fiveandtwo

Letter Spacings Are Wrong.

I started making my market stall sign. I thought I had the spaces between the letters right. Sigh...not so.

The f and the i need to be moved closer, when the black paint's dry I'll block it out with a couple of coats of white. Note stickybeak Micky-cat, on the corner of the table there is his "box". Micky loves to curl up and relax in that cardboard box.

I've joined the East Gippsland Makery, after thinking about it for six months, ahem. At a venue called The Stables the Makery has an area for members to display their work (cost $10 per week & 10% commission). A monthly market, the Artisan's Bazzar, is held at The Stables. So, I had a market stall today but made little more than the stall cost, now crossing that off my list of markets.  However, I've sold some things from the Makery. Yay! Interestingly, this morning I sold more stuff through the Makery than from my stall.

This is all part of the "I'm not going to get a paid work job any time soon so must ramp up the craft" scenario. Gosh, though, full-on sewing in all windows of spare time means all else slides. The garden is completely feral, for example, and that jacket I wanted to wear this winter is unmade.

Onwards.

 

That Stuff I Made.

Little fella owls. About 10cm tall.

Rabbits! A new toy (after much prototyping). That dark brown one is The Velveteen Rabbit, made from a repurposed plush cotton velvet jumper. A very soft bunny that one.

A two piece pattern, modelled on a photo of Peter, Clare's rabbit that absconded.

A satchel bag. Lots more are cut out, including patched wool ones.

These two from some time ago. A storage suitcase tagged "wool bags to be sewn". I'm trying to do something with these relics. These were before I started making facings for bags and I think they're less "professional" looking without a facing.

An assortment of scarves.

I want to write some stuff about making etc, but others want to use the computer. Another time perhaps.

More Stuff I Made

Remember I do paid work one day a week. Okay?  Remember I am a solitary and essentially antisocial person. Okay?

The big owls have had babies.

That's a new biggie, and some hybrid offspring.

More little ones. I put exactly two in my etsy shop today.

I made some new larger owls.

 
 
 
 
Not sure about the patterned fabric on the tummies, I don't think it works as well as plain, or my combinations lack inspiration.

I am working on the Christmas thing. Everyone has a gift but I think I need to even up the spend with the kids. Father Christmas comes but none of the offspring believe so it's just a bit extra really. A bikini for Leah, boardies and thongs for Giles, a request from Linsey and some surprise stuff for Clare and Al (usually clothes and books, this year also a new drink bottle and some fruity T2 tea). I bought my Mum a magnifying glass with a light since her existing one had died, when we were up north and declared it her Christmas present but she's forgotten. So I'm making, as she's requested, pillowslips for her odd-shaped pillows (one for her neck, another for her knee), sheepskin covers for the handlebars of her walker because she doesn't hold them in her hands but rests her forearms on them and needs something soft. Also altering two fleecy jumpers for her and later I will make a dressing gown.

It's all go here at the fiveandtwo house.

Good Fun Marketing

It was good fun, the Maker's Market.

There's my stall, with my splendid offsiders. Without them I wouldn't be able to go to the toilet or get coffee (I brought sandwiches). Well worth the money given for sausage-in-bread and sweet treats from the "cafe", things like tiny caramel tarts, bite-sized meringues, cupcakes...etc. Ally had her felt "mascots" and little packages of Christmas decorations of her own design. She sold about half. Clare had framed drawings. A series of Alice in Wonderland and some Manga drawings. She sold none (but people looked, and were interested). Still, it stung that, "Ally sold stuff and I didn't".  One of the senior art teachers at the local secondary college said the drawing was very good, so that kind of made up for lack of sales. This lady is a dear friend but I know she doesn't make these comments lightly.

It was a good day for me too, sold some stuff, caught up with people I know and sort-of know and other stallholders. A good social workout for me who usually avoids it if possible.

I need to make more: owls, reversible pinnies, mice, purses, birds and dogs.. It was a good day for sure.

In Progress And Other Stuff

Must be because it's Spring, sap rising and all that, but there's been a flurry of activity at chez fiveandtwo. Paintings languishing for over two years are being worked on.

 
The first two in a series based on the Old Laundry photos.

Two from last year are finished.

 
Scrap Yard 1, 28cm x 38cm, acrylic on canvas.

 
Scrap Yard 2, 28cm x 38cm, acrylic on canvas.

 
Scrap Yard 3, WIP. This series is based on the photos I took at the scarp yard last year.

Some more fruit paintings, I was on a roll after the two I did for the 10 x 10 exhibition. They're all 25cm x 20cm (quite small). I did an apple too, but I'm not happy with it, and I think the pear painting on the left is the most successful.

 

Three pears, three teatowels and a jar of lentils?

In other news: I've been planting out my seedlings. Too early, but we're going up north for 3 weeks and no-one will be here to water the punnets, so they've a "better" chance in the ground. A monstrous tree dahlia has been removed , the tank drained and cleaned and a new top for the stand put on. The tree dahlia was growing next too, and under, the tankstand and pushing it over. Would you believe it rained all that night and half the next day? Now the tank is full again!

I made a summer jacket!  Short sleeved, kind of 70's style, I think. Only needs buttons. Will blog about it when I return from Qld in late October. I'm jotting things down on my "lists for the holiday" as I think of them. Bags have been removed from the ceiling space. I tried the bathers on I bought only 2 years ago - they don't fit (sigh...), fortunately a pair, scarcely-worn, from the oppy recently will do the job. I do like to swim in the sea when it's not absolutely frigid (waters off Victoria  all year round, for me). 
 

Mr 5&2 had a birthday today. He is past his half century by two years now. Had all the kids for lunch - Linsey was in "the 'Dale" for the weekend, and Giles' girlfriend of 3 years came as well. No alcohol was consumed (this is for you Anna!). Splendid sitting out on the front deck eating that Pip Lincolne Teriyaki chicken - sooo easy, and very good.

