random life stuff Archives - Page 7 of 16

On mittens, and making time for sewing

13/07/2012 7:31 am \ 14 Comments \ Carolyn

Rootling around in my winter woollies; I realised that I had never devoted a post before now to these mittens.
I knitted them yonks ago: probably when the children were really tiny, and probably using leftovers from one or another of my hand-knitted fair isle cardigans and jumpers that I was very keen on making at the time, and which have mostly appeared on this blog already. The yarn is Patons 8ply, my yarn of choice for years and years and years because it came in a gloriously huge range of colours, tailor-made for lovers of fair isle knitting, and which sadly seems to be no more.
I have no memory of the pattern I used, but it is obviously a Scandinavian design, no? (Later edit; Lydert advised that it is likely a true Fair Isle design from Scotland… thank you Lydert!)
I still love to wear them on really frosty mornings, that is; as long as the finer motor skills are not required 🙂
Each row has two strands of yarn, one carried behind the other, to form the colourful fair isle pattern. The backs of the hands are still looking quite presentable, but unfortunately the palms are a bit fluffy now through wear. But I think they still have a good many years left in them! I think I will try to make for myself a new adapted pattern based on these, because just now I have noticed that the area around the base of the thumb is just a tad too tight across my hand. I think the tightness is a minor detail that never bothered me before. When I was a wee young strapping thing I was very accepting of minor discomforts in my handmade clothing and it is only as I have got more, er, mature (haha) that I have become more picky and fussy about The Perfect Fit.
Will keep you posted on the progress of that pattern…

Details:
Mittens; knitted by me, using Patons 8ply merino
Jumper; knitted by me to my own design, using Jo Sharp’s Aran Tweed, details here
Jeans; Burda 7863 modified, black stretch corduroy, details here
Socks; handknit by me, details here
Ugg boots

I was highly flattered when Carole and Gilly both asked how I manage my sewing time, and even what was my schedule for weekly sewing… thank you so much for the interest ladies!
My “schedule” is a very NON-scheduled kind of a schedule, really. A Clayton’s schedule. The schedule you have when you’re not having a schedule, y’know 😀 That’s another antipodean-ism there btw…
Lately I am trying a new tack; to limit myself to just one project a week, and no more. I figure; forcing myself to slow down means naturally paying plenty of attention to the finer details and finishing things off properly. I’m not doing toooo bad about sticking to that one 🙂 but (blush) I do still have three more finished things to show here, just awaiting me taking some photographs and sitting down to write something coherent about them. Often this bit takes me longer than the sewing bit 🙂
I don’t sew every day, but often if I am idly passing my laundry door I’m suddenly possessed and propelled by some mad demonic force beyond my control, over to the sewing machine, picking up whatever is on the go and doing a little bit. Sometimes that little bit turns into a lot, as the sewing demon evilly tempts me to put off whatever it is I should be doing, just to do a little bit more sewing. Oh, I’ll just put in this zip, or oh, I’ll just finish off this pocket, or whatever. Oh, I really should walk away right now and NOT apply that iron-on interfacing to the collar… oh woops, look I just did. Now I really just have to sew it together now, darnit…
Other times I might have just put on a load of washing and suddenly woosh! I awake from a trance to find myself sitting at my sewing machine, doing just some little thing more. The sewing demon is powerful, I tell you. Cunning too.
It gets particularly malevolent when I am all enthused and excited about a new project. I will be super-restless about getting on with it, and obsessively think about it every moment I am not right there with it, working on it. My raincoat was one of those projects; I worked on it solidly for several days. feverishly plotting over the minutiae of the construction details and the best possible order it should all go together.
Until it was finished. Then I am at peace and the demon is appeased.
This house is clean.
well, momentarily anyway…. mwahahaha 😉

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: daily outfit, knitting, mittens, random life stuff, Sienna

Paris in the spring; such a marvellous thing

16/06/2012 5:13 pm \ 30 Comments \ Carolyn

9 June
Self drafted dress, Metalicus petticoat, Vogue jacket in red silk hessian, also a self drafted Tshirt underneath (not seen) for some extra warmth. This photo above was taken by Craig on the Pont Neuf in the setting sun.
I had a perfectly lovely day, meeting up with Donna for some very enjoyable girly chatting, lunching and shopping in the fabulous fabric stores in Montmartre, and for knitting yarn at the most divine little knitting cafe L’Oisive The. It was such fun, and it was so nice to meet you Donna!

