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yuk.

This morning (at 6am - but we won't dwell on that) three  parcels arrived.  For me.  Origins: Portugal, New Zealand, USA.  I love parcels.  My  miminhos arrived from Portugal today.  I will post my own pic as soon as the sun comes up. :)

My shrinky-dink (polyshrink) arrived from Lucky Squirrel - I can't reveal what it's for - because some of it will become part of my Back Tack II giftie.

Finally the most important parcel - *censored* from New Zealand.  This makes up the majority of the kit for my back-tack partner.  I'm quite upset about what I found when I opened the box.  As soon as I opened the box my heart sank.  After purchasing so many things over the net, I suppose I knew something would happen eventually, but this time?  The smell of cigarette smoke blasted its way out of the box and almost knocked me off my chair.  The bubble wrap that the items were packed in was dusty and YELLOW - from cigarette smoke.  The smell is awful.  I have wiped everything down, but some of the items were paper - and I don't know how to get the smell out.  I'm pretty upset about it.  The smell is so strong, that I have put the items in another room, and I'm starting to smell it again.

I looked out of my window when I came up here after collecting my parcels at 6am, and look what I saw out of my window...


I know summer's coming when I start to see the balloons in the mornings.  Pity about the grey weather.

posted by: blytheswideshut at September 27, 2005 10:02 | link | comments (3) |

The Jordy

I packed up and shipped off a parcel to a dear friend who is about to undergo spinal surgery.  I wanted to send her a little package of crosswords, puzzles, books, magazines, bon bons, pens, paper - all the sort of stuff that you need to get you through the boring hours of having to sit / lie around and do nothing while recuperating.

To hold all the bits and pieces I made a Jordy Bag to hold it all in.  It's the first bag I've ever made, and I learnt a lot.  But I'm really happy with the result, and it felt good to post it off this morning.  I'm absolutely in love with the fabric I used to line it - it's Michael Miller's "China Girls".  I ordered it from Fabric Attic .  The outer part of the bag was made with some upholstery fabric I picked up at Spotlight.  It was a 3m remnant for $8. Not only is it 3m long, it's 2m wide.  I've got enough fabric to make like 20million bags!



The little circle, is one of those funky retractable measuring tapes that I covered with fabric and decorated.  It took Scott a few seconds to guess what it was


I printed some "made for you....." fabric tapes to sew inside it.  I ironed the fabric onto freezer paper (get it from quilting shops), made sure it was completely flat and wrinkle free, then ran it through my printer.  I used the "photo" printing mode and the printing came out amazingly well.  I ironed it with a very hot iron to heat set the ink.

posted by: blytheswideshut at September 26, 2005 21:38 | link | comments (3) |

some days

Ok. I have to confess.  I've spent the last 13 (?) weeks religiously watching Rock Star INXS every Tue/Wed/Thur nights.  JD won last night.  I'm pretty disappointed, I really wanted Marty to win.  Like really really wanted Marty to win.  I'm a big girl, I can admit JD is a better singer, and performer, but he's such an arsehole.  I mean really.

My Back Tack partner contacted me with some very intriguing questions.  I was in a bit of a distracted hurry when I answered them, so hopefully it's all good.  I'll finish my Back Tack bag and kit this weekend.  Yay!

I also have about 9million pairs of Blythe stockings to make.  Fortunately it looks as though I might be able to swap a whole bunch of stocking for some re-ment sets...Blythe loves re-ment!

I'm getting a new sewing machine on Saturday.  I'm very excited.

posted by: blytheswideshut at September 22, 2005 09:38 | link | comments |

tie one on c'est voila

I finished my first ever, Tie One On apron yesterday.  I went a bit overboard in the cheese department, initially by using a fairly garish and bright floral fabric for the border, then adding ric rac, and even pom-pom braid to the finished article.  I like how it came out, but it is in no way a shy and retiring apron.

My friend Sharon models the apron for me in this pic.

posted by: blytheswideshut at September 19, 2005 08:13 | link | comments |

creative tension resolved, almost.

After consulting the oracle internetus, I discovered that the internal tension adjustments on my sewing machine are f*(&^ed, neither is keeping any sort of tension, so it's amazing that it sews at all.  I sort of took my sewing machine apart to see if I could make any adjustments myself (couldn't even begin to imagine how), and discovered to my pleasure that the light does work!  After 10 years of sewing the bulb had just worked loose and wasn't making contact any more.  I screwed it back in and all is happy with the lighting situation.

I can get it serviced/fixed next Wednesday.  But that means that this weekend is hand sewing only.   :(

posted by: blytheswideshut at September 17, 2005 10:04 | link | comments |

tie one on

I've almost finished my 'dish towel apron' for this month's tie one on.  In fact I'd have finished it last night, but I've been getting very cross with my sewing machine.  For some reason the tension keeps changing and the stitches are out of whack.  But it does it halfway through a line of sewing.  So I'll sew up a hem, then get to the other end and sections of the stitching is ok, and sections of it are all out of whack.  It's very frustrating.

