Pot Holder Pass - Items Completed & Posted

My Pot Holders for the Pot Holder Pass were posted this morning. My swap partner said that she likes all colours, and requested something colourful, cute and fun. I hope this meets the criteria.

We had to send two pot holders, and each pot holder has two sides - hence the two photos.

The motifs came from a table cloth that used to belong to my mum. I appliqued them onto some linen, sandwiched a couple of layers of Insulbrite in between and did straight quilting with my walking foot. The binding was some I had already made up when working on a different project.

My Creative Space - Pot Holder Pass

Trying something a little out of my comfort zone this week.

Using what was once my mother's table cloth (not any more - snip, snip!) to make the two pot holders that are required for Amy's Pot holder Pass. I really, really hope my swap partner appreciates Australiana! I'm still trying to work out exactly where I am going with this - stand by!

For more creative spaces, visit Kirsty at Kootoyoo!

Sew It Together - Cass' Sample Swap

I was lucky enough to participate in Cass' sample swap during the Saturday Crafting Session at Sew It Together. Just for joining in, Cass gave us all little gifts! Actually, everyone got the moleskin notebooks, even those who didn't join in the swap, how generous is that? Cass must have been very busy stitching those together. We also got lovely pencils and a pendant in a cute envelope that Cass made out of vintage books.

I made these six purses to be swapped for other items.

And this is what I received in return...

A felted fabric flower from Susan of It's the Things that Make You Go Mmmm

A Tissue Case made by Patch Andi  Perfect for this time of year. Did anyone who went to Sew It Together not come home with a cold?

Scrap Basket from Bronwyn of Whippet Good  (that blog name makes me want to sing and dance). I really like the paper doll fabric on the basket.

A pair of Anti-bags (the bags you carry when you do not wish to carry a bag) from Susie of Yarn Planner  - I love the Ikea fabric! The bags are the right size for your mobile phone or iPod and your credit card or some money, so you can carry them when out and about, without having to take your whole hand-bag. You can just clip them onto a belt-loop and away you go!

This really cute needle-case, with perfectly stitched patchwork star on the front, from Bianca of Bianca Jae Makes Stuff. I have already put mine to use - it might be a bit easier to keep away from the kids than a pincushion.

And this lovely fabric covered journal from Renae of Pink Fish, Blue Fish. Renae was kind enough to include some extra fabric and a zipper so we can make a coin purse, as well as some lovely hand cream. I love this Ink & Spindle fabric, so I am really happy with this gift.

I feel really spoilt with all these lovely gifts. It was really nice to meet all the people who made them too. Back with more later...

Sew It Together - Shopping Trip

Image of Fabric being purchased - Amitie

When I signed up for Sew It Together, I signed up for the whole experience - this included the shopping trip. I caught the train to Melbourne and arrived just over an hour before we were due to meet the bus. After a bit of lunch I went back to wait at Citigate Hotel for the rest of the shoppers.

It was Trash that I first approached. I don't even remember what she was doing (knitting? sewing?) but she looked suitably crafty, so I went and said hi and introduced myself. It wasn't long before we were joined by several others and then off on the bus we went. We were all handed a lovely SIT bag with free gifts from the Oz Material Girls.

Image of Fabric being purchased - Amitie

Our first stop was Amitie, where Corrie joined the group (she was staying nearby) and the shopping began. I managed to grab some lovely fabric (at a special discount, just for us!) and then had some lovely afternoon tea that was put on by the ladies at Amitie before jumping on the bus and comparing purchases.

 Fabric purchased from Amitie

Patchwork on Central Park

Our next stop was Patchwork on Central Park, where more fabric was purchased and I picked up some bargain Echino!

Fabric purchased from Patchwork on Central Park

 There was a fabric quiz on the bus, and I won this lovely prize, kindly donated by the Oz Material Girls. 

After a trek across the city, we finally arrived at our last stop; Ink & Spindle. I brought home some lovely hand printed fabric from there.

Ink & Spindle - Entrance

Hand Printed fabric, purchased from Ink & Spindle

to be continued...

My Creative Space - Still Knitting...

Almost finished Noah's Jumper. The ball of wool is looking very small, hoping there's enough...

Using Chantell's interchangeable needles that she so kindly loaned me at Sew It Together. Thanks very much Channy, I am totally hooked, I've even already ordered my own wooden set, since I cant use the metal ones long term with my nickel allergy.

Also using some stitch markers that I made myself on Monday night. I think the crimps I used were a little large for the job, but you live and learn. I somehow managed to lose the set that I purchased from Suzanne. I am not sure if I somehow left them on the train (lost property says no) or if the shiny things have been snaffled by the "fairies".

