Ester

Nothing like a FO to buoy the spirits!

This morning in the shower I was thinking about the unusual colour choice I made for the yarn- not a colour I wear or have a lot of. Then I realised the shower curtain, top of my shampoo and conditioner and the washing bag are all the same wine-red. Then I found this ribbon to illustrate the pulled across the bust look, which is much more flattering than not. I didn’t look further, but am betting this colour features more in my home than I ever thought.

I’m going to head into town to see my friend Penny at the bead shop to make a pin for the centre. Just as soon as I finish the 3 assignments due on Friday!

Possibly the best macro photo I have ever taken with my camera.

Of this completely useless thing I made.

I ended up working past my usual time today, then Michael, Pedro and I went visiting (scored a whole heap of feijoas and lemons), then Michael went to work and Pedro and I returned the videos we got out last week, then I decided to do some crafting.

A camera cover, for Marlyn (Michael’s Mum). This is a stupid idea because I do not have her camera- it is currently located a good 500km away from where I am.

What I made is cute- but does not have a purpose in life. I spent about 10 minutes wandering around the house poking things in it to see if they would fit, then I remembered I needed to turn the iron off.

It is made from linen with candlewick lining (spongy for the !camera! to sit on) and little patches of Japanese cotton. It is 12 x 10.5 cm. I thought it would make a good Sylvanian Families double sleeping bag.

If you think it would fulfil it’s life purpose at your house I will send it to you, otherwise I will pop it in my bottom drawer and keep for a proverbial rainy day.

:: Moral :: Don’t make things for things you can’t try them on in the process of making said things.

Now I am going to watch Kath and Kim and knit some more rows on the bottom of Ester.

Feijoa Goodness

It’s feijoa season around these parts. We don’t have (access to) a tree- so they are a rare commodity in our household. In order to savour them longer I make them go further. Today I s t r e t c h e d them out in my favourite way- fruit pikelets.

I followed this recipe, adding 2 peeled and chopped feijoas at the end. (This works well with any fruit. Grated apple and cinnamon is yummy too.)

These are equally good piping hot straight out of the pan or cooled on a plate. If they lasted long enough (or were made late enough at night) they would be perfect in a lunchbox the next day. Yum.

Peggy

I’ve been intending to make a peg bag for some time- Pedro always makes a beeline for the ice cream container at washing line time, nothing he loves more than pegs (except food- he is a lab).

Just a small, over the sholder tote, so my right hand is always able to dip in for a peg as a reach for the clothes with the left.

Quick (1 hr) and simple, in a floral thrifted pillowcase and linen lining.

 

And a question- can you tell the difference in photo quality? Just playing around with Michael’s Mum’s camera and trying to decide if it is enough for my needs or if I need to go fancier.

Some things

Carolyn has tagged me for the “things” meme. My first meme!

 

1. (Stuff that I should have on a “profile” page.) My Name is Jessicah Riley. I am 20. I live with my boyfriend Michael and dog Pedro in Christchurch, NZ. I grew up on a dairy farm in Golden Bay and went to Boarding school in Nelson for my 5 secondary schooling years. (That’s me in the purple with the stripes on my face). I have my Mum to thank for my love of craft.

 

2. We live in an old house in Christchurch which has been plastered. I wish that it was the house next door which hasn’t been plastered. They were built at the same time as part of a house exhibition in the 1900’s.

Which would you prefer?

 

3. We only live in 2/3 of the house because it was divided up many a moon ago. The back half got the kitchen, so we have this.

The Entry (only door in our flat) and Kitchen and Hallway. My uncle came to stay the other day and while we were giving him “the tour” he asked where the kitchen was- after walking through it! We don’t have any drawers in our kitchen, so we use this in our pantry/ MDF wardrobe from Mitre 10.

(And I thought our last flat, with only one drawer, was pretty bad.)

 

4. I am studying Biochemistry, genetics and microbiology at University of Canterbury. I am in my 3^rd (and last) year. At the end of the year we are going to look for jobs and buy a house. Most days I wish I had gone to polytech and studying textiles or something. My dream job is currently being advertised- research technician into textile manufacture. They recently created a method for making woven Merino fabric for business shirts and pants. Pretty spiffy.

