Mail Art

I've finally managed to put together a selection of digital images, printed, labelled, and ready to go.  These are to be used for my group's upcoming market stall.  Some of the images began life as one of my photographs, so far removed from the original so as not to be recognizable.  Others began as blank files in GIMP or PSE8.  I have some clear cellophane self-seal packets, and thought these might be something different - rather like a postcard with more.

Each little packet contains the outer page {slightly nicer than copy paper], as well as an A5 sheet with printed lines {normal copy paper].  All that needs to be done is to write the short note, pop it back into the clear packet, seal, stamp and post.  Perhaps it may even brighten the mailman's day.  The image in this photograph was originally some dried and cracked earth - go on, you will see it if you look!!!

I also hope to print some of these {or similar} onto fabric for postcards which will enable a bit of added embroidery.

I'm only making a few of these, as each sheet has been hand cut.  I really need to buy some A5 paper, or a guillotine!!

Thank you for taking an interest in all that I manage to fiddle with. 

Sugar & Spice

Things have been rather crazy here lately, but I've managed to finish another knitting project, as well as a little pair of pants to go with my latest little cardigan.  I am not sure if the photograph is showing the colour correctly, but these little pants are made from very fine hot pink corduroy [everything of course was in my stash].  Oh, I do wish I had a sweet little baby to use to model this.  It would look so much nicer actually on a child the right size!!

I am quite happy with the little cardigan.  It's a rather more boxy and roomy design than the red one, and is a pattern I purchased online as an instant download - http://www.patternfish.com/  If you are at all interested in lovely patterns, that don't cost the earth, then I can recommend this site to you.  This pattern comes in about six sizes, and cost just under $6.00!!

I knew I wanted a little pair of pants with a contrast turn up to go with the cardigan.  I found this pattern in one of my Top Kids magazines, but I am not sure if this magazine is still going.  I always found it had rather spunky little fashions for kids.  I found a partly finished brushed moleskin skirt that I can use to make pants to go with the little red cardigan.  It's the traditional creamy beige coloured moleskin, and very soft - watch this space!!  It's so much fun making little clothes again.

 I hope the close-up will show you the lovely double moss stitch and cable design that is worked into the little cardigan.  I liked the idea of the collar, which I think makes it a little more dressy.   Of course, I again used my favourite twisted rib in the bands, etc.  The wool was some more that I purchased from that lovely store in Kyneton, Victoria -  http://www.pickupstitches.com.au/




Thank you all again so much for persisting with comments.  I am not at all sure what happens.  I have honestly never had a problem leaving a comment on other blogs.

I need to catch up on some bookwork now.  It's BAS time again, and today I finally received the Cash Book back from our accountant, so it will be clerical duties for me for a few days.

Modern Technology

I am always trying to learn more about the workings of all things computer related.  Since taking an online course using the GIMP programme [with Sharon Boggon], I've been constantly trying to improve my knowledge of digital art imagery, and photo alteration.

I won't make this a long post, but thought I'd share a little mish-mash collage of various images I have created, and hope to use for small gift notelets in the future.  Some of these have started life as cropped sections of my own photographs, and some began as blank spaces, gradually being filled with different colours and brushes [digital stamps], followed by a variety of filters.

Many of these stamps are available as free downloads.  It is gratifying to know there are people out there who are happy to share their knowledge for the amusement of others.  If you would like to check out this website:  http://www.obsidiandawn.com/ you will see the various tools that are available if you have a photo programme.

Of course, I am still knitting.  This time I'm working on a white cabled cardigan.  Take care all.

The Little Red Cardigan

Thank you everyone for your enthusiastic comments on my last post.  I've been absent from blogging for a number of days.  I seem to have been kept busy here lately.  I can now share with you the little red cardigan. I am finally finished.  I have no idea why it's taken me so long to knit a baby's cardigan!!  This was knitted with the Heirloom Baby Wool in 4 ply that I purchased from Pick Up Stitches in Kyneton.  It knitted up beautifully, and I'm totally thrilled with the result.

I hope this close-up will show you the little reverse stocking stitch relief pattern.  I rather like the back of it, but thought I'd go with the 'designer' and do as directed.  I do however much prefer to work my ribs as a twisted rib, ie knit and purl into the back of the stitches.  I find I like the finished result.

This design was taken from a very old knitting book I've carted around with me for years.  It has even had a run-in with some hungry mice [notice the corner that has been chewed!!].  I think I was given these books by an aunt years ago.

