under the christmas tree

Hello and good morning , thanks for being here !

We had the most linkees last week , hooray !
I expect that we will have more each week as we get closer to Christmas .
Did you play last week ?
Are you playing this week ?
Do you like Christmas ?

Add your link , take a button , visit different blogs , make new friends , have fun !

let's make up

 

I've seen various tutorials around using felt circles and thought

how great they were but because I don't have a circle

cutter thingy there is no way I would be cutting 100 plus circles by hand.

So I thought I would give these cheap make up pads a go .

 

All I did was fold them in half and scrunch the bottom to form a point

and then hot glued the point to a styrofoam ball .

I used a knitting needle to pierce a hole all the way through

the ball first and threaded some cord through for hanging.

 

Then I glued and glued and glued and glued and

 

I ended up with this !

The photo doesn't do it justice it really is the softest

and prettiest thing and really beautiful !

Well worth all the gluing .

 

Don't forget if you have some Christmas craft even if

it is from last year come and link up here on Sunday to show us .

morning tea with

It's Jane from Lil Pip !

Coffee or tea ?
Coffee although I don't mind a Chai Latte in the afternoon.

What is your business ? What do you do ?
My business is Lil Pip and I make mainly girls clothes and children's toys. My 'famous' product is the Boobook ribbon owl that I designed and I'm currently working on a pattern for release in the next couple of months.

How long has it been going ? How did it start out ?
I started the business in August 2010 when I started making creations for my daughter and as gifts and all my friends asked me if they could buy them!

How do manage around your family ?
Oh this is a constant juggle. I work 4 days a week in a marketing role (yes it comes in rather handy for the business!). I have one day at home on Friday but by the time I walk my eldest to school, take my younger daughter to swimming lessons, rush home for nap, then back to school for pickup, it is no wonder that I don't seem to get much done that day! I usually try to cut out and prepare during the week and sew on the weekends. I have an incredibly supportive husband and he and the kids seem to disappear for hours (usually on a Bunnings related adventure) which leaves me to sew in peace. I love you honey! School holidays are coming up and I'm looking forward to two solid weeks of sewing in preparations for markets coming up.

When your craft becomes your work how do you relax ?
See for me craft is the relaxing! Because I have another 'real' job, sewing for me is my creative outlet. I just love putting my Boobook owls together, deciding on fabric, matching the ribbons and putting it together. Is there nothing more rewarding then seeing the finished product? I have changed my focus over the last year and moved away from selling online. I don't take orders and just sew what I want, when I want and only sell at markets. It has taken most of the stress or pressure away and now I just do what I love!

Do you make things and sometimes keep them for yourself ?
Oh rarely which is terrible. I do however make lots of things for gifts for friends and family. mmmm maybe I should make that skirt pattern I've 'been meaning to get around to' for ages!

What is your favourite craft ?
Sewing for me but I have done scrapbooking, cross-stitching and last year I taught myself to crochet thanks to YouTube.

Describe a normal day for you ?
When I create my Boobooks it is a rather involved process! I surround myself (on my bed since that is my 'sewing space') with piles of fabric and put together a 'suite' usually about 4 of each colour or design. I'm determined that each one has to be different (which is saying something now that I have created over 200 owls!). Then I match the ribbons for wings, feet and the handle. Last is cutting out the felt eyes, beak and the minky back. That is before I have even started sewing! I then tack down the background eyes, tummy and wings with hemming tape (rather than iron on interfacing), stitch around all the pieces and put it all together. Stay tuned for a pattern though - with much more detail! I'm also planning some variations and have already sketched out the most gorgeous giraffe, elephant and turtle!

Are your designs your own ?
My children's clothes are usually sourced from other designers patterns but my Boobook ribbon owl is my own. I have adjusted it quite a bit over my time making them and only now feel like it is ready to put to paper, so to speak.

Tell us something quirky about yourself ?
I finally got my drivers license when I was 7 months pregnant with my second child, after having my learners in three different states over a period of 13 or 14 years! Yay for my patient hubby that got me there!

What are your plans ? How much further do you plan to take your business ?
I just want to keep doing what I love doing. I do plan to sell my patterns and that's what I'm working towards now. I also am a committee member helping to organise the Maribyrnong Makers Market <http://maribyrnongmakersmarket.blogspot.com.au/> and have loved gaining the insight from the other side.

Where do you sell ?

Facebook ~ Lil Pip
Blog ~ Lil Pip

You will find me at the following markets: Craft Markets here
Werribee Park Market, Saturday 13 October, 8am - 1pm
Flemington Twilight Market, Saturday 17 November, 3pm - 8pm
Maribyrnong Makers Market, Saturday 24 November, 9.30am - 3.30pm
Werribee Park Market, Saturday 8 December, 8am - 1pm


Thanks so much for having me over for morning tea Clare.
Did you enjoy the banana cake I made? I just couldn't come empty handed!

Jane

Thanks Jane you and your cake are welcome anytime .

Next week another fantastic crafter is coming over for a cuppa , seeya then !

under the christmas tree ~ 13 weeks to go

 

Hello there , I'm so glad you popped in !

 

Are you able to play this week ?

 

If you are making anything for Christmas we'd love to see .

