ican@7 gallery, Port Kembla

ican@7 have a gallery/selling space at the Redpoint Artist Complex. There is a new show every month, with an opening on the 2nd Saturday of the month, from 2pm to 5pm. All the artist studios are open, and there are also some art markets held on the lawn. A great organic cafe has also recently opened on the corner. Each month some of the ican members hold a special day with different activities. In September it is a social craft day - see the flyer below.

Check out the ican@7 gallery - you never know what great things you're going to see!

Boys Cheese Cutter or Flat Hat

Here is my little man's new hat:

I know I'm a bit biased, being his mum, but isn't he the cutest?! Even when eating bits of grass!

Being a practical mum, the hat is of course adjustable (using the button hole elastic on the inside of hat band so the button is away from his head). This should last him a couple of years (it nearly fits his 4 year old sister!).

If I get some sewing time soon, you may see these at the ican@7 gallery, or in my madeit store.

Fabric Doll House

During one of my internet surfing sessions I came across this fabric doll house tutorial by "UK lass in US". Of course I can never do something exactly as someone else ... so here I have used an industrial felt (not sure exactly what you call it, but this is what it feels like) for the internal stiffener (the same that I use for my zippered handbags). This little house was given to Isla Rose who did seem to really appreciate it! (Thanks Isla's mum & dad for the lend of your trailer!).

The last photo is of Lilly modeling the doll house before we gave it to Isla.

Crochet Brooch Series

Here are the first dozen brooches ready to hang at the ICAN@7 gallery at the Repoint Artist Complex in Port Kembla. There are a mix of crochet cotton, acrylic & woollen yarn, old and new buttons & beads, some with a fine wire crocheted around the edge to give more structure. Each one has a brooch back (most are a 25mm back). To hang at the gallery I have mounted on fabric covered balsa wood squares (3" and 4" squares).

Crochet Coral / Rockpools

Finally finished my first crochet coral project. The finished project is very different from what I started out with in my head...and changed many times along the way! My project ended up as rockpools:

One thing I have learnt is that this really does take a long time to do! Making up heaps of tiny little things, weaving in ends, stitching them together. Then you gathering them all up and there seems to be only a fraction of what you imagined there would be (for the time spent!). But I do think it is worth it, and I am still going to do one more project like this.

Different Textures Crochet Necklace

You're all going to think I have gone crochet mad if I do a post on all my recent crochet items! This one is made up of 5 long loops, each a little different (photos below).

Can be worn as shown left (wrapped 3 times), or as shown below (wrapped twice).

 

Here are the photos of the individual loops:

 

 

The first 3 are from Milford Satid 2 Ply, 4th is AIDA size 20 Crochet cotton, and the last is 8 ply acrylic yarn. Most done with the "correct" size crochet hook (or close enough), but the 3rd is actually using an oversize hook for this size of yarn. The last 3 are just play chain stitch. The first is a chain stitch with 6-7 chains are looped back on themselves every 12-15 stitches The second is a foundation row of just chains, the chaining back and joining back to the foundation every 5th stitch with a DC. I wore this today to test it out and was quite surprised how much warmth it actually added! (I needed it today too!) And it's so light you forget your even wearing it!

I think if I make this again I would choose a colour, and use slightly different tones or hues.

Also, most loops are around 54" long, with the first one pictured (above) is longer at about 60". Next time I would make them all at least 60" (152cm) long as a minimum.

If you make this I would love to know!

Crochet necklace

One day while surfing on the internet (do they still use that term, or am I showing my age?), I stumbled across this free pattern for a crochet necklace at creativeyarn. I think it might have been this blog that got me started on yarn & textile jewellery (my current obsession).
Here is my attempt:

Quite happy with the result. Although it really does need a little press to take the 'wiggle' out of it. I think I also made the long strand a little too long. I used 3 different yarns which I really do like. Also love the way the flower/button turned out (will used that in other projects for sure!). Only drawback is that while wearing, the flower does tend to fall to the middle.