Another Crafty Notion

Looking for crafting, sewing and making supplies?

Another Crafty Notion

An Etsy store selling supplies for sewing and crafting needs. New, used, found and vintage. It will be here if you can use it to make and create.

The shop is new and items will be added gradually so please have a look, make it a favourite and be notified when new stock arrives.

MASSIVE SALE - Brisbane Qld

Scalloped Bunting Tutorial

Picture from here

Today I was visiting the Sew, Mama, Sew! blog and I found a gorgeous tutorial on making scalloped fabric bunting by Jessie from the Blog Sweet Jessie.

Bunting is so fun and fabric bunting is great because it lasts for years and is easily washed and can be reversible and made from scraps leftover from other sewing projects.

To have a look at loads more photos or grab the free PDF template and instructions please go to the Sew,Mama,Sew! blog here

Tutorials ...

Today I'll be listing some of the tutorials I currently have on my blog into my sidebar ... please feel free to check them out and comment! Most of them are Christmas Crafts but I promise I will be adding more tutorials on sewing, basic embroidery, making, cooking and heaps more!

Turning Kids Art into Mini Quilts!

Pirate Sam and I decided we needed to make something fun and different. Sam has had a unit at Prep based around Pirates so he has been drawing maps like crazy. Pirate Island, Treasure Smeasure, Feather Island and Skull Island to name a few.

I am not the world's best quilter, I don't seem to have that certain amount of patience that is required. But mini quilts, they are my thing!

So Sam and I decided to turn a Treasure map into a mini quilt that he can use and we can wash if it gets dirty. (He gets a bit sad when paper tears)

To start we needed a Treasure Map. Once you have a map you can work out what you need to create it's 3D counterpart.

You'll need:
1 x piece of fabric for your island
1 x piece of fabric for your front
1 x piece of fabric for the back
1 x piece of wadding ( I chose a piece of Thermolan as it will wash well)
1 x embroidery hoop (not really needed but helps keep stitches regular)
needle
embroidery thread
scissors
transfer pen or pencil for fabric (mine is air soluble)
tracing paper if you like
ribbon for tying map scroll together
sewing machine
iron or press

1. Trace your image onto your island fabric

2. Embroider the line work using simple stitches like back stitch or chain stitch. Try not to change any part of the kids work. The imperfections bring the charm!

 

3. Press the island piece using an iron and then cut out the island. Pin it to your front piece.

4. Applique the island to the front piece using a zig zag stitch

5. We'll be stitching our quilting stitches in a grid to represent the longitude and latitude lines of a map. Pin the front piece to the wadding and stitch evenly spaced lines in one direction, either vertical or horizontal.


 6. Pin this piece to the backing piece and then stitch the lines in the opposite direction to the lines you just stitched. Completing the grid effect on the front but leaving only one direction of lines on the back.

 7. Now use quilt binding around the edge to border the quilt. Whilst binding the quilt attach the ribbon at one side so the map can be tied like a scroll.

ENJOY!

 

A dilemma ... do I or don't I ...to sew or not to sew

I have run out of Labels to sew into my clothes ... and after sourcing more my supplier has kindly informed me that due to the Chinese New Year holiday I wont be able to get any more until mid march .... argggh

What do I do ... sew my stuff without labels?
Not make any more clothes?
Find a substitute?

Any ideas would be welcomed ... I have 3 markets coming up well before Mid march and I really am stuck!

I'm not against sewing without labels ... for a long time I did just that ... but do you think it matters if the clothes only have size and care labels?

Wrap it up! October and November in 1 hit ...

I hadn't realised how much I had neglected my blog until I went to take some of the pics off my camera! Woah Nelly ... talk about busy and not enough time to sit down and have a cup of tea ...

So VERY BRIEFLY ...

Halloween was a blast ... the kids and I decorated and dressed up and waited for the neighbourhood kids to come around knocking ...



One hot day after school and work I took the kids down to Bunya River for a bit of afternoon tea and duck watching, we then planned our next picnic and decided we'd come back another day after school with our swimmers and take a little dip


Kitty Boo Boo is now stocked in Handmade Heaven in Ipswich. This shop rocks and I bought so much stuff but it all went to my sisters a and b at my sister a's baby shower

Speaking of which the baby shower was great until Sam decided to have the biggest meltdown to date ... I was horrified and had no idea how to deal with it because he's never been so naughty or disobedient. However apart from toddler tanties and other dramas it was great to chill with my sisters and niece and nephew

The Kustom Krafts Market was on Sun Nov 8 and we had a great day even though it was so hot we practically melted

Finished for BiDM now are some more wrist cuffs (with thanks to my fellow Brown Owl Kelly for her nimble fingers and button attaching!)

