Jet Designs

Addictions

Well I must say that in the last couple of weeks I have really been doing alot of sewing - I can now see how addictive it can become -  But what is a girl to do when she has more than one addictive pursuit?

I am now officially addicted to

Lampwork Beading
Sewing
Crochet

How am I supposed to organise and divide my time and yes money between them?

I really don't have any answers - I think my shop is partly to blame as I have access daily to all the new craft books available - which is a nightmare - it really plays havoc with my brain cells!!

Anyway, I should really get to my post about what I did this weekend -

I have been looking around the forums and have seen alot of handbag organisers being made - so I wanted to do one as well - a bit of simple sewing was what I needed this weekend.

I found the tutorial here - but I might add that there is a bit of a mistake - when it says cut 1 from the fabric - you actually need 2 - one from the outside fabric and one from the inside fabric.

I added some ribbon so that I could tie it up so it stayed closed

Very simple to make and you can customise the divisions to your needs.

Baa Baa Sheep Beads

Last night I finished a set of beads that I really love - I love the colour and fun that these bead ooze.  I am going to list them on etsy tonight - I was going to make my bag in the second last post my first listing on etsy, but I think it is going to my sister in law for an upcoming birthday present.  So tonight I will be trying to work out my etsy shop - If anyone has any pointers let me know - I currently use ebay and oztion for my shop stuff - buy etsy is going to be for my creative outlet.

Free Amy Butler Pattern

Last night I got an email from Amy Butler Designs re their new pattern release - I have already pre-ordered for the shop (Can't wait to get them).  She also had on the email a new FREE pattern - which I downloaded last night and had a go at sewing up this morning - I made do with the scraps and notions I had at home.  The only thing I did wrong was a slight misplacement of the Velcro tab - but it will do for the first go - I will use it myself as I never seem to have my business cards on me when I want them - now there is no excuse with this funky little wallet!!

Bloom has Blossomed! & Etsy has Sprung

I have just finished the project I started last night - a different version of my Oriental Bloom Handbag Pattern. Faux Suede with Amy Butler Top, Lined with Dusty Pink Homespun and Embroidered with a lovely Jacobean inspired bloom

I am extremely happy with the way it turned out.  I think this may be my first item that I will list on Etsy - I have had my shop registered for a while, but have had not time to devote as late.  The problem is that I am kinda liking this bag.  I suppose I can alway make another one!

Another project in the works

Yes - another one to add to my cluttered table - but I just can't help myself - I feel as I really have to justify the purchase of this new embroidery machine. 

I had some left over fabric from the Hip to Stitch sample and I was going to make some cushions out of it, as it goes with our decor, but I didn't have any cushion inserts to measure up.  So I am going to make another handbag from my Oriental Bloom pattern - a litte different this time with the suede down the bottom and topped with some Amy Butler Fabric.  On the suede section there will be of course some embroidery - I downloaded some designs last night that are going to be fantastic (I hope).  So I have embroidered one design so far.  Hopefully I might finish it over the weekend.

I am also going to be making some birthday invitation for Ella - she turns 3 on the 14 June and we are going to have a BBQ - more of an excuse for our friends to get together than for the party games.  Ella just loves people and music - Oh and cakes!! - So if the music is loud, and we are feeding her she will be in heaven!

So If I get off this computer and back to my craft - I may be able to do the impossible this weekend, or should I say Sunday, as I work in the shop all day tomorrow , but I might just take some craft to work and see if I get anything done.

Have a good weekend everyone. - Craft ON                                                                                                                        

Practical Sewing - & heaps of photos

The purchase of my new embroidery machine has sparked many new ideas for crafting - I did not want to just play with it and not use the embroidery, it seemed such a waste (hence the shoe bag idea). And I need to sew things that are practical and usefull.   On the weekend I went about making Ella a little backpack as she is graduating away from the full on bag taken to home day care in need for something a little smaller.  The d rings I used on the back haven't really worked as they are two big, I might use buttons instead or make the backstraps all one piece (which would be much easier).  I am still trying to work out the best way to do a pleated pocket and the right size for the base ( I am a very self taught sewer). The other problem I had was getting eyelets to play the game.  I found it really had to make them look neat at the back, maybe it was the brand I used, I might look around for other styles.  The neighbours may thought that I was doing renovations with all the hammer banging going on.

