tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56266908561745181952024-02-07T22:14:37.871-08:00birdsmakemehappyA blog about making, finding and thinking (mostly about making)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger208125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5626690856174518195.post-49278631107708415742015-02-15T19:23:00.002-08:002015-02-15T19:26:48.753-08:00How to Dress for Pregnancy (and not look like a small lost whale)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifArX1JPQ4GqEkd-8ZKO27ZJQIoqDq_MiI-1jQnp8nbm2a4RVisJ-bO2Z6mhYi0QYDlNIWHA08CshCo9AkaTkOFmh9kGC2VzfLz5TAJQElqxRYFRcGVOMKmG_aLONkvU-6NjIM0SUA3q4/s1600/IMG_20150128_155614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifArX1JPQ4GqEkd-8ZKO27ZJQIoqDq_MiI-1jQnp8nbm2a4RVisJ-bO2Z6mhYi0QYDlNIWHA08CshCo9AkaTkOFmh9kGC2VzfLz5TAJQElqxRYFRcGVOMKmG_aLONkvU-6NjIM0SUA3q4/s1600/IMG_20150128_155614.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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I thought I would share some of the things I discovered while attempting to look nice and dress well during pregnancy.<br />
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<b>1. Silhouette. </b><br />
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Assess your wardrobe for the shapes you usually wear. I wanted to dress like 'myself' just pregnant. I didn't want to wear things I wouldn't normally wear just because I was pregnant. So I took a look at my wardrobe. Things I normally wear fall into 4 silhouettes: Hourglass, Triangle, Tube, Lollipop. Out of these the only one that didn't work for pregnancy was the hourglass - because you lose your waist. The tube shape would become a little bumpy but still a tube. So I had three silhouettes to work with.<br />
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<b>2. Dress for Trimester. </b><br />
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Your body shape changes as you go through pregnancy. You don't need the huge tummy space at the beginning. For the first trimester you might get away with wearing your loose normal clothes. For the second trimester your tummy is small and cute, might as well show it off so people know you are pregnant not getting fatter and can congratulate you. Third trimester you are just huge, so no point hiding or attempting cute-ness unless you normally do cute. Third trimester I went for smart and stylish options - dressing up not down. So that meant wearing a stylish jacket (left open to drape) and nice jewellery even if just going to the supermarket.<br />
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<b>3. Shop with Caution.</b><br />
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Don't buy too many maternity clothes if you can avoid it because you won't wear them for long. I only needed maternity pants at about 20 weeks in and was out of them by about 1 month after delivery. One or two pairs of maternity jeans and or dress pants should be enough and a couple of pairs of maternity tights if you wear tights. For tops and dresses I just brought my normal silhouettes in 2 or 3 sizes larger to accommodate my tummy. That way after pregnancy I'm still wearing them.<br />
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<b>4. Breastfeeding. </b><br />
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Don't forget breastfeeding if you plan to. Buy tops with buttons or that are loose at the hem so you can feed easily later on. That way you only need to buy one set of tops instead of tops for pregnancy and then tops for breastfeeding. Stretchy jersey fabric long tunic tops are good as are button down shirts a size or two larger than you normally wear (roll up the sleeves to avoid looking sloppy).<br />
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<b>5. Body Changes</b>.<br />
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Your body changes in interesting and unexpected ways. Generally what were 'problem' areas became enhanced as a result of pregnancy. My ankles usually retain water so they retained even more water during pregnancy. My feet swelled to 2 sizes larger (had to buy new shoes as nothing fit). My already large bust grew even larger. My ribcage grew wider to accommodate the baby and the extra lung capacity needed and I grew 2 inches across the bust so none of my fitted dresses or tops fit me by 5 months pregnant. My fingers swelled so I couldn't fit my rings on. My hips became 2 inches wider.<br />
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<b>6. Work with your Good Features. </b><br />
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Play up your good features. My arms stayed nice so I wore sleeveless tops. My skin was wonderful due to the pregnancy hormones, so I didn't have to wear makeup much. Despite my ankles swelling my legs stayed relatively slim so I could wear skinny jeans (plus the enormous tummy makes everything else look smaller by comparison).<br />
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<b>7. Cheer Yourself. </b><br />
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Cheer yourself with cute clothes for the baby or a nice jewelery for yourself. You will probably feel horrid and huge at some point, so buy the baby something nice. Enjoy the pregnancy, its only 9 months and you get a cute baby at the end of it. In a few months after the baby sleeps for more than 1 hour at a time and you start to look and feel normal again you will probably look back on your pregnancy with fondness. The baby will probably rip a necklace off your neck and dangly earrings off your ears so go with small stud earrings or a ring (though your fingers are probably swollen so buy rings with caution!). Or save the money for a massage or nice dinner after delivery.<br />
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<b>8. 9 Months. </b><br />
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It took 9 months to grow huge so it will take at least (possibly some parts of your body will never be the same again) as long to shrink. The media has unrealistic expectations about being a 'hot mama'. Ignore that and enjoy your child. Sure, eat healthy and exercise if you have the energy and time (who does?!) but don't beat yourself up about not fitting unrealistic ideals. I'm not a supermodel to begin with, so why should I look like one after having a baby? My feet will apparently never go back to their original size and I'll always be a size larger (hello new shoes!).<br />
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<b>9.Kiss those soft baby cheeks often. </b><br />
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Most of all enjoy the wonder that is a new life. Congratulate your body for growing and nurturing a child and be kind to yourself.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5626690856174518195.post-29954117606534317412014-12-17T03:46:00.005-08:002014-12-17T03:46:45.480-08:00I'm still here<div style="text-align: center;">
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I never meant for this blog to slowly fade away. I did intend to keep it up and to post all the lovely things I do and make.</div>
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However, life got in the way. More accurately, a small wonderful little person got in the way!</div>
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Turns out my son is not a 'sleeper'. He doesn't take long naps during the day. He doesn't like to play alone. He doesn't like for me to be busy in another room or working on something he can't touch. He wants me to play with him, to talk to him and interact with him. He is curious and loves to explore. This all means my grand plans to make things for him (and myself!) while on maternity leave have not really happened. Instead I've been playing games, going for walks and singing songs to my son. </div>
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I've made very little but I'm trying to work on a little bit of something every day.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1dS9JMAUJ5Xcc9VEOsFyZpCS6dZy-r5SI-EK5fR-FD2CrZ8tfpZyObRXVJ_yTJU75-yPr7-PfT0nWS6ItkvWIZ7vgj-uu00cz2nr0X7gfPazvu0ul8tRE8kHbDMwdO-jOS2q5OUOecjg/s1600/beeced7d619e81bf6492faf866662993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1dS9JMAUJ5Xcc9VEOsFyZpCS6dZy-r5SI-EK5fR-FD2CrZ8tfpZyObRXVJ_yTJU75-yPr7-PfT0nWS6ItkvWIZ7vgj-uu00cz2nr0X7gfPazvu0ul8tRE8kHbDMwdO-jOS2q5OUOecjg/s1600/beeced7d619e81bf6492faf866662993.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Slowly I made my son a cardigan. I mixed four different yarns together to get a dappled effect. </div>
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I'm back at ceramics. This time at the wheel, not just hand building. After almost 300 hours at ceramics I'm starting to make nice things that turn out how I want them to.</div>
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This bowl is wood fired in a <a href="http://thowkwangclayartists.wordpress.com/">dragon kiln</a>. The colour comes from the ash in the kiln. Its magical.</div>
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I also look for workshops to attend while my husband baby sits.</div>
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I've taken up tapestry weaving and I love it. Its so exciting to see a piece develop.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi33KrAN4KFHkZdb-OSIZ7y6NgtRZRe-VCGS0kLxYe5D1qy49hfu3I20AaPmKffP0vKh1l98E9IL582SDBHNSUngxCEQCtqySQ-qj2O0e_FWNeXjdxcmybyaTIq6ZAt8d7qTCGJqp_BHLI/s1600/4d27c0fbbfbe69dd4bba4b518de64be9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi33KrAN4KFHkZdb-OSIZ7y6NgtRZRe-VCGS0kLxYe5D1qy49hfu3I20AaPmKffP0vKh1l98E9IL582SDBHNSUngxCEQCtqySQ-qj2O0e_FWNeXjdxcmybyaTIq6ZAt8d7qTCGJqp_BHLI/s1600/4d27c0fbbfbe69dd4bba4b518de64be9.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is the third part of a triptych I made for my living room wall.</div>
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Rather than blogging, I'm posting images of my work on <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/thebluetriangle/make/">Pinterest</a> as Ellen Blue Triangle.</div>
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I'm still on Ravelry as Mrs Teapot. I just began updating the last 2 years worth of work!</div>
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And still working on my own <a href="http://thebluetrianglesociety.blogspot.sg/">little design collection</a> now on sale in Japan.</div>
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And the exciting thing: my son loves texture. Its fun to watch him exploring with his hands, fingernails, teeth and tongue and even feet. He gets into all sorts of fabric and yarn and materials. He loves highly textured watercolour paper and paper string and things that crunch or are fluffy or smooth.</div>
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Maybe a love of yarn and fabric is genetic...</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5626690856174518195.post-54075833860595565792014-04-22T02:18:00.000-07:002014-04-22T02:18:28.421-07:00Feet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgfODuVSrt7gxsKIi7EyHSA98U60IGZCztZGfgpZcRk__LygNqFwkf7gVnkSmvekPciOP8wAU0ie4mRbiy4J0VbfYxyRqD_FUgLG9tjXPHMEIAEjrk1OkFlPt406oFBketv08YhMsxXE/s1600/Feet+Compilation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgfODuVSrt7gxsKIi7EyHSA98U60IGZCztZGfgpZcRk__LygNqFwkf7gVnkSmvekPciOP8wAU0ie4mRbiy4J0VbfYxyRqD_FUgLG9tjXPHMEIAEjrk1OkFlPt406oFBketv08YhMsxXE/s1600/Feet+Compilation.jpg" height="320" width="223" /></a></div>
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My major creative project for the last 9 months has been growing a baby.</div>
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Hence the quiet blog and the resting.</div>
