One Month Gone By

Oh My!!! I just typed in my title and put One Month Gone By and then looked at the calender and thought oops!!  it is actually two and a bit months. Won't be long and I will be writing about Christmas again.

Well where to start, we had a great break over school holidays and everyone indulged in a variety of craft either for themselves and/or with their children. Everyone including myself, appreciated spending some quality time with the family without the pressures of time not being on our side.

I had several unfinished projects that I have now completed. I am just waiting on the right size black pom poms to arrive and I shall show you some images of the Hare from Alice in Wonderland that I have been making for my niece for her birthday which was in December. She loves Alice in Wonderland so I am converting the Christmas Hare into a Birthaday Hare but I can't rush these things, you know! 

Connie stitched and I drilled and sawed to complete the terrific teepee. We have it on display in the shop and it would be a great, safe little haven for any child. It is made from Cargo Drill White Spots. It looks fantastic but you do need to have some basic skills in the shed or a partner who can handle a drill and hacksaw. We have currently sold out, but you can find the teepee pattern in our online store as soon as it arrives back in stock. You can pre-order if you wish, just email or phone us and let us know!

Another project that I finally completed was a pair of Lace Rib Bed Socks by Patons using Classic Totem 8ply  Colour 4325 which is 100% Australian Wool. I was knitting them for my for my Mother-in-Law's 80th birthday and she is now 82. The pattern is in The Big Book of Small Projects 2 and is for an intermediate knitter. I did have some difficulties with the pattern and my knitting Norma corrected a section in the pattern for me. The book is available and I will include the pattern corrections with the book. I was going to put them on display but as I have been making them for two years I felt it was more important to give them to her in person, as I was in Perth with my daughter for the Country State Life Saving Championships last weekend. I was so proud of my daughter at having a go in events she knew would be a challenge. It was a mammoth effort and she won two silver medals. One for U/17's Tube Race and one for U17's Ironwoman. 



Bye for now until my Hare is complete......... 

The Countdown Begins

It's the seventh day of December and we have all woken up and realised Christmas is coming and Oh Oh! there is lots of work to be done. What an exciting time for some, particularly the youngin's. Santa still comes to our house and decorates the house with balloons and streamers, every Christmas Eve, while everyone sleeps!! Our daughter is 16 and still enjoys waking up in the morning to see what he has put on display this time. Its a good year this year cause Christmas falls on a Sunday, so we will have time to get to our families safely.

Everyone is finding time to decorate there pressies beautifully this year. Ribbon has run out the door and we are getting more shipped in from far and wide. We were caught by suprise but we have more arriving within the week. Here is a sample of some of Alicia's Christmas wrappings.

Alicia has been very busy making an absolutely gorgeous wreath with Yo Yo's. She has patience that far exceeds mine, to sit there and produce over 200. It is nearly finished and it has certainly been worth the effort, cause it truly is very special and I can't stop admiring it and showing it of to our customers. Alicia may add a final touch of White Pearl Head Pins to each Yo Yo, but she just have to find some time to have a play.

I have been making a Melly and Me chicken pattern, called "Clucky", but I have down sized it to make a pin cushion. She is a thank you present for a very special Teacher at Esperance High School. Mrs Chambers is a Textile Teacher whom teaches my daughter to sew. I call her Mother Hen, as she truly cares for all her girls that pass through her textile room. My daughter has had some crazy moments with the sewing machine. Hence the unpicker tucked up nicely in one wing and the little chicken, (my daughter) tucked up safely in the other. "Pins! She must have pins!" My daughter cried as I was making Mother Hen. "Mrs Chambers always pins and unpicks for me so please add some pins." This is how "Mother Hen" nee "Clucky" became a pin cushion. Mrs Chambers has shared her passion for sewing, and passed on this passion to many of her girls. She is well respected and loved by all and she frequently bounces her way into Create and See with  a smile on her face. She is an absolute gem and Katie, my daughter has been privileged to be under her wing.

My Favourite

Well I am late again!  I keep promising myself that I will update each week, and I really do intend too but all of a sudden it is is half an hour before it's Wednesday and I am still attempting to add to my draft from last week. Next......is a word I repeat to myself often. My draft from last week,  announced that a selection of my favourite scrapbooking papers and embellishments arrived from 7gypsies.  I am not huge on lots of colour and this is probably why I just love 7gypsies papers.  I love the quirkiness of the sketches scattered over the papers. I even love their packaging!!  One day take the time to read the back of one of their packets, because it tells their story. It tells a wonderful tale of how an Australian Schoolteacher met her husband and how they became who they are today.