I promise I will be back soon to blog about Sew It Together. It was such an overwhelming experience, I am finding it difficult to put into words - well, less than a million words...


For more creative spaces, visit Kirsty at Kootooyoo.

My Creative Space - Knitting on the Train & My Mothers' Day present

My Creative Space this week takes place on the train on the way to the Stitches & Craft Show on Sunday.  Knitting a jumper for Noah, and listening to some of my favourite music on my mobile phone. There will be more knitting on the train and back for Sew It Together this weekend.

Although I didn't see much of my little boys on Mothers' Day, I thought of them often. I was lucky enough to receive this "Photo Studio in-a-bag" from ThinkGeek. With any luck it might help me with photographing some of my creations.

For more creative spaces, visit Kirsty at Kootoyoo.

The Stitches & Craft Show

I started writing a list of all the things that I wanted to say about the S&C Show because I didn't want to leave anything out. Let's face it, I am going to leave stuff out.... I wish I had taken more photos. Especially of all the lovely people I met. I will see most of them again at the Sew It Together weekend, so I guess it is okay.

I travelled to the S&C show by train and arrived at around 10am. After a bit of a look around downstairs, I managed to work out how to get upstairs to the incubator section, which is where I spent most of my time at the show.

I managed to catch up with Carolyn at the Show, and also met a new friend Gyspy. 

I met Jodie and purchased one of her gorgeous Pocket-Bot kits. I later went to see Jodie's talk about blogging, which was the highlight of my day.

I said hi to Sandra at the Pepperberry & Co. stand, and purchased some more "Let's Enjoy Britain" fabric, which I have already cut into.

I met the ladies from Ink & Spindle, and purchased some of their beautiful hand-printed fabric.

I said hi to Nikki at the Nicole Mallalieu stand. Nikki introduced me to the other Nikki.

I spent some time at the Sublime Stitching Craft Bar, where I was shown how to backstitch and chain stitch. I also got to take home some thread so that I can finish the little project I started there. I saw the knitting and crocheting craft bar, and if I had more time, I would have loved to make a couple of crocheted flowers - maybe next year?

I also said hi to Nic at Yardage Design. Like everyone else, I cant believe that nobody else thought of making bunting craft panels before - such a clever idea!

I also got to meet the lovely Bec of Beccasaurus!

I enjoyed the show very much, I know I left heaps out, but here are some other blogs about the show.

Nicole Mallalieu 1
Nicole Mallalieu 2
The Craft Gypsy
Ric-Rac
Pepperberry & Co.
Yardage Girl
Curly Pops
Miss Muggins
Beccasaurus

Noah's Fish Shirt

Using the same pattern as Liam's shirt, and the same snaps, I made Noah this shirt with some poplin that I got from Spotlight when I was supposed to be buying blinds.



As usual there were some dramas getting some decent photos... please excuse the tracksuit pants and messy hair, he had just got up from a nap.

Liams New Shirt!

I completed this yesterday, and Liam wore it grocery shopping today. Liam actually watched me sew some of it, he seems very interested in the whole process - I showed him where all the bits were going to go when it was finished (this is a sleeve, and it goes here on your arms, etc. etc.). Anyway, we had a bit of a hiccup last night when I let him try it on. He didn't want to take it off, and he refused to put his pajama top back on. There might have even been a tantrum.

Here's a picture where you can see the shirt really well, but Liam is poking out his tongue. In the first picture you can see Liam looks really good, but you can't see details like the pearl snaps.

The pattern I used was Ottobre 1/2008, number 21 which is known as the "Jerry" shirt. I used pearl snaps, and applied them with my snap press which was way quicker and much more fun than making buttonholes or applying snaps with a hammer.

Here's another picture where you can't really see Liam or the shirt very well, but it would have been a good pose, if he had just stood still.

Hey Mum, Noah's biting me!

Owww!!!

Six Purses

Six Purses, ready for the Sew It Together swap! I think that makes 11 of these 90mm purses I have made from Nikki's pattern now.

The one at the front is my favourite, I love the "Let's Enjoy Britain"  fabric. I got a couple of little bonus pieces thrown in from Retro Mummy when I ordered some fabric. I have some more, I might have to make another one, since I am giving this one away. Here is the other side, I had to make sure there was a ferris wheel on it somewhere!

I love  the sunny yellow lining on this purse.

This also means that I completed the "My Favourite" challenge for April - Make something lined.