A cure for cold(s)

It was cold cold cold last week.
The kids got colds.
The mum and dad got colds.
The kids got sick and didn't sleep at night.
The mum especially got a bit grumpy and tired.
The older daughter wondered if the dollies needed dresses, warm dresses.
The mum
sewed tiny dresses, skirts and tops
and knitted little vests and a wee shrug.
Then all was a little better.


Little notes :
-more details on the little knits here, here and here.
-the dollies don't really have names, they are just 'Dolly'.
-the little blonde used to be mine when I was little, my mun gave it to Lieveke when we last visited.
-the little blonde is Noor's favorite, I think because she is very baby-like.


Keep it warm friends
-Lies

strong man says, "keep your best work"

Last Saturday I created my very own strong man. Well actually I was meant to be making him as a present for somebody else so he would that someone else's very own strong man, but ehhhm, after her was 'born' I just couldn't bare to give him up. I mean, he's got nipples, a beard, tattoos, skinny jeans, and a smug little grin!

Sometimes as crafters, we make and make and make but after a year or so we've given away or sold all of our best projects and we really have nothing to show. Our studios are bare, save for aftermath of scraps and w.i.p messes. Or maybe that is just me. Now at least a have a lone strong man in my studio and I must be sure to make him some friends. snake lady? acrobat? lobster boy? hmm the possibilities are endless. Also I really should make some wabbits to keep, I honestly haven't kept a single one.

By the way if you like plush toys and haven't seen the PLUSH YOU flickr group yet, run don't walk here.

I will leave you with some random fun.
psychotic housewife commercial:

Last of the summer days...

We're now having hot and humid days, alternated by wet and slightly cooler ones. The hot days are good for drying washing. The cool ones for giving my swollen babybody a break. Our days are just lovely and normal, Lieveke has her toys, I have mine. Made a wee little dress for the little sister to come. The tiny artwork is something we picked up when living in Barcelona, I like the way it plays with bodyshapes. Last photo is Lieveke's dog, Lellow.


Thanks for stopping by
-Lies

Purple and yellow, as it happens

Funny how sometimes the colors of things in the house are all coordinated... I got the sweet green crochet teddy from Joanna at Organic Island Baby - where I have some new skirts for sale. The teddy 'beertje' is for our second girl (30 weeks now!), but Lieveke is 'minding' it for her. I did sew the 'comic clouds' cushion cover Beertje is leaning on. The glads are from Gabe, ta love. And yes, some belated knitting pics (knitted during our holiday) : a cardy, a stripey hat and more mocs - all in size XXXS.

Here are some gorgeous knitting inspiration blogs :

-Black Dog Knits (with excellent links to other fab knitting spaces)

-Water and Wool (plus yum food!)

-Assemblage (beautiful sigh...)

ps. been having heeeeps of trouble with our broadband - 'outages' the experts call it, 'xcept that those lovely experts still haven't fixed it... I can post on the blog and surf (at times - with a lot of patience) but am currently receiving no Emails at home... If you've written, so sorry, it should work soon (arghhh...)

-Lies

GAMES

You can choose from one of three characters, mix and match outfits, and select a friend before printing your creation. *click the yellow arrow to make the magic happen



COMING SOON: Breeding Wabbits game

In between...

Gosh. Last week was packed with good and bad...
It started with my sewing machine blowing up. No kidding, blue flash, fuse blown, r.i.p. Pretty bad.

Then on saturday morning a wonderfully good thing happened : Sinterklaas (traditionally kids from the 'lowlands' = the Netherlands, Belgium, France, get their 'Santa' early on the 6th of december from Sint Nicolas - it it MASSIVELY important to both kids and parents) brought a lovely cooker for Lieveke. She was so rapt in it. She now makes A LOT of pizza for us.


Then... On sunday Lieve got very sick and on tuesday we had to take her to the hospital. It was that terrible broncheolitis again, no oxygen in her little lungs, she was in such a bad way this time. After a night and a day we were discharged and Lieveke was on the mend. Slowly slowly, but resiliant as ever. Oh lieveke, dancing in your hoola-skirt...


That really was the best of the week, our little daughter all tsjirpy again. But some other great things : Kimberlee and I did the Craftwerk-fair and I sold so well, a new little parcel with some more Marimekko flowers made it just in time for under the christmas tree...

And an old LOST parcel turned up : a most beautiful felted lime blanket with big white dots for our little new baby.

***we found out it's going to be a girl***
Gabriel sighed such a touching sigh,
of relief, of love, of gratitude
'oh so good
I think I know
now
how to
take care
of a girl'

I kinda want a normal uneventful week, this week.
Keep safe, all
X Lies

First loves

Lieveke is using a few first loves of Gabriel's : his high-chair (very old), his cart (with a teddy from Lieveke's cousins), his 'office'-chair, his buzzy bee (iconic Kiwi toy, 37 years old!) and his toy high-chair (one of his favorite things was to put his cuddlies in and take them out again, in, out, in, out... Lieveke does the same, endlessly)
We are so lucky to be able to 'recycle' these...

Have a sweet new week
-Lies

kraftbomb: go team CRAFT

well I first must say that my internet has been semi down for the last week. We got switched over to a new network and its been funny ever since- disconnecting every 1 minute on the dot and then slowing way way down, then speeding up too fast for our modem to handle. (but don't worry, the problem is being fixed and we are getting major discounts and a new modem from our internet service provider, so they aren't really that bad) ANYWAY, Posting has been tricky and reading blogs has been even worse. Thanks for bearing with me loyal friends and still stopping by, even though I have not been able to reciprocate. I can't wait until midweek when our new modem arrives and I will be wirelessly checking you out.

