random catch-up in no particular order:: a bag for my mama

Last month was mum’s birthday so I thought it was about time to make her bag. This was one we had decided on together over a year ago which I had never found the time [or perhaps inclination to follow a pattern] to construct.

It’s from bend-the-rules sewing by Amy Karol [aka Angry Chicken], which I borrowed from Katie. It was easy to follow her instructions and turned out just perfectly! I only made a couple of changes: I used stiff sew-in interfacing to give it a bit of shape [because who knows what cotton flannel is or where to get it here - anyone?] and I stitched my own embroidery design on the front instead of the one Amy has in the book.

And my mama loves it!

A Bag and An Owl

1. embroidered tree bag:: a quick-I-need-to-make-a-present-right-now-and-I-only-have-an-hour-and-all-my-fabric-is-packed-away present for my darling aunty Christine [yes - it does get confusing when you are named after your aunty - we have always been known as Big Chris and Little Chris]

2. tea cup sock owl:: a gorgeous quick and super easy to follow pattern from Craft Schmaft - a pressie for my darling sis Mandy

P.S. Don't forget to enter my giveaway - you've only got till Sunday!

STUFF UP FOR GRABS [A.K.A. GIVEAWAY]

Yes well, I know I said a couple of days but whose counting? You should know me by now.

Looky at the goodies:

~Linen tree brooch [made by moi]

~Fabric pouch with thread sketchy stuff [also made by moi]
~Mini tote bag in mushroom print canvas [and you guessed it - moi made it too]
~Antique treasures retro print fabric
~Kikki k stuff: blank notebook, gel pen, coin purse

Ok, the rules for entering:
1. Leave a comment.

That's all you need to do.

I know there are alot of you out there who have never left a comment before, but it's not hard. You just have to click on the title of the post [in red]. Right near the bottom of the page it will say "Post a comment" - click on that. A new window will pop up with a comment box, so just type in your comment, then choose your identity - you don't need a special account - just choose "Name/URL" or "Anonymous". Make sure you've told me who you are though because you may just turn out to be the winner!

I'll give you till 3pm Sunday 21st March [2ish weeks from now] then we'll do the big draw!!!

UPDATE: Here's a close up of the brooch - just for Gina x


THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED - WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON!!!

Loz and Dinny Challenge

A bit of fabric I had floating around, a thrifted floral pillowcase, fabric from a thrifted wool skirt for the button and the star of the show, the trim!

And so this little bag was born.

 I left it till the last minute of course [procrastinator that I am] but I got there - even on time!

And I didn't have to buy anything for this project [good guuurl!]

* Edited to add: To those who aren't in the know, sorry I was in a bit of a rush when I posted this and didn't think to explain.
Gemma from Loz and Dinny devised a cunning crafty challenge as a birthday celebration and sent a bunch of us a length of this goldy mustard trim to turn into some handmade goodness. Check out some of the other entries - so many amazing creations.

Aunty Mandy

We had a wonderful surprise last weekend. My darling sister Mandy flew over from Perth to surprise mum for her birthday [and all of us! - dad and her have been keeping a secret for 3 months!] 

She was only here for a few days but we all had heaps of fun with Aunty Mandy! *  **

And I managed to finish the bag I was making for her

Even has a special elasticised phone pocket!

We love you and miss you darling xxx

Photo notes:
* [the artwork in the background is by Mandy, full of texture and in my favourite colour of course! She is an amazingly talented artist and designer]
** Imogen is in full costume as per usual - I don't dress her like that!

Knitty knitty (cheaty cheaty)

A bit of loom knitting... very quick and easy [heaps faster than real knitting] and actually something I finished! Never happens with knitting for me. There are lots of started-but-not-yet-finished-and-quite-unlikely-to-ever-be knitting projects around these parts. Something to do with crampy posture.


The bag in the background is one I sewed from a kit I received as a present from Mandy, my sis, which I finally sewed up a few months ago. [it may have been in my sewing box for say... a couple of years?] I love the jack and the beanstalk fabric.


Look! Arm warmies! And they are same size [well nearly - you can't tell when they're being worn]

Making Pressies

I've been sewing lately, making birthday gifts for friends.

I really love giving something I've made myself. It's so rewarding to be creative and be happy with the finished product.

Plus it means I don't have to drag the kidlets around town for hours searching for the perfect gift and come home with a headache, crabby kids, and a present that's not quite what I was looking for.

So making your own gifts = winners all round!

[just don't mention the upside down house, fabric everywhere, dishes not done, dinner not cooked, children not bathed ;) ]

This one's a reversible cover art journal. With a really sweet mini red polka dot for the inside flaps. And I even sewed in a little red taggy thing on the side. How professional!

And this is how I wrapped it. A few layers of tissue paper. Scrunched then flattened out again. Lay book on top to the side. Fold paper in half. Sew all around with the sewing machine. Easy. Oh and I first sewed a piece of kinda transparent, holey handmade paper to be a little pocket thing for the card I stamped.

This is a tool / knitting needle / pencil roll with some cute flower binding. It's so easy to make with a bias tape maker. Just cut a strip of fabric and feed it through the tape maker as you iron. Perfect!

I cut out a few leafy shapes and ironed them on with double sided fusible webbing, then stitched round them.

Some simple tote bags. My favourite fabric has to be the little red riding hood, how cute!