Poppy Madness

Hi There,

Here in the Craft Cupboard lately there has been a huge focus on the poppy project as we are slowly coming to the end of an epic journey.  We have reached a staggering 28,000 poppies and I think we just may get to 30,000 by 1st April this year.

The effort people here in New Zealand have gone to, to make this project have substance and a soul has truly blown me away.  I never thought that it would get this big and that anyone would be interested but my little country has proven me wrong. Quite humbling really.  

Over the past two years since I took on this project I have meet some wonderful people.  There is a group of ladies who come along regularly on a Sunday to the local RSA and help to stitch poppies onto hesssian.  That has been a massive task with us making 23 panels.  Amazing lovely group. There have also had over 800 Facebook followers supporting us along the way.  All the panels made will be displayed at the Airforce Museum in Christchurch, Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre in Blenheim and the Nazy Museum in Devonport this year. 

Two of the lovely ladies from the group bought me some beautiful poppy gifts.  I love them!  Such a nice momentum for years to come.  

So now being almost at the end it feels good to have created a memory.  A memory that will be displayed every Anzac Day for all to remember what our little country did in WWI and subsequent battles. 

Take care,

Lxx

Latest Creations

Hi There,

The past ten days have been very creative indeed.

After counting and stitching poppies onto panels and making endless little blue squares I thought it was time for a little colour.

So I took to making Mandelas. I made a couple last year and enjoyed it so much it was time to make a few more...well seven more! The large one on right I had made previously.  It was loads of fun and just the little break I needed.

The little people liked them so much too they have gone and put them on their bedroom walls.

So now I got my fix and it is back to the never ending blanket...More little blue squares BUT only six balls of wool to go.  Surely I can crochet them all by next weekend, surely?

Lxx

Blaze

Hi There,
Last Sunday my Littlest Lovely asked after watching Coraline,  "Would it be very hard to make a rag doll Mum?"
"No," I replied.

And so started the journey.

We found some calico in my sewing stash.  Then found a basic rag doll pattern on Pinterest and went to cutting out the shapes.  I made LL sew the legs and I made the body then I got her to patiently sit and stuff it.  She did a great job!

LL then decided that she only needed eyes.  No mouth necessary Mum! Easy.

We discussed hair colour for a while and then settled on two shades of red.  It gives it a nice depth I think.  The dress was the challenging part of the whole process.  Why I couldn't figure it out I don't know.  I had to add a little piece above the arms for the dress to be able to fit around to the back.  A little bit of a nightmare.  I got there in the end and it seems to be OK.

There are a few things I would do differently next time, like making the arms sit down as opposed to sticking out.  I think also I could make the dress better BUT at the end of the day my Littlest Lovely squealed with delight when she saw her and really that is all that matters.  If she loves it then I have done a great job.

Pretty contrasting sash

Vintage lace added

Name?  What do we call this creation...I wanted Abigail or Isabelle or another super cute girlie name...but LL had that all covered...

"I will call her Blaze because that is cool and she has red hair."  Can't argue with that!

So meet...BLAZE

Then..."Mum do you think you could make another one with Blue hair?"

Oh Boy!

Lxx

Beginnings

Hi There,

My little people went back to school last week. My OL (Oldest Lovely) is in his last year of primary school.  So a special year for him.  Both have settled in nicely to the school routine while I madly do little jobs around the house before work starts again.

This week has been a very busy one with me counting over 1,000 poppies and tidying up some poppy panels and then packaging seven up ready to go to Christchurch to be displayed at the Airforce Museum for Anzac Day this year.  

One panel - beautiful

Rolled and almost ready to send

Display of three panels at Glenfield Library

We now have over 23,000 poppies!  It is crazy to see how massive it has become.  I am really looking forward to seeing all 23,000 poppies displayed in one place later in the year.  The effect will be breath taking.

On the crochet front I have managed to make a few things too!

Introducing...

