is it cheating?

I did an op-shop (opportunity shop/thrift etc etc...) hunt this time, and found this beauty for $4.99.  Yes it is handknitted, but in China, so I didn't feel too guilty about undoing the seams.

I wanted to make some footed, knitted pants for Tara's bub-to-be and knew I wouldn't knit them in time -

So I used a legging pattern from one of my Ottobre magazines and the sleeves from the jumper, cutting them long enough for me to sew the cuffs shut and make feet.  I didn't line them because they'll be worn over a growsuit, but did make a casing for the elastic waistband out of some light weight jersey rib so it wouldn't be too bulky.

I was really pleased with how these turned out, and couldn't wait till Tara's baby shower so gave them to her the other day.  She was pretty happy with them too. 

I'm still trying to come up with ideas for the body of the jumper...

Oh and the foot?  I had my six week follow up appointment with the surgeon on Monday.  He's happy with the way it's healed so no more daggy boot.  The challenge now is to get my walking fitness back, doggy is pleased.

when needs must

I had a 'cry for help' of sorts from Tara. She's getting ready for a market (or something like that) in Melbourne and was in desparate need of a couple of skirts assembled, quickly. I received the parcel from her in the post on Friday, with a request to have them returned by Wednesdays post.

Problem was that we were ready to trundle off to Bruny for the weekend, so I decided to do something I had been thinking about for a while....

Take the sewing machine with me.

We don't have any power at the oyster lease (fortunately we do at our shack in Alonnah), so it meant taking the hand-wind Singer. I've finally done some research on it and according to its serial number it was made in the 1960's. Considering it's appearance one would be mistaken for thinking that it's a lot older than that, but it was manufactured in Istanbul so maybe the older style was still the fashion there. It has a 'shuttle' bobbin as well, it's the only one of my Singers that does.

Oh and note to self, take pins next time. I had to use 3 spare machine needles instead, fortunately raw silk is fairly stiff so I managed...... just.

Yes it's technically summer but being Bruny Island I still had to rug up a bit. This was Saturday and Sunday was a lot warmer.

I haven't done any oyster farming work for a while now. I don't have the energy now and as there's a lot of lifting involved I have a good excuse not to. Up till now I've mostly been knitting, which reminds me, I must blog about that too.

And I still had my sewing companion. She got a swim on Sunday too.

finding one's niche

This was Tara's stand at Niche over the weekend. Niche was a St Giles initiative, which invited local artisans and craftspeople to have a Christmas market at the Architecture building in Inveresk. I was also invited to take part but I didn't have the energy and time to make enough stock. Next year......

Tara did quite well, selling some of her pincushions and purses. I purchased a kitty from The Purple Finch, which Tifa thought was expressly for her, I'd like to keep it for baby. I also finally met fellow blogger and creator of gorgeous kids stuff Suse, of Black Eyed Susie.

I finished the top. It's very comfy but tends to show how big my bazoomba's really are, and will only get bigger - yikes!
I'm lifting my head up so it doesn't show off the double chin I seem to be acquiring...

I do like how it has a tie at the back as well.Cheers.

grubby times were had

Did you know that if you hold an oyster up to your ear you can hear Vivaldi's Symphony for horns? Don't believe everything Tara tells you, I'm sure she made that up.
We had 4 willing helpers last weekend and a very good job they did too, made things a lot easier for us regulars. Tara, Rainier, Damien and Allison were up before the crack of dawn (hi Dawn!) on Saturday and managed to drive from Mole Creek/Wensleydale in time for the 9.30am ferry, quite a good feat that!

Ant the Grading Machine Man was in action too. Since we inherited this grader it's made our job a lot easier. It's powered by a washing machine motor hooked up to a car battery, this drives the belt that rotates the barrels. Easy peasy. Edit, it's actually a windscreen wiper motor - apparently oyster farmers would know, and be suitably upset if they knew I said it was a washing machine motor.
Our guests didn't leave empty handed either. Naturally they received oysters and on Sunday Debbie took them out to collect mussels also. Had some on Monday night for Mum's birthday tea, along with a salmon (previously caught at the lease) and scallops - yum-o-licious brought to you by Bruny Island, how good is that?!

Back home and the sewing is in full swing for Christmas. Things like finishing off the dining room and working in the back yard are on hold till after when I'm on my 2 week break from work. I also whipped up a bag for Shannon's present (instead of wrapping paper) and will post it today, unfortunately it most likely won't be there in time for Christmas - sorry Shan.

skirt #3

The photo really doesn't do this fabric justice. The raw silk is such a lovely biscuity colour and was so nice to put together. Tara was very pleased with the button insertion which has boosted my confidence no end.

I now have more navy raw silk and finished skirt #2 last night, yay! I got out #4 this morning, a silk organza with white silk waist band and hem. I also suggested to Tara that instead of a zip, I should put in a white silk button insertion similar to #3. Which was liked muchly. I did this before work this morning, the organza is like gossimer and the silk is soft and slinky too - not easy to work with. Thankfully Tara actually prefers her work to be a bit, how would you say, rustic? No, imperfect? I don't know, I suppose so long as it doesn't look like it came out of a sweat shop in Thaiwan then that's all the matters!


Flicking through an old copy of English Country Living, I had forgotten about this picture. The first time I saw it I fell in love, the second time I saw it I fell in love all over again. There's something about hand applique, it just gets to me and I itch to grab fabric and thread. Maybe it will be the next project for the car trips, I only have to get A's jumper knitted. And there's still birthday bags to be made...... sigh.

skirt #1 finished & skirts 2 & 3 onway

Once the zip was sorted out the rest came along very nicely, and I really like the hem and waistband done in the navy raw silk. The lining is pretty special too, with I suppose you'd call it a yoke of calico and the rest is a green toile -
Toile always makes me go gooey......

Skirt #2 is a wrap-around jobby and only after I started I discovered that the navy raw silk was also needed for this. Oh dear, there was nowhere near enough left and even if I did know I don't think I'd be able to stretch the fabric that far (so to speak!). Another phone call to Tara, only to be reassured, she has plenty more and will be dropping it off in the next few days - cool.

Therefore skirt #3 has begun. It's a beautiful creamy/biscuity raw silk and this time Tara wanted a button insertion in the back. As she had already cut the slit for it there was no going back, I had to give it a try. It was alot easier than I expected, mainly because there was no zip to fiddle with and I'm quite pleased with the result -
Tara's going to do the button holes by hand and will also hand embroider a bird with foliage.

I feel a lot more confident now, and not so daunted by the knowledge that they have to be ready by this Friday. Another four skirts are cut and ready to be sewn so I suppose there's no backing out now - but as I've said, I needed the challenge and it's all a good learning experience.

skirt #1

The reason why I've set up an ABN is so I can sew for Tara. Last week she delivered 4 skirts for me to sew, this gives her the ability to concentrate on the creative side of things - that is embroidering by hand some beautiful embelishments. She usually inserts the zip but as I've never done this before the thought of it scared me to death. So after a quick phone call on Friday, which included lots of "I'm sorries" from both, she's happy for me to insert it as part of the side seam. As a result though, I was so concerned about doing a good job that I think I've overworked it - yes I'm paranoid!