My creative space :: Snappy Toddler Top

This week's been one of those weeks!  I've been going back and forth about whether to make something for my little Miss V's first birthday this weekend, and I had decided against it until I stumbled upon this pattern.  The Snappy Toddler Top by Prudent Baby. 

Sweet pattern, no?  My Miss 12 months is extremely small and narrow (she could fit size 6 months across the chest) so I took out some width and then shortened the collar a little....probably a little too much based on how high those clips are sitting.

Additionally I added some crochet lace trim to the bottom at the last minute just to lengthen the pattern a little.  Tried it on a grumpy V this morning with some resistance and it fits nicely, just won't fit for long, but it was such a quick and easy pattern another could be made up in a couple of hours.

A word of advice on the collar - I would definitely wait until you have finished sewing the garment before you add the snap clips.  The tutorial called for putting them in before sewing, but I did not like this, and had an awful time trying to sew around them when making the collar and also attaching it to the bodice ... not a good way to get a neat result.  I should have read ahead and realised that would happen, but launched into the instructions without thinking, so the end result isn't as nice as what I'd like but it'll do.  Don't think you can notice it.

Overall I definitely approve of this little design!  

Hope you're looking forward to your weekend - we're on the downhill run to Friday evening now!

More creative spaces here.

Wiksten Tank

I've been meaning to make this post of my first Wiksten Tank for weeks now, but unfortunately my DSLR is dead so I've given up trying to get a nice shot of this on me, here's a phone image of my tank instead.

I made this tank a couple of months back.  Overall this is a great pattern to follow, I love the beautiful finishes and french seams, it makes for such a nice product to wear.  Unfortunately as I'm still nursing/feeding Violet, I'm really in between sizes, so I had to make some modifications to the medium and it's not a great fit.

Like many others, I also think the neckline could be just a cm or two higher to avoid the feeling of having to check for my underwear constantly, but overall I will definitely make this one again - it looks and feels fantastic in the Liberty Tana Lawn.  Next one perhaps in a soft and floaty Voile like Ros'...gorgeous!

Happy Christmas Eve - I have one very excited 4 year old today.  :)

Shop update

I've been very busy this week making and crafting for Christmas, but just a quick post tonight to let you know that I have a small bunch of new bibs in shop for those interested.  Great for baby showers/new baby gifts and special little people.  The latest batch I've made with some gorgeous Maze and Vale prints. 

If you'd like one you can find them here.

Easy Handmade Christmas Cards for kids

Yesterday we made our own Christmas cards!  I loved Merrilee's idea last year, but alas, at 8.5 months pregnant and with family stuff/illness going on I didn't get the chance then. I'd forgotten all about it until I was reminded of it again over at Grace designs last week.

This was a super easy craft and therefore great for a four year old to manage.  We just used watercolours instead of fingerprinting inks, and it turned out fine -  I printed the image onto blank cards I already had and it took about 30 mins for the lot.   It's safe to say I loved this craft.  It was just like colouring in to me -  placing all those little coloured dots onto the page....so therapeutic.  I wished I could keep going and going and I think I liked it more than the 4 year old!

Now we have cards for preschool teachers and a few other special people, handmade with love.  *High five!*


If you need to make some too, you'll find the template here on the Mer Mag blog.

DIY Polymer Clay Necklaces

My handmade Christmas is well underway here in an attempt to stay organised and not too stressed. Last weekend I made up these necklaces for Miss 4's preschool teachers.  I first spotted this fantastic idea over at Pip's and thought it was worth a go.  It totally was!

They were such fun to do, really quick and easy, and something that Ellie could help with threading for her teachers - exactly the kind of project I needed for my teacher gifts. Unfortunately the teachers always seem to be the last thing I get to, and I really try to avoid giving chocolates (having seen the amount of food my teacher friends receive - enough to last the century!!).


How to!

A few of my friends have already asked me how it's done, so here's how I made mine (I'm sure there are lots of different ways!):

1.  Head to your local art/craft shop and buy some 'Fimo soft' polymer clay (or 'Sculpey' as an alternative) as well as some durable / strong cord.  I just used cotton braided thread.  I got about 10-14 beads out of one 85g packet, but you may get more or less depending on the size of your beads.

