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Girly by order

I've been working on a few commissions lately. I enjoy making things to order, I like how it makes me step outside the confines of what I might usually do. But, I'll often find myself getting quite nervous when I make them: will the person I'm making for like it? Is this what they had in mind when they asked for "bright & cheery"? What if my idea of a nice colour blue is different to theirs?? It's the same kind of angst I get when I'm buying a gift for someone who I don't know very well, or whose taste is different to mine. I guess it's normal when you're making something for someone who you've never met? I'm starting to sound like Woody Allen now, but you get the drift I hope. How do you all feel about taking orders for your work, and how do you go about it? I'd be really interested to hear.

Fortunately, I've been very lucky so far with this kind of work to have met some lovely people who are largely happy for me to do what I like. These two are a couple of finished made-to-orders, both for little girls. Kaya cat is heading off to live in Florida with a baby girl. Her Mum asked me to make a very feminine white cat, and to include the colours lilac, yellow and pink in her dress. I don't use a lot of lilac or yellow, but when I found this reproduction print I fell in love with it. I like that I wouldn't have found this print or put these colours together if it wasn't for this cat. I'm going to have a little bit of trouble letting go of her now.

Similarly, this little monkey is going to a little girl whose mother loves all things pink, pretty and Laura Ashley. I called her Lally, which according to my baby name book is a derivative of Laura. I hope my interpretation meets her approval.

Violet

This is Violet. I haven't made a cat in this style for a while, but was most happy to fish out the pattern and give it another run when asked to recreate a cousin of Basil for an order. She is named after a woman I heard interviewed on a craft podcast today (at Craft Sanity, via Thimble). I have been really getting into podcasts lately, and am fully aware that I might be the last person in possession of a computer to do so. Nonetheless, it's been so great to listen to the Craftypod and some of the knitting postcasts listed on Whip Up recently (I'll make a knitter of me yet!) and to trawl the podcast archives of the ABC for non craft related, but endlessly interesting listening while I stitch.

Oh, and I forgot to mention that my Backtack package finally arrived to it's recipient - only 3.5 months after I posted it!! My faith in the postal system is restored (Ha, I'm sure they're relieved about that!)

Reasons to be cheerful

Thanks so much for your kind well-wishes. We are all feeling much better now (knock on wood). We've had some beautiful weather over the last couple of days and I am high on post-sickness euphoria. I've been more than a little grumpy over the last couple of weeks, so this must be a relief to those around me! So, while I'm feeling chirpy, please bear with me with some reasons to be cheerful. Hopefully not too cloying.

1. Audrey and I took the long round-trip walk to the local library today. One of the books we took out was one from the Elmer series, which for some reason I've avoided until now. Don't know why, the illustration is really nice, and full of the kinds of tantalising little details above. I get so inspired by things like these... can you imagine these kinds of patterns in fabric as applique? (Er, and Audrey likes it, too).

2. On our return home, this lovely parcel from Blair was waiting on the doorstep; full of gorgeous bright orange hues (a current favorite of mine). And, yes, that's a piece of the lovely wool blanketing that Skinny is made of. Thanks Blair!

3. And last, but not least, another reason to be thankful that my cold has gone and my sense of taste restored: delicious chocolate biscuits from Belinda, part of the afternoon tea swap. Ah, chocolate.

Insert sparkly title here

Now it's my turn to visit virus-town; it feels like my head is underwater. Please forgive any incoherence or grammatical inconsistency (or at least more than usual). It's a good thing that making things is a quiet sport. I've been working on getting up to date with some wholesale orders I am behind with. Ruby and Marvin monkeys, and Eva cat are all off to New Zealand to a beautiful new store called Juniper (114 Riddiford Street, Newtown, Wellington if you're in the area). Sylvie cat is a commissioned toy, off to live in lovely Melbourne. I should add that I finished most of these before I got this cold, lest you all think I am insane. Sorry for the pathetic, most lacklustre post ever. I'll leave you with this link - a room filled with knit & crocheted food (cake! licorice allsorts!), teacups and even a radio. Amazing.

