A new handbag for me

I'm on a roll with these handbags... Here's one I designed and put together all by myself.


It was hard to get the camera to pick up the colours properly - they're a taupe outside, with a mustard-coloured lining.


It's nice and big to be used as an every-day handbag, with pockets on the inside for phone, makeup etc etc.

Me looking proud of myself - pls don't mind the daggy trakky pants

Hot Air Balloons Applique

Hot air balloons have been floating around in  my mind for a while...or maybe just hot air.


Anyway, I decided to bite the bullet. Here's progress so far, from concept to loads of itty bitty pieces I had to stitch on.


I used vliesofix and raw edge applique, free motion stitching for the water...


I love how this is turning out so far. And now to the balloons...

Birthday gifts for Abigail and Emily

I thought I'd try my hand at clothes-making, so Emily got this skirt for her birthday. It's sooo cute! I'd really like one, but I don't think 30 year olds can really rock yellow canaries and flowers 

Pleats and all

Green binding, and a little bow to top it off


Then for Abigail, a handbag, designed by Me!

Fresh Cushions for the Lounge - Finished

I got inspired recently to update our cushions, partly because our old ones have coffee stains on them, but also because I'd like our colours to be a bit more grownup. I found the flowery fabric in Spotlight (would you believe! I never find anything useful in there!).

So, the flower cushions are made courtesy of me, with zipper even!

The spotty one I bought, but it's such a perfect match I couldn't pass it up

So pretty :)

A pretty gift for a little lady

I'm not going to post the final product yet, just in case it get's spotted before this little lady's birthday has arrived...


But here's a sneak-peak:


I've decided what I like most about sewing at the moment, is that you have an idea, and at the beginning your project looks like rubbish, but stick with it, and your end product ends up being something pretty spekky! (except that nasty mug rug)

Another clutch

Just because they're such satisfying projects - instant gratification :)
It's made from a William Morris-inspired fat quarter, and the lining a scrap from my mum's stash. That's a strip of velvet along the front, and a shiny brass button I got from my Nanna's no longer needed button stash.


Love, love, love! Definitely more of this on the way

 

And a cheeky little purse for my cash cards, made from felt and a bit of raw-edge applique.

Wonky Squares Quilt-Along is finished!

And I love it, as does the cat

Mug Rugs - fails and successes

Let's start with the Mug Rug I tried to make for Rob. Obviously, it needed to be 'manly', so I tried one in black, grey and blues. Massive. Ugly. Fail.


Black and Grey are not my friends in the sewing world. I'll leave those to my work wardrobe. Aside from the random design it as you go method I used, the colours are gross!
Here it is:

Needless to say, it's been relegated to 'pot holder' status, and the sooner it gets burnt to pieces, the better!


Here is my second attempt, which I made in brick colours, which hopefully are still considered 'manly' enough to be used. It is now sitting on the armrest of Rob's side of the couch.

Footnote: I did get this pattern from someone else's blog, but didn't save the link, so can't acknowledge you here - sorry! 

Vaguely Vogue Update

I actually finished this off a while ago, but have been a bit slack in posting my project updates.


Here is the finished product - sans a nice, big shiny button on the front - or maybe not?
I ordered some magnetic snaps online, and they're sooo easy to use!

I like it! More to come, and since I scored this from Chrystal without doing all the hard work, I definitely need to make one for her first.

From "In pieces (literally!)" to "Vaguely Vogue"

Project Vogue Accessories 8527 - handbag....I forget.....


And this is where the problem begins.


You see, Chrystal aspires to the crafty-ness (as is craft not character) of our Evelyn, however, Chrystal does not have the 3D scoping eye to place this 1920's inspired clutch within reach (pun intended!).


So, conclusion, Chrystal has issued the above bag pieces to Evelyn (for keeps) to see what creativity will flow fixing up Chrystal's fashionista desires.....What is a bet it is going to be fabulous!

Evelyn.....we are waiting with baited breath!


_________________________________________________________________


Ok, here is where I got to before the sewing machine decided to crack the sh*ts (nonononononoooo!)


I think it looks pretty good! I LOVE the fabric, especially how it is contrasted by the aqua lining. Because there's so much interfacing in it, it keeps it's shape really well. The only thing I'd think to change is maybe use a different colour for those cross-over straps on the front - prob a white with this material, or maybe a solid red to match the pattern. What do you think?


I especially like how your pleating made a curved shape in the otherwise straight lines of the pattern


Although, there are quite a few pieces left over....should I be concerned? What have I missed? I'm not putting in a zipper (laziness, and fear of the zipper), I'll wait until my magnetic snaps arrive from Ebay, and pop one in instead.

