tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28279108130112610802024-03-14T18:48:01.680+00:00Monkey and SquidgeHandmade baby quilts, sewing, crafts, toys, puffball quilts, baby quilt, biscuit quilt, puff ball quilt, monkey, squidge, sock monkeys, sock monkeymonkeyandsquidgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716002525202623893noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2827910813011261080.post-42911341518635210282012-05-21T21:04:00.001+01:002012-05-21T21:08:55.097+01:00Groundhog day!I feel at the moment like I'm repeating myself! Every post seems to be the same old story and today is no exception!<br />
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I'm currently trying to make stock for the Missendon Abbey craft fair in July so my life is made up of making fwoggies, sock monkeys, sock aliens and roses… so what do I say!<br />
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I could tell you that I have made 18 fwoggies, which I quite enjoyed doing, and I'm going to make another couple because I found some pink fabric that I think will be perfect!<br />
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…or I could say that I bought some lovely new crepe paper and have subsequently cut it up all ready to make another 6 bouquets!<br />
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…perhaps I could mention that I now have 8 sock aliens in various forms of evolution (they are just fab even if I do say it myself) and a further 4 sock monkeys nearly ready to start swinging from the trees!<br />
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…see same old same old! I have though made my website, even though I cheated! Yay! I hear you say, well I'm saying it at least. One more box ticked. It's not my favourite design but then I cheated and used a package rather than putting my own design in to it. Quite frankly it would still not be done if I hadn't of cheated…<br />
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<a href="http://www.monkeyandsquidge.co.uk/" target="_blank">http://www.monkeyandsquidge.co.uk</a><br />
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I'm still adding and changing it but for the moment it does the job, and I need to change my blog now but I'll save that for a rainy day. Now I need to print all my labels and business cards again… forward planning not really my strong point!<br />
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I fancy making some bunting now, just for a change! …but only when I feel better!<br />
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Thanks for reading, let me know what you think of my website… all comments appreciated!<br />
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Rachaelmonkeyandsquidgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716002525202623893noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2827910813011261080.post-39999608247534622242012-05-14T15:50:00.001+01:002012-05-21T21:18:33.443+01:00Weekly round upSo my idea of trying to blog every couple of days or at least twice a week has gone flying out the window and straight off to sunnier climates, I may not have told you that was my plan but it was… forgive me bloggers, it's been a week since my last blog post! Think that may be something I've said before, oops!<br />
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I may of had something to tell you if my sewing girls had of actually done something last week other than… get the quilt out, lay it on the floor, and put it away again! We did have a nice piece of fruit cake that day though!<br />
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Disasters looming for our afternoon tomorrow… apparently we have odd sized squares! How am I going to get them out of this!<br />
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On the positive side I have been quiet busy despite my lack of blogging. I have cut some monkeys or aliens and pinned their little legs so I can start sewing… I hate pinning, especially when I'm trying to line stripes up.<br />
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…and I'm very excited because I am now officially a member of the craft coop. Yay! Lots of very talented people making me feel a tinsy winsy bit inadequate <a href="http://www.craftcoop.co.uk/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.craftcoop.co.uk/index.html</a><br />
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I've also made a few more fwoggies and have quite a few cut out ready to sew. These little fellas seem to be evoking quite a few childhood memories in people, glad it wasn't just me! My dilemma was in the filling… so many choices! My one I'm keeping is filled with rice and she's so very soft to squeeze but it's not good that a frogs scared of water, something about anaphylactic shock and swelling up like a balloon! So some are filled with mung beans and the lighter coloured fabrics have pearl barley in them, however the white one just doesn't work so I'll fill her with rice and keep her for me! Other than that I'm liking both of these fillings… what a sad little life I lead!<br />
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…and then there was the roses. I love making these, I find it very therapeutic although my fingers get sore after I've made 5 or 6! I can hear the violins now… actually, I can't!<br />
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So I now have lovely bouquets of dark red, light pink, and I am working on the bright pink and yellow ones so that… I can cut up all the new fabulous colours of paper I sneakily bought at the weekend! Ssshhh, that's just between you and me… my hubby's already muttering something under his breathe about looking like a florist teemed with a zoo! Yeah, yeah, whatever!<br />
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So that's a quick round of last week…<br />
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Now time to start sewing.<br />
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Thanks for looking, comments always welcome!<br />
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Rachaelmonkeyandsquidgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716002525202623893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2827910813011261080.post-8153171416280531322012-05-07T20:03:00.000+01:002012-05-21T21:18:58.983+01:00Just like mum made!I'm feeling a little bit restless at the moment. I've got socks coming out of my ears… oh yeah, forgot to mention that I bought even more socks after the socks that I confessed to buying in my <a href="http://monkeyandsquidge.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/aliens.html" target="_blank">Aliens</a> post. I know I need help, but they were screaming out at me to be bought, it would have been rude not to! …so back to my restlessness, I've got those socks to make into monkeys and aliens, I've got my new little 'pick me' aliens on the go (only making 5 of these little fellas though)…<br />
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…I've got petals ready to make into flowers… thanks pop for cutting them up. Not really sure why I said that because he never reads this, still credit where credits due.<br />
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…and I really want to make a little drawstring bag, or maybe a few!<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Thats why I feel restless. I've got so much to do, or at least so much I want to do, and that's why today I did none of these things.<br />
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Instead I stumbled upon an old pattern my mum had drawn of a frog. It's strange how a little piece of card can fill you with emotions but this little piece of card did just that. I remembered as a child having one of these little frogs, or probably several if I was anything like my kids are, filled with beans and I vaguely remember it being made of cord. I know my mum made lots of them for our school too. No health and safety in site then, just a homemade toy filled with beans!<br />
