Monthly Archives: March 2011

Another scrap swap, who’s in!?

Sure it’s only been a month since I recieved my lovely package of fantastic fabric scraps and surprises in the mail but I can’t wait any longer, I want to do it again!  So who’s with me?

Sign up here, I’ll take names until Wednesday March 16th .  Leave your name and some contact information and I’ll pair us all up. Be ready to commit to shipping your scrap bundle by the end of the month at the latest.  This will be open to everyone everywhere so please let me know if you object to international shipping and I’ll match you with someone in your country.  Last time we confirmed shipping works in mysterious ways (something I’ve learned running my shop) so if you’re shipping across a border keep in mind it might take a bit.

Ok, so:

– scraps must measure at least 2 inches by 2 inches, there is no maximum size but it is supposed to help you destash your scrap bin so sending fat quarters probably won’t help with that.

– scraps must be clean, and in usable condition

– scraps can be new fabric or vintage reclaimed pieces

– fabrics should be of relatively the same weight, cottons/linens/light canvas so allow for quilting and use in the same project

– send 10-ish ounces to your partner mailed by March 31st

Feel free to add some other goodies or random items if you wish.  Check out blogs or shops to get to know your partner, send an email and be friends, most importantly have fun!

 

 

Finding uses for all the pretty Japanese ribbon I’ve got.

I whipped up some more  tea and sweetner cozies over the past little bit.  I’ve still got a few sitting here waiting for finishing touches and a photo shoot.  Also still need to list these.

Add pretty ribbon to my growing list of new addictions.

Pattern weight thingies. Or just fun cubes to toss around.

I stumbled across Zaaberry and found this neat little tutorial on making little weights to hold down your patterns while you trace and cut.  Bye bye pins.  Luckily I had previously cut a bunch of my scraps into little squares so they were perfect for this project.  It’s a really simple project, just sew squares of fabric together, fill them up  with someone that has a bit of weight to it and sew them shut.  I filled mine with some flax left over from my eye pillow making.  There’s even some lavender bits in there too I think.

 

 

 

Vintage bag plan

So I found some fabric to line the inside of my awesome vintage bright red bag and make it camera and laptop ready.  I think it’s actually some sort of kid farm print but it matches great and I love the faux bois look.  I was also going to decorate it with some fun sort of design.  Being too afraid to do anything permanent I wondered if my Cricut peel and stick vinyl would work.  I sketched and cut out a cute little squirel but it didn’t seem like it would stand up to usage.  The vinyl stuck well but if I tried to use the pocket or moved that area too much bumps appeared in the vinyl.

So for now I put it on my train case since that’s a harder surface.  That’s also where I’m storing all my great vintage linen bits and pieces.  I’ve also found some trim and bias tape here and there so it’s there as well.

The expanding collection.  There’s more in my other vintage suitcase too.

 

Fun Find.

Found this shop on Etsy yesterday. I’ve become a little addicted to checking the front page and I usually refrain from peeking at the ‘recently listed’ items at the bottom but I happened to scroll down and glimpses these cute items.

 

How awesome are these banners?!

 

It’s one of those, ‘good thing I don’t have daughters’ moments.

Click images to be transported to the shop and more wall art cuteness.

Scrapbusting strikes again. This time in the form of mug rugs.

I did it again!  I’m in love with the scraps from my swap.  Not only are they nothing like I have in my own stash but they’re so bright and colourful and beautiful.  I know I’ve said it a bunch but thanks Jessica!

I made some mug rugs.  I love tea and, sadly, I’m pretty fond of cookies and other baked goods.  Now I have a way to enjoy them that looks absolutely fantastic.  Those cookies are from a recipes Deceptively Delicious by the way, they’ve got chickpeas in them and they’re amazing.
I quilted various bits together to create a 7 x 10 1/2 inch matt.  Then I sandwiched some batting between the colourful top piece and a plain linen cotton on the back.  This is the first time I’ve actually quilted something so I kept it simple and just did lines.  I used the edge of my machines foot to keep me in track.  I chose a yellowy thread, it’s sort of a mustard colour.  I love the results.
I was going to get brave and make my own bias tape for the first time but I decided against it.  I haven’t really used bias tape much and so I wanted to keep it simple.  Sadly it wasn’t simple at all!  I had a tough time lining it all up, I double stitched it to echo the quilting of the matt.  If you look closely the edges are a bit wonky but oh well.  If you come to my house and I put a nice hot tea and a yummy treat served on a beautiful mug rug and you mention the wonky edges I’m taking it all away.  You’ve been warned.