an apron for 40

As I have travelled thru blogland I have been inspired by the many Apronistas flourishing out there. Not been an apron wearer, I have been waiting for an occasion to see if I could make something as pretty as I've seen around.

Finally that time has come, when Mum mentioned my sister wore aprons I finally had a victim -um I mean recipient! And so I set about making something for her impending 40th birthday. (Along with the apron I got her a cake stand & cake storer -very domestic goddess!)

SO here it is - I have to admit that while I designed & cut it all out, Mum took over the majority of the sewing together when I went over to use the overlocker......apparently at 42, I still haven't all the skills to competently use it....

There are no pockets as I don't see the point, there are gathers around the sides for a fuller look and the necktie is tied into a bow thru a button hole. The main blue floral is very pretty and the edges are a tiny black polka dot.

So that is that craft bandwagon I have jumped onto & fulfilled!

3 birthdays, 3 presents...

My Xmas gifts went down well so yesterday I finished off these 3 food fly covers for 3 of my girlfriends for their birthdays.

I did the pink on 1st with the little roses but then a) couldn't remember where I'd got them & b) couldn't find them anywhere else.
So I compromised with the purple & white & maroon & rose flowers for the others. I think the work just as well, altho a bit chunkier but decided not to add them at the bottom centre (like on the purple/white) again as I don't think they look quite right.

So as Miss Le 1st put in an order for one for her birthday she may now choose which she would like best (because I can't really decide!).

handmade gifts

I made these for Xmas presents for YD's Mum & Aunt who was visiting from Zim.

I thought it would be a light present to carry back but still pretty and useful.

They both got used Xmas day and if I can find some cheaper beaded ribbon I may make some more....

Merry Christmas

This is a version of this years Xmas card we sent out.
The heads are our thumbprints but it just didn't work out as cute as I'd hoped -maybe due to a dodgey ink pad. I just attached them to standard cheapy cards and incorporated the design already there if possible or covered the whole front if not...
So have a lovely Christmas anyone who visits here, thanks for coming by!

Dragons in my Garden

I have been emailing with WhatKatyDidDesigns about cloth dolls so here are the 2 I have kept for myself, I mean my boys.

The one to the right is my fav, the 1st I ever made but he has a very thin neck which is starting to fail, hence the stick to hold it up.
The one below is my 1st and only attempt at a jointed doll -it went ok but there's something not right with his neck joint - he's cute anyway.

yesterdays craftworks

Yesterday I made thankyou/ Xmas cards for #1son's school teacher & aide. As a class we are giving some gift vouchers in the hope they might find themselves something nice and not have them ending up with 20 coffee mugs and boxes of chocolates (not that that would ever be a bad thing). I think the cards came up pretty well and everyone started signing them this morning.






I also whipped up this heat bag as the last part of my secret santa gift. It was very easy and I even had some dried lavender to add to the rice so it will smell nice (at least for a while). I was glad to find such a nice, simple & useful thing to make with this pretty piece of corduroy amongst my remnants.

I read thru several online tutorials and they all used rice inside instead of the wheat I thought was usual so hopefully it will work 'just as good as a bought one'!


I also came across these 'repurposed' paint sample notebook as I cruised the crafty websites so had to have a go at them too as I had a heap in the cupboard from all my painting forays.

They are nice and pretty but I think I may do some further decorating when the urge takes me....... might make enough for #1son to give in his school xmas cards -better than a candy cane!

I did it too!

Lookee what I just did - I made a KatyDid bag!

While not as pretty or co-ordinated as the lovely bags you can buy from WhatKatyDid Designs I'm quite chuffed with my effort and now have a range of Xmas pressies I can make!

I cheated a little by using a stripe pattern on the fabric instead of getting matching materials but I wasn't sure I could make it work.

The online tutorial I used is here at Pink Penguin and was pretty simple to follow.

what I made this week

So I can now proudly show you my latest creation - a laptop bag for Le (Third on the Right).

Have had to wait until I gave it to her before posting it and I was very happy to find the laptop actually fitted inside.

I had marked that flowery material for something for Le as soon as I found it amongst my latest remnants and I'm glad to say she definately liked it.

I didn't have a pattern, so just made it up as I went and there are definately some dodgey bits where my thinking didn't go far enough ahead but overall I was quite pleased with the outcome -and its even padded!

So now I really must get to concentrating on my secret crafty santa gift for the Gossip Girlies Xmas Lunch!

Another sideline?

A favourite part of my Gossip Girls year is our big Xmas lunch. We usually do a random Secret Santa but this year we are doing a gift for a preselected GGirl AND we have to hand make it. This stressed a few of the less crafty among us but it was pointed out that things like baking were handmade (and anything with chocolate in the ingredients would be gratefully received) so every one agreed.....

So here is possibly part 1 of my gift not only handmade but recycled (except for cotton) from my offcut collection.

I made the pattern off on old green shop bag and it all came together fairly easily. I'm actually quite pleased with the outcome and will probably make a few more with Xmas coming up......Some may be more glam than others!




ps-I can post this here because I'm pretty sure the recipient doesn't read this blog as her work computer won't let her in and she doesn't play much on her laptop at home at night.....