Here’s a photo tutorial of what I did, but check out this link for more details.

From Drop Box

I had been helping out with catering at a wedding with Becs during the day, and our plan was to go out for cocktails that night.  When we’d finished at the wedding we went back to her place to doll ourselves up, then popped into see mum and dad and have something to eat before heading into town.  While mum was fixing my dress, I felt hands come around my middle! I turned around and thought, “oh, its Andrew”, because he hugs me like that often – only to do a double-take and think, “OH – ITS ANDREW!” I wasn’t expecting to see him at all!

It turned out he’d flown down during the afternoon and was waiting for me to come home so he could take me out, since it was my birthday the next day.  We were driven into town and ended up at Soi, a beautiful restaurant on the Wellington waterfront.  He’d booked us a quiet little table for two, tucked in the corner with the best view of the harbour. Amazing food! And he’d even brought a bottle of champagne with him!  Once we’d finished eating we sat talking for a while – unbeknown to me, he was waiting for all the other diners to leave! Once the restaurant was quiet he said, “well, there’s another reason I wanted to take you out tonight…” and came round to my chair, got on one knee and asked me to marry him! Yay!  I said yes, of course, and when we got home after a nice little walk along the waterfront, my family was waiting for us with more champagne. Such a great night, it was perfect! As for the ring, it’s a princess-cut 1.2 carot diamond, with four smaller diamonds on each side, set in 12 carot white gold (and if you look at it upside down, the claws are in the shape of an A!)

For my birthday we went out for a big family dinner, then went back to the waterfront afterwards for an impromptu engagement photo shoot – here are some of my favourites; photo credit to Becs.

From top row down, left to right:

• Brown blanket
• Molly Cowl
• Art apron
• Jeans bag I
• Audrey in Unst
• Wonderwoman skirt (made from this tutorial)
• Reading in bed Shrug
• Baby hat and booties
• February Lady Sweater (post and photos to come! Technically finished 2012 but most of the work done in 2011)
• Embroidered hankerchiefs
• Polka dot potholders
• Jeans bag II
• Kitchen assistant apron
• Christmas placemats
• Christmas coasters

Stay tuned for what I’ll be working in in 2012! In the meantime, what crafty things did you get up to in 2011?

New Year’s Eve was pretty quite, boyfriend and I went out for dinner then spent the rest of the night playing games – then fell asleep before midnight! Must be a sign that I’m getting old…

As for my Christmas presents this year, being a poor student and all, I decided to go with homemade presents for the family. First up – Becs.  Having made her polka dot apron last Christmas, I decided to use the leftover fabric to make some matching potholders/oven mitts, which double as hot spots on the table. They took about a day to make, from two layers of black quilting fabric with the polka dot on the top, and wide ribbon as binding.  The cupcakes were hand-embroidered, same as on the apron.

Next was Dad.  There’s a thing in our family where we always steal his hankerchiefs, so I thought it only fitting to give him some that could be easily identified.  I outlined everything in pencil first then hand-embroidered over the top, with his initial and a little picture on each one.

When I told Mum that I was making the other’s presents and asked her what I could make for her, she requested a bag from a pair of jeans like I’d made before.  After hunting around I found some jeans that were Billabong brand, her favourite, and topped it off with a homemade scarf in guitar fabric.  The patch on the back was hand-embroidered from the detail around the bottom of the jeans.

All were very happy with their presents  This year I was also charged with table decorations, so I thought I’d try my hand at embroidery there as well.  I came up with felt placemats with Christmas trees, and felt coasters with holly and berries, using a mix of hand- and machine-embroidery.

In knitting news – I finally finished the February Lady Sweater! Photos to come soon.  Now I’m working on a cricket vest for boyfriend… so much cabling…!

Loving this project so far, the yarn is great to work with.  I’m getting about two repeats done in one sitting so its going to take me a little while to finish it! At least it will be done in time for next winter.

{Click to see it bigger}

Clockwise from top left:

1. July – Andrew’s 21st party! The theme was Superheros and Villains

2. May – Night out on the town with Bec and her flatmate.  We went to a club called Cavern Club, seriously plays the best music, all the old stuff that’s easy to dance to!

