Sunday 9 September 2012

It bitty coin purse

I'm not sure if I had previously posted about a cute little notebook holder I made for my firend.  She needed something that would hold a pen and she could update with new little notebooks for her grocery list and I whipped her up this:




And now she need a little coin purse, so I made a matching one.


Aren't I just the bestest bestie!!

Thursday 30 August 2012

Bye Bye Travelling Stash

With much stuffing and re-stuffing, I just managed to fit everything back into the post bag. Several times I thought it would burst open but it stayed sealed and my only concern was it's weight. It needed to be under 3kg.

I did try and weigh it at home but my kitchen scales only went to 2kg and so I jumped on the body scales with package in hand and saw I was now an extra 2.8kg heavier - but my scales go up in 200g increments, it may not of seen an extra 200g (although it always see it when I'm on a diet and desperate to lose weight!)

So with my very heavy, over loaded package I went up to the post counter and with little beads of sweat trickled down my forehead in fear that it was over the 3kg, I handed it over and asked to register it... she didn't put it on the scale... so I have no idea what it weighed and am just assuming all is safe.

Off goes the travelling sash to Jules in Queensland... happy travels to you travelling stash!

Wednesday 29 August 2012

Travelling Stash arrives!

A little while back a great lass named Cass the coolest started up a "travelling stash" for like minded sewing fans and of course I put my hand up to join in.

The stash was first sent off on March 25th, 2012 and was filled with all these goodies:

So much has been added and the post bag it was in was almost busting at the seams and is now so close to 3kg that I had to ensure what I took out and what I put back in weighed the same.

I received the "stash" from fellow Sydney sider Sarah who is one of my online sewing buddies from "sewulation".

The bulging postbag:

All the goodies waiting to see who shall join my stash:

Out of the bag - wow, it just fit on my desk! What to choose, what to choose!

It was a hard choice:

And here is what I added back to the stash:


And off it goes to.....

oh I best find out as I'm sure the next travelling stasher is waiting ever so patiently!

Tuesday 21 August 2012

Up-cycle Quilts

After making the rag quilt for my cousins baby, the boys insisted I make them one too.  I know that their quilts won't be cherished either (likely living on the floor, till I pick it up for it to just end back on the floor again) so luckily I had been collecting all the old winter PJ's that were destined for the garbage bin to use as stuffing etc.

And slowly I put together 2 quilts for the boys:


This rag quilt is for Little Big Man, with cute polar fleece patch work on the underside.

This one is for Littleman, after seeing what the washing machine, the drain and my dryer looked like after making the rag quilt, and in fear of those devices breaking down due to all that fluff, I made a standard block quilt.  I actually prefer this one, it seems more comfy and durable.  All the snipping on the rag quilt meant I cut through a few seams and had to re-stitch the broken seams after it was washed.

Overall a great up-cycle, only needed to supplement a little extra flannel & polar fleece.

Monday 6 August 2012

Cuzzies baby

If you recall I mentioned that my cousin was expecting a baby, which I assumed would be a girl and it turned out it wasn't.  I should have just listen to my husband who said it was going to be a girl - but what do men know...

Back to the fabric store to find some nice boy themed fabric as I had previously purchased lots of pink and made little "Christian" a rag quilt and matching nappy clutch (I know, I love my clutches).




I really like them.  I made the quilt simple as I'm hopeless at matching fabrics and creating a decent pattern, I did try to design something but always hated my end design.

I doubt she will use them as she is one of those finicky mum's who likes everything new, but I knew this all along and really wanted to make her something.


Sunday 29 July 2012

And another clutch

Super quick whip up to say thank you to my mothers friend for watching her house whilst she was on an extended stay with us.

I really like this fabric, really need to create a new bag for myself with it.

Monday 18 June 2012

Minky lounge pants


My cousin was expecting a baby in August and I set in my mind that it was going to be a girl, I went out and bought numerous amounts of girly fabric so that I could make her baby lots of pretty things.  Well she managed to stress herself out and ended up having her baby 7 weeks early and yep, it's a boy!

So here I am stuck with all these pink fabrics, so what to do?

Thankfully a few friends had birthdays this month, and it seems extra cold this winter and my bestie Lee Lee is always whining how freezing she is so I attempted (and I use that word loosely) to make her a pair of pants with the some pink Minky fabric.

