Dear Santa

Well it is nearly Christmas Day, and I know I have left it rather late to be writing, but I hope you will still take this note into consideration when tallying up the nice people and not the naughty ones! I have been rather busy of late finishing presents (13 nightdresses, 3 art packs, 3 flower clips, a hooded cape and an Alice in wonderland costume at last count), packing up the car for the trip to Adelaide (presents, swimming gear, dog's gear, food, clothes, dress-ups etc.) and ensuring everybody had plenty of snacks and entertainment for the said car trip. With so much to think about I guess you wouldn't be surprised to learn then that I left two very important presents for Miss Whizzme hidden in the back closet. So, if you could please ensure Miss Whizzme could have something else off her Christmas list this year I promise to take up the baton again next year! I am also hoping that you enjoyed the Christmas singing that took place during our car journey which was in your honour! (Our dog Wally didn't seem too impressed so if you could pop something small into his stocking for being so tolerant of his owners during the 8 hours of car ride, it would be much appreciated). As for myself, I am hoping that the next two days can be enjoyed with much rest, a little eating, a little drinking and some time with my family. If you do seem to have something tucked away for me, I wouldn't mind one of those fairies that come and clean up the house while you are asleep! I have included a few photos for your amusement too. Anyway, travel safe Santa, try not to eat too many cookies and don't forget to rug up warm.

All the best

Samantha



P.s. The winner of this month's giveaway is Annie , but don't worry, I've got that one covered.



P.p.s. I'm not sure when I will get a chance to write again, but I will be thinking of you during the holidays.

oh help!

or how nothing goes to plan part 2

Yes the chaos in the Whizzme household continues.  8 nightdresses were made, finally, after me literally sitting up all night to finish them.  It also involved a lot of swearing at the sewing machine! (and I forgot to take photos - arrgh). In between nightdresses I managed a quick alteration of this dress, so that her highness would be appropriately attired for dress up day.  

(Schools know that last minute dress up days drive parents crazy - don't they?!) I then accompanied Mr Whizzme out to his work dinner that night, having no sleep and wearing my newest high heels (no pain no gain).  With no sleep and little practice at wearing such heels I managed to get through the night with no embarrassing moments (bit of a first for me and work dos).  

Yet, still no chance to relax, because I have chosen this hectic month to change just about every room of our house around!  Crazy? - you bet I am!!  Luckily Mr Whizzme is wise enough to know when it is best to humour is wife!  And, although the main moving is done, I am still sorting, culling and putting away all those books and other very important items we own.  The pile in the shed that is ear marked for our storage unit, is getting larger by the day, and the bag of items for the op shop is now beyond lifting.  Nothing like a spring clean in the middle of chaos I say!!  But now it's back to sewing a few more nightdresses, some craft packs, some costumes and maybe a shirt or two.  We leave for Adelaide next Thursday, so plenty of time!!

For those of you who have asked about PANDA, please see their website for more details.  And thank you for all your encouragement.  I am really enjoying adding this work to my life.  Not that it really feels like work.

Finally, I haven't forgotten the giveaway winner, who for November is

Blackie

Please email me (whizzme (at) bigpond (dot) net (dot)au) your snail mail address, and pant size required.

As for December, there just has to be a giveaway - so last chance to leave a comment and win for 2007.  And no matter if you are crafty or not, every one loves treats, so the December giveaway winner will be receiving a package of choccies and other treats.  Get your name in now!

nothing ever goes to plan

It has been one of those weeks.  Everything happening at once, but nothing much being achieved.  Well actually that is the whizzme household most weeks!  Mr Whizzme's parents drove over from Adelaide to see Miss L's first school concert.  It was lovely, and for a little girl who last year was incredibly shy, this year she danced and sang with the rest of them.  Unfortunately not long after the end of the concert things began to go downhill, so that by the afternoon Miss L was having a major melt-down.  Tears, tantrums, yelling, throwing toys - apparently I have a diva in the making!  I hoping it is just a stage she is going through, as we had more such dramas today at school pick up.

I also attended my last 'scholarly learning' session for the PANDA counselling, as of next week it will be more hands on.  This is a little scary, but also exciting to be finally contributing something back.  I will miss meeting up with 4 other women to discuss and learn about the linking factor in our lives - depression.  It has been another chance to gain strength from a horrible part of my life.

All these goings on have meant that the Lounge Around Pants I have made recently ready for my etsy shop have only today been listed. Phew! nothing like being 5 days late.  Some of you have already responded to the wonderful write up these pants got.  If your little Princess likes to lounge around (and lets face it, who doesn't?!) please check out my new offerings in sizes 0-1 and 1-2 here.

