It really does...

Have you heard of the saying "pride comes before a fall"? I proved this theory right a few weeks ago.

The beautiful Didine made me a tissue holder and I thought it a great idea to make one for my Mother-in-law for her birthday. I turned Didine's inside out and thought - easy. I can do this. Big mistake thinking that. I made no.1 and it was too small. I made no.2 and still too small. Then I made no.3 and it was just right. If this was Goldilock's world that would be normal, but I'm not used to making something over 3 times in one sitting.

The kids claimed the dud ones and chose their own buttons - interesting? So here are the 3 for you to have a laugh at and enjoy the knowledge that we all stuff up sometimes.

Here is the final gift.

Ideas

My Dad made a few of these back in April and I've finally gotten around to ordering a few more from him. So here they are and available in my shop. I have one hanging in my lounge room, but it's covered with little notes, postcards and torn magazine articles. I can only post within Australia as they are large!

Emerging

Slowly feeling more human. Not coughing up a lung 24/7. Thanks for all the well wishes, it's been much appreciated!

There are a few items for sale in my shop.

I have to go and write a speech now. Not my kinda thing to do, but I can't get out of this one. I designed a logo for an Australian charity and they are having the media launch tomorrow at some posh hotel. They have asked me to talk about the symbolism, inspiration etc. I am one of those people that breaks into a sweat, goes bright red and slides under the table. Lucky me I'm first up on the agenda! I'm taking my youngest son, as the charity is linked to a health problem he was born with. My plan is to hide my red face behind his cute one. And the other part of the plan is cough medicine - just so I don't cough that lung up (although there will be a few doctor's there so it's no big stress).

Too ill

My illness took a downward turn over the weekend and all plans for anything went out the window. So there's no fabrics for sale yet and no crafting. Hopefully the antibiotics will kick in soon. Thanks for all the kind comments about my stall. Hope to find out how much was sold today and put a few of the pieces in my shop.

Happy 64th Birthday DAD!!

Stall

Here's a couple of pics of my stall. Or should I say 'little' stall. I set it up Wednesday morning and went home and fell on the lounge and didn't move for 2 days. Jack and I have some nasty bug that's going around and today is the first day I feel almost human.

So we trekked over to Oatley to check out how my stall was going and to my horror I discovered that a person had set up beside me with a huge beanbag. That would have been OK if she hadn't moved half of my stuff out of the way and even put some of my stock into my storage box underneath the table! What is the usual craft market etiquette here? Do you hurl the bean bag onto the floor or just shove it under the table a set up again??? I really shouldn't have gone over there in this state of sickness. I obviously have a zero tolerance factor when ill.

Also a big thank you to manela and elke with the translations on the thrift fabric!

Note: there are some more printed fabric pieces and I will photograph them and post them in the shop over the weekend.

Thrifting goodness

I have never had much fabric success at our local second-hand store. Today I had a mini jackpot with this fabric. After buying it I looked a little more closely and tried to figure out what language it might be. I know monkey does not start with 'g' and umbrella 'sch' in English. Can anyone help out and clue me in?

This week

It's all about sewing this week (and a bit of stuff I'm supposed to do around here that keeps us all fed and in clean clothes). I'm not worried about the craft market next week, I'll save that until the night before. Here's some things I finished today.

Also Manela asked to see some sewing boxes. Not much to show here but a plastic box full of plastic bags hiding all my things.

And this is to show what happens when you say to a three year old "Yeah, sure, play with my bag of buttons".

And Didine! Wow, thanks so much for my beautiful parcel. It certainly put a smile on my face.

Sold

Thanks to those who have ordered some fabric. It is all sold and I will be offering more in a few weeks.

The process revealed

So here is the post I have promised a few people about the printing process for my fabrics. My friend who does the printing allowed me to take a few pics at his factory.

This is one of the screens ready for printing.

A shot of the carosel holding my two screens in the air, above the metal plate that the fabric is placed on. Don't ask why there is a framed portrait of Kramer in the background, I have puzzled over it for a while.

This is to show you that it's all done by hand - two hands really. This is the green colour going on.

Why is Darren smiling? Is it

1. He's thinking about all the money he's saving on gym membership. (getting a great ab workout pulling this ink over the fabric 3 or more times)
2. It's really a grimace.
3. He loves my print so much!
   

Here's the first colour printed, next comes the chocolate.

This is the sample print on calico. At this stage I approve or change the colours ready for production. The green didn't magically turn red - Darren had printed this piece before I arrived.

So there you have it!

I have a few pieces for sale. After organising all my stuff for the next craft market there wasn't much left. But I'll be off to the printer's next week, so if you miss out this time come back in a few weeks.

To market, to market...

It's been a snotty week at this end, so not much craft done. Jack and I have colds and are in 'survival mode'. These coin purses were made with a foggy head and a bit of determination to have some craft in my life this week. They make up a batch of 13 that will be on my market stall in less than 2 weeks.

Here are some unmade ones waiting.

Harry has set up a library this morning in the lounge room, you can see it all on his blog.