Thursday, January 29, 2015

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.
 



Tuesday, January 27, 2015

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?
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!


 
 
 
 
 

Sunday, January 25, 2015

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.

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

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.
 



Thursday, January 15, 2015

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?
 
 
                                     

Saturday, January 10, 2015

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?
 

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

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!
 
 

Saturday, January 3, 2015

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
 
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?