Search Results for: weaving

Winds of change

This week I have done things differently – you may have noticed my absence here and it has been deliberate. Time away from blogging, facebook, twitter and all things online has allowed me some breathing space this week. Not only that – but I have committed myself to taking the children out every day while the weather is fine. What an improvement this has made! Yes, I’m totally exhausted but in a good way. Now to share some of our week with you:

Lemon and poppy seed drizzle cake, recipe here

I love how my 5 year old has such a strong mothering instinct, she attracts little ones wherever she goes.

I love how my children are growing and changing and feel so blessed to be a part of it.

Op shop finds + daytura flowers = happiness!

Enjoying local sights.

Jar makeovers with paper, mod podge, colour papers and ribbon.

I printed out an old picture I like, soaked in tea and dried. Then coloured lightly with watercolour pencil and sealed with mod podge. Attached and layered with mod podge also. Tied a velvet ribbon around and placed some dried poppy heads in. Easy!

I’ve re – committed to my desire to live fully on baked bread. I’m going pretty well with no bought bread for about 2 weeks. I bake it every second day.

Slow and steady wins the race. I hope I’ve finished stippling this quilt by M’s 4th birthday next month!

Rock cakes are a constant favourite here. I’ll try to post the recipe on my other blog sometime soon.

If I haven’t visited your blog lately I do apologise – I don’t want to become one of these bloggers who expect comments but don’t give any. Perhaps you’ll decide to remain silent today in protest!

Hope your week has been as productive as mine. God bless!

Decoupage

by Kelly 6 Comments

Ever tried decoupage? I had an old wood tissue box cover that has been painted, repainted, covered in fabric and eventually shoved away as I didn’t like any of the previous ways I’d decorated. I like it now. A lot.

This was a fairly long process but well worth it and one that I really enjoyed. It’s great to have a break from your regular crafts and try something completely different. It’s also cool that I already had a lot of the materials I needed to start and the decorative paper is cheap.

In case you’re interested in the process I’ll give you a brief account. Firstly, 4 coats of cream coloured acrylic paint. This was sanded back to reveal a little of the original black paint on the edges and corners. The images are from a piece of scrapbooking paper that I cut out with scissors and a craft knife. That took patience!

After gluing and drying the images I varnished a couple of times then applied crackle varnish. The effect was much too subtle so I reapplied but still no joy. Moving on, I mixed raw umber paint with flow medium and rubbed on with a cloth to give an aged or antique look. Then I varnished about a trillion times (I seriously lost count of how many coats!), sanded, varnished, varnished….

I’m going to give a final light sand to take a bit of the shine off, and voila!

Now I’m casting my eyes all around the house to see what else I can decoupage – yes folks, a new obsession is born……

Hottie Challenge

by Kelly 9 Comments

After much deliberation I’ve finished my cover for the Hottie Challenge!

I decided to use a piece of my hand dyed silk that I was keeping for something special. I used free motion embroidery to highlight the colours and patterns of the silk.

I also added beads and some hand embroidery.

The back is made with some of my hand painted fabrics.

I know it’s a little “out there” but I really wanted to do something a bit different and reflect my love of colour and patterns.

This one is off to Curlypops Central, then to Open Drawer to raise money for the Margaret Pratt Foundation. I’m looking forward to seeing what everyone else has come up with 🙂

Crafting for charity

by Kelly 9 Comments

I’ve heard many a time that the best way to help yourself out of a low period is to work for the benefit of others and I find it to be very true.
Over the weekend I’ve been busy sewing for a handmade auction at my husband’s work for someone very much in need.

I’m very happy with this bag that I designed as I went along with a great deal of winging it! I went to Spotlight to buy handles, but when I saw the $15 price tag for a couple of bits of plastic I changed my mind and made a strap.

The bag is pleated (that took ages!) and has boxed corners, if that’s what you call them.

Hobo bag from a commercial pattern.

Finished with a matching fabric covered button. I hope these bags raise some money for the auction.

I picked some lemons from our tree to make a small batch of lemon curd, I love it.

Thanks to all who commented on my last post, I so appreciate your positive support 🙂

Blech.

by Kelly 9 Comments

Maybe it’s the cold and wet weather. Could be the $1000+ worth of unpaid bills stuck to our fridge or the specific time of the month, the complete lack of inspiration or dwelling on hurt from the past. The zero sales that I’ve had these past months. Whatever it is – whyever it is I wish it would go away and leave me alone because I don’t like it!

I have too many good things in my life to ever feel down about, yet it still happens and I can’t shake it. It goes away eventually. But then it returns. Sigh.

