Uptown Girl - Ashes - Series 3 Episode 2 Preview - BBC One

I first saw this clip over at Pip's and as I am such a big fan of Ashes to Ashes and of course before it Life on Mars I just had to spread the lurve too - it only goes for a minute please have a look, and there are quite a few other very funny snippets on YouTube as teasers to the the much awaited third and final series.....

cuties

from google images

I do wish we had Dumbo Ratties in Australia.  They are sooo damn cute

raw edge

I have been doing some more raw edge applique this week.  It is a great way to make a piece of clothing go a little further for the kids ie stretching the life of a much loved tshirt and also transforming a plain top into something they might love to wear.  I chose raw edge as I find it easy and also just adds a little personality to something that kids of all ages might want to wear with it's frayed edges.

I thought I would share the easy process I do.   Most of the time I will use an iron on bonding thingy like Heat n Bond I think it's called but at the moment I have a few metres of one (without  a name) I bought quite cheaply from Ebay and it works just as well.  The ones I was getting from Spotlight were quite pricey

once sticky stuff is ironed on to your fabric then iron it on to your top just like with any applique method, but I usually still put a few pins in it even though this is probably not necessary

this fabric is one I fell in love with years ago called Dragon Princess.  I had it in a the cream colourway and I made a tote bag for Zoe and then I bought this colourway from sweet Jen at Posie quite a few years back.

 I bought it and cut out a bag for myself but have to this day not made it as I didn't like the shape bag I had cut out.  These few snippets however are the leftover scraps I have clung onto and Isobel loves it too and when asked what did she want on this otherwise plain fleece top this was her first choice

indulging in a macro shot of the pin

I then sew around a few mm from the edge.  I go around a couple of times in a different spot each time to add a sort of uneven scribbly sewn look (maybe I should take a macro of that?)
Once sewn on then within a few washes the edges start to fray, some quicker than others depending on the fabric used for the applique

The top on the left is a cut up much loved tshirt Isobel didn't want to part with but it just was way too short for her, so now it's life is prolonged.  I didn't use the sticky stuff for this one, just lots and lots of pins.

Last winter I bought a couple of long sleeve tshirts from the op shop for Bel and cut up an Astro Boy tshirt she loved and had grown out of for one and used Hello Kitty fabric from the stash for another one so I ended up with two tops she loved for a total of $6.

It feels great too.  It feels creative so it full fills that need but is soooo fast to do as well.  If it gets wrecked or grown out of quickly it has still served you well.   This way you can cut up summer top and transform it into a winter one, and also if you have done a long sleeve tee, you can then cut that off to make a short sleeve one for the following summer

happy weekend....I must delve into the abyss which is my workspace and find that bag I cut out and see if it can be saved somehow xx

moving on

some photos I took recently of hubby's obsession....Hot Wheels cars old and new, he can't resist them if he sees them, also vintage die cast Land Rover toys.  Do you have an obsession you collect?  I had to stop buying teacups because I ran out of room but it is hard to resist if I find a really sweet one

a little colour

adding a little colour...and really enjoying the rhythm of the stitching.  Loving the chilly days.  Sitting in a comfy chair stitching in the winter sun is the best........

The Bedroom Philosopher - Northcote

I saw this on Cam's blog earlier tonight and it is an absolute cracker of a clip you must check it out and have a laugh, I must admit, things like this do make me miss living in Melbourne...sometimes.   Thanks Cam...xx

bright star

This is on of the most beautiful films I have seen in quite a while.  Another one I eagerly awaited the DVD release of.  The story of John Keats and Fanny Brawne.  If you like period films, especially those of which are true stories, you really should watch it, this weekend maybe?

If you are in the Southern Hemisphere and feeling the chill, close the curtains and blinds, snuggle up under your granny blanket and lose yourself.....I did, in fact that sounds so good I think I might just do it again this weekend too.  Jane Campion films are always so wonderful.

Well worth a look

macro stitch

warning: blatant overuse of macro shots just because........

a work in progress, a stitchery which is to be gifted so I can't show anymore at this stage

winter seems to be arriving later and later each year but it is certainly here now and I am loving it.  The perfect weather to be indoors and stitching

I seem to have lost a little blogging mojo though.  I think it was having a trip away and not giving the computer a thought, which is a good thing.  But I do want to get around and see what everyone has been up to, it's just going to take a few more days I think.

Some days, if they are days where I struggle to do anything due to fatigue etc it is great to be on the computer and be in touch with all you crafty peeps, it's my link to the outside world.   But I do want to try and spend less time computering and more time actually making, painting and drawing.

Sometimes I think the computer is a bit of a trap.  What do you think?  Do you find it easy finding a balance between your actual making and looking at what others have been making? I'd love to know....

oh and Blogger have finally updated their design features with new templates and backgrounds and as you can see I have been having fun with those too...

home

Melbourne was wonderful.   We stayed at the Hilton South Wharf and that was divine. (bottom left of photo)  While my Bestie was in and out of her conference I rested, stitched, and watched movies.  At night we took the short stroll to Southbank for dinner except the last night we had room service.

My Bestie and I first met in Melbourne about 25 years ago when we were very young and we worked together.  She was a Journalist and I was the Receptionist.  After a few more years in Melbourne I came back to Tassie and a year or so later Bestie, hubby and their first baby went back to Perth to live.

We are in touch nearly every day and have had lots of visits over the years but this was the first time to be back in Melbourne together so it felt very surreal and fabulous as well.

It is great to be home but also a bit hard to settle into real life.....back soon when I have...

up up and away

I am heading off for a few days for some very rare girly time with my Bestie from Perth. It's been up in the air (pardon the pun) for nearly 2 weeks because of a bad Lupus flare, but I am determined to go. Five Star accommodation in Melbourne and all I had to pay for was a cheapie airfare. Blissful luxury, no kids, no husbands, no washing, cooking, pets to feed...just us two girls. If I decide to come back......it will be towards the end of the week.........xxx

goodies in the mail

I was so lucky to win Bec's giveaway recently and my goodies arrived today! Check out those gorgeous yarns.  The bigger one is a cotton/silk/wool/nylon mix.  Great for socks I imagine with a little bit of nylon in it, but of course I can't knit socks so I think I will be making wrist warmers. 

The magazines are fabulous too.  Both are issues I have never read so I am looking forward to curling up with them.  Thank you Bec, it's so lovely to receive such a fab gift