My Creative Space

The last month or so, most of my crafting focus has revolved around 1 project. I am making a rag rug for my girls bedroom. It is a long, time consuming and repetitive job. 

It started with a whole lot of cutting-

Followed by a whole lot of sewing the strips together-

Followed by a whole lot of plating-

Like I said, a whole lot of repetition! But it has been worth it. I am 90% finished now and I am over joyed at how it is turning out. Fingers crossed, all going to plan, I will get it finished in the next week and I will be able to show you the results of all my hard work. 

My Creative Disaster, Formally known As My Creative Space

It is not very often my crafting goes bad, which is a good thing. Because, if it happened to often, I think I would be put off for life!

Last week I started knitting a little toy for a friend. Lots of fiddley little bits. As the knitting was nearly finished I thought to myself 'gosh, this would look really cool felted'. I should have stopped that line of thought then and there- hindsight is a wonderful thing. So I set too and began felting but alas it appears the wool I used was not very colourfast and quickly mottled in the hot water. Ever the optimist, I thought 'oh well I will just dye it back'. Well that did not work, as it is still very blotchy, just a much darker shade of blotchy. And, to top it all off, I now have smurf blue fingers for my efforts.

Lesson learnt.

To Market, To Market

This Saturday, I am doing my very first market (she says as she shakes in her boots!). I will be sharing a table with the lovely Nin from The Wardrobe. I have been working like furry these last few weeks to build up stock. Between us, I think we have a far bit of crafty goodness now to hopefully tempt and enchant a few of you. So if you are in Christchurch this Saturday, pop down and see us.

The Christmas Craft Market 
Outside- Goodbuy Blue Monday
Poplar Lane
Saturday 4th and Saturday 18th December
10am-4pm

My first Needle felt Figure

My first needle felt figure. It was honestly a lot easier than I imagined and a lot of fun too. We learnt the basics at my Steiner inspired parenting group and from there I just kind of winged it! But I am pleased with the way she has turned out. Holly thinks she is a princess and is loving her arrival in our home.

Think I have caught the needle felting bug, I have just started making an advent nativity scene to celebrate the countdown to Christmas.

A little Birds Nest

This week I have been trying felting for the first time. I made these tiny felted eggs by wet felting over small stones. I made the nest using a knitted bowl pattern, adjusting it to make it shallower. I am so pleased with how it has turned out, I know that Holly is going to be so happy with this wee gift on Christmas morning.

A Craft Retreat

Last Friday, I left my crippled husband sitting on the couch with the TV remote, the phone and the heat-pump remote all within hands reach, and happily told him I would see him in two days time, before skipping out the door on my way to the much anticipated craft retreat. I had already sent Holly on her merry way earlier that morning for a 'special holiday at Nan and Pop's house'. So, with the car packed up and the little one strapped in her car seat, we set off to pick up my sister and her wee baby before hitting the road.

As was to be expected, with 2 babies in the car, there were several stops to change nappies and feed. The 2.5 hour trip quickly blew out to 4 hours, not helped by the fact that google maps seemed to keep directing me down a road that did not exist!

So what exactly is a craft retreat I hear you ask? Well let me tell you... If you think school camp- communal hall, bunk beds etc. Then,  take away the bossy teachers.  Add, wine, good food and more sewing machines than you have ever seen in one place and you have a craft retreat!

We had a blast, there was all kinds of crafty goodness going on- sewing, knitting, spinning, quilting, felting, cross stitch, button making... the list goes on. So many skilled and talented ladies.

I managed to achieve a surprisingly good amount, given I had the little one in tow.

I made Holly a new skirt

Isla a new dress

and Both girls an I-spy bag

Now I just have to wait for the next one in 6 months time!

Oh and for those of you who may have wondered. The 2 babies were so worn out by craft camp that they slept the ENTIRE way home. So we made it home in recommended 2.5 hours and no, we did not follow google maps on the return trip.

My Creative Space

In My Creative Space today is Little Miss Martini Dress. I have to say I do enjoy making these little dolls every now and then. This Little Miss takes her name from the Amy Butler fabric that makes up her dress. She is lovely, bright and sunny. Think I must be taking inspiration from all the spring/summer dreaming I have been doing lately... winter is not my favorite season. 

Anyway, I have recently started up a felt shop and this Little Miss, along with a few other things I have made recently are up for sale there.

