Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Woo hOO - sOMetHiNG NeW




Hi everyone, this is Cupcake Cindy, a little lady with huge charm. She is just 10” or 25 cm tall and  is the smallest pattern Jill has released - due to her size some may find turning her fingers a little challenge but this also makes her really endearing.
She carries a little tray with a cupcake complete with icing and a cherry. Cindy can be made from doll velour, doe suede or cotton Lycra, obviously the cotton Lycra stretches more and is easy to overstuff, but works well for those who have trouble with the turning or find the velour too restrictive.
The pattern is full of instructions and diagrams so it's easy to follow and of course she stands on her own in her comfy little shoes when finished.


“Cupcake Cindy is most famous for her secret cupcake recipe, her belly dancing displays and her luxurious yacht, (which she hires out to wealthy real estate agents in Golden Bay) when she's not cruising around the Islands with a couple of her chef friends.
Cindy enjoys nothing more than baking cupcakes in the yacht galley or her farmhouse kitchen and sharing them with her workmates and friends. Her favorite flavor is rhubarb and ginger.
Every Thursday Cindy poses as an artist’s model to earn her extra cash, which she uses to buy food for her butterfly farm.
Cupcake Cindy has a kind heart, a strong disposition and amazing ability in rodeo riding.”

Pattern $15.00 including postage
thsilike@westnet.com.au


Jill taught little Cupcake in New Zealand recently and the class came complete with luscious looking Cupcakes.



Thursday, March 12, 2015

OuR LOve AfFaiR WiTh BuTToNs

Often seem to be scrounging for a button to finish a little project.  Have 'acquired' quite a collection of buttons - and a couple of button tins from relatives.  I think most of us have the joyful memory of being able to look through our grandmother's button tin. There were always some obscure odds and ends included - empty cotton reels, lots of old belt buckles, saved to be put to good use 'one day', bits of string, ribbon, a nail file, a penny or two, maybe a badge.

  

Mitzi Curi makes brooches from old buttons
There are many examples of great button jewelry on the net

Buttons hold a magic of their own - some old and worn, glittery and delicate, pressed metal, bakelite, big showy buttons for an overcoat and tiny little white buttons for women's hand made underclothing.  Each tin holds a story.


Aunty Ivy's button tin.
Great delight held here!



My Nan's sewing tin. Great for a scrounge!!!
Feel close to Nan and her memories when I go thru this tin - and her old button box.

This link has some great button history - well worth some time.....
http://www.slate.com/articles/life/design/2012/06/button_history_a_visual_tour_of_button_design_through_the_ages_.html?wpsrc=sh_all_tab_fb_top

Would love you to email some pictures of your Grandmother's button tins to share.



TiME hAS GoNE quiTE CRaZy

Figured it would be a couple of weeks since I posted - and shiver me timbers - it's over a month!  What is going on here.
Another birthday just shot on by - some lovely cards and goodies - thanks everyone!  Russ was 66 on the 11th.  Camped in our little Mitsubishi truck 'home away from home' up at the National Park.  Beautiful!  It really has been such a mild summer - so fortunate to have cool, enjoyable evenings.  
Have been asked to teach in Marree in June - at an Arid Lands Woman's Retreat.  Pretty exciting - so I've send in some ideas for perusal.  Should have some great pictures to share after that event.
It seems such a pity that everything seems to be a rush nowadays.  Often when I read a book I'm feeling so guilty that I tear thru the chapters - certainly not getting full benefit from the story telling.  I just picked up a book 'In the Shadows of the Banyan' that I saw recommended by Marcia Acker Missal on Facebook - and of course had to have!  Came in a few days, thanks to the internet and my addiction.  Read a couple of pages and thought that it needs to be savored - not rushed, so smacked my hand and put the book away for another day.
It's like our art - 'Doll in a Day' etc etc.  We love to feel a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day - but are we missing out on the simple enjoyment of playing.  Sometimes it's good to remember to just slow down - enjoy the process of creating - and often the results are more rewarding.
I seem to have become a 'collector of ideas'.  Never seems to be time to actually put the ideas into fruition - so have to be conscious of making changes.
Hope you are enjoying your latest Art Doll 1/4 etc.  I'll do a bit of a write up on the magazines over the next couple of days.  
Have put an email list together to let you know when I've posted on the Blog - the join up google thingo seems too difficult - so hopefully that helps - and let me know if I should add someone in, as am sure I don't have everyone's email address.