Bad blogger.

I have been slack and selfish.  I have been reading lots of blogs, finding new talented people to follow, taking note of their fabulous ideas, and not bothering to return the favour with producing regular eye candy on my blog haha!!  My apologies.  My attitude stinks towards anything that requires effort due to my ongoing health issues.  Poor health really does mess with you... sigh.

BUT onto brighter and happier things.  I have stuff to show you!

I made my husband some house shorts!  I was bored, and just went and got a pair of his basketball shorts out of his drawer, traced around them, and hoped for the best hahaha!!  They turned out pretty good considering.  After I finished sewing them (and after many a sigh and unpick and grunt) I had husby try them on and they only needed minor adjustments.  He's worn them pretty much every night since.  They're pretty funny if you ask me though!

(apologies for all the photos, they were taken on my phone as I seem to have temporarily misplaced my camera)

Then over the weekend I didn't have much on, so had a go at making another patchwork gypsy skirt.  I love how it turned out, even though I had a different idea in mind originally.  

I was able to overlock/serge all the edges before sewing my panels together.  After much grunting and sighing and unpicking, I was pleased that it came together nicely.  On a side not, I noticed something while I was cutting up my panels if fabric.  It was the writing on my selvage of the floral fabric.  It is cut off a little so isn't 100% clear, but I consulted my Facebook friends and they came up with a few other suggestions.....

I see "Fabric for Satan".  I laughed and laughed when I saw it.  Other suggestions were "Fabric by Sotan", "Fabric for Sotex".  I decided I'd stick with Satan for the entertainment factor.  What do you see??  

I had plenty of scraps and thought to make a nice headband to match also.

  

I was at my sisters house the other day and my sister insisted on practising her face painting skills on me.  I thought I'd show you for entertainment factor.  She asked why I wasn't terribly enthused.  My response was that it might have something to do with the fact that I am an adult....

And lastly, I have been doing some hairdressing jobs lately and have a nice bundle of cash waiting for me to spend on crafty goodness!!  I have been putting together a delicious Stampin Up order of punches and stamps... I can't wait!!
  

Until next time!

Front Door Decor

On my week off last week I had an urge to make my home look nicer.  I bought a new mirror for the entrance, I framed a picture of husby and I that was printed, hmm... 6 months ago?  Ooops!  Then I thought it would be nice to make something for my front door like all you Americans do :P  Afterall, husby is American and would probably appreciate it!! 

The frame was thrifted for a few dollars, and I got the letters from a craft store, I think the big one was about $3 and the littlies $1 each.  I needed to do about 10 coats of the paint to get the coverage I wanted on the frame.  Once I was happy with it, I smudged some brown paint over the wood markings and it gave it a more aged look, and then sprayed it with a sealant.  The small letters were simple.  Some white glue, some pretty scrapbooking paper, and some sand paper to tidy up the edges.  I attached them to the frame with some white glue... I hope it holds... I couldn't find the proper wood glue!  I actually sprayed the sealant over the small letters also.  Big mistake!  They left awful white cloudy patches on my letters.  I ended up sanding off the sealant and just painted over the top with some white glue to protect the paper against the weather.

Lastly was the F.  I just painted it up with white glue and wound and wound that gorgeous twine around it until it was all covered and I was happy with the design.  I coated the back of the F with white glue to secure all the string in it's place.  I noticed that some of the string shifted while moving it around.  The glue looked funny when it dried so I just did it on the back to secure everything.  I bought some hook and eyes and it hangs from the top of the frame.

For the string it hangs on, I just braided some ribbon and crafting rope and stapled it on the back.  You can't see the lovely colours of the braided ribbons and rope in this photo which is a shame.  And lastly, to make sure I didn't scratch up my front door with the staples at the top and with the frame, I stuck some of those sticky felt squares (that you put on the bottom of your chairs so they don't mark your tiles or wooden floors) all across the back of it.  They work a treat.  And husby doesn't mind it either :) 

Flowerpress Brooch Swap - what I made.

I took part in Flowerpress' Brooch Swap this month.  I haven't been lucky enough to receive my brooch yet but am still excitedly anticipating it's arrival soon :)  I did a sneak peak of the brooch I made a few weeks ago.  Figured it was time to show you the whole thing!  It wasn't the most complicated intricate brooch to make, but my swap partner is so bright and positive and I know she has a love for buttons, so I thought it would be fitting to do a rainbow button brooch. 

I hope she likes it and I hope it got to her safely! 