Finally sneaking in at the very end of the month, is the November giveaway.  Thought I had forgotten didn't you?!  This month's winner will receive a pair of custom made Lounge Around Pants for their little Princess, with some added little goodies.  So go ahead, leave me a comment to be in the draw - you have until Monday.

Me - I'll be busy sewing up 8 nightdresses' by next Friday.  End of School for 2007.

Hot in the city

*

The weather is just all over the shop in Melbourne at the moment. Rain one minute, scorching hot the next.  It was hot over the weekend, so I kept putting off the Christmas present sewing I have to do and relabeling it - 'Do it Monday'.  Well today was a real scorcher, so I dithered about the house, sort of cleaning, sort of washing, sort of planning to do, sort of not accomplishing much before it was time to pick Miss L up.  I find it best on those days to use my best avoidance technique - we went to the pool after school until dinner time.  Aaaah now it's too late to start anything tonight! I guess if any of you had been wondering about my self given label in this blog's banner, there is the perfect example for you!

However, I do have something I prepared earlier - last school holidays in fact.  I made Miss L some capes for the dress up box (Wally the wonder dog was sporting one in a recent photo), and her friend Miss I joined us at the park one day to test them out.

 

Apparently they were great for flying, so I guess that means they pass the superhero test!

I could make you some promises about taking photo's this week about all the other things that have happened around here of late, but I'm afraid to let you all down - so instead, I'll just promise to try to take some photos.  I'll also try to get back into this blogging rhythm thing again - or maybe I won't and then I'll just blame it on the heat....

* P.s. This wonderful cake was made by my sister, just so she doesn't think I'm taking the credit!

40 years

The whizzme clan have once again been away, this time in Adelaide to celebrate my Mum and Dad's 40th Wedding Anniversary.  Spending time with family is always good for the heart and soul.  Happy Anniversary Mum and Dad.

Thanks for all the lovely comments about Linda's interview in the previous post.  Regular posting will (fingers crossed) resumed shortly....

not your average joe blogger...

Wally, the not so average dog

I decided a while ago that I wanted to get to know some of the people that stop by here.  I'm often seeing interviews with some of the 'celebrity' crafty bloggers like Wee Wonderfuls, Posie, Nikkishell,  Angry Chicken.  They are inspirational and I love reading about them but, not all of us are having are doors beaten down wanting to know our secrets.  So, here is the first interview with your not so average joe blogger.....

Oh but first of course we have a winner:

David and Melissa

(email me your snail mail to receive your prize: whizzme (at) bigpond (dot) net (dot) au)

Now please read on and meet Linda from Two Pink Possums;

1. Where did your blog name come from? 

I wrote down blog names for weeks in my journal. I knew it would just click when it was the right one! I had possums and pixies in my mind and I have always called my girls "possum" especially when they were little so that seemed natural to use. Of course I have 2 girls so it was Two and because they are girls I added the 'pink" and finally I was happy!

2. What inspires you to blog?

Other bloggers inspire me to blog. Sometimes I don't feel too good and not up to my own blog but I get a lot of enjoyment out of catching up on the blogs of people I have come to know as my online friends. I also like to think of my blog as my online journal and that inspires me to make work either 2d or 3d. It's like a little bit of pressure on myself to keep creating even if I am not well.

3. How often do you read other blogs?

How often I read other blogs really differs from week to week. Sometimes it may be nearly a week and I haven't had a chance or felt like being on the computer so suddenly I feel like it (or have the time)and I am flat out trying to catch up on them all. Other times I try to look at a couple each day. That is ideally the best way for me to do it. I also try to catch up on Flickr as well. I find Flickr is a wonderful online community too.

4. If you could only read one blog, which one would you choose?

If I could only read one blog it would have to be Cindy's 2Paw (the link is fixed thanks de vliegende koe) Cindy is such an entertaining writer. Her blog is always so much fun to read and she is a wonderful knitter too. I love to see her latest creations especially her socks! As you know Sam, knitting socks is something I have down for my next life!!! Cindy lives in Tassie too so it's nice to share that as well as blogging.

5. What's your favourite crafting tool?

My one favourite crafting tool would have to be....??????? very hard to answer. I have stuff everywhere that I couldn't live without, but I would have to say my sewing machine.

6. If you could have your dream job tomorrow, what would it be?

My dream job once would of been a Graphic Artist. That is what I first studied to do a very long time ago, but gave it up after a year. More recently I studied art again majoring in Ceramics and all I wanted was to be able to earn money from it. I had to give that up in the end (after graduating) for health reasons. So now my ideal job would just to be doing exactly what
I am doing now, sewing and drawing and painting when I can but actually get paid for it!! How wonderful that would be!!