2.  Cut your clay evenly on a hard surface -  dividing the clay into even portions will obviously give you beads around the same size.   I worked with mine on the dining table protected by baking paper as the colour does come out of the darkly pigmented clay.  If you don't want any colour to mix between beads, my advice is to change your baking paper and wash your hands for each colour used as there are a few clay crumbs.  If you want, you can combine and marble colours.  There are some good youtube videos on how to do that, but I preferred mine as a block colour for now.

3.  Form your beads to a desired shape and create a hole big enough to thread, depending on the thread you're using - I used a toothpick for mine, but you really could use anything that works in the same way.  Make sure you check the hole size before you bake the whole batch,  the clay should be firm enough to do this.  The sky really is the limit with the shapes and kinds of beads you make - be creative and try something really interesting!

4.  Lay the beads onto baking paper lined tray and bake exactly as directed on the packet.  Take care with the oven temp and length of time you bake - I used a separate oven thermometer to ensure it didn't overheat as I have heard that the fumes from overheated polymer clay aren't too healthy.

5. Once cooled completely, thread onto string as desired and tie a secure knot.

6.  Gift (or wear) your lovely new necklace!


For me, the hardest bit was regulating my oven temperature to 110 degrees C as my thermostat is completely hopeless but despite that,  this batch came out well, so I'm planning on making a couple more batches for special people and stocking fillers.  I'm also giving myself a few days between batches as rolling out the clay gave me a bit of a sore hand for the rest of the day (nothing serious but pace yourself and don't overdo it with hundreds and hundreds of beads. Trust me, I know a bit about hands).

I hope they appreciate the idea - what do you think?  Would you like to receive something like this?

Sammy.

Clothtopus complete and off to his new home shortly.  This is such a delightful pattern from Fiona's book (love!) and a great scrap buster.

I used a range of handprinted fabrics, quilting cottons and linen (some Yardage Design, Publisher Textiles and Lotta in there).  Fun to sew, a little fiddly to close - I hope he holds up.

We wouldn't mind if he stayed really, but he has little arms waiting, so off he goes.

Something lovely.

How lovely are these beautiful pieces from Grace Designs' 'Evenings' collection?  Ros has created an absolutely stunning range of limited edition handmade headwear, perfect for special occasions  - brides,  fancy dress parties, or even with a frock at a ball or gala event. 

I'm absolutely loving the combo of vintage glam and fresh simplicity in these pieces.  Now I'm wishing I had much longer hair (but I am trying to grow it for a change, so headwear might not be too far away for me!  Oh the pain of going from short to some kind of length...)

If you like the look of these, take a peek over at Grace Designs for more something lovelies.  

Grace Designs products are available in Ros' etsy store, her website, or if you're a local in Shop Handmade, Canberra.

[all images courtesy of Grace Designs]

Noodlehead Envelope Clutch pattern review

With two upcoming weddings to attend, I finally found time for a little bit of sewing for me!  Last weekend I completed Anna's latest pattern release - the Envelope Clutch.  I've been dying to have a crack at this clutch, and of course, I was not disappointed.  This is another fantastic pattern from Anna, and I really enjoyed the process of putting it together. 

The envelope clutch pdf pattern comes complete with full scale printable pattern pieces, and heaps of options for you to create the clutch that's just right for you - small or large, two flap options, with or without wrist band, piping or shoulder strap, internal pocket and card holders as well as instructions for turning this into an iPad case.  You can completely customise this little lovely into whatever clutch takes your fancy.

I chose to use a black and white geometric print for the exterior and some grey for interior. I'm hoping this will mean I'll get a fair bit of wear out of it. 

Due to my fabric choice, I chose to omit the topstitching on the clutch flap, as I preferred the smooth finish instead of the contrast of thread against black and white exterior.  I also selected the option of inserting an interior pocket and card holder and adding some piping to the front flap.  This was my first go at piping but because I was so desperate to get sewing and complete the clutch, I tried to get away with using my zipper foot instead of a piping foot which I didn't have - not a great idea.  It turned out OK in the end but was annoying and fiddly to complete neatly.  Note to self:  follow Anna's instructions and purchase a piping foot for next time.