Probably no posts now until the end of October.

Weekend Of Goodness

Oh, how I love these weekends with like minded women at Sewjourn. K, S, G, C, J, T, E, K and J who doesn't have a blog. These women enrich my life so much. At Sewjourn and on the internets.

I made two pairs of pants, lightweight for summer (another pair is in the offing) and a boat neck t-shirt, an Ottobre t-shirt, a successful experiment top and an unsuccessful experiment top. In the to-do basket is another top for summer. I'm going up north at the beginning of October, hence the sewing of warm weather clothes. I may or may not post about the tops and pants. Depends if offspring are around and the light is good when I'm wearing what I made.

 
This is the only photo I took at Craft Camp. Taken because I was trying to tell the husband about this dressing table-turned-into-vanity at Sewjourn. We need to replace our homemade falling apart vanity and I have a dressing table just like this. He knows what I'm rabbiting on about since showing him this pic. I have an avocado green drop-in basin from the tip shop ($5!). This is a goer!

Ahh, Sewjourn love.

Another Jacket

For me this time.

 
It will have buttonholes and buttons, just as soon as I get around to it. I used McCall's 5007 which is a cropped, 3/4 sleeve jacket. I lengthened both the jacket body and the sleeves. I think this pattern is out of print now. I used the same charcoal/black stripe wool that I made Leah's jacket with. None left now, sob, it was from the op-shop. For lining I used the silk I got from the tip shop and overdyed with black.

Speaking of the lining, I was trimming the seam where I sewed it to the jacket neckline, with my shears (no, not a small pair of scissors like I should've), not paying attention, "La-le-lala", and I cut a big hole in the lining. Which I had to patch, by hand.

 

I quite like this jacket, the fit is not spot on but I'll work on that next time I make it. And I must see to the buttonholes and buttons...

Ottobre "Cosy Pinnie"

I started this at Crarf Camp but didn't finish it due to much staring at, and pondering, the sewing instructions - I should point out that this is my modus operandi with any new pattern...followed by sewing, some more sewing and then unpicking. Don't know what happened with the invisible zip here, I had to unpick it several times! Once, I'd managed to create some sort of origami garment: it zipped up fine but half the dress was inside out. Got it in the end, back home. Nutted out the sewing of the armholes (only unpicked once!), sewed buttons and tabs = done.

 
I did a test, a toile, and the only tweak was to take it in a bit. However, it's a bit tight at the back. I will make this again at some stage and I'll cut a more generous seam allowance on the back pieces. This pinnie is really comfortable - it's fully lined and I've decided lined garments are the go. They sit better, bulgy bits are better camouflaged. Only for winter I think. Lined garments would be too hot in summer.

I used the button placket, but cut it bias, and made side tabs (also bias). The fabric I got from ebay some time ago and was feeling guilty about not using it., butons from my stash and lining fabric some lightweight cotton from my stash.

Oh, it's "Cosy Pinnie" pinafore dress from Ottobre Woman 5/2009.

Mat For A Cat

I felt sorry for Pip, sitting on that broken china hearth. Being a cat, he selected the warmest place in the house to relax. I used broken bowls, cups and plates for the hearth so it's far from smooth and level.

So I made him a quilt-mat.

 
He likes it.

No close-up pictures will be available. It has to be the most bodgy thing I've ever made. Going reasonably well until I did the binding (with some pink velvet strips I had kicking around). Looks ok from the front, except for the corners. Rather wonky on the back. Rather wonky? Hideously wonky. Glad I did this before attempting to bind the Wagga.

Speaking of the Wagga, I'm endeavouring to hand quilt it. It's pinned in each square, however when I started stitching it looked good on the front, but the stitching on the back is all over the place, so I gather it's not sandwiched together well enough. Do I need to baste it with stitching as well? Is quilt basting spray any use? Does the basting spray allow for many months of on again - off again stitching? Does the spray cause the quilt to deteriorate before its time? I've chosen to hand quilt because the wagga sanwich is quite bulky and I don't think I can roll it all up for machine quilting when I get towards the sides.

Your hot tips welcomed.

Stuff

 
The Dress: it is finished! Hip hip hooray. I'm sure there was 135.6 kilometres of hem that required handsewing. The wanky ball lovely debutante ball is next Saturday night. Today week. I have it on good authority that it's boring. Linsey is the other guest, so at least I'll have someone to talk to. Leah issued invites to all her friends and apparently they've all got something else on...they're such supportive friends *cough*. Well, she will look gorgeous. And that's the main thing.

Have pin basted two quilts. I think, if I have my sewing machine on the kitchen table, that I'll be able to machine quilt them. I am sorely tempted to hand quilt, hand sewing is relaxing for me, however, I want them finished this year (next year at the latest). I have a stitch on my sewing machine that "looks" like handsewing so I'll experiment with that.

On this balmy day I washed the windows. True! Thinking back it was nearly two years ago they were done. I remember Linsey had not long come back from overseas and we exclaimed over the apricot blossom, and I commented on how lovely it is to enjoy such a sight through clean windows. That makes it September 2009. Ahem.

Then, I gardened. Heaved things out, snipped things back, and weeded. I don't like tackling a cold, wet garden so today = make hay while the sun shines. The choko curtain grows ever longer at this time of year. It is a very productive vine. I chop them into all sorts of things but I still think they are best sliced and briefly stir fried with garlic and ginger (other veg. as well) and sprinkled with soy sauce. I've been told they're good roasted, but haven't tried that yet. Just about everything is good roasted. I made choko relish and had it recently on a baked potato with shredded cabbage, grated carrot and sour cream. Yum. I am making some more relish just for this purpose!