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So today I went through my mums old fabric and made…<br />
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…today mine are filled with rice… tomorrow mung beans! Apparently a good filling for bean bags!!!<br />
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The ones mum made were fairly big… mine are tiny, and I think I had eyes on mine but these ones are just plain. It took me a little while to get mums pattern to the right size (the size of the red one), but I love this little one. She fits in my hand and is very tactile. Think I may keep her as a stress relief… not that I'm ever stressed… Ahem!<br />
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So now for my health and safety slogan… not suitable for children under the age of 3!</div>
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So with frog in hand being squeezed rather tightly… shall I do another craft fair? Sorry little frog, I hope I haven't hurt you… stressed? Me? Never!</div>
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Thanks for looking, comments always welcome!</div>
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Rachael</div>
<br />monkeyandsquidgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716002525202623893noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2827910813011261080.post-35623684743512256812012-05-02T18:18:00.001+01:002012-05-21T21:19:17.900+01:00Quilting with the girlsSo yesterday was that time of the week where the girls and I get together to drink tea and eat cake… no, no, no, sorry that sentence was all wrong… so yesterday was that time of the week where the girls and I get together to quilt and sew over a cup of tea and a slice of cake.<br />
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No wonder it's taking so long… I'm not sure we really do much quilting! A friend asked me the other day how long we'd been doing it.<br />
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"Urm" I say "well I'm sure Kaly was pregnant and her baby's just over a year" at this point I realise how bad this sounds especially knowing what they've done, to make it better I say "…but we do other things too. For valentines we made hearts, for christmas we made sock snowman, for…" …<i>there is no more for</i>, what have we been doing!!!<br />
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The cake yesterday was yum however, not a carrot in site just lovely blueberry muffins… and yesterday progress was made. It was a cutting and laying out day for the girls, whilst I made aliens and interfered with Max's layout (Kaly has chosen to lay hers out when I'm not there, hmmm, I wonder why!).<br />
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Max left a mess on Kaly's floor which the lovely baby, who's now old enough to be crawing made a bee line for, once she had attempted to get hold of everyones pins!<br />
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And below a lovely pile of striped squares…<br />
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We tried a few layouts and Max was very considerate to my OCD… I only moved a few squares. When we finished I had to remark on how mental it looked… was I taking something when I designed it! Actually the quilt design is fine it's the mental colours of the quilt… girls were you taking something when you ordered the fabrics?<br />
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Kaly pretended to do a little work, taking credit of Max's remnants! Oh I love blogging! I can be rude to them without them picking on me, which they really do. They gang up on me, it's really not fair!<br />
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…and a quick check of Max's quilt to check the same fabrics don't touch. There wont be a strip of wooden floor between the middle section and the striped squares, instead they butt up, but thank heavens there will be a strip of cream around the outside before we continue with stage 2 of the quilt… operation – we're going to finish this!<br />
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We will finish them. Don't ask me when, but we will. I have not managed yet to turn the girls into fully fledged girls that love to quilt, they don't have the desire to sew at every spare moment, they don't sit in the evening sewing under a daylight lamp, they haven't worn the ends of their fingers out, and they wouldn't contemplate taking their sewing on holiday with them, and there lies the answer… we quilt, mostly once a week, sometimes we just chat, sometimes we cut out fabric, every now and then we go on an outing, and we don't meet to sew in the holidays, but every once in a while we sew and we'll finish when we finish, simple as that.<br />
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I am very proud of my girls for what they've done so far.<br />
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What do you think about their quilts so far?<br />
<br />
Rachael<br />
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<br />monkeyandsquidgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716002525202623893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2827910813011261080.post-7355007387988326072012-05-01T21:48:00.001+01:002012-05-01T21:49:14.953+01:00Aliens!Alright I admit it! I went out at the weekend on a shopping spree to specifically buy socks… which I did! I know, I know, I said never again, last batch! Yeah ok, so I'm useless, and I'm sure I'll say it again… but they were lovely socks and they're going to make lovely monkeys and…<br />
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…sock aliens. Meet Issac. Named by the little boy that's fallen in love with him and who gave me all his pocket money so that I would sell Issac to him …he still owes me £5, but as Issacs a prototype I think I'll let him off the last bit of money! After all, I give him the pocket money in the firstplace!!!<br />
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A different Alien will be appearing tomorrow…<br />
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I think they're invading earth because they like the wet weather! My hubby's gonna love me, first monkeys taking over the sofa and then aliens… taking over the world.<br />
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Thanks for looking<br />
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Rachaelmonkeyandsquidgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716002525202623893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2827910813011261080.post-82089617189964453652012-04-28T18:17:00.001+01:002012-04-28T18:17:19.631+01:00Bags. bags and more bags!…and just added my Over Easy and It's a Hoot too.monkeyandsquidgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716002525202623893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2827910813011261080.post-199364958154732702012-04-28T15:34:00.000+01:002012-04-28T15:47:26.166+01:00ChickadeedoodahI've finally photographed my chickadeedoodah bags and have finally started listing them for sale, yay. When I say I've photograped I mean I've snapped 3 of them… still a few more to do but my mac decided it wasn't going to play ball today and was not impressed that it had to import so many large photograph files. Bah! I was not impressed that I had to spend all morning deleting all my unwanted photos just to keep my mac happy!!!<br />
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My kitchen has become my studio and the family are so considerately stepping over my set… and the fridge is acting as a great help in holding my roll of paper in the door! Oh I'm just so professional.<br />
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My bags are on my <a href="http://monkeyandsquidge.blogspot.co.uk/p/for-sale.html" target="_blank">For Sale</a> page and now I need to photograph the remaining 2 Chickadeedoodah and I currently have 2 Over Easy and 2 It's a Hoot to put up too.<br />