I've made myself a promise to use as many stash fabrics as I can this year, so instead of purchasing canvas as is called for in the pattern, I thought I'd have a go at using some unused thrifted denim that I had been hoarding for ages.  It worked great, and I gives the clutch a nice heavy feel in the hand.  I also added in some fusible wadding to the exterior pieces as I was worried the bag would not be stiff enough using the denim instead of canvas.  The result was great, and I love that my clutch is a teeny bit soft and plump in the hand.

Now that I've got my accessories sorted it's off to the closet to work out the rest of the outfit!  Ideas and suggestions welcome.  I'm thinking colour block green top and black pencil skirt + opaques with heels?

All in all this is definitely a pattern worth the purchase - well written, clear instructions that are easy to follow.   You can find it here along with all of Anna's other great bag patterns. 

Pink Pincushion

Life has been rough here the last couple of weeks.  All members of my little family have fallen ill, with husband developing early Pneumonia, toddler with asthma, and finally 8 week old to get sick with a horrid respiratory bug.   Not nice.  Therefore not much chance to jump on the machine, but I did squeeze in this pretty pink pincushion for my lovely sister who is learning to sew.  You can't go past a bit of liberty, solid pink, natural linen and a vintage button for a cute gift.

Tutorial from here if you'd like to make one too. 

Handmade Living Blog Tour

Hello!  I'm excited, because the release of Handmade Living is not too far away!  You will be able to purchase your copy from the Handmade Market this weekend, in my shop from the 4th December or in bookstores from Monday 6th.  This book would make a really nice Christmas gift for crafty friends, or even friends who would love to start their handmade journey but don't quite know where to begin. It features some fantastic gift ideas that you could whip up quickly too.

If you'd like a sneak peak inside, then come and follow the Handmade Living Blog Tour where today,  the very talented Ros of Grace Designs is guest posting at A Spoonful of Sugar Blog.  If you pop over now, you can have a little peek at one of my items included in the book,  and a few others too! (Yum!)

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Hope you're all having a lovely week, it's wet wet wet here in Sydney, we're suffering from a little cabin fever, but we can't complain as I'm sure we are in for a long hot Summer.

xo

Something old, something new....

I made this purse yesterday. It's so tiny, but tiny can be good, right?. I recently bought a bunch of little square purse frames that are about 3 inches wide (didn't realise how little until I got them!) but they are really growing on me.

This one is made of fresh linen and vintage crochet, with the same vintage lining as my recent tote bag. Working with frames this small is really tricky, especially when sewing the purse, turning it out, and attaching the frame (I guess that's pretty much the whole thing). But it's all worth it when it works!

This is my first attempt at drafting my own pattern for a purse based on it's frame. There are lots of mistakes, but I'm learning about being careful and accurate and PATIENT. If you don't know me, this is not one of my virtues when making things... I prefer it to be quick and easy, yet perfect at the same time, and when I spend a long time on it, It had better work. When it doesnt work I get disheartened.

This little tiny thing is for a lovely friend who is getting married in a few weeks. I wanted her to have something for her, not just "for the house" as tends to be the wedding gift norm. The house might still get a gift, but this one is just for her. It fits 3 of four criteria....old, new, and blue. Don't know how I'd get borrowed into a bag...

That's about it for tiny purses today. Exciting mail came yesterday too....will post about that a little later in the week. Bye! x

Finished Tote

Here it is. Another tote bag finished. This time, a birthday gift for a lovely friend. I made this with my usual suspects - vintage embroidered items teamed with natural linen, and lined with a vintage cotton. Love the colour of the lining myself....I don't know if blue roses actually exist, but I like them. This little one is off to suprise her new owner tomorrow (I don't think she follows this blog....hope not!).