I'd take a photo, but I've unpicked it all now (and not the first time either).  Also the sewing is pale yellow stitching on a yellow background, so it's very difficult to see.  Plus the bulb's gone out on my machine, making it even more difficult to see what's going on.  Clearly my substandard working conditions are causing all of this.  I read the handbook for my sewing machine and it goes on about how to adjust the tension - but no troubleshooting tips.  I suppose I'll have to consult the great oracle that is the internet.

posted by: blytheswideshut at September 16, 2005 18:07 | link | comments |

the list makin' wagon

Here are some things I'll tell you about me.

1.   Black used to be my favourite "colour".
2.   Lately I choose chocolate brown over any other colour.
3.   I dislike red.
4.   I dislike orange.
5.   I dislike white.

6.   I prefer natural toned colours.
7.   The greeney, sagey colour of oft washed natural linen makes me shiver.
8.   I love yellow.
9.   But it is a private colour, enjoyed in the peace and private of time alone.
10.  Yellow is for roses, cold drinks in summer and stationery.

11.  I like the idea of tea, but cannot drink it.
12.  I like my coffee strong, faintly sweetened, with milk.
13.  I like cheese.
14.  I prefer savoury to sweet.
15.  I don't like my food to touch.

16.  I don't like things that are hot.
17.  I enjoy feeling cold.
18.  I cannot eat or drink hot beverages unless they are tepid.
19.  I bought a fridge that makes its own ice so I can use as much as I want.
20.  I don't like ice-cream.

21.  I cannot knit or crochet.
22.  I don't really like things that are knitted.
23.  I love amigurumi.
24.  I love things that are crocheted. Crochet is very pleasing to the eye and hand.
25.  My maternal Grandmother can knit or crochet anything.

26.  My paternal Grandmother taught me the art of fine stitching.
27.  She taught me crewel emboidery.
28.  I taught myself to sew.
29.  I don't measure, pin or directly follow patterns.
30.  I craft by 'feel'.

31.  I'm very impatient.
32.  I sometimes have a very short temper.
33.  I have recently taught myself to use pins, measurements and patterns when I sew.
34.  Just to see if the results are any different.
35.  They aren't.

36.  I wear Birkenstocks every day.
37.  Previously I only ever wore Dr Martens.
38.  The climate here actively prevents me from wearing them. It's too hot.
39.  I love neatness, order, routine and symmetry.
40.  But I am hopelessly messy.

41.  My studio groans under the weight of my piles of 'progress'.
42.  I crave clean smooth surfaces, organised storage and someone to do it for me.
43.  I am a hoader.
44.  I find it difficult not to keep things.
45.  I get it from my Dad, he's messy and keeps stuff too.

46.  I give away everything I make.
47.  I am more energised by the process than the outcome.
48.  I like paper, pens, stationery, envelopes and related accoutrements.
49.  My own style tends toward the symmetrical, geometric and neat.
50.  I love interesting, out there, unusual, bright, lopsided, outside the square stuff.

51.  I just can't do it myself.
52.  I like modern, minimal, clean lines.
53.  I love modern Japanese style.
54.  I have visited Japan, and felt at home there.
55.  I strongly dislike 'country' style anything.

56.  I love my dogs.
57.  Until I got one, I was a cat person.
58.  I'm not really jazzed by lists like this.
59.  I like detail.
60.  I am not a 'big picture' person.

61.  I like crafts that involve lots of detailed work.
62.  I love beads, but don't know what to do with them.
63.  I don't like the look of handmade jewellery.
64.  My ears aren't pierced.
65.  But my tongue is.

67.  I would love to make miniature things out of felt.
68.  I have a Japanese 'mascot' book of patterns.
69.  I would like to learn how to appliqué.
70.  I like interesting fabric, trims, and ribbons.
71.  I have never formally made a 'quilt'.

not finished...contents likely to change daily.

posted by: blytheswideshut at September 15, 2005 22:03 | link | comments |

overheard

Smartie running around, chasing Blondie with a plastic saw, exclaiming "I cut the cheese, I cut the cheese." And much giggles as they ran down to the bottom of the garden.

posted by: blytheswideshut at September 15, 2005 11:44 | link | comments |

fluorescing, flushing and giggling

I started taking a multivitamin/anti-oxidant/mineral/herbal supplement on Saturday, and my pee has turned fluorescent yellow.

It makes me giggle.  Just before I flush.  It looks like I'm peeing pure fluorescent yellow marker pen.  Apparently it's one of the B group vitamins that does this to you.  I looked it up, but I can't remember which one.

posted by: blytheswideshut at September 14, 2005 10:37 | link | comments |

Back Tack II

Back Tack II match ups have been made and emailed as of last Friday.  I sent my partner an e-card, and have already got enough information to start gathering together her kit.  I'm still undecided on the style of her bag, but since it's coming into winter in the US, I might try to make one out of 'wintry' fabric.  If such a thing exists.  I wonder who my partner is?

posted by: blytheswideshut at September 13, 2005 22:27 | link | comments |

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