Sunday, December 20, 2020

Em's Sock Monkey

I have always wanted to try making a sock monkey using this pattern. They are so neat and tidy. So when a pair of patterned socks were being thrown out I decided to try it. It was relatively easy, just need to be patient to get it neat. I cut the top of the socks off by accident somehow so his legs and arms, I think, are too short! :( I really want to make another one now I have practiced with this one. I have so many cool old long stripes socks I can use!

So many cool ideas!

Bubby loves playing with the button eyes. I made sure I sewed them on well!

Friday, December 4, 2020

Kids Stuffed Toys

There are so many cute DIY ideas for making kids stuffed toys! I love the sock monkeys/animals and elephants always seem to be my favourite but rabbits, giraffes and Octopuses can all be so cute! I made the tag dinosaur and a sock monkey. If only I had enough time now to make more of these for Bubby. Too bad he takes up my time now! 

Sock Animals:


Sock monkey- Love these!! So cute! I made mine below based on these

Em's own first sock monkey- want to make another one! (instructions via)

Sock elephants- Gotta do this next!!

Sock Kangaroo- with pattern LOVE these!

Glove squirrel

Baby Tag Toys: 

LionSunBear
My own tag dinosaur- easy and cute (pattern via)
Felt Dinosaur- great bold colours
Giraffe- with pattern
Hedgehog

Elephants:

Elephant- with pattern and picture instructions- This is on my next to do list!
Or these Sock elephants

Elephants- Love the patterned fabrics!
Elephant
Felt baby elephants
Contrasting fabrics and stitching


Unavailable on Etsy but may be able to replicate using an old jean pocket!

Octopuses:

Octopus- gotta make this once Bubby is older!
Braided yarn Octopus- not a stuffed toy but still cute and simple
Braided Yarn Dolls- Similar simple yarn toys!
 
Other Toys:

Hedgehog doorstop- or could be a lighter stuffed toy!

This is mine I made as a door stop

Koi free pattern download- I've always wanted to make this!
Stuffed balloon animals- similar technique to my knot pillow
Cute owl bookends or Stuffed toys

Felt Chooks


Patchwork Scottie Dog
Toy Dachshunds-
love the folksy patterns on these fabrics designed by Alice Apple

Animal Patterns

Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Em's Bee Hotel

Bee hotels are a place for solitary bees to nest, rest and breed (not honey bees who make there own nests). I like the quirky and interesting look of a bee hotel and also the thought of maybe attracting the beneficial creature so made one for my Mother-in-Law who has a garden full of quirky interesting things and bee attracting plants. I really like these ones my Dad made so used it as inspiration. Gardening Australia has some great info and specifics for making a bee hotel. 


I used gathered or recycled materials from around our place to create the whole bee hotel. Firstly, I put together a house shaped box with back from scrap wood and covered the roof with some metal to give a little more shelter. The depth is about 15cm. Then cut some scrap untreated firewood blocks to fit the house and drilled different sized holes (they should range from 3-8mm) to a depth of the drill bit (about 10cm)


To attract a variety of bees and for the visual interest, I filled a bit of scrap steel tube with clay from our garden and poked holes in it. I then arranged the wood and pipe filling in the spaces with bamboo I cut from our plants about 10cm with an enclosed joint at the back end. I then collected some sticks to fill in more spaces jamming it in tight so it wouldn't fall apart.


I like all the different textures, shapes and colours created by the different materials (sticks, hollow bamboo, wood, clay pipe etc.) The bamboo holes are probably too small and the sticks should probably have been from pithy stems so I don't know how well it will work as a bee hotel but I think it looks cool!


It should face North-East-ish in sunny/semi-shaded sheltered position between 1-2m off the ground

Wednesday, November 4, 2020

Em's Knitted Blanket #3

As soon as I had cast off my last knitted blanket I cast a new one on still using a lot of the beautiful yarns I had. This one I decided was for my Step-Mum's 60th who complimented my first knitted blanket. I used the same technique with a mix of yarn weights, 2 yarns each row, leaving the ends for tassels and not using any furry yarns.

I tried to base it more on the aqua and green colours with added dark purple (since I had so much purple) and touches of orange. It turned out a bit brighter, more colourful and a bit more block-stripey. It took me 2 years with a little help from a little Bubby. 

The needles are empty for the moment. I think I've made enough knitted blankets for a while and it has become a lot harder to find the time with a little Bubby. Although I do have a Mother-in-law who hasn't got one..?

Sunday, October 25, 2020

Em's Whitewashed Chairs

We had four of these wooden folding chairs given to us. I liked them as they were, however, we wanted to put them on the front wooden deck, which was too much wood that clashed. So, I decided to paint them. I wanted to keep the wood feel to them so white-washed them with white paint mixed with water. I used a paint brush and rag to wipe off excess paint. This was a very messy job. The white on it's own was way too bright. I then did the same technique with grey paint and water. They have a rustic look  that now contrasts with the deck. I do wonder what an even darker wash would've been like but think it has done the job.