I made a lot of toys for the kraftbomb which I am showing off now. I will try and put up some pictures of the actual market once our kraftbomb buddies release them. I was far too tired to take any myself on the day (daylight savings srtikes again!) so I will be using the official ones hopefully:)

goooooooooooooo wildcats! (said in cheerleader chant)

wabbit brigade

little wabbits: fat and thin

Since it is my b-day coming up, I got some great gift ideas at the kraftbomb to tell Luke about. Also my mom requested a "wish list" and everything I put on it was from an etsy store. so GO TEAM CRAFT.

Hope you guys had a good weekend. And for those of you who lost an hour of sleep through daylight savings: sister, I feel you. It's got me too. You'd think one hour wouldn't make that much of a difference but then you'd be wrong.

coming up: aoteroa clothes swap satisfied customer (a quick interview with myself about getting my new scarf, photos included)

xoxo

the wabbit breeder

something a little different

I heart my life drawing class because....
each week the same man arrives late, full of energy and with pieces of bread sticking out of the breast pocket of his tweed waist coat.

The children's ballet class carries on next door, and heard through the walls is the pitter patter of pointed toes, piano music, and at least one little dancer in tears.

The young Asian guy always draws the models anima style so they become longer, leaner and undergo graphite breast augmentation. This is funny to watch, I try and sneak as many looks at his drawing board as I can without being too nosy.

The very old people in my class pull my heart strings with their faithful attendance, shaky hands, and slow movements. Also they draw better than everyone else put together.

And the brave beautiful models who take off their clothes each week and stand up there in front of everyone with NOTHING ON, 3 years of drawing nudes and I still can't get over this.

all the drawings here are by me from the last two weeks and were done in charcoal. Most poses were 10-20 minutes long.

For anybody in the Auckland area, this is the untutored life drawing class held each Thursday from 9:30 to 12:30 at the Ponsonby Community Centre. Attendance is casual, so there is no need to sign up. oh yeah, its only $10, which is the least I have ever ever ever paid for life drawing, and this is one of the BEST set ups I have experienced (and I have taken 5 different life drawing classes in 2 different countries). SO DO COME ALONG.



okay for those of you who are a bit over the nudes, here are some friendly faces!

'hi, we are in the shop' they sing out in harmony.

newly acquired, oh what will they become?

ALSO on monday I have a new thing for you, and you might just like it, so stay tuned!

-k

to market, to market, to market, we go!

CRAFTWERK TONIGHT! BLISS!

so we are bringing:

our dolls

our pretty pictures, our toys, our shoes

clothes for babies and toddies

many many cards

more cards

and also
bags
bibs
boys pants
paper art
and maybe more!

we really hope to see you there
ST KEVEN'S ARCADE ON K ROAD
6-9 PM TONIGHT Thursday Aug. 14th

we are upstairs to the left of the stage

and while hunting for some last minute supplies, I found these rabbits at $3 Japan. but I would have paid twice that.

and when I opened them up, scented!
THIS IS A GOOD DAY.
I hope for you too.

-kimberlee

THANKS!

Hi!

Well it has been delightful reading all the comments about my last post, and I am truly honoured by enthusiastic reception the dolls received. It was especially fun reading from those first timers and checking out new (to me) blogs. thanks again Luke for making the game, (I am already thinking of new anemone games for him to build!)

For those of you who would still like to get in for the draw, you have until next week. Just check out the previous post and leave a comment.

Little Wabbits

*UPDATE wabbits are in the shop along with NEW PINNIES and GATHERED TOPS from lies

A craft BOMB has gone off in my place. I am getting ready for craftwerk, working towards a etsy update, making things for the te tuhi shop, and getting ready for a new auckland based craft fair that should be starting up soon.

I will release details about the new fair when I am more sure of whats happening. Lets just say its going to be GOOD.

Thus far I have made this pack of rabbits. These little guys are only 20x12 cm and $10 each. I may put some in our etsy. (*update: yes I did)

(wait that doesn't sound right, a pack of rabbits?.... let me educate myself with google. Here are come good animal colelctives: a murder of ravens, a seething of eels, a mob of emus, a company of foxes. But for rabbits take your pick:a burry, a colony, a cirlce, a trace of rabbits. Do these sound right to you? correct me please.) at any rate, I have a lot of wabbits now.

Including these big guys who are going to Te Tuhi.

and these bags (which still need to be ironed, hence the crop shots).

But with all this crafting and doll making output, it is surely time to give credit to my input. Sometimes its hard to track influences because they are everywhere, but the other day I was frolicking through google images when I found this!


Sweedish textile designer Malin Björklund really knocked my socks off with this hand painted wallpaper from her 2006 collection. There are many many great things on her website, so check it out here.

That beautiful wallpaper made me want to try my own version (above). Its definitely not as elegant or detailed as Malin Björklund's work but it was a worthwhile experiment. Something about hand painting simple patterns made me feel like a kid again, just moving and feeling with out judgement or analysis. Anyway my wallpaper served its purpose as the backdrop of the paperdolls game. maybe some of you spotted it?

okay this post has gotten away from me. ramble ramble.

hope you are all well

-k