Felt Elf Wine Bottle Topper

Make a elf wine bottle topper, completely removable

A rectangle of felt, wrapped around the top of the bottle and then hand sewn into place.  Sew a piece of fake fur to the inside of the hat for his bead, and then glue on a wooden ball for the nose.  Simple

This idea was found on Pinterest, what an amazing site that is?

Judy

Wooden Bead Bookmarks

For a quick and easy gift you can make with your children, try these Wooden Bead Bookmarks.

Requirements:
Wooden Bead with hole
Leather thong - cord would work just as well
Wool for hair
Glue
Paint for face

Just cut the leather thong to the desired length, remembering to keep it doubled.

Thread the doubled leather thong through the wooden bead

Wind some wool around your fingers, till nice and full and then thread it through the looped end of the thong, pull tight.  At this stage you may like to put a little glue underneath the hair to hold in place.

Paint a face on the wooden ball, anything you desire

Now all you need to do, is pop them between the pages of your book

The little wooden head pops up above the top of the book and the thonging is inserted between the pages

These make a great gift for teachers, family and friends

Enjoy your weekend, I may just relax on the lounge and finish reading this book.

Judy

Desperate Measures

After a trip into town this morning, I was told that the new remote for the air conditioner in the craft studio is at least a week away, it has not even left the factory in Adelaide!  Aghhhhhhh.....

As I also use the craft studio to pack the orders for my online store, this is getting to be quite a nuisance, therefore I made a little purchase today.

 

Remember those old-fashioned water filled coolers?  This one works on the same principle, takes about 13 litres of water to fill, fingers crossed it will do the job.

 

I have some tasks that I can complete in the house, where the evaporative air conditioner is working.

A big box of supplies for the online store to package, price and put away.

 

 

I will start on this, today, while watching a movie or the tennis. It's a hard life!

 

I also received my order for fold over elastic to make some hair ties as gifts. The colours are just so pretty.

 

 

These are very simple to make, and I will be able to make them in front of the TV.  Not much else you can do on these really hot days.  Although the linen cupboard does need a cleanout and tidy-up!

 

Until next time, keep cool

Judy

More Fabric Boxes

My sister Sue came over for a sewing night, last night.  She wanted to make some of the Fabric Boxes.  She completely finished 1 and had another 2 completed to the sew on the buttons stage.  I loved the colours of her fabric.

 

 

 

This is what the box looks like before folding down the corners.  Looks a little like a crown or a noodle box (?)

 

 

The next photo is of my sister, concentrating hard on her hand sewing.  She is going to kill chastise me for putting this photo up, but it is all good fun.

 

 

I was supposed to be sewing, but could not settle on anything.  I tried to work out how to cut triangles using the 60 degree line on my quilters ruler, and it was not working.  The more I tried to figure it out, the more frustrated I become ... this morning, it worked like a charm.. Just goes to show what a good nights sleep does for your concentration.

 

Until next time

Judy

Fabric Boxes

I wanted a quick and easy craft that could use up scrap fabric (which I have a lot of!).  I remembered this tutorial from Seaside Stitches that I had pinned before Christmas but did not get around to investigating further. 

 

Fabric boxes, quick, easy, practical and uses up very little fabric.  Just 2 x 10" squares and the same size of batting is all that is required.  The ideal project.

 

They are quite sturdy and would be great as a gift box, you could fill them with chocolates, nuts, sewing gifts, small toys, anything .....

 

Closeups of each of the boxes

 

 

 

 

All three boxes were made in just under 2 hours.  The longest part was sewing down the flaps inside, and sewing on the buttons.  I think a few of these in the gift box would come in very handy.

 

I have a list of little projects that need to be finished off in the near future.  Some items that have been promised to family members, but not yet made. 

 

1.  Card Holder Key Ring (Ann & Janet)

2.  Aussie Sunglasses Case (Sue)

3.  Fabric Door Stop (Renee)

 

Our next major holiday is "Australia Day" on January 26th, so I will have to create something for that, any ideas?   Maybe one of these little boxes in Australiana print, filled with Vegemite and Tim Tams (Yum)

 

 

Judy

Getting Ready

While it was so hot yesterday, I finished off some preparations for Christmas as well as some doggy gifts.

 

Selina from Selina Quilts made some for Christmas last year, and I gave myself a reminder to make some this year for all my family and friends dogs.  I used some thicker fabric, and used a "old" Debbie Mumm panel print for the graphics.  I think they turned out rather cute?

 

The sizing I used for the 600 ml Mt Franklin water bottles were 12" x 5 1/2", just in case you want to make some.  I should explain they only have the empty water bottle inside, which makes a lovely crunchy noise when chewed on.  Great inexpensive toy for your dog.

 

 

I still have four more to finish, I just ran out of empty water bottles, however in this heat, I should have them finished very soon

 

 

Of course, I gave my old dog Brandy one to take for a test drive.

 

  

 

OK, I think I will keep it, thanks.

 

 

This year our Christmas, is called the "off" year, when it is the partners turn to have Christmas with their family.  That means NO kids, boo hoo - I love having the kids home for Christmas, the excitement is contagious.  So we will only have 18 adults for Christmas day.  As you can imagine seating that many is difficult, so we go with the casual seating.  All the cutlery is bundled up for easy access.  This year, I have wrapped them in a serviette, secured them with a Christmas hair band, and tucked a mini candy cane through.  Festive enough?

 

 

These stationary containers make a ideal container for the cutlery.

 

 

Last little task was to try and make some fans.  These turned out OK but I would not claim them as one of my greatest achievements.  I just used corrugated cardboard, glued together for strength, sewed across the top for the green ones and then decorated with Christmas stickers.  The brown ones I kept plain and just used the red cotton as the accent. As they will probably end up a throw away item, I did not spend much time on them.  Although I must admit they are very effective.  They will keep us cool as well as keep the flies away.

