Autumn Cape – A Long Term Project 2021 - Completing Body

Autumn Cape – A Long Term Project 2021 - Completing Body

Well here we are. I had to check how long I have been working on this project. It certainly lived up to its name as according to my record I first blogged about this in March 2016!

Daytime Top Edge

 

I am now going to add Embellishments to the Daytime Top Edge. This includes Leaves and Branches

Fox Embellishments

 

Laura was kind enough to take the following photographs for me. Here is the Fox. As you can see I have added various Leaves to the Top of the Edge and also further down over the Fox.

The above photograph gives a good view of the added Leaves even if I do look like I am about to sing ‘Bring me Sunshine’.

Hedgehog Pocket

 

In case you have forgotten I had added a Hedgehog Pocket under the Pile of Leaves. Since the Mobile phone won’t fit anymore it is handy for Tissues or Sweets.

Night Time Top Edge

 

As with the Daytime Side I then had to Embellish the Night Time Top Edge.

Badger Embellishments

 

Once again I added Leaves and Branches to the Design

Mole Pocket

 

Here is a reminder of the other Pocket. I called it a Mole in a Hole.

Complete Hood

 

The previous photographs showed the Hood merely draped over my hairline. As you can see in this picture the Hood comes over quite far. This is designed to protect from those really cold days with a biting wind.

Owl Back

 

Back to the Owl. As I said previously if I had known then what I know now I would have placed it further up the Design. Please forgive the folds we were rushing a little.

Can you spot the Squirrel hiding?

First Hockey Match

 

I have decided that the first proper outing will be at a Panthers Ice Hockey Match. I was really toasty. I also loved the Boots that I bought to accompany the Cardigan. Great picture courtesy of my boyfriend Danny 

Paws the Panther

Wow a snapshot with Paws the Team Mascot. What could be better to end this Long Term Project with another animal picture?

It’s been a real labour of Love and it shows what you can do when you try and help from your friends.

Autumn Cape – A Long Term Project 2021 - Completing Hood

 Autumn Cape – A Long Term Project 2021 - Completing Hood

We are finally getting there folks! Time to decorate the Hood with some Leaf Embellishments

Hood Beginning

 

The first thing I had to do is sort out what coloured Leaves I had. I had more of the Daytime Side so I decided that I would start with those.

I began to Sew Leaves to the Edge of the Hood starting at the Outside and working towards the Middle.

Day Side

 

I didn’t’ want the Hood to look Sparse or Cluttered so I Spread them out by putting a one Finger gap in between. Once I had added all the Daytime Leaves I could then think about Extending the Branches and Twigs so that they joined up.

Night Side

 

I had far more problems with the Night time Side of the Hood. I was desperately short of some of the right Coloured Wool to make more Leaves.

In the end I managed to make a couple of the Ginger Leaves and placed them strategically on the Edge.

Full Hood

 

In the above photograph you can see the completely Embellished Hood. It was much harder work than I had anticipated.

This was due to the fact that I was trying hard not to put the same Coloured Leaves on the Edge that were on the Background. It was quite a feat of arrangement since it had no set Pattern,

Danny Conflict 2021

 Danny Conflict 2021

This is a short snappy Blog. My Boyfriend Danny bought a Patch that he wanted me to Sew on to his Shirt. My problem was where to Place it as it already had lots on.

Measure from Text

 

The Patch he had bought was quite big and needed to go onto the Back of the Shirt. However I had to leave enough space in between that and the other Patch.

The Black around the Text needed to be Even or it would look wrong. Therefore I measured the Distance between the Text and the Edge of the Patch

Pin Hem

 

I Pinned the Hem all the way around prior to Sewing. Before I finalised the Hem I wanted to double check the Placement. I did this by laying the Patch on the Shirt where I thought it was going to go.

I then Measured the Distance between the two Patches. I also Measured the Distance between the New Patch and the Top of the Shirt.

Conflict Shirt

Once I finished all the Measuring I Hemmed the Patch then Sewed it in Place. I am quite pleased how it came out and more to the point so is he.

Yellow Peril 2021

 Yellow Peril 2021

Sometimes things just don’t go right.

Wrong Left Glove

 

I have made lots of these Gloves in a variety of Colours. However for some reason this time I have gone wrong. If I am reading the Patten correctly I should have worked on the Thumb then the Finger next to it.

Somehow or other I have ended up doing the Little Finger first. This means all the Rows are wrong so I am now going to have to do it by eye. This means keep trying the Glove on to see how it fits.

Sew Up Glove

 

I have managed to finish Knitting the Glove and Sew it up. I tried again with the other Glove and it happened again. Not only that but to my Horror I realised that I hadn’t changed Colour. Not much I can do about it at this stage.

Yellow Beret Set

Here is the Yellow Set. I have added the Mustard Yellow into the Scarf and made a Mustard Brooch to add on to the Scarf. I may be able to add a little detail onto the Gloves but for now they are going to have to stay like that.

Maintaining a Smile 2021

 Maintaining a Smile 2021 

Not exactly a Maintenance Job more of an Alteration

Too Wide

This was the first Mask I ever made and I have never been entirely happy with it as it was too Wide and covered my Ears too much. In this blog I am going to turn this Smile the right way up again.

