An Eclectic Range of Projects …..

I was very pleased this week when my 13 year old son asked me to make him a costume for school (I can’t remember the last time I sewed something for him, other than mending and alterations!). His school was celebrating its Feast Day and all the students were allowed to come dressed according to the theme of “Superhero” for a day of food, games, and a concert. He was very specific about what he wanted and sketched me up a design (I tried to talk him into more embellishments without success – teenagers know their own mind!). So without further adieu, I would like to introduce you to “An Anonymous Figure”……. (there was a matching mask but he didn't want a pic from the front).

As Sarah has already mentioned, we enjoyed a fabulous day out last weekend at the Craft Fair. I bought lots of lovely items – fabric, bag making supplies, buttons, etc. My favourite stand was Amitie where I picked up some lovely Japanese fabric and got to see the Audrey and Maude patterns in real life!

(oops - I should have ironed the fabric first - the first fabric is a coarser weave and more of a furnishing weight fabric).

I am also the proud owner of a FabUMotion, which I pick up tomorrow, so I am hoping to finally master the art of machine quilting. I usually hand quilt but it just takes too long! (ask Sarah as she has been waiting for my current quilting project for 18 months).

Today I raided my parents lavender bush and have hung up lots of lavender heads in my laundry. From my research it looks like it takes about 4 weeks for the lavender to dry out (possibly more as we are heading into winter and the air is damp). Check back next month for some ideas on how to use dried lavender in projects. It is great for repelling moths and smells divine.

I finally cut into my “Cake Rock Beach” fabric this week and made a table runner for the coffee table in my Living Room. I love the earthy tones of this fabric and it is perfect for our place as the fabric has sea motifs and we overlook the Indian Ocean. I am planning on making some matching coasters but they will have to wait as I have more pressing things to complete!

 

Posted by Lisa

A Whole Lot of Goodies!!!!

This week I have been very busy,  including going to the Perth Craft and Quilt Show.

I bought scrapbooking paper, stickers, a button, seed beads, neck chains and pendants for the chains.

When we arrived there was a dance competition before they opened the doors. I was one of the few chosen. I received stickers, cardboard cut outs, tags and an iron on sticker as a prize. This got the day off to a good start!

Also this week we received a wonderful gift from the creative Emma at Jelly Belly*Jelly Brain. We received her specialty - a lovely scented heart to put in your underwear drawer or hang on your wardrobe door. She also sent some lovely postcards of her part of the world - all tied up with some beautiful ribbon. Check out Emma's site as she makes some lovely items.

At the craft show I got some inspiration to get out my bead loom. I am going to turn it into a bracelet. All I have to do is sew it together.

Posted by Sarah

Swell Tote, a Tag, and More...

I love the Urban Chicks Swell range of fabrics and have been making some gift items out of the few fat quarters that I purchased. I have just completed a Tiny Tote (pattern from here) and a matching coin purse. The purse uses a 10 cm zip and I have bought out the entire supply from my local fabric shop and they have been unable to source any more for me. Does anyone know where I can get little zips online?

I have also completed a flannel baby rug, using a square of flannel that was bound with some chocolate brown polka dot fabric. I was really proud of myself for using some non-traditional baby colours for a change! I did a double fold binding this time which should make it more durable. It was nice to have some hand sewing to do in front of the TV this week.

My 13 year old son (who would prefer not to be named!) has been doing a unit on Materials – Metal and Plastic, this semester. He has just completed this metal tool box which was an awesome project!

We have been tagged by the lovely Erin from Girl with Curlz, who has a wicked sense of humour.  As Sarah has a pupil free day today, she is helping me with the answers to this tag!

What were you doing 10 years ago?
Sarah can’t remember as she was only 1 year old! I was busy with two young children (3 years and 1 year) including going to story time at the local library; going to a playgroup; taking the kids to swimming lessons; and enjoying doing lots of activities with the kids. I was also working part time as an occupational therapist with a Rehabilitation Service. It was in late 1998 that my husband got a new job and we relocated to Paris.

5 Items on my To-Do List Today.
Sarah – relax in the bath, read, knit my scarf, work on my cross stitch project, and play on the computer.
Lisa – clean the house so I can have tomorrow off at the craft fair, do the laundry, go grocery shopping, research for my pin cushion swap,

Snacks we enjoy
Sarah – chocolate, ice-cream, fairy floss, pizza
Lisa – chocolate, crackers and cheese, home baked cakes and cookies (see lamington fairy cakes below),

Things we would do if we were a billionaire
Sarah – go on a shopping spree and buy a computer, mobile phone, camera, and Nintendo Wii
Lisa – I have every thing I want in life. If I won a big prize I would be able to pay for the kids University Education, set them up financially, and donate to worthy causes.

Places We have lived
Sarah – Perth, Australia; Paris, France; Houston, USA.
Lisa – Perth, Australia; Sydney, Australia; San Antonio, USA; Stavanger, Norway; Paris, France; Houston, USA.

People I want to know more about.
We aren’t going to worry about tagging anyone but if you would like to have a go, consider yourself tagged!!

Posted by Lisa

Sewing and Baking Creations

This week I have been busy making myself a dressing gown out of blue polar fleece. It is just the thing for these cold nights! Next I want to match some matching PJ's.

 

For Mothers Day I made both of my Grandmothers a tea towel apron. You can find the instructions here. I bought the tea towel from IKEA and attached some matching twill tape. Both of my Nan’s were very pleased to receive it.

I have recently baked some Fudge Cinnamon Brownies that I made from Philigry’s recipe. They were very yummy and were more of a cake type brownie that a chewy dense brownie. The cinnamon added some extra flavour to this moist brownie.