10 June
Ok, going for the touristy shot here, but when one is a tourist one is but helpless to resist, no? That’s my excuse, anyway… 😀
Here I am at the famous landmark along with about a bajillion other people… wearing my creamy ivory Vogue 1247 skirt made of a curtaining remnant, a self-drafted Tshirt (not seen), KwikSew 3667 light grey fleece hoodie (thank you Mary for this cute pattern!), and self drafted grey/beige footless tights. I confess I laughed to myself when I tossed these tights into my suitcase, thinking no way am I ever going to need these. After all, it is nearly summer in Europe, right? But I figured, oh well, tights don’t take up a lot of space, so what the hey… And here we are; and it is freezing in Paris. Thank goodness I did pop in the pair of tights!!
Now, just to note: Craig has taken all of my travelling photos so far, submitting patiently and good natured-ly to my strict instructions about where to stand and how to frame the shot although I have to admit that some photos were candid and were not stage-managed by the camera control freak (ie. me) However on this day he was attending a conference, the real reason behind our sojourn in Europe; and so this is a self portrait. I did not take my full size tripod, but used instead my little gorilla-grip tripod and the self-timer button on the camera.

11 June
Attending the conference dinner, a river cruise; and aha! I just knew I had to have brought those annoyingly space-guzzling high heels for some reason other than to just look glamorous on the plane!! Also wearing a lace skirt of my own design based on Vogue 7303, self drafted white cotton Tshirt, Colinette chenille scarf, Burda beige cotton trench coat. I had intended to deposit my trench coat in the cloak room and wear my scarf draped glamorously across my shoulders like a stole since it looks quite nice that way, but it was so cold! so I wussily did not remove my coat all evening 🙂

12 June
Self drafted and dyed purple Tshirt, Burda 7863 black stretch cotton corduroy jeans, my hand knitted fitted cardigan in chocolate brown Jo Sharp summer cotton. Another self portrait since Craig is again at the conference and I spent another quietly self-indulgent morning exploring Paris on my own. This photo taken in the Jardin du Luxembourg.

Later edit!!

13 June

I got confused with the dates (easy when you’re my age) and almost forgot to include this day, which is ridiculous since it was an important one… we spent the day with our simply delightful exchange student Laura, and had the pleasure of meeting her lovely mother for lunch also. We became extremely fond of Laura during her stay with us in Perth, she was like a daughter to us and it was wonderful to see her again. Isn’t she just totally gorgeous? This blurry action shot in front of Notre Dame is the only one Craig took this day showing my outfit… my black jeans, my chocolate brown hand knitted cotton cardigan, my Colinette chenille hand knitted scarf, and not seen here but I am also wearing a self-drafted Tshirt and hand knitted socks, as usual

14 June
Taken in the Jardin des Tuileries; with the Louvre in the background. Wearing black corduroy Burda 7863 jeans, a self drafted Tshirt (not seen), the grey fleece KwikSew 3667 hoodie (thank you Mary!), and my Vogue raspberry silk hessian jacket. Oh, and hand knitted socks of course, not seen either. Our last day in Paris 🙁 but I am very glad to get home and see my children again.
And so that is that! Thank you to all those who were kind enough to comment on my travelling wardrobe and I am looking forward to catching up with returning comments now…
We are now at home and I am tackling a mountain of washing, but I do have some wonderful new fabric and wool purchases to play with, as well as a holiday knitting project that I took away with me to do, and is finished and ready for showing off as soon as I can get my photography act together again; watch this space… 🙂
Later dudes! or should that be, au revoir…?

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: daily outfit, random life stuff

Gadding about

08/06/2012 9:46 pm \ 26 Comments \ Carolyn

4 June

Here I am about to pay a visit to my pal George Clooney in Lake Como… just kidding, hehe. I don’t know who lives in this beautiful villa in Varenna, Lake Como; but the white iron lacework gate is simply gorgeous, no?

