Stitching on the Seashore

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Claire

For the past week, the Matching Pegs family enjoyed one of the most relaxing holidays we have even had, (post kids). We stayed in a luxury cabin here, and the kids took advantage of every activity/facility on offer in the park. Every morning at 9am the kids disappeared for a while to enjoy some craft, while Luke and I sat and enjoyed a cuppa and each-others company. We had several forays to different beaches, and other local attractions, but mostly I was pretty passive, sitting and reading, or stitching additional diamonds to my “Wheel Of Fortune Quilt”, while watching the rest of my family in more active pursuits.

In the lead up to our departure, I had 3 days in bed with fevers and chills, brought about by tonsillitis, and while I felt a lot better by the time we departed, I was still very tired, so lolling about was just the recuperation that I needed. It was an added bonus that the bed in our cabin was the best I have ever slept in, away from home.

Prior to the holiday, while I was huddled in bed, I missed a long anticipated event, the “Lego Brickvention“. The rest of the family (and my BIL who used my ticket) went along, and Rory took over 400 photos to share the event with me.

I was most impressed with the Lego replica of the Erickson S-64 Air-Crane helicopter,(Helitanker) nicknamed “Elvis” which is used to fight fires, (water-bombing) each fire season here in Victoria, and for obvious reasons is held in great affection by the people who live here.

At the end of this week, the kids start the school year. This week will be taken up with getting-ready-for-school activities, and next week I will return to my usual crafting adventures.

Do you ever sew on the beach, or am I the only one to combine such diverse activities?

Crafty Afternoon

Posted on January 16, 2013 by Claire

Yesterday we had a crafty afternoon at our place, with 8 kids and three adults. I was having so much fun that it didn’t occur to me to document it with a camera, but you can see what Michaela made (with a little bit of help). There was a lot of crafting with felt, which is a pretty perfect medium for kids to work with, because it doesn’t fray and can be easily hand stitched. There was also a little bit of crochet, embroidery, and t-shirt altering, (using my nifty tutorial).The previous evening I had done some felt crafting of my own. While it was as seasonally inappropriate as my previous post, I decided to take the time to repair the toe hole in my Ugg boots because I actually have time for little jobs like this in the summer holidays. The hole was in the boot you can see on the left, and I decided to match the heart on the other toe, because it too was wearing thin.

I used some quite thick felt that I had, and some ordinary sewing machine thread. As simple as it looks to sew, it was actually a little tricky, as the sheepskin is difficult to pierce, and the sole tends to get in the way as you sew close to it. I used a thimble on both hands (one inside the boot). I am not sure how durable my repair will be, but I figured that trying to repair them was better than wearing Uggs with holes in them.

What is the strangest repair that you have made?

Inappropriate Crafting

Posted on January 12, 2013 by Claire

Right after Christmas I finished this beautiful Rainbow scarf, a longer sister for this one that I finished back in July. This one, for Amelia, is about 2.1m long, and made with a 2×2 rib with 58 stitches, on 5mm needles (US8). The yarn is a a 50/50 composition of Wool and Acrylic, and is a Moda Vera brand called “Fern” from Spotlight, (Moda Vera is an in-house brand). It took just one (very large) ball. Michaela’s one was only 1.7m long, and made with garter stitch.

It took me a long time to knit, as I put it aside while I was getting my patterns ready for release in recent months. As a result I have finished the scarf in an entirely inappropriate season, hence the lovely, but ridiculous photo above, of a person wearing summer clothes and a winter scarf. The weather has become considerably hotter since I finished the scarf, and as a result my nemesis, carpal tunnel syndrome, has returned to plague me. Unfortunately, I will not be doing any handwork for a while, until the worst of summer is behind us. Thankfully I can still sew on a machine, if I don’t overdo it.Yesterday, Amelia and I made this home made pencil case, with two of her favourite fabrics. We even designed it to have a tag for her name sticking out the side, and she is very pleased with the result.She ladder-stitched up the lining herself, learning a new skill. So now it is full of new stationary, ready for her first day of high-school at the end of the month.Speaking of new stationary, the kids and I went on a hunt the other day, through all the relevant stores in the local shopping centre, for this exact pencil sharpener. Everyone in our house draws, lots. Consequentially, we seem to be the house where pencil sharpeners go to die, as very few seem to be up to the task of working in our house. This pencil sharpener, by Faber Castell, seemed to be the exception. I had one that was never allowed to leave my desk, in case it disappeared, but we managed to track them down in order to buy them for the other members of the family. We found them where we didn’t expect them, in Coles (the supermarket). So now we can all stay sharp.

