A whole crafty weekend
May 31, 2010
This weekend I went on a crafty weekend away with the lovely Belinda, Cass, Bianca, Fiona and Jade. There was good food, great company and the hum of sewing machines as everyone dove head first into sewing. I didn’t take my camera so I’ll have to steal some pics from Belinda but I did manage to take this show of the spectacular view from the house we stayed in.
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I worked on creating a new hood for the bugaboo which was probably the most challenging thing I’ve ever done – the actual sewing wasn’t difficult but tracing the hood to a pattern and then figuring out the construction was very tricky. I couldn’t have done it without Fiona’s help. I was doing celebration dances last night when I got home and it fit! Hooray!!! Only problem now is that I don’t like the placement of the pattern so I may just have to make another one. I also whipped together a doona cover and pillow case for Oscar out of Erin Michaels 5 funky monkeys. Such a dream in comparison to that hood, let me tell you! It was greeted with “Wow mummy, thanks!” from the munchkin. Very high praise indeed.
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It was such a treat to have an entire day on Saturday to just sew – no interruptions, no packing things away just pure, unadulterated sewing. Bliss.
New Books
May 27, 2010
I took advantage of Mr Schmaft being in London with a little retail therapy on Amazon.co.uk. At one stage I was a little concerned about the weight of the gigantic box that I had ordered but the man was in business class for god’s sake… I thought he could deal with it! Amongst lots of novels, cook books and books for Oscar were these two…
Amy Butler’s little stitches – I love the Kimono PJs, the mummy PJs, the little booties, the snuggle wrap and the nappy bag. The only thing that terrifies me is the interfacing. I’m a newbie when it comes to anything but basic interfacing and lots of her patterns use a combination of 2-3 different types of interfacing. eek… thank goodness for Craft Room where the lovely Belinda, Kelly and Sophie sorted me out!
The other book I bought is Dozens of ways to repurpose a tea towel. I love a good vintage tea towel but can’t actually bring myself to use them for drying dishes. It just seems wrong! I fell in love with the bag on the cover so that’s the first project off the list…
There’s also aprons, purses and all sorts of other projects, I’ll try and get some pics and post soon.
Vintage Tuesday: 60s Cha Cha
May 25, 2010
I’ve been a bit slack on the Vintage Tuesday front lately I’m afraid but, fear not, I’ve had two recent raids on the op shop and come up with some gems. This one I really love, the neckline and the two tone colours are just stunning. The pattern also covers the handbag and the co-ordinating hat. I, of course, would look ridiculous in it but it just has such a sense of style about it.. doesn’t it?
For next week I have a choice between hilarious 80′s “Club Additions” his n’ her knits or outrageous 70′s crochet with caption of “No man minds a woman wearing the pants when they’re like this!”. What would you prefer?
Balloon Nursery inspiration
May 24, 2010
I originally had in my head aeroplanes and fluffy clouds for the bubbas Nursery. I’m quite obsessed with travel and there’s something about clouds and the sky that is quite innocent and day dreamy. Then hot air balloons started appearing in the clouds, floating and colourful. This happens to me a lot… I’ll start with a very firm idea and then while I’m not looking my mind will wander off to something else. Here’s a collection of inspiration that I’ve been gathering over the past few weeks.
A vintage poster that I’ve loved for a long time, I first saw it in a poster store in Paris…
Love the flags and decorative elements on these ones. What is it about circus colours and imagery?
Stunning poster found on flickr, Kindercastle poster by Alicia Waters
Can you believe this is a cake? Air Balloon Cake by Sweet Tier
Fabric that I bought from Ikea last week. I fell in love with the colours and especially the little flags. They also do a little soft toy balloon and stickers to go with it but I can’t say that I really love them, so I’m going to design my own.
Now that I’m all inspired I have some serious sketching to do.
Back to normal
May 23, 2010
Mr Schmaft is back today after being away on business for the past two weeks. It’s so nice to have him back. So nice, in fact, that I have completely forbidden him from any more travel until our children turn 18. Ha! We’ll see how long that lasts! Notes to self if he ever does locate his now hidden passport – absence really does make the heart grow fonder, important to know where the fuse box is on dark rainy nights when clothes dryer blows up and women who are 6.5 months pregnant really shouldn’t jump on trampolines at Kindy Gym.
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Onto more crafty related things, I have been on a fabric raid to ikea. I’m always amazed that such a mass produced store has such great fabric.
