Australia Wide Two

A travelling exhibition which showcases art quilt making in Australia is on display at a neighbouring town.  I have a month to ensure that I go across and see it.  An opportunity not to be missed.

Judy

Four Finishes

I finished off four Breast Cancer Drain Bags today, therefore have my promised quota of six ready to be picked up in June.  I will need to make some more, so that I can get in front.

The following two bags were made with the same fabric, just cut differently.

These next two were made from left-over strips of fabric - I love the scrappy look of them

As always, I made a matching little tissue pouch to pop inside each bag. 

Next on the list of things I want to make, is an iPad pillow.  Then I saw a great tutorial for a fabric origami bag.  There are never enough hours in the day / week in which to sew or craft.

I just received a parcel from Amy Bradley Designs, new patterns to be added to the store. 

Two new pattern releases:

Animal Whimsy Quilt Pattern - I love this one, many uses for these cute critters

Little Cowboy, Little Cowgirl Quilt Pattern

Enjoy your day

Judy

Tiny Teddy Cars

I had children visit this afternoon and instead of spending time in the craft studio we spent time in the kitchen. They each assembled their own tiny teddy cars. 

I melted the chocolate and did any cutting required, but the rest was up to them.

The body of the car was made from a treat size milky way chocolate, smarties for the wheels, and one smarty cut in half for the steering wheel.  Tiny Teddy biscuit was cut at tummy level for the driver.  Melted chocolate was used to hold everything together.

Very cute, a little messy, but lots of fun.

All lined up ready to go.  How "grumpy" does this first teddy look?

We also made wriggly snakes in jelly, but I forgot to take a photo ... make jelly as per directions, wait about 15-20 minutes until it has cooled a little bit, and then put a Allen's Snakes Alive lolly in.  Have the head hanging over the side of the cup.  We used disposable plastic cups for the jelly.

All good fun... I did get started on piecing some scraps together for Breast Cancer Bags this morning.  I had a lot of strips of fabric donated, so now putting them to good use.

Hope you are having a crafty weekend

Judy

One Finished

I could not help myself, I had to knit up one dishcloth last night.  I used the bamboo and cotton combination yarn.  I must say, that I certainly will not be stopping at only this one.

I think the colours in this yarn are so fresh looking!

They look and feel soft and luxurious.

In my last post, I mentioned how I was having trouble sourcing the 100% wool and cotton yarn, well my niece pointed be in the direction of Bendigo Woollen Mills online store. I visited their site today, and the selection was fantastic.  They also sell huge 200g balls of wool for nearly the same price I paid for a 50g ball.  Great saving when you are making gifts.  I am not sure on the postage costs, as my order ended up having free shipping which was another bonus.  Check them out if you love to knit or crochet, I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

Here is the link to the pattern for the dishcloth I made, which was given to me by my niece

http://www.groupepp.com/dishbout/kpatterns/grfavorite.html

No knitting tonight, I should be in the craft studio packing up orders ready for posting tomorrow.

From the autumn/winter knitting fanatic

Judy

Wool and Cotton

I had to make a trip to Griffith today to visit the dentist, so I took the opportunity to stock up on some wool and cotton.

I needed 100% wool to make the soap sweaters, and I could not find any in town and most of my own stash was an acrylic blend.

Won't these make lovely soap sweaters?  Lincraft brand, however all 100% wool.

My next knitting venture is to make some dishcloths.  My niece, Donna, had made some for my mother as a gift, and after using one, I was hooked.  So she kindly sent me the pattern, and I will be trying them in the next few days.

These are the cottons I purchased.  The ones in the front are 100% cotton, but two in the back, on the left hand side are a blend of bamboo and cotton.  I think they will be suitable.  I love the feel and texture of them, nice and silky.  Worth a try.

It is always an expensive venture when we travel out of town, as our small town only has one fabric shop and no craft shop.  So when the opportunity arises I always stock up.  Griffith is approx 65 kilometres away, but our nearest Spotlight is 120 kilometres away, so as you can imagine sometimes it is a case of using what is available.  This is why I have begun to stock general craft supplies on my website, it is always available (for me)!

Stay tuned to see the finished dishcloths

Judy

Knitting afternoon

I spend yesterday afternoon with my Mum, sitting in front of a wood fire, chatting.  I took along my knitting bag, and found the time to make two knitted sweater soap covers.

I saw this idea on Pinterest and wanted to try it.  It incorporates the idea of having a wash cloth and soap all in one.  You must use 100% wool, so that the wool will shrink and felt around the soap.  Wool, is naturally anti-bacterial, so the soaps should not get "yucky" in the bathroom.

The brown one on the left has a much squarer soap inserted than the lumpy Dove soap in the pink cover.  The squarer the better, I think.  I am going to try the pink one to see how it works in the bathroom. 

Naked, without their card-stock sleeve.

I also knitted some coathanger covers, after a very BIG hint from my mother that she would love some more. 

The thing I like about these covers is that there is no need to pad the coat hanger.  I use "cheap" feathers wool from the discount store.  Cast on 70 stitches, and knit 18 rows in stocking stitch (1 row, knit, 1 row purl).. Cast off.  Leave a long tail of wool, to enable you to sew it on the wooden coathanger.

That is all there is to it... you do not even have to have neat and tidy stitches when sewing it on the hanger as the fluffiness of the wool, hides any imperfections.

One ball of wool, makes two covers... or very close.

Bundle a couple of covered hangers together for a lovely gift.

