stash PART 2 - blue quilt

 In my efforts to de-stash the fabric stash...I made a conscious effort to cut with the procrastinating and get to it.  In other words....Commit and then Sew.  Sew. Like. A. Crazy. Women.

And thats what I did when I made this quilt.  It's totally not at all perfect and really, I used the wrong wadding, but in my attempt not to buy any more fabric during my sewing hiatus I didn't want to tempt fate by returning to a place dripping in fabric...so I stayed away from all stores fabric, notions and haberdashery!  I must say...initially there were withdrawals, but now I am totally at peace with my decision.  I'm looking at my stash in a complete different way.

I've made one of these quilts before...and I knew that if I was to embark again, I had to get it done and get it done fast.  I cut one day...started sewing squares the next, then rows, then joining rows and before I knew it the quilt top was done.  I made the binding (great use of fabric right there!) and, sat eagerly at night hand sewing it all together.   Before I knew it, it was draped over the couch and has pretty much stayed there and used for added warmth during these chilly nights since.

I still have a fair way to go through the stash, but it's nice to know that all these little fabric bits here and there have merged together to make a quilt for our family.

Part 1 here 

Stash PART 1: spread your wings

A little while ago, whilst flittering away in my sewing room, drowning in what appeared to be way too much fabric, I made a little pledge to make and make and make and make....and not buy.  Yep, not to purchase any more fabric, until the fabric stash already in my possession was transformed into projects that they were destined to be when first brought home.

One such project I did not set out to make was an adorable owl costume for my daughter.  I blame Pinterest.  It really is a place of good and evil.  Mostly evil I dare say...all that pinning and not much actually following through with the actual making of anything pinned.   All those projects, recipes, tips for this, that, ones that inspire, ones that claim to get you looking fit in seven days*, and all quotes that make you jsut giggle.  But this costume was just the ticket for busting through some of that stash.  I cut out all the fabric one night, then it was sewn the next and enjoyed each day thereafter, it has been a joy to think that my cacophany of jumbled bits of fabric could result in such an eye-catching delight.

In an effort for more fabric stash project I can called this PART 1, I hope this will be one of many of the projects I share.

Do you have any projects that are good for a fabric collector?
Do you really make all that stuff you pin?



The inspiration and tutorial for this project came from here.

Last chance to enter my Bakers Delight Giveaway!


*If I'm going to pin fitness themed articles, then I must stop pinning cakes, brownies and nutella truffles!

just make

A late night rummage, unravelling piles and piles of fabric, more and more as I went.  Countless purchases, some remembered, fresh as they are, some being hoarded away years and years...the creases proof of that.

No more.  As I scrapped off a planned trip to the local fabric establishment...I made a quiet but timely vow to myself.

Just make.

Pen and paper in hand, I labelled each piece of fabric, hunted out patterns, started planning and will vow to make my way through this lot before the imminent move.  If I need to I'll stock up on notions and threads, but that's it.

It's the good kick up the ol' backside I needed I think.  There is a tendency for me to overlook that summer fabric I didn't quite get to because the thrill of planning a winter cape is just too "right now"...but fearing I'm becoming "fabric collector" and not "clothes sewer"....I'm clearing out my sewing room and feeling motivated a ready to bunker down and get going.

Have you ever given yourself a good crafty challenge?
Please tell me...do you "collect fabric" too?

xx

autumn calling

Signs of Autumn are fast approaching.  The chilly morning breeze, the shorter days.  Leaves are turning amber and slippers are hunted for in the back of cupboards and under beds and more cup of tea are enjoyed.  Cooler days call for wintery like craft and what could be more welcome than a new beanie to keep your head warm on a frosty morning.

A beanie for me, hubby the kids and also my nieces (if you're on Instagram you'll have noticed all my crochet beanie posts!).  Crochet is the perfect holiday and portable craft.  It requires just a hook, yarn and scissors popped in bag and can be accomplished whilst passenger on a road trip, or curled up on the couch and even as I so put the test during Easter festivities taking orders from special nieces.  I used patterns for most, and made it up if I needed to, but the result was lovely homemade beanies for all my lovelies.

