Well...  Hello there!

I know I've been neglecting this blog for such a long time now but I have good reason.

It's because I have been extremely busy making costumes for not one but two local musical theatre groups..

On my last post here I put up some pictures of the costumes that ! made for a local youth theatre production of The Sound of Music.

The costumes were a great hit and I had some wonderful feedback about my work.

From that as it transpired I was asked if I would like to contribute to one of the local schools then upcoming production of "Alice in Wonderland" which was being staged in December of last year.

Following the feedback i received from Sound of Music I immediately put my hand up to help out.

It turned out to be a lot more involvement than I first anticipated and as they saw the quality of my work and level of creativity in bringing the characters to life the work load increased exponentially.

Anyway despite the work load I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity. I ended up being interviewed for an article in the local newspaper regarding my involvement with designing and making the costumes.

I was a bit gob smacked to see my mug appearing from the pages in the local paper!

Anyway over the next few weeks I'll endeavour to post some pics of the costumes that I made for the show. Here is a shot from the Programme which shows some of my work...

Most of these are my work...  but I can't claim all of them.

I'll put up some pics of the ones that I can claim during their production in following posts.

Since the success of the show at the end of last year and the accolades and recognition that I received for my work I have been asked to make costumes for  the same company that did 

The Sound of Music last year

So at the moment I'm working on about 150 separate costumes for the support characters in the up coming production of....

"The Wizard of Oz"

By the Bendigo Youth Theatre "Nexus"

It is due to be staged in August and I've been working on pre-production since January.

So as you might have gathered things are a little busy in the sewing room!

But please stay tuned for a retrospective look at some of the costumes form "Alice" and current progress on costumes for "OZ"

What have I been Doing?...

Neglecting this Blog is What!

So here is a quick up date!

My brother runs a small mixed business and back at Easter he had a heart attack. 

He survived thanks to the rapid response from the local health services and in the meantime has been making a full recovery. I have been busy running the business for him while he recovers which has left little time to tend to any of my more creative pursuits, let alone blogging here.

Although some weeks ago I was asked to assist in making some costumes for a local theatre group who were performing the Sound Of Music.

I was asked to make the Play Clothes for the Von Trapp Children... 

So here they are...

Leisl

Fredrich...

Louisa...

Brigitta...

Kurt...

Marta...

And Gretyl...

7 costumes in four weeks was a challenge... but I got the job done.

And I was very proud of my work.

The production was a sell out with standing ovations. 

I received a lot of very positive feedback on my costume work and have been asked to participate in making costumes for their next production in December which will be "Alice in Wonderland"

Planning meetings start next week!

Am I Blue...

Hello there...

Happy New Year to you all...

And here's to a creative and productive 2011! 

This is my latest project.

It is about half of the top for a Cot Quilt for my 1 year old Nephew.

As you can see it is in a wide range of blue tone on tone's and prints.

It is my first effort at a "Bargello" style of pattern. Not that I'm following a pattern. The the design comes from out of this cluttered space I call my brain!

It 's doing my head in but I'll get there eventually...

I'm always up for a challenge...

Magpie Tale # 47



Daddy please don't leave us. Is it something that we've done?

We have heared you shouting often, during arguments with Mum.

We"ll try hard to stop the calling out, "Damn kids" we've heard you say

And stop fighting with each other, if it means that you will stay

Mummy says we're being silly and that it's really not our fault

You and she, she says, have grown apart, that's why you want to bolt.

Is it true that you don't love us any more down in your heart?

Cos we still love you Daddy, and that's the silly part.

That you want to go and leave us now "to find yourself" we've heard

  But you found Mum and you have us, that's why we find it quite absurd

That you'd want to walk away from this and leave us on our own

After all Dad it's just another bill, for the silly phone.

Magpie #46

Take off your gloves now and rest them right here

I'm so glad that that's over, at least for a year

Surviving that lot, well it is quite a feat.

I'll go put the kettle on, you take a seat

Now I don't want to sound like I'm chewing your ear

But I really am glad, that it's all over Dear.

I know they're your family, But, all in all,

As I've said all along, they're not my type at all

Old Aunty Mabel, sits there holding court

Oh the look on her face, at your "Shock Her" retort

When she asked you "Now David. How are things at work?"

