vintage sheet pillowcases

 

I have a few lovely vintage sheets and as hard

as it is sometimes to cut into them I know

I should sometimes.

 

I don't just hack into them for no reason

I like to make something special with them

like my lounge pants or my dressing gown. or even

doing up some old bookshelves.

 

 

It's been a while since I have made a pillowcase

or my medication is making me dopier than usual

but the part where you fold the pieces over to make the

flap so you don't see the pillow inside

was doing my head in!

 

I got it eventually but have left myself this little diagram

here to remind myself because I need to make

lots more pillowcases.

 

But for now I think I'll just rest on these lovely, soft ones.

 

Don't forget the sign ups for the Creative Challenge

close on this Sunday.

Read all about it here.

I'd love for you to play.

 

are you ready for a creative challenge?

 

The new year festivities are over and the kids are back at school,

are you wondering how to get back into the swing of crafting?

I'm so glad you asked because I have the answer for you!

 

 A whole lot of crafters joined in here for a creative challenge last year

and had so much fun I thought we may need to do it again.

 

It's really easy.

All you need to do is leave a comment here and then send me

an email saying "yes please I'm in"

When the signups are closed I then reply to your email

and include a random picture and a colour.

You use these hints to create something , anything!

You interpret the hints however you like.

You may use any medium you like be it fabric, paper, paint

beads, clay anything!

 

You have 2 weeks to complete your challenge.

You write a blog post showing your creativity.

When the two weeks is up I post a linky thing here.

You link your blog post to the linky thing.

Millions of curious crafters go to visit your blog

and are astounded at your awesomeness.

 

Doesn't this sound like fun!

 

If you would like to see what previous challengers created

go and check them out here.

 

This is not a competition it is just for fun.

 

Are you in?

Signups will close Sunday 1st of February.

I will email you with your pictures and colours on Sunday.

You do a little bit of thinking then create something.

You write a blog post but don't publish it yet.

I write a blog post with a linky on Sunday the 15th February.

You publish your post and link it here.

Your creativity has been kick started and you make new friends.

Win , win!

 

What are you waiting for?

Email me now at clarescraftroom@hotmail.com

and leave a comment on this post.

 

Maybe you'd like to copy and paste this little picture

in your blog sidebar and invite your friends

to join in too!

 

 

Let's have some fun!

 

 

 

 

 

lamington recipe

 

It's Australia Day here tomorrow but

as I don't really celebrate Australia Day and

I'll be at work anyway I thought I'd take some

lammos in for my workmates.

 

Lamingtons are readily available in lots

of shops but until you've tried a real one

you just haven't lived.

 

This recipe was shared with me by a lovely neighbour

who has quite a reputation for them.

I've made them a few times from her instructions

and they are the best I've ever had.

 

Make the sponge cake the day before as it is

 less likely to crumble when you coat it.

 

Sponge ~

3 eggs, 1/2 cup castor sugar, 3/4 cups sifted s/r flour

1/4 cup sifted cornflour, melt 1 tsp butter in 3 tbs hot water.

 

Beat eggs until light. Gradually add sugar and beat

for about 10 minutes until it is thick.

Sift dry flours over the egg mix and

fold them in lightly , be gentle.

Fold in butter and water.

Pour into greased 11" x 7" tin and bake

at 180c about 1/2 hour.

 

Chocolate Icing ~

 Sift 500g icing sugar with

1/3 cup cocoa and add 1tsp melted butter and 1/2 cup milk.

Mix until icing is smooth.

 

Cut your day old sponge into even pieces.

Use a fork to dip into the icing and hold over

the bowl until it stops dripping.

Carefully toss the iced squares in coconut and let set

on a wire rack until dry.

 

These can be frozen too but are best eaten fresh

with a lovely cup of tea.

yarn box makeover

 

I've been going crazy decluttering.

 

Anything that I don't really love or is not useful

or beautiful just has to go.

 

 

I have a couple of old yarn boxes that store my

 Christmas decorations but one is sure not beautiful.

 

 

So I painted the rims white.

 

I found some fabric I already had and sort of liked

 (because nothing new is coming into my house)

I made up a cornflour paste ~ recipe here ~

and glued the fabric on.

 

 

I love the lid more than the base but it does the trick

and it definitely looks better than it used to.

 

these are a few of my favourite pins ~ hearts

 

I have lots of visitors here from countries that celebrate

Valentine's Day way more than here in Australia

and although I don't celebrate it at all (as I always make

a donation to The Heart Foundation instead)

I do like a good heart craft.

 

Here are just a few I have found on pinterest this week.

 

Left ~ Letters on canvas from Woontrendz.

This one is in Dutch but simple to understand.

 

Top right ~ Baby food jar Valentine's from So Festive.

 

Bottom right ~ No Sew Banner from Thoughts From Alice.

 

Or perhaps you'd like to make some fabric hanging hearts

you can find my tutorial here.

 

 

Do you celebrate Valentine's Day?

 

 

                                     

moving on

 

There may be a house move for me soon

and I'm trying to get organised.

 

My next place will be much, much smaller

so I have been culling as much as I can.

 

My old suitcase stores all my family tree notes

so it's practical and it can stay with me

but I felt it needed a little zing!

 

My new rule is not to bring any more stuff in to

the house and use what I already have so

I found an old tin of paint in the shed

called Fiesta which I seem

to remember buying as a vibrant orange.

 

A few quick coats of so called Fiesta later

but I thought the Fiesta was a fizzer.

 

I had some background paint from my

decorative painting days and set to with a couple 

of coats of Tigerlily (Jo Sonja)

 

Aaah now that's better!

 

 

Maybe having such a bright case will remind me

to work on my family tree more often.

 

Do you do Family Tree stuff?

Got any tips for me?

 

no 1 ~ a treat for your sewing space

                                         As I told you the other day I am doing the
                              2015 Bucket Sewing List with Whipstitch and no 1 is ~
                                                        A treat for your sewing space.
I'm still umming and aahing as I do about what to make and although there are no rules about this list being done in order I thought I'd have a look around for a treat for my sewing space.

Honestly the biggest treat my sewing space could have would be me actually sewing in it or at least tidying it up but that's probably not going to happen anytime soon so when I can get there I'll be ready to start ticking off that darned list.

I'm thinking a  new pincushion would be nice,

 

Or I may even whip up another sewing machine apron

and do a tutorial for you while I'm at it.

My Sewing Machine Apron was published

in Australian Handmade many years ago so you

may have missed it.

 

 

Or I may even make myself a new ironing board cover...

 

 

Have you been able to get near your sewing lately?

Are you doing the 2015 Bucket Sewing List?

Would you like the tutorial for the Sewing Machine Apron?

 

So many questions, so many decisions.

Just sew!

 

 

reading and sewing and sewing and reading

For me 2014 was a pretty crap year.

There, I've said it.

 

I didn't get much reading done and I certainly

didn't get much sewing done

and these are two of my favourite things to do.

 

I have declared 2015 my  year and

I hope it's your year too.

 

I'm joining in the

2015 Sewing Bucket List

and 26 books to read in 2015.

 

When you see some of the prompts you'll see why.

They are all easy and achievable, even for me!

 

 

2015 sewing bucket list ~ whip stitch

 

 

26 books to read in 2015 ~ bringing up burns

 

These don't need to be done in any particular order

and I can either do them or not.

 

We can blog our progress or share on Instagram.

 

What about you?

Are you in?