I've made this to fit 6-9 months, as it's to be a gift for an expected infant - early next year.  The booklet says 3ply, but I have a feeling that today's 4ply is yesterday's 3ply if you get my drift, as my knitting tension was as given in the book.  I encountered a couple of new things with this little pattern.  I had never knitted a band along with the fronts for a V-necked cardigan, but loved the way this was done.  The instructions also suggested to use turning rows every 1½ inches to avoid the sagging that occurs with knitted on borders.  I honestly had never heard of this.  It worked well I must say.  It's actually nice to see a proper set-in sleeve application, rather than that dropped shoulder line effect so common to newer designs.  

I think I'll make a little pair of denim pants to wear with this [I have some quite soft, thinner denim], and have found this really old flannel in my stash which I thought would make a super soft lining for said denim pants.  Now I just need to find that Burda Baby book with the really cool baby duds pattern in it!!

Thank you again to everyone who cares to leave such lovely comments.  I do appreciate the time it takes to do so.  I also appreciate the emails I've received in the last few days asking after me.  I know I have been absent from my blog for a while, so thank you ladies for caring to ask after me.  All is well, I am just busy with animals and outside lately.  I have lots more of this lovely wool, so hope to get another little piece underway soon.   

Knitting & Crochet Fun

In between my embroidery, and animal duties, I've been playing with some woolwork.  My sister and niece recently sent me their yarn stash, so I've made a start at using it.   I plan to use it for small projects, ie knee rugs, scarves, baby accessories.  Much of it is acrylic, easy to launder.  The knee rug above is the first of my experiments.  I had five large skeins of this multi-coloured pink/purple, and really wasn't sure how far it would go, so I began with the crochet design that starts in one corner and works out on the diagonal.  I kept going until I had used just over two skeins, and then began working my way back into the other corner.  It will make a nice little knee rug to pack in my 'nursing home kit'................  If you see a slight colour variation, you are quite correct.  Despite all the bands displaying the same dyelot number, there still seems to be some difference.  Never mind, this was a project I could work on at night, with a repetitive pattern, and it didn't require a lot of counting and thought.

I have also managed to knit a child's beanie using the wool I purchased recently from Pick Up Stitches.  I love this strong colour contrasting wool.  It is very soft.

This was my first piece of Fishermens' Rib/Brioche Stitch, and I really enjoyed working it.  However, it is VERY elastic, so I needed to use needles one size smaller than I would normally use for traditional rib.  I would love to knit a good sweater in this pattern, perhaps in a colour a little more suited to my age group..........LOL..........

I've not long started a little baby cardigan in red 4 ply pure wool, having almost completed the back, and hope to have it finished by the end of next week.  I really love knitting for babies and toddlers, so will try to do a few things in the coming months, before the real heat sets in here.

I've only just noticed that Blogger seems to have given us a new photograph viewing capability.  I quite like it.  Hope others do too.

Postcard Surprise

A few weeks ago I received this lovely postcard.  It was such a nice surprise to receive this from Wanda-Maria  She sent it to me from her holidays.  Thank you so much Wanda-Maria, especially for thinking of me whilst enjoying yourself so much on your holiday.  I wanted to wait until I was sure you were home before I posted this on my blog [I was not sure you had Internet access away from home].  Please take a look at Wanda-Maria's blog.  She does a wonderful array of machine embroidery, and other textile related work.  You will also see some more photographs from her holiday, as well as her beautiful daughter's recent wedding.  I have tried adding her blog to my sidebar again, and Blogger is still not showing her posts correctly.  Forgive 'us', it is not our fault.     

New Recruits

We are constantly in need of new recruits for our working dog pack.  Some are getting old, and need to spend their retirement taking it a bit easy.  We've not long taken charge of three pups, so I thought I'd share them here.  The little fellow above will be given to one of our friends.  He's got very short hair, and feels the cold.  It was a little rainy and miserable here on Friday, so I quickly cut into my stash of polar fleece and made a little coat for him.  If he ever grows into his ears, he'll be a big dog!!  He was quite small when he first came home, but he's now outweighing his sister.  I did have to Photoshop his eye [red eye], but the 'blue' you see is a trait quite common in this type of working dog.

This is Meg.  We will hopefully breed from her in due course, if she lives up to expectations in the field.  She is a little more hairy than Little Bill, and such a gentle little thing.

We haven't given this guy a permanent name at the moment.  I'd like to call him Dude, but the jury is still out.  He's the monster of the pack, and very much like another dog we've had in the past.  One of our dogs is the father of the pups.

And, not to be outdone by pups, our son and DIL have just sent us a photo of their newest foal, a little filly with very long legs, which I am sure they are hoping she will put to good use on the racetrack.  Her name is Chloe around the paddock, not sure what they'll call her for 'racing purposes'.

Okay, just one more to show you her legs!!






I know...................I can't help it, I love baby animals.