Stitch Magazine

I am jumping up and down with excitement over here! I have been eagerly awaiting my copy of the Spring issue of Stitch Magazine and it arrived today. I am thrilled to have two projects in this issue. This is one of my favourite sewing magazines as it always has such contemporary, modern and fresh designs that never fail to inspire.

I designed a handy eco shopper bag that folds up into a little pouch so you always have it on hand when shopping.

I also designed a trio of animal bath mitts - to make bath time fun!

One of the most exciting things for me is that I am in a magazine that features many of my favourite designers such as Rebeka Lambert, Ayumi Takahashi, Rashida Coleman-Hale, and Blair Stocker. Stitch magazine can be hard to come to find in Australia but is available online from Interweave Store.

Mothers Day Kids Craft - Part 2

Thanks for all the brilliant ideas for Mothers Day craft for kids. Here is a round-up of more ideas -

Customised Hand Sanitiser - I made these last year when I was working for a magazine. You just need a pump pack of hand sanitizer or liquid soap. Peel off the existing label, and then make your own with scrapbooking paper, ribbon,  and embellishments.

Time for Tea - Last year I made up some decorated tea bags - one in match book style

and one as a card with a tea bag tucked inside. These would be a fun and inexpensive idea for kids to make and would give them plenty of room to add their own creative touch.

Bath Salts
Last year at Girl Guides, Sarah made me some wonderful scented bath salts. There are loads of recipes on the net for bath salts and bath bombs - this is an activity that girls love to do!

Cupcake Gifts
I made up some cupcake gifts for a baby shower using a paper baking case, face washer, and dummy (pacifier). Kids could easily use this idea for a gift for their Mums - simply substitute the dummy for a small chocolate, round hand soap , or a artificial flower to make it perfect for a Mothers Day Gift.

Cathy suggested Cookies in a Jar.There are loads of great recipes on line for this idea. I have done this with my kids as a Christmas gift idea and it is very popular. Here is one I made for a magazine.

Liesl received a sweet "I Love You This Much" card from her son last year. I found some instructions for a similar project. Very cute idea!

Myriam suggested decorating wooden cigar boxes with different embellishments. 

Hope this inspires to get your kids creating gifts for their Mums and Grandmas!

Thanks for all the wonderful comments about my Breakfast in Bed tutorial over at QFD Creative. The creative team at QFD Creative are producing wonderful tutorials each month so pop over regularly to see what we have been up to. Amanda has designed a Go Anywhere Media Purse in three lovely variations - go and check it out!

Posted by Lisa

Breakfast in Bed

With Mothers Day just around the corner, I  designed a Breakfast Set consisting of a tea cosy, tray cloth, and napkin with crocheted edge. My clever in house graphic designer (aka Sarah) put together the tutorial picture for me!

I figure if I leave it out as a *hint*  my family might bring me a lovely Breakfast in bed on Mothers Day morning !

Inspired by the wonderful pillowcases over at You Go Girl I had to make a napkin with a crocheted edging. I used the crocheted scalloped edging my Nan taught me when I was a young girl.

You can find the tutorial over at QFD Creative.

Kids Craft: Decorated Candles and Matches - Mothers Day Project

Emily asked me for some ideas for crafts for Mothers Day. One idea that can be easily adapted for kids is Decorated Candles and Matches.

Here are some candles I decorated last year for a project I was working on. Simply wrap the candles with strips of paper - you can use scrap booking paper, wrapping paper, pages from old books etc. Affix the paper with double sided tape, and tie a piece of ribbon around the middle. Kids could embellish the candles with all types of details - buttons, stickers, chip board accents - to put their own stamp on the project! Candles are relatively inexpensive if bought in bulk or on clearance if it is a group project.


Safety Tips - Ensure the recipient removes the paper before lighting the candle; remove the matches before giving the box to children to decorate.



The latest Marie Clarie Idees has a picture of some matches that have been decorated. Some citronella candles for outdoor use could be tied together for gift giving.

Martha Stewart also has some candle inspiration.

The gift can then be easily wrapped with plain shipping tags, kraft paper bags, paper doileys, and Japanese washi masking tape.

If you have any brilliant ideas for kids Mothers Day craft or have received a sweet gift from your child, please leave details in the comments or link to tutorials. I will do a follow-up post next week with all the ideas.

Posted by Lisa

Camping Fun!

I come from a very crafty family! About 12 years ago my parents used to have market stalls - Dad made lots of wooden toys (pull a longs, dolls cradles etc), and Mum specialised in painting the toys, as well as making dolls clothes and accessories. This was around the time my children, and my nieces and nephews were small so they always had plenty of wonderful toys to play with that Nan and Pop had made. Sarah's dolls had the most beautiful clothing to be dressed in. One of Mum's popular products was the Barbie Sleeping Bag. She even made one for my son's, Action Man, so he wasn't left out!

I made up a couple recently for a little friends Bratz dolls. I forgot to take photos of the process but it is fairly straight forward so will describe the steps in case you want to make one for yourself. The size can be adjusted to suit the size of the doll - they would look cute with Blythe dolls!

