The ultimate Lego table

Okay so maybe 'ultimate' is a big call, but this 'Ikea hack' Lego table certainly fits the bill for our needs. My son has a lot of Lego. I know we all say things like that, but really he does. Not adult collector lots, but lots for your average 5 year old kid. Partly this is because we have most of the Lego my father collected for my brother and I when we were kids. Kind of disappointing we don't have all of it, we are missing crucial bits, like the trains for the old train set, and the track for the space train. Frustrating! But as our family moved so much really it's lucky we have any left.

With a new baby joining the family it became important to find a way to store and play with Lego that got it off the ground and behind toddler-proof doors. It also had to be large enough to hold all of the Lego. I don't subscribe to the 'chuck it all in a plastic tub' school of thought, I'm too anal for that. We keep each model in it's own ziplock bag, with the instructions and spare parts. Otherwise what's the point of buying models? Okay let's not go into that here! Ziplock bags aren't ideal, especially as for now they all just get shoved into the cupboards under the table. Another little problem to solve one day. We do have a lot of loose Lego, all of it vintage though. Is it just me or does old Lego seem so much harder to pull apart? Anyway for the loose Lego we actually have vintage Lego storage trays, which slide nicely into the shelves inside the cupboards.

There was already storage units from the Besta range in my sons room, so it seemed a good idea to adapt some Besta units for the job. Later we could pull the table apart and make shelves, or a long low entertainment unit, all we'd need would be the glass tops you can get for the Besta range. It seemed at first it was going to be a breeze, screw the units back to back, screw the elevated table top on (so you can slip large lego plates under for storing), of course nothing is ever so simple is it? There aren't many spots where there is solid material for screwing securely into. Under the short ends of the table we used aluminium plates (amazing what you find in the garage), 5mm thick, about 100mm wide, and about 5mm short either end of the length of the short side of the table. The wheels were attached through the plates, they still screwed in fine. Set behind the middle set of wheels, spanning side to side, is a plank of 18mm plywood. If anyone is keen I can provide better details on just how it all went together.

My husband was a total champ, figuring out the nuts and bolts of it after I brought home all the bits with very vague instructions as to how I saw it all working out. We are still to fit the child-proof catches  and push-openers, but we have a few months before the little one is mobile! Once he is pulling himself up on the furniture we'll have another set of challenges, the big one is used to leaving Lego out for days, weeks, on end, and that won't work with a little toddler around.

An unexpected bonus to having this table is I'm loving the limewashed top as a finish in my jewellery photos!

The big blue green yellow and grey crochet blanket

I love finishing a project! Unless of course I really don't want to finish it, like that scarf. Anyway this one I really did want to finish, and so here it is, all done. It is intended for my 5 year old but I'm having trouble letting go of it, so it's still out on the sofa. 

I wish I'd kept track of how much yarn and time has gone into it, but it was a fairly organic process. I started out intending to use up some yarn from my stash but have ended up with more than I started with! I'd originally wanted it to be mostly shades of yellow which proved incredibly hard to get hold of in cotton. Instead lots of blue and green and just a little yellow was added. Grey (Jo Sharp cotton in Fog) ended up being the background colour.

It is a basic crochet blanket, 140 granny squares, join-as-you-go joining method, with two very simple rounds at the end to edge it - one row of single crochet, one row of half double crochet. It is big enough to decorate a single bed, the last photo shows my husband holding it up, he isn't that tall, maybe 5'7", but as you can see the blanket is bigger than he is.

a quick status update on blankie

Believe it or not, 80 squares are now done! I'm slower than I hoped, but not too surprised - I always hope I'll get more done than I can. I've introduced some more colours since the last update - but have been quite frustrated in my search for a good range of colours in cotton yarn. Does no-one else find wool itchy?

At this stage I am planning to do the final join-as-you-go round in the same grey that edges all of the squares. I think introducing white at this stage would be a bit jarring, or better suited if it was a babies blanket. Here's a quick photo of my stacks of squares - there are ten squares per stack, and then I'd better get back to it!

my first crochet project

Not too long ago, I got the urge to learn to crochet. As with any newly learnt craft skill I quickly became obsessed, and approached it the usual way. Dive in head-first, avoid patterns, and learn only what I need to complete the first thing I decide to make. I really can't recommend this approach at all, it has resulted in far too many UFO's (unfinished objects) over the years! It is only thanks to the craft itself here that I did actually finish my first ever crochet project. Crochet has an addictive quality, and as my first project was granny squares, the bite size pieces give you lots of opportunities to feel a sense of accomplishment. The first square - AWESOME! First ten, YAY! A neat stack you can photograph, Woo Hoo! and so on.