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I’m attempting to make a hood for my pram – it’s looking a little shabby after nearly 3 years of use and I could buy a new one but I quite like the challenge of making my own. This canvas weight fabric from ikea has quite the japanese feel and should go with the base colour. I really love sections of it like the pink flowers, the red huts and the leaves I haven’t had any luck finding a pattern yet so I’m going to have to be brave and copy the existing hood. I’ve allowed quite a few metres of fabric for experimentation and I’m also thinking I might take on the nappy bag to go with it if there’s enough fabric when I’m done.
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I bought this very cool abric for cushion covers…
And this one I had in mind for a maternity wrap skirt but with the lack of sewing for the past few weeks I’m not quite sure I’ll get that far before the bubba is born!
Free Frankie Pattern in Homespun Mag
May 17, 2010
Homespun magazine approached me last year to create a softie for their “Go Green” issue. Whenever anybody says the word green I’m taken back to Kermit the Frog singing “It’s not easy being green” so I just had to make a frog. He’s made out of (you guessed it) a pair of socks and full instructions on how to create your own are in Homespun. The socks are from an online e-tailer called “Happy Socks” who have some seriously cool colour combinations.
I have that selvedge bag by the clever Jodie set in my projects to do sights as well!
Heartfelt thanks for Haiti
May 16, 2010
All of the love owl kits have now sold out and we’ve raised over $100 for Doctors without borders in Haiti. I know it’s not millions of dollars but I like to think that every little bit helps.
Thank you so much to everyone who bought a kit to support the cause ($5 from every kit went to the charity).
Sausage Roller Pattern now available
May 14, 2010
I have to confess that this softie is one of my favourites. I shouldn’t play favourites, I know, but I’m just so excited that the Sausage Roller design works – you really can pull him along. I did completely embarrass myself at stitches and craft by taking the dog for a walk in the afternoons but aside from that the pattern was a big hit at the show.
So now it’s up online available for purchase as a PDF pattern. The instructions cover how to make the pup, assemble the wheels and put the whole thing together. Just in case wheels aren’t your thing I’ve included instructions for sewing sock legs on as an alternative. Kits to go in the store over the weekend too. Phew!
Stitches and Craft Loot
May 12, 2010
I really had to restrain myself at Stitches and Craft, although I don’t know if this haul qualifies as restrained. It’s not my fault, really, it was a sea of temptation. A world of beautiful fabric , patterns and supplies.
This amazing tea towel was from Yardage Design. Rest assured it will never be used, I’m planning on framing it for the kitchen or turning it into a pillow.
This little pillow I made from one of The Red Thread’s gorgeous fabric panels for my two year old Oscar. It told him on the phone before I got home that I had a pirate pillow for him and he said “Thanks mummy, what’s a pirate?” hmmm… some work to do on that one!
This gorgeous little hedgehog was from Ric Rac. I had my eye on her from day one. The beautiful wool felt is from Winterwood and is for a mobile I’m planning for the new baby.
This cute fabric from Kelani is for a couple of wraps for the new bubba, I’m thinking of red bias binding. Now that Stitches and Craft is over my mind is going into baby overdrive. I even have a very foreign urge to clean out the house so the nesting thing must be setting in.
Last, but definitely most least… in fact most ambitious is the poppet purse pattern & kit from Nicole. I already have a fabric in mind for the purse but I have to admit to being slightly terrified of the advanced level of this one but I’m ready to give it a go.
So just a few projects to keep me busy then!
I love Melbourne
May 10, 2010
I’ve loved Melbourne for a very long time. I used to work there, my hubby comes from there and some of the bestest friends you could ever have live down there.
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After a sensational 5 days at the Stitches and Craft Show, I now love Melbourne even more! I got back last night and am still so exhausted that I can barely type but I also can’t wipe the smile off my face. The other indie crafters there were hilarious, lovely and very inspirational.
Jodie from Ric Rac had me literally in stitches (and spent a good deal of time laughing at me … yes at, not with me 
How gorgeous is this elephant of hers?
I had to stop myself from buying everything on Lisa from The Red Thread’s stand, her illustration is just gorgeous.
and Kristen Doran’s work just beamed at me from across the way each day.
Meeting lots of you lovely people who read this little blog of mine was fantastic. I spent way too much money on fabric and supplies and now have about a million different sewing projects in my head.
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A big, big thank you have to go out to Kate (One Flew Over) manned the stand while I did softie classes and the gorgeous Bea who helped me out all weekend. I couldn’t have done it without you!
A full loot report (oh yes, there is a ridiculous amount of loot to show you) to come in the next couple of days. I really do love Melbourne.
Hello. My name is Claire. I have a sock toy addiction. It began two years ago when I was pregnant and nesting. At first I dismissed it. I hadn't sewn in years. "Craft Schmaft" I said. Well it seems this crafty thing is here to stay. This blog brings you the delights of making sock softies, fabric finds and crafty inspiration from round the interweb.
