Re-fillable egg - Day 292-294

Pattern crisis!
attempted 3 different types of patterns to try and get the fillable egg I wanted.
My first one had a small opening that would have been difficult for a small choc egg to get in let alone anything else!
My second one was a bigger horizontal opening, but then that sat funny (think Pacman)
 Third became a ball!
So finally, I have a succesful one!!

NEW JOB - Day 261

JUMP FOR JOY!!



Just found out! I am now a Technology facilitator at a local Intermediate. I like how the word they used was 'facilitator' not teacher, it sounds better somehow. This is a big shift from normal primary teaching. This job entails working with and guiding the students to create their own designs/projects across the key technologies. So hard technology (woodwork), soft technology (eg sewing) and bio tech (eg food production). Lots of creativity in an "organized chaos" environment!! Perfect!!

So a celebration picture today!

New carrot sets - day 115-116

No new crafting, just working on the carrot design and trying to complete 2 new sets. The button has gone and it is now velcroed, which is easier for little hands.
These are more time consuming then some of my other projects, but I still love them! Yippee for non-plastic toys!
each time I make them, the pattern is slightily improved. Mostly the outside design though at the moment, as I like the set up on the inside, it is all postioned to fit nicely once closed.

More Carrots - Day 94

Some more carrots ready to be stitched up. Feel a bit of a craft cheat redoing past crafts... but slight changes to pattern, so eases that a bit!!

 Should look like second picture soon...

Reversible Bunny - Day 85-86

This is the second reversible bunny I've made. I am trying too get the face right and so have been playing with the pattern.
My first Jekyll and Hyde bunny was a great achievemnt. But the front head which reverses over sat slightly high, and the mouth wasnt quite right.
I have fixed the head issue and it sits right at the bottom, and the mouth is a slight improvement, but still some work to go. Looks very much like an evil rat!!

Alien Egg Warmer - Day 41

Couldnt resist playing wiith the pattern of the bunny from yesterday, so here is an alien/monster creature.

 His hair is a bit wild, maybe he needs more? But the twisty hair was fiddly, so made executive decision this would do!

Bunny Egg Cosy - Day 40

Are you're eggs complaining of being cold?
Are they fed up of not having a decent costume for parties?
or are they just desperate too express themselves?

Then... they deserve a bunny costume all too themselves!

Crochet Bunny Egg Cosy to keep eggs... well... cosy! A quick little project to do, but I'm not sure if people actually use these kinds of things. Still cute though! and I guess it would keep that 2nd boiled egg warm while you eat the first... now...time for some toast soldiers.
Pattern is from LionBrand

Easter Hunt Cards - Day 38

Managed to use Gimp to cut my photo background off, then used Publisher to make these Easter Hunt Clue Cards.
I love Easter Hunts, I believe if your main source of food for the morning is chocolate, you may as well work for it! These Clue cards are a step up from the "quickly written up on post-its" clues from last year!

 Click Here for the printable set. (I know! too late for 2011, but nice and early for next year!)
The first page has cards number 1-4, and the second page has a blank set so you can print as many as you want.

Bunny Blog Background - Day 37

Attempted to learn some of the features of Gimp (the free image program similar to photoshop ones), I had in mind to make up some Easter Hunt cards using a photo of the bunnies I had made, but got carried away playing with the images and made a tileable image.
Still confused by the layers and how to cut and arrange certain parts of an image, and part of todays success was a fluke, but still feel proud!!

Have tiled this as my background, but it wont stay long as it's a bit much for me, and the labels and archive sections need a background colour. So I quess I'll need to learn the HTML code that can make that happen next.

Easter Treats - Day 36

Felt very out of sorts today, catching a bug maybe. Worked on my latest Popkle, but not much else. It must have been planetary alignment or something, because I had 3 teenagers all in sloth mode as well.

My creative push for today was more an inspirational journey of sorts. I went on the hunt for some special sweet treats to whip up for Easter... bad move! I swear I gained weight just by looking :)

Here are the top runners...

1. Homemade creme eggs! Oh My! by Confessions of a cookbook queen

2. Bunny cake pops by Bakerella

3. Already a fan of Susan's lion cookies, now some sweet chicks.

4. How to liven up a plain choc egg with fondant, from the Cookie Shop.

Bite Me! - Day 35

Thanks for the suggestions on yesterdays post for the bunny body. Misha got me thinking though, and I decided to try an eaten chocolate bunny.
The head I had done hadn't been noshed on yet, so I gave him a Bite me! sign to go with the eaten one. These just happened to be next to the alien, and it wasn't until I pulled it out of the hoop that I realised it can all fit together!
"Beam me up!" "Bite me!" munch munch....

Beam Me Up! - Day 34

I haven't done any cross stitching for years!
I started with the heads, but couldn't decide what to do for the bodies. So cheated and hid the body instead!
The rabbit still needs something (though my strange side considers it could be a head on a spike, with some dripping blood, as the aliens latest catch). 

      "Beam me up Scotty... there's no intelligent life down here"

White rabbit tutorial - Day 33

A little felt rabbit WITH added tutorial. The rabbit is a small quick project, but I decided to see if I could write it as a tutorial as well.

Its a good basic pattern that can be easily adapted.
One idea is that it could be decorated as an easter bunny for Easter (can add basket or eggs), and have a ribbon attached for hanging, or be given as a party favour.
Click here for Tutorial 
(tutorial a PDF file on Google Docs)

19 April - Update - Realised there is no materials list on the tutorial. Put its... felt (colours of choice), thread, needle, stuffing, google eyes or beads.

Rabbit's Balloon - Day 29

“Nobody can be uncheered with a balloon”

quote from Winnie the Pooh

A white bunny holding a red balloon. Every rabbit deserves a bit of fun and brightness!

Painted in acrylic paints.

Tortoise and Hare - Day 21

Busy week ahead with work! Posting may be delayed, but the crafdting will continue. This week may be small challenges as well! I am thinking I might choose some creative ideas from the 365 Day book to supplement the Takahe Brooch constructions that seem to still be continuing.
Day 21 - Origami - A tortise and a hare (or turtle and a rabbit, depending on how you look at it!)

Bonus: I used a batch of these at school, as part of the Tortise and the Hare story.
For younger children, it is too hard to fold but they are able to draw the face and shell pattern. Older children fold this themselves.

Acrobat Bunnies in Training - Day 6

A handful of extra bunnies for another set I'm making (like the Carrot Set). These were feeling a bit energetic, so they practiced for their balancing act.
These are becoming a theraputic craft, calming and fast rewarding with the cuteness factor.
Hand-sewn felt, with polyfill tummys, and is version 3 of my bunny pattern. they still rock back and forward slightly when you tap their nose or tail (I love accidental success!)

Bunny quote...
Here I go with the timid little woodland creature bit again. It's shameful, but...ehhh, it's a living. - Bugs Bunny

Early Easter Jitters - Day 4

It's too early!!
Easter eggs are EVERYWHERE!!
Caramello Creme Eggs calling my name... Arrrggghhhh!
This is an ode to others like me called "On the Fence" My fingers needed a break from sewing so I decided to draw. Lately, I just do rough sketches for ideas and patterns and I havent tackled an actual arty piece in awhile. Thankfully for me, art is wonderfully subjective... this hides any lack of talent! The rabbit looks a tad odd, but his expression does seem to sum up my battle of chocolate vs veges. (if not clear, the strange shapes behind the bunny are lettuces and carrots)  :)