You so quick to respond with, "My Boss is a jerk"

The twins. They have grown. Sadly, not up, but out

And when doesn't rude cousin William not shout?

I don't blame him though,  Putting up with those two..

Well...  and married to her... I'd be shouting too...

The dinner was nice,  though, the turkey was tough...

Such a shame that Maud's pudding, was not quite enough

Your Mother was crafty this year don't you think?

Having all of the men washing up at the sink.

While the rest of us sat there, and watched the kids play

I thought to myself , "David take me away"

And sitting and scheming of ways to depart

A feeling of dread settled here, near my heart

For tomorrow it's my turn, I'd almost forgotten,

Family gatherings with us go from dreadful to rotten,

Thank goodness it's only for one day a year

Think I'll skip on the cuppa, and get us a beer...

Steve's Scarf Pattern.

Some Quick and Easy Scarves

You can see another larger version of this pattern Here . That I have made for "Scarf Pal" Amanda as a participant in the "International Scarf Exchange 9" for 2010, which has been great fun.

Steve’s Scarf Pattern

This pattern came out of my head, I have done my best to put it down on paper and have posted it here.

It takes a little concentration to get started as you build up to the number of stitches that you require for the width of the scarf. A narrower scarf, like the one above, is worked with 31 stitches cast on. The broarder the scarf you want, the more stitches you build through the casting on process. Given this, the pattern will work with any odd number of stitches the width is not fixed so you can go from necktie to pashmina wrap size.

I have never written down a knitting pattern so if there are any glitches let me know and I will attempt to correct them. 

The pattern will also adjust to any yarn size by adjusting the needle size accordingly. I am, as you may have gathered a bit of an experimenter and so tend to go with the flow and tend not to get too bogged down in exact replicas of others work.

So here goes..

In the example above I have used a 100g ball of 8ply 100% Acrylic yarn and 7 mm needles.

 As an example I have worked up to 55 stitches with casting on, but you can decrease or increase this number  to suit your own project so long as you end up with an odd number of stitches on your needle forming the triangle...

To begin...

Cast on 3 stitches, turn

K 3, turn

Increase 1 in first stitch, K1, Inc 1 in last stitch, turn

K 5, turn

K1, inc 1 in 2^nd stitch, K1, inc 1 in 2^nd last stitch, K1 turn

K row of 7 stitches, turn

K1, inc in next stitch, K to 2^nd last stitch from end of row. Inc 1, K1, turn

K row of 9 stitches, turn

Continue working * K1, inc 1 stitch in second stitch, K to second last stitch, Inc 1 stitch, K1, turn

Knit 1 row, turn*

Repeat from *to* until there are 55 stitches on the needle.

You should now have a large triangle below the needle.

To create the corner:

**K 1, Inc 1 in next stitch, K to end of row (56 st), turn

K 1, Knit 2 together, K to end of row, (55 st), turn**

Hint: Remember, you are increasing by one stitch in at the beginning of one row then decreasing by one stitch at the beginning of the next row this way the number of stitches remains the same as you work the length of the scarf

Repeat from * to * until desired length is reached.

To finish :

K1, K2 together, K to end of row, (54 st), Turn

K1, K2 together, K to 3^rd last stitch, K 2 together, K 1 (52 st), turn

K1, K2 together, K to end of row (51 st), turn

K1, K2 together, K to 3^rd last stitch, K 2 together, K 1 (49st), turn

K1, K2 together, K to end of row (48 st) turn

***K1, K2 together, K to 3^rd last stitch, K 2 together, K 1 (46st), turn

K1, K2 together, K to end of row (45 st). turn***

Continue working from*** to*** until 7 stitches remain on the needle

Turn work

K1, K2 together, K1, K2 together, K1, (5st), turn

K2 together, K1, K2 together, (3 st) turn

Cast off remaining stitches. Sew in loose ends.

Hopefully you will now have something resembling a scarf... Good luck!



Magpie Tale #45

She holds the child... protecting

Surrounding candles lit... reflecting

Earnest prayers their words... inflecting

Of sins... rejecting