Finger Puppet Project

This week I am going to make some finger puppets to entertain my baby Gwen. And the above sketch is a loose concept board of the sort of finger puppets I plan to make.

I am planning to make the puppets out of felt material and buttons.

Genevieve for Mirabel

Another Emjie production:

In response to Pip's call out for 'Softies for Mirabel', I designed a doll, named Genevieve. See below some photos of the process and the finished, final product.

My original concept sketches

A dress that wasn't used. The dress was fine, but ultimately didn't match the body.

And here are the photos of the completed Genevieve...

Now it is time for a visit to Meet Me At Mike's.

Are we eating tonight?

I am stitching away,

Not noticing time slip away,

Holy crap! Look at the time,

Do I plan to start dinner today?

Trades, Needlecraft & Stamps

As part of a trade (organised by fellow blogger, Claire of claribell.wordpress.com), today I received by post a massive package wrapped in brown paper (I love it when things are wrapped in brown paper... I can't explain why).  It is a 480 page book of glorious needlecrafts. This is a fantastic reference guide for me because I do want to enhance the things I sew by adding little extra decorating details.

As an added bonus, I do collect stamps. So I got to add these New Zealand stamps into my collection.

In return for this fabulous book which Claire sent me, she will be receiving one of my signature Hoo Owls.

Thank you Claire!

My Creative Space...

Okay, so I have been recovering, first from tendonitis in the feet, which then turned into a yucky head cold. And today is the first time that I have woken feeling really, really normal. To celebrate I did an early morning gym routine.

And now what will I do next?

Well... the other day I picked up this fabric which I hope to make into a cute little skirt with.

I also got my hands on a french knitter, with which I plan to have endless fun with. I haven't had one of these since I was a little kid. I wonder what sort of things I can make with this. Does anyone have good ideas for me?

Lately I have also been doing some photo restoration work. Plus I am giving some thought into my next doll design which will be for "Softies for Mirabel".

To see other great creative spaces visit Kootoyoo via this link.

The Love Letter

Here is a lovely film to watch on a rainy Spring evening - The Love Letter. It stars the delicious Kate Capshaw and hilarious Ellen DeGeneres. It is the perfect thing to watch when you have a head cold or even if you don't have a head cold. Just watch it coz you love a romantic comedy, without the cheese.

I thought this was lovely...

Gwen's Seamstress Legacy

What isn't there to like about Gwen Stefani? In person she is a well mannered girl from Orange County, who can then transform into an absolute firestorm on stage. She is a talented songbird. A mother of two who is proving that it is possible to still wear a mini skirt after the age of thirty (thank you very much). Plus she has managed to stake a claim in the fashion world (no easy task).

It can be said that Gwen's interest in fashion has been nurtured on two fronts. Most talked about of course being her collaboration with stylist Andrea Lieberman. But let's not forget Gwen's genetic legacy... her Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother were all seamstresses.

"My Great Grandma used to start on New Year's day, which was her birthday, and she would sew every person in her family a quilt and, like, flannel pajamas and then the next Christmas you'd get it."

- Gwen

So it was not uncommon for Gwen's clothes to have come straight off the domestic sewer, rather than off the rack. In fact Gwen herself was known for sewing her own costumes in the early days of No Doubt.

"Everyone knew not to walk in my room without shoes on 'cause of the pins."

- Gwen

Underground, Overground...

... Wombling free.

The Wombles of Wimbledon, 

common are we.

I thought I would share with you these wonderful Womble wideos...

Have a great 'head cold' free weekend everyone!

Picking up the Pieces

Activity this week has been quite minimal as I have been recovering from a devastating head cold. I am now at day five of the cold which means I am recovering and starting to pick up the pieces. You know that stage when you are over the worst, yet still so weak that you start to do things like cleaning up, and two minutes later run out of energy? Well, that is me today.