Emerald

 The newest Imp to the Imp Family.

Apparently she is the girlfriend of Limestone.

L-R: Pearl, Indy, Limestone and Emerald

These four Imps are very mischievous together and play some pretty creatively made up games.

Puffles

These critters aren't my favourite to make but the little people like them so of coarse I am obliging and make them.

So that I feel is everything that has been happening here in the cupboard this week.  It is almost time to go make tacos and tortillas for dinner along with a banana loaf for school lunches.

I hope you all get to be a little creative this week.

Take care,

Lxx

Quilt

Hi There,

Over the years I have collected many pieces of scrap fabric from finished sewing projects and bits that I have just liked 'because'.  

So after having this idea rattling around in my mind for about a year, I decided very quickly that I would cut up all those bits of fabric and make a patchwork blanket. Now I must confess that I am not a quilter!  I consider myself a novice and slightly useless at it.  But none the less I gave it a go.  I didn't know how all the crazy colours would go together and even if it would work.  

Work in progress

I made two sides that were very random, slightly crocked in places just by overlocking all the pieces together.  All the quilters out there would probably gasp at my roughness in putting it together but I didn't have time to ponder making it look pretty as long as it stayed together I was happy.

Once both sides were made I went to my happy place - SPOTLIGHT - and bought some bias binding and cotton batting.  I then put all three bits together and trimmed it with the bias binding.  Pretty quick - two and a half days later I had a patchwork blanket.

And to be honest... I LOVE IT!!  I love the quirkiness of it.  I love the colours and it makes me smile.  It goes so well with the two resident couch blankets.

Happy...Happy!

I accidentally bought too much batting and I still have loads of scraps left so I thought I could make another.  Why not?  Still three weeks of holidays to go...

Lxx

Happy New Year!

Hi There,

Rangitoto - We climbed to the top New Years Day

Another beach day

I know we are 11 days into the New Year and wishing you all an exciting, creative, crafty, colourful lovely 2015 seems a little late.  But OH Well...HAPPY 2015! 

This New Year has started well in the craft cupboard.  I have managed to make a t-shirt for my Oldest Lovely and a pair of shorts for my Littliest Lovely.

Renamed - Clown Shorts

LL picked the fabric and trim.  I was all set to make a pair of pants until she piped up and said that she would rather have shorts with frills around the bottom.  So I followed the orders and made them how she wanted.  She loves them!  They were very satisfying to make as they took less than an hour.

Another project which had been sitting in a pile to be seen to was OL's t-shirt.  I had cut it out MONTHS ago but never quite got around to finishing it.  Well now I have! Another successful sewing project.  The fabric which is a stretching sport type fabric was a little tricky to stitch. I am not sure I would use it again but it was a good challenge.  I have another happy child!  Yay!

So far this year I have been busy sewing by day (when we aren't out in the sunshine) and crocheting by night.  It has been lovely having the overlocker and sewing machine out and getting creative and making things.  

The never-ending blanket is STILL going. The pile of yarn is slowly getting smaller. I am trying not to get too distracted with other things as it really needs to be finished this year. It has been three possibly four years in the waiting making. So this is it, this year IT WILL BE FINISHED.  Ha...Famous last words!  Have a look at a previous post: New Year 2014 .  I can tell you now nothing on that craft list got looked at let alone finished.  So those new years resolutions were a little redundant.  But look at what I made instead.

2014 Projects

SO PRETTY!!

A lot of critters and dolls were made and only one blanket.  

I wonder what path my crochet mind will take this year.  It should be an interesting one!

So to all you creative people out there who 'pop in' and read this crazy blog of mine...have an exciting, creative, crafty, colourful lovely 2015.

Lxx

Summer

Hi There,
Quick post today.
I just had to share what a beautiful day in NZ looks like.

21 degrees - perfect for a swim

Local beach in full Summer swing

Pohutukawa Tree in full bloom

Enjoy,

Lxx