With limited time between the kids and work I haven't been able to organise much time for making for the BrisStyle indie Designer Markets and spent earlier this week cutting out and I have been sewing like a MAD WOMAN yesterday and managed to get this pile of stuff half done

skirts for girls, shorts for girls and boys, dresses for the ladies and the second pic above are the straps for NEW sundresses with a vintage/retro 50's style also managed to make more earrings and still need to get some hairclips made later next week ...

all of which will be available HERE

And lastly I can't believe I am about to do this but check out the disaster area. It's like a minefield but a lot neater after a quick organising for the next available period of sewing frenzy!

First Projects ... Crazy Patchwork Quilt

Okay ... so I had been sewing for a few years but I had only made a handful of kooky clothes for myself ...

* like the electric blue velvet tutu skirt attached to a black and silver corset
* or the big sunhat I made covered in black lace and ribbon (it's a goth thing)
* the spiderweb leggings
* the purple satin swing dress

etc etc,
I think you get the picture.
Never with a pattern and always sewn by hand.

So after I bought my first machine I use to make bags. They were pretty popular with my family (you have to love your biggest fans!) and I think my sisters and mum still tote some of these around! Then I found it easier to make clothes but I missed the hand sewing so explored embroidery for a while.

First Quilt Project 2002

When I was due with Erin I decided to make a quilt. It's not very attractive but it was the first project I explored out of my depth. It was a crazy patch quilt.

I used only recycled fabrics and made the patches from old garments and linen from my childhood.


Some of the pieces are maternity clothes of my mums and some maternity clothes of mine. The backing is an old cot sheet of mine and the buttons are all vintage. The threads were also the legacy of one of Pete's great Aunts.


I was very proud of it but then it was washed in the WASHING MACHINE by a 'helpful' person and it shrunk in all the wrong places. Sad but I still have a soft spot in my heart for this little number ...


There are nine crazy patches. Each made with the same fabrics but embellished with different coloured trims and stitches. Blue, Black, Red, Green, White, Yellow, Brown, Purple and Pink.

What was your first adventurous project?

Out of the Loop ... In with the Giveaways

After spending a few days sorting my sewing room I have decided to finish ALL the unfinished projects and miscellanea floating around so I ---

• a) Have some more stock to sell out
• b) can see my floor again as it is covered in green bags full of unfinished projects
• c) have peace of mind when I cut my fabulous new stuff simmering in my head!

After finding 8 (sheesh) yep, 8 girls dresses, 2 hoodies, 3 wrap skirts, 3 derby skirts, 1 medieval top, 1 baby sleeper bag, 4 aprons, 2 halter dresses and much more left to sew together and making great headway last night --- I CUT THEM ALL LAST YEAR BEFORE WINTER --- I am compelled to finish them, and even a little ashamed that it's taken so long.

So I wont be here for a while, at least a week, so I draw your attention to the giveaways of

Kitty Boo Boo



and
Betsy Kingston



on this months BrisStyle Blog.

WIN WIN WIN

Get yourself some fabulous freebies simply by leaving a comment, and 2 x the entries if you repost on your blog!
YAY

Now giddy up over there and grab a freebie or two!

Meet Me at Mike's ...

Last week my DH was away in Melbourne for work. Because of the work he does, he had a day or two free to wander around. He usually does some shopping for the kids at the Vic Markets, or picks me up an excellent Waterhouse or Dali print. ( Love a good print!) And after seeing the originals of Dali's in 1993 and Waterhouse in 2002 (Love and Death: Art in the Age of Victoria) oh my, oh my ... there are no words

 

This time when he asked me if there was anything special I wanted from Melbourne I said

"Sure is!". 

Meet Me at Mike's the book, by Pip Lincolne hadn't really made it into the bookshops nearby then and I really REALLY wanted to get a copy so I gave the poor man a map and a mission!

He's the first one to tell me I have an overload of crafting materials but he seemed to be more than happy to take trek to get the book.

I sent a message to Pip on Facey letting her know that DH was coming in and to keep an eye out for him! After he walked about 8 k in the wrong direction (yes, he forgot the map!) He managed eventually to find Meet Me at Mike's on Brunswick St.

Cam offered to get Pip to sign the book so Pip was dragged out of her kitchen and obligingly gave me a Hurrah on the front page.

An excellent treat all around, I do love my DH. He's excellent.

Re-fashion ... recycle ... renew ... refresh ...

Recipe for refashioned skirt

Take some lace, an old tablecloth, a few old doilies, some dye and a full slip.

Chop, dye, wash, sew, chop, sew.

My hands are itchin' to be stitchin' ...

I have once more been bitten by the embroidery bug.

It happens

I seem to change my craft focus as often as the weather and seasons.

One moment all I can do is hairclips, next all I want to do is sew, next it's all about embroidery!

So here we are, me, my hoop, some thread and the idiot box.