I am really looking forward to going to the Perth Craft and Quilt Fair on Saturday with my Mum and Nan.

Posted by Sarah

Bits and Pieces

I recently stumbled across a wonderful blog from a very talented Spanish crafter. I was fascinated by her cute little cat key pouches, and Pepi generously sent me a template to make them. I made mine into a coin purse with a key ring attachment. I love the little stuffed fish in this design!

I have been feeling a bit overwhelmed lately as I juggle home and work demands. Fortunately I have managed to reduce my work hours and will now only be working three days a week (school hours) which hopefully will give me more time to be creative! I had my first three day week this week and am already feeling better for it. The house is cleaner, we have eaten better, and I have had more time for my creative pursuits.

A dear friend gave me this book for my birthday – she knows me too well!

I love to bake but have a weakness for cupcakes. In fact as I was preparing to bake this afternoon, I decided to sort out my extensive patty pan collection – I can’t resist buying them whenever I see a new type.

I spent this afternoon sewing – but it was only doing alterations! I have been feeling guilty as my dear husband bought some new trousers when we were on holiday in Singapore in January and has been patiently waiting to have them taken up! I managed to check this off my list afternoon and also take up two new pairs of winter trousers for myself (I usually buy petite sizes as I hate doing alterations). I also took down two pair of school trousers for my 13 year old son who is growing at a rapid rate (you should see my grocery trolley – he is unfillable!)

Posted by Lisa

Snippets of Midwestern Modern

After seeing a few bloggers recently reference Mosaic Maker, I decided to give it a whirl! Here are some snippets of a few little gift projects that I have been working on using Amy Butler’s Midwestern Modern.

Girl Guide Gifts

This Week at Guides I received 20 packets of Guide biscuits to sell. It will take me a while to sell them (unless we eat them all first)!

Last week at Girl Guides I made a no sew pillow out of red polar fleece.

You need - A cushion insert
                    Two pieces of polar fleece that are cut 5 inches bigger than the insert
                    Scissors

This is how I made it: Put the insert between the two pieces of polar fleece. Then cut strips that are 2.5 inches in length along each border of the square. The strips are about an inch wide. Next tie them in a double knot. When they are all tied, you are done!

Today we received a lovely package in the mail from Bluebird make her nest. She sent us some gorgeous Manila folders, some 70% cocoa chocolate, some of her cute Ella and Kate clips and some pretty fabric. We were very excited when we opened it! It is the first giveaway we have won. Thank you so much Tamara!!

Posted by Sarah

Happy Mothers Day!

Wishing all you Mothers, Mothers to be, and Grandmothers a very happy Mothers Day! I was really spoilt today with breakfast in bed, lovely cards, and presents. Sarah baked two types of brownie – chocolate cheesecake, and white chocolate chunk – so I got my chocolate fix as well. It was my birthday a few days ago so this week has been an extra special one!

Sarah and I gave all the Mothers in our family some “Spoonful of Sugar” goodness in the form of aprons (beautifully made by Sarah and she will post pics of them soon) and some Handbag organizers.

I have also been working on some secret projects this week. Here is a sneak peak….. I love Amy Butlers new fabric range!

I recently made a picnic rug out of repurposed denim, mixed with a bit of new as it was taking too long to build up a supply of old jeans! It has given it a nice checkerboard effect. My front loading washing machine didn’t like it though as the lint filter became really clogged and made a bit of a mess. It would have been better washing it in a top loading machine so that I could remove the lint during the cycle – oh well next time!!

Enjoy the rest of your Mothers Day!

Posted by Lisa

Coconut Ice

The luscious tones of raspberry and white gingham remind me of Coconut Ice. I have been playing around with some Chicken Scratch Embroidery over the past week, and have made a bookmark and pincushion using some cotton gingham and white crochet cotton. You can find the tutorial for the bookmark here.

I have found some vintage gingham from my grandmothers stash in a lovely lavender and have a few ideas for that. The quality of the gingham available now isn’t as nice to work with as the older gingham's I remember from my childhood that had a nicer, heavier weight to them.

I made up this pincushion for a gift using some Robyn Pandolph fabric.

My grandmother had an old ironing board sleeve attachment (not sure of the correct terminology) that I recently acquired. I have made a snazzy new cover for it (from my stash – I didn’t have much that would match my existing ironing board cover!) and I am sure it will come in useful for ironing those inside parts of bags and other items. I have recently come across a pattern to make a “Pressing Ham” and think I will whip up one of these as well – I will have no excuse now, not to have all my bits and pieces ironed in all those hard to get at places.

We have been having ongoing internet connection issues over the past few months. I have been very grumpy over the past 3 days when I wasn't able to access my blog, bloglines, and emails. My wonderful husband went out tonight and signed us up to a new ISP so we are now back on line. Here's hoping we have more success this time around as I must admit I am getting addicted to my computer fix each day !!

Posted By Lisa

Visor Magic

In 2007 I won first place in the WA Inventor of the Year  Schools competition in the Year 5-6 category. I entered with Visor Magic - a storage solution for your car. You attach it to your car sun visor and it fits sunglasses, pens and a mobile or iPod. I made it out of canvas, velcro, and elastic. I was presented with a certificate and $1500 by Lyn Beasley, Chief Scientist of WA. I also got to meet Hon Alan Carpenter, Premier of WA. In 2007 I appeared in several newspapers, "Our WA: Our Inventors" on Channel 7 and three radio stations for my oven gloves. To watch my segment from channel seven go to the bottom of the home page on my website.

Posted by Sarah