How wonderful indeed - my dream too Linda.  A big thanks for being the first interviewee.  I hope you enjoyed meeting Linda.  I plan to have more interviews, maybe one or two a month. 

Now better get ready, off to learn more about counselling.

slacking

Miss L impersonating me.

hi folks, remember me?  

Yep I've been living up to my self given label again and been procrastinating nicely at home.  I really have lots of things to post about, and lots of thank yous to give, and some tags to do and well it all just seems to be a bit much at the moment.  I had a nasty bout of food poisoning last weekend, which has been followed with the preciousness of having that monthly female curse.  If I haven't been about to burst into tears I've been reorganising cupboards and sending things off to the op shop. I am really enjoying the counselling training at PANDA, and it has led to some interesting discussions at home about family beliefs, values, myths we have about ourselves etc.  Miss L seems to be going through some sort of 'phase' ("you don't understand mum")- which involves a lot of tears and dramatics. Boy is she going to be a treat for some therapist later on!! Therefore it may be another week before posting really returns to normal here (whatever normal is!) so I think I might just have time to sneak in the October giveaway.

Leave a comment - anything you want to say - just hello is fine.  I will draw a winner and let you know on the 1st of November.  Good luck.  Oh, and the prize - well, there's a craft book or two and who knows what else I might throw in the lucky winners parcel? maybe some chocolate if I can stop myself from eating it!! 

back on the chain gang...

ok, so it's not quite that bad. Although, I wasn't going to post until the house was in order, but given that we have now been back 5 days and it is hard to gauge any progress I thought it I'd better post before you Mum sends out the search party! It's a good thing that you cannot see the washing still to be done, the roomful of washing to be folded and put away, the beds to be made, dishes to be scrubbed, bills to be paid let alone the emails to be answered, all now added to my pages of the ever growing 'Must get this done soon' list.  Instead I will fill your eyes with the good times from our holidays.

For me this meant a lot of time enjoying this

finishing some projects

spending a lot of time at the beach with Miss L

and other lovely family pursuits that can be found at Phillip Island.

For Miss L a large part of the holiday was enjoyed by collecting jellyfish from the shoreline (hundreds of them, all about coin size) and then releasing them into an appropriately surveyed rock pool.  Thank goodness my only involvement in this daily project was pointing the oozy little creatures out with my toe. ick!  When we were able to drag Miss L away from the beach, it was to spend over an hour in the animal farm holding her favourite adoptee guinea pig. Sheesh!  

The upside of this activity being that Miss L is now intent on being allowed to have her own guinea pig, and so is attempting to prove her ability to be responsible.  I am of course milking this situation for all its worth using this as a perfect time for her to learn tidying up, putting away, packing school bags etc. etc.  We will see how long this lasts.

For Mr Whizzme it meant mainly spending much cherished time with his girls.

Since returning

- I have started the training course to become a telephone counsellor at PANDA

- joined my often partner in crime into guilting inspiring each other with joint gym sessions

- got about 1/3 done of both chevron scarf versions

- started the Christmas shopping

- organised the next sewing session for shop goodies.

Now that I am feeling better about my no more neglected blog I will return to the 877 posts still to be read in bloglines, the 15 commentors I still have to reply too and probably the washing.

off again

I think I mentioned a few posts ago that the Whizzme family is not that good at staying still for too long, so tomorrow Miss L and I are off to Rye for a few nights, then Friday the whole Whizzme clan (including the black one) are heading down to Phillip Island for 9 nights.  This has meant that my sewing plans have met some serious snags and I am currently hand-piecing and quilting in a frenzy to get my seasonal quilt finished.  It has nothing to do with the fact that I leave things until the last minute - nothing to do with that at all!

I must say a HUGE thank you to all your wonderful feedback I have received of late - it has me blushing with pride.  Mr Whizzme liked the fact that Dani had finally cracked my secret - I am a crazy lady wielding knitting needles  - sorry if I have ruined any illusions you may have had of my awesome multi-tasking skills - HA!

Also another awed thank you to those of you that snapped up my Aunty Cookie tote's so quickly.  When I get my hand's on some more of Shannon's fabric I will try to stitch a few more.  

In the meantime please excuse me if I do not visit in the next little while or I'm late to reply to your comments, I'll be at the beach....

IF

If I was going to make a Babette blanket I would probably use colours something like this

and my squares would start to look something like this...

but I wouldn't be doing anything so silly as starting another project, so instead here (finally) is the progress I have made on the hexagon blanket:

This blanket is actually the reworking of a wip that was looking like this.