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My world is upside down in the best possible way.</div>
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Here are my 'feet' pictures from the first week of pregnancy until delivery. I took one picture per week for 40 weeks.</div>
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Growing a baby is an extraordinary thing.</div>
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Meeting the baby that has grown inside you is even more extraordinary.</div>
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I stare at his little face in wonder and awe.</div>
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How can it be that I'm his mother. What a privilege.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5626690856174518195.post-41959400189486276842014-01-24T20:19:00.003-08:002014-01-24T20:19:47.819-08:00I'm still here<br />
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Its been a little quiet here for the past few months.</div>
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Resting has been a necessity rather than an option.</div>
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But 2014 promises new things and new making.</div>
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I have been making progress slowly on a few things. There has been some knitting, some dyeing and there will be some crochet to come.</div>
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I've been to a few museums recently. The <a href="http://www.acm.org.sg/home/home.html">Asian Civilisation Museum </a>has some textile treasures.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjW11govrgHcbgdWdPgKMD5AhyphenhyphenXzWoHHUxBhwiDdbolTBqqfMEGIm8X2L5ZfuI-yxTxSg5MjlaVVQrIlk1vxGx556mbdCiZmroDUs4EO7haxLqPaxefFxsdWb0D8ChKYgvwjHCkYAPrzY/s1600/WP_20140115_005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjW11govrgHcbgdWdPgKMD5AhyphenhyphenXzWoHHUxBhwiDdbolTBqqfMEGIm8X2L5ZfuI-yxTxSg5MjlaVVQrIlk1vxGx556mbdCiZmroDUs4EO7haxLqPaxefFxsdWb0D8ChKYgvwjHCkYAPrzY/s1600/WP_20140115_005.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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This long timber piece with ornate mother of pearl ends is labelled as a 'warp beam winder'. Its from Cambodia and is early 20th century. As far as I can work out this is what the warp is wound onto and then it is placed at the back of loom under tension and as more warp is needed its wound out. More info on Cambodian silk weaving <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/purpledonsu/home/silk-weaving-in-cambodia">her</a>e and <a href="http://wanderlustandlipstick.com/blogs/debbysdepartures/2013/05/20/silk-weaving-women-in-cambodia/">here.</a> You can see a large <a href="http://wanderlustandlipstick.com/blogs/debbysdepartures/files/2013/05/Cambodia-Silk-Weaving-9.jpg">beam like this</a> at the back of some of the looms. And for interest, this <a href="http://kamo-cambodia.blogspot.sg/2009/09/how-to-make-reed-weaving-loom.html">site</a> shows you how to make your own reed from bamboo if you want to.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMYIuDHf5h6_UDMsZhsnr5L8vm9JUSZ7ule0PPuW3Hyr9F5APx_COIa0EqerhebdAfJEbe7sACPEsJPUokySBDl9fuVUozEINnw2tLMzW8Xm5MdK8QtzOA-ehyphenhyphenaFYuY8hpmjHQnoHgvg/s1600/WP_20140115_007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMYIuDHf5h6_UDMsZhsnr5L8vm9JUSZ7ule0PPuW3Hyr9F5APx_COIa0EqerhebdAfJEbe7sACPEsJPUokySBDl9fuVUozEINnw2tLMzW8Xm5MdK8QtzOA-ehyphenhyphenaFYuY8hpmjHQnoHgvg/s1600/WP_20140115_007.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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These are embroidered collars from the Hmong culture, mid 20th century, from Northern Thailand. Clearer examples of the wonderful geometric embroidery <a href="http://www.trocadero.com/ethnic/items/993296/en1store.html">here</a>. The collars are worn at the <a href="http://www.thailandsworld.com/en/thai-people/north-thailand-people/hmong-people-thailand/index.cfm">back of the neck</a> as part of a jacket.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguURGxtRWjLYTIwK-lGPzpG3g050z7Eb3n4Sq7yqIb7ti9fvTAn3H3jswVDKoDZZCaL3wfeQvMyei00v1SrLNhHGq5cWpVt2rR2hAKyT7VtU_U0rRwa59ZSbIBaci_W6_ob68bF61cPGg/s1600/WP_20140115_010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguURGxtRWjLYTIwK-lGPzpG3g050z7Eb3n4Sq7yqIb7ti9fvTAn3H3jswVDKoDZZCaL3wfeQvMyei00v1SrLNhHGq5cWpVt2rR2hAKyT7VtU_U0rRwa59ZSbIBaci_W6_ob68bF61cPGg/s1600/WP_20140115_010.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is a batik apron from the Miao of Yunnan in China, early 20th century. The central panel is batik while the sides are woven.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4LUu3rZpfDy8lTPuJGgAdwtmaWXE48bJ75AIxaU9EMYPpaHzPUNCAwtca62NR71FQx0B-EAS6KEin9grIPfPT9irBdqFOMAVeYMZpym2VXL1zSRsuRH0FDCVJG5o6UnvWQSIQ3RDytA/s1600/WP_20140115_011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4LUu3rZpfDy8lTPuJGgAdwtmaWXE48bJ75AIxaU9EMYPpaHzPUNCAwtca62NR71FQx0B-EAS6KEin9grIPfPT9irBdqFOMAVeYMZpym2VXL1zSRsuRH0FDCVJG5o6UnvWQSIQ3RDytA/s1600/WP_20140115_011.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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This looks like an apron but it is a baby-carrier from the Hmong of Chiang Mai. It dates from 2005 which is obvious when you notice the Doraemon fabric around the edges! The central panel is embroidered with a type of cross-stitch in geometric motifs.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigc82MaApNMdErH3kzYFnGxuFGonyQ4Bhs16wg5L1aPqqBirli97ECxBrEpVqo-Pf51kvXbIUiWs2hx8kqDGkeG7rkrhknsg-uqsnTic5Zq7ZnODBCU2ARHOgOa_uliN0r_0Ksc4WtGAM/s1600/WP_20140115_012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigc82MaApNMdErH3kzYFnGxuFGonyQ4Bhs16wg5L1aPqqBirli97ECxBrEpVqo-Pf51kvXbIUiWs2hx8kqDGkeG7rkrhknsg-uqsnTic5Zq7ZnODBCU2ARHOgOa_uliN0r_0Ksc4WtGAM/s1600/WP_20140115_012.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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These are waist ties from West Sumatra and were made in the late 19th and early 20th century. I would guess these are woven using a backstrap loom <a href="http://factsanddetails.com/media/2/20120529-omgeving_Tobameer_Indonesia.jpg">like this.</a> The label says these are worn by men of Minangkabau and are symbolic of a male's ties to his nieces and nephews in a matrilineal culture.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdtUZJCiBaZCX2XxApdhpgHoghsV5XeKhk1GBmAlRMhtu-ZTzWDzi7DwffhIAhLp3I0obdBGrTGSLz6ciXeKySBXUEkMaqiWEvH9Km60tHEWbGvIdF70Cooj0EoWkQX7i_CvR1dzhqmo/s1600/WP_20140115_014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdtUZJCiBaZCX2XxApdhpgHoghsV5XeKhk1GBmAlRMhtu-ZTzWDzi7DwffhIAhLp3I0obdBGrTGSLz6ciXeKySBXUEkMaqiWEvH9Km60tHEWbGvIdF70Cooj0EoWkQX7i_CvR1dzhqmo/s1600/WP_20140115_014.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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This beautiful but hard to photograph piece is tapestry woven. Apparently tapestry weaving is rare in south-east asia. This piece is a skirt worn by Maranao royalty from Western Mindanao in the early 20th century. It is made of silk and because it has yellow it means it was worn by royal women because yellow is reserved for royalty in Moro communities and in Malay societies in south-east asia.</div>
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I'm currently reading <a href="http://books.google.com.sg/books/about/Prehistoric_Textiles.html?id=HnSlynSfeEIC&redir_esc=y">this fabulous book</a> on Prehistoric Textiles which is making me notice more about the textiles around me. Pre-historic people were weaving some very sophisticated fabrics and garments by 5000BC with patterns, multiple colours, fringing, beads and lace inserts. I hope one day to be as skilled as them with my weaving!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5626690856174518195.post-52906239510708635562013-09-29T19:40:00.001-07:002013-09-29T19:40:44.866-07:00A little knitting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_6Xg7fonM2pf9rYnBZIRr9sIUAsJaONKz-apbE_Fg3PRVenbUXnxm5PzJeX7dqLtXqk3PaNGtm0BGDRbZe4ac0x9RTS__gBAeE78OcmMedbntOdBY98e5VU3e9PYLXpwlP8AQN4cbZps/s1600/WP_20130803_004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_6Xg7fonM2pf9rYnBZIRr9sIUAsJaONKz-apbE_Fg3PRVenbUXnxm5PzJeX7dqLtXqk3PaNGtm0BGDRbZe4ac0x9RTS__gBAeE78OcmMedbntOdBY98e5VU3e9PYLXpwlP8AQN4cbZps/s320/WP_20130803_004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJv4qLvnXzvMpJVXDf9werNusvDakmYEtzpF9Tc0ABeK0A_NCPZYCmTHe4VPvndKf4SdwMhdENk0YnkAVcWyHazXwsMSJQaqQthWuKtuq-zAOqvndvtI_L5IFWLd6LsCnrAv9oewu9TUM/s1600/WP_20130803_005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJv4qLvnXzvMpJVXDf9werNusvDakmYEtzpF9Tc0ABeK0A_NCPZYCmTHe4VPvndKf4SdwMhdENk0YnkAVcWyHazXwsMSJQaqQthWuKtuq-zAOqvndvtI_L5IFWLd6LsCnrAv9oewu9TUM/s320/WP_20130803_005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This leaf motif is from Golden Hands Magazine, published in the mid 1970s. There are many different leaf motifs: Oak, Ginko, Elm... so I've selected 4 to try.</div>
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I wanted to practice my Fair Isle technique (which is not so good). </div>
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I plan on making about 16 motifs and joining them together into a little blanket. I think it will look great, its just taking some time. Each motif takes me about 3 hours to do.</div>
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Still, I love how it is turning out.</div>
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The dark green yarn is a silk/cotton blend left-over from a top <a href="http://birdsmakemehappy.blogspot.sg/2012/11/happiness-with-yarn.html">I knit last year</a>. The bright green is mercerised cotton. The motifs have nice drape due to the silk and so will be lovely as a blanket.</div>
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Should be done by this time next year!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5626690856174518195.post-88494856041214169532013-09-12T20:48:00.004-07:002017-06-13T03:20:24.066-07:00Some Gluten-Free Happy Things<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Going gluten-free has not been that difficult for the most part. It has been only a small adjustment from the relatively low gluten diet I was eating for the last few years. At first I had thought it was just wheat that was the problem, but it turns out to be the whole gluten family: wheat, rye, spelt, kamut, barley... And I've also developed a mild egg allergy (though I can still get away with a tiny bit every now and then - like in a little icecream!)</div>
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However, the hardest things have been good pastry, cakes, pancakes and bread. I've got a good basic shortcrust pastry recipe that works well for either sweet or savoury pies (I just leave out the sugar for savoury)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBmxUFMjwM6O77ys_B2Nb8QOJ8VzuaoBohnI_kAyAaBT7Nm0N8GA0PfweWS6r5c9xibdAQiEcyJ6Dnx_N068lzim4Yh0fRRCoFSkuKxyKwS5CC9NNKHfZXXmbn6wyrMeL7jCithAlRDQ/s1600/SophieLens_2013_08_18_18_41_33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBmxUFMjwM6O77ys_B2Nb8QOJ8VzuaoBohnI_kAyAaBT7Nm0N8GA0PfweWS6r5c9xibdAQiEcyJ6Dnx_N068lzim4Yh0fRRCoFSkuKxyKwS5CC9NNKHfZXXmbn6wyrMeL7jCithAlRDQ/s320/SophieLens_2013_08_18_18_41_33.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I use <a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/rice-flour-pastry-16478">this recipe</a> for the pastry, but instead of shortening I use butter (and I use about 1/4 cup instead of 1/3), I skip the vanilla and for the flour I use half soy flour and half rice flour. I also double the quantities of flour (but not anything else) as the recipe only makes enough for the base of my tin. I find the rice flour is too crumbly by itself while the soy flour is too sticky. So putting the two together gives a balance of crumbly and sticky. It also allows you to press and knead the dough a bit without it falling apart. This mix holds its shape nicely when baked but you can't over-bake it as it tends to get tough. For a more textured version I use 1/3 cup of ground almonds and reduce the rice and soy flours to 1/3 cup. </div>
