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

little things

A few toys I bought recently to start a toy basket for little visitors to my house.

And my first attempt at a zip purse. I love the fabric and I had just enough to make the purse. There are many tutorials for the zippered pouch but I like this one. I made mine to hold an eye mask that I keep beside my bed. I sometimes wear it to sleep when my neighbours forget to turn off their bathroom light and it shines in through my bedroom window. Really, it's time I made curtains, don't you think?

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

Stars

Here's a cot sheet I made and embroidered for a friend's first baby. I slightly modified a design from Isabelle Leloup's book, Cross-stitch and embroidery for babies, toddlers and children and I'm pleased with how it's turned out. The book has some lovely designs, mostly, but not all, cross stitch. I made the sheet a generous size for lots of tucking in potential. I'll also give Blue Rabbit as he's in need of a good home.

We found the frangipani flowers while out walking down by the harbour. The recent high winds had blown the flowers off the tree and scattered them on the path with surprisingly little damage to the petals. We gathered some up, carefully carried them home and floated them in a bowl. Of course, if you're familiar with frangipani, you'll know how fantastically heady they smell.

Watching The Wire on DVD + Harvesting figs + Missing Tootie

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.

A little bit of cute

I went to Kraftbomb last Sunday. I got a bit confused about daylight saving and got there pretty much as they were closing but I managed to buy this little guy. Isn't he the cutest?

He has a pin on the back so you can wear him on your coat or what-have-you. But he didn't want a life of idleness riding around on my lapel so he's joined the workforce. We have those hideous office partition things covered in faux carpet at my place of work. I've pinned him up on the one by my desk. I love to look at his little blue face. He has such an expectant expression, don't you think? Interestingly none of my colleagues has noticed him yet.

I don't know who his creator was. But if it's you - I love him!

Monkey business

This photo taken by Ruth Jackson. Thanks!

This is the first toy I've made for ages and I really enjoyed making it. It's almost like I'd forgotten how satisfying it is make something not knowing exactly how it will turn out. I made it for Baxter who, along with his parents, was a delightful house guest for a few days.

If you'd like to make a monkey of your own this is the pattern I use.