Weatherwise, this was one of those difficult-to-dress-for, weirdly cold/hot days; freezing in the morning but quite hot by early afternoon.

I am wearing a lace skirt of my own design based on Vogue 7303, Jo Sharp fitted cardigan knitted by me in Jo Sharp chocolate brown summer cotton, Burda 7834 blouse in crushed silk (just seen).

5 June

Burda 7723 shorts in hot pink linen, peekaboo/hoodie from Pattern Magic 3 in blue knit, and socks hand knitted in Noro yarn.
A hot day with some medium-duty
hiking from Pigra to Lenna in Lake Como, Italy

6 June

Self drafted and dyed Tshirt, Vogue 1247 skirt of red cotton velveteen ombré dyed brown, Burda beige cotton trench coat.
A day in constant transit, with time spent in each of Lake Como (pleasantly warm), on a ferry (briskly windy), a train (cold), Milan (very hot) followed by another train (warm and stuffy). This combo coped pretty well!

7 June

Self drafted Tshirt, Vogue 1247 skirt of curtaining remnant, Vogue jacket of red hessian silk.
A very wet day in …. guess where! I wasn’t sure about whether these garments actually went together at first, but I ended up liking the outfit a lot!

8 June

Self drafted Tshirt, Burda 7863 black stretch cotton corduroy jeans, Burda beige cotton trench coat.
Up until now I’d been wondering if it was a waste of luggage space to pack my wintery corduroy jeans, but Paris is cooooold! This fabulous twisty sculpture is in the Jardin des Tuileries.

Kbenco suggested a round up of my travel wardrobe when I get home, thank you for the fantastic suggestion Karen! I too am very interested in what other ladies choose to pack to take away for long overseas holidays and why; so I will do a summary post at the end of my trip. That is if I do not toss the whole lot out. Just kidding. Sort of. I admit to feeling a little jaded by my travel wardrobe now, a wee bit stifled by the limited selection; and I am really looking forward to getting back to some of my other of my clothes and particularly some other shoes!

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: daily outfit, random life stuff

Tripping

03/06/2012 5:41 pm \ 38 Comments \ Carolyn

Me made May has been successfully completed, and the majorest challenge for me this time round was putting pictures in the Flickr group… A monumental difficulty when one does not have a reliable computer! Thank goodness for Craig whose expertise with all things computer-related made it possible for me to post a picture onto the Internet using our iPad, as well as solving all sorts of unanticipated and dodgy connectivity issues. I was very pleased that I did manage to post my picture onto the Flickr group each day… And I think I managed to keep up with commenting within the group. Once we started our trip my computer time became so limited all I had time to do was post my own picture and then look at and comment on only the ladies who were kind enough to leave a comment on my own efforts, so if I left anyone out then I apologise!
When traveling of course one’s scenery is always going to be varied and interesting and I was blessed in this respect. I was also fortunate to have the rare luxury of a built-in photographer! and of course tourists are supposed to take photos of themselves, so there has been none of the usual embarrassment factor in that aspect of the challenge!
Now, what have I learned by doing this challenge for the fifth time around? Unsurprisingly not much new. Just that I really enjoy challenges that allow me to play about in my wardrobe 🙂 As far as my wardrobe goes; I have very little that is not me-made any more so finding something to wear is not a problem. I did not repeat any outfits, but a few current favourite pieces in my collection popped up more than once. And I have no gaps that need “filling” 🙂 quite the opposite ;D
Of course, being on holiday means that we are still taking photos daily! so I might extend the challenge for a bit longer, put a few more photos here, just for fun and to show some sights, and how my self-made pieces work out for travel. To see the remainder of my me-made May daily photos and a very brief summary of the day’s activities, the link to my entire set is associated with the me-made May ’12 button at right.
But in the meantime…

1 June
Self drafted dress
Metalicus petticoat
Taken on a really cool structure in the Parco Sempione in Milan, an amphitheater made of concrete with old cafe chairs embedded within for the audience to sit on. So cool! I also wore this dress during our long long flights over; because it is super comfortable and non-crushable. Important for something one will be spending hours in, and sleeping in. This ensemble is a beaut for such situations.