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Here I used the pastry for a blueberry custard pie. I used a gluten and egg free instant custard powder with about 500g of blueberries piled on top. Then I mixed about 1/3 cup of blackberry jam with a dash of water to make the glaze. Then baked the lot for about 40 minutes at 180 degrees Celcius. I did blind-bake the pastry for about 5 minutes first because I was worried the base might get soggy. </div>
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Turned out great and tasted wonderful. </div>
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I've also used this base for <a href="http://birdsmakemehappy.blogspot.sg/2012/08/pies-and-some-bread.html">Pumpkin Pie, Cheesecake and Dark Chocolate Pie.</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNY2l5QlanXOz1f7kZGbWn-LZP0uPUZVZdmddNp66DmqVOM1kmnSWgqwhNX2gq7RiCIgC7w14kWw1ljLg-EBumLdJmG3RPz-h2lvhRe0KTa7FqsVy9a2DlZ3EO_2KTBTJUT9TmCQ_DeQE/s1600/SophieLens_2013_08_22_21_52_53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNY2l5QlanXOz1f7kZGbWn-LZP0uPUZVZdmddNp66DmqVOM1kmnSWgqwhNX2gq7RiCIgC7w14kWw1ljLg-EBumLdJmG3RPz-h2lvhRe0KTa7FqsVy9a2DlZ3EO_2KTBTJUT9TmCQ_DeQE/s320/SophieLens_2013_08_22_21_52_53.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This sticky date pudding is soo good. I used <a href="http://italyonmymind.com.au/2013/07/28/sticky-date-pudding-gluten-free-thanks-to-gabriele-ferron/">this recipe here</a> without any modifications (except using 'Egg-Replacer in place of the 2 eggs) . It was perfect. Totally not gluten-free weird tasting. The caramel butterscotch sauce was just lovely.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxkn8xHvhvO6jXmkf96UneWk5h0tAhnbp9rWSAsoGd2VvNr1ndB_hv1LvKu036GjSzA4WHk5fb343dYMUil4uYVceieXmAh_3xMNngeyJrhw1kQmhv1r6O8OXSU_dNNgme4ZKUYeuJjc/s1600/SophieLens_2013_09_07_09_20_51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxkn8xHvhvO6jXmkf96UneWk5h0tAhnbp9rWSAsoGd2VvNr1ndB_hv1LvKu036GjSzA4WHk5fb343dYMUil4uYVceieXmAh_3xMNngeyJrhw1kQmhv1r6O8OXSU_dNNgme4ZKUYeuJjc/s320/SophieLens_2013_09_07_09_20_51.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This was my first grilled cheese sandwich in 2.5 years. Two and a half years is a long time for anyone to go without a delicious grilled cheese sandwich. I almost cried in happiness while eating this sandwich. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8O65NzjO9jgXxMTTT3aeKnbb0nuZub5-oeKhObbP9TF8mTHlHv3b9SV3XVe3Oh7EwZVHBMpyLFqeQ-p3rCp_m_v3h2QS8T3ry5-VEWHO1pbKummfHXwAGimuhpMt32vFsAPP5SYN1vM4/s1600/SophieLens_2013_09_11_18_36_05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8O65NzjO9jgXxMTTT3aeKnbb0nuZub5-oeKhObbP9TF8mTHlHv3b9SV3XVe3Oh7EwZVHBMpyLFqeQ-p3rCp_m_v3h2QS8T3ry5-VEWHO1pbKummfHXwAGimuhpMt32vFsAPP5SYN1vM4/s320/SophieLens_2013_09_11_18_36_05.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It took a few tries cooking these to get <a href="http://www.glutenfreescallywag.com/2012/03/gluten-free-ricotta-pancakes.html">this Ricotta Pancake</a> just right. As I have a gas stove, it was a little too hot to cook these nicely. However, on the lowest temperature and moving the pan around while the pancake cooked, it turned out perfect. I served these with a dollop of ricotta on top and some blackberry jam. Though these are nice on their own. Certified good by the real-pancake eating Mr (and he is very particular about pancakes).</div>
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<a href="http://www.glutenfreescallywag.com/p/gluten-free-recipes.html">The blog</a> has some excellent looking other gluten-free recipes I'm looking forward to trying and the photographs are lovely.</div>
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My next challenge is gluten-free Snowskin Lotus Mooncakes as its the Mid-Autumn Festival. I plan to use <a href="http://fatboo.com/2011/09/snowskin-mooncakes.html">this recipe.</a> </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5626690856174518195.post-55791211241722683792013-09-12T20:16:00.003-07:002013-09-12T20:16:31.405-07:00The trials and tribulations of Avocado growing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimLeGqc_0xug20QyZu_rm2SPY00jnUILMhZla0GVH-3PVlkX8cs96_iP3LuQt3gujy9Pv8cvuW0-ir9wML0CBHwd0PDfOE_OMpnp02OLDZ83K-NxHx4hvqc5L4lv2DadKGRmdKuia89DE/s1600/SophieLens_2013_09_13_08_36_06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimLeGqc_0xug20QyZu_rm2SPY00jnUILMhZla0GVH-3PVlkX8cs96_iP3LuQt3gujy9Pv8cvuW0-ir9wML0CBHwd0PDfOE_OMpnp02OLDZ83K-NxHx4hvqc5L4lv2DadKGRmdKuia89DE/s320/SophieLens_2013_09_13_08_36_06.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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It has been a tense few weeks here as we watched our two avocado plants that I've been growing for the <a href="http://birdsmakemehappy.blogspot.sg/2012/08/a-little-garden.html">past year</a> slowly loose all their leaves.</div>
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I sprayed them with some non-toxic bug killer to no avail.</div>
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Then I decided to do some online searching to find out what might be killing our beautiful friends. I finally discovered that they had fungus bugs eating their roots. Many of the sites said too bad the plants will die or to use lots of chemicals but one gave some helpful advice: stop watering the plants and let the soil dry out. Apparently the fungus bugs need moisture to survive and with no water the bugs will die but the plants will be fine. Once the soil is completely and utterly dry, you can start to water again, watching carefully for bug-action.</div>
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Today our second avocado lost its last large leaf. So both plants have are now stick-like and at first glance leaf-less!</div>
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However, both have started to sprout new leaves this week! Hurrah! </div>
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I like to think that the little <a href="http://www.billybeck.com/mental-conditioning/the-rice-experiment-this-will-blow-your-mind/">pep-talk</a> I have with them every morning about them being such lovely plants and how much we want them to thrive has also helped. So yes, you should talk to your plants and tell them that they are great! (but also do some research on bugs!)</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5626690856174518195.post-14066856591142020152013-08-26T21:47:00.004-07:002013-08-26T21:47:59.689-07:00New Things and Old Things<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwcwRg-QLQ8YpOjJ2L8rgV1Ep-ktI9545bn0D93Jvg5EN06Hndm2eeJLU95CepVtSvB36NWHmDBTBp04cLfxyx0rSO2q9ZAgliGa5jKviSo77093y6lAN9YuKbQCVnjEHJimu53WbrmY/s1600/WP_20130725_004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwcwRg-QLQ8YpOjJ2L8rgV1Ep-ktI9545bn0D93Jvg5EN06Hndm2eeJLU95CepVtSvB36NWHmDBTBp04cLfxyx0rSO2q9ZAgliGa5jKviSo77093y6lAN9YuKbQCVnjEHJimu53WbrmY/s320/WP_20130725_004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg23XVPz5fImzU5APAbY0rHuP7X9AQeEbss8YdWGnWBGtofD042y9FugbRrmvugFVf9wZUCfZ6XpdIX8UBt1KM9URZrMsTtmkrtJPcOlYioZIGXOZl5ScQESRFArw-hk754seNvx__RME/s1600/WP_20130725_006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg23XVPz5fImzU5APAbY0rHuP7X9AQeEbss8YdWGnWBGtofD042y9FugbRrmvugFVf9wZUCfZ6XpdIX8UBt1KM9URZrMsTtmkrtJPcOlYioZIGXOZl5ScQESRFArw-hk754seNvx__RME/s320/WP_20130725_006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyEk5QpgdErWGj_-85QSAXUV7o1muU1FXyS86ztpppWNzZH_s3pbDVYdBoESrDPnr_q8kXx0fQYdEHbKzjz4I3StGT-byFGMb7dTzkfIbWwmog50McyUunB5U1zOPPqf89ARatn-9vaA/s1600/WP_20130725_016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyEk5QpgdErWGj_-85QSAXUV7o1muU1FXyS86ztpppWNzZH_s3pbDVYdBoESrDPnr_q8kXx0fQYdEHbKzjz4I3StGT-byFGMb7dTzkfIbWwmog50McyUunB5U1zOPPqf89ARatn-9vaA/s320/WP_20130725_016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2Dplq5g-H-Z0JlPLEuUdfT8cdhj9EruJwz5OunRGBxTn2raRmiM_5Hbeb7GyHi_2tnBgoh4T4AL4xRYPWptLG7q3OsR6TAttDjrAxdMKwMpf-Qf_ZVtrZono63txYmJWuAVvVa1F_Mc/s1600/WP_20130725_026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2Dplq5g-H-Z0JlPLEuUdfT8cdhj9EruJwz5OunRGBxTn2raRmiM_5Hbeb7GyHi_2tnBgoh4T4AL4xRYPWptLG7q3OsR6TAttDjrAxdMKwMpf-Qf_ZVtrZono63txYmJWuAVvVa1F_Mc/s320/WP_20130725_026.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Recently I have been very interested in time and its effects on surfaces.</div>
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How time changes things</div>
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How time reveals</div>
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How time is</div>
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Based on this idea I designed a sculpture for a national competition.</div>
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And got shortlisted!</div>
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(Hope I win!)</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5626690856174518195.post-17121484533614830722013-08-04T02:51:00.000-07:002013-08-04T02:51:18.876-07:00Light through linen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyaf2u7TQpqhIx4zb1vewEDjNie30wJxmPScn9pxyKhGQK02i-RYZoW7n7WDyHdAWWDNXaQsaFWDCtvoU5SeaHd603KeaPir_X9erRr7UfEeQlihJZTaAgD04WNm01lrzQKVjepogYlXw/s1600/IMG_6021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyaf2u7TQpqhIx4zb1vewEDjNie30wJxmPScn9pxyKhGQK02i-RYZoW7n7WDyHdAWWDNXaQsaFWDCtvoU5SeaHd603KeaPir_X9erRr7UfEeQlihJZTaAgD04WNm01lrzQKVjepogYlXw/s320/IMG_6021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I love the colour and the texture of natural linen. </div>
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It has to be one of the most wonderful fabrics.</div>
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Beginning stiff and crunchy and aging to soft and creased.</div>
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Watch it being made here: <a href="http://vimeo.com/16474921">http://vimeo.com/16474921</a></div>
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This piece I plan to make into a simple bag... though I rather like it just as it is.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5626690856174518195.post-81968024159197774022013-07-25T17:53:00.001-07:002013-07-25T17:53:38.998-07:00In the strange twilight of midday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Haze has a strange quality.</div>
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Its in some ways terrifying and some ways beautiful. </div>
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Is this the sublime?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWGuSWXFIs7o0R6165Cjc7NgYyrQvHmY40H2YlnBV98n_LtuUbXhA7r5EAaIDuLB_KW0an3bfvV39FRtJ8_E4i3oKlMGBTXWsjKUJLKHs8vLslma6r9M9m76J6d63RPGm1Zjs2gZfUFM/s1600/IMG_6267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWGuSWXFIs7o0R6165Cjc7NgYyrQvHmY40H2YlnBV98n_LtuUbXhA7r5EAaIDuLB_KW0an3bfvV39FRtJ8_E4i3oKlMGBTXWsjKUJLKHs8vLslma6r9M9m76J6d63RPGm1Zjs2gZfUFM/s320/IMG_6267.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The smoke was so thick the landscape turned into a painting of itself.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_LIOiddktzHt2CszU1Q1iQmIB9pd2jZZ3lDsI0Rr5XcFZJ8Lf4iqqTEtKzdefWV6g7IIqqBthIWQr1UArZhs6m7GY4Wm56pZwc6kFrsW8XPFxy5fCe3J4QQpyBd0hFA2Lb4-M_4OI7fU/s1600/IMG_6314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_LIOiddktzHt2CszU1Q1iQmIB9pd2jZZ3lDsI0Rr5XcFZJ8Lf4iqqTEtKzdefWV6g7IIqqBthIWQr1UArZhs6m7GY4Wm56pZwc6kFrsW8XPFxy5fCe3J4QQpyBd0hFA2Lb4-M_4OI7fU/s320/IMG_6314.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The sun turned into a glowing orb of pink through the thick air.</div>
