Garland/bunting project

So I said this would be the first project I'd post - and here it is.

 
Before I get into the actual project I'd like to set a bit of a background to how this came about. As the previous posts mention, I've just moved house and was severely broke this Christmas. On top of that, I hate the idea of  'stuff' cluttering up the world, both within the home and the planet. I don't like how you can go into any house anywhere and we all have the same things, mass produced, designed months previously without individuality in mind. I like to reuse and recycle.

Now let me be a hypocrite for a second, I do buy this 'stuff' from time to time, I just don't like to give it as gifts - it doesn't seem to be in the spirit of things to spend a few hours shopping for everyone in bulk when I could make something with love.

For this project I used fabric scraps, thread, cusion filling, metalic string and ribbon. The tools I used were pins, scissors,  hand needle and sewing machine. Without further ado - Here's how I did it;

I drew some simple shapes on card and cut out - adding about 1/4 inch stitch allowance around the edge.

I traced and cut out four sets (front and back) of each shape

I sewed around each shape, front sides together leaving a gap for turning out. During this process I also attached a loop of string to the shapes. Just have the loop sandwiched between the layers with the loose ends facing out and sew over. You can attach a pin for security.

Turn shapes the right way out and stuff with filling (I used the filling from an old cusion). Sew up gaps and you're ready to hang on ribbon.

I knotted the shapes in place. These could be used as Christmas garlands or baubles, but I think I like them enough to be up all year round as bunting. (Don't mock - I'm British, we love bunting). This project could even be a baby's moblie with a little tweeking.

This project cost me the price of the string (about £2), everything else I had already

 

new year

Well, seems like all i've been doing lately has been working- just come off the shift from hell which topped off the working week from hell. I really pick my timings well; just moved house and not had a single day off since then! Whats christmas or new year? Not seen either yet!

But enough bitching about work- i do really enjoy it, just can be heavy going being part of a 24-7-365 kinda service. On to happy thoughts...

This year i resolve to really try this blogging thing- i stared because i wanted to re-discover my art/craft roots and document my journey, so far i have been a bit lacking. But in my defence i have had a lot on recently. I love to say i hate excuss but it seems i have plenty!

First off i'd like to put up some hand made christmas ornaments i made for my family- partly i made them because i was really short of funds but also because i have a bit of a philosophy on christmas gifts- but i'll talk about that more in the post.

There are a few other projects i'd like to put up but again, i'll put them up later. In the mean time, hope everyone's new year is filled with joy and hope!

XXX

New House

This house thing feels like it has been going really slowly so far, but the last week its really picked up - really. The middle of last week we were told that the exchange date would be this friday - as in the end of the week. I'm really starting to panic now as I feel completely unprepared.

I seem to have blocked the last house move from my memory and have absolutely no recollection of what we did, how long it took, what services we cancelled - all the details really. I suppose it's hardly surprising really, the last move coincided with when my Mum passed away, that's the lasting memory of that weekend. But this move, it's all good - It's our first house as homeowners, I have a new job next year - me and boyf are at a good place.

I think because last time I didn't have time to think about what could go wrong, as well as the moving and the previously mentioned event I had just been offered a job - it all happened in the space of 3 days, yeah - apparently I can't 'do' one life changing event at a time. So now all I have in my head are the practicalities of getting new services hooked up, ending old services and, of course - getting all our crap moved. The shadow of Christmas is ever looming over me as well - moving house means no cash at the moment as it's all tied up in  deposits etc, so I'm making gifts for family. Unfortunately I can't really do much about that until our stuff is out of boxes, so that leaves a grand total of about a week to make everything. (Not to mention that I'm working pretty much every day of that week). Okay, I'm getting stressed just thinking about it now, chat amongst yourselves - I'll quietly have a panic attack...