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Rachaelmonkeyandsquidgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716002525202623893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2827910813011261080.post-35793027669626200692012-04-26T17:14:00.000+01:002012-04-26T17:14:21.598+01:00…it wasn't so bad!…<a href="http://cakestandanddeliver.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">cake stand and deliver</a> took these fab shots of the craft fair last Saturday. I especially love the little tea cup hat!<br />
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Looking at these lovely photos I just can't help thinking… maybe doing another one wouldn't be so bad would it!!!<br />
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And I finished my crepe paper roses, 6 in total. They are all ready to be given to her and even though I say it myself they look absolutely gorgeous wrapped up together in pink tissue paper and string. I'm definitely making more of these… I've already made another pink one and two beautiful cream rose buds!<br />
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Thanks for stopping by.<br />
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Rachaelmonkeyandsquidgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716002525202623893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2827910813011261080.post-1652448439827672672012-04-24T20:32:00.001+01:002012-04-24T20:58:12.220+01:00Everything's RosieThis time last week I was on a roll making all my chickadeedoodah, over easy and it's a hoot bags. I worked until about 10pm last Tuesday so that I felt ahead of the game.<br />
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Today however was much more sedate. An afternoon of tea and cake with my sewing girls, I say cake but I had to pass… cake with carrots in just doesn't work for me, it would be like having mashed potato with strawberries in, although I was assured it was delicious… mmmmm yum! Anyway, yes they are still sewing the quilt and also mumbling something about how many strips they've had to sew together and do they need to iron them before they cut the finished strip squares to size!!! Blah, blah, blah. I think they just like to make out that I work them too hard. Which of course I don't! Well, maybe a little… I just want them to reach their full potential!<br />
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I on the other hand sat cutting out crepe paper petals to make my roses. My wonderful elderly but sprightly neighbour is moving to be closer to her daughter. Her daughters gain but sadly my loss, she truly is such a lovely person and I will miss her. So as a little leaving gift I thought I'd make her a bunch of cream crepe paper roses – still a few more to make but I couldn't wait to take a snap of them…<br />
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I love making these roses and I love photographing them too, I just love how real they look. I nearly did kill myself jumping off the kitchen side though after I'd taken the last one…<br />
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This is a definitely a project that the girls and I <i>are</i> going to do in the not so distant future. They watched as I demonstrated how to roll the petals to form the rose and once again they started mumbling… they do that a lot… something along the lines of, can't do that, mine would tear, that looks too hard… and once again I say blah, blah, BLAH. Do they really think I'm going to let them off so easily. I told them it was easy to stretch crepe paper and that it didn't tear to which Max managed to tear every piece I gave her and remark with delight… told you I'd tear it! I'm even more determined now, watch this space because I will be showing you how they get on!<br />
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Thanks for stopping by<br />
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Rachael<br />
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<br />monkeyandsquidgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716002525202623893noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2827910813011261080.post-5267793268724046932012-04-22T17:31:00.002+01:002012-04-24T20:51:12.952+01:00…and breathe!I'm not sad to see the end of this week… it started with a constant purr of the sewing machine as I sat chained to the bernina and ended with packing up the car and bringing most of my stock home, less a few monkeys and, oh yeah… I was very light on the business cards!<br />
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Don't get me wrong, a great day was had by all and we left the fair still smiling and laughing even though the rain was falling… but was it worth all the hard work? Neglecting my kids, neglecting the housework, neglecting the ironing? (Always worth neglecting ironing!!!) But as hard and rubbish as last week was I think it <i>was</i> worth it.<br />
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It made me finish all those little projects that I was putting off doing… those little sock monkeys that would have sat limbless on my sofa for another few months (there were 7 in total), the embroidery that I needed to finish a quilt, the binding for another, all the labels that I needed to print, all the bags that I had cut out in January that had been sat in pieces with no purpose, and all the new bags that I have now made… chickadeedoodah, this ones mine… and apparently Tinks! …and by the way, all my bags are original designs by monkey and squidge.<br />
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My cotton stash is now looking very sad, and my sewing machine needs a clean and an oil, but I am now armed with a lovely collection of stock that I am so pleased with and no pressure to make more, and with the urgency lifted I can make some more bags at a time that suits me… tomorrow? Maybe not.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>There were some wonderful stalls yesterday. Of course the lovely <a href="http://gilhoolie.co.uk/" target="_blank">gilhoolie</a> was there, we were butting up on our smaller than they told us tables, and <a href="http://www.cakestandanddeliver.net/" target="_blank">cake stand and deliver</a> selling their beautiful… cake stands obviously, there were also handmade hats, bags, cards, cakes, candles… wonderful crafts made by wonderful clever people. Two other stalls had sock monkeys but I took great delight in the lovely Guy who told me mine were by far the best… he didn't buy one however!!! My little squashed stall below and some of gilhoolies lampshade on the right!<br />
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I'm not sure craft fairs are for me though, I've sold more since I got home than I did on the day, and after all the work you put in, do we really need to stand for 6 hours smiling! It does make your face ache a little! I think I'll concentrate on setting up my Etsy and/or Folksy shop again and maybe it's about time I started work on that website!<br />
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Now the question is… where to stash everything?<br />
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Thanks for looking.<br />
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Rachael<br />
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<br />monkeyandsquidgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716002525202623893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2827910813011261080.post-38070799344182491282012-04-13T11:11:00.001+01:002012-04-22T17:31:47.439+01:00Am I mad!So yesterday I receive a text from a friend… a very talented friend I may mention <a href="http://gilhoolie.co.uk/" target="_blank">http://gilhoolie.co.uk/</a>, asking me to accompany her to a craft fair! The only hitch was that it is on the 21 April.<br />
