koala

I've been keen on koalas since this trip to Australia last year so a koala seemed a good choice to get back into softie making. I'm trying to think up a name for him/her. Alliterations like Kevin and Kylie seem too obvious.

Watching: Re-runs of A touch of Frost and Frasier - still good after all these years

band of monkeys

Five more monkeys for the Great Sock Monkey Challenge. These are made using mainly donated socks with a few left over bits and pieces I had from previous monkeys. I'm ashamed to say I received the donated socks back in October and it's taken me this long to make the monkeys. I don't know about you, but sometimes it takes me a long time to get started. The socks sat around for about four months until I got myself motivated. I could blame the glorious summer weather for my procrastination. But, actually, it's just me. 

Watching classic movies at Auckland Film Society

welcome baby

I've been making baby gifts. I'll be giving the rabbit and this t-shirt to a friend whose baby is due in early December.

Both the rabbit and the bear are made from gloves and are from Miyako Kanamori's book. Should you like to make one for a child in your life, the instructions for the rabbit and a dog are available on the Martha Stewart website.


Watching Pina - dvd celebrating the life and extraordinary work of choreographer Pina Bausch + Viewing Art in the dark + Eating lunch at Cable Bay vineyard, Waiheke

one after another

Two more monkeys for the Great Sock Monkey Challenge. Columbine has kindly donated socks to the challenge and I'm pretty sure there are still some left. If you'd like to get some to make monkeys, join the challenge on Facebook, send a message saying you'd like some socks and you'll be sent some. Easy :)
have a happy week.

And so ...

Here we are ... more monkeys. One is for my six-year-old grand-nephew who suffers from HUS (hemolytic-uremic syndrome), a chronic kidney disease. He lives in the UK but would like to be part of the Great Sock Monkey Challenge so I made a monkey especially for him. The second monkey is for his little brother. And to keep the other monkey company, of course. The striped monkey is French. And the spotty one used to be a pirate. Arrrgh.

I also made some more lavender bags - a birthday present for my niece.

Reading Die trying by Lee Child (Jack Reacher #2) + Listening Collapsing Cities' Strangers again + Watching Moonrise Kingdom + Viewing Home AKL - an exhibition of contemporary Pacific art at the Auckland Art Gallery

same but different

This week I finished two more monkeys for the Great Sock Monkey Challenge. I was in a bit of a rush to get them to Wellington to meet the deadline for delivery to the children's hospital. They turned out surprisingly well and, in fact, I think my haste (and lack of fussy perfectionism) gave them a bit more character. Having one ear bigger than the other is cute, right?

I also made some more lavender bags using the bark cloth I bought at Fabric-a-brac. I really love this fabric and these lavender bags that I made for myself. I've put them in my linen cupboard. I still have heaps of lavender left - at least enough for another twenty bags. Eek!

The ceramic bowl was made by Sarah Guppy. We bought it because it reminded us of our lovely Louie. The bowl is beautiful but it makes me sad because I miss Louie so much.

After Watching Under African skies, Listening to Graceland by Paul Simon + Reading Uppercase

monkeys 1, 2, 3

Here are the monkeys I made and posted off today for The Great Sock Monkey Challenge. The goal of this worthwhile cause is for every New Zealand child with a critical or long-term illness to be given a homemade sock monkey. Read the full story here. Join up on Facebook here. 
I had planned to make just these three monkeys to use up the last of my sock supplies but - I couldn't help myself - I bought more socks today. They are fun to make and they all seem to develop their own personalities. If you've never made a sock monkey before, now is your chance. There are lots of tutorials and free patterns online but I always use this one.

Daffodils are in the shops. Spring is coming. Once the Film Festival is over it feels to me as if the worst of the Winter rain and cold is over too - so not much longer.  

