Flower Press

P and J spent last week with my parents as it was school holidays here.  And it was the perfect time to make J's flower press for her birthday.

I cut up the rose pictures from the book I bought, and then glued them onto the placemats with PVA glue.  I then covered them with another layer of PVA to seal them.  The original tutorial called for modge podge, but PVA is what I had, so that is what I used.

I am pretty happy with how they turned out.

However, you can see that there is a little bit of bubbling under the paper.  I suspect its because I didn't put enough glue on the bottom.  I'm still really happy with them, and I really hope that J will like them.

Hop over to Blackbird has spoken to find more Op Shop finds.

Serendipity and the Hospice Shop

 After my epiphany about J's birthday presents I decided to hit the Hospice Shop for some bits and pieces.  Unfortunately it was a Saturday, so I had to let P and J come with me.  Well, I didn't have to, but when they get so excited to buy 50c worth of pencils and a pencil case to go with them, I don't mind indulging them.  While we were shopping for childrens books, pencils and a strange plastic rose originally from the Body Shop, I found some things to use for J's birthday presents.

A treasure tin

 Complete with floral motif! J did ask what the tin was for, and I just said for some stuff.  She'll still be very excited to see it on her birthday.

And some placemats to make into a flower press.  The original tutorial uses coasters, but I thought they might be a bit small for the flowers J likes to collect.  So I was on the look out for something a bit bigger, and there they were.  Its hard to tell from the picture, but they aren't full size placemats, more like something in between a coaster and a placemat.  In fact exactly the size I was looking for.  So I snapped them up as well.

 And finally a book about roses.  Since I'm going with the floral theme I thought these pictures would look fabulous pasted onto the top of the placemats.

 So $3 well spent on my birthday present bits, and once again when I have needed something, the Hospice Shop has come through for me.

Joining up with the Op Shop show off with Blackbird has spoken today.

Mermaid Barbie

I have finished J's Barbie mermaid skirt (or is it a tail?) from Sticka Till Barbie.  Its pattern 1106 - click on the link 1101 - 1150 on the left hand side.  I really like the way it has turned out.  I think the green and blues of the yarn really work with this pattern.  I think J will love it for her birthday.

The fin parts of the tail are knitted in garter stitch, and I like the textural difference between those and body of the tail.

I haven't been consciously styling Barbie's arms and hands, they just kind of fall into that position - she looks a bit creepy if you ask me.  Of course, she may just be a bit miffed that I've photographed her with no top on.  Sorry about that Barbie.

Joining up with FO Friday, and Creative Friday today.

I have been inspired

We were walking home from playgroup this morning, when inspiration struck me about J's birthday presents.  J had just picked me some flowers and instructed me to take them to work.  J loves to pick flowers and give them to people, and it got me thinking about the flower press that my sister had as a kid.  It was awesome.  And then I realised I could make/get J one for her birthday!

And then, in that serendipitous way that things often go, I was randomly looking at Remarquable Junque and found this post about a Nature bag, that included a flower press.  I might not get all the things that the Nature kit has in it, but I will definitely be using a few ideas, especially the flower press.

My project this week

More birthday presents for J.  While the Barbie clothes are coming along really well, I'm still a little stumped by some of the other ideas.

However, I think maybe I will make her a skirt, and then try to find some ponies for her.  That just leaves one present, and I think something like a game, or puzzle, is probably in order.  I did ask her what she wanted, but she also didn't have any idea.  Maybe I should start frequenting that place that I buy things in the hopes that something jumps out and grabs me.

Barbie knitting

My project this week was to knit some clothes for J's Barbies for her birthday.  I was browsing Ravelry, and came across Stick till Barbie.  Wow! If you ever wanted to knit some Barbie clothes, this is the site for you.  There are over 1,000 patterns on here.  I think I can knit from here for as long as the girls will need clothes for their dolls.  Its a bit of a time waster, but check out some of the patterns!

 So far I have knitted dress 498 (I can't link directly to each pattern, but you can click onto the ones you want on the left hand side).

and I am most of the way through a mermaid tail (pattern 1106), which I think J will love.