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I ummed and erred for a few minutes and discussed it with my ever so patient hubby and decided that seeing as I had some monkeys ready, some peg bags, and a few quilts, and with still some time to make some 'It's a hoot' bags, that I could, quite possibly have enough stock to go! So my answer was "of course, I'd love to".<br />
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In reflection… WHAT WAS I THINKING!<br />
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<a name='more'></a>It has now dawned on me that the monkeys are quickly diminishing and I have already started making another 5! Yes yes OK! You heard it right… I know I said no more. Ever! But needs must in this case!<br />
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…that I have absolutely no denim fabric left to start making bags!<br />
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…or magnetic clasps!<br />
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…that I have sold some of my quilts so that stockpile is looking a little sad… it wouldn't if I ever finished the ones I have.<br />
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…that I need to re-design and print my business cards!<br />
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…and I think last that I need to print all the monkeys labels, quilt labels and for when their finished… bag labels!<br />
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Yikes. 1 week, to do all this, plus my little part time job, and be a mum!<br />
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Shall I rise to the challenge or run and hide! Answers on a postcard to<br />
Monkey and Squidge<br />
PO BOX RU NUT5!!!<br />
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I have now, begged, borrowed and acquired some denim fabric (actually I'm going to buy it off of my forementioned friend). I have also bought some more just in case I'm on a role. The magnetic clasps are winging their way to me as I type, and my lovely helpful man is going to work on my business cards. Love him! Don't get me wrong, I am still stressed, and will be until I have a couple of bags under my belt. What am I saying, I'll be stressed until next Friday!<br />
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Click on the flyer to go to the site, and if your about pop in and see us! I'll be the one hiding under the table!!!<br />
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Got to go, no time for blogging! I've got some monkeys to sew, ssshhh don't tell anyone I'm making more monkeys!<br />
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Thanks for looking<br />
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Rachael<br />
<br />monkeyandsquidgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716002525202623893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2827910813011261080.post-7634159963066994302012-04-08T22:18:00.001+01:002012-04-08T22:18:50.301+01:00They're taking over my sofa……the monkeys are finally finished and I'm glad to say they are already quickly diminishing!<br />
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I'm glad to say that because it means that very soon I will have a sofa back that they have been using as their home for the past… heaven knows how long!<br />
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Take a look and either email or facebook me and I'll reserve one for you if you want one! This is Lenny below!<br />
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Thanks for looking and waiting so patiently for me to finish this batch… this batch… the final ever batch… do you believe me?!?</div>
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Right, bags next me thinks!</div>
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Rachael</div>
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Ps the monkeys are on the sock monkey page or click on the image above!</div>
<br />monkeyandsquidgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716002525202623893noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2827910813011261080.post-20876559771090849142012-04-05T14:39:00.002+01:002012-04-05T14:42:58.444+01:00I dream of quilting!My blog posts seem to have fallen by the wayside recently but thats not to say that I'm not still sewing and being crafty though.<br />
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…there was that lovely afternoon I had planned for me and tink. That lovely afternoon whilst the boys were at karate, and I would teach her how to sew.<br />
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The plan was to sew a little felt rabbit using blanket stich, kinda like the toys I used to make with my mum when I was little. Oh how fab it would be… sorry did I say fab! It was a nightmare!!! Tink was bored whilst I cut out the pattern which I saw on <a href="http://formalfringe.com/2012/03/26/felt-rabbit-place-settings/" target="_blank">http://formalfringe.com/2012/03/26/felt-rabbit-place-settings/</a>. She was bored whilst I showed her how to blanket stitch – I demonstrated this stitch twice! Then she was fed up with how neat mine was and how she preferred the colours I'd chosen because hers were rubbish! Tink became the sewing child from hell! I gritted my teeth and smiled, repeated my mantra for the afternoon 'this is so much fun, this is so much fun' and tried to show her the stitch one more time whilst telling her how fab her rabbit was. Below is the start of my rabbit, tinks rabbit finished and a quick snap of the two finished rabbits together!<br />
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I have to admit that despite pulling my hair out they have both turned out pretty cute. Mine was pink and green and very co ordinated, Tinks was burgundy, blue, purple, and turquoise with cream stitching… I think it's gorgeous. The sewing experience was like giving birth… the moment you hold your baby you forget the pain you've just been through… when I look at the rabbits I forget the two hours of wanting to throttle my daughter and see this cute little toy she created.</div>
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…next time the boys go to karate I think I'll paint her nails… surely she cant get bored and temperamental doing that!<br />
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Then there was the little tags I did for the easter sweets for the children at school, nothing special…</div>
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…and last but not least, those little monkeys are still slowly but surely nearing completion. Yesterday I made ears!</div>
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…before and after! I have started sewing the ears on now but I feel they look a little strange! I have got used to seeing the little guys sat on my sofa with their earless heads. I will photograph all my little monkeys individually as soon as they're finished, (but maybe without smiles)… I'm aiming to do this tomorrow(ish)! I know, I know, I've said that before and I hear you snigger at my empty promise, but five of the little fellas are all ready for their close-up!!!</div>
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Thanks for looking.<br />
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Rach<br />
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<br />monkeyandsquidgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716002525202623893noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2827910813011261080.post-65591324323442342422012-03-21T16:50:00.001+00:002012-04-06T18:58:55.387+01:00Book Week Day – The Aftermath!…just remembered that I'd forgotten to show you all my hard work after book day!<br />
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I know, I know, I'm sad but it made me smile!<br />
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Just of now to sew some more monkeys! I've kick started myself into gear now and their coming along nicely. Hopefully I'll have a few to photograph at the weekend!<br />
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Thanks for looking<br />
