Friday 28 June 2013

Yee-ha!

Finally! I can finally post these pics! This is the make-up roll that I was making for my sister. It only took me a couple of hours one Sunday and I finished off the closing stitches during the week. I wanted to wait until I posted it to her so she wouldn't see the secret bits I added!

The pattern was from an edition of Craft Seller from a couple of summers ago. I simplified it as it was made from almost patchwork style bits and I wanted a solid  print. 

Quite simply,

- cut two pieces of fabric to 21 x 30 cm. these will be the outside and inside of the roll.

- cut another piece of fabric to 16 x 30 cm. this will be the pocket.

- iron interfacing to the back of all three pieces of fabric. This gives your work structure and stiffness. You might prefer a looser roll so feel free to skip the interfacing on the two larger pieces BUT do still interface the pocket fabric as it will make it more hard-wearing and professional looking.

- take the pocket material and fold over half a centimetre and the top long edge, then fold it over again. Iron the fold to smooth it down the run a quick straight stitch along it on the sewing machine.

- Put the pocket material wrong side down on the right side of the inner fabric piece, pin together and sew vertical lines starting at 1 inch from the left. Carry on sewing along 1 inch intervals to create the brush pockets. You will have a wider gap for the last pocket but this was intentional as my sis wanted to make sure she could fit her big blusher brush in!

- Pin the outer piece and the now-joined inner piece and pocket right sides together, pin and sew a straight stitch seam about 1 cm from the edge. Remember to leave a gap to turn right side out.

I added a ribbon in before I machine-stitched the piece. I simply got a length of ribbon - up to you what length - and pinned it into the seam with the ribbon being tucked out of the way inside.

- iron, turn out using a chopstick if needed to push corners out neatly. Before I turned mine out, I chopped the corners off diagonally to try and get sharper corners.

- add button or any other embellishments, hand-stitch opening closed, roll et voila! :)

Sis had picked the fabric from my stash. It's Cath Kidston Cowboy fabric and it's quite thick. She then chose red polkadot for the pockets and I added the handmade fabric button and swallow ribbon. The ribbon was free with Cloth magazine and you might remember I added it to a hat I bought a few weeks ago. And to the photos...






Tuesday 25 June 2013

Wash Tape Fun!

I had a craft extravaganza this weekend. A craft-travaganza, if you will. :) I had been pinning and liking lots of things on Pinterest and decided to stop pinning and get crafting! I tried my hand at stripe colour-blocking and thought I'd decorate a thick cardboard cd box I got from Hobbycraft a while back. It was on sale and has a cute chalkboard paint bit at the front. CDs?! Pah... Sewing stash, more like! 

I used some washi tape to create areas I didn't want the paint on and quickly covered the lid in coral-coloured acrylic paint like so:


Then came the fun peeling bit... 



It's a bit like a Pinterest post I saw about making wall canvases from old shoebox lids but I resisted the temptation to stick it on the wall!

I added some measuring tape patterned washi tape round the edge of the box like so:


And here's the finished box, complete with handmade-by-me resin chrysanthemum glued on the front. What do you think?!


Monday 17 June 2013

Vintage-esque Photo Fun!


I love the app 'old photo pro'. There, I said it. I don't work for them or anything but it's just a cool app for when you want a straightforward vintage filter with no messing. I've vintaged up quite a few photos with it but wanted to share these two...


It's the top corner of our small bookcase in the living room. There's a cute key print square plate I got on eBay and a gorgeous Ashleigh and Burwood fragrance lamp we got as a wedding gift. Behind is the birthday card I got hubby and an empty frame I have yet to fill. Card from an independent art shop in Edinburgh - Edinburgh Art Shop, funnily enough! 

The photo below is my craft book shelf. I devour craft instructions and ideas and inspirations so always assumed I had loads of craft books but I actually don't! When we rejigged the living room and I put in this bookcase, I thought they would fill it but no! Has given me the excuse to buy more, though! Now... To find a place for all my magazines! 


Roll up!

My lovely sister was over at the weekend. I love my Saturdays with my big sis! We made tapas and other snacks for lunch - chorizo in red wine, red pepper Spanish omelette, lemon houmous and breads, since you ask. Sis brought homemade sunflower bread and it was YUM! :)

She also helped me to sort out my craft brain (see previous post re too much inspiration and not enough focus) so I am thanking her by custom-making a make-up brush roll for her holidays. Sis picked the materials from my stash -Cath Kidston cowboy print and some red and white polkadot - and I started working on it the next day. 

It's a pattern I tweaked from an old edition of 'Craft Seller' magazine and basically you need to cut two pieces of fabric measuring 21 x 30 cm and one piece of 16 x 30 cm (for the inside brush pocket).


It's actually almost done with just the final slipstitches needed to close it. I'll post more when it's done but here's a sneak preview of the button I made from the cowboy fabric and one of those self-cover buttons. 


Can I get a big YEEEEEEEHA!!!! xx

Tuesday 11 June 2013

Lotsa Craftin!

Argh!  Do you ever get those times when you simply can't decide what to make?  I need to craft.  Scratch that.  I NEEEEED to craft!  It's an outlet for my soul and a great way to unwind - not to mention a fabulous way to ensure original gifts and homewards.

Do you ever get those times, though, when there's not a birthday coming up so no immediate cards or gifts to make?  Or not a massive need for any new home decorations?  I'm kind of at that stuck point just now!

Don't get me wrong - inspiration is everywhere.  I mean, look at my three latest magazines to get an idea of the cuteness I could be making...




I need to just stop looking at so many ideas and decide what to do next! Oh, and I'm also collating all my old jewellery-making stock so that's having a retro effect! Too many craft supplies!! :)

Tuesday 4 June 2013

Hats Off!

Happy early summer! :) It's finally here and we're having a few days off to celebrate our first wedding anniversary and my husband's birthday. The weather has been so kind to us and we've been able to spend time outdoors in the garden and have even had a barbecue. Bliss! 

I needed a new hat for summer so got one at the Garden Show on Friday. It's just a cheap one but is exactly the style I have been looking for and replaces the one I got in Italy a couple of years ago. Here's the new hat:


But that's not very crafty, I hear you say! Well, I mixed it up a bit! I had bought the most recent 'Cloth' Magazine swayed mostly by the free swallow trim. (My sewing skills are still in quite early days but the projects inside inspired me too!)

Here's the trim:


I set to work ironing the trim and cutting a length to fit on top of the brown ribbon. After a few shots getting it lined up nicely, I got the glue out. It was just tacky glue so dried quickly and worked well. And ta-dah... Here's my quickly-updated summer hat!


I love it!