  

Back on Track

Oh my goodness! It's early morning and I woke with a start. I remembered I have a blog, that I have not updated in quite a while.  I do have have an excuse, I have been on holidays and unfortunately came home quite ill but I am back on track and was very excited walking back into the shop and seeing all the gorgeous new cotton fabrics that have arrived, it just made me keen to sew.

Also, while I was away, the front of the shop had a makeover.  It is all crisp and clean and looks fantastic. The signwriter did an amazing job. He is very talented and I am sure only us creative people would appreciate the skills involved in being able to freehand an image from my business card. Plus the web site front page is finally finished, the products list now stays open and a few other issues have finally been resolved, at a cost of course. It has been a long journey and Alicia has worked tirelessly on it. Have a look.

Christmas is just around the corner, and it is great to hear from our customers that they are going back to basics.  Hand Made is booming, face washers are being crocheted, jams are being made, softies by the dozens are being stitched, wheat heat bags are being produced. I get such a thrill when I receive a hand made gift as time is very precious.  So why not consider finding some time in this lead up to christmas to make that someone special, a gift made with love.

New and old favourites are back

Among a few, our old time favourite "Funky Farm" has arrrived back in store. I have made a kit but mine includes black and white cows and an array of brightly coloured sheep. My tractor is red and has black tyres but you can make yours green if you are a John Deere person. The "Funky Farm" Pattern is listed under Patchwork - Patterns - Hot Possum.

"Clucky" is a crowd pleaser and has come to join us once again along with a couple of new beginner patterns. "Sally and Smith" is one. The patterns are beautifully written and perfect for the novice or for the softie fanatic in all of us. "Giddy Up" is a blast from the past and takes me back to our daughters younger years, and certainly shows "what's old is new again".

Alicia has been busy uploading dressmaking fabrics. Unfortunately the lens of a camera does not give a true indication of how beautiful these fabrics truly are. If you are a tactile person like myself and need to see and touch the fabric, please contact us and we will be happy to send you a sample. You can view some of the range under Dressmaking - Fabrics - Specialty Fabrics or Stretch Fabrics. There is so much more to come so keep an eye out.

Well, I am of to work, I enjoy Saturdays as we normally don't get any deliveries and it is a little more laid back. Then I am off to watch our daughters netball grand final. Go TDS!!!!!

My Very First Post

Alicia is on holidays for three weeks in America at a Scrapbooking Convention and I only have 3 more sleeps till she walks back onto the floor at Create and See. I will attempt to get all my ordering done as it has been hectic and I have got a little behind. I have missed her and I am excited to show her all the progress I have made for the web site http://www.createandsee.com.au/ and my blog. Plus show her all the samples Connie has whipped up while she has been away.

Connie has been working, and it has been an absolute pleasure to have her on a daily basis. She has quite literally whipped up some gorgeous samples which I shall upload for all to see. She brings laughter and life back into Create and See. It reminds me why I am in the business, I get so much pleasure from seeing people get excited about what she has created, including Connie. The father Xmas pattern sold out before Connie had finished him. I am happy to take orders as I will be placing an order in the next couple of days.

Christmas is not far away if you plan to make and Create. Some new Christmas patchwork fabrics arrived and I have already sold a few metres. Santa on his surf board has been a big hit and will not last long.

I was also hoping the shop front would be all painted and the sign work completed before Alicia got home. Unfortunately it will not be so as the signwriter is having an operation and I will have to be patient.

I have waited all Winter, Spring is in full flight and by Summer we will be all shiny and fresh for the tourist trade.

I have been very busy putting new stock on the floor. 35 new dress fabrics arrived and they are gorgeous, I am very excited because quite a few stretch fabrics are around the $17.00  per metre mark. Kwik Sew has quite a few stretch patterns, they are available in store and online. Kwik Sew patterns are brilliant, particularly if you have a Brother Overlocker, it makes sewing stretch a breeze.

I shall attempt to make a start to upload all the new fabrics but I may have to wait for Alicia to assit me with this so you will have to be patient.