craftjuice

squirrely sleep bag

Miss M takes a blanket and pillow to day care each day to roll out for sleepy times.  This week I saw this all in one sleep bag at the local discount store - for only $4! It is a simple fold over design and you slip a pillow insert into the top.

It is perfect for Miss M and not so bulky as the blanket and bottom sheet she (I) lugs around each week.  It was very plain so I cut out these cute squirrels and appliqued them on to make it a bit more personalised and fun. I hope she loves it. I used this pattern for the squirrel and adapted the shape slightly. I sewed thin ribbon on as the tail detail and looks great.

In hindsight, this is a very simple sleep bag design that you could make yourself very easily. But for $4, I couldn't go past it.

touch wood's scandi cushion exhibition

A rather non-descript secret little laneway in the midst of our city.  Along Elizabeth Street, down the lane on the right, go under the boom gate, walk a bit and you'll see that little doorway on the left hand side. Inside, our 'secret coffee place' - The Coffee Supplier - owned by most lovely James, enthusistic supporter of all things exciting and creative in the city. And makes the best coffee ever too.

And it was here a few short months ago, very early one Friday morning, Eileen decided she wanted to exhibit there.  But what?  So we ordered some jumbo flat whites, and let the caffine get to work (it was very early on a Friday after all) and hatched a plan so cunning, it should have pointy ears and a bushy tail.  And, literally, it eventually did.

Behold Touch Wood Design's Scandi: Felt Folk!

To make this all the more impressive, Eileen did all this in just six weeks. Yep. Designed them. Sourced the materials. Made the patterns. Sewed them. Stuffed them. Six weeks. Yep.

I bought this lovely reindeer stamp one. Who couldn't resist. It was hard to pick a favourite:

See that snowflake one? We called it the 'snowflake from hell'. It is machine stitched around every edge. Perfectly.  This is why Eileen is so awesome.

Woot!

More Woot!

She still has some versions for sale (she produces just three versions of each)- contact her directly if you would like one!

(We didn't match on purpose. Promise we didn't.)

scandi: felt folk

One of my very cleverest friends, Miss E of Touch Wood Design is having a new exhibition opening on Friday 10 September showing off her amazing new cushion collection entitled scandi: felt folk.

It's at our 'secret coffee place' down a back alley of Elizabeth Street in the city and is THE place for a cuppa java if you're serious about your coffee. Which we are. Sometimes several times a day.

I've had a sneaky peek at her new range and it is sensational to behold with scandi-inspired design (like this truly patience testing 'snowflake from hell')!  I'm a bit partial to the featured moose I must say.

If you love these, Miss E often also stocks her wonderful cushion designs at Absolutely Fabulous.

One day she'll have an Etsy store....sighhhhhhh....

I shall report back on the opening!

PS  Miss E has a very talented partner, Mr A who does amazing woodcut and woodblock designs. How is there so much talent in one house? I should just sit in their kitchen and let it soak through my pores.

let easter begin!

There is SO MUCH great Easter stuff to do!

This week I'm planning on doing some great Easter cooking with Miss M.  Here's what I'm thinking...ambitious, but will be lots of fun!

Hot Cross Buns         Greek Easter Bread   Chocolate Nests         Sugar Bunnies

Those sugar coated bunny cookies would be great for the daycare teachers! Now I just need to find a bunny cookie cutter!

I also found some REALLY FABULOUS Easter menu and food idea recipes on the Woman's Day website...! My favourite is the four Easter Brunch menus...they look absolutely delicious and cater for all cooking skills - from no cook to 'wha la!'

The Woman's Day website also has some really great Easter crafts...

Pom Pom Chicks       Easter Tree               Stacked Bunny Box    Knitted bunny!

I'm really looking forward to making an Easter Tree with Miss M! 

sharpies and barefoot shoes

I recently came across this great Sharpie art - barefoot shoes! Dom Chi's custom trompe l’oeil barefoot shoes were made by tracing his own feet over a pair of slip-on Vans first with pencil, he then drew over the lines with a black Sharpie.

He used acrylic paint to fill in the feet. Fantastic!

Check out more of Dom Chi's shoe art on Flickr.

