closing down sale

Things have changed for me over the last couple 

of years and I have changed too.

After much thought I have decided to close my pattern business.

My circumstances have changed and I will soon be 

moving to a much smaller home

so I thought this was as good time as 

any to make some life changes.

All of my remaining patterns in my bigcartel shop

will be half price until sold out.

I won't be reprinting any.

I will only be posting within Australia.

I have some new ideas for my shop that I hope to

get going once I settle into my new place.

Something I hope that will bring a little sparkle 

back into my life and hopefully into yours.

My blog will stay as is as I still need to craft

even if I do have to put on a brave front.

Thanks to all who have supported me and sold

or made my designs it has been so much fun.

Thank you xxx

pineapple tutorial

 

So you'd like to make a pineapple?

 

 You will need about 1/2 a metre of pineapple

coloured fabric to make yourself 74 x 3" prairie points.

 

For the prairie points you cut a neat 3" square and

fold point to point and press. 

 Fold again to form the triangle and press again.

 

There are plenty of tutorials for making

large quantities of prairie points around just ask Mr Google.

 

You will also need a base that measures 15cm high x 35cm long.

 

 

Start by sewing a row of points along the bottom

with the points aligning with the edge.

Tuck each point into the one on the left.

 

Continue doing rows and rows with your stitching

close to the top so that it is easily covered by the next row.

Position your points so the ones above are evenly

spaced between the ones below.

Don't worry about overlapping the edges as these will

be trimmed off later.

Keep adding rows until you reach about 5cm from the top.

 

You need to use some green scrap fabric for the leaves.

Draw and cut out some templates from cardboard

as shown above.

 

 

Trace your greenery onto doubled green fabric.

You can do the whole lot and stitch around all of them

before cutting around them and turning them

right side out.

You will need 8 small leaves and 5 large ones.

 

Turn under the top edge 2cm and pin the small leaves

along the front and space the larger leaves behind.

Stitch right along securing the leaves.

 

With right sides facing join edges and sew

about 1cm in to make the back seam.

Now you'll need to trim all the excess bits of points

to neaten it all up a bit.

 

Cut a 12cm diameter circle from your main fabric.

Pin it to the bottom edge of your pineapple taking

care you don't catch any points.

Usually after I pin the base I tack around it by hand

before machine sewing as I found it easier to pull the

pins out.

 

Now it should look like this!

 

Start stuffing.

 

When you have done all your stuffing just secure the top

by tacking around beneath the leaves and pulling tight to gather.

Keep stitching through all your top layers so everything

stays together because anytime anyone sees your

pineapple they have to play with it.

 

Flip the bottom, small leaves down so they cover the top row

of prairie points stitching.

You can add a few tiny stitches to keep them down if you like.

 

 

 

 What do you think ?

Will you be making a pineapple?

 

 

Thanks for visiting, it's nice to have you here. 

Happy Birthday to me have a present!

 

Hello there it's my birthday!

For today only all patterns in my

bigcartel store are 1/2 price!

That's right 50% off !

Just enter the code word BIRTHDAY at checkout.

So easy !

Go here to shop and have a great day.

now I can put a pineapple on anything

 

Why would anyone in their right mind

spend a whole day cutting millions of prairie points

 

 

and then spend another day sewing the millions

of prairie points onto fabric just so they

could have a pineapple?

 

 

Did I mention there were millions of prairie points?

 

 

I'm so glad I finally have this idea out of my head now.

because if I thought about it anymore my head

would have blown off.

 

If you would like a tutorial for a pineapple let me know.

I'm happy to keep your head from blowing off too.

 

 

 

hanging in there thanks

 

Just popping in very quickly to let you know

I'm still hanging in there.

 

My little family have been amazing

and I have started on some sewing yeehah!

 

I hope to be back in the next few days to show you what I am making.

 

As a thank you to you for hanging in there with me

my little shop is having a sale.

When you buy two patterns and put the code THANKYOU

in at the checkout you will receive your second pattern at 1/2 price.

 

Thanks again so much for all your kind words of support.

 

See you in a couple of days xxx

 

PS The sale ends on Friday.

 

 

celebrating 551 posts

 

Hi again !

I have a very busy week this week so I thought

I would announce the giveaway now before

I get lost again .

 

As I mentioned recently the book and threads and

a few other bits giveaway will only be open to Australian

followers as it is a heavy book and is chock full of great

stitches and information .

 

Because I think that sounds a bit mean I would really

like to thank my loyal friends from overseas too so

I thought (always thinking ) maybe they would like

one of my patterns , win win !

 

If you are from over the sea please just pop into

my big cartel shop here and select

a pattern and tell me you are from

far , far away but would still like to win that pattern .

 

Does this sound fair ?

If you wouldn't mind please tell your friends .

Even after 551 posts I still love having visitors , thanks .

 

 

 

g'day hoo roo

 

Say g'day to Hoo Roo !

The pattern for HooRoo has finally made it into my bigcartel shop .

 

 

Hop over and check her out if you like .

Have a great weekend !

 

Wholesale enquiries are welcome .

If your local doesn't stock my patterns just say

" excuse me please could we have Clare's Craftroom patterns here "

hooray for a hoo roo giveaway !

 

I'm back for a quick visit and to introduce you

to my new softie Hoo Roo !

 

 

I'm lucky enough to live in the bush and see lots of roos.

Kangaroos for those who live overseas .

 

 

In Australia we often say hooroo when we are saying goodbye.

So here you are say hello to Hoo Roo !

 

 

Hoo Roo will be at The Australian Quilt Market (trade only)

in Melbourne this weekend with Kathryn from F.D. Textiles.

 

If you would like your favourite shop to stock Hoo Roo ask the owner

they're bound to say yes . (Get it , bound .)

