Day: 19 January 2008

bags, patterns, planned projects

Bag patterns

Lucky me!  For the second time I have managed to win an Amy Butler pattern in a giveaway held on Scrap Bag by Ballarat Patchwork.  Thank you ever so much!

It seems that both Ric Rac and Whippet Good also won the pattern (among others) – maybe we’ll need to have a “bag day” and all whip up some bags from this pattern!

Other bag patterns waiting to be put into use include these two:

“The Owl & the Pussycat” by Melly and me, and “Belle” by Nicole Mallalieu Design.  Clare can’t decide whether she wants the owl or the pussycat made first (as if she needs more bags – oh yeah, I don’t need any more bags either, but that doesn’t seem to stop me).

My other recent craft pattern purchases are these two from Craft Apple.

I have used Craft Apple’s diaper bag pattern and craft apron pattern, and they’re well-written and well-designed (with great instructions).  I’m looking forward to making these (eventually).

So it’s the usual refrain – so much to do, so little time!

by thornberry
craft, crochet, yarn stash

Angora and alpaca

After taking Miss Clare to the Hi-5 concert last weekend I rewarded myself with a browse at the Southgate Market.  I came across an amazing stall of yarn and fabrics all grown, shorn, spun, dyed, and woven by the one family.  Ixchel Angora Rabbit Stud & Fibre Art is in Gilderoy, and luckily for me (but probably not for the bank account) Charly is at the market every Sunday.  There were so many beautiful yarns to choose from!  I bought some alpaca:

Same yarn, but photo taken with flash – the true colour is somewhere between these two photos:

and some angora/merino sock yarn.

Check out those colours (although the camera really doesn’t do them justice)!

Obviously, I will make socks from the sock yarn (not that I’ve ever made them before – and will I knit them, or crochet them?) and I’m still not certain of what pattern I’ll use for the alpaca – possibly a vest of some sort for myself.

When I emailed Charly for further information about the yarn (my sieve-like brain had already forgotten what she’d told me on the day) not only sent a friendly reply, but some photos of the animals that the yarn comes from!  The alpacas (Daisy & Chacoty)

and Cinderel the angora rabbit.

They don’t have a website yet but can be contacted by email on ixchel at iprimus dot com dot au.  Or you can find them at the Southgate Craft Market on Sundays in Melbourne!

By the way, other than being a happy customer I have no connection to them – but I think that their yarn is worth promoting!

by thornberry