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Rachaelmonkeyandsquidgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716002525202623893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2827910813011261080.post-11712206760531909132012-03-02T20:48:00.001+00:002012-03-02T20:49:18.696+00:00Princess Eliza and Little Red Riding HoodOk, so I admit it. I had a great day today and as promised…<br />
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…and apart from the assembly and having to dance to the hokey cokey, it was just fab!<br />
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So, book week next year… any ideas!<br />
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Thanks for looking<br />
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Rachael<br />
<br />monkeyandsquidgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716002525202623893noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2827910813011261080.post-2978399056377546172012-03-01T22:30:00.001+00:002012-03-21T16:39:18.701+00:00Book week 'day' THE COUNTDOWN – part two…what was I thinking!<br />
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How cocky was I with my fancy ideas and my fancy drawings! Made a few outfits for my kids and I think I've become a full on tailor!<br />
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Making clothes for kids is easy, they are like making boxes to package them up in… I hadn't accounted for the fact that grown ups have curves and although my curves may not be very prominent …they're still there!!!<br />
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Laying on the floor and drawing around myself was not going to work, I needed a plan!!!<br />
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…and the plan came in the shape of Bin Bag Me!<br />
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You know how your best ideas always come to you when your trying to get to sleep? Well mine do at least, and I released that I needed a model of me so that I could attempt to make the top part of my outfit!<br />
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…and here I am as a plastic bag…<br />
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All measurements correct, this is pretty much me as a bag …apart from the dented shoulders and my hips don't flare out at the bottom. Oh you can work magic with a black bin bag and some packaging tape.</div>
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As you can see, with the clothes on it is the mirror of me. The down side is when it sat on the other sofa to watch TV I realised how wide I was and have now decided that I need to loose a little weight!<br />
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Anyway back to the outfit. I had my black velvet ready to be cut but I have to admit I was pretty scared. I know that unlike the kids, I'm not a box and this was going to take a little thought and as boring as it was going to be, I knew that I would have to make the first one out of a cheap fabric!<br />
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So I did a little research on bustiers and corsets and noticed how they pull in here, and go out there, and I came up with…<br />
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This was as far as my dummy corset went. I then got bored and went straight on to the velvet, and an afternoon later I had my bustier/corset! My husbands response was the most complimentary…hhmmm, wonder why! Now my bustier/corset, with it's lace edge and gingham bow lies ready for its first appearance tomorrow …first and only appearance I may add! I wimped out of making the top but only because the one in the picture was exactly what I wanted so I bought it in white! I've got a plain black skirt and Tinks cape from last year – the lovely Mrs B has lent me her full length cape (incase your wondering why Mrs B has a full length red cape, it's because she too once became red riding hood for a day), however on trying on said cape with my outfit I no longer looked like little red riding hood, but instead looked like a serial killer trying to impersonate little red riding hood! Thanks any way Mrs B! My apron is made and I have some fab things in my basket… flowers for grandma, the local rag and of course my wolf repellent!<br />
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I have to admit, I may be having a little bit of fun at the moment. Sssshhh, don't tell my wicked teacher!<br />
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I may just post my outfit tomorrow if you promise not to laugh! Seriously, don't laugh!!!<br />
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Thanks for looking<br />
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Rachaelmonkeyandsquidgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716002525202623893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2827910813011261080.post-6434331756104304702012-02-29T20:59:00.002+00:002012-03-21T16:37:08.977+00:00Book week 'day' THE COUNTDOWN – part oneI have been so busy this week trying to get both mine and Tinks costumes ready for Friday, and I'm pleased to say that I'm oh so nearly finished!<br />
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…just a few more little finishing off bits to do with Tinks outfit and for mine all thats needed is the contents for my basket!<br />
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It took Tink and I a while to decide what she would go as. I had managed, after a considerable amount of persuasion, to convince her, that it would be good idea to go as Lola from the Charlie and Lola books only to have this idea blown out of the water by the wicked witch of the west, whom I think, had an ulterior motive …under her evil spell she made the idea of Princess Eliza from the Princess and the Wizard seem a wonderful idea, and a very familiar outfit to that of Princess Evie which she would be attempting to make for her daughter!<br />
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Actually it wasn't really like that, well maybe a little, but it was me who told the wicked witch that she would be no longer attempting to piece together an outfit but to make it from scratch and with a vague picture of the princesses in my head we set of to go fabric shopping! 1 hour later, and after a hysterical visit to the shop where we were served by two very strange women who were really not very competent and had me in tears, we were finally equipped with cheap lining fabric, glittery fabric, netting and for me black velvet! Max looked a little daunted by the prospect but I knew we could do it, I love the way she always raises her eyebrows when I say "it'll be easy!"<br />
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Tink drew me her idea of what I needed to make…<br />
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<a name='more'></a>"Lovely, Tink! I can do that." So I did and the following day she had her own little Princess Eliza dress just waiting to be 'Blinged' up… .<br />
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…complete with a lined petticoat with four layers of netting! I have to say I'm really pleased with how it looks, I really can't believe I made it and without a pattern too, not that I could follow one even if I had one. Fair enough, a real dressmaker would probably pick it to pieces, but I am not ashamed with how it looks, and I would let her wear it out to a party if she wished, but these are the times when I really wish my mum could see what I can do, I know she was proud of me but she never knew I was capable of this and it's all because of her.<br />
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So that's Tinks, well not quite …it doesn't quite look like Princess Eliza's yet, if you know the story you'll know there are lots of coloured spots on her dress and a little heart tiara but you'll have to wait till Friday for the finished outfit.</div>
