Tag I'M it, blogger style...

I've been tagged! Keren at sew la vie tagged me!

  RULES
**You must post the rules {?!}
**Answer the 11 questions that the tagger posted for you & then create 11 questions to ask the people you’ve tagged
**Tag 11 people and link them in your post
**Let them know you have tagged them


Well... I have my own worries about this one- do I know 11 people who are willing to play? We shall see!

Here are the questionas and answers from Karen-

Q1: What is your stand on vegetarianism / veganism? Do you eat meat? Do you wish you didn't?
I happily eat meat. I know the process of meat and although it is harsh it does not put me off. I like vegetarian food and would live without meat if push came to shove. I don't really understand veganism.

Q2: What is your favorite piece of jewelry?
If I had to take just one piece?? Hm. Necklace from my husband? Pearls from my mum? Butterfly and rose quartz necklace? Earrings? Ok. I know. My wedding ring. It is just a simple gold band but I think without it I would be lost.

If
Q3: What did you enjoy doing / playing as a child?
I lived in many places as a child so adapted my interests to the different places I lived. By the beach I would comb the beach for stones and shells going on long walks exploring with my brother and in the city I loved to ride my bike and play catch with the other neighbourhood kids.

Q4: Name one thing you love about sewing.

Completing a task and using the item made. Or better still giving it to someone and seeing it used!

 

Q5: Name one thing you don't enjoy which is a part of sewing.
Unpicking! GAH!

Q6: Do you have a pet (cat, dog, etc)? Do share a photo!

We currently have a hamster...She isn't easy to take photos of! She is black as night and has white paws. She is a golden hamster. I laughed at the pet shop man and knew I had to have her.

 

Q7: Would you rather live in a bustling city or the quiet suburb / countryside?

Seaside and country everytime.

 

Q8: If you could go back to a certain age and be as smart as you are now, what age would that be?
That thought fills me with terror. I hated being a kid- I hated school I hated the no say in life. No, this for me is a firm nope! I would not go back end of story.
 
Q9: What is your favorite sport / physical activity (yoga, basketball, hiking, etc...)?
I love Taekwnado. It is a martial art. I love it because it is so very elegant like dancing and yet so very brutal. I think learning a sport you can learn something useful is always a winner... and with this one you get super fit at the same time! With a few proud bruises to boot.

Q10: If you were extremely rich, what would you do with your time?
Travel. I love to travel. 

Q11: What item have you sewn or made by hand that you are particularly proud of and happy with?
I designed and made a Rhino. Very pleased. It worked out just as I had in my head. If only everything I did worked out so well!!

So TAG! Please know you don't have to play... it is just for fun!

Christina at a few scraps

Jodie at ric rac 

Ciara at milk moon 

Katherine at miss pompadour

Sherry at Pattern scissors cloth

Marjie at marjies dye studio

Jude at spirit cloth

Kersten at frozen knickers

Meg Spaeth at elsie marley

Amanda jean at crazy mom quilts

Ruby at zaaberry

And my questions to those playing...

1. How long have you been blogging? What got you started?
2. What is your favourite fruit?
3. Do you prefer hot or cold climates?
4. What was your favourite animal/blanket/pillow etc. as a child? Do you still have it?
5. Name the one thing that just drives you crazy
6. What did you have for breakfast?
7. Do you have any peircings or tatoos?
8. If you could ive in another country where would it be?
9. If you could learn one skill, any skill, what would it be?
10. What do you have in your fridge that has been lurking longer than it should?
11. Beer or wine? (ok, for those who don't drink- fizzy or juice?) 

Typography fun

My brother is staying and decided to have a little fun with me.... I had my letters on the floor, just looking at them thinking about layout and pattern- as you do...

 So he had his fun...

 And when I accused him of fiddling with my letters....

Brothers!

We went to the zoo and I snapped this- It really made me laugh! Something glittery.... I think this bird was the one they used for road runner. You can see why! It was horribly excited the zookeeper was in its' cage- blurry and fast!

Sorry, can'r resist! The monkeys always see my little ones toy monkey and it really confuses them. Everytime they come really close and stare at the pair of them. You should have seen the reaction of the Harpie- scary big bird looking at my boy and the monkey like you'd eye up a nice chocolate! So glad of that glass.

Junking, hedghogs and burpy

Look what I found in a junk shop.... I just love it! A staking metal hedgehog- you have just got to love the design of it. By walter Bosse- anytime between the 20's and the 60's. I need to research more. I enjoy the simple fact my rumaging is teaching me something.

Not that my son finds it terribly interesting... but thats ok.

