A bowl full of cuttings!

Guess what this bowl of wool cuttings mean?

Yes, that is right - I finally learnt how to tie in all the wool ends.  When I decided to start a crochet project I thought I was being smart starting with lots of squares so that I could hide the less perfect ones with the ones that got better as I went along.  I never accounted for the fact that there would be all the ends to sew in to the squares.  Never the less I haven't minded it at all - I love hand sewing - fabric, wool, stitchery's, applique!  I just love how they all look - even just as squares.

I have been working with this pile of fabrics -

I have been making some cushions and a bedside table cover with them.  Remember the ribbon fabric I made a few posts ago - well this is the project it has gone into.

A busy week of catch up

After all the time off, this week has been a busy week of trying to make my list of "To Do's" into "Dones"!  What started off as a very long list and a frantic panic on my behalf  has slowly been whittled away.  So often I know exactly what is to be finished off in my head and so I start making my way through it only to be side tracked by other projects along the way - usually of the making and sewing variety rather than off the paper work completing.  So after some helpful advice by Justine (thanks Justine!) I have been crossing off items on my written list. 

Last post I showed you a sneak at what I have been creating and yes I have had rainbows on my mind.  Introducing my new Hairclip Hangers.

These Hairclip Hangers have just been listed in my Etsy Shop.  These Hairclip Hangers are a great way to tidy up all those draws and boxes of clips and ribbons onto one cute neat and tidy accessory.  You can keep all your pairs of clips together down the sides and ribbons tie onto the centre sewn ribbon. These would make sweet gifts for young girls for presents or with Christmas just around the corner. 

Also just listed in my Etsy Shop are Plum Pudding Felt Kits. 

With Christmas just around the corner there is still plenty of time to make these to decorate and trim your tree this year.

I have also been working on some other orders this week.  One custom order was for a Halloween twist on my Party Bags.  So with some not too scary ghosts and the request for velvet some children will have an extra sweet surprise this Halloween.

And this special package has been posted with more to come once it is received at its new home !!!!

Back into the swing of things.

After the events of last week life is going back to normal - well except for this stupid head cold I seem to have inherited!.  Thanks to everyone for the wishes and flowers and kind words.

Sunday was Upmarket day and silly me forgot my camera so I don't have any photos to show you from the day but it all went well.  It was wonderful to see lots of familiar faces from all my different paths.  I was most especially touched by one lady and her daughter.  They came up to me and said that they had purchased on of my Notebook Keeper Patterns and Kits from the June Upmarket.  She wanted to let me know that they had a great time making it together and found the instructions easy to read and they have since made some more.  That really made my day.  Lots of people wanted to know which felt character was next in the works for a kit so I will put them on the "To Do List." 

This is the next stage in my secret sewing project.  All the squares have now been cut and re-arranged and sewn back together.  I was amazed at how quickly it all came together.  This is called a "Disappearing 9 Patch".  If you google disappearing 9 patch tutorial there are a whole heap of tutorials around.

This big pile of Ribbon arrived earlier this week and just in case you didn't know, I just love ribbon.  I am not sure it is possible to have to much of it.  Mine is all stored on a hanging system called "Ribbon Ring".  While it takes a while to sort them all out I just love how all the colours are organised (mine by colour) and don't tangle because they are hanging up.



Saturday is Stitching Day again so I will remember my camera and look forward to a fun filled day of stitching and laughter.

A clean room - finally and a GIVEAWAY!

Well at least now I can work in my sewing room!  While the amount of sewing still is no where near optimum, I can now see the floor and have space to work.  I like to be organised as those who know me could well say so.  Being in a state of chaos just causes me angst. 

I have worked on some little projects this week  like this custom order brooch.

And this special quilt is now finished.  If you have read my earlier posts then you may recognise this quilt that was under my sewing machine at the time.  This quilt belongs to my friend Katrina.  I hope she likes it.  It has been a well travelled quilt as once I finished hand sewing a set of blocks I would send them to her in the mail (all the way over to America).  When she came home last Christmas a large pile of squares was given back to me, to be all sewn up into this Chelsea Bloom Quilt. 

Last post I said how it was my goal for the week to get my little online shop "Online".  Well I did in the end achieve this.  I have set up an Etsy shop - there is a link on the side bar.  I have listed a small number of items at this stage and as the weeks go on I will continue to add new items in my shop.  Go and have a look at www.tiedwitharibbon.etsy.com .

To celebrate this big milestone I am having my first Giveaway. 

 If you would like to win this Notebook Keeper sewn by me:

1. To enter leave a comment on this post (one comment only please).
2. Leave a comment before Wednesday 21st July and I will announce the winner in my next post.
3. I will post anywhere so if you live internationally you may also enter.
4. I will use the random number generator to pick a winning comment number.

EDIT - Giveaway is now closed

Buttons and Ribbons

Well I am not sure how it has gotten to be the middle of May already!  I have been away hence the time delay since my last post.  I have been visiting Family over in Melbourne.  It is always good to catch up with loved ones and with several states between us it does not happen as often as I would like.

In the meantime my sewing room was rather full of packages and parcels that arrived while I was away, so a big tidy up was on the adgenda before any sewing could commence.  Not only do I love ribbons (of course) but I almost equally love buttons so my stash has been refilled with some of my favourites awaiting projects and orders.

So eventually once I could see my sewing machine again, it was time to complete an order for Party Bags - A special order for a little boy and girls' joint birthday party. 

Whilst in Melbourne I was able to pick up some new fabric.  I saw and just had to have this fabric from Earthgirl Fabrics.

I am going to make some summer dresses for my two beautiful girls.

Easter Stitching

With Easter just around the corner I have been busy stitching and creating Easter Treats of the non-fattening variety. With many little ones that we give to at Easter time, chocolate seems to be in abundance so I like to give gifts that last a little longer. Lots of felt bunnies have been waiting to be made.

I have been working on a few special orders in the theme of "Easter Hat Parades". I can remember as a kid all the time spent preparing and creating such hats with my brothers and sisters and it delights me that the tradition still stands.

It is also my younger daughters birthday next week so I have been sewing Party Bags. The fabric with the doughnuts on it was just calling to made into lolly bags for the kids to take home. It looks just delicious.