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Oh yes, Max's dress! Very proud of her, she's done a wonderful job under my slightly vague and a little bit mental guidance, and with a very temperamental sewing machine. I am yet to see the finished dress… I left her at the point of how to attach the skirt to the to top, at this point my job was done!</div>
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…Book week 'day' THE COUNTDOWN – part two tomorrow! MY OUTFIT!!!<br />
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Thanks for reading.<br />
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Rachaelmonkeyandsquidgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716002525202623893noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2827910813011261080.post-8114541914853575462012-02-22T21:52:00.001+00:002012-03-21T16:54:05.660+00:00Book Week – Aaarrrhhhh!It's that time of year again when I'm reminded with only a week (give or take a few days) to go, that costumes are needed for book week.<br />
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"Okay!" I say, with slight relief that my boy has moved up schools and no longer needs one for that day so I can concentrate on one costume, "…so what would you like to be this year Tink?" to which, with a wicked smile I might add, someone who I consider my friend says …without being able to control the delight in her voice "and what are you going to go as?"<br />
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"Me? Me?, <i>Oh yeah</i>, ME! (I have deleted the rude word from my <i>actual </i>response!). I forgot I have to dress up too!"<br />
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<a name='more'></a>I love my job, I do, I really do… but now I'm slightly going off it. Not only am I going to have to walk to school in my costume …stand in the playground as the only mum that is a TA amongst all the normal people, who I know are going to be wondering if I'm just a mad mum whose taken the spirit of things a little too far …participate in a performance for the children at school (which my wicked teacher had failed to mention) …and then, the worst bit, when I finish (after lunch) I'm going to have to walk home – all on my own! With no child or random children all in fancy dress, oh no, I'll be all on my lonesome looking like I've just escaped from the clutches of The Brothers Grimm! …I can hear the white van drivers cries now!!!<br /><br />
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So leaving my giggling ex-friend behind I head off to have a few stern words with my teacher… whom, tells me that of course I have to dress up, and of course she didn't need to tell me because I knew that I would have to dress up! Hhmmm! Of course I knew, but my brain had decided to protect me from the horror and filed it in the back of my memory bank!<br />
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"If it helps" she says in a whispered voice – we like to keep it from the children till the day! "I'm going as a wolf!" So now my choices<br />
1 little red riding hood<br />
2 Grandma<br />
3 the woodcutter<br />
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…I'm having a little bit of an age crisis at the moment so I'm not going to be grandma! I fancy the woodcutter – not fancy him obviously, but the idea of wearing a wig and moustache and being unrecognisable sounds good to me, but seeing as I have Tinks cape from last year… little red riding hood it is!<br />
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At this point I think it may be a good time to mention that I sent a text to my ex-friend along the lines of what's mentioned above to which she texts back 'you could go as one of the three little pigs' Did I mention she 'was' a friend?<br />
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Now to the costume. You all know I'm going to make it right? Wrong! No only kidding, of course I'm going to make it… apart from the fact that you can't buy a little red riding hood costume for a grown up without it looking as though your, ahem, how do I say this? …put it this way, it ain't suitable for school! Really though, even if I could buy the perfect costume I do like the idea of making it. Don't laugh now, especially at my strange looking hand…<br />
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…shaded (ish) part will be black (skirt and top, although I'm still deciding if the skirt should be A. pale blue as typically depicted or B. red), white top stitched to the black top, red cape, and red checked apron, bits of lace thrown in here and there for good measure, my lovely sewing basket will be emptied and re stocked with goodies for grandma and… on my feet? Who knows!<br />
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…and now, most importantly<br />
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…"Tink! What do you want to be?"<br />
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Watch this space a decision is coming soon, it's currently between, Alice in Wonderland, Goldilocks, Angelina Ballerina and Hermione Granger! Tomorrow I bet, it wont be any of those!<br />
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Thanks for looking, sorry if I went on a bit I got carried away. If you stayed till the end, well done!<br />
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Rachaelmonkeyandsquidgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716002525202623893noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2827910813011261080.post-33372705365864792162012-02-18T20:25:00.000+00:002012-02-21T21:37:15.040+00:00Everything's coming up Roses!…forgive me bloggers for I have sinned! It's been 17 days since my last blog post and although I've been monkeying around still, dare I say that I have lost my enthusiasm (a little)!<br />
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…I found it in the shape of a new medium! I feel like I have betrayed the socks and lovely fabric now lying dormant in my stash piles. I've turned my back on buying socks, stuffing and felt. I've stopped searching for the next quilt inspiration, and avoided sitting sewing with the girls (only kidding about the last bit, just thought I'd add it to make them laugh). Instead I find myself, not in the sewing shop running my hands across fabrics or choosing which buttons or cottons I need. Oh no, now I stand in the art shop casually eyeing up the shelves of… wait for it, I need to create some tension… or anticipation… (and a page break just might do that… cue the page break… now!)<br />
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…crepe paper! …and from a fab online florist I find myself purchasing green parafilm and 18 gauge stub wire.<br />
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So you're getting the idea… no more sewing for me. My bernina is screaming to be used but all I need is a pair of sharp scissors and a pencil (and of course the aforementioned supplies) and I'm off.<br />
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It started when I came across a blog post on craftgawker about giant paper roses (<a href="http://greenweddingshoes.com/diy-giant-paper-rose-flower/" target="_blank">http://greenweddingshoes.com/diy-giant-paper-rose-flower/</a>) a few days before Valentines day, and I got to thinking. 'I could make my boy one of these for his sweet heart', so I did. I didn't want to make a big one, so I printed a pattern off to fit on A4.<br />
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My niece and I sat on the floor on the eve of valentines day and both made one, actually I made three, I would say it was because Tink drove me mad asking for one (which she did) but they we're just so easy and fun to make, and the finished item is just beautiful. My boy gave his girl his, and since them I have made another two and cut out a further 4… wanna see them?<br />
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…can you feel the crepe paper lurve in the room? Oh they just make me so happy. </div>