Do you have any wintery craft projects on the go?
xx


linking up with Kirsty here 

yellow beanie pattern here
similar men/boys beanie pattern here
girls beanie pattern from here (modifed the rainbow beanie by using a verigated yarn instead of using various coloured yarn) 

Easter Eggs

An afternoon with nothing planned than a strong cup of tea, my girl and me.
We selected pretty fabric, the glue and a brush
and with loads of chatter and a laugh we merrily created an Easter Delight.
A hunt in the backyard found us lovely fallen branches and with a bit of twine and
yellow trim our table decoration was complete, and embracing the upcoming holidays.

Do you 'decorate' at Easter time?


Joining in with these creative folks

xx

12/52

12/52 - Portrait Challenge - A weekly portrait of my children, each week for a whole year 

J - Music is such a joy to you.  You listen to it constantly, play to it and learn it. 

M - Such anticipation as you prepare for your very own art exhibition

Joining with the lovely Jodi @ Che & Fidel 

xx

A portrait that I loved from last week. 

failure and success

In life there are bound to be failures and success.  Time when you nail a project and moments when you don't.  If there were a time to coin that phrase to a particular event in my week it would be to my crafting adventures.  This week has seen a monumental fail, but also a delightful success.

A project started on whim, false confidence hoping it would see me through...the actual making was not so hard, rather the deciphering of the pattern...  resulting in a garment two sizes too small and no way of rectifying it.  Surprisingly I wasn't disappointed, or even upset with myself.  If anything, I had accomplished what I set out to achieve.  I crocheted a garment.  A wearable garment....just in the wrong size.  I'm happy though it has found a new home (thanks to Instagram)

To balance it out my daughter and I set about creating a wonderful Winter Pea Coat for her.  That, was a success....more photos to come when I can coax her into modelling it for me!

How do you handle crafting failures?


Happy creative day lovelies xx

make, mend & re-fashion

A simple philosophy so often forgotten.  In this materialistic world we live in even the conscientious of folk can be blinded by the convenience of replacing versus repairing and discarding versus re-inventing.

This week I focused on what my home already had to offer me.  Whilst wardrobes were being sorted and re-tidyed in an effort to start afresh for the commencement of Term 1, a small pile of clothes required my attention and my imagination could realise their potential.

A torn bit of fabric requiring a patch, a loose button and a snagged thread all begging to be fixed.  I often forget how fortunate I am that I can fix these with ease, that I have the tools, the knowledge (albeit self taught knowledge) and even when I don't know the correct way, I just have a go.

The black dress that I've owned pre-children was seeming a bit lack lustre but with still so much wear left in it, it was crying out for a bit of a re-fashion. I cut sections out and by adding bit of colour and contrast and I've a new dress to see me through Summer.

A pair of jeans that were too short for my son got the chop and made excellent shorts and a top with stains that could not budge were craftily covered with fabric and felt flowers.   My daughter is smitten with her 'new' dress.  A white tee (size 2) that still fits her small frame sewn onto a wonderful dress that was handcrafted by a dear friend years ago.

Make do, mend & re-fashion.

Joining in here.

Tell me your make do and mend creations.

summer sewing

There is something whimsy and dreamy in sewing up delights in the midst of Summer.  Today the temperature is set to reach the forty degree mark.  The curtains have been drawn, the fans on high rotation and "inside" games and crafts are scheduled.  A salad announced as the answer to "what are we having for lunch/dinner" questions.  So whilst I had a few moments of energy before the heat leads us to the local watering hole, I took some time to organise my stock for an upcoming summer night market this weekend in the peaceful location of the local golf course.  A few newbies to add tags too....  A collection of summer scarves adorned with pom pom trim and a few girls summer skirts completed as well.  Once tagged and pressed they will be diligently packed away in vintage suitcases.

