I have relocated.

Direct yourself to my new home at Buttons and Lizzy

same blog. new name. new location. I've imported all the posts from here, and from the original blogger blog.

So far I'm liking wordpress more than livejournal. Plus there are stats. and who doesn't love nifty little graphs and the like?

I'm trying to update more often, as you can see I've been doing ok for the past 3 days at least :D

i've been thinking about making this skirt for ages. just something simple, with an elastic waistband, green with white polka dots. i finally bought the fabric for it yesterday, from lincraft too, so it was a bit more expensive than it should have been (curse you little fabric stores for all being too far away and the city all too easy to get to!) and i came home, started cutting, sort of winging it.... and i forgot to make an allowance for my huge ass and now its not going to fit me!

at least i bought some extra so i will be able to make another that will fit me no problem. but still. i hate wasting fabric like that. serves me right for not sewing for so long and not thinking too much when i do actually go to sew again.

my creative space this week has been on my lap while watching tv. i've started working on my second ripple afghan again. i've also made a few more granny squares, but the afghan is what i was working on last night, so its still out.

currently i'm waiting for my friend maddie to give me a heads up to when she's coming round, not really sure what we're doing today. something. :D

firefox and i are having issues when it comes to bookmarking things. so here is a list of blogs i have been told to check out and i'm leaving the links here so i'll remember.

Amy Woo
Anne Hanson
Not Martha
Geek Central Station

and since i've just started buying a heap of fabric again, heres a bit of how my stash has grown over the past few weeks.


some remnants


cotton and drill


spots and quilting prints.
i love the can can girls and the nightclub scene!
i've already started working on something with the can can girls :D

birds birds everywhere!

i've given my sister her gift so i can write up a proper post about it now :D



so here's the zipper pouch i made my sister. i didn't measure it so i can't tell you the exact dimensions, but i used a 7" zipper and it comfortably fits jo's ds in it, and she doesn't have a ds lite either. she's got one of those big hulking old ones.



and inside you can see the polka dotted cotton lining. and of course, you can see the money this lovely pouch was designed to hold. the shopping trip was quite fun too.

i got some nice things, some new stockings, pink jeans, and a lovely pretty dress. i just need an occaision to wear it out now.



these are some little brooches i've made while watching tv. hand sewn, cut out from the scraps of the fabric from joanna's pouch. they're quite small and cute. i attached some safety pins on the back.



and the final finished project of the owl softie that i started working on so long ago. i actually finished the owl about a month ago, its just taken me this long to get a decent photo. i've been working on my photos as well. i like how these two turned out with the scrapbooking paper behind them.

i actually made something! i made a present for my little sister. jo (and i don't think she does) but if you're out there reading this... STOP! and nay, if you see it... don't spoil the suprise :D

( presenty goodness )

So I haven't really done any crafting at all lately. I've been feeling a little down, so I've mostly just been watching movies. Trying to stick to the comedies.

However now that things are looking up again, and I've got a new sewing machine I'm on the hunt for a good tutorial for a cute full apron! I keep finding really cute half aprons, but i want one with a bib. its for my little sister, she likes to paint and requested that i make her a few cute aprons to wear when she paints.

I think this is a fair request, she's a pretty awesome sister. Always helping me out, taking me in when I have no where else to go, cooking yummy food for me, always there for a chat/shopping trip. This girl needs some pretty aprons.

Anyone got any good tutorials for me?

also how cute is soko! i forgot i had these mp3s on my computer. I think my favourite is 'i think i'm pregnant'. a song about fat bellies. hehe

once again its on the couch. i'm just chilling out, listening to 4zzz (you can listen online now, for all you non brisbane folk!) and working on some granny squares before work this afternoon. you can see my water bottle and essential for me pretty much all the time, especially right now. and the owl softie, almost finished, stuffed but just needing to be stitched up.

i can't wait til my creative space can move away from my couch. i'm going to have to get some help organising myself though.

i'm feeling a lot better today which is good, my head is pretty much clear, i just have a slightly dry throat and feel like i have flem in my throat constantly. hopefully you're on your way out mister cold?

for more creative spaces have a look over at kootoyoo.

on an unrelated note i have been thinking about switching back to blogspot? i don't know though really. switching blog homes again? a bit disruptive really.

so its been a rainy day, an unsuccessful trip to spotlight, feeling sick and tired (damn cold!) and not going to work instead keeping warm under my doona. hopefully this will mean i'm alright to go in tomorrow. because unlike a lot of people, i really like my job, its like getting paid to hang out with my friends. and also make food for strangers.