Some lovely berlin graffiti that I found on my travels over the past few days... not that I encourage it but I like the graffics and ideas.....

I found these in a flea market. Isn't it funny when you spot something you see it everywhere? Like the owls? My brother and myself started a 'who can see more game' that then started including elephants, squirrels and oddly camels. There were ALOT. My camera batteries had died or I would have taken photos. But I bought these keys... I want to make a necklace or two. If I find more small keys maybe a bracelet.

 This randomly appealed to me. Just like the colour of the brick and the patterns within.

 One of the many churches I wondered past with my brother. I just liked the angle.

Of course... last but not least... my letter rug quilt thing. I decided the colours were tooooo much so I hacked off the edges around the letters and log cabin styled around them in white. Just to be on the safe side I made sure the letters were resonably random so I can maybe use other fabric for the other letters. Looks good, need to iron and trim.. I have no idea why I make things so difficult for myself.

But then- where is the fun if it is too easy???

Junk shop-ping and snow

 Junk shopping in Berlin is interesting. Mostly trash- really, just trash but sometimes you get treasures. There are hundreds of plates and cups, odd vases, strange ceramic sculptures... odd and random over priced furniture, clocks, toy cards, tools, pens (who buys old biros??).... old lady handbags... and usually a distressing large amount of old clothes. They always smell soooooooo bad. 

Today the best shop was one that was CRAMED with just about everything. My brother spotted a bottle of white wine from 73... it looked off. The floor was really worn and damaged- holes had been covered with sheets of metal and the walls were in bad need of paint and repair. It was just the sheer amount of things- floor to ceiling. The old lady watching was wrapped up like a small snowman- apparently the heating had failed. I bet the huge stack of clothes get mouldy... but I still found a nice treasure...

An unopened dress pattern! Size 44 but I think the sizes are not what they seem....

I also found a sweet moss agate stone bead necklace I want to make into something prettier. I just love moss agate.

And threads!! he he he he he.... what super colours.

And back to the alphabet rug.... So far...

It looks lame but I was laying out the letters and colours...

I am hoping it looks better when altogether....Do you know what I think it really needs? Some sharp green. Hard to find. That nice apple green.... when I look at the threads it has the right mixture. Not too late to shove some in.... might have to go and buy some sharp colours.

This morning it was snowy too.... I got a snap of my brother on the terrace having his morning puff....in flip flops... He is not German but I think he fits in quite nicely. (Of course you know about germans and their sandal obsession, right? Although they always wear socks- what is with that???)

Oh! and just for fun! I love a good sense of humour. Bet this one had a wonky wheel.

Moving...

I moved my art space from it's own room to the living room... CRAZY I know but I rather like being in the middle of things. Also it means we have a nice spare room.

  I have left a few things in there- my printers tray is on the wall looking like some fantastic piece of art and I have some art things here and there too. A friend of mine told me once never to have a guest room too comfy or the guests will never leave. Sound advice.

 

 I really need to tidy it up a little more. It is always the little bits that make it looks messy... also will probably have to loose the cork board since it covers the pictures... rats. Might stash it under the desk when I have guests and pull it out when in use.... hmmmm....

 What a mess.... but it is a happy place....

 Beads... I have a whole chunk. Really need to learn how to thread them nicely.

With the baby sleeping I have time to post lots of pictures!
These are some shoes I made up- here is the link to find the pattern and tutorial- baby shoes.

I think the elastic needs some tweaking as it was quite loose... but my little monkey liked them. (or was thinking 'What the devil has she gone and stuck on me now?')

Typography challlenge and bits...

THIS is going to be fun! Since THIS beastie needs a new play rug!

I don't have oodles of time... but I have been wanting to make him a rug that will be useful and fun. What can I say? You just can't take the artist/teacher out of work and fun mode! I would love to make it more complicated with little animals and things but I am going to make it basic with room to add on cards and actually fabric dice... ok, well here is the start idea!

Front and back. I am free hand drawing the letters and numbers so it is going to be uneven and more appealing- ha, we will see! Left over scraps and bits- I have to use up more from my stash. (What is with the scraps? I think they breed when you don't look) I am also using interfusable facing to give some support to the letters- I want to try a really 'scrappy' quilted letter look. I just hope it wont be too busy! Can only try! Also the interfacing makes a good template.

Some of the plain fabrics....

 

Some of the pattern fabrics....

                                                            And some old pajamas!

Spent today wonering around Berlin with my brother who is visiting. I love looking at the small things in the city.... Isn't it fun what you can see when you only look?

 Some typography, texture, colour and image. Hmmm.