Hooray! Christmas!

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I hope everyone is busy with friends and family and eating too much. I know I am. Hope your Christmas/Holidays are just awesome, see you soon!

folk man doll

Remember these doll clothes? I finally got around to sewing up some dolls to wear them, but it took a few tries. I was afraid for a bit I would stuck in a never-ending cycle of sewing dolls and clothes and clothes and dolls that would never quite fit each other. With a bit of alteration on the overalls, I managed to make them fit the second doll I made, with a smaller plaid shirt. But because it was a prototype (and I'm lazy) I left the blue thread on the machine when I made the doll, and you can see it. Darn Blast Silly Me.

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I've wanted to make a folk man doll for a while. I think the next one will be a little smaller, with long sleeves and a brown beard (and white thread). Maybe a beanie.

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What do you think a hipster-folk man doll would have?

good things are happening

Bad things are always happening. There will always be something not-so-great. But there are always good things happening too. Don't worry about the bad so much that you let the good things pass you by.

Believe in goodness, and that is what you will remember.

new stockist- flying penguin

Pepper Stitches can now be found at the ace store, Flying Penguin, a store with ace environmentally friendly and educational toys in Newtown, Sydney. Hooray!

etsy- farm love

I haven't made many treasuries, they sure are fun (and a brilliant way to spend a whole morning..oops) This is my treasury of farm love. See it here.

my week in pictures

Pie. Chicken and vegetable pie. I love pie.

My Christmas tree, isn't it pretty! See there is the twig crayon my friend gave me, and the little music parcels I made last year, and that little lace heart is new. I like using ornaments given to me. In the absence of family Christmas traditions (we didn't celebrate growing up) I am starting to realise my own, and it's nice, isn't it?

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I've printed out lots of photos of friends and family, and hung them above my computer. They make me smile and remind me of all the fun we've had, and that I'm loved.

Lots of rain. Lots. The ducks and the vege gardens and the frogs say YAY!

Hello local library, it's nice to meet you. You are nice and quiet and air-conditioned on hot hot days and have beanbags and books I have never read. Let's be friends.

The boldest cat has turned into a scaredy-cat and this is where she has hidden all week. Juniper you sook.

Homemade jam and pickles at the bush markets. I had a cup of tea and a cupcake for 2 dollars, and entered the community christmas raffle. Fingers crossed for a Lions Cake.

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Thanks for your kind words, I'm still feeling sucky but it's sure nice to have friends like you x

my creative space

I've made some Christmas cards, watercolours printed on cardstock, with matching envelopes and all. Although I kinda missed the Christmas card timing while everything was upside down. Oops. (the inside of the top card reads; (Good Luck Dave) Merry Christmas. and the bottom one reads; ho ho ho) These are my first cards and I was a bit chuffed they turned out nice.

a finished custom team mascot watercolour. Go the Tigers!

wrapping orders

new pink foxes

yellow fish waiting for their embroidered eyes

I've also been looking through old craft books and magazines for new ideas, and considering collecting salt and pepper shakers. They're so darn cute.

it's only been a week

So far I have eaten several parts of animals (and one whole one) off spits, shot at a can with an air rifle (I hit it), neglected to shower on at least one occasion, have talked about rugby, worn flannelette and ugg boots at the same time, commented repeatedly on the weather, have drunken beer and bourbon, been knocked off my feet by a pig, and dropped a sledgehammer on my foot and swore like a trooper.

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It's only been a week and I've had a bit of bogan in me all along.

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In honour of bogans here

listening to

ooh I love these boys.

my week in pictures- stuff on walls

Surry Hills

Surry Hills


Enmore


Darlinghurst

Rozelle

Surry Hills

Antler Girl in Plushie Palooza today!

Oooh! Antler Girl is on Kid Independent today as part of their Plushie Palooza!

Go over there and leave a comment to vote for her. Go on. Only if you like. Pretty please. But no pressure.

Do't forget to enter the giant awesome plushie giveaway too! You could win antler girl and 29 other plushies! Ace!

