tiny happy

Hello!
It's been a while since I wrote here… for some reason I couldn't seem to get started. Blog-writer's block? Or something. I hope you are well, dear reader, wherever you are in the world.

In the wintertime i bought some supplies for needle punching, after I got a strong desire to make my own rugs and mats from wool. I still want to, but so far I've only managed to make a small cushion with the tool I bought. But it does have poppies on it, and it's quite practical as a chair pad so I'm pleased with it.
 
I bought my Amy Oxford needle punch tool from this shop, after I met the owner Claire at Soul Craft in Melbourne in June. She was selling them along with lots of other lovely supplies. Tom has now made me a good frame for future needle punching (I used an embroidery hoop up until now which isn't ideal but does work) and I have lots of ideas of future projects. I'm just lacking the time, really. But that doesn't stop me dreaming about it!

Speaking of Soul Craft, I loved this recent post of Felicia's called Overthinking Our Stories. She writes about being brave and ambitious in our making lives. I love it!

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It was my birthday recently and I got some really nice gifts, including making-related things. Among them was the latest issue of Making Magazine which is like gold to me. Thanks Mum! 

Along with a great needle punch project in there, I am hoping to make some of the garments within its pages. I think I would wear the Array Shirt a lot in the summer (you can find some pictures, plus an interview with the designer here) and there's also a couple of beautiful knitted cardigan patterns. And a small knitted sheep. I'm now wondering if I have enough time to knit sheep for all my nieces and nephews for Christmas (along with these amazing toys, also designed by Susan B. Anderson.)

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I've also been doing some embroidery in the evenings of late – I had a little waiting list for project bag orders, and I wanted to get those done. Above you can see some colourful daisies embroidered in clusters, but I've also been stitching buillion roses and leaves, ferns and dahlias. For that sort of work I really like to have music to accompany me. I've been listening to the latest Kurt Vile album and Julia Holter.