Just for a bit of pretty

I know that I've gushed about Instagram about a billiontrillion times already in this space, but please bear with my while I do it all over again.

Have you ever wondered why something handmade is more expensive? Or as a maker, have you ever had trouble trying to work out your costs so that you can set a fair sell price?

I have no magic formula for you (sorry about that), but taking step-by-step photos, and posting them on Instagram, lets you really SEE exactly how much work goes into the product that you're making.

As a bonus, you get to look at pretty pictures.... and see into the working space of makers all around the world.

Places and spaces that you would never see if you were just getting finished product photos on a blog, or in an online shop.

I love being able to look back at my photos and see the different times of the day and night that I'm working, and how the light and shadows change depending on the time and the space.

A lot of time, energy and love goes into the things I make.

But I'm so lucky that I get to make things that I love.




This batch of Vintage Fabric Bunting is available in the shop and will also be heading to Gleaners Inc

Make It Yourself Rainbow Bunting

If you're anything like me, then you're the type of person that buys all the supplies to Make- it-Yourself, rather than purchase a finished product.

So I've decided to pop some Rainbow Bunting Panels in the shop.

It's super simple:

• Cut them out along the outside edge of the black outline
• Cut a piece of backing fabric for each
• Place the front and back piece 'right sides together'
• Using a quarter inch seam, sew from the top right hand corner, all the way around the curve until you reach the top left hand corner (making sure you leave the top open).
• Trim the seams and clip around the curves (or use pinking shears)
• Turn out and press so that they are nice and flat
• Lay them out and check they're in the correct order (trust me on this one teehee...)
• Add some binding and voila!

 

My Creative Space

I've been doing some contract work at my old day job this week, so there's been little time (or energy left) for crafting.

But, when I arrived home Monday arvo, there was a very important package of fabric sitting on my front doorstep, that urged me to head straight for the sewing machine.

After playing around with word games, I strung it all together with some nice stripey binding.

Now it's winging it's way to the land of Middlemost and will be on display at the Sydney Finders Keepers Market.

I hope it attracts lots of customers to Janine's beautiful handmade wares!


*apologies for the photo quality - had to take early evening snaps and get it straight in the post!

More creative spaces

PS - if you like this bunting, then you may also like my rainbow bunting

Rainbow Bunting is GO!

After all the designing and prototyping, it's finally here!

The colours are exactly as I'd envisioned - happy, bright and fun.

Finished off with my favourite stripey binding...

And snaps to hook it up.

It's in the shop!

My creative space

There's not much going on around here today except for yet more hospital visits. I'm up at Ridonkulous O'Clock to battle peak hour, so that I can have a horrible test done. Yah!

Anyhow, to brighten things up I will show and tell the instagram photos of the latest little prototype that I whipped up earlier in the week.

I'm hoping these will be a hit for the young, and the young at heart!

There's more fabric arriving tomorrow, so with any luck these will be available in the shop from Monday.

 I must say that I'm enjoying designing packaging just as much as I love making stuff!

 More creative spaces

ROYGBIV

Sometimes I make things, take photos, and send them off into the world, and completely forget to blog them.

ROYGBIV is a very good example.

It was a custom order earlier this month for a Gleaners Inc customer, who was looking for a rainbow colour bunting.

Do you still remember the acronyms, sayings and songs that you learned at school to help remember things? I still use them to this very day.

But, I have to admit that I did google the rainbow colours.... just in case. You see, not only did we learn the acronym ROYGBIV, but we also learned that song:

Red and yellow and pink and green,
Purple and orange and blue,
I can sing a rainbow,
Sing a rainbow,
Sing a rainbow too

So... I wonder who is responsible for the little ditty that is factually incorrect?

And, does anyone else still have to recite this:

30 days has September, April June and November.

 All the rest have 31, excepting February alone, 

which has 28 days clear, and 29 each leap year.

 to remember how many days are in each month?

Bunting Loveliness for Gleaners Inc

I'm so chuffed to be able to show off this custom bunting today!

