Cute Felt Handbags & Hairclips

I invested in some felt for some little hairclip projects and I think I'm in love... how easy is it to use this stuff!!!








The hairclips were nice and easy, using fun little flower templates combinations I have at home and using my button supplies up :)





The handbag design was inspired by an adorable little handbag my children got given, and with felt I just had to use simple sewing stitches to put it together...mind you it still took me 2hrs to handstitch and finish so I might have to look at an alternative to cut the time factor down....and so many more ideas for colour combinations and finishes! btw I actually took photos of all the steps for my own use but I might just be able to do a tutorial later ;)

Early Bird... or... A Little Late

Well I might be a little late for last xmas or I could be efficiently early for xmas this year :) This is part of my dedication to completing jobs that I have started, no matter what season it is...well almost complete anyway, just need to add a fabric border, padding and framed. At least I now have 10months to get that part done LOL

On completion of the bigger xstitch last night I started a little stitchery and thought I might as well get into the spirit at the same time and actually completed it within a couple of hours....what a pleasant change for me!



ps...in love with this hand dyed fabric, pale lilac infused with glitter...one more little piece left for another project..mmm what will it be?

Unfinished Projects

Kid's Door Hangers.....one down, one to go. The perfectionist in me won't let the girls do it by themselves...not this time anyway ;)



The start of Miss 6.5 new crocheted jumper...thought I would start it BEFORE winter this time ;)

I remembered my password!!!

Life hasn't been easy on this crafter for quite a while now, instead of starting AND completing jobs in one day I have fallen into 'a little bit of everything' category....and finalising nothing! LOL

I haven't even fully finished the xmas placemats & x-stitch I was madly working on...when the roast is crackling you sort of give up putting the pressure back on ;)




I have relocated my craft room yet again...and it is now sharing an A/C'd room with my hubby's study - nice to know that all the little storage concepts makes it very easy to relocate...and I realised this morning that my craft room has touched every single room in the house! (bar the parent's retreat, though the craft itself has been known to move in for the odd night relaxing on the old bed watching a couple of DVD's - my version of multi-tasking) So I guess my family have to get used to my nomadic workspace....I truly just like sharing it around.

But as a mother foremost, it's nice to know my children are going to school with delightful new library bags...completed in 1hr, ironed on decals...and No, I'm not sharing these basics! But the children think they are perfect, and that is all that matters!!!!!

I am tied to fulltime work for the next 6 weeks as I train a couple of delightful ladies to take over my jobroles and allow me to craft to my heart's content ;)

Still crafting.....

No I haven't dropped off the face of the world, but I have been very caught up in business affairs this last couple of weeks....

In saying that I have also got a few projects happening to keep my sanity but haven't quite finished everything yet

I have been making some gorgeous baby change mats, started a xmas xstitch which I attack while waiting in the car for school pickup. I have also started a very cute verigated pink crocheted jumper for Miss Six for when I need something I don't have to think too hard to work on ;)

This week I have also started working on some very cute xmas placemats, a full set of eight, nearly completed!

Unfortunately at the moment my camera battery is flat and I can't seem to find the charger and so the photos will have to wait for the next post ;)

Fashion Parade in Feb...

A friend of mine who loves what I've been creating with the girls clothes, both new and refashioned, has put me forward for a fashion parade for a local show for the Childrens section....I am both honoured, but very nervous now as I have to produce enough clothes between now and then to pick the best ones to put on show, I will also have a market stall as well - the markets was something I was working towards, but now I guess I have a date to get started towards and what a way to promote my products :) So I guess I'm going to be very busy now and have to start putting the ideas down into fabric!

Theatre Feature

I was thrilled and honoured that Somewhat Simple wanted to feature our little Goldilocks Theatre holiday project today on her "Things I Love Thursday" with all those amazingly talented people...