3. January – My ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ party, catered by Bec, it was so much fun, and people came dressed in their best black and pearls

4. March – Andrew and our friend Rob graduated!

5. April – Snowing on my train trip back to Wellington, very odd for that time of year

6. June – Acrobat at Zirka Circus! Our ‘Z’ alphabet date

7. February – First alphabet date – M for meal/menu and moonlight walk

Started: 10 July 2010
Finished: 14 July 2011
Pattern: Audrey in Unst [Rav Link]
Yarn: Panda Heath in Teal

Modifications: I lengthened it by a couple of inches so it fits around the hips, and I used only one size needles for the whole thing because I didn’t have anything smaller.

The only downside of this pattern is the armholes, which are a little too big for me even though I followed the pattern exactly for that part, and the neckline is a little wide.  However the technique for the set-in sleeves using short row shaping is awesome and super easy! I love the detail of the twisted ribbing.

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I tried a new technique on my hair last night, and it worked really well.  Its a way to curl it without using a hair curler.  I think i’ll have to practice it a bit more to get it to work out better, but it looks great from the front.  Sadly the curls in the back have already started falling out – I need to put a little more product in the back next time!

]]> http://musicalbutterfly.wordpress.com/2011/07/20/fo-audrey-in-unst-cardigan/feed/ 2 celastrina Audrey in Unst Audrey in Unst - bib Audrey in Unst - Sleeve Audrey in Unst - ribbing Curly hair! signature flat http://musicalbutterfly.wordpress.com/2011/06/23/pants-transformation-part-1/ http://musicalbutterfly.wordpress.com/2011/06/23/pants-transformation-part-1/#comments Thu, 23 Jun 2011 04:18:37 +0000 celastrina http://musicalbutterfly.wordpress.com/?p=343 ]]> When a friend of mine moved to another flat a while ago he left me a pile of clothes that he didn’t wear anymore, for me to use for my crafts.  He then asked if I could make him an apron to use because he was teaching an art class.

I used an old pair of trousers he’d given me…

… and turned them into this!

I used the existing waistband and button, and spun the back pockets around to use as the front pockets (because its not really an apron without pockets!)  Then I cut out a bit of length from one of the legs and opened it out to use as the bib and the length, as well as the neck strap.

Quite a fun project, and it only took a couple of hours to figure out! And there’s another pair of pants there to make an apron for me too

Stay tuned for part 2 – denim jeans into a bag!

I’ve had this in my queue for a while, and luckily it took less than a month to knit, using yarn I already had in my stash.  The travelling lace pattern was easily memorised, making for mindless TV knitting.  I think I made a mistake with the ribbing on the cuffs though – one seems longer than the other – but its not really noticeable.

Pattern: Reading-in-bed shrug [free pattern - Rav link]
Yarn: Moda Vera Jaclyn

Modifications: I made it longer so the sleeves are 3/4 length, a total of 18 pattern repeats.  I also added buttons instead of seaming so that it can be worn a few different ways.

I made a matching hat for it too, but Becs snaffled that up about an hour after it came off the needles, so I need to make another one for myself!

Ingredients:

4-6 uncooked skinless chicken breasts
1 cup coke
1 cup tomato sauce
2 tbsp soy sauce

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees C
2. Cut chicken into bit-size pieces, and spread them out in the bottom of a large casserole dish
3. Stir together coke, tomato sauce and soy sauce in a jug
4. Pour evenly over the chicken in the dish.  Ensure that all the chicken is covered
5. Cover the dish in foil and put in the oven for 45mins-1 hour, or until chicken is cooked through and sauce has thickened slightly
6. Serve with pasta – I prefer large spirals or penne but spaghetti works too

Modifications – it would probably be nice with some herbs mixed in with the sauces before you add it to the chicken, or you could stir through some cooked green veges before serving.

The ingredients sound very odd, but I guarantee if you try it you will love it!  The fizz gets cooked out of the coke, and the flavour of that with the sauces mix together really well.  The chicken comes out really juicy too

Enjoy! I’d love to know what you think if you try it!