Another zippered pouch

Here is another of my purses recently made. I quite like it, but am disappointed that I used a vintage zipper to try and repurpose some older materials, however, after it was completed, I noticed that the zipper is a bit stiff. Any ideas on how I could make it smooth? I've heard of soap and also candle wax, and so far I've tried the soap unsuccessfully. Oh well. It smells very sweet now! If I can't sell this one someday I will keep it up my sleeve for something else.

I haven't yet had any labels made. So I've been inserting a little red grosgrain ribbon with white stitching inside the purses. I've realised that on the side you can't really see it very well unless you peek carefully, so I might have to try putting it somewhere else.

I'm also fond of the gingham lining. Happy with the old-fashioned but fresh look it's giving.

Mr Postman Delivery: Hand-knitting

I thought I'd add another quick post today - this little present arrived in the mail this morning. It's a hand-knitted vest by Eleanor's great-Nan. She sent it down from Molong this week. Isn't it cute? I think Madam approves.

Hand made is the best!

Something I've been working on...

Hello everyone. I'd like to show you something I've been working on. I'm a bit nervous to show you, because I'm not sure you'll like it, but here goes...

Seeing as I love vintage linens and embroidery/crochet so much, I thought it might be nice to use them in my sewing. I have made several zippered pouches that could be used as a coin purse/small makeup pouch or jewellery holder, and I also have several other ideas in the works. I've mixed the vintage pieces with a natural linen/cotton as I think they complement each other nicely.

The scary thing is that I have decided to start a little adventure, and perhaps sell some of these...Yikes! What am I getting myself into? It is completely freaking me out that someone might buy one and think it's terrible, but I will give it a go anyhow. I would like to get some sort of store up and running in the next few months, so we shall see what happens I guess.

This above purse is my favourite so far. I love birds in embroidery.

So please tell me - do you like? (If you do, I might show you some more over the next week.)

Tutorial: Super-Easy Cosy Scarf

Following requests from you guys, here is the tutorial for making a super-quick and easy (but very warm and cosy) winter scarf. If you're new to sewing, this is a nice easy project to undertake. A great stocking filler for Christmas if you live in the Northern Hemisphere, or make one right now if you live near me!

Materials Needed:

• Sewing Machine
• 20cm (8 inches) of Polar Fleece in the colour of your choice. [You will use the full width of the fabric selvage to selvage]
• Matching Thread
• Scissors
• Ruler or tape measure

Tips for Success:

• Use sharp, good quality scissors for cutting a nice straight edge.
• Pin carefully before sewing to ensure your edges do not roll and slip.
• For a nice straight seam, use a post-it note or masking tape on your sewing machine to mark where the edge of your fabric should be.
• Press your fabric using the correct settings on your iron to ensure that you can cut neatly and accurately.

Method:

1. Lay out your fabric and cut a 6 1/2" (or 16 cm) piece of polar fleece. Make sure your edge is nice and straight.

2. Carefully and neatly trim both selvages.

3. Fold the fabric in half along the long edges of the fabric with right sides together and pin securely in place as shown.

4. Sew around the 3 open edges with a 1/2" seam leaving an opening at the end of your sewing for turning your scarf out the right way. Use a 1cm seam if you prefer metric measurements. It's OK if you don't have exactly the same seam allowance as specified provided you are consistent throughout your sewing.

5. Turn your scarf out the right way so the wrong sides are facing inwards.

6. Press your scarf if required, but take care to use the correct setting for this fabric on your iron.

7. Pin around all edges to ensure that your fabric is flat and so that your seam stays straight and does not roll while you are topstitching. Ensure that your open edges are turned under and pinned securely.

8. Topstitch around all four edges of your scarf close to the edge, ensuring that you catch the folded and pinned edges of your opening gap and therefore seal it closed. Keep a neat, straight seam for a nicely finished look. I used a 1cm seam on my scarf.

9. Yay! Your finished! Fasten your scarf around your neck, or fold it neatly and take a photo and be sure to send it to me so I can see your lovely work!

Variations:

• Make this scarf in different lengths, widths and colours to suit the person who will wear it. You might like to make a tiny one for your little person!
• If you are confident, why not try topstitching some more straight lines along the length of the scarf for a ribbed effect?

Enjoy this tutorial, and don't forget I would love to see your finished products!