Do you have a great decoration idea ? Or gift wrapping?

A favourite recipe maybe ?

It does not have to be something new , you could have blogged about

it last year or even before then .

 

Melanie from The Patchwork Robin was the only

one who played last week I hope you will keep her company this week !

 

Don't forget to grab a button to let your readers know that you're playing !

 

what's up ?

 

What's up Doc ?

I know very corny but that's me .

 

The majority of the visits to my little ol' blog is to the carrots tutorial .

 

But......

lately things are changing and the Under the Christmas Tree linky

on Sundays is receiving huge amounts of hits.

 

Last week Melanie was the only one who linked up , thanks Melanie

but as Christmas is getting closer and closer we all need some

inspiration so I do hope more link up this week .

 

It's a great way to find different blogs and make new friends

all while getting a Christmas scare treat .

 

Just so you're not leaving here empty handed today I'll share

with you the new family favourite ~ Carrot Cake !

I used to think Carrot Cake was a bit ho hum but this

is just delicious and so very easy to make .

Grate 3 medium carrots and add to 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

2 eggs, 1 cup castor sugar , 1 cup plain flour ,3/4 cup canola oil,

1/2 tsp vanilla , a pinch of salt , 1 tsp sodi bicarb and 1/2 tsp mixed spice.

Mix together and bake at 180c for about 45 minutes using a ring tin .

 

Cream cheese icing ~ 1 tsp butter , 1/2 cup soft cream cheese

1 cup sifted icing sugar and a good splash of lemon juice .

Mix , mix , mix and spread on cold cake .

Do not bother putting this cake in the fridge

everyone just keeps taking it out and eating it .

 

If you don't have a ring tin (sounds like Rin Tin Tin )

just use a 20cm round tin with a small clean tin in the centre.

 

See you on Sunday for Christmas linking !

morning tea with

 

Cam from Curly Pops !

Coffee or tea ?

Both - but I love a great cappucino. It's one of the benefits of living in Melbourne. So much great coffee everywhere you go.
What is your business ? What do you do ?
My business is named CurlyPops. I make and sell a unique range of textile based handmade Accessories, Lifestyle Products, Crafty Things and Boutique Fabrics. I'm also a Retail Stockist of You Sew Girl Sewing Patterns. For my handmade items, I design my own fabrics and transform them into finished products.

Are you right or left handed ?
Right handed
If you won the lottery what would be the very first thing that you would buy .
Oh gosh, that's a very hard one! There's nothing that I really need that money could buy. It's been a long time since I've had a holiday though, so maybe that's what I'd spend it on.
How long has Curly Pops been going ? How did it start out ?
I started my business some time in 2008. It was sort of slightly accidental after I started my CurlyPops craft blog.
How do manage around your family ?
It's only myself and Mr Limpy Houdini Dog around here. It's lucky that I don't have a family, as they'd probably starve to death while I was carried away with my sewing, or lost for hours playing around with new designs in illustrator. There's not really a routine or a schedule at my place.
When your craft becomes your work how do you relax ?
That's the hardest part about working from home. Work is always there. On the plus side, I love to go out to a nice cafe with friends for brunch or lunch. That's how I relax.
Do you make things and sometimes keep them for yourself ?
I hardly ever keep anything for myself, but I have been trying to occassionally make something just for me. I've made a bigger effort over the last twelve months to challenge myself to make more of my own clothes to keep.
What is your favourite craft ?
At the moment, it's definitely sewing. Machine sewing though, not hand sewing. I love making textile art pieces with the sewing machine.
Describe a normal day for you ?
There's nothing really normal or planned around here. My business has to fit around my medical schedule (I'm currently on the waiting list for a double lung transplant). Most of my computer based designing takes place during the three hours that I spend each day having nebuliser treatment. I also have sketchbooks stashed all over the house to write things down as my brain is constantly whirring.

On the days where I don't have any appointments, I try to get as much sewing completed as possible, but it really depends on what orders I'm working on, or whether I'm making shop stock.

Are your designs your own ?
Yes all of my designs are my own. I've taken it a step further by designing my own unique range of fabrics too.
Tell us something quirky about yourself ?
I have to put my vegies through a blender and hide them.... because I just really don't like them!
What are your plans ? How much further do you plan to take your business ?
World domination.. teehee..

I'm a bit limited in what I can take on at the moment, until I receive that amazing call to tell me that they have some new lungs for me, but really, the sky is the limit!

Where do you sell ? 
You can find me via my own Big Cartel Shop, as well as Made It and Etsy. I also have a Craftumi Shop where I sell my very own CurlyPops designed fabrics.

 

Thanks for popping in Cam it's been great having you here .

http://curlypops.bigcartel.com/
http://www.madeit.com.au/storecatalog.asp?userid=212
http://www.etsy.com/shop/CurlyPops
http://www.craftumi.com.au/storecatalog.asp?userid=4566

Who will be here next week ?

under the christmas tree ~14 weeks to go

 

Leave a link , take a button .

Thanks for coming over I hope you can play .

Any craft old or new is welcome .

If you do have a spare moment please visit some of the other linkers .

 

Have fun !

 

I really , really have to go to bed now but when I get up

in the morning I'd love to find lots of craft under the tree !