i finished stuffing my owl softie that was seen in the last post. except now i can't find my white thread, so the opening is just pinned together until i a. find it or b. buy a new spool. which is very possible. cos thats how i roll. i'm a very disorganized girl.

just so this isn't all text only, i thought i'd post a picture of a place i quite like. the laundromat.



i don't go here enough, mostly because its expensive. also because theres other things i'd rather be doing. however i enjoy sitting in the laundromat, crocheting socks or writing letters. its a nice relaxing time.

i like all the fliers on the notice board. which you can't see in this photo. all the posters advertising bands and plays and selling exercise videos and brazilian bikinis and silly things like that.

i probably should be going to bed early since i'm sick and all. but i'm a night owl, so i probably won't be in bed for at least another hour. i'll try.

i'm wasting my day watching buffy on dvd (just started on season 6) and stuffing an owl i've been working on. i think she's going to be just for me. made from 100% cotton, acrylic felt for the face with freehand embroidered eyes and beak. the wing is made from some houndstooth i found in my stash, not quite sure what kind of fabric that is. she's handsewn. originally i wanted to make her using my machine, as i cut out the pieces a few weeks ago, but my machine is playing up again (i will be spending my stimulus on a nice new one i think, i've had it with my current machine).



and just because its so orange and cheery, heres a picture of a box of fruit i bought very cheaply at the markets. they taste delicious too! just what i need for cold.

now to continue stuffing, make a granny square and then off to work! we'll see how i go tonight :D

i've been grannying along. not exactly every day, as originally planned, but theres been a few days where i've made more than one square so i think it all evens out.



i've been having fun mixing random colours.







i'm not sure how many more are going to get made. i've caught a bit of a flu from the boyfriend. how nice of him to share. its made me a little brain dead. i'm even having trouble typing these few sentences, they keep not making sense to me. so off to watch buffy instead.

On Wednesday I went to the stitches and craft show in Brisbane. I had a good time. I made some stuff, got a little bit of goodies. but more on that tomorrow when I can post some pictures (i always forget to charge my camera's batteries!)

So in an effort to update here more often, heres a list of things i'm enjoying right now.


Beverly Hills, 90210.

I've been a fan of this show ever since I was a kid. I wasn't allowed to watch the simpsons, i wasn't allowed to watch gladiators, BUT my mum used to let me watch 90210 with her. I eagerly await the release of each dvd boxset. I'm up to season 6.

Granny Squares! (and crochet in general).

This is something else that really reminds me of my mum. Every winter she'd make huge granny square blankets. She was the one who taught me how to crochet all the way back when i was a little kid. I've decided i'm going to try to make at least one granny square a day during may. hopefully then i'll be able to finish the blanket i started for my sister last year.


He Died with a Felafel in his Hand

On wednesday night Puckey and I went and saw our friend em play a dominatrix (among other roles!) in the Brisbane Arts Theatre's Productions of "He Died with a Felafel in his Hand". Very very funny. The only problem I had with it was the amount of drug use in the play. It made me feel uncomfortable. I knew going into the play that it did have quite a bit of drug use in it (theres a bong on stage for pretty much the entire performance), but I did not realise it would make me feel a bit icky. Maybe i'm a bit of a square, but i'm really not into that. sure it put down junkie's constantly, but there was no mention of pot use being seen as a bad thing.

i'm fairly anti-drugs. i think it is up to the individual to decide if they do want to use, however i prefer it not to be around me. that being said i am not putting down the play, i don't think people should not go see it just because i have a problem with drug use, i thought it was really quite funny (if you're reading em, don't take offense at all, you really were fabulous.... can i lick your fingers?), i've just recently had some major issues with people which was in part caused by their drug usage, and parts of the play reminded me of that.

It's only got too more performances to go, I've been told tickets are selling super quick (because its awesome of course) so if you're interested in seeing it you should give them a call at 3369 2344. tickets are only 25 dollars (or 20 for concession).


Hot Water Bottles!

its starting to get a little cold here at night in brisbane, as soon as the sun starts to go down, i'm feeling a bit of a chill. sure its not as cold as it is down south, but i'm a queensland girl, i like the warm. i'm the one complaining its cold when it gets under 20 degrees celcius. so i was pretty excited the other day while unpacking and i found my hot water bottle! last night my bed was so lovely and warm :D


Soup

so i don't like the cold so much, but i do like that its soup weather. for dinner tonight i wandered down to the closest thai restaurant and ordered myself some take away tom yum. it was delicious. i'm also having cravings for a chicken and corn soup (need to find a good chinese in the area that i can walk to) or even solyanka (its a delicious russian soup! theres a russian restaurant at cannon hill that puckey and i love to go to, their version has lots and lots of olives in it, i'm going to have to try and make some of my own i think!)