Celebrations & promotions

I've been busy listing in my Craftumi store again today.  I'm really excited to be on top of things in my neck of the woods.  I haven't been this organised in a while.  I also have a reason to celebrate.  I am up to 90 followers!!  I am super excited about this.  Welcome to my new followers, and thank you for all those who have been sticking around for quite some time now!!  I appreciate you all!

Here's a sneak of what slipped into the store this morning...

So to celebrate my organization and awesome followers, I decided to do a little promotion!  For the remainder of the month of June, if you make any purchase in my Craftumi store, or Madeit store, I will send you an extra thank you gift for your support.  All you need to do is tell me in the notes that you are a follower of my blog (and be a follower of course).  I bet you want to know what the thank you gift is don't you?  Well folks, that part I am going to keep a secret!  You'll just have to wait and find out when you receive your little parcel in the mail!!

Hope everyone is having a delightful day! 

Weekend Craft & Listings

I've had a super productive weekend in my craft room which makes me super happy!  It's been refreshing to spend so much time in here.  I sewed a patchwork gypsy skirt for myself some time ago.  I decided yesterday I needed to make myself another!  Now this is a skirt pattern which I drafted myself and have no instructions.  I thought it would be best to practice on a smaller scale first, and I made a child's skirt. 

It turned out well, and I have started selecting the fabrics for my new skirt.  I hope to make a start on it this week.  I am excited that I will be able to overlock/serge all of the edges before sewing it together this time around.  Santa Clause was so kind to me last year :)

Today the sun was shining, for the first time in about a week so I took advantage of it and took some pictures of goodies to go into my Madeit store and Craftumi store outside on the back patio.  I spent the afternoon editing and listing.  Here's a sneak of some of the things that made it in there.

And tonight I have been busy photographing, packaging and I'm just about to start editing to list a bunch of awesome stuff into my Craftumi store.  Die cuts, punchies, and cool stuff like that.  It feels great to have been so productive today!!  

What did you do today?  Anything productive?  Or did you relax and enjoy the sunshine?

I love getting parcels in the mail...

I got into work on Wednesday last week, and sitting on my desk, was a beautiful parcel.  It was addressed to me.  This can only mean fabulous things.  I look on the back to see who it's from, and instantly know what it is...

It's an awesome gigantor pincushion from Wendy over at The Textured Leaf.  I won a giveaway on her blog a little while back, and she sent me a pincushion as my prize.... except, it went a missing in the post!!!  So she kindly made me another and has sent it over.  Thanks so much Wendy, I love it and already have it in use!

The funny thing is, when I was transferring my pins over to my new pincushion, I started squeezing my old thinner pincushion incase any needles were living inside.  I popped 12 out.  I was starting to run low on needles and was worried they might have been hiding in my carpet, ready to strike at a passerby foot.  But, they were tucked away safely in my pincushion.  Needless to say, I won't be putting any needles on my new pincushion... I would never see them again if they snuck inside!

Floral this, doily that.

Over the past few weeks I've been making bits and pieces at my own leisure.  It seems I have a little catching up to do on my blog since I have been unwell this past week!!  Around two months ago I had fun making a couple of pretty headbands for myself, which you can read about here and here. 

I love doilies, so thought it would be worth trying to create something for my hair using them.  This is what I came up with. 

I absolutely love it, but know doilies aren't for everyone.  Which is why I was SUPER surprised when I wore it to church one week and I lost count how many compliments I got about it.  I was super excited!  This of course got me thinking about the possibilities of doily headbands.  Here is what I've come up with so far.

I'm working towards popping them in my shop in the next day or so.

And while we're on the subject of doilies...  remember this table runner?

It's making it's way into the shop too!!  I'm excited!!

And last but not least.  My new favourite fabric flower!  I have been making a couple more out of gorgeous vintage fabrics and am undecided whether to make these two hair clips or brooches.  What do you think?

This one I made into a brooch and absolutely adore.  It's made from a gorgeous soft grey velvet and musk pink corduroy.  I LOVE it!!  I'll be popping it into the shop soon also.

So what have you all been up to this past week?  I am on holidays next week and SO looking forward to being able to spend more time in my 'quaint' craft room!  Hope everyone is avoiding the horrible colds, flu's and tummy bugs going around, and staying WARM!!!  Brrrr!!!

I'm sick!

Image

This is me!  Tummy bugs and a never-ending cold are playing havoc on my ability to achieve much of anything of late.  Haven't been able to create anything this week to share with you, sorry!  Hopefully I am back on my feet soon... I don't have much patience for ill health.  Hope you all are staying cold/flu/tummy bug free!!

