Climbing back on the creative wagon

Now that Teeny has started school full time, i decided it was time to do what makes me happy ... Craft! Looking through my MANY craft magazines, i found a pattern for a messenger bag in Craft Seller magazine.

After raiding my long forgotten fabric stash and blowing the dust of my sewing machine, it was time to get down to business ... 5 hours later i emerged from my room with this jazzy little creation

Am quite proud of myself for making a bigger bag than i'm used too plus it has pockets ...

 

 

Now if only i could turn my hobby into a business ... Wishful thinking???

Tis time to get back to normality ...

Hey folks,
Its been a few weeks now and it looks like things are finally back to normal. We've had no more family members being admitted to hospital due to illness, No more friends splitting up and no-one else has lost their job ...

Its been a long time since i picked up a needle and thread but the last couple of days i've been getting quite a bit done.

Will post pics next ... Thanks for bearing with me during the madness :)

Sage
xxx

Many apologies

Hey everyone
It's been a long time since I've posted. I've had a rather difficult month or so but things are back to normal now so with any luck I'll be able to get back to crafting.

Am taking a trip down to England next week to see my mama and the following week teeny starts school. I'll get to have a good few hours to myself to catch up on my ever growing to-do list.

many apologies to my popular craft polka dot swap partner. I promise I haven't forgotten you. I'm finishing just now and will have it posted out to you asap. I'm hoping it's better late than never :/

Congrats to my mama

At the beginning of the month, I got a call from my mama, telling me she and her long time partner are going to get married :-)

This fantastic news gave me a reason to get out my promarkers and make a lovely engagement card. (like I really need an excuse to get crafty :-P )

This is my finished design. Simple but pretty.

Congratulations Mum & Graham xxx

Halloween Quilt

OK ... This is the post i've been looking forward to the most :)

Everyone who knows me, knows that i'm crazy for Halloween. I have freaked out my postman by answering the door in costume and my Halloween ornaments, snow globes etc are out all year long. Candy Corn and chocolate apples happen in our house when-ever we get a craving and thankfully my addiction seems to have passed on to Teeny ... 5yrs old and is already planning his costume for this year *wipes away a proud tear* lol.

For almost a year i have been collecting Halloween fabric in the hopes that one day i would be able to make a big American style quilt. I'm very proud to say that this week i finally found enough :)

I want this quilt to one day out live me so i decided that i would use only the best fabrics and at the time, Moda was the one to go for. (Since then lots of designers have come out with Halloween themed prints).

For those of you that dont know, Moda is an American company that has alot of different designers so there are plenty of fabrics to chose from. Only down side is, at the time i started, it was hard to get suppliers in the UK. At least for the Halloween range.

Thank goodness for eBay!!

After alot of searching, bidding and contacting sellers ... i managed to find some of the ranges that could be sent to me. I've had to blank out much of the postage costs as most of it was more than the fabric itself but putting past birthday money and the odd pound here and there, i finally got enough for 250+ 5" charms. In the end, it will be worth every penny!

My ever growing bundle :)

I've combined 4 different Moda ranges ...

3 Charm packs from the "Trick or Treat" range

A Charm pack from the "Haunted Mansion" range

4 fat quarters from the "Chic or Treat" range

and a fat quarter from the "Spooktacular" range

(I also have 2 large fabric panels from the "Trick or Treat" range that i'm hoping to include)

Its going to be a working progress for the next few months but i'm giddy at the thoughts of what the finished quilt will look like

Needle Book

Just a quick post to show the needle book i made.

I've been cross stitching since i was pregnant and have purchased quite a few kits over the years. Each kit comes with all the supplies, inc a needle. Add these to the needles in the free kits with magazines and you could imagine the collection i have. Since deciding to get my wee sewing box into some kind of normality, i thought to save space i would make a needle book.

I added 2 squares of felt which gave me 4 sheets to fill. It is a mini one meant for my sewing box so i added all the needles that were floating about in it. I also added some elastic so it could be closed.

Am starting to get the hang of making up my own little designs ... even if they are basic at the moment :)

Pin Cushion

Teeny is only at nursery for 2.5 hours so when i sew with my machine, it tends to be in a rush. As a result i have a nasty habit of putting my pins in the cover next to me for quickness or end up putting the sewing needle through the bottom of my top. After one to many trips into town, only to remember i was wearing a sewing kit and a couple of scratches from pins i forgot in my hurry i decided it was time i made a pin cushion.

I'm still learning when it comes to the sewing machine but i was really impressed that i was able to sew this cushion using 5" squares. My first small project using the machine :)

The finished result turned out pretty good i think. I added a button in the middle to pull a dent in and also bring a bit of dark red to the top fabric.