How are your summer crafts going?

Joining in with these creative lovelies 

a years worth of weetbix giveaway here 

Christmas Giveaway

As I continue on my homemade Christmas Journey, a thought occurred, possibly in the wee hours of the night, when most creativity strikes....a little handmade giveaway.  I've not done a giveaway for so long, which means it must be time, and what better time than the season of giving.  So to say thanks for for spending time here on this special little place of mine, I'm offering one person a package of my handmade goodies.  Some things I've been making for ages, some just now...but all I love to make and fill my need to express my creativity in all sorts of ways.

The Christmas Giveaway Package will include

:: 1   An Oh So Handy Key Fob - in true MiraNarnie style, my favourite yellow and grey fabric on black webbing.
:: 2   Set of 4 napkins made with light weight cotton, with rolled edge.
:: 3   Clay bead necklace strung on leather strap in gorgeous hues perfect for summer!
:: 4   Pin cushion - a cute double sided fabric pin cushion filled with poly fill and adorned with ribbon and buttons.
:: 5   Boy's Movie Quote Print (A4 size) - Don't forget the boys in your life...for those that love the movies, this will provide loads of fun!
:: 6   Six Christmas tags decorated with Christmas washi tape and red twine - all your need to do is write on them and pop on a gift! 

You could keep them all for yourself or this little package might help tick a few last minute gifts off your list!

Ok, so how to enter?  I was going to make it a random draw, but apparently that doesn't comply with our States Gaming Requirements. So it has to be a game of skill.  These are the T's & C's of this here giveaway.

Please, make sure you are a follower of this here blog and comment answering the following question:

              Tell me why you need or would like this Handmade Christmas Package?

The Giveaway will be open from 8.30am (EDST) on Wednesday 5th December and close on Tuesday 11th December at 12 midnight (EDST).  The prize winner will be judged by my darling husband whom I will read out only your answers so he wont know who said what! This is a game of skill and the most interesting/entertaining comment will win.  The giveaway is open to all Australian Residents, and the winner will be announced on Wednesday 12th of December and contacted by email or via your blog, so be sure to make sure I can contact you.   Decision is final, and one winner will win all of the above and package will posted directly to the winner.

Good luck

xx

*** Competition now CLOSED!  winner was Em from Tea cup too  - Congrats Em xx

tissue paper tassel garland {tutorial}

I've seen a few fancy shmansy tissue paper garlands out and about lately. Boy do they leave your pockets fleeced.   I do love a bit a decoration that can add a bit of pizzazz no matter what type of year or even when the party and festivities are over.  But surely there had to be a way to create some of that loveliness with only a fraction of the price.  Well, I proved sometimes sense is better than dollars....All you need is a couple of packets of tissue paper and twine (or you can thread this onto whatever string you like). 

I chose four packets of tissue paper at $1.50 a packet

1 ball jute twine for $2

= $8 total and I've got enough to make probably another 3-4 garlands! 

Here is what you do...

::Take your goodies, pick a lovely spot with some beautiful music on, a cuppa next to you and even the kids will enjoy this one. 

  :: cut lengths of tissue paper about 1-2cm wide.  My tissue paper came in three sheets. I cut three lengths and used that as one bunch (so in effect nine lengths of paper).

:: bunch your nine lengths (or you could go more or less) and twist a little in the middle. 

:: make the centre of the paper the top by folding it in half and gather the tails together. Give them a little fluff up if they need it.

:: Get your twine, and leaving some at the start for hanging later, start wrapping around the twisted sections of your tissue paper. 

:: wrap about 8-10 times

:: secure each side of the twine by looping the twine and slipping it over the top

 :: move along the twine and add each of your created tissue tassels in the same way

:: leave as much or as little gap as you like.  I think I could have left less of a gap, but you can always add more tassels to these if you like. 

:: choose a colour pattern or go for a random selection 

 ::  Hang your tissue paper tassel garland and sit back and marvel at your work for less than the price of a cappuccino.