PepperStitches Pocket Cushions Project in Kids Crafternoon

I have been invited to participate by the lovely Kathreen from Whip Up in a sewing book for kids called 'Kids Crafternoon'. How exciting! Hooray! These are the samples of my sewing project in the book, a 'Pocket Cushion' that reuses pockets from old clothes and are perfect for hiding secret treasures in. The book is due for publishing in July next year, I'll be showing you then anyway!
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I am very excited, yes?

my creative space- pattern rage

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I found a pattern for dolls clothes at my local op-shop for one dollar. I couldn't resist and have sewn two little dresses and a pair of overalls, but not before throwing a bit of a tantrum and making several parts up as a went along.

The overalls were okay, but attaching the collar to the dress? Oh My!

The pattern says; with right sides up, pin collar sections to neck edge, matching notches, placing circles at centre seams.. Baste. Stitch.

Okay so far so good, done that.

Then it goes on; Turn collar seam allowance toward bodice (um..what the?)

On outside, stitch on bodice close to neck seam thru (sic) the seam allowance. Okay WHAT THE HEL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

The picture gives no clue. I have no idea. I ended up ripping seam and starting again, this time putting wrong side up, so I could flip the collar and sew again on the right side. But it is slightly messy and obviously-not-quite-right.

Does anyone know what I'm missing? And do you get pattern rage too? I'd love to hear about it, it would make me less likely to shred the offending section into little-eeny-tiny pieces..

plushie palooza @ Kid Independent

I'm very excited to be a part of Plushie Palooza at KidIndependent, a blog of lovely handmade indie loveliness for kids and mums. Plushie Palooza is a month full of handmade plushies so cute you’ll want to squeeze them till their stuffing pops out; a toy festival and swag bonanza celebrating the handmade toy.

Every day an ace plush will be featured on the blog, until 30 November, 2010. You can vote on your favourites by adding a comment to the corresponding post. There will be a few spot prizes along the way, so be sure to drop by daily. At the end of the festival, the plushie with the most votes will win the Golden Plushie award!

My antler girl will be featured on November 16th, feel free to drop by and vote for me! Hooray!

And OHMYGOODNESS you can win ALL thirty of the featured plushies! (enter the prize draw here ) what an awesome giant bag of awsomeness! What would you do with 30 plushies? And just before Christmas! (if you can bear to give them away. No pun intended)

Good luck!

(text excerpts and banner image via KIDIndependent)

my creative space- watercolours

The Boy loves the Tigers football team, his whole family follow them (and now me too). Before the game last week I was mucking around drawing things, and drew him wishing he was a tiger. His best friend was over too, he goes for St George Dragons, so I drew him too.

I was thinking of putting these in my shop as a custom order watercolour- I think I'd like the challenge, I just need a photo, name and what sporting team they go for. Do you think people might like them for their friends or partners?

get well soon

Funny Card- Get Well/ Stop Puking, That Shit's Gross, Deeply cynical...I mean sympathetic get well greeting cards - set of 6, Get Well Soon Card - Cone Head, Get Well - You Wimp


Band Aid Get Well Card, Soap - H. influenzae on Chocolate Agar , Get Well Soon Button Ponytail Holder Set, Set of 5 double blanc cards - Nurses, Ambulance Earrings, Cut Out Get Well Soon Card

I am feeling under the weather (what a funny saying. Aren't we usually under the weather? When are you on top of the weather?) I have a rash, itchy swell-y unattractive rash, that looks like an allergic reaction, to what I don't know.


So I'm killing time until my doc appointment and looking at 'get well' stuff on etsy. I don't remember the last time I sent a get well card, but they're nice to get, aren't they. I think I will stock up and be prepared for the next peep who sneezes.

(UPDATE) Yep, my rash is most likely an allergic reaction thats making me all red and lumpy and itchier than a cactus in a wool jumper covered in bitey ants. So far likeliest suspect is Ibroprufen, which at least lets me know what to avoid. Otherwise back to square one. Anyone have any tips?

hooray hooray, it's shop update day!

All of these things are in my shop now (etsy, madeit, blue caravan) and some more too.

Every order this week comes with a free cute hair bow. Lovely!
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