 

 

I have not ventured into the craft studio today, lazy day in the air conditioning. 

This may be the last project I do until after the Christmas - New Year holiday, but it has certainly been a fun year.

 

To you and your family, have a wonderful Christmas

 

Judy

Where have the days gone?

I cannot believe that I have not updated my blog at all this month, and it is already the 15th?
What have I been doing, you may ask?  Well to be truthful, not much! Obviously... although that is not entirely true, as the online store has been keeping me very busy.

I did get a chance to make a couple of little Notepad holders, based on a tutorial from "The Art of Homemaking"

 

This was the first one I made (for myself) - as you look at the photos, try and see an obvious mistake.

 

The inside contains a little pocket for a pen or business cards or coupons and two elastic loops to slide your notepad through

 

 

I did fix the problem after these photos were taken, however with the next set, see if you can find it?

 

Another one was made for my sister, Sue

 

 

The inside

 

 

Did you notice the difference, yes the loop was on the wrong side on the original one.  I was trying too hard to ensure that the printing was the right way up ... oops

 

The original instructions were for a 4" x 8" notepad, and the ones I had on hand were 3" x 5" so a little bit of playing was required to ensure I got the sizing right.

I have already put mine to use, and I love the convenience of it ... more little gifts to add to my gift box.

 

I hope to make a couple more very soon

Judy

 

 

 

Wedding Wallet

Since my niece Kate and her fiance Matt already have a home together there was a request with the wedding invitation not to purchase a wedding gift. They decided to have a wishing well, where a gift of money can be deposited (with a wish) if you wanted to participate.

I thought this a great idea, but decided to put my own little touch on it, by placing my monetary gift into a little wallet.

I have some lovely wedding fabric, which was used with charcoal grey polka dot fabric

The back of the wallet

The inside of the wallet, space to put my money as well as a note to the bride and groom.

Now to come clean ... The wedding fabric was supposed to be on the inside of the wallet, the polka dots on the outside, so that it could be used at any time .... oops ... however once I realised my mistake, the wallet was already finished, and I didn't mind the finished results...  I have now made a note on my pattern to ensure that I know which piece of fabric I put down first to ensure that it does not happen again.

While I had the sewing machine out, I made my sister Sue (mother of the bride) a loyalty card holder as requested.  She loved the batik fabric I used for the headband, so I used some more for her holder.

I love the inside fabric

Waiting to be filled.

This is a fabulous pattern.  I wonder how many more requests I get from family at the wedding next week.

Until then

Judy

Tea Wallets

My friend Belinda emailed me this pattern, she had found it on a blog but could not remember where, so my apologies to the owner / originator.

Update:  Belinda has provided the link
http://blog.westseattlefabriccompany.com/2013/01/tea-wallet-tutorial.html

The tea wallet opened, holds six tea packets easily

Then it folds up into a nice neat wallet, with a button closure

The blue and brown one above was the first one I made, and I thought it was quick and easy, however I decided to time the next one.  Yes, I was right, from the cutting out stage to completion it did not take more than 30 minutes.  This will be a great "last minute" gift idea, and you could exchange the tea packets for coffee packets if desired.

Floral Tea Wallet

Now the real reason I was in the sewing room today, was to make my dog a safety coat.  I walk of an evening, and it is now dark when I set off.  I wear a safety vest, however my dog Brandy is nearly invisible.

I purchased another inexpensive safety vest and cut it up to make his coat, which I lined with polar fleece for comfort.

Now these are not the best photos of my dog, he is desperately in need of a bath and brush, but it was only 12 degrees today, much to cold to give him a bath

Brandy is 15 years old and is commonly known as a "Heinz" variety, no real pedigree, but a wonderful companion.

Now we will both be safe, when we go for our walks

Judy

Lip Balm Holders - Testing

 

I have been playing, trying to make a "usable" lip balm holder.  Something that I can attach to my bag or keyring so that I am not always trying to find it down in the bottom of my bag

 

It took three attempts to get something that I was satisfied with ...

 

No 1:  Both the keyring and the strap was too wide for the holder, also the holder was a little snug

No 2:  Keyring better size, however strap was too long.  Also holder a little long

No 3:  This is nearly right - everything looks in proportion

 

I will make a few more and put them in my gift box - if anyone wants a tutorial for making these, just leave a comment, and I will take step by step photos when I make the next one.

 

I also completed one more breast cancer bag.  My co-ordinator stated that the hospital is slowing down on needing the bags (isn't that fantastic news), so we can slow down on the production line.  I will still continue to make them, as it is a great cause, and when I want to sew, I can just pick up one of these to make.

 

The fabric in this bag was purchased from the furnishing section of Spotlight.  I bought 1/2 metre and it is enough to make the outside of two bags ... I love it

 

 

 

Judy

Little Zippered Pouch

I do not know if I have told you, however I am not confident when it comes to sewing in zippers!
While visiting my sister today in Albury, we decided to try and make a little pouch (with a zipper)

This little pouch was originally just a 6 1/2" square with 1/2" tapered from the top to the bottom, and then boxed at the bottom to give this nicely shaped pouched.

It was lined, however the battery in my camera went flat before I could get a photo of the pouch opened so that I could show you the lining.

It was very quick to make, and the zipper, although not perfect, was not too bad!

With the swivel hoop attached, it could be used for a number of purposes... while out walking clipped to your belt, inside your handbag for easy access

What would you use it for?  I think I may make another one, a little larger for my toiletries

The next photo is of the one my sister made, in the background.  Luckily she went first, and I could learn from her mistakes (remember to leave zipper open, so you can turn it right side out, he he), and / or work out a easier way of making it. 

Judy