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Avoiding products with Palm Oil in them might help.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5626690856174518195.post-61000322363481231182013-07-09T00:53:00.002-07:002013-07-09T00:53:30.663-07:00Strange and Wonderful<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGYwi8_gbinhSj3oUbXWaWA0rRP1M2DBAcmyiG39QynpgiMhKlCOjlm-sw1NM98q3p8NQcqPCEyxc1jEE8dt323ncHcRttwydPj6am2FLYrwkIMdhKjama_bpRcy_fkVhjsP3q4iOrJY/s1600/n40.konigsberg+bird+11,0x8,2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGYwi8_gbinhSj3oUbXWaWA0rRP1M2DBAcmyiG39QynpgiMhKlCOjlm-sw1NM98q3p8NQcqPCEyxc1jEE8dt323ncHcRttwydPj6am2FLYrwkIMdhKjama_bpRcy_fkVhjsP3q4iOrJY/s320/n40.konigsberg+bird+11,0x8,2.jpg" width="221" /></a></div>
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This strange and wonderful 'bird' by <a href="http://www.tyukanov.com/">Sergey Tyukanov</a> caught my eye while I was looking for something else. </div>
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I love it when that happens: you get lost and find something lovely.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5626690856174518195.post-64584578487507450782013-06-21T01:14:00.001-07:002013-06-21T01:14:25.379-07:00Paper + Craft <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.chroniclebooks.com/landing-pages/papercraft/images/cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.chroniclebooks.com/landing-pages/papercraft/images/cover.jpg" /></a></div>
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A lovely book I came across while looking for something else in the library. </div>
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<a href="http://www.chroniclebooks.com/landing-pages/papercraft/images/tmpl_giantFlower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.chroniclebooks.com/landing-pages/papercraft/images/tmpl_giantFlower.jpg" /></a></div>
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The photographs are clear and the projects are quite easy-looking.</div>
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<a href="http://www.chroniclebooks.com/landing-pages/papercraft/images/tmpl_birdieMobile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.chroniclebooks.com/landing-pages/papercraft/images/tmpl_birdieMobile.jpg" /></a></div>
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They have two nice birdy-related projects too.</div>
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<a href="http://www.chroniclebooks.com/landing-pages/papercraft/images/tmpl_ornaments.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.chroniclebooks.com/landing-pages/papercraft/images/tmpl_ornaments.jpg" /></a></div>
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These would look lovely for Christmas ornaments.</div>
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<a href="http://www.chroniclebooks.com/landing-pages/papercraft/images/tmpl_goodieBag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.chroniclebooks.com/landing-pages/papercraft/images/tmpl_goodieBag.jpg" /></a></div>
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The bag template is going to be rather useful for packaging gifts.</div>
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The marvellous thing is that the templates are available for free download online here: <a href="http://www.chroniclebooks.com/papercraft">http://www.chroniclebooks.com/papercraft</a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5626690856174518195.post-25554610221080540022013-06-05T00:33:00.000-07:002013-06-05T00:33:03.609-07:00Finally - Success with Purple Cabbage!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After several attempts on different yarns: cotton, wool, silk, soy, mohair, I managed to successfully dye yarn with Purple Cabbage.<br />
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It doesn't sound remarkable except that the Purple Cabbage gives great colours in the pot and then they wash out (cotton) or fade out quickly in light (silk) or hang around for a while (wool) then fade to greige or take only the slightest tint (mohair).<br />
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Then there is soy yarn. For some reason Soy loves to be dyed. I am yet to understand why but it is so easy to dye its amazing.<br />
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Unfortunately I had only about 20 grams of soy yarn left, so I needed more for a proper test. After months of searching, I found a 70% wool 30% soy yarn. I decided to give it a go hoping the percentage of soy was enough. And yes, it was.<br />
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Furthermore the soy enjoyed all the things the wool didn't like such as changing the acidity of the dye bath to make different colours.<br />
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So happily I have blue, purple and pink from one dye bath just by adding different things to alter the acidity. I added soda ash to make blue, nothing to make purple (clearly my tapwater is fairly neutral) and a little vinegar to make pink.<br />
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The darkest shades were the first dye batch (24 hours) then the paler shades were the second use of the same dye bath (48 hours).<br />
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Unfortunately I made the decision to solar dye rather than refrigerate the dye jars. In this nice tropical heat the dye baths fermented and smelt rather like rotten eggs. Not pleasant, but the colours were worth a little nausea!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAC_-QKnmUSiqtQ9WGvcMtpzwV1YdXtTbrHfWcBo4LK2BTuGINi8W1ABjc2-1yFYXVJX9cIIjHkGaeeGMuCv9UdnKpPGm7_UZPmKD5qzz_uHM68karAhDIRfFYBHDjIJXmnlPLNOO6xo4/s1600/SophieLens_2013_05_29_07_49_42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAC_-QKnmUSiqtQ9WGvcMtpzwV1YdXtTbrHfWcBo4LK2BTuGINi8W1ABjc2-1yFYXVJX9cIIjHkGaeeGMuCv9UdnKpPGm7_UZPmKD5qzz_uHM68karAhDIRfFYBHDjIJXmnlPLNOO6xo4/s320/SophieLens_2013_05_29_07_49_42.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvgdEg8P5Micz2uKBmgmTLLjqKrcsrYvdU0x_DgTLokP8wiKGyp88m5aJXDAJy8zSdyvoPvJnZQFPuR8CL2QC76DOPwT9kd8ucq_dSFiiabGKRczIIEC8s1Bx4Ygx7Fowk3GeQRnP1HPw/s1600/WP_20130531_003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvgdEg8P5Micz2uKBmgmTLLjqKrcsrYvdU0x_DgTLokP8wiKGyp88m5aJXDAJy8zSdyvoPvJnZQFPuR8CL2QC76DOPwT9kd8ucq_dSFiiabGKRczIIEC8s1Bx4Ygx7Fowk3GeQRnP1HPw/s320/WP_20130531_003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9CDqJxV38HGd8y6kh6Mo_CbvFphqqhPAeoyhMaPVoPiWayjhRel-MQNHHIvoD9t7R3T4eyItWBSLss95hLE_rBfWdsBYj1JsY2bdIkw7_pCLjCyEa5AV9sk2c9jWtz4ZujG2nxWHpr_s/s1600/SophieLens_2013_05_30_19_37_45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9CDqJxV38HGd8y6kh6Mo_CbvFphqqhPAeoyhMaPVoPiWayjhRel-MQNHHIvoD9t7R3T4eyItWBSLss95hLE_rBfWdsBYj1JsY2bdIkw7_pCLjCyEa5AV9sk2c9jWtz4ZujG2nxWHpr_s/s320/SophieLens_2013_05_30_19_37_45.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5626690856174518195.post-31053879951821697612013-06-05T00:12:00.000-07:002013-06-05T00:12:01.278-07:00Searching for the perfect sunset<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Sometimes things are just <i>perfect</i>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW27rI_bPLlmzZxCke7XcISdghaxSSmJ34qWoS0g56jtFpl42yMDmXB_OW1k7Mh9IDJrC7LLpXQNxbQz_x9uxBqBh2jh6AJ7a65ug0ZWZmhy-D0hT-ZYkXzkPBTVlAjWQHHkHZUePCyJU/s1600/SophieLens_2013_05_13_19_14_37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW27rI_bPLlmzZxCke7XcISdghaxSSmJ34qWoS0g56jtFpl42yMDmXB_OW1k7Mh9IDJrC7LLpXQNxbQz_x9uxBqBh2jh6AJ7a65ug0ZWZmhy-D0hT-ZYkXzkPBTVlAjWQHHkHZUePCyJU/s320/SophieLens_2013_05_13_19_14_37.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguo_aLEbtx67B3Ca1PsHfJI1q5LhxDNb-xZrYCd2NhGdecFJBkjBP9I8NvyMGDnmdF7AwuUzLT0W-anwAnxxLkz1IVWtKGmzRzagQb2VUIXdlnTnbrrC2C-rX0yXpEFxpj-OH5t2VXKdU/s1600/SophieLens_2013_05_24_18_44_57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguo_aLEbtx67B3Ca1PsHfJI1q5LhxDNb-xZrYCd2NhGdecFJBkjBP9I8NvyMGDnmdF7AwuUzLT0W-anwAnxxLkz1IVWtKGmzRzagQb2VUIXdlnTnbrrC2C-rX0yXpEFxpj-OH5t2VXKdU/s320/SophieLens_2013_05_24_18_44_57.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm04Wraro4RLP47Idm1v29OMv74Oe1nY65f1IT-shwBsJEIoNSD7Fqz1kq7MNNzCqzzuJ3U1B1PalRCTcUtCWyX-r8N1IeacPmtORPKrNWLN428TKo3VLfv4cedq4XdBPbQo_Ht2PvSW8/s1600/SophieLens_2013_06_02_19_24_36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm04Wraro4RLP47Idm1v29OMv74Oe1nY65f1IT-shwBsJEIoNSD7Fqz1kq7MNNzCqzzuJ3U1B1PalRCTcUtCWyX-r8N1IeacPmtORPKrNWLN428TKo3VLfv4cedq4XdBPbQo_Ht2PvSW8/s320/SophieLens_2013_06_02_19_24_36.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5626690856174518195.post-91373576460323663462013-04-17T20:44:00.000-07:002013-04-17T20:44:28.012-07:00A scarf for Nanna<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So I made a scarf for my <a href="http://birdsmakemehappy.blogspot.sg/2012/06/winter-scarf-for-my-mama.html">Mum for Mother's Day</a> last year. My grandmother saw it and began hinting to people that she would like her own scarf. So I got to work designing a scarf for her. After quite a bit of deliberation, I settled on a blue tartan and used some online <a href="http://www.houseoftartan.com/interactive/weaver/index.html">tartan designer websites</a> to help choose the proportions and colours. The websites are rather fun too!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ouaD4cBY4vVI56bimCn08pdTgI1MlSqPi9MaxT1JPmxKCRxoj7kC4jzrYoTuIXtRtDVASFkyL8KT2SFyQptUdz12Ebsba_TmZaJYfEiC4TX_Slp2i-OIp7Fh7_mDlE4fKF57fZHZAoU/s1600/IMG_4584.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ouaD4cBY4vVI56bimCn08pdTgI1MlSqPi9MaxT1JPmxKCRxoj7kC4jzrYoTuIXtRtDVASFkyL8KT2SFyQptUdz12Ebsba_TmZaJYfEiC4TX_Slp2i-OIp7Fh7_mDlE4fKF57fZHZAoU/s320/IMG_4584.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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In the end I chose a dark blue wool for the majority of the weft with accents of cream and light blue wool. The warp is a mixture of light blue and cream cotton. So in total the tartan uses 5 colours. I wove in a simple twill pattern as it gives a nice drape which is important if you are going to wrap it around. The wool and cotton means the scarf is not too hot and suitable for spring and autumn wear and can be washed easily without worrying about felting.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyNeS6niIcR3xVcmpsejtSFXr_rHPWoI3v77Qt4bmos-34DIgpcImhAajHvr9A3Muf1dQeCGaV1RqCllARHL7yWcOJx00DRIS8i3VS5-cACRRWUNn-l0t8JIKo47HNeWLLER1YXtk7BM/s1600/IMG_4585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyNeS6niIcR3xVcmpsejtSFXr_rHPWoI3v77Qt4bmos-34DIgpcImhAajHvr9A3Muf1dQeCGaV1RqCllARHL7yWcOJx00DRIS8i3VS5-cACRRWUNn-l0t8JIKo47HNeWLLER1YXtk7BM/s320/IMG_4585.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I tried to be as accurate with the proportions of the squares as possible, but I'm not sure if this constitutes a 'real' tartan or not! </div>
