Cats: thanks to Wendy

These cat blankies for Kemuri and Mayonaka were made by Wendy, who is a member of the Plain Tiger Butterflies craft group. She has posted them to me in Tasmania and continues the craft group in Melbourne. Thanks Wendy :)

Follow up: squares for Papillon Gold

You may recall my previous posts about squares that a group of us from the Plain Tiger Butterflies craft group made and sent off to contribute to a blanket for Knit4Charities. Well, Jane from Papillon Gold has finished the blanket and has forwarded it to Busy Hands Warm Hearts. It looks amazing! Pop over to Papillon Gold to check out the other wonderful blankets Jane has made for charity. What a generous soul for making for others.

via Papillon Gold

Re-Joyce! A blanket!

Image from Papillon Gold

You might recall that Wendy, Liz, Kathryn and I from our Plain Tiger Butterflies craft group made some crochet squares for Papillon Gold. The squares were part of a naming competition for the crochet pattern and for a blanket that would be donated to Knit4Charities. Congratulations to Nicole who won the naming competition - the pattern is now know as "Re-Joyce-ing".

As you can see, the blanket is well underway and is looking fabulous. A fantastic effort by all!

Blanket glory - Crochet a Rainbow

Earlier this year, some friends and I made crochet granny squares for Crochet a Rainbow. These squares were sent off to Sarah London who started the collection in order to make crochet blankets for those that were affected by the Queensland floods. Sarah has been busily joining the squares and has posted some pics of the finished blankets.

Image via Sarah London

I am especially excited because I think that one of my squares appears in the top blanket. It is the square made from blue and purple variegated yarn at the top left of the image.

Feeling proud xo

Soft toys for Hope

Wendy and I have made softies for Hope Softies, a collection of soft toys for children affected by the floods in Queensland.

I made a sampler kitty, based on a pattern in the Simple Softies for the Whole Family book (see below). I think she is so adorable - I am even thinking of making another one to keep. Wendy, who is a talented knitter, made Tabitha the kitten. We hope that our softies give hope.

Crochet a rainbow

I signed up to Crochet a Rainbow following the devastating floods in Queensland. Sarah London decided it would be a great idea to collect crochet granny squares, which will be made into blankets, for donation to those that have lost everything. It is important to remember that there is always a rainbow after the storm.

It is hard to believe that since the Queensland floods, the state faced Cyclone Yasi. My current home state Victoria has also been affected by flooding.

Wendy, Liz and I have made 35 crochet granny squares which are ready to be posted. The latest count shows that there are 398 people participating in Crochet a Rainbow from all over the world. You can see some of the other squares here if you are interested.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Wendy and Liz for helping me create for such a worthy cause. I feel connected to the people of Queensland as I grew up there and I am warmed at the thought that a little of our time will bring a smile to a Queenslander's face. Thanks also to Sarah for organising this wonderful project!

Happy crocheting! Ames xo

Update: crochet squares for Papillon Gold

Happy to see that the squares that we made (you can read about it here) have arrived safely.  There is a post over at Papillon Gold about our squares and the names that we choose for the competition. I cannot wait to see the finished blanket which will be donated to a worthy cause through Knit4Charities. It has been a pleasure to be involved.

Ames xo

Crochet squares for Papillon Gold

I signed up for a crochet square competition a little while ago at the Papillon Gold blog. Jane has organised the competition to honour her Grandmother and to collect squares to donate to Knit4Charity.

A few of my friends and I, from the Plain Tiger Butterflies craft group, decided to make some squares together. This is what Wendy, Liz, Kathryn and I created!

We have really enjoyed this project and I recommend that others get involved. So if you enjoy crochet, why not check out Papillon Gold to donate.  Also thanks to the lovely crafty ladies that joined me in making squares. Not only have we had fun, we have helped a fellow crocheter recognise the memory of her Grandmother and donate to charity. Happy smiles all around.

xo Ames

Hope Softies for Queensland

You might have noticed that a 'Hope Softies' button appeared on our blog over the weekend. Well, I have signed up to make a softie for Hope Softies. Planning on finishing off my softie this weekend and hopefully a few members from our Plain Tiger Butterflies craft group will make one too.

Image via mon petit poppet

A glorious day for market craftiness..

It has been an up and down week. The floods in Queensland. However, Melbourne has turned on her shine and smile - a glorious day for a craft catch up.

Our craft group met this morning at the Abbotsford Convent - Maker's Market and I was so pleased to see everyone. Lovely conversations, some craft admiration and coffee at the Convent Bakery. Also some cute buying - some gorgeous handmade clothes and a few craft items were purchased.

A few of the group headed off, but the rest of us had lunch at the cafe at the Collingwood Children's Farm. A wonderful idea.

Thank you to all of the amazing women that joined us today. A talented bunch, down to earth and inspirational. Till next time....

Love Ames xo

January 2011: time for craft catch up

Image via the Abbotsford Convent website

Hi crafty friends in Melbourne! It is time for another Plain Tiger Butterflies craft catch up and I am looking forward to seeing you all. This month, we are going to look at some craft to get inspired for a new year of making.

