when I was ready to sew the bag (<a href="http://www.e-junkie.com/madebyrae/product/91285.php">Lickety Split Bag</a>), I found that I needed a full metre of fabric for both interior and exterior, not the meagre half-metre I'd bought.<br /><br />Cue frantic searching on internet for more fabric. Cue finding out that <a href="http://tulapink.com/">Tula Pink</a> is one of those crazy sought-after design lines that gets snapped up and hoarded. I was lucky enough, though, to find the same undersea-themed fabric in dark blue, and the coordinating chains-and-anchors fabric and two different UK vendors. *phew!*<br /><br />OK, not the best photos ever, but here's the bag!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/4923176308/" title="Mariner Bag by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/4923176308_85ff4b9854.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Mariner Bag" /></a><br /><br />I fussy-cut the pockets because I wanted to show off the coolness of the fabric. You can see the lining in the first shot, too.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/4922584033/" title="pocket + lining by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4116/4922584033_e9e431e73e.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="pocket + lining" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/4922583961/" title="fussy cut pocket by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4136/4922583961_65f5be8890.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="fussy cut pocket" /></a><br /><br />Happy birthday half a year late, Jaci!the frog princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11402171162965104873noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372445466716589251.post-64848921459065481182010-08-18T12:49:00.003+01:002011-02-09T14:11:01.602+00:00Freezer paper stenclingToday I am posting off my package for the Ravelry October 2010 mums swap. (I received mine the other day, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/4897769343/in/photostream/">full of such lovely things</a>!)<br /><br />I got to try out a technique which I've been dying to do for ages: freezer paper stencilling! I didn't get process photos, but here are the results:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/4897769205/" title="freezer paper baby vests by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4096/4897769205_19b11cfef6.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="freezer paper baby vests" /></a><br /><br />I even liked the hedgehog so much that I made a second one for myself. It made bringing back all that freezer paper from America worth it, even if I did then discover you can get it here. :)the frog princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11402171162965104873noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372445466716589251.post-1472774659451908832010-08-17T14:50:00.004+01:002011-02-09T14:11:20.244+00:00Clapotis (from handspun)<a href="http://gershamabob.blogspot.com/2009/10/bit-of-spinning.html">About a year ago</a>, I spun up some gorgeous fibre that my friend Felix gave to me, and then in a last-minute snap-decision, decided to knit it into a <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall04/PATTclapotis.html">Clapotis</a> scarf. (Ostensibly for the Clap-o-tea at Knit Camp, but let's not talk about that...)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/4898362260/" title="clapotis by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4118/4898362260_b309b12cf1.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="clapotis" /></a><br /><br />I knit two repeats of the increase rows, which was just enough to get me a decent-width scarf. I used 110g of my 115g ball, which was originally around 225 metres. The dropped stitches both allowed the yarn to shine really well, and forced me to have a good look at my uneven spinning. Oops. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/4898362518/" title="clapocloseup by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4115/4898362518_2acfbeceef.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="clapocloseup" /></a><br /><br />But I still like it, and it'll be nice to have another scarf around; I generally hate knitting them, but this one only took four days!the frog princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11402171162965104873noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372445466716589251.post-45916772292805991192010-08-16T17:36:00.003+01:002011-02-09T14:11:31.370+00:00Knit Camp!I am back from a week in Stirling, Scotland. I went up to take classes at Knit Camp, and to stay with friends. I had such an amazing time and met so many wonderful people. (You know who you are!)<br /><br />The first class I took was with <a href="http://www.feltheadtotoe.co.uk/">Ewa Kuniczak</a>, an absolutely brilliant teacher and practitioner of various methods of felting.<br /><br />In the morning, we did needle felting. Ewa wanted us to use a painting as inspiration, but I was stubborn and went my own way, coming up with a very moor-ish landscape. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/4897768741/" title="needlefelt by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4143/4897768741_e06f2a9099.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="needlefelt" /></a><br /><br />I loved how you could get real subtleties of colour given plenty of shades to work from, and I challenged myself to work from a very specific palette. You can see all the crazy colour blending in a close-up.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/4897769009/" title="needlefelted tree by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4078/4897769009_eeeee3f1a2.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="needlefelted tree" /></a><br /><br />In the afternoon, we did some wet felting. Here, I DID use inspiration, a painting by the architect Hundertwasser, although I challenged myself by looking at it once and then going my own way with it. :)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/4897768563/" title="wet felting by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4116/4897768563_0437020917.