I've altered the mermaid tail to knit in the round (the patterns on the site are all knitted flat), using some thick and thin hand spun yarn.  I didn't really like the striping in the yarn, so I still have heaps of it.  I can see plenty more little projects like this to use it up.

Change of plans

My project for the week coming was supposed to be photos.  See I had big plans to put together a photo book, or at least print out photos from our holiday.  We went skiing this week, the first time for the girls.  But unfortunately P was (and still is) very sick.  So there was no skiing for her at all, and not much else either, well except for sleeping on the couch.  So instead this week I need to really get moving on J's birthday presents since I have done *ahem* nothing for them yet.

So that is my project for this week.  I think I will be dyeing some wool, and making some Barbie clothes.

Dress for J

I had my wool out recently, and J demanded (I mean requested) that I knit her a dress.  I really like the Maxi Dress by Elena Nodel (ravelry link), although I am tempted by the Oriental Lily by Tikki as well.

 And she picked this yarn, surprise by PureWool.  There is only one problem.  I only have 100g of this in fingering weight which isn't enough to knit J a dress.  And its an unusual colourway, and Purewool has gone out of business, and PureWool isn't known for the consistency of colours across dye lots.

 So all in all, its a problematic situation.  Rather than casting about trying to find some more of the yarn I already have I have decided to dye some wool myself.  It obviously isn't going to look exactly the same, but at least I will get the right amount of yarn in the right ply.

Birthday knitting

While I did complete a birthday present this week, it wasn't one for J.  I have finished one fingerless mitten for my brother for his birthday, and I'm most of the way through the other half of the pair.  The pattern is Alice's amazing no gusset fingerless mittens (ravelry link).

So far I am enjoying it, and I am knitting at practically light speed, having completed most of the pair this week.

Now with pictures!

Birthday presents

My project this week is to start on some birthday presents for J.  I can't believe she is nearly four.  Where is all this time going, and how do I slow it down!

Anyway, enough freaking out about ageing, so far I have a few ideas for her presents:

• Barbie clothes (I can knit some really fast right?)
• Lego
• Something pony/unicorn related
• Maybe something musical?

Okay, so my ideas are still a little nascent, but they are at least a good start.  I might see what I can find on Ravelry and Pinterest.

While we are on the subject, have I confessed that I don't really like Pinterest? I get the point of it, but my mind doesn't really work the way that it is set up.  Maybe I am just getting old, and that technology is for the younger generation.  Back in my day, we just remembered where we saw the idea in the first place instead of pinning everything (insert zimmer frame shaking here).

Any other thoughts or ideas about 4 year old birthday ideas?

Happy First Birthday

We went to my parents for the weekend of C's birthday, so we had a little party for her there.  She was very spoilt by all my family.  Its been a great first year, and it seems just yesterday that I was holding her little form in my arms.  I thought I'd feel a bit sad, since she is my last baby, but I don't really.  I do miss those newborn snuggles - the way they snuffle into you, and the little baby smell, but I'm looking forward to the next stage with our little cheeky chops.

 Ooohhh (its her favourite expression, often accompanied by a pointing finger).

 The birthday cake.  This ballerina has sat atop many other birthday cakes over the years - both mine, and my sisters.  J was very keen to bring it home, but I had to explain that it needed to stay with Nana.  J also said that she would have her birthday at my parents, so it may get the chance to grace some more cakes yet.

Birthday preparation

My project this week is to prepare for C's first birthday.  And I have to confess I haven't actually organised a birthday party for her at all.  Such are the breaks for the third child I guess.  She will have a very low key get together here, and then another - slightly larger - party at my parents since we have to be over there for a weekend anyway.

Of course since these are in a couple of weeks, I really should actually do something about it.

Wooden birthday fun

 My project this week was to get the last of C's birthday presents.  A project which went pretty much nowhere until today, when I had to go to the Hospice shop.  I needed to drop some stuff off, and it would be silly not to go inside and check out what was on offer, after all.

 And that is where I found this lovely wooden stacker for $2.  Its quite small, just the right size for a one year old.