I gave it to Ella on Tuesday when I finished it and she immediately new what it was for, put it on her back and carried on playing.  I think she really associates it with Dora the Explorer.  When we put her to bed that night she cried out for the backpack to be in bed as well.  Glad to know my craft is so loved!

The fabric is by Laura Stoddard - she does the most wonderful illustrations - this is one of her books - I love her range of cards - but I can't seem to find a website for her - so if anyone knows it please leave me a message

Anyway off to sit on the couch - I need a break from craft ( Ooh for about an hour - I'm addicted!!)

Sending Julia a Shoe Bag

Congrats Julia - I will be sending you a shoe bag - I have your address, unless you have changed it since your last order - I will be whipping it up on the weekend and then I will post it off to you!!

And as no one like to post with out a photo - here are some beads I made last year. Haven't had much time to make glass beads lately with all my other little crafty projects.

Don't Let Me Out with my Wallet & A Gift for a lucky blogger

While I was at the Craft show - I did a very naughty thing - I left the stand with my wallet in hand and went for a walk around to see what else was going on in the craft world.

I went past a stand and saw some lovely machine embroidery sew outs - I had never seen anything like them before - so funky and fresh - they were Lorelie Designs - she has probably been around for a while but I had never heard of her or seen the designs.

I just had to have them - but don't you need a embroidery machine to do them???

Well - I thought, and thought about buying a machine - A big investment just to sew out these designs - but I just couldn't get them out of my mind. Will I, Won't I????

Mum has a machine and she offered to sew them out for me as I wanted them - sounded like a good idea, but she is 2hours away - and you know what it is like when you get an idea in your head and you just need or want ( want is a much better word) it right now!!

Well I visited all the sewing machine stands and check out all the models - and I did the deed and payed a deposit - just couldn't go past the craft show specials

I bought this - a Janome 350e                                                                                                                                                    

And I picked it up yesterday from - Sewers Delight in Browns Plains - Lovely ladies that work there!!

So yesterday I played with the samples of the Lorelie Designs (haven't bought a disc yet - but on the website you can download the images you want without buying the whole disc - fantastic idea.)

I love the red work designs - I did the fancy form in pink on black homespun - as it was just a trial, I was not going to use it for anything - but it looked so fantastic - so I decided tonight that I just had to make it into something.  What could I do with this small amount of fabric - and make it practical.

A Shoe Bag!!!

Yes the bottom of my cupboard always has good intentions of being organised but the shoes won't play along - so I have these lovely shoes that are being neglected so why not tart them up - now they have a nice home. Very Tre Chic - don't you think

And now to the FREE GIFT - just leave a comment before 7pm on Wednesday 15th May - to go into the draw to win - a bag the same as the one I have made - (no you won't be getting mine with my lovely shoes) I will make another one - as I just have to use the embroidery machine again!!! - I can see alot of my friends and family getting shoe bags for Christmas

Craft Show Hangover

I am back from the Brisbane Stitches & Craft Show - and I think it may take me about a month to get over it.  I had a great time and now I am trying to get everything back in the shop and sorted out.

Thank you to Julia & Donna who popped in to say hi!! - It was nice to put a face to the names that have left comments on my blog.

My head is a bit of a jumble at the moment - craft show hangover - so not much to tell today

I actually made some lampwork beads tonight - first lot of beads for over a month now - it is great when the pressure of the show is over, I seem to get back to doing things for enjoyment.

Here is a picture of our stand - not the best photo as the lighting in the convention center is not the best for photography. The stands are super small 3m x 2m - but we fitting heaps of product in!!