what have you been enjoying right now?

head on over to penelope sara's blog to win one of her super darling brooches.



so pretty!

its true. they don't. i do enjoy a good chat with an old biddie. and they don't talk to me anymore, ever since i shaved my hair, they didn't seem to mind the coloured hair, but the shaved head? its a random conversation no no it seems.

i caught the bus into the city this morning. i was supposed to be meeting up with a friend for breakfast but that was cancelled at the last minute, so i headed into town to buy a birthday present for my sister, and some more yarn (didn't quite buy enough) for the socks i've been making.

socks you say! no i'm not knitting, i still can't really knit, just a knit stitch for me. i found a pattern for crocheted men's socks. my boyfriend requested socks, and as i enjoy making things for people, of course i said yes.



so far i've only made one. if anyone else gives this a try, i recommend grabbing 3 balls of the main colour instead of the 2 suggested in the pattern.

i've actually been working on a bit of stuff. its been 3 weeks since i've updated this blog, so this post will contain 3 weeks worth of stuff i suppose.

i finished the ripple blanket maybe two weeks ago now. i still haven't weaved all the ends in (yuck who really wants to do that), but its pretty much done. very warm and cuddly, nice for when i'm watching dvds.



on my bed so you have an idea of size.
and because i enjoyed the ripple so much, i started another one.



i've also been working on a softie sometimes while watching tv. its an awkward bear. he's pretty long, its taking me quite awhile to stuff him.



and finally to end this post, some pretty things i bought today.



orange and purple acrylic yarn from big w.
carrots! on cotton quilting fabric from lincraft. it was on special.
another ball of patens superwash for puckey's socks.
the new frankie magazine. i have a love/hate relationship with frankie. it annoys the crap out of me at times, but i also like parts of it quite a lot and havent found any other magazines that i like. at least its not telling me to be a slut like cosmo or cleo.

and on saturday puckey and i went for a drive out to toowoomba to go op shopping and i picked up a metre and a half of the lovely green floral cosy cotton for only 1.50! we later had a look at a rockabilly vintage store and they had more of it, about 4 metres and said it was from the 50s and they were charging 30 dollars for the lot. so i think i got a bargain. i don't think its actually from the 50s though, maybe just the print is.

anyways, its time for me to head off to work now! they gave me a promotion, i'm a team leader!

so i've been feeling like making pretty things, but i've had no ideas or motivation. its a strange place to be.

so mostly i've been doing a bit of window shopping on etsy.

here are some of my recent favourites:

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade petatron.etsy.com

well i need to get off the computer now i've got a birthday present to buy (HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR SWEET NAYBUBBLE) and i'm heading out to dinner to celebrate the lovely girl's birth. then i'm going out for dinner tomorrow night too. two dinner dates in one weekend! how lovely.

its a little strange but my new unit didn't come with an oven. so last week puckey took me to myer, where i was able to use my gift card that i had recieved for xmas from my parents, and bought myself a nice little convection oven.

its quite lovely. puckey then proceeded to make me a roast for dinner! yum!

last night, i baked cupcakes. puckey bought me a cupcake recipe book for christmas, and as i wasn't doing anything else last night, i thought it was the perfect time to give baking in my new oven a go. i made myself some vanilla oreo cupcakes (i followed the vanilla recipe and then crushed up some oreos in the mix) with a vanilla buttercream icing.

i had a bit of trouble with the icing! it was a bit runny, the recipe said just to keep adding sugar but that really didn't do anything, so i refrigerated it and that seemed to fix it up.



those are my cupcakes. that i have absolutely no idea what they taste like! ha. but they look pretty cute i guess. kind of sloppy, but cute :D who doesn't love green icing?

i also had my hair shaved into a chelsea the other day for the worlds greatest shave.



so thats what my hair looks like now. i love it. it feels great and i can't stop touching the top of my head!

i'm supposed to be cleaning right now, so far i have cleaned the kitchen, tidied the living room, vacuumed the living room and the hallway. my kitty is hiding under my bed in fear. she doesn't like the vacuum cleaner at all, she hides when she seems me getting it out of the closet.

as you can see i'm procrastinating a little. back to it now i suppose. i need to give my room a good tidy!

cool trick of the weekend? i found an app for my mobile phone that turns it into a wireless router. pretty cool. its pretty limited where i can go on the internet, but livejournal, flickr and twitter work, so that works for me. facebook doesn't, but then i can do that on my phone already. :D

i really do need to get a nice internet connection though. its just one of those things i always say "oh yeah i'll do that" and never get around to it.