If you want to make some for a Bratz doll here is what you need:

• Piece of polar fleece measuring 21 x 6 inches (53 x 15 cm)
• Piece of quilting cotton measuring 21 x 6 (53 x 15 cm)

Lay out the fabric rectangles, and place a pin on each of the long edges, that is 12 1/2 inches (32 cm) from the end. Fold the rectangles of fabric with the right sides together where the pins are to form the sleeping bag shape (ie sleeping bag with an extra flap piece at the top to sit under the dolls head - refer to photo). With a 1/2 inch (1.2 cm) seam allowance, sew the side seams. Turn the cotton fabric piece out the right way. Place it inside the polar fleece piece so the right sides are facing, and pin at the side seams. Sew the  two pieces together along the sides and top of the flap piece. Clip corners, and turn out the right way through the gap in the front of the sleeping bag. Hand stitch the opening closed.

They are fully reversible for double the fun.

Super quick and super fun ! 

Sarah and I are having a great mail week! Our order from Kyoto General Store arrived a couple of days ago. Don't forget that they have an offer for free shipping for the month of April and a special bonus for A Spoonful of Sugar readers. 

I also received a fabric order from Hancocks - Paducah - some lovely Hunky Dory, destined to be a quilt

and a few other pieces I couldn't live without!

I am a bit behind on my emails this week - I have a few submissions I am busily working on but hope to catch up soon!

Posted by Lisa

Things that Inspire......

Being part of this lovely blogging community of like minded people has given me so much inspiration over the past couple of years. It always puts a smile on my face to receive sweet comments, and I love how you all are so willing to share tips, projects, recipes, and tutorials on your blogs.

Today I received a package in the mail from Suzie of Little Busy Bee. When I had mentioned that my subscription to Marie Claire Idees had lapsed, Suzie emailed me to say that she had bought me a copy - how generous is that! Today it arrived, and what is more Suzie included some extra goodies. Thanks you so very much Suzie - you are incredibly thoughtful.

We received a hanging bird decoration, pouches, chocolate and lollies.

Here is a peak inside the Marie Claire Idees (I enjoyed it so much that I have renewed my subscription).....

Birdhouses to house the baby wipes and nappies...

Embroidered buttons..

Doily Art ...

Pretty bags and pouches ....

Hope you find plenty to inspire you this week!

Posted by Lisa

Rhubarb and Apple Jam

You may have noticed that I am on a bit of a quest lately to make the perfect jam. So far I have made Strawberry Jam; Lemon Butter; Plum Jam and Nectarine Jam. I noticed on a blog recently that someone had made Rhubarb Jam (I was unable to locate the link), but it got me thinking. Rhubarb reminds me of my childhood when my Mum and Nan would often make stewed rhubarb, and apple and rhubarb pie.

I decided to combine rhubarb and apple together in a jam - and the results are amazing.

Ingredients:

400g rhubarb, cut into 1.5 cm lengths

200 g apple, peeled, cored, finely diced (I used granny smith apples)

300 g sugar

1/4 teaspoon cardamom

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

2 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice

Method:

Place all ingredients into a saucepan and leave for 20 minutes until the sugar is wet from the juices of the rhubarb, apple, and lemon. Bring slowly to the boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Simmer for 20 minutes, or until jam gels when tested. Use a masher to break up any large pieces of apple.

Place hot jam into hot sterilised jars, and store in a cool place. Makes up approx 800 ml.

Tip: For quick decorating, place a paper doily over the lid and secure with a (new) hair elastic.

Posted by Lisa

Bits and Pieces

Here are a few glimpses of what I have been working on this week .....more will be revealed very soon.

My order of Modern Meadow arrived this week. Hope to get started on a new project soon.

I have a week off from the day job starting today! It is school holidays here so I plan to spend the week
- hanging out with my kids - trying to win at Squatter and Monopoly
- perfecting my macaron technique with Sarah
- catching up with friends
- working on some sewing projects
- and sleeping in!!

I will let you know how I get on!

Posted by Lisa

Happy Easter

We hope that everyone had a very happy and enjoyable Easter with their families!

Today we had our extended family over. Sarah and I did a lot of baking this morning, including some of our Easter favourites-

Easter Cupcakes  - basic vanilla cupcakes decorated with chocolate icing, slithers of Flake, and mini Easter eggs.


Hot Cross Muffins  - spiced muffins with currants, drizzled with a lemon icing cross



Sarah's Chocolate  Easter Nest Cookies


Sarah also made up some of her large chocolate chip cookies.  They were placed in pastel coloured paper CD cases that we bought from the 100 Yen store in Kyoto, and decorated with an Easter label and some Japanese washi masking tape.



We are now going to finish the day watching Season 1 of Glee and munching on some chocolate eggs - bliss!

Posted by Lisa and Sarah

Knit One, Purl One

My tutorials for the Knit One, Purl One projects (Knitting Journal, and Knitting Project Pouch) are now available over at QFD Creative.  We have placed a link in our side bar. 

Sarah, from QFD Creative, is also selling kits that include all  fabric, lace, tape measure trim, and fabric printer sheets, so you can make up these projects too. She will even customise the kits in the fabric of your choice!

Posted by Lisa