The whole world of Sharpies is just starting to open up to me. For sublime Sharpie inspiration check out their blog (lurvin the Darth Vader mask!) - it makes me want to go and draw on the walls...

yo yo flower singlet

My very talented friend Belinda and I are sending a little welcome package to brand new bub Evaline in Sydney.

I've made her a little yo yo flower embellished singlet!  Here's the start of the yo yos...

and here's how it turned out...

Too cute!  Be cute under a little cardi in the cooler months too.

I'm also a bit excited because this week sees the return of Crafty Craft Nights with Susan and Gail. Baileys on ice, trash talk and crafty mojo...here we come!

liana kabel knitting needle bracelet

While doing some Christmas shopping at MoB Store, Santa happened to drop into my own stocking this fabo KnitWit Bangle by Liana Kabel - one of the awesome artists in residence at MoB.

I love the vibrancy of the needle colour and as I love functional art, I couldn't go past this 6 1/2 mm...

I also bought my sister-in-law some of her great earrings.

As luck would have it, Liana is also featured in the current MixTape #11 craftzine (page 37). So you can read all about her, her amazing vibrant pieces and her inspirations! Or check out her blog...

Check out Liana's etsy shop...but have your credit card ready...oh my...

a refashioned embellished singlet with ruffle collar

Inspired by some recent Anthropologie lustiness, today I bought this cotton singlet from Target for $8 and set about making it a bit glam.  I've had an old 'blouse' sitting in the back of my cupboard that has gone out of style but I love the colours and the fall of the chiffon fabric so much I wanted to use it for something fun.

So I cut out three different size circles using paper templates and  my pinking shears for a ragged edge, folded them into quarters and hand sewed the point of each onto the singlet, overlapping the layers. I did them asymmetrical - higher on one side than the other for a quirky look. The little ties were on the sleeves of the blouse, so I cut them off and used them as detail. The back of the singlet, I've just done a single row of folded circles around the neckline in different sizes.  It felt good to do something creative with my hands today.

It looks better in real life than in this photo and I'm pleased with the result. It has the effect of a ruffled collar.  This effect would look cute on a fine knit cardigan for winter or on one of Miss M's shirts - a panel down the middle (like a 70's tux effect!).  I think I'll wear this casually with a pair of jeans or dress it up with a flirty skirt and red high heels and lipstick! Woot!

(BTW, in the photo I know you were looking at the singlet, not my awesome rack! oh, go ahead then! bahahaha!)

Back to work tomorrow...*sigh* better get that work wardrobe sorted tonight. Hope I can still fit in it. I've just spent two weeks in maxidresses, singlets and lounge pants.  I think I'll have a wine while I think about it.

shiny new top

Needing a nice new top for work, I made this shiny new top a few weeks ago. I cut a pattern from an existing Esprit shirt I have that I absolutely adore - flowing sleeve, slash neck, fitted at the waist. Perfectly me (although a few more sit-ups are in order me thinks!).  I've had this fabric for years sitting around that I rescued from a remnant bin - it's shiny and stretchy and perfect for this pattern.  I've worn it a couple of times with a 50's style knee length skirt and wide belt to work with my patent leather heels - love it.  I think I might buy some nice jersey and make a few more for Summer - only takes an hour or so to whip up as the back is the same as the front.

Now I just need a good A-line skirt pattern...any suggestions for a good one? (And I know Eileen is going to say, just draft your own, and I know you've shown me how, but I'm too scared!)

happy birthday mum!

At the risk of my Mum peeping at my blog in the next two hours before I head over to her house, here's two Ikea fabric tablecloths (loving the new range!) I've made Mum for her birthday today. 

Mum and Dad have just built a new awesome deck onto the back of their house and so I thought I'd make these to brighten up the outdoor furniture and so mum can 'keep it nice'.  I love the big grevillea-like yellow bursts - I thought that would be a good one for a cheery breakfast. And the fruity-leafy one for casual lunching perhaps.

Whilst at the temple-of-Swedish-design, I also picked her up some lovely candle holders and candles to pop all around her new outdoor area as well.  I'm pretty sure she's going to love them.

Happy Birthday Mum!  I love you!