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Anyway, my Grandmother was really pleased with it, so that's the main thing.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5626690856174518195.post-89784402945705734532013-04-17T20:26:00.000-07:002013-04-17T20:30:05.673-07:00Knitterly Pursuits - when acrylic is not all bad and is in fact quite good<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I finished this <a href="http://www.debbieblissmagazine.com/index.php/component/k2/item/74-dbfw12_07">Batwing Jacket</a> from Debbie Bliss Magazine a while ago (though it took about <a href="http://birdsmakemehappy.blogspot.sg/2012/11/happiness-with-yarn.html">6 months</a> to finish!) but I'm not completely satisfied with it. Even though I swatched carefully and recalculated the gauge and number of stitches to suit the pattern and the drape of the yarn, the cardigan is a bit too big. It works as an oversize cardigan that you can disappear into but its not quite like the pattern. Still, I wear it when I feel the need for disappearing in acres of handknit (sometimes this seems necessary!). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfU7fncp2dD8FWt-F9TaoV8ctIg22SJcPwX0fpbEM6_UzB9VIwMt_4mbapV-EaZGt_eksid4_n8K_6wEc4zu2sffc5hjxtXM2PJhTshfnBUPjYJLLcmgh0Re8Kzl2LhmM1icLw6nrhWZY/s1600/IMG_5908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfU7fncp2dD8FWt-F9TaoV8ctIg22SJcPwX0fpbEM6_UzB9VIwMt_4mbapV-EaZGt_eksid4_n8K_6wEc4zu2sffc5hjxtXM2PJhTshfnBUPjYJLLcmgh0Re8Kzl2LhmM1icLw6nrhWZY/s320/IMG_5908.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Part of the confusion was the pattern schematic did not indicate where you start from and end up, so I had no idea where I was going with the knitting until about halfway up the back of the cardigan. So I couldn't gauge from what I was knitting that it might be too large.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMigUL5GwuxV1FJX1uKR22U7arWoW8GWYPXDu_R5zCnSjfhcg00vDIbk2gd0Z3OHvEzCiqdpVaKCLbjcMGtxomH3kksn9uZrs1wAkh6WAff2bnpMCATHtJ9rQWr0AELHiWuivztSLHxSE/s1600/IMG_5909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMigUL5GwuxV1FJX1uKR22U7arWoW8GWYPXDu_R5zCnSjfhcg00vDIbk2gd0Z3OHvEzCiqdpVaKCLbjcMGtxomH3kksn9uZrs1wAkh6WAff2bnpMCATHtJ9rQWr0AELHiWuivztSLHxSE/s320/IMG_5909.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Still, the cardigan is a nice object and the gauge I got achieved a lovely bouncy cushiony cardigan.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijcb0iKwzZSDEgFbMgxS51oJvvSLAjmTmq0ZAaIxyENWKrLcU524UMx0_pymb8mVzJoflkk_7WWMzHXDf_nv_Gy63F9fObcyF9kxK9fMztAgNNPoJc9PmZnJTDabP0vS0p9JLdGnO8Lts/s1600/IMG_5910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijcb0iKwzZSDEgFbMgxS51oJvvSLAjmTmq0ZAaIxyENWKrLcU524UMx0_pymb8mVzJoflkk_7WWMzHXDf_nv_Gy63F9fObcyF9kxK9fMztAgNNPoJc9PmZnJTDabP0vS0p9JLdGnO8Lts/s320/IMG_5910.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I'm particularly pleased by the cuffs. They fit well and look neat.</div>
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The yarn is from my stash and is simply an acrylic mohair as I have used real mohair in this weather and its stiflingly hot and uncomfortable, even in airconditioning. The acrylic is the perfect warmth level for 21 degree airconditioning.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5626690856174518195.post-19245485661530737682013-03-31T20:05:00.000-07:002013-03-31T20:05:20.173-07:00Of knit and crochet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I started <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/17-bulky-coat">this cardigan</a> more than 2 years ago to wear in Canada. It was so bulky it wouldn't fit in my suitcase, so I didn't end up bringing it to Canada to finish. </div>
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I decided recently to finish it but looking at it I decided that I didn't like the style anymore. So I undid the cardigan and started again with a <a href="http://store.vogueknitting.com/p-1362-raglan-jacket.aspx">new pattern</a>. The new cardigan I finished within a week and I'm happy with the fit. I made only one modification to the pattern to extend the front button placket so I can button the whole front.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgudyZlxMRfmvjGHpgzXjJX0kFYd4GAxqLIe4ps8vh8uCpDZ7xQbEQiV-OU1pIul-pLY7B_iaS44nCxckGMC8B4lgG2tefQKY6_8BGMbCvfd1WqDPoMIxV2d-kkFVitzdDnEmlhpqjTY8I/s1600/IMG_5730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgudyZlxMRfmvjGHpgzXjJX0kFYd4GAxqLIe4ps8vh8uCpDZ7xQbEQiV-OU1pIul-pLY7B_iaS44nCxckGMC8B4lgG2tefQKY6_8BGMbCvfd1WqDPoMIxV2d-kkFVitzdDnEmlhpqjTY8I/s320/IMG_5730.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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The finished cardigan.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKiHdgOPrJOPAJu5donfTqh26FIH1yL5rK1uZu5oTnJ87SAFO4OsHyT_04HWDgbY5ryivBcxcbJrR9x0XFKc4M_UJP4yOnn6nlYZlcIrBZpMTjSo72fwNvPOIDecy0g79by-3B20Ci_8/s1600/IMG_5735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKiHdgOPrJOPAJu5donfTqh26FIH1yL5rK1uZu5oTnJ87SAFO4OsHyT_04HWDgbY5ryivBcxcbJrR9x0XFKc4M_UJP4yOnn6nlYZlcIrBZpMTjSo72fwNvPOIDecy0g79by-3B20Ci_8/s320/IMG_5735.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Detail of the travelling lines & buttons.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyLAV4aKJPlHTqBhbwwUW_TLgjGq5SGQv1cYJLqL3GyiSECIeiLp2_5wR4Z-TWgYuVZvM70IKgbxe_cCfcbRXRbkHN_ZuHE4oDaR2ZC9syHhMjxyHp_EFmpEYpmNvYJs7I_bvOaDgi0Gw/s1600/IMG_5565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyLAV4aKJPlHTqBhbwwUW_TLgjGq5SGQv1cYJLqL3GyiSECIeiLp2_5wR4Z-TWgYuVZvM70IKgbxe_cCfcbRXRbkHN_ZuHE4oDaR2ZC9syHhMjxyHp_EFmpEYpmNvYJs7I_bvOaDgi0Gw/s320/IMG_5565.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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This dress is from Interweave Crochet and I've been working on it for at least 6 months. It was sleeping for a while as I ran out of cotton. The layout is modified from the original to accommodate less squares at the top.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeUNFuty-ew2gvSfsCIPOeA5Am6IDEPXYj4kb-x_8vO6_ROoj4O8ZkYu-Wpg4WI5qwYmDHif8d2XhtIf18WEZK18_e_if17VOxiUf-PWB2DSibxwTWwJtBOaTo6ge5DR0TmO4GjX2RWzA/s1600/IMG_5596.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeUNFuty-ew2gvSfsCIPOeA5Am6IDEPXYj4kb-x_8vO6_ROoj4O8ZkYu-Wpg4WI5qwYmDHif8d2XhtIf18WEZK18_e_if17VOxiUf-PWB2DSibxwTWwJtBOaTo6ge5DR0TmO4GjX2RWzA/s320/IMG_5596.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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The new cotton was a different shade and so I had to overdye the dress to even out the colour. I first washed the dress and then I used very strong black tea to dye it. It had two attempts in the dye pot and a few days of soaking.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5626690856174518195.post-30684276425006996692013-03-27T05:23:00.003-07:002013-03-27T05:23:43.256-07:00The edges of Singapore<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Since visiting Australia in December I've been preoccupied with edges.</div>
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Singapore is an island but you rarely see the edges, you have to go search for them and they are largely quite inaccessible. </div>
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I wanted to find a place to see the sun set over the water, to look out of Singapore over the sea.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0miGjzSCAL0uNaFFvzZUi9y8qeVqQhYnYVsmEktZFPkpQW7Iy-odDP_qs9PQadbR1aeh78gj1gcrT8BxaxRcI5wcTNwCvqZkdW7q2bwzdnZ5DSA8TH4JgVehFsY58iobPiw4_v16G1w/s1600/IMG_5399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0miGjzSCAL0uNaFFvzZUi9y8qeVqQhYnYVsmEktZFPkpQW7Iy-odDP_qs9PQadbR1aeh78gj1gcrT8BxaxRcI5wcTNwCvqZkdW7q2bwzdnZ5DSA8TH4JgVehFsY58iobPiw4_v16G1w/s320/IMG_5399.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Sunset over Jurong Island with a gunmetal grey sea. This is about as far south as you can go on mainland Singapore.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkmVQ6nYZplBjwhCuyTn0QHfO5glV_OaRw1pmYhojBKIuTEpvTyg0NehaObG9i-4Fzy_LxkXlY-J5zebUxQpju_ZVImu43Kir9cBZJZlwF787uoyi38iIpmE_FwlYGEyNNb6Fu4UB8mM/s1600/IMG_5668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkmVQ6nYZplBjwhCuyTn0QHfO5glV_OaRw1pmYhojBKIuTEpvTyg0NehaObG9i-4Fzy_LxkXlY-J5zebUxQpju_ZVImu43Kir9cBZJZlwF787uoyi38iIpmE_FwlYGEyNNb6Fu4UB8mM/s320/IMG_5668.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Light fading over Tuas Checkpoint. This is as far west as you can go in Singapore. The hills you see in the background are in Malaysia! </div>
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Perhaps I should search for North and East too.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5626690856174518195.post-34790203705716086532013-03-20T21:24:00.003-07:002013-03-20T21:24:49.554-07:00Birds, blurry birds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The bird-paparazzi-ing never stops. Here are some (horribly blurry photos) snapped in Malaysia.</div>
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<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU30hRpaY6F6erWneDIXqCW2ZRQ0ZTX3O8OFHYCCZSFjMn2-QR_nNNWyOGhU61kbgHySs20JsV6v9W69SOHg7144FS-WEoTm34XoEWKwhAPCGBATGf0DS7q6PzsTZI8AAeNEotZmosKKM/s320/IMG_4758.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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White-Throated Kingfisher.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzqvPvYgVkyuErgz4MHwq714xHRQsweSi-1OLhr4T7Dwg5GKMtvBgGe6ZBEwcFRE4xEJTlJyhqg0sW21pLuXyWkLBpzBocRD9U4zpb9j0MnScQQVwRFvtpJsswdya-8CFATzLu2XK99I/s1600/IMG_4649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzqvPvYgVkyuErgz4MHwq714xHRQsweSi-1OLhr4T7Dwg5GKMtvBgGe6ZBEwcFRE4xEJTlJyhqg0sW21pLuXyWkLBpzBocRD9U4zpb9j0MnScQQVwRFvtpJsswdya-8CFATzLu2XK99I/s320/IMG_4649.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Might be a Grey Heron.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHZPMjiq1sYhW51-q-X7rTQmH8CdSFqbsyS_q_UY-psOY7_7fUvNTL1wdV4wkmn7PloOU-5sQd6LVcOWut5i4YXtiS8kVsD8nmKnAzpH4u8GOVMl9sY4LMnPyNnUXV9S0EVsSgEvIB64/s1600/IMG_4651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHZPMjiq1sYhW51-q-X7rTQmH8CdSFqbsyS_q_UY-psOY7_7fUvNTL1wdV4wkmn7PloOU-5sQd6LVcOWut5i4YXtiS8kVsD8nmKnAzpH4u8GOVMl9sY4LMnPyNnUXV9S0EVsSgEvIB64/s320/IMG_4651.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A Little Heron?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMxCNuasQrGeiJN5cL3sjgXuG7rTJH0Z5HYTQwq-wF8RWx_eaPqwqdYlM4-DD_8SdpRy65QdEKD4K8kfgAzq94HPDYuyAmySTm1OkiXTo9xJ0MKdyb6Q9anns7ahHApoEQByVnCf9A6g/s1600/IMG_4653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMxCNuasQrGeiJN5cL3sjgXuG7rTJH0Z5HYTQwq-wF8RWx_eaPqwqdYlM4-DD_8SdpRy65QdEKD4K8kfgAzq94HPDYuyAmySTm1OkiXTo9xJ0MKdyb6Q9anns7ahHApoEQByVnCf9A6g/s320/IMG_4653.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A Grey Heron in flight.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzn2y2lMarHEITHUfUJwvEpAT-I1q1pCW_ggEAYk6a0mCyNHNHN2E_C1ankZYKq2tvOUTSPJfebIaEiUVh2sa9hGngJT_Sj11h75_E3dMevYQAZtrR0UNY7jBOrKp4XPgnWWh0Z63zZk/s1600/IMG_4659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzn2y2lMarHEITHUfUJwvEpAT-I1q1pCW_ggEAYk6a0mCyNHNHN2E_C1ankZYKq2tvOUTSPJfebIaEiUVh2sa9hGngJT_Sj11h75_E3dMevYQAZtrR0UNY7jBOrKp4XPgnWWh0Z63zZk/s320/IMG_4659.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I spy with a Black-Naped Oriole.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6gUoji9Rnw4jhxBG1qK0boBI8AIzXE-_7cV0AAXucbaYl0qLyEu-Bi5MLKSacgo35e-ZocdaxKlzjm-aVAly3N95cEy4m_63sXF2FSk4VW-fWs2TxtCH-PR2goWNPch5eFT7n56Ky2k/s1600/IMG_4675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6gUoji9Rnw4jhxBG1qK0boBI8AIzXE-_7cV0AAXucbaYl0qLyEu-Bi5MLKSacgo35e-ZocdaxKlzjm-aVAly3N95cEy4m_63sXF2FSk4VW-fWs2TxtCH-PR2goWNPch5eFT7n56Ky2k/s320/IMG_4675.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Spotted Dove.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUdMkLR1ce0E5e0PZfCXZRnsJ-wISlGfk8_SE6Fpcy1_sodsil98KdLVVVjlsmX5Eao_G3LhlAZ2mnstY4c7e9tmJES2oLXhbU8gcJOBtgDvjImQPoqM1M9ckl_eg8fWYGWvU7zqT_f1Y/s1600/IMG_4681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUdMkLR1ce0E5e0PZfCXZRnsJ-wISlGfk8_SE6Fpcy1_sodsil98KdLVVVjlsmX5Eao_G3LhlAZ2mnstY4c7e9tmJES2oLXhbU8gcJOBtgDvjImQPoqM1M9ckl_eg8fWYGWvU7zqT_f1Y/s320/IMG_4681.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Possibly a Grey Heron.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjECcAh60pcaJ9em5dEQgR-Cq-vMbFwVqn5QzS7XQYZIaWxzF8Nh-3HrMqHBhDm8HOPorANeKQWsneD4o9nVQQBHlWuo7L-pHVnVc-XFInlci6i05pWrutq56I2JDHSKIDF5PolhFo3RPc/s1600/IMG_4689.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjECcAh60pcaJ9em5dEQgR-Cq-vMbFwVqn5QzS7XQYZIaWxzF8Nh-3HrMqHBhDm8HOPorANeKQWsneD4o9nVQQBHlWuo7L-pHVnVc-XFInlci6i05pWrutq56I2JDHSKIDF5PolhFo3RPc/s320/IMG_4689.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A Pacific Reef Egret?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfqie-omniULUXfPSZtSfJ-EfXgn7DXzxdINcc5Bvdp_g8E65NQYRx7OYXdDjD06weKAgWQl0M5gymSkoT1KACm6RYy10UjMebpAsKnECFRcCfyAlzMe3LGDQzUIMoGV2qSdYMerEQ-Wc/s1600/IMG_4741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfqie-omniULUXfPSZtSfJ-EfXgn7DXzxdINcc5Bvdp_g8E65NQYRx7OYXdDjD06weKAgWQl0M5gymSkoT1KACm6RYy10UjMebpAsKnECFRcCfyAlzMe3LGDQzUIMoGV2qSdYMerEQ-Wc/s320/IMG_4741.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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My favourite, Rock Pigeons.</div>