Truth be told that it was the easiest project on my behalf as I cut the doors out and let my 6yr old paint the background scene and when the kids went to Grandma's for a holiday they finished off the project with Grandma and Aunty Mel. I think Aunty Mel really loved cutting out and creating all those lovely pieces of furniture and bowls of porridge, she even made gorgeous little paper pillows :)

The kids have had endless hours of fun putting on shows for us and visitors with such a simple little story, and for the little ones, this is a great way for them to get their brains ticking as they try to remember and recreate the story!

Thankyou Somewhat Simple for showcasing our little family project!

1 x Fancy Dress, 1/2 hour and a Roll of Ribbon

My latest challenge was to convert one of my dresses
(loved it but the colours just didn't work for me) into a cute little dress for Miss Six.

I cut off the top to the shirring waistline, pulled in the back seam allowance to fit Miss Six and added ribbon shoulder straps. I had been a little liberal
with the sizing so that she will get many years out of it, but it gapped a bit at the back so I improvised and put in extra straps across the back which makes it sit flat on her back with plenty of movement for her. I also left an inch of ribbon on each strap to enable expansion later on.



I finished it off with a ribbon around the waist and some simple camilla inspired flowers cut out of the bodice section and finished off with a couple of peals.

I was lucky enough to discover this red lampshade on the clearance trolley for $3, normally I wouldn't go for red at all but I needed a new lampshade for the girls and as luck would have it I have a quilt in the processes of being created that will have lady bugs on it (at some point)
I was struggling with how to make it special and decided on stamping it with my roller stamp with navy ink to soften the brightness of the red (these photos don't do it justice as it is Tomato red)I than glued the yellow gathered ribbon around the bottom and rick rack top and bottom


I spent so much time trying to decide on how to decorate it with, I had buttons and ribbons in so many colours, but I am happy with the result and know it will look amazing with the new quilt.

Multipurpose Super Hero Capes (how to make them sound boring when they are so not!)

Super special capes are required for Miss Soon-to-be-Five's special day which I have heard will require all manner of Super Hero's to attend (shhh!) Just because I could, I picked up some cheap but awesome patterned velour and satin from Spotlight and made up these universal capes....should be able to use these as multiple costumes - super hero's, magician's, red riding hood - you name it the list is endless, let's not forget just normal play - how wonderful is it to wear something that feels soft and silky and that can twirl, fly and disguise as well :) I even took the time to give them little hand slots in case they wanted to be very elusive ;)

And just in case you are wondering, special instructions that won't self destruct will be going out in the form of mask cutouts that the superhero's can decorate themselves with a piece of magical cape ribbon that will transform any pillowcase, tablecloth or teatowel into a super hero cape!!!

Purple Butterfly Shirred Dress

I made this very simple and gorgeous frilly dress and love that you don't need a pattern, just a tape measure to get the top part the correct size. I have never attempted shirring before and definately need to tweak my technique, but I could see this being the only thing I do! I just think I had the tension too tight and will muck around with that later.



All you need to do is cut up 6inch strips, or smaller if desired (I loved the smaller contrast fabric)and stitched up the lengths together (make sure you have about 6 lengths of each fabric...you may need more material for the bottom rows) , I overlocked the edges and worked out what size I needed for the top part and started shirring (approx 3 times the childs chest measurement)

With the remaining material, I stitched across one edge and had the tension set to gather it as I sewed so that cut out a lot of time. Each layer you attach the gathered side to the previous layer until you have reached the desired length, than sew up the back seam (inspired by this tutorial), hem the bottom edge and attach ribbons for the straps ensuring that you have sealed the ends of the ribbon with a lighter.

Embellish it as needed....

One very cute, simple, and very twirly dress!!!

I've been featured :)

I am so excited to find that Miss to-be-five's special denim dress has been featured today on 'Ruffles & Stuff'....so cute to see her smiling aussie face on an American blog..how very international :)

I have had an enormously busy weekend with magical capes (for Miss soon-to-be-Five's superhero birthday party in a weeks time), revamping a plain lampshade and whipping up a very cute twirling dress with my first attempt at shirring....

pictures coming....