Bernard The Bear

  

This lovely bear is in the latest issue of Mollie Makes by designer Anna Machul.  He was just the right project to whip up last night after a day of knitting something and then pulling it out because it wasn't working.  The felt is a lovely hand-dyed wool felt from Winterwood Toys and he has a Harris Tweed scarf.

The Tidying Bug

  

  

At the stat of any year I usually get the tidying bug, but I got it big time this year.  The craft room was first and got a full clean and sort.  Then my cupboard and the linen cupboard.  When I was talking to Stephanie about tidying she said Japanese Tidying Guru Marie Kondo was on Netflix.  I read her book years ago and her main concept is that if an item does not spark joy, it needs to go.  A principle I have been working on.  However after watching her show, the bug hit again and I started folding my undie and sock drawer the way she does it.  Don't think I will have every drawer folded into the little squares, but this drawer made sense.  Piers liked the look and then did his drawers. His cycling socks are a thing of beauty.

New Back Door

  

A new back door was installed yesterday and what a difference it has made.  The old one was a cheap cardboard filled interior door that should never have been used.  The new one lets lots of light into our little laundry, so much so that we keep thinking the door has been left open.  It needs a paint and the paint and peel is still on the glass, so it will probably be even brighter when that comes off.

Australia Gardens

  

  

  

  

  

Yesterday Piers and I went for a wander around Australia Gardens near Cranbourne.  It has been a couple of years since we have been and things are growing and coming along nicely.  It was a lovely day, not too hot, lots of plants in flower and lots of birds about.  Love the little wrens and finches.  The garden is all Australian native plants, some really unusual ones too.

Learning Something New

  



I have tried to knit on a circular needle before and failed, couldn't get the hang of it.  Thank you to the lovely ladies at the Sit & Stitch at Can Do Books on Thursday for their hints and tips on how to use them.  And I did it, knitted this little bird on a pair of circular needles, yay.

That'll Do Donkey

  

    

The lovely legs from yesterday were for a donkey.  He is adapted from The Soft Scientist's pattern.  The grey yarn is from Fibresmith.  And he is about 15cm high.

Lovely Legs

The current project has four lovely legs.

Doggie Door Stop

  

The other day in Geelong I found this sweet little cast iron doggie door stop at the Antiques & Collectables shop.   I think the craft room door has sufficient 'stoppage'.

Little Doggie Needle Case

  

  

Yesterday's post made me think I should do more of making things from the things I see.  I was in Geelong yesterday and was keeping my eyes open for something to inspire.  It wasn't until I was home at my local supermarket that I saw a very sweet Jack Russell Terrier minding the van, that something clicked.  It was a hot day and all the windows on the van were open, so he was quite safe, and very happy, I got a smile as I walked passed.  It didn't feel right to take a photo, so when I got home I did a little collage in a sketchbook to remind me.  After dinner I thought I should really make something, so I made a needle case.  It is a little bit on the large side, but that is alright, and it opens on the left instead of the right. But if it opened the other way the doggie would be in the driver's seat.

Little Flower Decoration

  



In the latest clean up in the craft room I found this little felt decoration.  I made it after a visit to the Botanical Gardens here in Melbourne.  My friend Jo and I walked around the gardens for a few hours getting photos for inspiration.  I am afraid this is the only thing I made from that day.  Size wise, it is about 5cm across.  It is now in the Christmas decoration tub and will go on the tree next year.

Little Roses Jar Lid

  

These are tiny knitted roses and felt leaves.  This is the last in the Martel & Stevin series of jar lids.

Rabbit Jar Lid

  

Crocheted head and ears and fishing line whiskers.  The first photo makes him look a bit sinister.

A Smaller Gnome

  

  



Finished the small gnome.  He has a nice spade and something to plant.  The larger gnome has a new friend.  He is knitted in 8ply, the smaller in 4 and 5ply.  We had the discussion abut whether it is a spade or a shovel, a spade is for digging, shovel for moving material.  But always "That's a nice shovel" sounds better than "That's a nice spade".

Pussycat Jar Lid

Martel and Stevin have a little black cat so had to include one in the jar lids. The cat is crocheted and the tail is also crocheted and then sewn back into it to give it strength.

Tiny Tree Jar Lid

  

I had just finished making the trees for my Christmas present decoration and thought I could make a little tree for one of the jar lids.  So I did.

Ooma's Button Jar Lid

This is one of my husband's Grandmother's buttons.  I kept it simple in the jar lid and just did a buttonhole on some felted wool fabric.  I forgot to take a photo of this one in the jar lid.