My Creative Space

My creative space today is my creative space. For a long time, I did most of my creating at the dining room table but became frustrated with having to pack and unpack it all. Next, I tried setting up my gear in our sleep-out. As the weather begun to cool with the onset of autumn, I had found my enthusiasm for sitting in the cold sleep-out had began to wain. So, this week, I moved all my crafty goodness into the spare room and set up a little creative space for myself in front of the window. And what a creative space it is- am finding it a very inspirational little spot!

World sweet world

I won a copy of this lovely little mag over a bobbyrobin's blog. It is a lovely little crafty read full of inspiring articles and ideas. Sadly, this is the last issue. if you can get your hands on a copy it is well worth the read. If not, check out their blog for a bit of crafty inspiration. 

Extra Curricular

It was with a touch of excitement, I opened the envelope which contained a copy of the magazine extra curricular earlier this week. I had heard about this mag from several sources in recent weeks and have to say, it lived up to expectation. This is a great little publication for anyone who has an interest in the New Zealand arts and craft scene. Of particular interest to me was an article titled 'craft living'. A great read about fellow crafters making a living from their crafty endeavors. It included fellow bloggers BamBam Creative &   Skipapple . If you are able to get your hands on a copy of this fabulous little publication, it is worth every cent.

Baby bunting tutorial

Thought I would post this for anyone wondering how to make baby bunting. It is really easy, looks lovely and makes a great gift for a new baby.

What you will need-

cotton fabric (non stretch) in a colour/pattern you like

a small amount of complementary coloured felt

2 meters of 25mm bias binding

embroidery cotton in same colour as felt

sewing thread

fabric marker/tailors chalk

embroidery ring

pins

scissors

sewing machine

Instructions-

1- Iron fabric, mark out and cut 14 squares from your cotton fabric measuring 15cm x 12cm.

2- Mark out your 5 letters and 2 hearts on your felt. Each letter should measure 6cm tall x 5cm wide. Cut out.

3- Find the centre of your fabric squares and pin letters onto centre of right side. Use your embroidery loop to hold fabric tight, attach the letters using blanket stitch. Gently press using Iron.

4- Taking 1 lettered square and 1 plain square, pin with right sides together. 

5- Using an overlocker, serge .5cm seams. If you don't have an overlocker, sew .5cm straight seams then use a zig-zag stitch to overlock edges. Leave a small gap of about 2 cm at the top of each square. Turn and press.

6- Fold bias binding in half and press. 

7- Find the centre of the binding and pin middle square into the binding. Leaving 3cm between each square, pin remaining squares into binding. 

8- Starting at one end of binding, sew along binding using a straight stitch. 

9- Knot off each end of binding.

Now it is ready to hang! I enjoyed making this as a gift for my Little one to hang above her cot.

Hope you enjoy making this as much as I did. Feel free to ask me of anything you are unsure about.

The easter bunny

The easter bunny came to our house this morning. It was the first year we have 'done' easter, with Holly being old enough to enjoy it. We had a little egg hunt round the house this morning. It was great fun watching Holly egg spotting. Also, could not resist making a couple more of these lovely little rabbits, one for each of my girls.

In keeping with the spirit of easter, Kirstin at Squidgyums is having an easter giveaway of one of her great little kids sleaveless hoodies. They look amazing so well worth entering. 

Little Miss doll

A friend recently gave birth to her second lovely little girl. I have been trying to decide on a good gift for her older daughter to celebrate becoming a big sister. After seeing so many of the beautiful homemade dolls out there, I was motivated to try to make one myself. I could not find a pattern that was quite right for what I was thinking of so I decided to make it up myself and here she is! I have nick-named her 'Little-Miss' because well, I think she looks like a little miss! She is made out of various cotton fabrics with carded wool stuffing. She has a little heart for a mouth and her new owners name embroidered on her bum. 

Treasure

Today, Holly and I had the opportunity for a little one on one time, such a special treat! We had a lovely time, we went to a local bead shop to make some 'treasure'. My girl is a bit of a magpie, she likes all things that sparkle so this was like heaven to her. 

She loved choosing her beads that we could make her something special with. Finally we settled on some cute little glass rainbow beads. Holly enjoyed getting the beads out while I threaded them. We ended up making her a wee necklace and bracelet which she proudly wore home. 

To finish off the trip, we stopped for a quick treat, a coffee and fluffy at a nearby cafe. Bliss! 

For her room

I recently made these little pictures for Holly's room. They are simple and sweet and perfect decorations for a little girls room. They were very easy to make, I bought some quilting fabrics I liked and a selection of wooden embroidery rings. I stretched the fabric over the rings, cut to fit and voila! Instant prettiness!