A gorgeous striped cardigan for Miss L in Rowan wool cotton.   Unfortunately, the completed back you see here is a size 2, and given that Miss L is now 5 I might have just left this project a little too late! (now there's an understatement).  There wasn't enough yarn to complete a bigger size so the perfect excuse to start some hexagons.  Miss L is monitoring the blanket's progress quite closely, including sizing it up to her bed!  Nothing like cracking that whip over your mother!!

When my little overseer has retired for the night, I have been trying to still work out a colour way I like for the chevron scarf.  I won't bore you with photo's of all the versions I have tried, but I think I finally like this one - I think!  

And I've also grown attached to this version - in 3 ply hand dyed cashmere (purchased from AK).

So you can see it is really very lucky that I haven't started any other projects this week (she says nudging the Babette blanket under the cushion).  But I know you are really here to find out if you won this month's giveaway.  My helpful little barrel bunny (or bowl bunny as the case may be), Pebble was very excited to be able to choose this month's winner.

The prize is this great book.

And the winner is

so Gwen email me your address - whizzme (at)bigpond(dot)net(au).

Finally, because so many of you have been so lovely about my knitting tote's, there are now 3 available in the shop - all sporting great Aunty Cookie fabric. (hey Jo, look, I finally made something for the shop?!)

Now I hear Miss L saying something about blankets....

hello spring

I know I promised hexagon's but I haven't managed any photo's yet, as once again I have succumbed to another infection - throat this time - no talking?  lucky I can still type!! so here is a little bit of the activity spring has brought.

A finished tote and crochet holdall for the back to school swap.  The swap also included a journal and photo album.  Once again I used my version of the tote from the simple gifts to stitch book - and I lined it. - so much better.

The crochet holdall was  based on an idea from this book.  

ISBN 978-4+415-30004-7

(Ok, a few more japanese craft books seem to have snuck into the house...)

I also added lining to the aunty cookie tote's.

 

doesn't that look better?! the one on the left is now on its way to a new home.

Miss L had a friend over to play so I fashioned the trampoline into a cubby.  This kept them out of my hair amused for hours.  Which meant I could get busy on my quilt for the Four Seasons Swap.  Here is a sneak peak at the fabric's I'm using.  

This is a very new colour way for me, and I'm quite enjoying it.

Meanwhile, I'll still be hexagoning, chevroning, sewing, dreaming, reading, oh wait it's school holidays - there goes all my free time - hmph!

Sorry this post is so short, but if you leave a comment you'll go into the draw for this month's giveaway - the prize will be announced with the winner. (mysterious!!) You have until Monday.

chevroning

the whizzme family don't like to stay still for too long, so we popped over to Sydney on Sunday to see one of our nephew's confirmed.I managed to convince R (or Mr whizzme as he is now known) that even for only 24 hours it was very important to bring along my knitting and hence we would have to check in our baggage! sheesh! Miss L complained it wasn't long enough (we only stayed 24 hours) but managed a dip into the sea, lashings of hot chocolate and to bring home a bag of lego.

Thanks everyone for the lovely feedback on my little bag experiment. I am currently still getting back to those who commented. This post, however, is to show you the progress of the Chevron so far (or the knitting project that came to Sydney). I oohed and aahed over the lovely chevron scarves Alex of Moonstitches knitted. The pattern is from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. Even though I had no Koigu I thought one of my *cough* many luscious hand dyed skeins might be suitable. I picked out this beautiful alpaca yarn from Becreatif.

However, after a few rows it wasn't making me gooey with pleasure. I purchased these lovely Koigu's from Purl, so cast on again. Nope - not that either.

(sorry forgot to photograph this version so just trust me ok? it wasn't working!)

I dug around in my stash and found a lonely skein of Koigu (KPPPM P511L) so I combined that with the KPPPM from Purl. This is it so far - ick!

who knew this was going to be so bloody complicated! (and yeah I bite my nails)

I have since purchased the following Koigu's from ebay - hmmm, what should I try next?

or maybe I should combine my alpaca with this another colourway from Becreatif?

any suggestions you have would be most appreciated.

I am also on a Koigu hunt, as I want to try the Babette Blanket next (always one for a bandwagon!!). If you have any Koigu skeins in your stash looking for a new home and you would like to do a swap, please email me whizzme(at)bigpond(dot)net(dot)au

While I ponder the chevron dilemma the hexagons continue, maybe photos of mine by the next post. I also have some more purchases to share and there will be another giveaway this month, so stay alert!

chevroning

the whizzme family don't like to stay still for too long, so we popped over to Sydney on Sunday to see one of our nephew's confirmed.I managed to convince R (or Mr whizzme as he is now known) that even for only 24 hours it was very important to bring along my knitting and hence we would have to check in our baggage! sheesh! Miss L complained it wasn't long enough (we only stayed 24 hours) but managed a dip into the sea, lashings of hot chocolate and to bring home a bag of lego.