This project came about because I am an awfully slow knitter. I have only ever finished simple scarves, and they take me about two months. Because of this I ended up with a lovely stash of yarn that clearly would be sitting there for years waiting to be knitted up.

For this project I went with some yummy Twilley's of Stamford cotton. I had only the vaguest of plans at this stage - perhaps it would be a little sofa throw? I didn't know how far the yarn would go until I had used a whole ball.

 

Oh the sense of accomplishment! My first little stack of granny squares! Now we have to fast forward this bit of the project, because I forgot to take any more pictures. I forged ahead and simply turned all the yarn into granny squares. I tossed about ideas like, should I buy more yarn and make it a nice big throw? How was I going to join the squares together? What colour should I use to join them, now that I've used up all the yarn?

Then I realised I'd better keep it short and sweet, and get something finished. Abandoning any plans to make anything large, after playing with the squares for a while I decided on one big cushion. So I just started sewing them all together, using my crochet hook. Now I really wish I had seen this tutorial over at Attic24 before I rushed into this step. Because then you wouldn't be able to see the joining yarn! Live and learn!

Fortunately I did see this tutorial at Attic24 just before I finished sewing the squares together. It inspired my final decision to make two cushions with envelope style linen backs. Because I couldn't see how I would finish the cushion quickly and simply if the whole thing was crocheted front and back, and still be able to remove the insert! I also decided the crochet would need a piece of backing fabric, it was too gappy to simply pop in any old insert.

And once again - as I rushed through the final stages we go from the above just sewn together cushion front to...

The final cushions! I did so many things wrong it's best you didn't see all that inbetween stuff anyway!
 And the backs with their overlap envelope opening, easy peasy with no buttons, snaps, ties or zips.

I do love them, they are snuggly and feel lovely and huggable - with zero itch factor for this family full of wool-itchers. But most of all I am just so chuffed to have finished them! I have started my next project, initially learning nothing from my previous mistakes as I plowed straight in to my cotton stash. I will tell you all about it very soon, and you'll be proud of me - I have started planning how it's going to work!

spotted in peppermint!

Spotted in the current issue of Peppermint Magazine? My sweet vintage glass bunnies! Thank you Peppermint!

*want!*

Black t-shirt fabric crocheted rug

How absolutely gorgeous, this rug would be perfect for in front of my new fireplace! Check out lots of other stunning up-cycled, re-cycled, custom crocheted rugs by EKRA here.

in the mail recently

I just love getting packages in the mail - it's like Christmas every time! So I thought I'd share just a few of the lovely things I have recently received.

Divine sparkly lemon quartz briolettes! I picked these up from Realisation Gems on Etsy.

Gorgeous fabrics from Saffron Craig! I actually WON these, amazing because I rarely win things, so it was awfully exciting! Now I get to sit and ponder what I should make with them! Any suggestions?

And this absolutely lovely print from Lemon Tree Lane, as a 'thank you' for helping to celebrate the Calico&Co blog's first birthday! I've added 'more frames' to my shopping list, can't wait to see this one framed. Thank you Amanda!

Giveaway time!

You'll have to be quick, but today there is a great giveaway of a $30 voucher for my Etsy shop! Just visit Calico & Co, a gorgeous blog full of lots of inspiration, created by the lovely Amanda Fuller. I'm helping celebrate their first birthday!
 So whether it's something for yourself, or great timing to choose a present for your mother, sister, cousin or friend, scoot over there right now and enter!

image source

one stylin' babe

A friend of mine has just had a baby girl, very exciting! On my way to the shops to do some girly (but not too girly) clothes shopping, I remembered seeing this blog post by Sophie of That Vintage, so I grabbed a mixed bag of coordinates to have a bit of fun with! I unwittingly drew the exact same birdy shape as Sophie, something I only realised putting this post together. As you can see from some of the close-ups, my sewing leaves a little room for improvement, but I had so much fun doing something new. I discovered that interfacing that is sticky both sides, wow - excellent stuff. And how hard it is to zig-zag around bendy lines. But definitely a crafty endeavour I would try again!

mmm coffee...

I don't know why I try to fight it. Is it really that bad? Surely just one latte a day won't hurt.

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spring it on!

It's Wednesday! And the first day of Spring, down here in the southern hemisphere anyway. Browsing my favourites for something lovely to share today, these three caught my eye. The soft reddish pink and sky blue colour combination are classic, and perfect for spring. I can see this print being added to my collection, it would be a lovely addition to some of our own beach pool and sea urchin photos. The blue wire magazine rack is just adorable, and would get all my magazines off the dining room table, for a while at least! And as the weather warms up, time for bangles again! Enjoy!