From Handmade by Carolyn

2 June
Taken at Lake Como, Italy
The bamboo shoot top from Pattern Magic, Vogue 1247 curtaining skirt, and chenille scarf. It was very warm in Milan thus the summery feel, but I had my chenille scarf for our train and ferry ride to Lake Como, which was chilly. Having a big warm scarf that one can “wrap up in” is indispensable when travelling. I’ve used this one heaps on the cooler evenings and for air-conditioned spots, such as the aforementioned trains.

3 June

Burda 7723 white linen shorts, a self drafted Tshirt (not seen) and a fleece KwikSew 3367 hoodie; a pattern that was a gift from the lovely Mary. Actually have worn this hoodie several times while hiking during this trip, but happened to be not for any photos. Oh, and also hand knitted socks!
Another day of reasonable heavy duty mountainous hiking, this time from Varenna to Esina Lario, at Lake Como, Italy. Taken with one of the “ghosts” at Castello di Vezio; very atmospheric mediaeval ruins, situated on a peak halfway up the mountain. Naturally, we continued on up the entire mountain!

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: daily outfit, MMM12, random life stuff

The Dingo Flour Mill

17/05/2012 9:08 am \ 24 Comments \ Carolyn

Thank you so much for the positive comments, and I’m so glad my featured Perth landmarks are giving some extra interest and enjoyment to the usual rather repetitive “outfit shots” that I admit I am getting just a tad tired of myself…. :S I know, barely halfway through and already: sad, huh?
My location today takes in the Dingo Flour Mill, a working flour mill that has been on this site since the 20’s. The big red dingo painted on the side is an iconic image here in Perth. These heritage listed buildings are right across the road from the dog beach where I walk my own dog with a frequency that this blog can attest to 🙂 It was a tough call! but I forwent my usual favourite ocean backdrop and pointed the camera in the opposite direction this time.

Sienna was very patient, watching and waiting for me, tied to a nearby tree.

She was a very happy and satisfied doggie, given that just minutes earlier …

So; a very appropriate me-made May photo given my actual daily activities with my very own, real-life, red dog, no?

My outfit is nothing new and has been seen here before, but is still a firm favourite, one I wear with monotonous regularity during the colder months. So much so that I don’t know what I will do when it is no more.
There is just something about it I love to bits… and I always receive compliments whenever I wear it. (The former no doubt influenced by the latter 😀 )

Picture taken around 12.30m; Temperature at the time 21C.
Overnight low: 8C; Today’s high: 21C
Some sun, some cloud; fine all day

Details:
Top; the twist top from the Japanese pattern book Pattern Magic, by Tomoko Nakamichi, charcoal jersey knit, details here
Skirt; self-drafted, made from the same fabric.
Shoes; Enrico Antinori, from Zomp shoes

btw, my husband thought the uncropped photo to be far more interesting, so here it is for comparison…

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: daily outfit, MMM12, random life stuff, Sienna

The DNA Tower

16/05/2012 6:03 am \ 24 Comments \ Carolyn

Please allow me to introduce to you, the DNA Tower.
Hehe, I am being sorta touristy on the blog lately! but not completely since obviously Perth has always been the backdrop to my life…
The DNA Tower was built in the early 60’s, and I have lots of fond memories of my brothers and me having the time of our lives pelting up and down the tower as fast as we could, while Mum and Dad boringly sat with the picnic on the grass nearby. And since we would come home so tired all we could do was to fall into bed early, then I’m sure the DNA tower was equally beloved by Mum and Dad as well…!
When my own children were little they loved running up and down the tower too, so each whole new generation repeats the same routine.
Nowadays, the tower is much beloved by fitness fanatics too.
So I am enjoying my me-made May photos at the mo’… employing a few Perth landmarks certainly makes the photo-taking, always the most challenging part of the, er, challenge for me, a heck of a lot more exciting and interesting. And happily this is another spot that is basically on the way home from dropping my son Sam off at uni, which is part of my current daily routine. He is learning to drive, and guess who gets to be the driving instructor?!