Firstly, I have never really made clothes, let alone adult sized.

Secondly, Minky is super messy - was covered in fluff, the room was covered in fluff, pink fluff was everywhere!

The end result - Happy Birthday Lee Lee Minky lounge pants was received with a huge smile (and finally fluff free)

Friday 15 June 2012

Buttercup clutch


Years ago I joined an online diet club to obviously lose weight (which I did) but also in the process I gain some great online friends.  I feel really connected to these people even though I have never met them and likely never will as they are skattered all over Australia.

This clutch was made for a great online friend who I feel is my biggest fan, always giving a big thumbs up on FB and positive comments, so this is for you "Nett".

I wanted to make a little larger clutch so I decided to use my Buttercup pattern and omit the handle - I'm very happy with the result.

Monday 11 June 2012

Another clutch


I ended up hating that other bag and so I sent it off to my niece in QLD, I hope she likes it more then I did!

And whipped up this clutch - much more my style, simple patterned fabric and the top panel is so much better sized.

Saturday 21 April 2012

I love bags

You can never have to many bags, well that is what I have to tell myself to justify all the bags that I make for myself.

So I really liked the bag that I made my bestie a few weeks ago so I took the remaining scrap fabric and whipped up one of my own.  But as I do I wanted this a little bigger so I gave it a round box base (is that contradictory?) and put the zipper at the top:

Now I do like it but I don't like it, I feel that either the pattern part needed to be greater or the black less and a recessed zip would have looked better.... still learning, still learning.

Catch up Saturdays

I have recently started my new full-time job which has bizarre hours from 1pm - 9pm and as I am so wonderfully busy in the mornings with kids and house duties all my evening spare time for sewing is gone :(

But I do have my Saturdays and so once all the clothes were washed and on the line, the dog washed and groomed and the kids set up I hit the kitchen and sewing room.

I of course baked first:
some tasty and very healthy Carrot, zucchini and pecan muffins.

These are for work for my coffee breaks and after work when I feel like something but it's far to late to eat something heavy and large.

Then as it is Saturdays and I like to treat us all to something nice I also made some individual Apple Pies, now this photo is of some bite sized ones which was made from the left over pastry and apple mix.  The bigger ones we shall cook just before eating so it's crust is crunchy and deliciously warm on the inside!
And from the sewing room, I created a "Soccer mum" winter essential!  I've been a soccer mum for so many years now and I really don't know why I didn't do this earlier:
Both the bag and head band are made from polar fleece.  Whilst on Pinterest I simply feel in love with the DIY Ear warmers by Prudent Baby and the bag (which I just sewed up without a pattern) is not only a carry all by a lap blanket! I'm in love with both and the grey fleece is such a nice colour too.  I have a little of the fabric left so once I get a change I'll try and make a scarf or neck warmer too.


Sunday 15 April 2012

Pretty little Bags


Had a custom order for some wrist bags:

I have to say they were not the easiest bag to sew up and for someone who's sewing passion is bags it drove me a little crazy.  In total I made 5 bags and each time I tried something new to get the handles to piece together better and it really didn't make a difference.  Each bag did turn out but I whined a hell of a lot whilst making them.

Now this bag:


"The Buttercup bag"*  I absolutely love making and find no matter what fabric I use it always turns out  just right.  
Made By Rae's Buttercup bag was one of the first bags that I ever made and I feel I have a special kinship with it - like my virgin bag!

*Buttercup Bag designed by Rae Hoekstra. Copyright Rae Hoekstra.  JJHandmade holds a limited commercial license to create "Buttercup Bags"



Thursday 12 April 2012

Sunday 8 April 2012

Happy Easter!


God bless you all and wishing everyone a very Happy Easter!!

Monday 2 April 2012

My Bestie

My very special school bestie came over this week for a little catch up and as we headed out to a café she grabbed her purse and mobile - Oh my Soup (her little pet name) she had an old cosmetic bag as her purse, it looked like a pencil case and her mobile was inside a coin purse.

Now what sort of friend am I if I didn't use my extensive talents and whip her up something much more lady like, LOL even more sensible:


 I hope she likes them, because I do!