How about I just show you a couple of things I’ve made lately that have made me happy?

Simplicity 9464 – a thrifted pattern from ages ago. The top fabric (don’t know what it is – lets call is voile) was given to me by a relative who didn’t want it. So this pretty dress cost only a few dollars for the lining fabric which I already had. Wonderful, and she loves it 🙂

The girls and I were mucking around with polymer clay the other day and I made this little bear. Very simple, baked, coated with varnish and that’s it!

Hopefully I’ll be over my whatever thing in a few days and come back with some positive and inspiring stuff. If you’re feeling a little down my mission for today is to pray for you!

God bless.

Wanna see something gorgeous?

by Kelly 12 Comments

Sorry, but no, it isn’t a photo of yours truly 😉

I have been ~~apprehensively~~ excitedly awaiting my parcel for the cushion swap. The last swap I participated in didn’t go so well – I didn’t like what I was sent and considering the resounding silence from my recipient I figure the feeling was mutual… Back to my parcel. I knew when it arrived this morning and saw the beautifully decorative label that I was in for a treat.

I had to force myself to pause for this photo!

The accompanying bookmark reads:

“I hope you like it! The 4 chicks are symbolising your 4 kids and the chicken theme is a nod to your natural, organic life!”

The girls were all over the cushion, each trying to claim it for their own bed!

The back was finished with an invisible zip (oh boy, I wish I could sew in a zip like this lady!)

I can see how much time and thought went into this cushion and I’m really touched and honoured to be in possession of it. The quality of stitching is just superb. It is now sitting on the couch and makes me smile when I walk past.

Naturally, you want to know the talented artist who made this. Her name is Anna and she a website and a blog.

Shiny Happy Art and the blog.

THANK YOU SO MUCH ANNA!!!

My Creative Space

by Kelly 3 Comments

Every now and then I’m seized with songwriting inspiration and go for it. One of the reasons I don’t write much anymore is I find it hard to deal with interruptions from the children and lose the flow. One day I’ll actually get around to recording something for you all!

My husband’s workplace is soon having a handmade homegrown auction to raise money for a very good cause so I think I’ll make a couple of bags. I’m winging it with this one so hopefully it turns out OK!

To be teamed with the Maisy quilt I’ve been working on this wool felt design for a matching cushion. The quilt has stalled because I’m in need of some flannel for the backing. Meanwhile, I’m enjoying a bit of hand embroidery on the quilt, which is looking pretty good even to my too harsh on myself eyes.

Grab some inspiration from these other creative spaces. and have a most wonderful day 🙂

Nicole M purse

by Kelly 3 Comments

I try to make my little sister a handmade gift for her birthday each year and was racking my brain when I remembered the purse pattern I picked up at Nicole’s stall at the AQC. It was going to be for moi, but I do love to give a gift that I would love for myself!

The satin lining was a bit fiddly to sew but very worth the effort for a classy finish. The outer fabric also came from the AQC. It’s great to put beautiful things to use.

This pattern was a pleasure to use – if you’ve never bought one of Nicole’s patterns I highly recommend it. She goes above and beyond with her tips, explanations and photos so that each pattern is like a mini lesson.

The best part of all this is I remembered an op shop find from years ago and was actually able to find it in my craft mess. A gold purse frame and guess what? Just the right size! Looks like I’ll be getting my purse after all 🙂

Too busy to blog

by Kelly 4 Comments

That’s me this week, but somehow I think it’s a good thing. Busy baking apple pies, (why can’t I just stay in the kitchen permanently?) teaching long division, human anatomy and creation history, scraping + sanding + painting, looking at country properties (sigh) plus a little bit of sewing. None of this leaves much time for blogging, but today I’ve made time to show a little of what I’ve been up to.

I’ve wanted to make some hair accessories for the girls for ages and now that all 3 of them have long hair I had run out of excuses!

I’ve also completed and sent my cushion for Vic’s swap, but as the recipient may not have her parcel yet I’d best not reveal. Now, for today I hope to make some more hair accessories and work on my sister’s birthday present before I run out of time.

Have a great weekend 🙂

Today is..

by Kelly 4 Comments

Admiring pretty new blooms in the garden.

Looking forward to picking our very first lemon. 22 isn’t bad for a first fruiting!

Working on the machine and with a needle for a certain swap.

Love my bias binding maker!

I’m also quite excited that we’re traipsing out to the country on Monday to view some properties. The weather is fabulous here today – I hope the sun is shining wherever you are.

God bless and keep smiling!