Something pretty!  Yeay!





There's an amazing boutique/coffee shop/chocolatier around here, whose giftshop is always full of the most beautiful, inspiring things.  On a visit a while back (probably a year or two) I saw a gorgeous sprocket pillow and HAD TO HAVE ONE.  Except it was pink.  I have two young daughters, there is enough pink in my life already.  And it was $120.  Even for a very pretty pillow, that's pushing things.  My crafty shoulder angels duked it out...



You can guess who won.  

I spent a week adding little appliques, embroidery and beading details to the cushion top:



It got sewed together Wednesday night (State of Origin!  Well done, NSW.  We'll let you have that one ;P )... and last night, I stuffed it with 4x500g bag of polyester fill.

It's 68cm across, and about 30cm tall, which is a bit bigger than the shop pillow.  Very comfy to flop on!  And my purse is happy.  It cost less than $30 to DIY.  

Forgot to mention - this project is my 'Detention with Snape' requirement in the Harry Potter craftalong!

I have no idea where this tiny Singer sewing machine came from, but I've been wanting to make something from it for ages.  I decided not to give it a polish; I like the dust and cracks. Heaven knows how long it's been lying around in various sewing boxes and craft stashes. 



Black beads are plastic.  There's a metal scissor charm and a plastic heart.  They all clink against each other, and make a lovely bell-like sound.



 

Check this baby out!



Pinstripe wool blend with a bit of stretch.  I started with a Burda magazine pattern for a double breasted waistcoat (here: http://www.burdastyle.com/patterns/102010-double-breasted-waistcoat).  With the front closed I felt a little too wrapped up, so I adapted it to my liking.  And added sequins  





I was going to get the minimum cut (20cm, I think) of black sequined fabric, which was $50/m, and applique pieces onto the collar, etc.  My pragmatic side got the better of me and I bought 6m of sequin trim - you know, the stuff that's just a line of sequins on string.  I found that sewing it in a cornelli pattern and only stitching down every 3rd or 4th sequin crushed them up nicely.  It looks exactly the same as the pricey fabric and was fun to sew. I don't think I would like to do huge panels of it though!



The button and loop was a last minute addition.  I saw the waistcoat on my dress form and thought... it's not done yet. 

I was going to make a skirt out of this fabric (brushed cotton plaid), cause I really need some new ones, but my hubby suggested a cape, and really... why not?  I modified the freebie Tonia cape pattern from Fitzpatterns.  A bit of lace trim, some beading, a few graphic rose stencils and she's all ready to go   It was surprising how warm and comfortable it is.  I may even make another one in heavier fabric.

In progress...









All finished and pretty...

Hello my dears,

Book arts are one of my latest obsessions (books + art + craft, what's not to love?) and I was wondering if anyone was interested in doing a book arts swap.  It might encompass traditional book arts, like bookbinding, artists' journals, paper making, as well as art works and crafted pieces like 3D/sculpted, paper cutting, etc.  

Your thoughts?  Suggestions?




  

Been at that sewing machine again... thought you guys might like this.  It's a 50's inspired outfit for my 2 year old, with fluffy petticoat, circle skirt, bolero and a veil clip.  I'm really happy with how it came together, and miss loves it too - she twirls and says in her babyish toddler voice, 'Imma PIN-SESS!' (good grief, another one...)












Anyone have any tips on hemming a circle skirt?  Cause I still can't bring myself to actually get in and do it.  Feel an awful lot like effort.

I've been making a lot of these getting ready for Easter.  They are made of artificial vine, preserved moss, lots of wire and glue and pretty flowers and berries and stuff.  I'm a wee bit pleased with how they've turned out!  Also, speckled chocolate eggs = yum. 

Hubby's a high school teacher and every year they have Octofest, which is a fun celebration day for the grade 8 kids - hence the 'octo'.  (Grade 8 is the first year of high school here in Queensland, at least for now).  The teachers dress up - last year my awesome husband went as Captain Jack Sparrow, and this year the staff got together and decided to go with a Star Wars theme. 

I had no pattern (as Simplicity pulled theirs off the shelves a while back), little time and an excess of migraines, so I fudged this together over the last couple of days:



The robe took about 5m of cotton poplin.  (Is it just me or is fabric getting narrower?  I am sure I used to get basic cottons much wider...next time I'll buy it from the upholstery section) 

I really didn't have the energy to get technical - I had him lay down on the poplin and cut the robe around him.  The hood is just a couple of really big triangles, pleated into the back of the robe.  None of the seams are finished and there's no hemming at all.  Migraines make me pretty useless.  I don't think I sewed a single seam straight.  So long as he doesn't show off to the home-ec teachers it shouldn't matter though

The shirt was the same process, it's just shorter and the sleeves aren't so wide.  I think I used 4m of poplin.  To get the crossover thing in front, we just draped a long rectangle of poplin like a scarf and tucked it into the belt.  The belt/obi thing is leftover from the robe; the ends join up with velcro.       

He wore the pants from last year's costume, a pair of brown ugg boots (...in the middle of the tropical wet season...that's gonna smell interesting by the end of the day) and borrowed our 8 year old's toy lightsaber.  In my opinion everyone should have a lightsaber in the house.  They come in very handy





   

So... I'm having a big tea party in a few months and I wanted to use vintage china but contrary to internet myth, op-shops and second hand stores aren't all filled with beautiful, affordable treasures.  Stupid internet is always lying to me   I've been snapping up what nice things I can, and filling out my collection with boring stuff that has potential.  Like this cup; love the shape, hate the design:


   
To glam this up, I used 'porcelaine paint', which I bought at Spotlight.  You paint, dry, then bake it on. 



Here's that boring cup again, with it's saucer, all spruced up and ready for shindiggin':




 

This tshirt is a present for my brother.  It was tricky deciding which Chuck fact to go with... I like 'There's no such thing as global warming, Chuck Norris got cold so he turned up the sun'.  And then there's the classic 'Death once had a near-Chuck Norris experience'.  But in the end I decided to go with this:



The lettering and kicking-a Chuck were freezer paper stencils.  I used a stiff brush to stipple the paint (Tintex Aqueous Fabric Ink in Black) which distressed the look a little.  For punch I did lines with a red 'stained' sharpie.





Credit goes to my hubby for the stencil cutting   Thanks babe!