blog hop time.

there's a little blog hop going around at the moment and I was kindly nominated to join in by the lovely Kylie and Mezz. so here I go...

what am i working on.
I'm actually between projects at the moment. I've recently finished my first tea towel quilt and am hoping to make another shortly. I'm also after the perfect poncho/cape pattern, with Spring nearly upon us now I'm thinking this project may have to wait 'til next year though.
this week I found out a lovely friend of mine is expecting her first bub and she asked me if I could make a dress that would see her through the coming months so I shall be cutting and stitching up a floral sheet soon.

how does my work differ from others in the genre
I guess in my sewing it's that I use nearly all op-shopped materials- vintage sheets, tea towels, doilies, zippers, buttons, thread and lace. I love that upcycling these materials gives them a new lease of life.

why do i create what i do
I've always loved being creative, art and textiles were my favourite subjects through school.
I love creating useful and pretty pieces to both decorate my home and clothing to wear.
it's a nice feeling being able to reply to someones compliment of 'I love this, where did you get it from?' with 'I made it myself.'
I like the fact that by making things myself and using upcycled materials I know that the pieces are one of a kind and are ethically produced with love and much thought.
seeing that I have inspired others to get creative whether that be in trying a new recipe or getting out the sewing machine and making a piece of clothing is lovely too.

how does my creative process work
I'm constantly on the look out for inspiration. it may be a cushion or scarf I see in a shop or a handmade piece I see on someones blog. pinterest is also a big favourite for me.
i also look through my stash of linens for inspiration.
usually the idea stays in my head for a while, and if a week or so later I'm still thinking about the new idea i get to it and start selecting the fabrics and get cutting.
of course days and sometimes weeks go by and I don't feel like creating, but when the creativity strikes I get to it.

creativity is contagious. pass it on. Albert Einstein

 

if you'd like to join in the blog hop I'd love to hear about your creative process.

I'd also like to nominate these lovely bloggers. no pressure though.

Karen of Gooseberry Jam
Lea of Life Love and Making Stuff
Monique of Monique's Mess
Catherine of A Time to Create

a tag garland.

I've had these tags sitting on my sewing desk for some time. and just this week i had a little pop of inspiration to make them into a garland.
I went through my pinterest board of favourite quotes and sayings and typed them onto the tags using my trusty little typewriter. I then added some embellishments.. stitching on doilies and vintage sheets; and then adding a splash of watercolours too.
I then threaded them on a length of twine and with a couple of pieces of washi tape I was done.

have you been crafting of late? baking, sewing maybe?

stills: floral time

1. a favourite spot in the hallway
2. floral bedding
3. a little bit of crafting that I will share this week
4. a garage sale find.. a $10 concrete pot. two's nearly a collection right? I thought of you kylie when I spotted it.
5. grow butternut, grow
6. one lone sunflower

weekly stills at the beetle shack.

doily dream catcher tutorial + give-away

this year I hope to share a few little crafty tuturiols with you. first up is a doily dream catcher. a lovely summer-y craft with sunshine hues of yellow and orange.

 

what you'll need:

an embroidery hoop (I often find these while op-shopping)

a doily (just big enough to stretch inside your chosen hoop)

embellishments.. strips of vintage sheets, ric-rac, lace, twine, ribbon

take the embroidery hoop apart.

starting with the larger of the two (the one with the twist closure at the top) begin attaching your embellishments. simply loop through or knot in place. keep adding until you're happy with it.

with the smaller hoop lay the doily atop it, centring it.
gently place the larger, embellished hoop over the smaller one making the doily taught. tighten the twist closure and you're done. simply hang where you please.

I hope this little tutorial was helpful and do let me know if you try making one yourself,
now for a little give-away.. would you like to win this doily dream catcher?
simply leave a comment telling me a tutorial/diy that you'd like to see.
best of luck. I shall pick a winner at the end of the month.
x

stills: colour

 

1. nest box herbs
2. it's been a cool-from-the-fridge rockmelon eating week
3. bathroom colour- lime green, navy and pink
4. i've been crafty. expect a little give-away this week
5. recycled plastic drinking straw rug for the back verandah

joining in with the weekly stills at the beetle shack.

joy, peace and love embroidery hoop

another little embroidery hoop. this one is to add to the Christmas decor. i'm not really one for the traditional red and green of the festive season. pink, pastel green and a splash of black is more my style. the timber-look hoop and ric-rac was op-shopped, the floral sheet was from the swap and the ribbon was from a gift. this is now adorning the front door.

what are you crafting for Christmas?

hello embroidery hoop art

after a bit of a break from the sewing machine (well apart from the mending jobs) i decided a small patchwork piece was next. the fabric is mainly vintage sheets, with plenty from the FQ swap, and a couple of tea towels too.
the embroidery hoop was op-shopped way back and the beautiful yellow woollen pom-poms were a recent etsy purchase from Azalea Cottage Crafts.
i've seen some beautiful wire word art around blog-land of late so decided to try my hand at making my own. i simply folded in half and stitched a long length of bias binding and threaded through the wire. I then bent it to shape.
the pretty little milk glass bowls were op-shopped for $4.
now just to find a bare section of wall to hang it.  x

doily upcycling

slowly but surely the dated light fittings around here are being replaced with doily covered shades. the frames have all been op-shopped and the doilies have been gifted and thrifted. the shadows cast on the ceiling bring a smile to my face.

do you have a favourite doily upcycling project?

 

joining in with Christina's made by hand link up.

stills: crochet and rosemary

 

1. freshly laundered sheets hanging in the sunshine
2. my first attempt at crochet
3. and a completed wash cloth ready to be posted off
4. fresh rosemary for another batch of these delicious roasted rosemary almonds
5. orange peels steeping in vinegar. have you tried this as a natural cleaning product?
6. the veg seedlings seem to grow a little more before my very eyes

linking up with the weekly stills.

stills: florals. paint chips. and free-range

 

1. & 2. empty embroidery hoops became home to vintage florals. paint chip heart garlands were made this week too

3. florals again, this time by the front door

4. more paint chip hearts

5. another tea towel cushion cover, already gifted

6. a much awaited free-range pork delivery from Jonai Farms. the Jonas family raise rare-breed Large Black pigs on their farm near Daylesford, Victoria and have just recently raised enough funds to build an on-farm butchering facility.

7. thrifted floral pillowcases

8. lovely birthday gifts: a new perfume and the softest possum and merino wool scarf

 

 

thank you for all the birthday wishes this week.

if you'd like to enter my birthday give-away too, you're more than welcome.

 

x