Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Susie McMahon Workshops

There is great excitement amongst the South Australian Cloth Doll Ladies. Susie McMahon is coming for a visit and to teach classes. Her last visit was 2008.
This is the doll I sculpted in the class.


My plan is too dress her as a Victorian era child. I got too the underwear and blouse stage and ran out of oomph. I have the material and the patterns for the rest of her clothing and I will finish her just don't ask me when.

This time we are making The Muse and Zozie. I don't have to buy anything but a half a meter of stretch fabric. I probably don't even need to buy that but I can't be bothered hunting through the Stash for it so I am off to the fancy fabric shop to hunt up a flash stretch fabric. Ideally I'd like something in black and gold but I'll have to wait and see what is available.

Monday, November 21, 2011

From the Stash

AS you know, if you are following what I am up too, I am trying to use mostly things from my stash. I have lots of choices and that is part of the problem. I do have an ongoing project and I am doing the boring bit.
Once I have a project to the stage that I can see how it will end up I lose interest. It's a big problem for me and even though I am aware of this I still struggle with it. That's one of the reasons I am veering towards small projects. I have lots of big unfinished projects too.
Last month in my bid to create order from chaos Greg helped me clear everything out of the studio and I mostly put it back. I avoided the yearly craft show because I am an impulse shopper and I have enough impulsively bought items as it is without adding to them.
I don't have a current knitting project, well one I can lay my hands on that it is. I started a baby jacket for my cousins baby girl and I will finish it one day. When I find it. Said baby turned 21 recently, need I say anymore. I also have a cable jumper for myself started but there are more cables on the back than the front so I have to fix it and that is more work than I want at the moment.
I found, in the great tidy up, the alpaca wool I bought last November and the hand spun/dyed I bought in Tasmania in 2009. I also located the wool winder thingeys I bought in Ballarat in April. So at least I used the wool winders and I have the wool dehanked.


There are lots of patterns on Ravelry I love. A beret called Phannie which this wool would be perfect for. Plus another for a bandana cowl on the blog Purl Bee, this blog has an array of crochet and knitting projects. There's a crocheted hat with ear flaps that would work with this wool too.
Summer is on us so I am not sure where this desire to knit has come from but oh well.

On another topic if you are an embroidery fan Sharon of Pin Tangle is starting Take a Stitch Tuesday again. Go for a look if you are interested. I start well then run out of oomph but I am going to give it another go.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

When is enough enough?

I think I have finally reached the stage of "Enough is Enough". I had organised my PDO for this Friday so I could go to the Craft Fair. NOT GOING!!!! I've got enough.
Enough what? Well may you ask. Yes you may.
I have enough emphemera, textile ephemera. I have fabric of all types falling out of boxes and cupboards. I have a million books (slight exageration but not by much). Stamps, paint, stencils, inks... You name it and I probably have some of it or I can tell you where to get it. Need a couple of old shoe lasts... I have some of those. Perhaps an Edwardian bed jacket, got it. Lots and lots of buttons, Pick me Pick me. Threads, wools silks and polyester whatevers. Miles of ribbons and mountains of lace. Yep I am your girl.

What don't I have? I don't have enough time. I am severely lacking in enthusiasm. Part of this is brought on by working my butt off at work. I am filling in for one of the kitchen officers who is on leave. I love cooking but it just isn't fun anymore I am over this job. I want to go back to my own job now. When I get home I fall into a chair with a glass of wine and wish for Lotto to ring me.
Oh well only 7 more working days and the holidayer will be back and I can go back to my own job.
The trouble is I think I've had enough of that too. Might be time to look for something new. I have been working in this industry for nearly 15 years and I think my candle is burning out. I think it is a big hint when you look at a client and you just want to slap them and tell them to grow up.
I know what I am not going to do and surely that is a start. I am not going to open my own business I just can't afford it without taking out a mortgage and in the current financial crisis I am not willing to risk my house on it.
The trouble is I am really good at getting people to do stuff they have to do and don't particularly want to do and I am good at organising so if you know of any one who wants a bossy organiser let me know.
Luckily my boss does want me to do that and pays me really well to do it even when my attitude sucks. So until Lotto rings or the dream job turns up I'll just stay where I am.
Big sigh... Surely it is my turn to win Lotto. Hurry up and ring me Lotto man.