 

5. I have a fertiliser bag full of unwashed sheep in my living room.

My mum shore it. Pedro tries to eat it, he is so super great at needle felting- with his sharp puppy teeth and slobbery mouth.

(Now for the weird ones. I’m sure I’m more strange than this but cannot think of anything.)

 

6. I only like the toilet paper to hang with the flappy bit going over so it dangles away from the wall.

Michael says he doesn’t have a preference but always hangs it up the other way. I always change it. (Love the flock of sheep in my bathroom)

 

7. I only wear matching sets of underwear.

 

I’m not going to tag anyone, but do it if you want to. You know you want to.

Bathtime!

Today we gave Pedro his first bath. Hilarity ensued.

And yes, I got at least as half wet as he did. Michael took the photos.

Afterwards he went a little crazy. Michael even got a perfect photo of just our couch (as opposed to our couch with the dog on it.)

He looks a little sorry for himself, but I don’t think he really minded, he’s become a bit of a waterbaby lately.

p.s Loving the Word ‘07 or what?

And the winner is…..

Carolyn, from Comfy & Cosy. Thanks for not being shy when stopping by!

By the looks of things Carolyn hasn’t been blogging long either, and I really like what she’s up to over the ditch J

And I know there were more of you… maybe I will get you next time!

I’ve just discovered the Word ‘07 has a “blog post” feature so am trying it out- the Pedro pic is just to see if the photo option works too- but I’m sure you don’t mind.

He’s getting big!

50 and a “silent auction”

This is my 50th post, and I would not have made it thus far without the knowledge that someone out there was interested in what I had to say. I think that’s the fundemental difference between keeping a diary and blog, both a record of the same things. I’ve never fared well with a journal, loving the new spiral bound pristine pages, but feeling the enthusiasm fade as each day passes. A blog is new and fresh, you never have to thumb through the old pages to get to the next clean one, and you can change your surrounds simply by uploading a new photo.

However the best thing about the craft-blog community is the inclusive, sharing nature of the people, from swaps to colourweeks to give-aways. I really enjoying checking in with the people on my long list of feeds in the mornings, but don’t always leave a comment- I’m trying to get better at this though! I know you lurkers are out there and would love to add you to my list, and check out what you’re up to too!

(Here’s where we digress) When I was about 10 my school held a “silent auction” as a fundraiser. Instead of having an auctioneer all the items were laid out around the hall with little auction cards, where you wrote your name and the amount you bid. At the end of the night, the highest bidders won. (I guess a bit like an e-bay auction really).

To try and coax you lurkers out of hiding I’m offering up a scarf.

Brown linen, with a cream microfleece backing and machine-stitched tree design, with patches of japanese printed cotton.

Be the last person to comment by this time tommorow and she’s all yours! (And don’t feel bad for delurking to get loot- that’s exactly what I want you to do!)

I look forward to meeting you all!

:: Mother’s Day gifts :: 2 1 new scarves :: A winter coat ::

Autumn

Time for my Nana’s fine corduroy skirts, merino knee-high socks and walks in the leafy parks with my pup and my guy!

Mother’s Day

It was almost a week ago, but gifts have only just reached their respective recipients so here goes!

I made two little zippered purses, one for Michael’s Mum Marlyn (front), and the other for my Mum.

Inside Marlyn’s Michael put a Body Shop soap and I bought a magnet for Mum from Dusk of the heart of a harakeke (flax) bush. You know how they have the baby in the middle then the mum and dad, then the outer leaves, which you can cut and use for weaving or fibre or whatever. Well maybe you don’t know, but that’s how it’s explained in NZ, quite early in primary education, and the flax plant is very central in Maori culture. Anyhoo.

The pouches are made from fabric scraps purchased from Cherry Blossom, and I still have some bits left to play with. Yay! (The hairtie fabric also came from here.)

:: Mother’s Day gifts :: 2 new scarves :: A winter coat ::