Reading Killing floor by Lee Child (I too have 'discovered' Jack Reacher) + Watching The wire, season 2 and a bit of the Olympics and a few festival films

Blue Rabbit

I often make glove rabbits - like this one - as gifts for new babies. But I'm losing my nerve about the handmade gift. We like to think that a handmade gift will become a treasured belonging but not everyone is going to like the stuff you make. Will they feel compelled to keep it just because you made it and they appreciate the effort and time involved? Maybe it's better to go to a store and buy something they can exchange?
Of course, this then raises the question about what to do with the stuff you make. Even though there is much joy in giving, I've decided no more handmade gifts. I'll continue to make things but only for myself and for anyone who asks.
So... I changed my mind about Blue Rabbit and decided to keep him for myself. I've sat him on my work table. He seems pretty content even though he looks a little on the sad side. Maybe he needs a friend. He reminds me of the song we used to sing at school Run, rabbit. Run, rabbit. Run! Run! Run! Do you remember it?

mo love

Finally I am happy with my little raindrops. I struggled mightily with the moustache. The original had a moustache cut from felt but I think this simple crocheted version is more robust and more forgiving. Trying to cut a symmetrical moustache from felt is no easy task. The crochet ones are a bit wonky but they add character. I can now say that the design part of The Drip Project is over.

Speaking of the moustache... do you remember 'Where do you go to, my lovely?' by Peter Sarsdedt? Such a talented artist, such a wonderful song and such a tremendously splendid moustache. Yes, it is.

Monkeys in my suitcase

I'm off to Wellington for a few days - to see friends, catch this and this and deliver these monkeys to their new home.
See you next week.

Rocky Raccoon

This raccoon, named by me after the Beatles song, is from Brenna Maloney's book 'Sockology'. Even though I have so many things to do - like finish a quilt - I simply had to make him. He is pretty cute. I knew this was procrastination but I justified it by deciding I could give Rocky to the Softies for Mirabel campaign.

If you're into making softies out of socks as I am/was you'll like Brenna's book. There are some cute and weird things in there and the instructions are so well described and illustrated that they all seem pretty easy. The raccoon though is my favourite.

Once again I have a camera

So now I can show you what I've been working on....

Slugs! Slugs! Slugs!

But not ordinary, garden-variety slugs.
These are fridge slugs!

And, as you can see, I'm over-run with the little beasties. So I'm giving some away. If you have a fridge, email me your address and I'll post you a randomly selected slug.

They are made from new polar fleece with vintage button eyes and filled with polyester fibre. The magnet is sewn in on the inside so it won't scratch your fridge.

Bad acorn loves his Mum.

I've revisited the acorn and come up with this bad guy. I'm pleased with the embroidery but not sure if I've got his proportions right yet. More work required, I think.

Meet me at Mikes is running a "five favs" - post five of your favourite things for the week. Actually not that easy as these aren't your favourite things of all time but new, of-the-moment favourites.
So, here're mine...
1. Feijoas fresh off the trees in my garden. Yum!
2. My favourite new blog Hodge Podge Farm
3. where I discovered Cal Patch's fabulous book on patternmaking, Design-it-yourself clothes. I'm so enthusiastic about it. It's a skill I've longed to master.
4. My new Kathmandu puffer jacket. It's crazy but I find myself hoping we have a cold Winter so I can wear it heaps.
5. The World Cinema Showcase - wee film festival currently showing in Auckland.

They come. They go.

Say hello to my brand new friend, Priscilla.

And goodbye to Mr Skittle. He has a new home. And a new name. He is now known as Dougal. Which suits him perfectly.

Happy New Year

Here's Eric in the (empty) paddling pool enjoying the hot summer weather. Or attention seeking. Or letting me know that he is home and therefore available to be fed. But, undeniably, cute!


And - at last - a new friend. For my Wellington friend. He had to be hers when I noticed her wearing the exact same socks! I'm not sure about the mood though. Pensive? Noble? Sad? The photo doesn't show it but I embroidered claws on this guy. Maybe he's just trying to look tough. But, really, he's just a softie.

New friends

I finally finished the little green guy! And he's turned out well. He was made on a cold, bleak day - hence the scarf - and was inspired by the cat, Mr. Mingus, who kept me company during the construction process. He is a bit like the cat - fat and cute. I'm tempted to also call him Mr. Mingus but someone has suggested Jean-Paul...


The inspiration for his friend was clowns but as he evolved he became a mixture of clown, skittle and frog! But still he has his own quirky charm, I think.