Craft Rescue - impromptu cushions

I've been working on this table runner project by Martha Stewart, but ran out of inspiration, as every time I laid it out, it looked like crap. Blinkin' Martha, don't know how she does it, everything looks so perfect on her website!

So, after much fiddling with it, here's what I've come up with - a funky cushion! I'll sew it onto a plain (maybe linen) backing, and turn it into a 40cm square cushion. Have loads of leaves left, but won't bind those, I'll make another cushion and raw-edge applique them on.


I think I'll leave the tips of the leaves hanging loose off the edge of the cushion


What do you think?

I don't mean to brag, but....

Check this out!


My first ever, properly patched-together quilt top! And most of the seams even line up properly :) (amazing what following the instructions properly can do)


As you can see, Spirit as put her stamp of approval on it already. Next job is to find the backing and binding fabric. I think I'll go for that sherbety-orange colour.


Oh, and yes, that is a solid orange block there in the corner. Somehow my block numbers didn't work out properly, and I really couldn't be stuffed making an extra block after I'd pieced everything together. But I don't mind - it's kind of like anarchy in the middle of all that orderliness. And btw, the blocks are cut wonky, which is why they look wonky. Perfect style for my first attempt at doing this properly I think!


- Evelyn

A Little Evening Purse

Here's a pretty little evening purse I made for a friend's Birthday.


I love love love the fabric, but sadly that was the last of it. I'm now am on a mission to find more gorgeous Japanese print fabrics.


- Evelyn

Help me, I'm stumped - Craft fail in the making

Any suggestions how I get this

to look like this (excusing the bad photo quality)

They're supposed to be parasols, but I don't know how to get the spokes to stand out. At the moment it just looks like a bunch of lumpy circles...

Alrighty, here's what I came up with:

I finally found a use for that scallop-style stitch on the machine. If I had the mojo to do it again, I'd change some of the fabrics (like that pale blue blob), and keep the sizes more regular, as the random sizes don't seem to have translated well.

The question now is, what do I do with it?

An Introduction

Hello to all who are kind enough to take a look at our Blog!

We (being Chrystal and Evelyn), have caught the sewing bug, big time, and want to share the fun we are having.


(plus show off our projects of course)


How it came about:
Well, Evelyn was taught to sew and craft from girlhood, from her very crafty Mum. In recent years, I've dabbled with sewing, but it's not until I finally got out of the hell of sharehousing, and now living with just my Hubby, that I have the space to set up a sewing table, and really get stuck into it.


Mum taught me quilting, and while it's fun, I don't have the patience for it yet - I need instant gratification!


Chrystal finally finished her Masters, and after years and years of study, found herself with time on her hands. She enrolled in a basic sewing course, caught the bug, and now can't stop thinking about her next project.


What you'll find here are our successes (many, hopefully), failures (many, definitely!), and a few laughs. We'd love it if you want to join in posting your projects also - our dream is to create a little community of Crafters. 


Our ultimate dream is to meet up with local crafters in the Brisbane area, and maybe start our own sewing group (not like you see your grandma going to, although we'll get there in 40years lol). We mean 'sewing group' as in a group of friends who meet regularly, have a gossip and some bubbly, share our projects, and our hints and tricks, and just generally have a good time. Hmm, ok, like you see your grandma going to, but we'll all just be 40 years younger.


Well, that is all for now - this is Chrystal and me, looking stunning at my wedding (couldn't find any more recent pics, so sorry if it looks like we're showing off. But really, we both think we looked pretty gorgeous on that day, so never mind)

At long last! Here is the first of Evelyn's projects

 At long last, I have finally got around to posting some of my recent projects!


This project is a block for a Charity Quilt, at my Aunty Heidi's work - Barossa Quilt and Craft Cottage (www.barossaquilt.com.au)


The final quilt is to be auctioned off as a fundraiser for research into breast cancer, a cause which is very close to my family's hearts.


The instructions: to create one block on the white background, using the two pinks provided, and one of my own. The image needed to include a ribbon.


Hopefully, what I created is what they're looking for, and it doesn't stand out like a sore thumb in the finished quilt! Needless to say, it is very "Evelyn". I'm pretty happy with the outcome - just googled a suitable image on the web, and used some fabric from my own stash. Would you believe it used an entire spool of pink thread! I was worried I wouldn't be able to get the 3D effect in the ribbon, but once I did the outline, it really pops out.


(you'll have to bear with me while I work through the teething issues of blogging - like, why are my pictures sideways?)