Four Things

Jen tagged me for the Four Things meme (thanks!)

Four jobs I've had:
- Kitchenhand
- Editor of a student newspaper
- Graphic Designer
- Mum

Four movies I can watch over and over:
- Amelie
- Pride & Prejudice (the BBC version. I know, not strictly a movie, but almost, right?)
- almost anything by Woody Allen... Hannah and her Sisters, Husbands and Wives? Can't choose.
- The Birds

Four places I have lived:
- Geelong, Victoria
- Adelaide
- ahem, that's it.

Four TV shows I love:
- Spicks & Specks
- Australian Idol (before last season)
- Charlie & Lola
- Speaking in Tounges

Four places I have been on holiday:
- London
- Great Ocean Road driving trip
- backpacking around Italy
- Sydney

Four of my favourite dishes:
- Sushi or Vietnamese cold rolls
- My Mum's tuna casserole - straight out of the '70s. My favourite comfort food.
- Thai basil chicken
- Sticky date pudding

Four websites I visit daily:
- Flickr
- Bloglines
- Whip Up
- Go Fug Yourself

Four places I would rather be now:
- Enjoying fish & chips on the beach with my family as the sun goes down
- Shopping for fabric or Japanese craft books in Tokyo (I've never been to Japan)
- Exploring Copenhagen, another place I've never been
- Sharing a big pot of tea with a friend

Four bloggers I am tagging: (trying to tag people who I don't think have been tagged already. Sorry if I double-tagged you). (Oh, and no pressure).
- Moopy & Me
- Cheeky Beaks
- Button
- Mecozy

Rapscallion cats

Rufus, Greta and Goldie cats. I've just put them in my shop. These three have been sitting on my sewing table in various states of completion for almost 2 weeks now, so I'm glad to see them up and about at last. Greta's floral dress is made from a beautiful piece of vintage fabric that Carly gave me (thankyou again!) I'm extrememly fond of it and it was difficult to cut into, but I'll be saving the rest for a cushion. The colours just glow.

I other news, I am excited to be taking part in Plush You II at Schmancy this year. If, like me, a trip to Seattle to soak it all up is out of the question for you, there is a blog for the event here . Plush You! looked incredible last year & this year it promises to be bigger again. They are still taking sign-ups, so head on over there if you are soft toy inclined.

Dressed to twirl

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to swap with the lovely Jen from Sophie & Lili. I made Lolly for her little girl, and she sent me some beautiful, beautiful summer clothes for Audrey from her amazing range. How great is this baby doll dress that Audrey is wearing? I'm a big sucker for anything smocked or ruffly lately. I just love Jen's clothes so much, they are pretty and cool and fun without all the scary sparkle-glitter-barbie craziness that seems to dominate so much of the little girls' clothing in department stores. Honestly, I've said it before, but I am so overwhelmed by all the amazingly talented and creative people I've 'met' via the internet & this blog. We are feeling very lucky right now. Thanks again, Jen! :)

Delicious

Two more delicious afternoon tea packages have arrived recently. Sarah sent some of Nigella's incredible chocolate biscuits, so beautifully packaged it was difficult to rip into Sarah's incredible presentation. But eminently worth opening - they tasted as good as they looked. And from Nichola, a fabulously rich christmas cake with almond icing. Isn't that ribbon great? The cake was amazing, too, such a decadent treat. This has been such a lovely swap to take part in, with mouth-watering treats like these arriving every few weeks. More to come, too (my contribution included). Such a fun idea if you enjoy making and eating the home baked goods.

Paint and crayons

Audrey has been sick all week with a virus, poor thing. So, no work for me, no craft, not much sleep, all feeling more than a little unhinged. I keep hovering near my desk watching unanswered emails bank up (so sorry if I owe you one), and worrying about my poor pale girl. I'm no good with the worry. Thankfully, she's much better today, but still no mixing with friends & their kids for fear of passing it on. Nothing to do but plenty of quiet indoor activities. She comes and goes with the crayons and textas, but the messy fun stuff where you can get your hands a bit dirty are always a hit with Audrey. Thank goodness for playdough, paint, glue & paper.