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The bright pink one which is in the first photos is for my neighbour, she's such a lovely lady and she is shortly going to have an eye operation so I thought one of these roses may bring a smile to her anxious face! The light pink one (which looks nothing like light pink in the photos) is Tinks' and I added a rose bud just because, and I made the yellow one for me. I have some cream cut out too so I may make a pink and cream bouquet just for fun. Oh yeah, I made a big one too, and I'm going to photograph Tink with it when the weather brightens up.</div>
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…now comes the fun part! "Girls! (you know who you are) guess what we're doing at our next sewing afternoon." …that's if you can bear to spend an afternoon with me Mrs V, after all, what was it you said?</div>
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…oh yeah, I remember, it went along the lines of 'I love reading your blog it's really well written and quite funny, I didn't imagine you could be like that because you're not like that in real life' …that was it wasn't it Mrs V?! …and that was before the insult of how boring my hair looked!</div>
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I think I may be checking your stitches this week and making you unpick any lines that aren't neat enough… that's after you've made a bouquet of a dozen roses!!! …Max, your quilt is looking divine, lovely neat stitching!!!</div>
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…I've digressed, lastly before I go I just want you to know that the monkeys are still in progress and it won't be long now. This however will be the last batch I make! I will make special requests …maybe, but I really want to get back on with quilting and making my bags.</div>
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Thank you to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/oliveandvince" target="_blank">Olive & Vince</a> who re-posted me on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/monkeyandsquidge.handmade" target="_blank">facebook</a>, if you haven't visited them already you should take a look – very cute! and to<a href="http://inspiralsilver.blogspot.com/2012/02/folksy-friday-perfect-patterns.html" target="_blank"><span id="goog_1281600723"></span> Inspiral Silver<span id="goog_1281600724"></span></a> who featured one of my peg bags on her Folksy Friday – Perfect Patterns page, and a big thank you to those of you who have purchased from me in January and February, I have to admit that I am sad to say goodbye to my Rainbow puffball but I know that it will be loved and become the heirloom it should be.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14px;"></span></div>
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Thanks for stopping by, I promise I won't be gone so long this time.</div>
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<br />monkeyandsquidgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716002525202623893noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2827910813011261080.post-74516203022241077032012-02-01T17:10:00.002+00:002012-02-01T17:10:39.296+00:00Excuses, excuses!…oops! When was my last post?! Wait for it – I've got a whole load of excuses…<br />
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1 – had a really bad cold and felt like pants for the past 3 weeks (thank you lovely children at school for sharing your cold)</div>
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2 – I've been finishing off a few quilts for some very lovely people</div>
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3 – I've been waiting for my new polyester stuffing to arrive so that I could finish stuffing monkeys (is it wrong to be excited about stuffing? If it is, I don't care, my new polyfill is gorgeous so very soft and just plain fab!)</div>
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4 – Planning Tinks birthday party…</div>
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and 5 – surfing for inspiration for presents!</div>
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6 – and boringly, I have had to do some housework! </div>
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…need I continue? I think you can see the pattern of excuses forming here.</div>
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Because of all this disjointedness, I haven't really had anything to blog specifically about, and I absolutely hate blogging without a photo, so I allowed my excuses to take the better of me!</div>
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Rest assured that very soon there will be some finished monkey mug shots but due to a personal circumstance I won't be blogging for a bit! Hooray, I hear you say.</div>
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Rather than keep popping back you can subscribe to receive my blog posts by email, that way you'll be the first to know when I'm back with the monkeys!… it's just under my followers list over on the right!!!</div>
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Right I'm off!<br />
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<br /></div>monkeyandsquidgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716002525202623893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2827910813011261080.post-46945643998908944422012-01-15T10:01:00.001+00:002012-01-15T10:01:09.749+00:00Monkeys in progress!I've just got the best job in the world… school in the morning and sewing in the afternoons, who could ask for more.<br />
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I've had quite a busy week this week. I'm trying to finish some of my 'nearly complete' quilts and of course there's the new batch of sock monkeys!<br />
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I wouldn't normally do this because I don't like people seeing my monkeys before they are complete. It would be like going to work in your underwear which I'm sure we've all dreamt about but would never do!<br />
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…but today I've made a slight exception – just because so many of you have put in an order and I want you to see the monkeys are moving forward!<br />
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…this is the first 6 and there are another 12 in various stages of creation!<br />
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Next step for these little guys… ears and limbs!!!<br />
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Thanks for looking.<br />
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<br />monkeyandsquidgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716002525202623893noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2827910813011261080.post-81218167268819989532012-01-05T16:40:00.000+00:002012-01-05T16:40:08.489+00:00Happy New Year!<div>
…finally! Wow, time goes so fast. I have been meaning to post… urm, since New Years Day but I just haven't had chance. Still 5 days late isn't <i>so</i> bad.</div>
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I trust you all had a lovely christmas and got all that you hoped for? I did, scissors, sketch book and new pins! Aaahhh, new pins …pins that stick straight into fabric without catching or bending, that's a little piece of heaven for me. Of course there were other things that were equally fabulous and quite unexpected but Father Christmas delivered on the tools of my trade so there's no excuses now!</div>
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…or maybe just one! I don't quite have as much time on my hands as I have just started the most fabulous job in the world as a teaching assistant… what am I talking about, there's always time for sewing, it's the housework and the ironing that I'll have to fit in.</div>
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I've started on my new batch of sock monkeys and I'm loving the colours of the socks (not that my photo shows the colours!). There are a few that I've had before but I'll make them with different faces and ears/noses. I'm just cutting and pinning at the moment and my lovely Bernina is still away in the box… maybe tomorrow I'll start sewing them. If I do I have several bags cut and ready to go too! </div>
