Weekend Projects

This is part of what i spent my time on this long weekend. Saturday afternoon was devoted to sewing this little bag. I am so pleased with how it has turned out as it is the first time that i have ever done anything like this before. The inner pocket looks good, the lining looks professional and the handles feel secure. I will definitely be making another one of these but in a bigger size, and i might try adding a zip to it along with more interfacing to make it a little sturdier.

I also finished my Montego Bay scarf, pictures and review to follow later in the week and started Deep Desire from Simply Knitting Magazine.

Sunday afternoon my mom made some curtains for us for out bathroom window. We have been renting our house for ages now but i have never had any curtains in the bathroom because it is a horrible canary yellow and i just couldn't imagine what to put up. While going through my moms fabric stash we found some fabric that would work perfectly. A few hours later my curtains were made and hanging in our bathroom. Thank you mom.

Monday morning we got up early and went to Pontsworth Flea Market with my mom and dad. We spent a good four hours walking around this huge field filled with stall after stall of all sorts of different items. We left with two new pillows, socks for Stu, a tool of some sort and a teddy bear plate for my gran. All in all a very good morning.

Today I am hoping to find some time tonight to do some studying. I have so much work to get through and i find that i just keep putting it off.

Hope everyone is doing well. My camera's battery died on me and i haven't had time to charge it yet so more photos of the new curtains to follow later this week.

God Bless

~Lynne

Things about me right now

African - I was born and raised in South Africa. My heritage is South African. My roots are South African. I love Africa. I found this quilt here. I am hoping to make an African quilt at some point.Budgeting - I am trying to get my head around budgeting and have been doing this for 3 months now. I think that i have finally found a system that works and that we can stick to. Now i just have to get the spending to stop.

Cats - I love cats and always have. We currently have 3 and i wouldn't change them for the world.

Dreaming of a holiday - It has been so long since we have been on holiday. Its been 2 years and that was only for a weekend away. Argghh, how i wish we could get away for a week or two.

Eagerly awaiting the arrival of my brother - My brother arrives in 9 days from South Africa. I haven't seen him in 4 years and i am looking forward to getting to know him again.

Finishing things - My dad has brought it to my attention that i tend to begin a lot more projects than what i actually finish. This is not true. I finish my projects......eventually. *I am working on this one now dad*

Georgiamudfudge - Just the thought of this word brings so many happy memories flooding back to me. Dairy Queen. The beach. Rayola. America. Good times.

Honesty - This is something that i am working on. I am learning to be more honest with those around me about how i feel. I am so concerned about other peoples feelings that often i tell them more what they want to hear rather than how i feel. I have started to realise that by doing this I am not being true to myself and that is no good.

Incredibly blessed - For all that i have.

Jelly and custard - Even at the ripe old age of 25 i still enjoy Jelly and Custard for pudding. Granted, now its sugar free jelly and low fat custard but hey, it still counts right?

Knitting mad - As i am sure is the case with most knitters and artists out there.....too many projects and not enough time! So many things that i want to knit.

Laughing a lot - I love spending time with my family and having them closer to me has made me very happier. My family are so funny and we always have such a good laugh when we get together.

Magnolia flowers - These are one of my very favourite flowers at the moment.

Needing to sort out my South African Passport - My passport expires in two months and i really need to find some time to sit down and fill out all the paperwork that is needed.

Orange - This colour seems to be growing on me more and more each day. I love the combination of orange and brown. It has such character!

Puppy dog - At the moment i am trying my hardest to persuade Stu that we are indeed in need of a cute little chocolate Labrador puppy. He keeps saying no but if i keep at it long enough i can get him to break!!

Quilting - I would like to start trying some quilting. I bought some fabric off of eBay last week and am just waiting for it to arrive. I love trying to new things.

Reading - Always reading. Be it books, magazines or articles on the net. I always have more than one thing on the go as far as books go and that is how i like it.

Sewing - After many months of having my sewing machine sitting upstairs being unused, i have pulled it out and done some sewing. I am loving it! So much better than sewing clothes. I have just finished an apron and am about to start on a handbag.