Does anyone else get obsessed with the perfect pencil sharpener? Perhaps you have another tool you obsess over?

Behold a Bright and Sparkling New Year

Posted on January 1, 2013 by Claire

I have spent this first day of the year doing very little except sit on the back deck with various members of my family, eating, reading and chatting. If you sit in the right spot, you can barely see any of the many surrounding houses, and it feels decadently peaceful.

I was unexpectedly distracted from wishing you, my readers and friends, a Happy Christmas, as gastro overwhelmed the kids in the days leading up to the 25th. Thankfully they were all well enough on the day itself that we could make the last minute decision to join the rest of the clan for lunch in the countryside. No one had been ill for a day and a half, (so we deemed it safe) and both Luke and I seemed to have dodged being infected. This year was one where all 32 of us were present, which was lovely.

I have spent some of the lazy days between Christmas and New Year sketching. Contemplating ideas for next Christmas, and tossing around another idea that draws inspiration from all the hand drawn lettering that I have been seeing on Pinterest, such as this, and this.

I have a friend that picks a new, inspirational word each year. While not particularly looking for a word myself, I was contemplating “hope” and decided that it was really a word for every year, something that I hope will accompany me always! I am itching to turn this into a fresh stitchery, but at the moment I must contend myself with drawing it carefully with Illustrator, until I can get my hands on the beautiful variegated Cottage Garden Threads that I plan to use.

Today actually marks 5 years since I started my blog. I will return to my giveaways soon, to mark the occasion, but I am currently feeling too languid and relaxed to spend much time on the computer. Summer so far has been mostly beautiful and mild, and I have another Kate Morton book* that is waiting to be read…

* pssst… Kate Morton’s first bestselling novel was released here in Australia titled “The Shifting Fog” but was renamed “The House at Riverton” when it was released internationally, and became a bestseller. I have not seen “The House at Riverton” available for Kindle but “The Shifting Fog” is, and it is only $3.63.

Happy New Year, A sparkling 2013 to all of you!

Making and Breaking

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Claire

I made it! I finished the Christmas Angel just in time to photograph it, wrap it and hand it over to be given to the Music Teacher. Now I just have to make one more, and finish two stitcheries, and the school presents are done.

Amelia broke it! Last night Amelia successfully completed her Red II grading for Taekwondo, and broke two boards with her high kicks. We also somehow found time to get her a haircut, in preparation for tonight, which is her Grade 6 graduation. It is all happening!

I have already explained to Amelia, that while I am very excited that she is moving on to High School, and I know she is ready, I might have a tear or two in my eyes. They will be happy tears.

Unfinished Angel, a race.

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Claire

I have an hour and twenty minutes to finish the Christmas Angel in the front of this picture for the music teacher. I have a box of chocolates on standby.

As you can see from the finished example on the left, I am doing pretty well. I may even make it!

The winner of the Junior Chef pattern is Jody. Jody I will email you shortly, I just have to make a pair of wings and a tiny apron first…

For all the summer hemisphere folk, what are you doing for the teachers to mark the end of another school year?

Junior Chef Giveaway

Posted on December 12, 2012 by Claire

This photo of Michaela wearing the prototype Junior Chef set, (which was also a present for a friend called Kaitlin) when she was 3 1/2 years old might give you some idea about how long I have been making these hats and aprons. But it is not the whole picture. I started making the aprons when Rory was not yet 2, over 8 years ago, (sadly, my scanner is refusing to work, which is a pity, because Rory was an adorable toddler).