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I think this is a Purple Heron.</div>
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Two Zebra Doves running away.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5626690856174518195.post-68403770642120794132013-03-20T20:25:00.002-07:002013-03-20T20:25:52.516-07:00A preoccupation with light<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Back in December (yes, a while ago!) I went to Malaysia for a short holiday. The resort had a golf course, and even though I know nothing about golf, I found the place inspiring. Every afternoon there was a short storm and in the morning the light over the course was amazing.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZD0-oLrc-w9a6TnbnA8lK9QF6hptv_V-sQjL2y7VCiGj0qlffwSSPWD1-Rsoz8b56za8FQnIA_T4UaLDvx2U9sQJyqT0IJgmsnD9kuvSaJpB_NKz4ClbdUf7nBK0I_lhqlMba7GE8yzw/s1600/IMG_4691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZD0-oLrc-w9a6TnbnA8lK9QF6hptv_V-sQjL2y7VCiGj0qlffwSSPWD1-Rsoz8b56za8FQnIA_T4UaLDvx2U9sQJyqT0IJgmsnD9kuvSaJpB_NKz4ClbdUf7nBK0I_lhqlMba7GE8yzw/s320/IMG_4691.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The rough texture of the road.</div>
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The colourful lichen growing on the palm trees.</div>
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The morning light through peach curtains with the tree behind.</div>
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The tree shadows on the wall in the morning light.</div>
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The wet grey colour of the road contrasted with the yellow crossing after a storm.</div>
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Dew and misty morning light over the golf course.</div>
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The speedbump after the rain.</div>
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The late afternoon blue sky with dark cypresses reminded me of <a href="http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/49.30">van Gogh</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_C-he20VuU70ZIVPlUAf80Tzawn98fW8MwP1BfAM966VwfGUmzX_-2ZK72ZIwb3BB3pCG2M4C5qvqve1Zaxik3phCVsbPsZ6o3arGAAlAkzaEJz2wLnZh2IbNAEoXEIDPe9Cyh-q7QTI/s1600/IMG_4777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_C-he20VuU70ZIVPlUAf80Tzawn98fW8MwP1BfAM966VwfGUmzX_-2ZK72ZIwb3BB3pCG2M4C5qvqve1Zaxik3phCVsbPsZ6o3arGAAlAkzaEJz2wLnZh2IbNAEoXEIDPe9Cyh-q7QTI/s320/IMG_4777.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I love the footprints to tell you which side is for pedestrians and which side is for golf buggies!</div>
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If I could paint, I'd paint this scene. To the left a storm is brewing and to the right colourful golfers converse seemingly oblivious.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AkdbGNzz2Uh9ldCtvz9Cv6GNWfBC0sNfmJdPmlA4DBsF8Np66438Td2V8uVcpRDrQNwhaAl23qLofmWRh9841MjWrbfmOnIxyIpg1gVmUh0nalEUFQOuRrEG71yVdtCAazcxwZgp7zE/s1600/IMG_4801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AkdbGNzz2Uh9ldCtvz9Cv6GNWfBC0sNfmJdPmlA4DBsF8Np66438Td2V8uVcpRDrQNwhaAl23qLofmWRh9841MjWrbfmOnIxyIpg1gVmUh0nalEUFQOuRrEG71yVdtCAazcxwZgp7zE/s320/IMG_4801.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Moss! A rare sight in Singapore!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5626690856174518195.post-67217072532455271432013-02-08T20:07:00.000-08:002013-02-08T20:07:32.988-08:00Earth Meets Sky<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My annual journey back home provided much inspiration in terms of colour and texture. I plan to develop some of these colours in my dyeing work and the textures perhaps in some other projects.</div>
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Blue Hydrangeas in the evening garden take on the hue of the sky. The colour seems almost limit-less.</div>
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Sunrise over the great desert that is Australia's centre. The glow was so much more orange that my camera could cope with. It was like peach icecream.</div>
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The airplane was quiet as everyone else was sleeping. I snuck up the shades to take a picture. Its strange to think of the earth below rotating as we fly over it in the atmosphere. </div>
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A little beetle I met. He was such amazing colours - reds and greens and yellows.</div>
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This little pond is a coppery green owing to the mineral content of the water. The pond was full of ducks and little fish.</div>
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Recycled brick pathways have always been a favourite of mine. This one was multi-hued red to orange and almost green. The day was warm so the path was radiating heat.</div>
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The farm-scape near where I live. The old fields follow the undulations of the land. The new fields follow the circle of the irrigation spray. A multitude of crop colours, mostly veggies or grazing. The white fields are probably poppies grown for medicine.</div>
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Sometimes you look out the window on the plane and see strange and beautiful cloud formations. </div>
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The night sky at my parent's house is so dark you can see the stars. Here is Orion's belt.</div>
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The <a href="http://bridestowelavender.com.au/pub/">Bridestowe Lavender</a> farm was extraordinary. The colour of the lavender complemented the purple of the mountains and the red of the soil. And it smelt wonderful.</div>
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Shadow of a woolen lace shawl I saw at the <a href="http://www.taswoolcentre.com.au/">Tasmanian Wool Centre</a> at Ross, Tasmania. I also brought some beautiful handspun undyed black wool there. They also have a wool museum where you can touch different microns of wool and see some of the world record breaking long staples from different sheep.</div>
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This yellow lichen never fails to amaze me with its colour. This is growing on a 150 year old gatepost in Oatlands, Tasmania.</div>
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The deep dark sky fades to light cloud. I am reminded of <a href="http://www.sugimotohiroshi.com/">Hiroshi Sugimoto</a>'s amazingly beautiful <a href="http://editeur-en.hermes.com/editions/h3-hiroshi-sugimoto/couleurs-de-l-ombre.html">scarves for Hermes</a> when I see this. </div>
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The shallows of the bay make strange forms.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5626690856174518195.post-23097754780107619802013-01-23T03:59:00.000-08:002013-01-23T03:59:20.111-08:00Birds I've met recently<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrpCnEHfd_Po22cKdBid2p7bk7HXKxF0krlVGwjAZnRwi4Xp5skVe7xnSLygZ9Xa-j3d-11D8R4bWavqHpXC6RHpy9kZcwrIdYtpvX1aG50yHaIVkS55ooxFvXhzNW2ZndNR58tuFpeA/s1600/Brahminy+Kite+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrpCnEHfd_Po22cKdBid2p7bk7HXKxF0krlVGwjAZnRwi4Xp5skVe7xnSLygZ9Xa-j3d-11D8R4bWavqHpXC6RHpy9kZcwrIdYtpvX1aG50yHaIVkS55ooxFvXhzNW2ZndNR58tuFpeA/s320/Brahminy+Kite+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Brahminy Kite hang out for a good half hour just flying around and sitting on a tree branch. While my camera isn't good you can see the distinctive white head it has. Close up it <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Haliastur_indus_-Karratha,_Pilbara,_Western_Australia,_Australia-8_(1).jpg">looks like this.</a> </div>
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Its beautiful to watch him circle and follow the breeze. The Swifts sometimes fly at him to shoo him away (probably from eating their chicks) but it doesn't seem to bother him.</div>
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We met another Emerald Dove. This one was very relaxed and continued wandering about looking for food even though we were just metres away.</div>
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I took lots of photographs but they are all blurry as I was too excited to see the dove! He is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chalcophaps_indica_-National_Aquarium_-Baltimore-8a.jpg">very very</a> handsome and colourful.</div>
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The same day we saw the Emerald Dove we also saw this group of 5 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:A03_2880_640x427.jpg">Laughing Thrush</a> also looking for food amongst the leaf litter. This fellow was curious about me too!</div>
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The Laughing Thrush 'chatter' to each other while they forage, I guess to keep track of their family members.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5626690856174518195.post-36259874448144174732012-11-22T17:11:00.000-08:002012-11-22T17:11:26.191-08:00Tasty Things<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1T9iI29kV3I8ZdUcyGgFdEkmV0ZWE31Cbdrm6yWk7MZd4lW68CeGbT_DOc0XujmPyPYjoEinI3ICaoPExWa3IOL2Srznalc3vyj4qatg2aiHNRDV74-VLZ5Uz_KJPEImvAxyrqP2H6oc/s1600/IMG_4033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1T9iI29kV3I8ZdUcyGgFdEkmV0ZWE31Cbdrm6yWk7MZd4lW68CeGbT_DOc0XujmPyPYjoEinI3ICaoPExWa3IOL2Srznalc3vyj4qatg2aiHNRDV74-VLZ5Uz_KJPEImvAxyrqP2H6oc/s320/IMG_4033.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is the second time I have made this polenta cake. Its gluten free and uses polenta and ground almonds instead. However it does contain eggs so I can't eat too much at once. This time I used limes instead of lemons and it was lovely. The cake has a lot of butter in it too so its not so healthy but very tasty!</div>
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I tried making Macarons for the first time. I was surprised to find out that Macarons are wheat free! They are made with ground almonds, egg white and sugar. It was going well in the oven but they flattened out once I took them out and I didn't get nice little 'feet' on them. They were also much too sticky.</div>