One last thing.  After a horrible night last night of being so ill that I couldn't sleep, I went out today and bought an array of things to help me feel better, along with a 2 litre bottle of Sprite.  Sprite is the one thing that makes me feel better!  

What makes you feel better when you're sick??

My Creative Space - Just a few things I whipped up...

I have been feeling under the weather, and haven't been doing too much crafting this week.  But last night I had the craft bug and got around to trying out this fantastic tutorial which has been open on my browser for a few weeks now!!

My first attempt:

And my second attempt:

The first one looked too spaced out, so I sewed the petals closer together with the white lace one, which I think looks much nicer.  

Link in here for more spaces.

Brooch Swap Sneak

I was super organised and made my brooch and sent it off a week ago.  I wasn't going to reveal anything until my partner had received it and posted about it, but I figured a itty bitty sneak wouldn't hurt!!

Perusing

I haven't been much in the mood to blog lately.  Main contributor being stress!  So I've taken a step back, and have REALLY been enjoying reading other's blogs with more intent.  I've also had some fun finding new blogs to follow.  I know we all say this, and often, but GEEZ there are some clever people out there.  So today, my blog post isn't full of gorgeous things I've made (even though I really do have a tonne of things I want to show you all), but it is full of things that have been making me smile, and feel inspired.  Hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

Foxs Lane - Kate, you're never too old to wear twirly skirts.

Raspberry Rainbow - Cat, thanks for making me feel normal about the miracle of the bottom of the laundry basket.  And I hope your roof attaches itself back where it belongs soon.

Creating My Way To Success - Jill, I'm amazed at your determination to empty that box of potential upcycles.  AWESOME.  I must follow your lead.

Made - Dana responded to my comment about her haircut, even though I was the 171st comment.  Some people are just too nice.

Little Poppa & Me - Tammi is on the move, and everyone knows how fun it isn't!  That will be me in another month or so.  You can do it Tammi!

Flowerpress - I sent off my brooch, for the brooch swap last week.  I can't wait to receive mine.  You can check out other's ideas and creations over at the Flickr group.

Made By Me. Shared With You - Tricia has an amazing ability to make something as simple as a blanket look so amazing.

Blueberry Patch - Cathy's post made me laugh.  Chickens are always good for entertainment.

Thea & Sami - Thea has found a pair of the most amazing hand warmers ever.  And she held an awesome fundraiser morning tea last week!

Seven Cherubs - Naomi gave me a good idea, to have a Daddy Baby Shower.  Although I think I still might want my own too.

Totally Tutorials - thanks for posting this tutorial, which led me to this blog, and this great tutorial.  I'll be trying my hand at it soon.

Rosa's Room - Karlyn, thanks for reminding me how hilarious kids are sometimes.

And Then There Were Four - Multiple Mum, thanks for saying it how it is. 

and finally,

Flower Photography - V, thanks for making everyday things look beautiful.

Hope you've enjoyed a good read!!

A favour for a friend

I have a good friend with by far the cutest baby boy around this neck of the woods. 

Told you :)

He has been entered into a competition to win a free portrait session and 11"x14" print ($140 value).  If they get over 100 votes and have the highest number by Tuesday next week they get the CD of images too!  If you would be a darling and pop over here and vote for him!!! 

And while you're there check out how AMAZING Shayla's work is.

Old jeans upcycle.

I keep alot of old clothes with intentions to find an upcycling project to use them for.  Yesterday I had some success with my intentions!!!  I decided that I needed to make a bunch of new headbands for myself.  I only had a few and there just isn't enough variety!!!  So I pulled out one of my storage tubs with old clothes in them, and on the top was a pair of old jeans.  I pulled them out and thought that a denim headband would look fantastic!!! 

I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out.  What do you think?

I think I'll be making a few more just like this!  I have already got a few compliments today.  Best part is, they're easy to make!

My creative space - Make your own envelope.

I love finding cool things on Etsy, Madeit & Craftumi.  Unique things.  Like envelope templates.  I mentioned it in a previous post.  But I've been busy making lots of them!!  Don't they look awesome??

If you have a creative space you want to share, pop over here.

Monday - a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

This week has not started out so well.  But we won't dwell too much on that. 

Instead I'm going to celebrate selling these in my store over the weekend.

And buying this for my American MIL for Christmas (I like starting early!) from here.

I'm also going to focus on the fact that over the weekend I bought...

and of course I bought these go to with it..

Now I can cut up my fabric with precision and ease!  I am hoping to cut up some fat quarters this week to pop in my Craftumi store.

I hope your week has started out fantastically!!