C loves to try to put things together already, so I think this will be a real winner.  She loves to pull off her socks and try to put them back on, and she spent a good ten minutes trying to put some clothes on a barbie the other day.  She had no idea how to do it, but she was very focused on trying.

I'm really excited to give her all the birthday presents now, which is good since C turns 1 in less than a fortnight.

Joining up with Op Shop show off this week.

Birthday wrap up

 It occurs to me that I have been a bit slack about updating how things are going with my projects.  But I am pleased to say that P's 5th birthday went really well, and we all had a great time.

The felt playmat was played with, and the Ponies were very well appreciated.
 

Kindy friends were played with.

Hugs were shared between friends

And an 'Alicia' cake was made and enjoyed.

On my needles

My dress for C is progressing well, although it doesn't look that much like the pictures.  I think the problem is my decreasing - obviously my idiosyncratic knitting doesn't agree with the pattern.  One side of the leaves has holes where I have decreased, but the increase side does not.  I'm hoping blocking will iron out some of
the issues.

Also slightly problematic is where I joined in my second colour.  I joined it in where the pattern instructs you to start knitting the skirt.  This is actually a couple of rows too low, I should have joined it in where the pattern tells you to do the underarm section, so that the top colour ends with the seed stitch band.  Its not hugely noticeable though.  I'm really getting through the pattern so I think I will be definitely finished by July (I'm only half kidding about the slowness of my knitting.)

Birthday preparation

Remember when I said the word for this year was Transform? Well one of those transformative moments is fast approaching.  P turns 5 this week, and is off to school.  Its definitely a bittersweet birthday - that point at which your child ceases to be a preschooler, and starts on that long journey through the schooling system.  In so many ways, parenting is one little grief after another as our children move further and further away from us.

But I'm not all doom and gloom.  I am really excited for P - she is very keen to go to school, and it is wonderful to see my baby developing into a wonderful little person.

So my project this week is to get the house tidy and organised for people who are arriving, and organise her party!

Last of the birthday presents

My last present for P is another headband.  I'm really pleased by how this turned out.  Its essentially a tube - I cast on 6 stitches and joined in the round using magic loop, 3 on each needle.  Then I knitted it to the length I needed and joined the ends together.

I found a really nice tutorial for a knitted flower from Creating Laura, and attached it to the headband.  As you can see, I actually made the flower upside down, because it just didn't look as nice right way around.  The great thing about this pattern is that it uses so little yarn, and since I am constantly looking for some way to use up all the little scraps in my stash, this was perfect.  Its a really sweet and easy headband and I love how it came out.

Sorry for terrible photo quality - I was taking them at night so P didn't see anything.

Joining in with FO Friday and Creative Friday today

Its finished

 I finished the playmat for P's birthday.  And I am so excited to have it done.  I used this tutorial from Rhythm of the Home.

The tutorial is really easy to follow, but there are a few things that were a bit more difficult than I expected.  I started with just three jerseys, but this definitely looks better with more colours in it, so I added a few more into it.  The more different tones of the colours for this the better I suspect.

When I stuck the interfacing to the back of the pieces of felt, there were some gaps, where the pieces of felt didn't abut quite right.  When I zigzagged it all together, I just smooched the pieces of felt together a little bit, and it all fitted together really nicely.  As you can see I didn't have any invisible thread so I just used some co-ordinating thread instead, and it was fine.

 I wanted to needle felt the front, but I couldn't find any needles anywhere, so I did a bit of embroidery with some scraps of wool instead.  I really like the way it came out, although it looks a bit more 'made' than the original tutorial.

It all went fine until I tried to put the paper backed fusible webbing onto it.  When I went to buy the wonder under (the stuff recommended in the tutorial), the shop only had a different kind 'steam a seam'.  It was a disaster trying to get it to attach to the felt, and it kept tearing (I'm pretty sure I put it on the wrong way).  And then the backing wasn't exactly the right size - why is it always at the end that these things happen?

But it hasn't really affected the finished front, so I do think that P will really enjoy using it.  I'm definitely keen to make another one so it was definitely a worthwhile project.

Joining up with Stash busting, and Creative Friday today.