So this:

became this:

became these:

:)

And while I was at it, I Used What I Had and made myself a bag for random shopping, and taking library books back.

There wasn’t enough for a full lining, but since it’s that shiny oil-cloth used for kitchen table clothes, I figured it just needed extra support around the handles.

—

Once they have dried I’ll show you my new obsession. Not that I spent every spare moment this weekend knitting or anything…

Thank you AfricanKelli for the much needed nudge back into posting. :)

Things have been quiet around here recently - i’m not sure why, though i’ve been in a ‘not wanting to answer the phone’ phase for the last few days, so i guess i’ve been giving myself some quiet time away from everything.  *shrugs*  There is some family stuff going on - nothing serious, just older family members getting older. but it’s sad and makes me insular and introspective, (not very affective coping mechanism of choice.)

Regardless it’s time to rejoin the human race. i’ll work on posting more. i mean, i actually have things to post.

So two weeks or so ago i made a couple of bags for two friends’ birthdays.

I based them on this pattern, from a book my sister bought me for christmas.

Unfortunately because i ended working on this till after i was supposed to leave to see them, the photos i have are blurred and in rubbish light, (because it’s january and it was late afternoon.)

The bags were really fun to make, and i’ll definately make some more, preferably not when i’m up against a self imposed time limit so that i can noodle around with them a bit more and at more details in.  since both of the friends in question are knitters both bags automatically became knitting bags, and the three of us knitted our way through A Knights Tale and the Shakespear Retold Taming of the Shrew, with Rufus Sewell in it, much to the amusement of my sister, who is not a knitter, but who is an incredible craft person in her own right.

In other crafty news i have finished two jumpers (though one needs a button sewn on properly, not in the cackhanded way i managed when i first did it - i rushed. :( ), am well on my way to finishing a cute pair of baby slippers to send to my godmother, who has just become a grandmother for the first time \o/, and i have a secret project that i can’t talk about, but i’m excited about, and well eventually talk about… but not yet. shhhhh

I have a stack of projects to show (though sadly, i never managed to photograph all of them in the rush up to christmas day.)  But since i seem to be procrastinating getting all of them together I thought i’d start the ball rolling with one right now, just before bed.

This is the brewing apron i made for my husband, W as part of his christmas present.  Unfortunately the photograph isn’t great - the pocket is denim. actually the whole other side is also denim, and the apron is totally reversable (with a pocket on that side and everything) so it can suit his mood. He is a very good, and very enthusiastic home brewer, and has just shifted over to full mash brewing, rather than kits, which takes alot longer, and is alot messier (hence the need for an apron), but allows him greater control, and the option to make his brew sugar free, and thus lower in alcohol.

he didn’t have a clue about it until he opened it, and then he proceeded to wear it every day during our time away over the holidays.  i think this means it’s a hit!

Wow. I haven’t posted in a while - mainly because all the craft stuff i’m working on i can’t show! It’s all christmas stuff, and there are too many people who will be spoiled because i know they read my blog. 

However i’m going to try and post more often, regardless - and since Clementine’s Shoes asked, i’m going to post the bag she inspired, because that will probably go to someone who doesn’t even know this blog exists. :)  but not today… *adds to ‘to do list’*

Here is my Tie One On apron for Christmas. I really wanted to make one this time around, having missed a couple of months, but i was stuck for what to do, and what fabric to use. My stash isn’t small, but there was very little that was christmas themed. However last week i bought the christmas martha stewart living and was really inspired by the ribbon embroidered poinsettias.  So that, along with *finally* clicking with crochet gave me the idea to make the poinsettia patches for the front. 

Unfortunately it was starting to get dark when i finished up today, so the photos are the greatest. but since i’m not sure if the deadline is this month or next, i’m at least done on time, and happy with the results. :)

I have some plans for another apron or two before christmas comes too.

ps. thank you to the people who have commented over the last couple of weeks. I’ve got a little behind myself but i’m intending to email you all back in the next few days. i really appreciate the words of encouragement - and intend to be more prompt in replying from now on, so that the appreciation is obvious. :)  (i’m still getting used to how typepad works with regard to commenting, having used livejournal’s conversation-style commenting for so long.)

I’m trying, and failing to remember who’s link I followed to small hands’ tutorial of how to make zipped box bags, though it was probably something to do with Backtack.

Anyways Clementine’s Shoes’ latest flickr pictures lit a fire under me and i just spent the last 3 hours making my first bag, which is destined for the Christmas box, (hence the lack of picture.)

However I can post pictures of the skirt i made on friday.

If you can ignore the slight blurriness, and the weird expression on my face - how cute and scarily matching is my outfit today?  the scarf is the ‘Backyard Leaves’ from Scarf Style knitted in red debbie bliss cashmerino aran, while the hat is actually W’s and bought at the Gap last year.

the skirt is black corduroy, with small machine stitched designs on the front:

(little houses - i’ve been wanting to do this for AGES.)

(Trees - obviously inspired by all the great folliage around at the moment.)

the bottom hem is lime green grass, which is a bit of a shout out to my sister since lime has become her colour of choice - like me and turqoise. :)

obviously the machine embroidery isn’t the finest in the world, but it’s my first attempt and my Brother PX-200 isn’t really an embroidery sewing machine. but i love it none the less. :)

to be honest there are still a couple of things left to do on it - i need to take in the central seams about half an inch each side since it’s a bit big for me. Plus i’m going to add a small card pocket to the waistband seam because i’m sick of having no-where to put a tube ticket or debit card. 

but on the whole i’m really happy with it. :) i can see this being a stape of winter this year.

and now i must go steam potatoes.