Pin Fold

 

I need to adjust the Mask. I can do this one of two ways. I can either Cut the Mask and Resew or I can try and Fold the material to bring it in.

I decided that it would be a lot of hassle Cutting the Material as I would have to not only Rehem it but also have to Unpick the Straps and Reattach those. Therefore I went with the second option.

Blanket Stitch Edge

 

I Folded the Mask Forward the same Width on Both sides. I then Pinned the Fold in place. I then Blanket Stitched the two Edges together.

Back View

I have now Blanket Stitched the Edges together. As you can see in the photograph above the Back View shows the Stitching but also the Open Fold.

In order to stop the Fold from flapping about I need to Secure it. I did this by Sewing across the Top of the Mask where the Strap is.

Thimble Through

Since I am going to have to go through several layers of material I needed to use my Thimble to get Through it. At times it was touch and go whether I would manage this without breaking the Needle.

Jolly Joker Jane

After a while not to mention some sore Fingers I now had a better fitting Mask. I present Jolly Joker Jane. Let’s see what kind of Mischief I can get in to.

Clay-time Playtime 2021 Part 5

 Clay-time Playtime 2021 Part 5

Now I have the Base and Outside Edge done I can move on to the Inside.

Adding Blue

 

As you probably realise by now I am trying to emulate an Ocean theme. Therefore I selected a Deep Blue to begin filling in between the Starfish Arms.

Blue Bottom

 

Once more into the deep dear friends once more. I finished the Bottom of the Dish and now had to decide what to do next.

Two Blue

 

I had to consider the amount of Deep Blue Varnish that I had left. I hit upon the idea of using a lighter Blue to give the effect of the Water being of different Depths.

It work great I was really pleased how it turned out although it was touch and go whether I had enough Varnish to finish it.

Splash of Orange

 

I did a spot of research on the Internet and never realised how many different types of Starfish there were. I had a whole variety of colours to choose from but in the end after sorting through the Varnish I decided to stick with the traditional Orange.

Star Base

 

As you can see in the above photograph the Starfish really stands out against the Two Blues. To enhance the illusion of Depth I added a little extra Yellow to the Rim.

With this added it almost gives it a Rock Pool look. The next step is to go over the whole Dish and give touch ups and where necessary scrape a little Varnish off where it had Splashed on the Shells.

Bathroom Tidy

The moment of truth. Here are my lotions nestled neatly inside my Dish. I did have to move them around several times to get the right order but it was well worth it.

N.B.

Since making the Tidy I have been given a whole load of new Face and Bath products which I cannot fit in. However it was nice while it lasted and I am sure I will soon be able to whittle the products down so they will fit once more.

Clay-time Playtime 2021 Part 4

 Clay-time Playtime 2021 Part 4

Now the pot is made the fun bit can start.

Varnish Outside

 

I wanted to colour the pot but as I was intending it for the Bathroom I didn’t think watercolours would be a good idea in all the steam. Then I hit upon the idea of using Nail Varnish.

I had lots of half used Varnish so I found a nice Sand Coloured Yellow and began to Varnish the Outside

Dish Base

 

The Outside Varnish needed to dry so I turned it upside down. In doing so I realised that I would need to Varnish the Base of the Dish as well.

Bottom Varnish

I wasn’t sure which Varnish to use as I need the Yellow for a Second Coat on the Outside Edge. I decided to use a Clear Varnish as a kind of Undercoat.

Purple Swirl

 

After sorting through the various Bottles of Varnish I selected a Purple Shade and carefully Varnished a Thick Purple Swirl on the Base.

I had to wait for this to dry before doing a Second Coat so I very carefully added another Coat of Yellow to the Outside Edge.

Pink Bands

 

I wanted to add more detail to the Swirl so I picked a Pinkie-Gold Varnish and began to apply. I wanted to start small then make Thicker Bands. Unfortunately this proved more difficult than I anticipated.

In the end I had to keep do some Bands then and more Purple to try and even out the lines. Sometimes I added too much so then I had to wait for it to dry and then add more Pink.

Gold Edge

To add a nice Edge I selected a Gold Varnish and Coloured in between the Swirls. It was hard work but I am very pleased with the result.

Clay-time Playtime 2021 Part 3

 Clay-time Playtime 2021 Part 3

I am continuing working with my Clay.

Rough Star

 

I have finally managed to get the Star Shape that I wanted. All I have to do now is Elongate it.

Too Long

 

Well that didn’t work out too well. Not only is it too Long but I am not happy with the Shape either.

Fold and Thicken

 

I Fold over the Ends and Roll them back into the main Body of the Star.

Star Inside

 

As you can see in the above photograph the Shape is very different. I accomplished this by placing the Star into the Dish then slowly began to Pinch the Clay from the sides making it both Longer, Thinner and Higher.

As I Pinched the Clay I also Curved the Arms into position and Pressed down the Clay as hard as I could into the Base. I was really beginning to struggle to get the Clay to stick because it was drying out quickly.

Forked Star

 

To Embellish the Starfish which is what of course it is supposed to be I again used the Fork.

Hole Star

After doing one Arm I continued on to the others. I then used a Knife to draw a line from the Tip of the Arms to the Centre. There we have it a Hole Starfish.