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Image by Ames

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Yo Yo Accessories

I have been thinking lately about making some more yo yo accessories and have been looking at those that I have already made. These are some others....

I have been thinking about other materials that I can use such as paper or recycled materials - instead of fabric. Do you have and ideas?

Tape measure brooches

The weather has been a bit wild and woolly today. I had great plans for resin making, but turned away from that idea due to the wind and the risk of dust. I have been making some brooches out of tape measures instead. As you will see from my previous post, I have made these cuties before. I especially like the pink 'daisy' ones from today's creations. Have a wonderful week everyone!

Crochet Brooches

I have been re-sorting all of my jewellery - I have a lot of it - especially brooches as I collect them. I realised that I have not shared the brooches that I have made with you. These have been crocheted and knitted. The blue one was also felted. I hope you like them xo Ames

We are proud: Softies for Mirabel

Hermione the Hippo (by Wendy)

Fish (by Kim)

Quote pillow (by Ames)

Puppies (by Ames and Sarah)

Tash and I set off in the rain today to deliver Softies for Mirabel to the Meet me at Mike's shop. I would like to thank those members of the Plain Tiger Butterflies craft group that poured their love and time into making a soft something for donation. I adore our creations and know that a child or teen somewhere will be delighted to receive our homemade gifts. Thanks to Wendy, Kim and Sarah. I really appreciate it. Love Ames xo

Cute feltie dogs

Shamrock Craft products: pre-cut felt shapes

Feltie dogs by Tash, Ames and Sarah (clockwise from top left)

A few of us from the Plain Tiger Butterflies craft group have been making small feltie dogs. They are very cute and really easy to make. As you can see, you can buy pre-cut felt shapes from the craft store. All you have to do is choose a colour and then sew away. We are stuffing them slightly and you can sew on a brooch back to wear your little friend.

a different version of the case binding

This book was made using the case binding technique, which is a common style of bookbinding. The sections of pages are sewn together before end papers and a hard cover are attached. I have made a few of these - usually the case (cover) is in one piece. However, this one differs slightly as the front and back boards, which are covered in paper, are adhered to the cloth spine. The end bands were handmade using a piece of ribbon and cord, and then adhered on. Finally a bookmark was attached. What do you think?

Quote of the day..

tapestry made by Tash in childhood

A work of art is the unique result of a unique temperament (Oscar Wilde)

Crochet hat for Gus

right side

inside out

Happy Birthday Gus!

This hat was made with love for Gus. I have come to like this pattern as it looks fantastic with variegated yarn. I also like it because it is reversible - the design is slightly different depending on which way you wear it.

Instructions

1. Make 5 chain, join with a slip stitch to create a ring
2. 1st round: 11 double crochet into the ring
3. 2nd round: 2 double crochet in each double crochet to end (ie 22 double crochet)
4. 3rd and 4th rounds: 1 double crochet in each double crochet to end
5. 5th round: 2 double crochet in each double crochet to end (ie 44 double crochet)
6. 6th to 8th rounds: 1 double crochet in each double crochet to end (don't worry if it looks a but funny - just keep going)
7. 9th round: *2 double crochet in the first double crochet, then 1 double crochet in the next 3* continue to end
8. 10th round: 1 double crochet in each double crochet to end
9. 11th round: *2 double crochet in the first double crochet, then 1 double crochet in the next 3* continue to end
10. 12th round: 1 double crochet in each double crochet to end
11. Continue to the desired length of hat (longer if you want a brim that you can roll up)
12. Fasten off

Note: These instructions are based on a Patons pattern, that I have altered to achieve my desired result. I made this hat using a 7.5mm hook and Lincraft Veronica Yarn (as I tend to crochet fairly tightly). If your tension is loose, you could try a smaller hook. Happy crocheting!

Samples of our book displays

Books give you pleasure - when you are reading them and when you are looking at them...

Make a badge!

Badges are cool little accessories that you can pop onto your outfit, bag or wherever. We even have them on our shopping trolley.  These are some that I have made previously...

sewing collages

stamp and envelope collages

wrapping paper badges

I know that there are lots of us out there making badges, but I wanted to share some of the ideas that I have had. I have been collecting stamps since I was a little girl and I have lots of duplicates. I have sewn pieces of these together, as well as sewing some of my craft paraphernalia together.  Collages are a great way to display your cute paper items within the badge. Wrapping paper is also a great idea.