This photo, from 3 and a half years ago will have to do.

For many years an apron was my go-to present for any kid that was celebrating a birthday, because I love a present that encourages participation. I’ve made them with fairy fabric, monkey fabric, robot fabric, flower fabric.

3 and a half years ago I added the appliques and the personalised hats. I can still remember my reluctant model telling me that he would stand there, but only if he didn’t have to smile! Originally the set was for a book project that didn’t get off the ground, and then, in 2010, they were published in Australian Homespun as a pair – the one above and the one below.

2 of my apron/hat sets have been to International Quilt Market, to show off Melly’s fabric, but sadly they didn’t make their way home again. You can see one below.

I’m really proud of this pattern, and pleased to release it with 9 different applique motifs to choose from.

The instructions take you through fusible, raw-edge applique, but the appliques are designed to work as needle turn appliques too, as they are in the 3rd and 4th photo. The hat and apron are adjustable, and suit 3 to 8 year olds. The set fits older kids, but the apron just starts to get shorter. The hat fits my average adult head, right down to toddlers.

If you would like to win a copy of the Junior Chef pattern, leave a comment below, telling me what you think is the best thing to cook with a child. I always loved making play dough with my kids, and think chocolate ripple cake is the best thing for young chefs to ~~cook~~ assemble on their own.

The giveaway is open to International folk as well as Aussies, and will be randomly drawn and announced on Monday the 17th.

And the winner is…

Posted on December 8, 2012 by Claire

…”thebanana”.

Just for curiosity sake, (and because my lovely husband happened to be playing with his new iphone5 while I was shooting) this is the set-up I was using to take this shot.

All very low tech, no light boxes for me, just a sheet of board painted in one of my favourite paint colours, (the same as my cutting table) and natural light. The gum leaves just happened to blow into shot just before I clicked, and I liked them.

I’ll be back again soon with another pattern or two to give away.

Starfruit Footstool

Posted on December 7, 2012 by Claire

Way back in May this year, I started making a larger version of my Starfruit Cushion , as a footstool. You may have spotted it in the photos of my stand at Australian Quilt Market. I’m really pleased with how it turned out, so I thought I would do a quick post on it’s vital statistics.

You follow the tutorial method in exactly the same way, but you start with fifteen 9″ squares of upholstery fabric, and sew them up with 1/2″ seam allowances (instead of 1/4″). Squares of this size will not hold their shape unless they are upholstery weight, although if you were determined to use lighter fabrics, then I guess you could interface it. I used dental floss to attach the buttons.

This baby takes a lot of stuffing, (you can see it half-stuffed in the photo above). I used about 1 1/2 to 2 bags, plus a whole lot of rags. The rags are used at the bottom, with stuffing around them so that the footstool doesn’t end up looking lumpy. The rags lend a nice weight to it, considering it is for feet and not meant to be too soft. I used corn based stuffing and it was perfect for this application, with the thicker fabric.

Why don’t you give it a try?

By the way, there is still time to enter the giveaway for a Monster Chef pattern, drawn tomorrow.

Monster Chef Giveaway

Posted on December 4, 2012 by Claire

These three culinary monsters were hanging out in my garden today admiring my herbs. The sun was a little harsh for a photo, but it was better than the grey clouds and downpour that came earlier. I could have waited for better weather to take a photo, (I’m fussy, so I usually do) but I couldn’t wait to get started on some pattern giveaways.

Monster Chef was not the first pattern I designed, but he gets the most love from admirers, so I decided to start with him. If you would like to win a pattern to make your very own Monster Chef, just leave a comment and tell me what food you most enjoy cooking. My favourite dish in recent times is Beef casserole with Sweet Potato dumplings.

The giveaway is open to International folk as well as Aussies, and will be randomly drawn and announced on Saturday the 8th.

***********The Giveaway Is Now Closed***************