A few weeks ago, Liz asked me to create something a little bit different than the everyday bunting, to use as signage for Gleaners Inc.

I went away and played around with the design in Illustrator and sent her about a bazillion pictures and emails. Ummmm sorry about that Liz - I was just a teensy bit over excited about the design process.

Anyhow, I had a little sample printed,  and then we decided on the finished design (which I love).

I totally forgot to take a pic from the rear, but I backed them all with vintage floral sheeting so that they're just as pretty from behind too.

I popped them in the post and....

Here they are!

If you'd like to see them for real, pop in to Gleaners Inc for a visit, or you may even catch a glimpse at the upcoming Finders Keepers Market.

If you're looking for something similar with custom lettering, just email me for a quote. I'm happy to take custom orders.

Doily Bunting

Have you ever tried to photograph a long length of bunting?

It's much more difficult than it seems....

This one is now happily on display at Gleaners Inc.

Everyone loves Vintage Bunting... right?

Things have been busy around here.

I've been pottering, cleaning, organising, sorting, finishing up long put off administrative jobs, and even sewing.... while trying to stay offline as much as possible.

Behind the scenes... camera tripods have a multitude of uses!

I was working on a custom bunting order this week, so I took the opportunity to whip up some extras and pop them in the shop.

These are the same ones that I make for Gleaners Inc, so if you're anywhere near Brunswick, you can also pop in and visit and pick some up.

Now I'm heading offline and making a concerted effort to use my time more wisely.... well, after pulmonary rehab anyway...  Wish me luck!

Bunting to the Rescue....

The beautiful coloured bunting has disappeared from Gleaners Inc... but never fear, a brand new batch is heading that way thisafternoon.

I played teatowel lucky dip to decide which country was next on the cushion list....

....and the winner was Suid Afrika (or South Africa to us). Check out that fabbo elephant in the top left hand corner!

If you see anything you like from Gleaners Inc and can't make it into the shop, just get in touch with Liz and she'll organise an online sale for you pronto!

I've added lots of new goodies to the shop too, so pop on over for a little look.

If you're thinking about buying pressies for Christmas, please get in early as there have been lots of reports of delays with Australia Post.

I sent an order to QLD on Nov 2nd which didn't arrive until Nov 15th (13 days later), yet I sent a package to the UK on Nov 11th which arrived on Nov 17th (6 days). It makes no sense!!!

*I have complained to Australia Post and the standard answer was that it can take up to 10 business days for delivery. What the???

Tutorial - How to Make Go Granny Mini Bunting

Jess from Epheriall Designs contacted me a few weeks ago, and asked me if I could write a little crafty tutorial for her gorgeous blog.

How could I possibly say no?

I was sitting at the kitchen bench with little squares of Go Granny and little squares of felt, inspired by Jennie's girls..... when I lined them up in a row and immediately pictured them as bunting!

This tutorial is quick and easy and lots of fun - even the kiddies can make the 'non sew' version just using fabric glue.

You can find Go Granny Fabric right here and you can download the PDF version of the Mini Bunting Tutorial right here.

Enjoy!

Now thats bunting lovely - again

I've been at it again.... making a little buntingy (surely that's a word - right?)  goodness

This was a very special order for Gleaners Inc - a mix of vintage fabrics and tea towels...

But to make it extra special, and keeping with the recycling theme, I created the binding from the test print lines of my Go Granny fabric.

I can't wait to see it hanging in the shop!

My Creative Space

Just for something a little different, I've been raiding my vintage fabric and teatowel stash this week.

It's been all about getting ready for a very new and very exciting venture - Gleaners Inc.

Gotta love a new rotary cutting blade!

The home of My Creative Space

Now thats bunting lovely

Today it's a sneaky little pre-planned and pre-scheduled post...

.... because I had to make sure that the birthday girl didn't see her pressie on the blog

Before she actually received it in person!

Happy 40th Birthday Tinniegirl