September 24, 2010

Shop update

A little early spring shop update - finally got this limited line of clutches photographed and a few are now in store.  Free shipping to Australia on these ones too.



Have a lovely lovely weekend.  It's going to be warm here tomorrow!  I think we might plant some vegies. 

September 23, 2010

Finally some results.

I've been working away this week finally completing a bunch of little mini clutches ready to pop into the shop.  One of those projects that just seem to take forever and ever and e.v.e.r.  Thanks to these ladies I'm now craving some fast results sewing.  Now just have to find the time to take photos and list them...


September 22, 2010

Sweet pea

Sweat pea.  Day 5 and still going strong after being freshly picked in my Mum's garden.

They smell delightful in the breeze this morning.


  We're enjoying some warmer weather this week and having lots of outside playtime.  Such a welcome break from winter, if only early spring could last forever!


September 20, 2010

Love this vintage...

Olive green smocked cushion from Alices Looking glass.  Oh I love it so much!

Alice has a lovely blog too - you should hop on over and see her gorgeous 1930's house!


Olive green smocked round satin pillow. Pleated design with button center.

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September 14, 2010

Happy.

This is the view from my shower this morning.

Honestly.  The things we do to keep 2 year olds happy.


and in case you were wondering...No, the easel does not usually live in our bathroom.

September 13, 2010

Love this vintage...

1970's wallpaper from Beca Runs.  No idea what I'd do with it but I'd find a use, don't worry.  So pretty tied up with a ribbon.

Vintage Birge Wallpaper - 1960s 1970s groovy flowers
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September 11, 2010

Produce

When I spotted this image over at Design*Sponge I got the bug to plant tomatoes all over again.   You just can't beat a fresh salad straight from the garden, and after a couple of years off, I'm really starting to want my green thumb back.


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September 10, 2010

Little Butterfly Shirt: Tutorial

So, after having a bit of interest in my little butterfly shirt, here's the tutorial so you can make one for your little butterfly too!

 

Materials Needed:
  • One plain t-shirt, singlet or long sleeved t-shirt
  • Three small pieces of different patterned fabric for butterfly applique (scraps are great!)
  • A 30cm x 20cm piece of tulle
  • Double sided fusible applique webbing
  • 10cm x 10cm piece of medium weight fusible interfacing or tear away stabiliser (to enable embroidery on a stretch t-shirt)
  • Scrap paper to draft your butterfly wings
  • Coordinating Embroidery thread and needle
  • Coordinating Sewing Thread
  • Coordinating ribbon (15cm length)
  • Sew-on or glue on sequins in a coordinating colour
  • Disappearing ink/washout fabric marker





PART 1:  BUTTERFLY APPLIQUE


Step 1:  Draft simple shapes on paper, and then from your fusible applique webbing cut out:
  • 2 x large wings 
  • 2 x small wings 
  • 1 x butterfly body 
Step 2:  Place cut out webbing pieces onto the wrong side of your chosen fabrics and fuse following the manufacturers instructions.  The paper side of your webbing should be facing up.  You should be able to iron over the paper in order to fuse your webbing, however, do follow the instructions on the product you're using. 

Step 3: Cut your fabric pieces around the outside of your paper so that you have the following:
  • 2 x large wings  (fabric 1)
  • 2 x small wings (fabric 2)
  • 1 x butterfly body (fabric 3)
The right side of the fabric wing should look like this:

The wrong side should look like this: 

Step 4:  Lay your pieces onto the right side of your t-shirt front and position in the centre so that the wings and body overlap slightly.



Step 5:  Peel off the backing paper and iron on each part of your butterfly, doing the large wings first, then the small wings and finally the body.  (NB:  You are ironing on the right side of your t-shirt and butterfly wings.  Remember to use a heat setting suitable for your t- shirt too, not just your applique fabric).


Step 6:  Decide on a  method of stitching.  I fused a sample wing to some scrap fabric and tried out a few different stitches.  You could choose a hand running stitch, blanket stitch, straight machine stitch or something else you prefer.  I preferred the look of a plain straight stitch on the machine.


Step 7:  Using your desired stitch, sew around the border of each wing and butterfly body in a coordinating thread.




Step 8:  Using a disappearing ink fabric marker, sketch two antennae on your shirt.  (If you're using a soft and stretchy t-shirt material, you may need to fuse a piece of interfacing or tear away stabiliser on the wrong side of the fabric behind the antennae to enable you to embroider them neatly).  

Step 9:  Embroider your antennae using a backstitch or stem stitch with a coordinating thread.


PART 2:  BUTTERFLY WINGS

Step 10:  Take your piece of tulle and handsew or glue a few sequins along the left and right borders (leave the centre of the piece free for gathering and sewing).

Step 11:  Take your piece of embellished tulle and pinch at the centre.
Step 12:  Sew along the pinched and gathered centre with your sewing machine.  Reinforce it a few times to ensure it's secure.


Step 13:  Wrap a small length of ribbon around the centre and pin in place.  Sew this piece of ribbon around it's border to secure.  You're nearly there!  Now you just need to attach your wings.


Step 14:  Pin and sew your completed wings onto the centre back of your little butterfly shirt, sewing over the same stitching line around the border of the ribbon.



Hooray!  You're done!  The front of your shirt should now look something like this:


And the back like this:


Step 15:  Find a sweet little butterfly to wear your new creation!


Happy dress-ups!





September 9, 2010

My creative space.

Pretty much zero grown up crafting going on here this week.  I've tried, really, I've tried.  But I just can't get to it when I'm told there are more interesting things to do.
"Please Mama?"
How can I say no to that?

Instead, I've been outside on warmish sunny afternoons painting pictures with someone who loves it.   She was right.  It doesn't get any better really.







Head on over to Kootoyoo for the mega list of creative spaces but keep one eye on this space for some tutorial action here tomorrow.  :)

September 7, 2010

Love this vintage...

Scoop at the op shop on Saturday.  I was late for my haircut because I couldn't help but dive in on the way, woops!

I scored some great fabric, including these vintage pillowcases.  Loving the top one particularly.




And also this bright and cheery vintage corduroy dress,  which is sure to be cut up soon!  I think it might make it's way to some more pin cushions for the shop.  I haven't added any of those since last year.


Happy Tuesday all!

Back again

A little slow on the posting last week, sorry.  We had an absolute shocker with the small being sick.  The kind of situation where she wanted to be held for about 4 or 5 days straight, and if I left the couch she started sobbing.  But on the mend now, asthma is better, and surely her immune system knows every single possible virus by now!

We spent some time outside towards the end when the fever was lowering, and she was happy to play with some water, paint brushes, and of course, insisted on being dressed in her "laylaybug" pants (actually pj's but pants to her all the same).  Welcome relief for my lap, I can tell you.  I think even she has now had enough of ABC kids.


Hopefully I'll be around a little more this week!

xo