 

I'd love to give someone the chance to win a pattern .

Would you like to make a Hoo Roo ?

 

Please just leave a comment on this post with a way that I can contact you .

 

If you would like to spread the word via facebook , twitter or anywhere

else I will be eternally in your debt .

 

I'll be back on Sunday to put the Christmas Tree up

and I'll let you know then who won .

 

1/2 price sale

Hi ! Are you enjoying the school holidays ?

This is just a very quick post to let you know that tonight

(Wednesday 4th July 2012)

I am having a 1/2 price sale on ALL patterns and vintage sewing notions .

As the State of Origin is on tonight the sale will be on at the same time .

1/2 price on everything between 7.30pm and 9.30pm AEST .

Just enter the code FOOTY at checkout .

Shop here .

Thanks for visiting , seeya soon !

almost there

Yes a new softie pattern coming very soon .

In the meantime I'm spending time with my family

and chilling out with them .

The early morning trips into the bus stop are very cold !

I never , ever get tired of my view .

How are things with you ?

pattern sale

Hello there just a quickie post to tell you that

for 1 1/2 hours only tonight

you may purchase 1 of my patterns at RRP and receive

another for 50% off !!!!

Please just enter the code WINTER at checkout .

All patterns + post .

Bargain !

Where ? In my bigcartel shop .

When ? Tonight (Saturday June 2nd ) only from 7.30pm to 9.00pm . AEST

Seeya there , thanks !

welcome , farewell and congratulations .

I really hadn't forgotten about drawing a winner from the last post.

I've been a bit preoccupied with normal family life.

Our dear old male cat named Flower in the photo below

had been very sick and died last week .

I adored this cranky old thing and miss him terribly .

I even miss him stealing the cat food and making a mess .

My daughter went to work the other day and just so happened  to

find this little ginger cat that was living in a shed at the back

of one the pubs and was supposedly feral.

I'm beginning to have my doubts that it was really feral as she

is the most laid back kitten and has just fitted in here so easily .

In keeping with the weird cat names here this little girl has been named Wally.

                               We also have another female cat named Stinky Ralph because

well just because she lets off a big stink .

Anyway I had better let you know who won the copy of Zoom

it was Sas , hooray !

would you please contact me at clarebower AT bigpond.com with your details.

If you are disappointed you didn't win you can find my patterns here .

Thanks to everyone else for flying over xx

oops I should have had a giveaway

Silly me it has been a busy few weeks and time has just flown by .

Recently I released my softie pattern for Zoom , had my wedding anniversary

and my 450th blogiversary and didn't even think about a giveaway .

So better late then never ~ this is a giveaway post , hooray !

To win a copy of Zoom you just need to leave a comment on this post .

You don't need to follow this blog , you don't need to live in Australia .

I would really , really love for you to blog , facebook or tweet about this

so much so that I'll give you extra entries .

If you would like more details on Zoom or any

of my other patterns look here in my shop.

I'll draw the winner on Thursday .

Thank you for your interest , this giveaway is now closed .

this is your captain speaking

On behalf of  the cabin crew and flight attendants we hope you have enjoyed your flight.

We trust that is was smooth and not too bumpy.

If you were unhappy with our service and feel you could do a better job

you have the option of creating your own airline .

It just so happens that Zoom airlines is available .

Paper pattern for Zoom in my Bigcartel shop .

Thanks for visiting I must fly now x

fabric and pattern giveaway

To celebrate the launch of Squiddley the very cute alien

at Australian Quilt Market I have decided to have a

fabric and pattern giveaway !

This has nothing to do with me becoming a very slack blogger

and needing feedback on my new design , really it doesn't .

Well yes it does but that's ok .

Unfortunately there is a little catch , sorry

but it would cost me a million dollars to post the fabric

and the pattern overseas so I am going to say

only open to Australian bloggers .

I will have one pattern on it's own for overseas visitors.

So if you are an Aussie and would like 3 fat 1/4s and

a pattern for Squiddley please leave a comment on this post.

If you are a guest from overseas please leave a comment

and just let me know you are far , far away ...

There are two fabric and pattern packs , yay !

Squiddley would make a fantastic Christmas

pressie for a little boy because it's really hard

to find stuff to make for them .

I need to be able to contact you if you win so

please make sure you are reachable.

I will draw the winners on Sunday but if you don't win

you will then be able to find the

 Squiddley pattern in my shop.  

Thanks to F.D Textiles for the great fabric !

P.S. You'd make so happy if you blogged about my new

pattern I'd give you an extra entry !

off to the trade show

Squiddley has left for the Melbourne Trade Show.

I thought he might be lonely so I made him a few brothers .

They were all hanging around as I packed patterns .

There was lots of giggling and mucking about

because they are very naughty monsters.

They waved goodbye

and happily jumped in the box with the patterns

and headed off to Kathryn at F.D. Textiles.

Kathryn is taking them to The Trade Show in Melbourne

this week and they will get to hang out with

gorgeous fabric from Saffron Craig

Twomonkeys Fabric and Umbrella Prints .

If you are going to the Show pop over to

F.D. Textiles on stand 55

 and see if they are behaving .

Maybe you'd even like them in your shop !

Love to

Recently I was contacted by Kathryn from

F.D.Textiles an Australian

fabric wholesaler .

Kathryn asked if I would be interested

in making a softie for the boys .

Oh and they would supply the fabric

designed by Natalie Milani .

                                                           

Well I thought about it (for about 3 seconds )

and said yes please , love to !

So here you are , meet Squiddly !

Squiddly won't be released as a pattern until

November at the Melbourne Quilt Show .

F.D.Textiles will be there with Squiddly

 and a few of his brothers in other

colours from the range .

I'll remind you again before the show just

in case you are going to be there and that

way you can check up on them for me.

They do look a bit cheeky !