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After cooking they went quite flat. Fortunately they tasted quite nice so we ate them anyway. Though once again they have egg whites in them so I had to restrain myself to just eating one or two (dozen!). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo0_RqL-84SbUE57p1_lFHNriq0Sp16rbsApDCd1wOc9HAT7ILOhyhsiQNvXUTKSEdNFyf-HsEVtDaC_G6dPI9uLY0t3JSyUF1JhU0PFEshzhQ3TVz5ggMQxWQpzrP4XT7dvRNEeAKB1s/s1600/IMG_4354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo0_RqL-84SbUE57p1_lFHNriq0Sp16rbsApDCd1wOc9HAT7ILOhyhsiQNvXUTKSEdNFyf-HsEVtDaC_G6dPI9uLY0t3JSyUF1JhU0PFEshzhQ3TVz5ggMQxWQpzrP4XT7dvRNEeAKB1s/s320/IMG_4354.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I filled some and then I baked some of them a second time and we just ate them as is. I put lemon rind in the shells so they had some flavor without the filling. For the filling I used white chocolate, coconut cream and lemon. This was an excellent plan as the filling was very good. In fact I think the filling was more successful than the shells!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEy73KewjAQUh8wckUpbqccAIu-Xc_qsnE3wAZqLbg43jwkqZONmaV7Yk5Tpd7chLNUqlKG3vTJybeP1zja2CMpwfwx101d1udKCoLVQejTO0KdzsP6rHgqK5Nc03ktDBPTNhUY10pWuQ/s1600/IMG_4262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEy73KewjAQUh8wckUpbqccAIu-Xc_qsnE3wAZqLbg43jwkqZONmaV7Yk5Tpd7chLNUqlKG3vTJybeP1zja2CMpwfwx101d1udKCoLVQejTO0KdzsP6rHgqK5Nc03ktDBPTNhUY10pWuQ/s320/IMG_4262.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Fortunately the Creme Brulee turned out perfect. I used the egg yolks left over from making the Macarons. Turns out I can tolerate these quite nicely. I used real vanilla beans to make them and that made them taste MAGNIFICENT. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUQKTAL0Q6xWVnWgpJKOeletGA8-j8_fz4t7z5kG6oddxdzLCZen_UhXVjOo_dUqIeEXps0OtaOvSQk5WIyaWTJlSK9Z3zLENYpyCJQSQOD7v0190GF9sdwhNG7Z9rFUUSlyMb1K8qKw/s1600/IMG_4268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUQKTAL0Q6xWVnWgpJKOeletGA8-j8_fz4t7z5kG6oddxdzLCZen_UhXVjOo_dUqIeEXps0OtaOvSQk5WIyaWTJlSK9Z3zLENYpyCJQSQOD7v0190GF9sdwhNG7Z9rFUUSlyMb1K8qKw/s320/IMG_4268.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Alas my grill is not hot enough to get nice toffee on the top without burning the brulee. Next time I shall have to get a brulee torch!</div>
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I used <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2012/sep/20/how-to-cook-perfect-creme-brulee">this recipe from the Guardian</a> to make the Creme Brulee. It really is easy and tastes amazing. I had no idea it was so easy to make so I'll have to make more in the future. The fun part is thinking up different flavors to put in them. Though I think Vanilla Bean is the classic.</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5626690856174518195.post-71294696845346634012012-11-07T17:10:00.002-08:002012-11-07T17:10:52.373-08:00Happiness with Yarn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijI_66L89bvjCh-ANyQGiQaqGW4diby1lzex3BEhOppEdCWjU2iRSnlCRH20gr__AfFv8yfV4W40qwUDTdqA0MfvlZd9c4We1waWdXfnA8FhxnQhsbmXckBjv99V-KQSsadBqRX_CbHlM/s1600/IMG_4118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijI_66L89bvjCh-ANyQGiQaqGW4diby1lzex3BEhOppEdCWjU2iRSnlCRH20gr__AfFv8yfV4W40qwUDTdqA0MfvlZd9c4We1waWdXfnA8FhxnQhsbmXckBjv99V-KQSsadBqRX_CbHlM/s320/IMG_4118.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
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This is my incomplete version of the <a href="http://www.crochetme.com/media/p/135709.aspx">Coogee Bay Dress from Interweave Crochet Summer 2012</a>. The original version was a bit too big for me (pattern is only one size) so I modified the number of squares (the dress is made of square motifs joined together) to make it smaller. </div>
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I ran out of cotton at this point so had to get more...unfortunately the new cotton is a different shade, much lighter, so I'll have to dye it. As its a fairly neutral colour cotton I'm planning on using black tea to dye it after I finish. I'm hoping this will even out the tones. Hopefully!</div>
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So as you can see from the picture I'm up to the skirt portion.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_fLiHQWt52jUtJ6t4bldhyphenhyphenehhb1OoICZR4OR3sFgMaiXwDOpBiWADV8BPKHFIrOpboZp2ez6k2rIArAmnuyW4jZn1Ir46BIJCMH_yCOPLXXmgo3bsc1ToTvleenB541WTQ-g3ckGVLk/s1600/IMG_4120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_fLiHQWt52jUtJ6t4bldhyphenhyphenehhb1OoICZR4OR3sFgMaiXwDOpBiWADV8BPKHFIrOpboZp2ez6k2rIArAmnuyW4jZn1Ir46BIJCMH_yCOPLXXmgo3bsc1ToTvleenB541WTQ-g3ckGVLk/s320/IMG_4120.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The original has longer sleeves than this but I thought they would be too big for me so I shortened the shoulder/sleeves to one square rather than two. I might add some length to the sleeves if I have any cotton left after making the skirt.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8cVmVSdz6Q8KcfOidRnWzZd-FhlpDPCcn_5oS6Hf17MPoCYmkNyIoAbvGmcZBWrvVxP0EcVdv6NbM6sEgjzDoTvwlMvrq7gIovT0d4yRa7OQsNNAETbWuet_88Z5o0YOZWED3g1EhbyY/s1600/IMG_4125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8cVmVSdz6Q8KcfOidRnWzZd-FhlpDPCcn_5oS6Hf17MPoCYmkNyIoAbvGmcZBWrvVxP0EcVdv6NbM6sEgjzDoTvwlMvrq7gIovT0d4yRa7OQsNNAETbWuet_88Z5o0YOZWED3g1EhbyY/s320/IMG_4125.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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This top is from <a href="http://store.vogueknitting.com/p-1976-vogue-knitting-201112-winter.aspx">Vogue Knitting Winter 2011/12</a>. I made this in a green cotton/silk blend. My camera can't really photograph green so you will just have to imagine this is nice dark forest green with hints of grey.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Ecjee5fbWaI3QP6Zh8I1hBmuy4DR7WrpqofAKbgmyYq5LpTrPWjGeEG2W0sodQyzRhdp_RAiU6dkSggUE2oR1y-2kzLUVjKBFwz-PSuenqsMMH4IHGJ_CFEvIn3ZGLx-NAPEkL72gZ8/s1600/IMG_4128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Ecjee5fbWaI3QP6Zh8I1hBmuy4DR7WrpqofAKbgmyYq5LpTrPWjGeEG2W0sodQyzRhdp_RAiU6dkSggUE2oR1y-2kzLUVjKBFwz-PSuenqsMMH4IHGJ_CFEvIn3ZGLx-NAPEkL72gZ8/s320/IMG_4128.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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The nice thing about this pattern is the twist at the front which reveals the reverse side of the stockinette stitch. The little texture change is really subtle but gives this top some interest.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVuvPJL-iyYZwMxEaMqAPmJ2z_WVm-tRVL39nOzAJlI1FQ7B5YKeZpH-9GzkW3InfVbxBtDdmFsPHATfTW_PnP-9zJqHdSjYMa5vwzHfMHy2yC6_BiztR02sc0VGYApxty8FdXptjskmU/s1600/IMG_4136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVuvPJL-iyYZwMxEaMqAPmJ2z_WVm-tRVL39nOzAJlI1FQ7B5YKeZpH-9GzkW3InfVbxBtDdmFsPHATfTW_PnP-9zJqHdSjYMa5vwzHfMHy2yC6_BiztR02sc0VGYApxty8FdXptjskmU/s320/IMG_4136.jpg" width="203" /></a></div>
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This cardigan is from <a href="http://www.interweavestore.com/Knitting/Magazines/Knitscene-Winter-2011-Digital-Edition.html?relatedid=19165">Knitscene Winter 2011</a>. I knit this one up using linen, cotton and silk. I lengthened the cardigan a little as I have a long torso.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukAy4O8tqttIpr2-X_c3vR-Z9IYw5CEwSDUMJY4kKWqYhOtS0Dr2HNWnMoX43wPU_74RoXl6Uz5As0m2TU5_Ij9w1lkvtrvsqqYc86cq-BxdMuS5X7eXcYVX1Ok7h7OlywYeiukleziA/s1600/IMG_4145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukAy4O8tqttIpr2-X_c3vR-Z9IYw5CEwSDUMJY4kKWqYhOtS0Dr2HNWnMoX43wPU_74RoXl6Uz5As0m2TU5_Ij9w1lkvtrvsqqYc86cq-BxdMuS5X7eXcYVX1Ok7h7OlywYeiukleziA/s320/IMG_4145.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The grey is linen/cotton, the black is cotton and the neckline is cotton held together with black Tussah silk from Habu. The Tussah silk gives the neckline some structure and a little crunch. The linen/cotton makes the cardigan comfortable to wear even in tropical weather.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHmi6NmTDjCK0Gfi2zD9NfjY5dpVORGKfgovnhFxA05VVKkOU1dZ5wJ3wQrllpoezhDjBBxbs8RZzNJBbJEbOFeFMRaayqAa9a6SU_DbSekp-o_3bAqtDxz9LI98PPj1F6OAmWk7ZLFXI/s1600/IMG_4156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHmi6NmTDjCK0Gfi2zD9NfjY5dpVORGKfgovnhFxA05VVKkOU1dZ5wJ3wQrllpoezhDjBBxbs8RZzNJBbJEbOFeFMRaayqAa9a6SU_DbSekp-o_3bAqtDxz9LI98PPj1F6OAmWk7ZLFXI/s320/IMG_4156.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This book is a facsimile edition of a Renaissance book published in 1587. It also contains another book published in the early 1600s. The patterns are Italian designs published in French. This book brings out the historian in me but also makes me squeal in happiness when I see things such as the bird motif.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZW_EQKpS0MHlEgaj-j33QRBdhfMWMEnWIRDyNkRPfWF9D5x74Gzz6OOM-ASv7CWpQz5-Zx9GQYxI8CEBGzxI8HTww2ea5-s5SxjLIgcK29RLkkeBp8IOuRqK5S-L2sjZzfjXDWCTHn_U/s1600/IMG_4163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZW_EQKpS0MHlEgaj-j33QRBdhfMWMEnWIRDyNkRPfWF9D5x74Gzz6OOM-ASv7CWpQz5-Zx9GQYxI8CEBGzxI8HTww2ea5-s5SxjLIgcK29RLkkeBp8IOuRqK5S-L2sjZzfjXDWCTHn_U/s320/IMG_4163.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I loved this bird pattern so I decided to try making it in Filet crochet. All I did was count the number of squares and make them in crochet mesh then fill in where the pattern picture was shaded. The hardest thing was counting the squares. I made this in bright blue #20 crochet cotton.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXcKdRJYW4RVyBJB5T0XdolUpfegYwzAykxIjSHWr_C8lFN5r3_OKn9AL5UuD2DA4yz9rQn_rdo0gwrLGHwrKQ7RdSeM9cA72bEO4GlXFVX1tMxxSoCyyUcELZEHJlUHcmKFfwp4J-1w/s1600/IMG_4148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXcKdRJYW4RVyBJB5T0XdolUpfegYwzAykxIjSHWr_C8lFN5r3_OKn9AL5UuD2DA4yz9rQn_rdo0gwrLGHwrKQ7RdSeM9cA72bEO4GlXFVX1tMxxSoCyyUcELZEHJlUHcmKFfwp4J-1w/s320/IMG_4148.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>
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I'm so happy with how it turned out. It measures about 600mm x 600m. I wear it folded in half as a little shawl. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EhgAMVuGfl7g9kSP9fK5XNg6Hp6d_R5oDxmn3Mp0nL6COhmn4lGWVWtdNmidZ6RjjhV4rYQ6jFsPC_Vk2huE6EX76-c8zt7sKitqjLKJ5lgME1hduxg8HI7TDLd_CrCEuYUSgQUf4NA/s1600/IMG_4161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EhgAMVuGfl7g9kSP9fK5XNg6Hp6d_R5oDxmn3Mp0nL6COhmn4lGWVWtdNmidZ6RjjhV4rYQ6jFsPC_Vk2huE6EX76-c8zt7sKitqjLKJ5lgME1hduxg8HI7TDLd_CrCEuYUSgQUf4NA/s320/IMG_4161.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Crochet birds make me almost as happy as real ones! These birds are my favourite birds too - Pigeons! </div>
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The cheerful blue colour makes me happy too.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU2I7GSzIXJHDL6gZbtoRut57n8tNA6rPD7DoMoEmhUjvqhotElzVHEIabcxqlPRU0a7Em4ZNwGihJmmhp4J_jxDq9Uhjsm5kSS0_w98ZtXMPy9orEwBagsvBXz0Mse_XV60ulXs2xaYg/s1600/IMG_4336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU2I7GSzIXJHDL6gZbtoRut57n8tNA6rPD7DoMoEmhUjvqhotElzVHEIabcxqlPRU0a7Em4ZNwGihJmmhp4J_jxDq9Uhjsm5kSS0_w98ZtXMPy9orEwBagsvBXz0Mse_XV60ulXs2xaYg/s320/IMG_4336.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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At the moment I'm working on a <a href="http://www.debbieblissmagazine.com/index.php/component/k2/item/74-dbfw12_07">Batwing </a>sleeve cardigan from Fall/Winter 2012 <a href="http://www.debbieblissmagazine.com/">Debbie Bliss Magazine</a>. The pattern uses a much finer yarn than I had on hand in my stash so I adapted the pattern to suit my yarn. I used a much larger needle to get a nice soft drape and reduced the number of stitches. The pattern was also too large so I made it a little smaller. I plan on adding some silver yarn into the cuffs to give it some interest. </div>