So far its been a big help :)



Popular Crafts - Heart Swap & Spring Swap

I received details of my next craft swap partner, Miriam from http://themonkeysadventure.blogspot.com/. I wasn't sure what to make and after looking a different ideas on line i decided on a heart patchwork cushion.

With it i sent a wedge of Rock Star soap from Lush as well as a bag of sweets for her children.

Im return i received ...

The hearts are made by needle felting. Inside the dot box was the most beautiful tablet and the light pink 'book' is perfect for holding all the craft business cards i've been getting.



The April swap was Spring themed. Unfortunately i couldn't take pictures of what i sent but it was a bag (similar to the Easter bags) but with different coloured flowers and buttons over it. Along with i sent a FQ and a spool of white thread (Always useful). I was a little late sending it - My genuine mistake as it was sat by the door waiting to go but with everything that went on, i was a bit pre-occupied.

In return i got this from Kerry over at www.craftsfromtheheath.co.uk

The heart has some kind of scent in it (Not sure which it is - but its lovely none the less). She also sent a ribbon with pom-poms on it. Never seen that before so my mind is buzzing with what to make :)

Nice crafty Friday night

Hey folks,
Got lovely surprises when I got back from the nursery run this afternoon. A box with my Union Jack craft swap in and an envelope with my new charger for my digital camera :-)

Its charging as I type so ill be able to get pics done and posted.

In the mean time, my night (after Teeny falls asleep) will be spent watching dvds while I charm my Halloween fat quarters. First time Ive done it (and its expensive fabric) so I hope I dont muck it up ... Fingers crossed :-P

Xxx

Promise i haven't forgot

Hey folks,
I promise i haven't forgot my newborn blog ... April was a very up and down month for me. I've not been able to do too much crafts but hopefully everything will remain calm and i can get back on a roll with everything.

Have ordered a new camera charger so hopefully it will arrive soon and I'll be able to snap pics of the couple of things i have made.

Much love

xxx

Easter Bags

With Easter coming up i decided i wouldn't spend a small fortune on chocolate eggs. I'd prefer to give something to the kiddies that they could use time and time again (and wouldn't cause a stomach ache to boot).

I had already made a little bag for a friends daughter, which unfortunately got damaged when Teeny left an open marker on it. So while i was re-making hers, i decided to make another for my wee cousins Easter.

This one is for "P"

The flower is made up of fabric love hearts and a big yellow button.

The main fabric is Calico with a pink bias binding for the trim and handles

This is for my wee cousin "J"

The rocket is made of felt with red buttons for decoration.

The main fabric is also Calico with blue bias binding for the handles and trim.

I filled them with little treats like chocolate and plant seeds (since it is spring) and they can re-use the bags.

Really hope they like them :)

Popular Crafts - Owl Craft Swap

Having received the details of my next swap partner ... i decided on my next project.

An apron ...

My first attempt at an apron ... turned out pretty good i think :)

I made her a little card to go along with the apron and some yarn since she likes to crochet

In return, i got this from Helen at http://bakingaitch.wordpress.com/ ...

How beautiful!!!

I managed to get a couple of the chocolates before Teeny when to town on them but i still appreciate the sentiment. The Owl takes pride of place on my book shelf (where small hands cant reach lol)



Popular Crafts Magazine - Button Craft Swap

When i woke up on the 1st of January 2012, i lay in bed, waiting for Teeny to get up. As i was looking about my room at the mass of books on my shelves and the stacks of crafting magazines by my drawers, i decided this would be the year i would make resolutions i could actually stick to.

1. Make room for some "Me" time
2. Read at least one book a month
3. Try at least 4 NEW types of crafts
4. Complete at least one craft project a month

So far so good!!!

I have a subscription to the magazine 'Popular Crafts', so i decided to sign up to their monthly craft swaps ... 2 birds with one stone and all that :p

The theme was buttons and when i got through my partners details, i got giddy with ideas. She likes to do lots of different crafts so i decided my safest bet was something like a needle book.

This was my finished project ...

My first attempt at embroidery turned out pretty cool

When buying the gift, i figured i'd stick with the sewing theme :)

And this was what i got in return from Louise at http://www.craftyguider.com/ ....

A beautiful decoupage box with Halloween inspired beads and some charms :)

Very talented lady!!

Having had so much fun with the first one, i decided to sign up again ....

Welcome to my first ever Blog :)

Hey Peoples :)

Would like to take this opportunity to say hello and thanks for coming to see my first ever blog.
I've decided to start my own after being advised so by fellow crafting friends ... Am excited to see what it can develop into but please bare with me while it grows :)

Much love

Sage
xxx