The Makers' Market at the Abbotsford Convent is held once a month on a Sunday. It is a delightful venue and I am sure that there will be lots of crafty treasures on display. For more information about the market or how to get there, see the Abbotsford Convent website or Makers' Market website. Further details follow:

What: Maker's Market
When: Sunday 16th January 
Time: 10am
Where: Abbotsford Convent, 1 St Heliers Street, Abbotsford
Entry: Free

I suggest that we meet at 10am inside the convent gates or at the cafe (which is directly opposite the convent gate entrance) and have a chat over a tea or coffee before we venture inside the Community Room to look at the market. Please comment on this post or contact me by other means if you would like to join us so I know who to look out for on the day. Feel free to bring family or friends too. Take care and see you on the 16th! Ames xo

Getting into the crafty Christmas spirit

 

We are getting into the Christmas spirit at work, which is lovely. We decorate the building including a Christmas tree and have a Christmas lunch party planned for next week. So a group of us thought that we would get together at lunch time and make some decorations. Wendy, Celia and I decided to decorate some foam bells - there are lots of instructions on the internet if you are interested in doing this sort of craft.

In addition, a few of the crafty types have been using their lunch breaks to make Christmas gifts for their family and friends. For example, Liz has been making crochet washclothes which she has beautifully executed. Kathryn is making a vest and I cannot wait to see the finished product.

 

Anyway, happy holidays everyone and I hope you are enjoying your Christmas craftiness! Ames xo

Update: softies in the window

As you know, I was making and collecting softies to donate to Softies for Mirabel. Again, thank you to Kim, Sarah and Wendy for helping me with the softie collection.

For those that have not been checking, Pip's blog Meet me at Mike's has had a few updates. Check here and here for more details. In addition, you can check here for more images.

I look forward to the collection next year. Ames xo

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.

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

November 2010 Crafternoon: knitting and crochet picnic in the garden

The Tiger and the Butterfly

Hello fellow crafters!

As mentioned in an earlier post (and to some of you in person), I am starting up a craft group. At this stage, I am hoping that it will be something casual that will be held every two months so that it is easily scheduled into everyone's busy lives. The crafternoons will be an excuse to combine some of the things that we love - chatting about craft, making craft, and sharing yummy food.

I would like to kick off the crafternoons in November over a lovely picnic in the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. Please bring your knitting or crochet, although if you want to bring something else that is fine too. How about your cross stitch, your camera, or your wonderful personality. Also something to eat for yourself, and if you want, something to share.

When: Saturday 13th November 2010
Time: 1pm - 3pm
Where: Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne (meet outside The Visitors Centre and we will choose a garden location depending on the weather).

For those that need directions to the gardens - see the Royal Botanic Gardens website.

Please comment on this post if you would like to attend, or tell me in person. I look forward to seeing you there!!

Are you making a Softie for Mirabel?

I have been perusing my craft books in search of a pattern for a handmade soft toy to donate to the worthwhile cause Softies for Mirabel. I think I have decided that a cat is the way to go and I will be starting it soon.

Our craft group, the Plain Tiger Butterflies, has signed up to contribute softies towards the collection at Meet me at Mike's which are due for delivery at the end of November 2010. They will then be displayed in the window of Meet me at Mike's in Fitzroy from 1st - 7th December 2010.

For those that do not know, Softies for Mirabel is a call for soft toys that will be donated to The Mirabel Foundation which is based in Melbourne. This foundation supports youth that are in the care of extended family after being abandoned by their parents. These kids deserve a chance and I am sure that each and every child that receives a softie will have a smile on their face.

So I am asking you, would you like to contribute to this cause and donate a softie on behalf of the Plain Tiger Butterflies? If so, please leave a comment on this post. The soft toys can be crocheted, knitted, sewn - made out of felt, fabric or yarn. As Pip has mentioned on the Meet me at Mike's post - some of the softies will be going to small children so keep choking hazards in mind when making your softie. However, if you have a cute design that has ribbons, buttons or beads, don't despair - these can be given to older kids or teens. Some of the softies from previous years are on display at Flickr so check it out for inspiration.

I really hope you decide to join in and share the cuteness!

Crochet: Sunday Shrug

Shrug by Ames

Shrug by Wendy

I have been happily crocheting with my fellow crafters at work. The latest project has been a shrug. After gaining some insight from a pattern, we have turned a shawl into a shrug that can be wrapped around the shoulders and clasped with a brooch.

Hugs for Mugs: work knitting circle

Images top to bottom - Mug Hugs in the making

1) Ames 2) Celia 3) Kathryn 4) Kathryn

The tea room at work was full of laughter and fun during our breaks this week. The lovely Kathryn inspired us all to gather our knitting supplies to make some mug hugs. Even though the group of us have different levels of skill - and some of us are a little more particular and find themselves un-doing and re-knitting to fix mistakes - we are all producing wonderful specimens.