so i've been on holidays from work for the past week. i haven't done a whole lot. gone into the city a fair bit.

i've dabbled in embroidery a little. i bought a cheap hoop from lincraft, and have just been using an embroidery book from the 60s as my guide, and embroidering cute little things like this bunny.



yesterday my lovely boyfriend drove me all the way out to my favourite spotlight (its a bit of a pain to get their by public transport, and as i have no car, i don't get to go there often) were i picked up some stranded cottons and a little kit to play a bit more.

does anyone else feel really awkward in spotlight when they bring a man? i always feel like every idea of what i might have looked at disappears out of my head and i just feel the need to get out of there fast.



i've also been doing a little bit of hand sewing while watching tv. making these little bear critters. i actually made a pattern for them, yet they still turn out different! one i did lengthen on purpose, i guess i just stuffed them differently with the heads. i like that they look different though. someone on flickr commented that they look awkward. i find that rather appropriate.

well i think i'm going to go find myself some breakfast now. i'm rather tempted to walk down to one of the cafe's and treat myself to some pancakes. mmmmm maple syrup!

(edit. i have no idea if these images have loaded. the connection doesn't seem strong enough to let me know. so if they aren't there just imagine things until i get a chance to use proper internet and fix that one up hehe)

so yesterday was valentines day? did you do anything special?

i don't really care much either way for the holiday, but i do like the cute crafting opportunities it presents. hearts and red and pink. since i'm not set up in my new sewing room yet (currently its the room full of boxes, i like to close the door and not see all the stuff i have to unpack) so i've only really been able to crochet.

i went to a 4-way birthday party last night. fun times. so i made all the birthday kids a little valentine each. two of them even wore their valentines around all night.



sweet little crochet hearts. these are the only two i have left. they are quick and easy to make, so i'll probably keep making more while i watch season 4 of 90210 (oh the 90s clothes, the slightly familiar storylines that make so much more sense now that i'm not 10). you can make your own too if you like, just check out bella dia's pattern.

i'm pretty sure i've blogged these hearts before. they are one of my favourite things to crochet. i've got a few little ideas of what to make with them once i have a huge pile. in all girly colours i think, pink, red, maybe a little bit of light purple. because we all know i just need to start another large project.

again.
for what the 3rd time in 6 months? 2nd time in two months. oh i love moving (not)
anyways i found myself a lovely two bedroom unit with city views. all for me :D

i move in on tuesday, i can't wait, i get to have a sewing room and decorate how i like. i really can't wait to see my stash again, i've missed it so much. i just want to look at it and touch it. ha.

the only downside to my unit is that there might not be anywhere for me to hook up my washing machine, theres a laundromat 2 doors down, but i don't really want to be having to pay for washing all the time (especially how frequently i wash sometimes), hopefully i'll find a way.

everything is all set to go except for my internet. i've never set up my own internet before, its all rather confusing. but hopefully i'll have the internet by the end of next week, i think i'd go crazy living on my own without it.

oh i'm so excited about living on my own (well i won't be entirely on my own, i have my lizzy kitty)

on other news i am participating in the worlds greatest shave in march. i won't be shaving all of my hair off, but i'll be shaving most of it off. puckey's barber is going to shave my hair into a chelsea for me (leaving just the fringe and a little mullet bit). i figure its a hairstyle i've wanted to try for awhile now, so why not do it for a good cause? anyways if you like you can sponser me. just click on the link and donate. :D i'm not actually at zero. i've already raised $100, i'm just yet to deposit that money.


eee i'm so excited about my new place! i just can't believe i got somewhere on my own, with the cat approved and i didn't need a guarantor or anything. awesome :D

Last week I started working on a scarf for Vivien. She flew out to Japan yesterday, so since she has the scarf already, I can post pictures.






and me modelling the scarf.

its lovely and soft and warm, i made it from paton's soft haze which is an acrylic, wool and bamboo blend, 12ply. I made my stepmother a shawl for her birthday using the same yarn, its easy to work with.

I finished it off on monday afternoon, just before we went out to meet up with Viv and some people for drinks. I would have had it finished on Sunday night, but I lost my wool needle. whoops.

Hopefully it'll keep Viv warm while she's in Japan.

My parents were down last night and they took my sister, her boyfriend and I all out for dinner. We had wood fired pizza at a little local place called Pizzeria 1889. yummy stuff. I had a half and half of the meat pizza and the potato. next time i'm going all potato.



on another creative front my band is playing in sydney in a warehouse on saturday, so thats pretty exciting stuff too! i booked my flights last night, didn't cost much at all, i was expecting it to be a lot since its all been rather last minute.