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="wet felting" /></a><br /><br />I love how this one came out, and it was great wet felting and actually (gasp!) having the colours all stick together. <br /><br />I will totally use both techniques again. It's really a good thing that I already have a fibre-y hobby to share materials with!the frog princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11402171162965104873noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372445466716589251.post-10598802251845326972010-08-06T13:27:00.005+01:002011-02-09T14:12:01.347+00:00Portrait of AsherahMy husband is in serious love with our cat. He always points out to me when she's in a particularly cute sleeping position. This gave me inspiration for his Christmas present, a portrait of our kitty Asherah, all curled up.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/4845947167/" title="Asherah threadsketch by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4107/4845947167_cf41f07252.jpg" width="500" height="466" alt="Asherah threadsketch" /></a><br /><br />I made this using the aforementioned thread sketching, although this really stretched the limits of the medium because I used, and overlapped, SO MUCH THREAD. In some places the needle didn't want to go through all the layers! <br /><br />Here's a close-up so you can see some of the detail:<br /><br /><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4131/4846570714_7877c9c26e.jpg"><br /><br />I'm really pleased with how this came out, and I'm gaining a lot of confidence in the medium. It's also a lot more fun than embroidering by hand!the frog princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11402171162965104873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372445466716589251.post-25706705236112561502010-07-31T15:03:00.004+01:002011-02-09T14:12:15.455+00:00Where I've BeenOK, I know I haven't been around a whole lot. What I can say? There's been a lot going on!<br /><br />This Frog Princess is expecting her own little Froglet, come October. I was pretty much too tired to do anything for the first four months, and then my camera was broken, so it's been a while since I thought about blogging!<br /><br />I've knitted the Froglet a baby blanket, of pretty much my own design, but incorporating leaf motifs. It's knitted in Contanini by Mirasol. I might overdye it, but other people seem to like the colour a lot. Hmmmm. Undecided. :)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/4846467310/" title="Baby blanket by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4146/4846467310_5a6cc7735e.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Baby blanket" /></a><br /><br />(And displayed on my favourite bush in the garden.)the frog princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11402171162965104873noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372445466716589251.post-37176091818618453322010-02-17T10:05:00.003+00:002011-02-09T14:12:24.551+00:00Just keep going...I'm still knitting like crazy, trying to get ahead in my half-term week off. I estimated that I have to knit about 50 grams worth of yarn every day (about 110 yards, or half a skein of Cascade 220) and for the past two days I've come out well above that - 64 and 70 grams respectively. I've also estimated that I can knit 16 grams in an (uninterrupted) hour, so if I'm able to keep that pace for the duration of the sweater, it will take me approximately 44 hours in total.<br /><br />Enough geekery, here it is in progress:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/4365035256/" title="ravelympics sweater in progress by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2791/4365035256_7926c6857c.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="ravelympics sweater in progress" /></a><br /><br />I'm looking forward to knitting more while I watch real, actual (on telly yes, but I mean not in a film) curling for the first time in my life! Hooray!the frog princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11402171162965104873noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372445466716589251.post-24600247248948341242010-02-14T20:55:00.003+00:002011-02-09T14:12:47.184+00:00Olympic Fever!It's been two days since the beginning of the <a href="http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2010/02/10/the_2010_knitting_olympics.html">Knitting Olympics</a> (also the Ravelympics), and I've been knitting like crazy to get a good head start on a pullover for my husband. Knitting for boys is easy, since they're just long tubes. Thus, I have a short tube which I felt was maybe a bit boring to show off.<br /><br />Instead, you can (finally!) have a look at one of my Christmas crafts. I discovered the art of thread sketching and decided to have a go at it for Christmas gifts. (There are more of these where this one came from, but I can't show them yet.)<br /><br />Of course, it's another magpie. :)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/4356735695/" title="magpie by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2728/4356735695_12f5a85e7e.jpg" width="496" height="500" alt="magpie" /></a><br /><br />I know it's not black and white... I felt it wouldn't have enough depth or character if I used a black fabric for the contrast, so I used most of the rest of my Kaffe Fassett shot cotton, which has lovely colour-shifting qualities. I stuck it to unbleached cotton using Wonder Under, which worked beautifully.<br /><br />Here's a bit of detail of the head. It was fun to make!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gershamabob/4356735709/" title="magpie neck detail by gershamabob, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2741/4356735709_52c0c064d4.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="magpie neck detail" /></a><br /><br />I made another thread sketchup recently for Liz's birthday. She likes owls, so I thought, why not an O RLY? owl?<br /><br /><img src="http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/uncyclopedia/images/thumb/4/4a/Orly_owl.jpg/180px-Orly_owl.jpg"><br /><br />You can see the finished project in the mosaic <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomasinaknits/4356762084/">here</a>.<br /><br />Finally, I am pleased and flattered to have been declared the <a href="http://thedomesticsoundscape.com/wordpress/?p=972">winner of the Snowcase Contest</a>. <br /><br />Hey look ma, there was a point to dressing up and making a fool of myself on my blog! Now, I don't mind winning to be sure, but I wish some more of you out there had decided to <s>make fools of yourselves</s> show off all your handknits as well! Warmth loves company! :D<br /><br />Anyways, many thanks to Felix for running yet another fabulous contest! :)the frog princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11402171162965104873noreply@blogger.com2