These badges were made at the Sticky Institute in Melbourne, but I think there are other places that offer the use of badge machines.  I am in the process of making the paper inserts for more badges for Christmas so watch this space......

Beautiful Blogger Award!

We are delighted to accept a Beautiful Blogger Award from Stitch of Love! It is very exciting and thank you so much!

So now it is our turn to tell everyone ten things about us and choose ten fabulous blogs to pass the love on.  Here goes:

Ten things about us:

1. Family and friends sustain us
2. We are cat people
3. We collect books
4. Ames is a craft-o-holic
5. Tash enjoys photography
6. Coffee and chai fuel our days
7. Ames' favourite colour is purple
8. Tash's favourite colour is blue
9. Films are our windows into other worlds
10. We always admire other people's gardens

Ten blogs we are reading this week:

1. love.me.my...
2. daydream lily
3. Emily Kate
4. Home Made Gorgeous
5. The Lark
6. a bit of pilli pilli
7. Meet me at Mike's
8. Stitch of Love
9. Virginia Blue
10. Another Kid With A Guitar

Friends are forever...

Image by Ames

Thanks for the spontaneous dinner catch up tonight L and G - it was lovely.

Quote of the day..

Image by Ames - at night in Hong Kong

Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine.

(Robert C. Gallagher)

Giving new life to French Syntax: Book Repair Part 2

The repairs are well underway. Before rebinding could commence, some of the pages needed some tender loving care. Tears were repaired with tissue - some imagination was required when putting some of the sections (groups of pages) together as there were pages missing. The next stage was the rebinding. I decided to use the original holes (from the original sewing) and sewed the text block back together on tapes.

As mentioned in the earlier post on this project, Giving new life to French Syntax: Book Repair Part 1, the cover was detached. I repaired the spine by creating a hollow and inserting some new book cloth under the original book cover. The original cover was the re-attached to the repaired text block using the tapes, linen and adhesive. The end papers were tipped (glued) back in place.

The blue colour of the new cloth is somewhat brighter than the original so I am planning on using some acrylic paint to tone it down a little and make the repairs a little less obvious. The book is once again sturdy enough for use. In addition, there is no longer a risk of losing more pages as the loose ones are now back where they belong.

Although this book has been repaired, the integrity of the original is still in place as original materials have been used wherever possible. I just love this old book. Here is another excerpt of text that I find interesting and adorable.

Love this: flutterbutter filling stitches

Image by Refabulous via Feeling Stitchy

I love this butterfly - see Feeling Stitchy for more information.

Don't let the weather stop you! Reflecting on our November 2010 Crafternoon

The Plain Tiger Butterflies craft group met for the first time on the weekend for our November 2010 Crafternoon. The rain was pouring down and I was unsure how the meeting would turn out. I thought that everything would be wet at the chosen outdoor venue - The Royal Botanical Gardens. However, Tash and I found an undercover pavilion with a lovely outlook of the rose garden.

There were nine attendees this month, great food to share, inspirational discussion and lots of laughs. Thank you to everyone who came - for making it such a special day! I baked some choc chip cupcakes for the occasion and Celia brought some of her homemade slice. There were also other treats including fresh fruit, dips and biscuits.

We all got stuck in to our craft of choice - which included knitting, crochet, sewing and drawing. Here are a few photos of the crafty projects for you to enjoy and I look forward to organising the next crafty get together which I am planning for January 2011. See you there! Ames xo

My favourite two: Tash in Hong Kong

Image by Ames

Well now I ask you, what is there not to like about two tone bread slices wrapped around an inch of salmon sashimi and chased down by a gallon of fizz free lolly water?

Image by Tash

Could Victor Appleton ever have imagined the day his book Tom Swift and his Photo Telephone (published in 1914 and very popular at the time with kids in the good ole US of A), would be front and centre in a fake camera shop window in a fake Main Street USA in Hong Kong Disneyland nearly one hundred years later being photographed with mobile phones by kids from all over this great Earth?

Hong Kong Disneyland

Hong Kong Disneyland is located on Lantau Island and is easily reached by train or taxi. Allow at least a day to comfortably enjoy the theme parks and rides. We visited mid week and had to queue for most things so be mindful of long waiting times if travelling with small children. Disneyland has an array of attractions designed to appeal to the child in everyone. Be sure to make time to check out the immersive 3D cinema experience. The strangest ride of the entire Disneyland journey though was wandering through a world of kitsch Americana recreated in China.

(Images by Ames and Tash)