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After this I plan to make<a href="http://www.crochetme.com/media/p/137559.aspx"> this cardigan</a> in Grey and Fluorescent Yellow cotton. Yes, Fluorescent Yellow.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5626690856174518195.post-55173195426176287342012-11-07T06:32:00.002-08:002012-11-07T06:32:36.079-08:00Why sew?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I made a commitment this year to not buy any clothes. So far I have more or less stuck to my plan. All I have brought are things I can't make like tights or shoes or jeans. However I weakened recently at the price of a $5 viscose cardigan on sale at Cotton On. Fast-fashion is just so cheap that its hard for a girl to resist. I am mortal after all! I can't make things for as cheap as the big chains can. But I can make things of better quality and with nicer materials. I can use linen and cotton and cool polka-dots and sew careful seams and lining. I can choose exactly what style, colour and fabric I use to suit myself. Even though I occasionally crave the thrill of purchase and the quick and ready-made, I'm glad I have tried to make my own clothes. I get so much more satisfaction from wearing things I made myself. My sewing is also getting better. Now my clothes don't look home-made in a bad way. It makes me very happy when people ask when I got my dress and I can say I made it and they are genuinely shocked!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGuUfZ8U0U1Q1Mvo0gWehxqQx_4XVbe_iYRjSg8pFyig37mM6o2VuOjKKAcqWs6ErDJUBP4KRPhmZcSvQwUxoUbBf0bSlChNY00yL-NAHZm91kGP0i7iirjPJ0mIfWVavHkRWxeSs7O5Y/s1600/IMG_4086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGuUfZ8U0U1Q1Mvo0gWehxqQx_4XVbe_iYRjSg8pFyig37mM6o2VuOjKKAcqWs6ErDJUBP4KRPhmZcSvQwUxoUbBf0bSlChNY00yL-NAHZm91kGP0i7iirjPJ0mIfWVavHkRWxeSs7O5Y/s320/IMG_4086.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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This dress pattern is from BurdaStyle. I sewed the dress in a linen/cotton blend so it falls nicely. I modified the sleeves a bit and gave them a little pleat so they sat nicer across my shoulders. I'm so happy with this dress. I love the indigo colour too.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKSWCe24YwS33g__Az-KUkcS2n8Q7ZniW8jFuy34PvdSQcnaT6g4Ci448aSK5iwCtsV0RVWzAXLEO0xPjS0S2caekZ1WaX-wUqcZcpsG3wniVNEBnFeY_tuRUXMUeDgXfBt2xhVdOfhg/s1600/IMG_4171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKSWCe24YwS33g__Az-KUkcS2n8Q7ZniW8jFuy34PvdSQcnaT6g4Ci448aSK5iwCtsV0RVWzAXLEO0xPjS0S2caekZ1WaX-wUqcZcpsG3wniVNEBnFeY_tuRUXMUeDgXfBt2xhVdOfhg/s320/IMG_4171.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Rather than buy pajama pants I decided to make my own. I used fabric that I like but is a bit too shocking for my quiet personality to wear out! One pair is in linen/cotton (same print as the dress) and the other is cotton. I gave both a simple elastic waistband. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKAhzYvNU5CW1RDoSbdGlbbDyxKhdlSG4IouhYhiDCfHA_6JSxaw9Wdl6XgTqOqfiQIcVnYOIgvId_zA88Y5u7Thyphenhyphenzd09BekB0GLIDl2KRRJu6PKklypTmqkRmzkYKPl-X1RTzE4dZQY/s1600/IMG_3872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKAhzYvNU5CW1RDoSbdGlbbDyxKhdlSG4IouhYhiDCfHA_6JSxaw9Wdl6XgTqOqfiQIcVnYOIgvId_zA88Y5u7Thyphenhyphenzd09BekB0GLIDl2KRRJu6PKklypTmqkRmzkYKPl-X1RTzE4dZQY/s320/IMG_3872.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>
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The pattern is my own adaptation of a pair of pj shorts. I used the instructions in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Design---Yourself-Clothes-Patternmaking-Simplified/dp/0307451399/ref=la_B0034OSYZC_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1352297911&sr=1-1">Cal Patch's</a> book to lengthen the pants.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO1zSA4zkKE8k7k6E5CFhinqa5GtQUVRdsSP8TE5RigPh9jADdYZXsyA5pv71Op3sNgkl1WMWjZPtqr3LA6AUXkGkv0tCtvpvGKViFD5LhvHPnQKkJeIWmYQHsNfAAr-SYusKVqWyku1I/s1600/IMG_4239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO1zSA4zkKE8k7k6E5CFhinqa5GtQUVRdsSP8TE5RigPh9jADdYZXsyA5pv71Op3sNgkl1WMWjZPtqr3LA6AUXkGkv0tCtvpvGKViFD5LhvHPnQKkJeIWmYQHsNfAAr-SYusKVqWyku1I/s320/IMG_4239.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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As a child I always wanted to wear a Tutu but I never go to. So I decided to make myself a Tutu skirt. This project I've dreamt about for about 2 years, but only got to making it this past week. The skirt is made up of 3 layers: 2 of Bridal Tulle and one of acetate lining. I sewed both to the elastic waistband. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8npDlQ6lz8avDWmXd4nZKPRIJspZYiQXRKlBxxAL_QX_1DI4lBaSucsPdSQPSYr_XvOZwo4M4T82koS1wsL8sTE8zUSE4xwQAmlby5EItV4MC7qp0E3cVhpKwHDkfD4eDLpp_MZE-wx4/s1600/IMG_4210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8npDlQ6lz8avDWmXd4nZKPRIJspZYiQXRKlBxxAL_QX_1DI4lBaSucsPdSQPSYr_XvOZwo4M4T82koS1wsL8sTE8zUSE4xwQAmlby5EItV4MC7qp0E3cVhpKwHDkfD4eDLpp_MZE-wx4/s320/IMG_4210.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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When I wear this skirt out, people are nicer to me. Random strangers smile at me in the street. I guess big swooshey tutu skirts make people happy. It sure makes me happy!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmULEdgSoEyN0Wd2dUrhp2-TpIGumTXndJFYVc6W39bIzzF7xqYQfMj-oz5XKt24Mj6DKy-57_gZXXx-A6oDa-ew9r7tqHJ-8xR3Otjpx5UorIUnS8eEG_6UEDK-E7GtwPj2rM3uurgQ4/s1600/IMG_4246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmULEdgSoEyN0Wd2dUrhp2-TpIGumTXndJFYVc6W39bIzzF7xqYQfMj-oz5XKt24Mj6DKy-57_gZXXx-A6oDa-ew9r7tqHJ-8xR3Otjpx5UorIUnS8eEG_6UEDK-E7GtwPj2rM3uurgQ4/s320/IMG_4246.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
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Because I lost a lot of weight I can't wear any of my trousers so I decided to make some. These pants are from a book called<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Modern-Sewing-Patterns-Favorite/dp/159668352X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352297885&sr=1-1"> 'Simple Modern Sewing'</a> and were quite easy to make...However after I had sewed up the blue linen I realised it was more translucent than I thought so I had to line them. After rummaging around in my fabric stash I found enough white cotton fabric to line the pants.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNZxxvP9DbluAs3J6VPb5EFWqN5CEIkrJOlCK4_Mt22fsaHaTdGk2g7X0z-yXQDWagNAjLCTOBDPSUTWCXUYxw6bEUyni3Ke1h5CZWjF58heEiq2Z7g2Wdmkf-EHxr-OBd3jrn3NSsns/s1600/IMG_4254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNZxxvP9DbluAs3J6VPb5EFWqN5CEIkrJOlCK4_Mt22fsaHaTdGk2g7X0z-yXQDWagNAjLCTOBDPSUTWCXUYxw6bEUyni3Ke1h5CZWjF58heEiq2Z7g2Wdmkf-EHxr-OBd3jrn3NSsns/s320/IMG_4254.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The pants are really comfy. There is a lot to be said for an elastic waist!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmumW6btO9N-Z4j7IyXuTAKX7kERiyTtY8N2wIzzUju1ygAw-0MUDpAfdW1sK0JRocPME5RKPFhpQbvYVO6-C15oTXBXU6J7S8m2Xvh1ucp0Op5CFfvZOS013fMGs8f3JNtmx_0_f_ak/s1600/IMG_4311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmumW6btO9N-Z4j7IyXuTAKX7kERiyTtY8N2wIzzUju1ygAw-0MUDpAfdW1sK0JRocPME5RKPFhpQbvYVO6-C15oTXBXU6J7S8m2Xvh1ucp0Op5CFfvZOS013fMGs8f3JNtmx_0_f_ak/s320/IMG_4311.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>
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This dress is my adapation from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Modern-Sewing-Patterns-Favorite/dp/159668352X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352297885&sr=1-1"> 'Simple Modern Sewing'</a>. The book designed this dress for linen but I wanted to use this pleated polyester. I also decided to modify the hemline to slope from front to back. The change of fabric meant I had to stabilise the top to prevent it stretching out and I added a half-lining of black cotton drill fabric to keep it nice-shaped.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Pcc_eCmAT4cfZTbmNbJTqSOkQPQtqdvfZW2gZD5d_g5RDAAILK8fduPjwp832qM8XUvfmJMLKKyet0rltaAPZPx92GnQGJQx-rRXtcmSUUZeyIsofZy7SN-pdVam1U3dr6FhocD_OLo/s1600/IMG_4315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Pcc_eCmAT4cfZTbmNbJTqSOkQPQtqdvfZW2gZD5d_g5RDAAILK8fduPjwp832qM8XUvfmJMLKKyet0rltaAPZPx92GnQGJQx-rRXtcmSUUZeyIsofZy7SN-pdVam1U3dr6FhocD_OLo/s320/IMG_4315.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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This is the sloped hemline. It looks like a 1920s dress when worn.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdIAEL4HGUO1HaXmd8Z831dC9cGXmUDOHQq6Tka7GxX6bSv_5Mmn6fMe8ti2tQNKjG_2hZinRz1kp6d1g2xHyu812OySg21ZgTQJ8HX83ABgKPSxY589jDB_0zZv-B7Q2FmSivI4I1gx4/s1600/IMG_4319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdIAEL4HGUO1HaXmd8Z831dC9cGXmUDOHQq6Tka7GxX6bSv_5Mmn6fMe8ti2tQNKjG_2hZinRz1kp6d1g2xHyu812OySg21ZgTQJ8HX83ABgKPSxY589jDB_0zZv-B7Q2FmSivI4I1gx4/s320/IMG_4319.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The pattern had these nice fold-over shoulder details that I liked.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVCSEYje_8A-ylbsdiHDvpdGNEphjz5ltcxINaMMJKqEu6C8JifIKP7rCpYBxJEZljKZS-3A4UjJQNK0kDgkwA_utv8H4vMGiVSUnWyJKFY_HwjQw_TprguQsxX7oc5sRd4TSj1Z6N3M/s1600/IMG_4323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVCSEYje_8A-ylbsdiHDvpdGNEphjz5ltcxINaMMJKqEu6C8JifIKP7rCpYBxJEZljKZS-3A4UjJQNK0kDgkwA_utv8H4vMGiVSUnWyJKFY_HwjQw_TprguQsxX7oc5sRd4TSj1Z6N3M/s320/IMG_4323.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I had about 0.5m of grey jersey left from my <a href="http://birdsmakemehappy.blogspot.sg/2012/08/sew-what.html">Drape Drape dress</a> and I wanted to make a shawl. I had seen a scarf at the <a href="http://www.purlbee.com/pom-pom-scarf/">Purl Bee</a> with Pompom edging and thought it looked cool so I decided to make one. Mine is a circle scarf as I only had about 1.0m of length for the scarf - too short to wear as a regular scarf.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1CVIS4vaY1bdvXQXJaIpW1UgSuRXMOYBfBsmwTY_wyMjPLGqXscS6ZZ6xPHkVq167yZyl3fQqsAeiDdwScvtSJuGcNmGz14HYHZE3sD3TsaAJCN4czSlrycEfIcuvVT-FrdAroQtJis/s1600/IMG_4326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1CVIS4vaY1bdvXQXJaIpW1UgSuRXMOYBfBsmwTY_wyMjPLGqXscS6ZZ6xPHkVq167yZyl3fQqsAeiDdwScvtSJuGcNmGz14HYHZE3sD3TsaAJCN4czSlrycEfIcuvVT-FrdAroQtJis/s320/IMG_4326.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The pompom scarf has the same effect as the tutu skirt - it makes people smile. This is a good thing to happen when you walk about!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSm8H-urKfj3hl7Ua1bUY6MW1yz-1Gsr7zyxHmH2djejPrstMr0LKBOBS8-V98geDVhXDy1ubxTKdeu0b5WFtz3HWtlAzSzwQmlP2wKIztJmcs8VeTRhw4Lj_Agswh9X9ayE5re5Q5SmY/s1600/IMG_3878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSm8H-urKfj3hl7Ua1bUY6MW1yz-1Gsr7zyxHmH2djejPrstMr0LKBOBS8-V98geDVhXDy1ubxTKdeu0b5WFtz3HWtlAzSzwQmlP2wKIztJmcs8VeTRhw4Lj_Agswh9X9ayE5re5Q5SmY/s320/IMG_3878.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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This dress is from a BurdaStyle pattern. I made this in light grey polka-dot polyester chiffon. This was the first time I had ever sewed chiffon and it was a little bit tricky. I had to zigzag stitch all the pieces before I sewed them as they were unraveling fast! Fortunately the zigzagging also helped to stabilise the seams and keep things from sliding away while sewing as I couldn't pin the pieces as pinning left holes. I definitely learnt a lot from this dress!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbQ5jaEua3frx49kaSI5Nlfs0JlBDuntdeC-O7_foxD7iAJIjggkBxnUldUSGUU_swlfb_fyY-MDU5gC0ofJMXHqnbrXfaxcOulum2iWORCpu03vpzLZdec5v49APx9-DVyj48XlX-mo/s1600/IMG_3879.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbQ5jaEua3frx49kaSI5Nlfs0JlBDuntdeC-O7_foxD7iAJIjggkBxnUldUSGUU_swlfb_fyY-MDU5gC0ofJMXHqnbrXfaxcOulum2iWORCpu03vpzLZdec5v49APx9-DVyj48XlX-mo/s320/IMG_3879.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I am quite happy with my neat seams around the neck and sleeves. The asymmetrical neckline turned out nice too. It has a simple press-stud to fasten.</div>
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More sewing adventures await!</div>
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