Thursday 29 March 2012

Busy little bunny

A few orders have kept me busy and now time for a little rest before life in general takes over - but that is a whole other story not worth sharing!


Saturday 17 March 2012

Sewulation Week 11

I had some spare time this weekend to try and make something that I had brewing in my mind for while. When I pick the kids up from school I like to carry as little as I can, basically just my mobile, drivers license and keys.  Now I could just shove it all in a pocket but I just don't like that and have this silent fear that I'll bend over an everything will fall out and I'll lose what ever is in my pocket.

Anyway I previously made a version of this but excluded the notepad and replaced it with a zippered coin purse:


I liked it but it had to be held or put back in that pocket I dislike so much, so I moved on and made a version of this to put the little organiser wallet into:

I really like the wristlet but I'm never satisfied so... this where I started brewing, what is I took the organiser wallet and combined it with the wristlet, an all in one wrist tote?

Ta da!


I think I could have made it better as I find the purse zip too low and the keycards are over the top and I think the mobile will slid about but all in all the marriage of the two patterns sort of worked and will live happier ever after!

Here are the links to the Organizer Wallet and Wristlet, I would love to offer a tutorial for my combo but as I winged it and it really is just a version of the others I'm sure all of you clever sewers out there will find it's not that hard and whip one up next weekend!

Organizer Wallet

Wristlet

Thursday 15 March 2012

To market, to market

Eight of my little baskets have travelled a long way to be available at a market! So if you are in the Caloundra area this Sunday 18th March make sure you pop into Sunny Coast Baby Kids Market 


A new friend made through Facebook (you just have to love social networking) wanted to help promote my Easter Petite Paniers at a market that she was selling her handmade items at - what a compliment!


So adorable my Petite Panier were filled with chocolate free Easter goodies:






Special thanks to KNJ - Handmade From The Heart

Wednesday 14 March 2012

A little gift

My niece recently gave birth to a pretty little girl, there are not many girls on the husbands side of the family. I feel for his mother with 3 son's, 9 grandson's and 2 great grandsons. "Ellie" is a very nice edition to the family and an excuse girly things!

I don't sew clothes, I have tried I'm just terrible at it but I am the "give it a go!" gal so I tried to make a little dress for Ellie and although it is not top quality it is functional and shouldn't fall apart after a few wears - I hope!  Of course I did team it up with a little petite panier in matching colours.


Saturday 10 March 2012

Sewulation Week 10


The challenge at the Sewulation group for this month was to create a cushion.  I searched Pinterest and there are so many lovely cushion tutorials out there but I was inspired by other members of the group who have been creating the most gorgeous patchwork quilts.

Each time I make one of my Petite Paniers I end up with 4 little square that I put to the side as I just can't bare to throw them in the bin, I had no idea what to do with them and they were likely to turn into stuffing for a future softy.  I thought the pieces were way to small for patchwork but I gave it a go and pieced them together and although the squares didn't exactly match up, I think it looks ok.

I've been inspired to try patchwork again, I made a hand stitched baby quilt when I was 14 but through the machine it is so much quicker.  My closest cousin (more like my sister) is due to have her first baby in July and I plan to make her a quilt, just need to learn a bit more about batting and the backing as the cushion didn't requie any of that.

Monday 5 March 2012

Check it out!

I'm so proud of myself, feels great to see my little baskets going off to new homes.  Here is few photo's of some of the petite paniers that I have sold:





Friday 2 March 2012

Limited Edition Easter Petite Panier, only 4 in stock! Get in quick. Super cute "Michael Miller Sorbet Snack Bunny" fabric with Pink or blue lining (2 of each colour lining) $12 each plus postage. 


Times running out, easter is only:

Daisypath Easter gifts tickers

Wednesday 22 February 2012

Hippity Hoppity

Hippity Hoppity time is ticking away...
Daisypath Easter gifts tickers

Are you ready for your Easter egg hunt?




This is not a licensed David Textiles product.
It is however, hand-crafted from licensed David Textiles fabric.
I am not affiliated with or sponsored by David Textiles.


Tuesday 14 February 2012

Easter Baskets

Check it out pretty people:


Daisypath Easter gifts tickers

Yes that's right... Easter is on it's way!!

So grab a super cute Petite Panier