Bear With Me

I made a bear. Granted, he looks more like a drowned ferret, but I made him. Yes, I did.



He has a serious attitude problem. He thinks he owns the place. He's so laid back he's almost in a coma. And when you try to talk to him he just shrugs his shoulders and says, 'whatever'.





We've had words. He's not bothered. He's waiting for me to make him some clothes, a quilt and a one-way ticket out of this dump. He can't wait to be put in the shop so he can blow this popstand and go to a real house.



I can't wait to get rid of him. He's nothing but a nuisance with his diva-like demands, his surly behaviour and his passive aggression.

As soon as I've made him a few things to dress up in, he's history.

Did you hear that? .... whatever...

Sneak Peeks

Even though I've been working on a few pieces for a shop update I still feel as though I haven't really found my groove with my making for the past year. I'm feeling a little confined by the space issue again. I regularly can't be bothered with the effort of relocating everything I own to get to the sewing machine, only to then reverse the effort once I'm done. I do dream of a room of my own. And the rest.

But hopefully a few little things might find their way out of my work niche soon...maybe, you know, kinda. I hope so anyway. I do enjoy making, I'm not so hot at the branding and selling thing. I just love making things.









I hope you like the things I make as much as I like making them! More on that if ever these little bits and pieces get finished.

Vintagalia Shop Update

I feel the need to get stitchy. Some ideas brewing for a shop update to include things of a granny chic nature, some bags, wall hangings and what-have-you.

It's been a long time since I added to the shop. It's been a long time since I made anything. The thought of rearranging my work space to get to my workspace is daunting. But I'm twitchy.... I think it's time...

The Real Sea Urchin Beret Pattern

This knitting pattern has bitter-sweet memories for me. I worked up this pattern last year as I spent some time at my parents' house as Dad was dying with cancer. Was that last year? It seems so much longer ago.

I remember sitting in one armchair looking at Dad in the other; my aunty winding him up about how much pension he was entitled to, and him asking me 'if it's not too much bother when you've finished that' to get him all his papers and documents. Of course I got him his papers straight away; didn't he know I would've brought him the world if I could have? I kept knitting this pattern up as he tried to work out how much money the taxman was taking him for, not quite sure if it was the only thing keeping me sane, and wondering if it would work out as I imagined it in my mind's eye, or even fit.

When it was done I was so pleased. I actually really love this beret. I love the yarn I worked it in. I love the fact that it really does look like a sea urchin (and who wouldn't want one of those on their heads, right? exactly). It is a truly satisfying knit.

These images were taken the Monday morning after I returned home. Images to sell the pattern is all. But whenever I look at them all I remember is the kids having their lunch, and me walking in to hearing the phone ringing and then listening to my brother telling me that 'Dad could go any time, come as soon as you can'. So whenever I see these pictures I wince. I don't see the pattern; I see the last few hours that my Dad was alive. They take me right back.



Like I said, bitter-sweet memories.

But, I do so love this pattern and am wondering if I should re-shoot the images for the store? In some ways I like the connection it has to my Dad, and on the other, well, it comes with a miserable story... *shrugs*

But I've meaning to do this for a while - just as a little memory-marker for my Dad - I'm reducing the pattern price for two weeks by a 1/5th - yep. This pattern is on sale for a limited time at the Vintagalia Big Cartel store. Grab it while it lasts!

A lovely pattern with a crappy back-story...

Close - but no Cigar ...

Sometimes I can start and finish a project in one fell swoop, in one day, in a few hours, a weekend or whatever, and people will be like, how do you DO it - how do you manage to get so much done ... to which I answer - Dude, I have absolutely NO IDEA - because, well, other projects can lay in various stages of progress for literally years... see above. Sitting around tantalisingly close, but not yet finished. Nor do I have the energy or vision to make them so. It defies logical explanation as to why some things get done in hours whilst other things, things which are almost DONE never make it to the 'give the man a cigar' list.

I am really hoping that these projects get finished and I can bore you all with details... but I'm not holding my breath.

Moving on. Announcing store-wide discounts over at Vintagalia. I'm having a re-think about costing, and whereas I would like to charge silly prices for my independent handmade objects I am under no illusion as to how hard things are right now, and how much tighter money matters are getting. We are all feeling it. But I hope that we can still allow ourselves to buy independent and handmade, and still find ways to make our homes beautiful without having to forego things like, uh, food. I've reduced most things by a third, and that's basically rock bottom. Instead of having sales throughout the year I'm just going to keep prices consistently low; they are already fair but I'm just slicing the last shred of fat off them.















So take a look, share the love and spread the word. Vintagalia is granny cheap chic!



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Shop :: Open

A few things added to the latest shop update. If I add any more items I will let you know. Hope you like it!


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