Hope you have enjoyed your weekend

Judy 

Fabric Corner Bookmarks

Using just small scraps of fabric 2-1/2" x 5" you can make some fabric corner bookmarks.

These would make great gifts for the readers in your life, or for your school fete.

• I used left over charm squares, cut in 2 to make my bookmarks.
• Iron a thin piece of interfacing to the wrong side of the fabric you wish to have on the front. 
• With wrong sides together, sew a scant 1/8" seam all around leaving an opening for turning. 
• Turn to right side, and push out the corners. 
• Fold in opening, iron, and then top stitch all around.
• Fold in half (two short ends together) and then sew again on your top stitching down one side only ... iron flat with the seam at the back.  This forms the triangle as you can see above.

This was a quick craft and I did not take any photos of the process along the way, sorry.

Till next time

Judy

Quick and Easy Gift

As we are having a working bee at my Mothers house tomorrow, she requested no gifts.  Well, you cannot turn up on Mother's Day and not give your very special Mum something, can you?
This afternoon, I made a couple of quick and easy soap pouches for her.

From one hand towel I was able to make four pouches .. you just need to ensure that the soap will fit inside.  I cut mine 12" x 4 1/2" - I kept one finished end and turned up a small hem twice on the other short cut end. Sew.

Turn up one short end 2/3rds and then the other end the remaining 1/3rd.   Sew down each side, and turn right side out ... same technique as the rice bags.

Insert your soap, all done.

Front view -

Back View - showing the opening to insert the soap

Side view -

Now to package it!

A few weeks ago, I came across a great idea to make a gift box from a 12 x 12" piece of card stock.  I have already used this idea about 4 times, and I thought I could use it again to package these soap pouches.

Following the instructions from Cosmo Cricket - make your box

Insert your nicely wrapped soap pouches

Finish off with a co-ordinating topper and ribbon bow

It needs some other embellishment , near the bottom, not sure what I will use yet (if I get time, or can "borrow" something from my sisters card making supplies)

Side view of box - (no, the box is not crooked, I think it was the stand I had the box sitting on, you cannot see this until you upload the photo, dash)

Back view -

All done ...

Do you make your Mother something handmade, buy from shop, or do something special?

Judy

Zakka Style Book has arrived

While reading some of my favourite blogs, I noticed that there was a "Zakka Style" sew-a-long.  On the Monkey Do site her project was a sewing kit.  I loved the look of it, and thought it would be another little gift I could add to my stash for my sewing family and friends.

I found the book on "The Book Depository" and only 7 days after placing my order, it has arrived.  Fantastic service, inexpensive and with free shipping, you have to love that!

The sewing kit is featured on the front cover, how cute is it?

After quickly browsing through the book, I am supposed to be uploading products to the store this evening, I have already marked the following projects to make:

• Zakka Pin Cushion
• Patchwork Pencil Case
• Happy Couple Hand Warmers
• Patchwork Potholders
• Patchwork Ribbon - love this idea for gift wrapping

I will also try and see what other sites are participating in the sew-a-long and get some more ideas off them ...  I have found it (check out here, if you are interested) - gosh they are starting from the beginning of the book and making each project in the book, in order, in a week!

They are up to Week 6 - Itty Bitty Quilt Magnets ... I guess that means I am a bit late in getting started?    The magnets look like a challenge, the finished size is 1.5" x 1.5"

I will not be able to start anything for a few days, but I will certainly enjoy reading through the book more thoroughly.

Back to updating the store ... ribbons and more ribbons

Judy

Bracelets and Market review

Well, I am glad the market is over. It is a lot of work and I admire the people that participate on a regular basis.  It was a lovely sunny morning, and we had a lot of shoppers, for this I was grateful. Unfortunately I did not take any photos of my table, I really was too busy, but I will be showing you some of the new items I made in the next few days.

I made myself a "tape measure" bracelet to wear on the day ... I just cut a flexible tape measure to size, clamped ribbon ends on the cut edges and joined it together with a heart and bar closure.  I love it!

The next set of bracelets was a result of playing with fabric strips.  I had a large fluffy chenille stick which I joined in a circle - it needed to be large enough that I could slip it over my hand onto my wrist.  Then I just wrapped fabric around the chenille stick a couple of times, gluing the ends to finish off.

These are quite flexible, because they are made from the bendable chenille sticks, although the same principle could be used with wire, or piping cord?

I think I will try and make some bracelets using the same principle as the "Pink Ribbon Necklaces" I made last year - see that post here.  I would need to use smaller beads though.

We are planning a working bee at my Mothers for Mothers Day this Sunday, so I do not think I will be able to get much time for craft.  Maybe a few minutes?

See you soon

Judy

Ready - I Hope!

I did not get as much done in preparation for my market table as I would have hoped, although I think I have a good variety of product for sale.

The car is packed, ready to leave early in the morning, so fingers crossed that it will be a nice day, as the market is being held outdoors.

I have made some new items for this market, although no photos, as most of my creativity was done in the evening and the lighting was not good enough to take photos.

I made some Mothers Day tea packets, finished up some Happy Bags, and Threads of Friendship bags.  These are all based on printables that were purchased, all you need to do is print, cut, glue and fill.  Nice and easy to do in front of the television.  These make great little gifts to pop into a card.

I will try and take some photos of my table tomorrow, if time and customers permit (he he)

Before I close, I would like to send out my heartfelt thoughts to my friend Sonia, who lost her Mum this week.  Our prayers and thoughts are with you and your family.

Until I report in tomorrow
Judy