Thanks everyone for the lovely feedback on my little bag experiment. I am currently still getting back to everyone. But this post is to show you the progress of the Chevron so far (or the knitting project that came to Sydney). I oohed and aahed over the lovely chevron scarves Alex of Moonstitches knitted. The pattern is from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. Even though I had no Koigu I thought one of my *cough* many luscious hand dyed skeins might be suitable. I picked out this beautiful alpaca yarn from Becreatif.

However, after a few rows it wasn't making me gooey with pleasure. I purchased these lovely Koigu's from Purl, so cast on again. Nope - not that either.

(sorry forgot to photograph this version so just trust me ok? it wasn't working!)

I dug around in my stash and found a lonely skein of Koigu (KPPPM P511L) so I combined that with the KPPPM from Purl. This is it so far - ick!

who knew this was going to be so bloody complicated! (and yeah I bite my nails)

I have since purchased the following Koigu's from ebay - hmmm, what should I try next?

or maybe I should combine my alpaca with this another colourway from Becreatif?

any suggestions you have would be most appreciated.

I am also on a Koigu hunt, as I want to try the Babette Blanket next (always one for a bandwagon!!). If you have any Koigu skeins in your stash looking for a new home and you would like to do a swap, please email me whizzme(at)bigpond(dot)net(dot)au

While I ponder the chevron dilemma the hexagons continue, maybe photos of mine by the next post. I also have some more purchases to share and there will be another giveaway this month, so stay alert!

a pattern review of sorts

I have a back log of posts to share, so instead of swamping you with information I have resolved to keep it to single bite-sized reading. I'm nice like that :)

I recently purchased 'simple gifts to stitch by Jocelyn Worrall'. I had seen it reviewed somewhere but for the life of me can't remember which blog it was (if I find it, I'll let you know). You may remember that I used this book recently to make my own version of the Accordion Wallet. I was impressed with how easy this came to gather, so decided to try another pattern. Next up the Tri Pocket Ticking Tote, which is featured on the front cover. As I'm trying to be a little more efficient in my craftiness I cut out two bags - one in oil cloth and one in some cool fabric from aunty cookie and that nifty measuring tape fabric. Once again the instructions were extremely easy to follow, and the bag itself was whipped up in a 1/2 hour.
Ta da, Miss L's new ballet bag.

This oilcloth was much easier to sew with than the version I used for the accordion wallet. I bought it ages ago at one of those craft fairs, and I haven't been able to find it any where else. The only issue I had with the finished bag, is it is quite deep which I didn't think would be ideal for a knitting bag. Thinking cap on (doesn't happen often) I decided that instead I would cut each of my pre-cut fabrics for the second bag in half (even the handles) and make two from one. Thrifty!!

So, here is the Aunty Cookie knitting bag, which got some very positive feed back at the market. It is a great size for carrying around a project or two and some bits and bobs.

The down side - I don't like the unfinished look inside - so I have decided to line the inside of both knitting bags. It doesn't bother me so much with the oilcloth version (?!) but it really bugs me every time I open it and see all those nasty seams.

Final results - a biga - two from two for this book.
Details
Pattern: Tri Pocket Ticking Tote
Bag One Fabric: Polka dot oilcloth
Bag Two Fabric: Aunty Cookie Knit One(now available) and American Jane Building Blocks Measure Dark (available here)


P.s. Reprodepot have the book on sale.

crafty japanese inspiration

continuing with the inspiration theme from my last post, I thought I would share my latest Japanese craft books. Superbuzzy had a sale recently, and after giving so much away recently I thought I was due a spend up - any excuse really :) So for your viewing pleasure here are my latest additions.

Cotton Paint Issue 12 : see more pictures and buy here

Cotton friend Spring 2007 : buy here



Cotton & Paint Volume 27: see more pictures and buy here


pochee fall 2006 : see more pictures and buy here


Cafe Summer 2007 : see more pictures and buy here

As you can see plenty more inspiration to fill my head. But if you don't have the money to spend on Japanese craft books at the moment, here are some places you can get some free patterns. Of course the text is in Japanese but the drawings are so easy to follow that it won't matter. Have fun.

naniIRO (thanks to Purl for this link)
kitty craft (I've been using this one for over a year now)