Surf Lounge (4 x 4 print) by pugly pixel

Blue Magazine Rack from Fishbone Deco

 

Turquoise cuff by the shag bag

three of a kind - tea towels

One of the things I love about tea towels is the feeling that they are like a sampler, a snapshot of the designers work, or even a functional piece of art. It's lovely to think such a simple object can bring a smile, and even the pleasurable satisfaction of using something beautiful and thoughtfully made. I found these three tea towels browsing MadeIt today, and was inspired to start a regular series of MadeIt finds called "three of a kind". Have you found something gorgeous on MadeIt today?

Linen 'T' Towel (charcoal on white)
by spinspin

Moroccan Star Kitchen Towel - Teal
by Brilliant Trees Collective

Filigree Tea Towel - Chalk on Unbleached Linen
by Flower Press

wishlist wednesday - stamp me happy

Although a passionate jewellery devotee, just about any craft has the ability to turn my head. This sweet collection of handmade stamps - all sourced from Etsy - was inspired by my toddler, we are always looking for new fun things to do together and one of his favourite crafty activities is stamping. While browsing I realised that stamps could be really useful for your crafty biz too! For example the "handle with care" or the yarn and knitting needles. Any of these stamps would be great for making your own gift tags or decorating your packages before popping them in the post. Get stamp happy!

1. Baby Barn Owl - Hand carved rubber stamp by skullandcrossbuns by skullandcrossbuns

2. Yarn and Knitting Needles Hand Carved Rubber Stamp by winemakerssister

3. Matryoshka hand carved rubber stamps - set of 3 by MemiTheRainbow

4. Handle With Care Handcarved Rubber Stamp by kirkus

5. Hector Hedgehog and Baby Eloise Bird Rubber Stamp - Hand Carved by Corrabelle

6. VW Van Stamp - Hand-carved, Mounted by stampified

the yellow party!

Soon it will be time to celebrate the little man turning three years old! The theme this year is yellow - chosen by the birthday boy himself. Everything must be yellow! I browsed Etsy to find a selection of items to inspire me with my party planning and gift shopping. Enjoy!

1. Giggleberry bunting
2. Sweet Estelle cupcake liners
3. Billy Mac t-shirt
4. Paper By Forget Me Not goodie bags
5. Pocket Carnival art print
6. John W Golden art print
7. Paper By Forget Me Not bee notelets

black. say no more.

All Australian, all on Etsy.
From top left, clockwise:

1. Gretchen Mist

2. Aunty Cookie

3. Joie De Tea

4. Inner Earth Soaps

5. Voodoo Rabbit

6. Moonmum

sweet sets

Sometimes I just want a simple little earring, just a cute little drop, preferably in sterling silver so it won't irritate my ears. After a recent custom order of exactly the same sort of thing I got to thinking perhaps I'm not the only one! I also love matching sets - so I had the idea of listing sweet little sets of earrings, I think they are fun, I hope you think so too! The first set is available now in my Etsy shop.

this handmade life

He has been a busy bee. David has just finished making the surf waterhousing for a Canon 7d in this photo I took of him (using my 'hipstamatic' of course). It has been an intense process, and it is such a relief that it has now gone to it's new owner. Life is, well, kind of crazy, but so rewarding too. Now on to the next one...

stretchy!

I was admiring some of my semi-precious beads recently and was inspired to do something simple, with silver accents, to feature the lovely colours and finishes. I have also been thinking a great deal about bracelet fastenings, there never seems to be one easy and popular solution to the difficulty of putting on your own bracelet. This lovely bundle of stretchy bracelets were the result of my meanderings. There's something quite lovely about holding a handful of gorgeous stones!

funny bunny

Because sometimes we all need somebunny to love!

I was bitten by the sewing bug this morning, and some green polar fleece had been crying out to be turned into a frog or martian or something. But the kidlet said bunny, so bunny he be. Please welcome the newest member of our family - Funny Bunny!

I drew him up and got to work straight away, he has felt arms and legs, felt face and tail, polar fleece body and backs of ears, and a lovely stripey fabric I've not used yet but had for ever for the front of his ears. I had some blue and green cotton yarn scraps, that were perfect for sewing on his eyes and nose. And the machine was already threaded with a pistachio green thread, which inspired all the exposed zig zag seams, a last minute addition to the design. I'm pretty happy with the little fellow - now to put him to the test of some real loving by the kidlet, I hope he doesn't lose his stuffing!

Happy Easter!

I love receiving packages from Helena of Little Mo and Friends! I wanted to share this little bit of bunny goodness with you and wish everyone a Happy Easter! (And don't forget to go check out Helena's little shop on Etsy!)

And this is what I bought - a beautiful postcard to brighten someone's day!