Mothers Day Crafting

I like to give mothers day gifts that are genuine and from the heart. Something hand crafted or often a pretty flowering plant or a pot of herbs.

This year I've made a pair of fabric covered A5 notebooks (one each for my mum and MIL) following this great tutorial on Craft Blog. The fabric I used is Ginger Blossom by Sandi Henderson for Michael Miller, which I got on special for $11 per meter at Peppermint Stitches. Can you believe it?? I want to go back and buy all they have left!

I couldn't resist posting a picture of this gorgeous little note card set I picked up at the newsagents this morning when purchasing the blank notepads. That sweet little tin it comes in is going to be perfect for storing craft bits and pieces.

New Spring PJs

Sewn during baby's nap today from a thrifted sheet and a slightly modified version of an old old thrifted Mc Call's Pattern 2157.

They are so comfy I can barely bring myself to take them off...

Book Week Costume Crafting

This week my older boy's school is celebrating Book Week. On Tuesday morning the children have a chance to dress up as a book character for the Parade. Since we are reading the Hobbit together, DS decided he'd like to dress up as Gandalf.

So the sewing machine was dragged out of hibernation and with the help of this pattern's helpful Line Art and this online tutorial for making a wizard's hat, I transformed a queen size grey sheet into the Gandalf costume above. Total cost was $16, for the sheet! DS is wrapt, particularly with the wizards hat. We can't wait for the parade tomorrow morning. Dressing up is so much fun!

Hand Made Gifts for Baby

The Baby turned one earlier in the week. Gosh it's such an occasion!! In addition to getting waaaay more love and attention than one little person can handle (hence the 6pm meltdown...) I made him a couple of little presents.

Felt pentagon ball (which he absolutely loves) and fabric stacking ring set. He hasn't quite figured out what to do with the stacking rings, but he loves to pull them all off the cone and they are the perfect size for grasping in his little hands. If you're looking for ideas for a hand made gift for a one year old, I wouldn't go past that felt ball, so easy to make too.

A Pile of Pentagons

Well it looks like my hiatus from Making Stuff was short lived...

Mama Made Jarmies

When they get to a certain age, kids become very difficult to sew for. Seems they'd rather die than be caught in mama made clothing! But PJs, now surely an 8 year old can get away with mama made PJs? Well, he likes them! And I was so pleased with my handiwork. I even button hole-d for the first time! :)

Here's the details:

Pattern: Simplicity 4381, Style A

Size: Boys Large

Fabric: Flannelet from Spotlight. 3m @ $4.99/m

Again the cost of the fabric alone was more than the cost of buying a pair of PJs at Big W. DH told me that when he was a kid his mum used to sew a lot of his clothing, and she would have saved a fair bit of money doing it. Not so anymore, when did sewing your own clothes become a luxury?

My First Garment

Ta da! Introducing my first garment.

Simplicity Pattern 4589.

Following a pattern for the first time was interesting to say the least! I just got my first little sewing machine in February and haven't had any lessons, so it was just a matter of muddling my way through.

I have since made a second top, in a larger size (and using a different fabric), and there was a lot that I learnt in making the first that I applied to make the second better. It was great to just get in and have a go. The end result is not too bad. I will wear it. Mostly out of stubbornness....

It is such a great feeling to be able to make things by hand.

Oh, and the top's not actually lop sided, that's just the way I am standing!

Make Your Own Cloth Produce Bags

Last month, when I got my very first ever sewing machine, the first thing I sewed was a couple of cloth produce bags. I use these little beauties whenever I get fruit and veg, rather than using plastic tear-off produce bags. Since having them, I think I've saved about 20 of those little plastic baggies from going into landfill. Imagine the impact over a life time! (And see how comfy my lemons look nestled in their cloth baggie).

I didn't use a pattern, just made up a basic draw string bag. Used some 8 ply cotton as the "string". The fabric for the bags was a sheet I bought at a thrift store for $3. Thrift store sheets are bargain fabric finds!

Betz White has a tutorial on her blog showing how to make a shoe bag, which is essentially the same thing, if you need a little inspiration.

They are so handy, I just need to make a few more... some smaller ones would be good too, as my current ones are about 25x40cm.

Don't be shy about using them either! The feedback I have got from cashiers has been overwhelmingly positive. I'm not sure how much the bags weigh, but I'm sure it only adds a couple of cents to my purchase, and I think it's well worth spending a few extra cents to keep a bit of plastic out of landfill. (Some cashiers do offer to take the fruit out of the bag for weighing, but I never bother).

Planning a New Project

A couple of weeks ago I found this most gorgeous rocking horse print cot sheet while thrifting.

I keep peeking at it, but haven't had a clue what to do with it... Until now!

I thought it would be neat to make a Sew, Mama, Sew Picnic Blanket with the rocking horse fabric as the theme. I could use it plus squares of solid blue, red, yellow, white and green. I can just picture it now, how cheery it would look. The only catch is, I would like to do it using all thrifted fabric. That could take a while. So it's a long term project...

Aaah but I do like to have a new project to think about.

Welcome

The “Hundredth Monkey Effect” is a phenomenon in which a learned behaviour spreads instantaneously from one group of monkeys to all related monkeys once a critical number (usually 100) is reached. The way we as a species interact with our Earth needs to change. The materialism and greed of consumer culture is destroying our beautiful planet. This is my journey of change.

I have been following a number of wonderful and inspiring "simple life" blogs over the past year or so. With this blog I wanted to add to that pool. I hope that by documenting my journey I will provide ideas and inspiration for others on their own journeys. Change, on this grass roots level, is where revolution begins. We don't have to let things continue the way they have been.

P.S that little guy sitting on the fence up there is Hoot Hoot (or Hooters to his friends). He's my first attempt at making a softie. I heart home-made.