Picture taken around 11am; Temperature at the time 19C.
Overnight low: 11C; Today’s high: 21C
Fine and sunny

Details:
Top; top “a” from the Japanese pattern book Unique Clothes Any Way You Like by Natsuno Hiraiwa, white cotton, details here
Jeans; Au Bonheur des Petites Mains PLH08002, strawberry pink non-stretch cotton denim, details and my review of this pattern here
Cardigan; knitted by me, the Fitted Cardigan 04, version 1 with the lace edging and three-quarter sleeves, in Jo Sharp Soho Summer DK Cotton; colour Calico (shade 216), details here
Thongs; KMart

In an almost complete hat-trick of me-made sightings in my household…

Last night Cassie wore a cocktail dress made by me, to a party

Cassie’s dress; Vogue 1105, silk charmeuse

Today Craig again wore again the blue linen shirt I made for him, and Tim wore the shirt I made for him for Christmas

Craig’s shirt; Burda 7767 modified, blue linen, details here

Tim’s shirt; Burda 7767 modified, blue check crinkly stuff (a blinkin’ nightmare) details here

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: Cassie, Craig, daily outfit, MMM12, random life stuff, Tim

The Boatshed

15/05/2012 6:39 am \ 26 Comments \ Carolyn

Isn’t it nice when you open a winter woollies drawer and discover a little something that you had finished off a few months ago, in the height of summer when you could not wear it, and suddenly you can wear it?? That is the serendipitous case with this blue cardigan…

My location today is the Crawley Boatshed which has been here since the 30’s; a real iconic photo-spot here in Perth, it’s practically a cliche to take a photo here actually. I felt extremely un-innovative standing here… 😀 On any weekday one has the spot to oneself, but over the weekend there is bound be a bridal party or two, or three, rocking up to have their portraits taken here. I don’t usually like to be so obvious in my choice of locations; but it is such a beautiful little spot and it seemed logical that I should use it at least once, someday! And since I was dropping Sam off at uni any way… so, yah…
Plus maybe I am getting a little sentimental; in a few days we are heading off on our trip, and since I am soon going to be featuring beautiful locations from another part of the world (well, hopefully!) I thought I could show off some of the nicest of the spots in my own hometown too.
So I hope my me-made May photos are almost like an enjoyable little peek at Perth; and not merely a trivial documentation of my wardrobe and what I am wearing 🙂

Details:
Tshirt; the top part of a dress drafted from the Japanese pattern book Pattern Magic 3 by Tomoko Nakamichi, white cotton jersey, details here; later chopped up to make this and a few other Tshirts, details here
Skirt; Burdastyle magazine 10/2010, skirt 136 (the Karl Lagerfeld skirt) lengthened, black suiting, details and my review of this pattern here
Cardigan; Garter stitch jacket from Jo Sharp Knit 6, in Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed in colour Iceberg (the individual pattern is available by digital download here) details here

Shoes; Enrico Antinori, from Zomp shoes

Picture taken around 12pm; Temperature at the time 19C.
Overnight low: 11C; Today’s high: 21C
Cloudy and fine

Later edit: I almost forgot! Today Sam wore the jacket I made for him…

Sams; jacket; Burda 7767 modified, navy corduroy, details here

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: daily outfit, MMM12, random life stuff, Sam

Cactus…

14/05/2012 6:00 am \ 24 Comments \ Carolyn

… Cassie took this photo when we went into town together today. I am standing beside a statue, a new piece of street art that at first bemused most Western Australians but is now known as the Cactus
This is a funny (peculiar) name, since cacti are not a native flora to Australia.
It is also kinda funny (haha), because when I was growing up “cactus” was a slang term, an adjective that one applied to something that had broken down and died.
As in: “How’s the car running, mate?”
“Nah, mate, it’s cactus.”

I love the the colours in the photo here, and how everything is gleaming; the wet pavement, the plastic surface of the art and of the skirt: and I like how the black twisting lines up the statue mimic the twist inherent in this Japanese designed top; one of my winter favourites.

Details:
Top; the twist top, from the Japanese pattern book Pattern Magic by Tomoko Nakamichi. cream jersey knit, details here
Skirt; Vogue 1170 lengthened, PU laminate (or “leatherette”), details and my review of this pattern here
Shoes; Sandler (had these for yonks)
Brolly; Charlie Brown, from David Jones