Tigger pj's - My tigger pj's are falling apart. The seam is coming undone. It has several holes in it from who knows where but i just don't have the heart to throw it out.

Under the throw-over - I have a very special throw over that Jenny gave me for my birthday a few years ago. This sits on the back of our suite and whenever i am in relaxing knitting or reading a book i always have this draped over my legs. It reminds me of her.

Vegetables - I have always loved vegetables and to this day i still do!

Weight watchers - tonight i start at weight watchers. I am committed and i know that i am going to do it. Taking one day at a time.

Xtremely concious of my smelly feet - So today i am wearing some shoes that i have not worn in a very long time....now i remember why i have not worn them. They are smelly!!

Yarn - This is my latest craze! I love stroking yarns and even better buying them and taking them home. I have made a promise to myself that i will not be buying any more yarn until i have used up all that i have at home.Z z z z z z - I am definitely in need of some more sleep in my life. Don't ask me how or when but i just know that i need it.

Sewing Tutorial: Apron

This is my first apron that i have sewn and i am a very new sewer but thought that someone else out there might find it useful to see how i made this little cutie. I finished it last night and am so pleased with how it turned out.

I searched loads of places for a pattern and although there are loads out there i couldn't find one that i liked or that i could figure out - so i made my own. Now i know its not exactly rocket science or anything but i took each step one at a time.

Step 1: Choose the fabrics that you want to use as well as get together all your supplies.
Step 2 : I drew my own pattern onto brown paper, cut it out and pinned it to my fabric. Once i was happy with it i cut out the fabric.
Step 3: I decided that i wanted to have three pockets on my apron and my mom suggested, to make them a little stronger, that i added some sort of bias to them. I didn't have any at home so decided to use ribbon instead. I pinned the ribbon down and then sewed my seams on the front pouch. My seams are 3/4 inches wide.

Step 4: Place the front pouch on the backing fabric and pin this down. Once you are happy with the positioning sew on both side of the ribbon or bias.

Step 5: Sew the front pouch onto the back fabric, remembering to leave the top part of the pouch loose. Pin and sew the seam on the larger backing fabric.
Step 6: Cut out your ties that you are going to use according to your preference. I didn't measure mine so not able to give you any of those details.
Step 7: Pin and sew your seam on the ties and then attach to the sides of the apron. The first tie that i put on i attached to the top of the apron and then had to unpick it and resew it so just double check! lol

Once both ties are done your apron is basically finished. Once i had this i decided to add the felted birdie to it. I hand drew the bird, cut it out and then sewed it on by hand.

I should have ironed my apron before photographing it but i was just so pleased with it i couldn't wait.
I hope that this has been helpful to someone.

And the winner of the RAK is TCake! Please email me your address!

Finished Project: Beanie

I finally finished my second knitting project. This was and is for Stu but after i put it on i thought it looked really good on me so i had Stu take a photo of me wearing it as well.I could not believe those eyebrows!! Don't worry - damage control is underway. Those monsters will be removed tonight after work.
Pattern: Beanie from Kisknit's blog.
Yarn: Paton DK Black.
Needles: Size 7 US.
Notes: The pattern says for this to be knitted on the round, which is why i picked it in the first place, but when it came to getting my knitting needles i realised that they would be too long. So i pulled out my straight needles and just altered the pattern as best i could. The pattern was easy and quick and considering this is my first beanie i am very pleased. I will definitely be making this again.

This weekend was a good weekend. I got a lot done - both house wise and me wise. I did the normal weekend cleaning while madame curled up under the curtain and slept.
Sometimes i really wish that i were the cat in our house!

My mom and dad came round on Sunday for dinner and while the boys worked on the car, the girls did some sewing. My mom was working on some pillow cases for some friends and i was busy on my apron.I was getting along so well with this until i put the first tie on - upside down! After that i gave up for the evening and will unpick it tonight and carry on.

Hope everyone had a good evening. I will be drawing the name tonight for the RAK mentioned last week so be sure to come back tomorrow. ~Lynne