So, on to a more positive outlook - I'm really excited about the new house, there's tons of useful space we can utilise (I've already got my eye on the spare bedroom for my craft room/our office) and I'm hopeful that with it being ours rather than rented , my dear partner will be more inclined to pick up after himself - I know, wishful thinking! And we get to spend Christmas in our own house, plus cardboard boxes(!) It'll all be over by the new year, then we can get on with enjoying it. So yeah, in short- I'm stressed but I'm happy, and it's all positive.  Here it is:

Chai latte

I'm totally into chai latte's at the moment, but where I live it's almost totally unavailable to buy, so the past week I've been experimenting with how to make my version of it. I can't claim its authentic, it's just how I've made it to taste as I like it - the 'McDonalds' of chai tea if you will. Here's the recipe;
1/2 cup almond milk
1/2 cup cows milk
4 cardamom pods
1 cinnamon stick
1 tsp black tea leaves

Stick everything bar the tea into a pan over a medium heat to simmer for about 5 mins. Add the tea and leave for another minute or so (however strong you like your tea) then pour through a sieve and you're done.

You don't need the almond milk - I just think it adds an extra flavour and sweetness. If you slightly squeeze the cardamom pods first they open and infuse better. I think the result would be smoother if rather than a sieve I'd use coffee filter paper but I don't have any and am not that fussy about texture. (Thats a lie - I'm really fussy about textures, I can't eat dumplings when they are crispy on top, they have to be all squishy and doughy). But anyway, give it a try - then you can add things depending on your own taste. Enjoy.

Edit: just made some using rice milk instead of almond milk and earl grey tea - YUM!

She's Back!

Hi everyone!
First off I'd like to say sorry for being offline for soooooooo long. I've really been away from everyone and everything at the moment but I'm happy to say I'm back in the world of the living!

So the reasons behind my absence - a few posts back I mentioned we were bidding on a house, well - we put a bit on, rejected - put another bid on - rejected, put ANOTHER bid on - finally accepted, hopefully with all things running smoothly from now we should be in by the end of January. Of course I will put pics up when we get in (if we get in - still feeling a bit nervous about it since it had such a tentative start).

On to second point. The last few months have been really crazy at work - I work for the local council and we're going through a restructure at the moment which basically meant everyone's job was disestablished and we all had to apply for new jobs within the new system (regime, she says, tongue in cheek.) There are now nothing like as many people at the level I currently work at (supervisory - nothing to write home about) so it's really competitive. But now I've had my interview and I can get back to my job - and my life.

Sorry about the long post, I just had to explain because I've been stressing out, but I'm back to same old now. Next post I'll be back on my game!

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

It was rather a dull looking day yesterday - rain and drizzle but a bit of sun peeking through so the grass looked really vivid green. I spotted this double rainbow outside my kitchen, reminded me of that video on youtube of the guy going nuts over a double rainbow, made me giggle!

I love this time of year, autumn is the best. The colours are all so cool, the trees look more interesting and it always seems like theres something magical in the air - you know, with crisp blue skies and sparkling icy ground in the morning. Plus, I recon after the summer when you can only find t-shirts and thin tops when it's freezing outside you can finally find weather appropriate clothes.

Lace detail handbag

Hi everybody!

Re photography challenge, I'm still taking pictures but I've decided its taking up to much blog space doing an image a day so I'm going to have a few on the one entry. But for now I'd like to show you a bag I was inspired to make after seeing this vintage Putty handbag on pinterest

I love the lace detail. I had a load of lace edging kicking around so decided to give it a try. I used a floral pattern flannel fabric for the main body, the lining is from polyester pyjamas, I bought both from a charity shop. I'm afraid I had to play around with the contrast on photoshop to pick up the details, but I don't think the integrity of the piece was compromised. Here it is;

I learned a lot making it, there are parts I would change; I would make the bag shorted and deeper, I would change the handle to something more deliberate and sturdy and I would put a different fastener in, maybe a magnetic popper. I'm kind of eager to try some more bags out, I enjoyed making the pattern.
I'm really pleased with it, what do you think?