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Oh happy days. </div>
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…now, off to christen my sketch book.</div>
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<br /></div>monkeyandsquidgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716002525202623893noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2827910813011261080.post-12410964615390876792011-12-23T12:39:00.002+00:002011-12-23T12:41:20.285+00:00Over Easy!So I was advised by my beloved husband on Saturday last…"Maybe you should stop sewing now for a bit?!" Oh yeah, okay… like I'm going to do that, your a brave man to even think it let alone say it out loud! Okay I'll stop sewing if you can stop breathing… lets be honest it ain't gonna happen!<br />
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…but I have stopped being so frantic, and I have been able to step away from the sewing machine and socks for long enough to get all the christmas presents for the family, and wrap them! I now have christmas well and truly under my belt! …is that even a saying?<br />
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We sat for ages wondering how to wrap the presents and decided on brown craft paper with a silver bow…<br />
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Nice and simple bows to make but we used up quite a lot of ribbon, but now that they're all wrapped they look lovely under the tree.</div>
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…and then there was that little bit of sewing that I did! I made another of my bags but this time it is for my slightly older niece so I omitted the owl.</div>
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I did change it slightly as well. This one has a slightly longer strap so that you can wear it over your head and it also has an inside pocket – you can just about make it out in the last photo.</div>
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It's a really nice dark denim and the lining is pale blue with white flowers! It's a beautiful fabric.</div>
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I'm really pleased with this one and loving making these bags… one for myself next I think!</div>
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So then we decided to name the bags as I will be making more to add to my shop next year. The owl bag was easy, it's now named 'It's a hoot', and this bag that I've just made is called 'over easy'… there's a story behind it. The girl it's for has two dots over the e in her name, and when she was born my hubby came up with a rhyme so we could remember where the dots went… over e Zoë – which now has transgressed into 'over easy', I know it's silly but I love that the bag is named because of it's recipient!</div>
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I've also managed to cut out lots of fabric ready to turn into bags, I just need to buy some more denim, unless father christmas brings me some (fingers crossed).</div>
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…one more bit of sewing before christmas day? I've got an idea that I want to make for my dad… watch this space, I may return today or tomorrow!!!</div>
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…if not, I wish you all a merry christmas and hope all your dreams and wishes come true.</div>
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Thanks for looking</div>
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<br />monkeyandsquidgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716002525202623893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2827910813011261080.post-70170252232000484982011-12-16T21:07:00.001+00:002011-12-16T21:08:58.976+00:00Thank goodness its FRIDAY!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Wow what a week, I've been so busy everyday, if I've been in the house longer than an hour at the time I was lucky… don't get me wrong I'm not complaining but I am I little daunted by the fact that I now only have 2 monkeys left!</div>
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Now is the time to panic… other than my niece's bag I have no other presents for my family! I'm thinking of making the same bag but without the owl/penguin embellishments for my slightly older niece… and I'm sure a few of my nephew and nieces would love a sock monkey or a sock snowman – I know this because a few have asked!</div>
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I photographed my owl/penguin bag properly today and it now has a popper closure on it. I love this bag, I am going to have to make one for myself without the face!</div>
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So will I get any more sewing in before christmas! I'm hoping so but the ironing pile is getting higher and higher! Problem is that my head is spinning with ideas at the moment and ironing is not an outlet for my creativity… that's my excuse anyway!</div>
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Merry christmas</div>
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<br />monkeyandsquidgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716002525202623893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2827910813011261080.post-25960566238431916572011-12-15T21:42:00.001+00:002011-12-16T11:39:58.500+00:00Owl Bag!…I did it! Can you believe it? I did something without getting side tracked – I made my first bag, and I'm so pleased with it and still so excited!<br />
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However… apparently it looks like a penguin so I didn't quite achieve what I set out to do but I still think it will be a fab present for my niece!<br />
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Apologies as always for the rubbish photos but it's late, and dark!</div>
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I lay awake last night working out how I could make it and it turned out really well, not sure there's anything I would change. I wish I could remember the photo that gave me the inspiration though.</div>
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The blue is a lovely vintage denim colour teamed with a pale blue and green spot bottom and gorgeous green lining (I also mimicked the outside spot on the inside lining). The underside of the wings are either blue or green… not that you see that unless you lift them up! I just need to get a fastening so that it closes at the top!</div>
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So there you go, my first penguin bag… ahem! I mean owl bag! Apparently it's the beak colour that changes it from a penguin to an owl… so say my family – brown beak for an owl, yellow for a penguin. </div>
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…I may add a pocket to the next one or maybe a zip closure!</div>
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Oh yeah, I also made a heart for the little girl thats stolen my boys heart!</div>
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Yay, monkeys all finished,</div>
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…owl bag made,</div>
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…christmas tree up,</div>
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…I have nothing to do tomorrow other than ironing!</div>
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…quick, think of something, anything!</div>
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Thanks for looking… what do you think, owl or penguin!</div>
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Oh yeah, I will be potentially be making some kind of bags to sell next year too, maybe ones similar to my owl/penguin bag!</div>
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Rachaelmonkeyandsquidgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16716002525202623893noreply@blogger.com0