Sunday, January 29, 2012

Needlebooks


I saw this sweet little needlebook tutorial by Amy at nanaCompany

and

Thought I would have a go...



I kinda did less - in fact none - of the hand sewing bit,

but it still looks good.

My clever machine does a back stitch which gives a nice finish similar to hand sewing.

I love all the little details, especially to the inside , which I have not pictured but if you click on the link you will see what I mean.

Amy also has a sweet little project in the Zakka Style book that I am quite into at the moment.



I also made up the little Belle and Boo Needlebook
that was a freebie with the Mollie Makes magazine recently...


I do like the simplicity of this idea...

It is a printed card with very sweet picture on the front, just like a gift tag really.
Fold in half and sew a piece of felt into the inside down the fold.

There were little slits at the edge to thread the ribbon through.

I used a scallop cutter instead of pinking shears to cut the edge of the felt which is a little trick I learned from following Amy's tutorial - Thank you.




Saturday, January 28, 2012

In the Gallery


The Gallery shop requested a few more of the squeeze clip purses

So here they are...



They are proving to be quite popular.


Friday, January 27, 2012

In the mail part 2 & 3...


As I was saying, I think January is the month for online ordering...



These fabrics came from Super Buzzy

There is some more of Suzuko Koseki's fabrics on the right
and I just adore the typewriter fabric by Melody Miller

The Big Bad Wolf button was a great find too.




This little bundle came from Sew Deerly Loved

I like spots.



Thursday, January 26, 2012

Australia Day Inspiration


On Tuesday night, a little thought filtered through my brain - that said
You know that Nani-Iro fabric you have stashed away to make a skirt?
That would be perfect to wear on Australia Day...

And here it is...




and the back view...




I used design I have used before that I got out of a Sew Hip magazine,
it is a very simple - but I like it.

I got this fabric at Kelani Fabric


Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Zakka Style

I have been working out the Zakka Style book...



This book is a collective compiled by Rashida Coleman-Hale of iheartlinen 

I have made...


Zakka Pincushions

By Sonia Cantie of cozyhomemaking



An Elephant Never Forgets Bookmark

By Kat Mew of zakkainspired

and


Delightful Linen Bag

By Mette Robl of erleperle


Great book - I am loving it.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Pleasing Purple

A while back I tried dyeing a couple of things that were obviously polyester so they didn't take the dye real well and I ended up with some wishy washy pieces that looked as though they had been washed with the darks or something.

I got myself some iDye Poly and had another go - with pleasing results...

I followed the recommended directions and was quite pleased...



but then I thought maybe I would also add the colour enhancer for mixed fibre fabrics and Wow...

Now I am excited...



'Pashmina' Scarf



Curtain Lace

This has always been earmarked for a skirt...


Happy Happy

Monday, January 23, 2012

In the Mail

I think January is the month for on-line ordering...

Well, maybe not just January...

This arrived for me the other day...



Some Japanese prints - mostly by Suzuko Koseki

I have been inspired by her books Natural Patchwork & Patchwork Style
and thought I needed some of her fabrics to really get into it properly...

They are making a lovely addition to the stash.

I sourced them from BlijeOlifantje



Sunday, January 22, 2012

Treasure Hunt 2012

Inspiration List's for 2012...



Bitchy Stitcher's

1. Something Stripey

2. 4 Calling Birds

3. A Purse

4. Free Choice

5. To Keep Warm

6. An Apron

7. Nativity

8. Fairytale

9. Fun in the Kitchen

10. A Wreath

11. Butterfly Flutterby

12. Funky Fruit



Family & Friends

1. Christmas Pudding

2. Donkey

3. Water

4. Purple

5. Toadstool

6. Red Riding Hood

7. Caravan

8. Froggy Love

9. Red Robin

10. Bird Cage

11. Owls

12. Hessian

It is always fun in January looking through all my books and magazines and searching on-line for things to make that fall under these headings...

I have already been inspired to make a few things...













So, that is my gift challenges for the year...

To be ready by Christmas.

I am feeling pretty good about them all at this stage,
I think I've got it sorted!




Thursday, January 12, 2012

January Market

My goodness market time came around very quickly...

I guess with Christmas and New Year in between everything seems to roll into one and here we are half way into the first month of the year without even noticing.

Anyway

The Library Arts & Craft market was held last Sunday
I was in attendance

and

these are a few of the new things that I did manage to make in the first week of the month...



Eco soap specially wrapped in vintage Bambi book pages



Wool felt and Lace fabric brooches



Lino Print greeting cards



Kusudama Bookmarks



And some

Kusudama Knitting Needles.


Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Own Backyard

Sometimes you forget the wonders that are in your own backyard...

This is where I live...

Much thought went in to naming...


The Blue Lake


I mean I don't actually live in that little house you can see - that is the pumping station, this lake is also our town water supply.

 I was being a tourist in my home town over the Christmas break and it caught me by surprise, as it often does, about just how blue it can be.

here is a closer look...




and this is just the water...



Totally natural - no photo shopping, well except to re size it but that doesn't count.

I caught it on a good day, I mean it is always blue but some days it is bluer than others.

Some days as you drive past you kind of catch your breath and go "Wow"!


Happy New Year