Daily Reminder

This should be on my wall - how about you? I am sure it would help eleviate the stress we put on ourselves, yes?

On a side note an interesting discussion on Decor8 about Pinterest and Photographer credit! I had commented to say I hadn't had any problem to credit the author of any pics I pinned... that was until this morning. It is quite unclear who this is by and I don't have super vision to read the fine print. Anyone?

Heading for Shop Handmade

A few new headbands I finished over the weekend that are making their way to Shop Handmade today.





and a button hair pin set which is also in my etsy store!

DIY - Doona Cover

My friends in Melbourne have a doona cover similar to this in a mushroom pink and I loved it the minute I saw it! I have been searching for a white one ever since (almost 5 years). I probably haven't looked hard enough but was delighted to see this tutorial online via Grosgrain.





Simple and so cool! I wouldn't have picked this was made from a knit fabric, would you?! Anyway, I'm also not sure why women generally dominate the bedroom decorating - I have seen some WAY too feminine bedrooms but I also wouldn't like to sleep in burgundy and forest green man stripes :-)



I'm leaning towards the lemon, white and grey palette at the moment - this headboard is fun too!

Poor hubby got all four wisdom teeth out yesterday but he is being a trooper and hasn't whinged once, he says they breed you tough in Nth Queensland. We haven't got much on this weekend thank goodness! I'm looking forward to doing some things around the house... See you next week.

Fabric Wall Decals & Water Drop Mobile

I saw these clouds on the Thompson Family Home Tour and knew I had to do them for Josiah's side of the room! So I made my own fabric decals from this yummy spotted fabric - I can't remember who by? Sorry!



The adorable Whale Dreams print by Sarah Jane inspired the bubbly mobile! We just traced a variety of little circles from items around the house onto cardboard - egg cups (top and bottom) & drinking glasses. After sewing the circles into mini garlands I attached to a rattan ring covered in the same spotty fabric and used my lovely twine to secure to a common point.



I didn't find the 'right' shades of blue cardboard until I had already made my mobile - isn't that always the way! I still like it though and the little man doesn't care two hoots, he just loves his mobile, especially when it sways :-) I won't explain how to do the decals - you can find it all here. Basically just cornflour and water folks, it's that simple!

Be inspired by more creative spaces....

Baby Shower details

Iced biscuits or fondant? What do you prefer? I know the fondant biscuits look so much prettier and take far less work but the iced biscuits taste better! The prams were quite clumsy, mostly because my icing wasn't as good. I think the shape was too big, I know I prefer a smaller bite if I am sampling other sweet things. They would have been good for favours.



Even though it was a baby shower it was high tea too - hence the teapots. Spots are nice and easy! The flowers from Mondays post were for this baby shower - I always contributed those flowers to The House That Lars Built but it seems they are a tutorial by Eloise Corr Danch on Martha Stewart.



Anyway, back to cookies - I tried to roll my fondant thick enough to be able to press a pattern onto the biscuit but thin enough to still enjoy the taste.



The lovely hostess made these jelly shots topped with fruche, strawberries and a touch of mint, they looked and tasted great.



My gorgeous sister-in-law Kate. Doesn't she look fabulous! Approximately 1 month to go. I'm so excited to be an Auntie again.

Sarah Jane Fabric - Children at Play

If you have been reading my blog for a little while you will know that I adore Sarah Jane's artwork. Well now it is available on fabric! Say ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh and ahhhhhh with me. Sarah has collaborated with Michael Miller to bring us this delicious spring line called Children's play.




I know my new favourite online fabric store, Hawthorne Threads will be stocking some of the fabric. I have already written to ask them! So happy there is some fun boy's designs too.





Sarah Jane's husband built this beautiful booth for her and friends helped her sew everything up in just 6 days! A lot of lovely ideas to use for a market display too. More photos here.



All photos courtesy of Sarah Jane

Giant Paper Flowers

I followed the tutorial from The House That Lars Built as a guide to make these gorgeous paper flowers for my sister in law's baby shower over the weekend. I altered the directions slightly to make a fuller flower (above) and then these smaller flowers, below. I used paper again, not cardboard from Eckersley's as it is more cost effective. I also made two long petals per sheet of paper for the large flower not one as Brittany has instructed in her tutorial.





I cut 4 petals each for the smaller flowers per sheet of paper. The black center looked better too don't you think?! It cost around $22AUD to make these 3 flowers - but time is definitely a factor they took an hour to glue together but a few nights in front of the TV to cut out. I also made some pink and white tissue-paper pom pom's to hang through the house, so pretty and cheap to make and I'm not sick of them yet! Hope you had a lovely weekend.

Cartography dress

Empire Dress



This Highland Dress was made from Ordinance Survey maps of the Scottish Highlands!!



Money dress - 1870's style dress stitched together from paper money, all designs by the amazing Susan Stockwell. Pretty cool huh! Have a great weekend.

My Creative Space - Bright and Cheery

No sewing this week, just some deco for the dining room! We made some tissue paper pom pom's and bought some cute, well-priced lanterns from Occasion by Design. I had looked for the spotty lanterns locally for a while, with no joy so I was pleased to discover this shop. They have a lot of well-priced party accessories too.



I am going to add some white paper garlands to it and it's done. Inspired from the lovely Ashley Ann. Oh and I have to plug the Business Sumit Handmade Canberra is putting on for small businesses and Mum-preuners like most of us that meet in this creative space! Friday 10th June in Canberra - what a great way to learn more about building your business and have a blogger meet up!

Make yourself a cuppa and get on over to 'Our Creative Space' to see what everyone else is making!

Est Moda - Modern Maternity Wear - made in Australia

Talking about sewing perfection yesterday, well here it is in fashion form! Est Moda makes beautiful maternity wear from natural fibres. Est Moda is run by lovely Mother of two, Anna who resides in Sydney, Australia. The above dress and next two jackets are three of my absolute favourites.





I have seen Anna's work in at Shop Handmade, her pieces are flawless and took my breathe away! It's no great surprise that Anna has a background in fashion. Great news - Anna does custom orders for non pregnant bodies and you can buy her pieces in her etsy store.





The lemon and navy top is to die for too don't you agree? Ok, I just love them all!

Linen Birdy by Red Stitch Designs

Brenda from Red Stitch Designs creates the most amazing little creatures. I asked her to make Anya a little birdie for her bedroom - using some of the fabric from her bedroom makeover. This sweet bird sits on the bedhead (for now) to keep Anya company while she sleeps.





Brenda's attention to detail is close to perfect, her stitching is beautiful and she makes gorgeous original, well-priced designs. Visit her madeit store or if you are lucky enough to swing by Canberra, you can purchase Brenda's lovely work at Shop Handmade.

Photos courtesy of Red Stitch Designs

Giant Handmade Paper Flowers

Tania took these stunning photos of my paper flowers at Shop Handmade a little while back - I don't think I have shared them as yet. Isn't the blue bird painting behind beautiful? It was painted by local artist Annie Pritchard, it also sold quite a few weeks ago!



This flower was constructed petal by petal and individually wired and taped, made from a stiff paper from Eckersleys art shop. My trusty old floristry skills came in handy for this one and it was definitely a favourite. I hope you all had a great weekend.

Gorgeous Children's Sewing Patterns

Aren't these divine patterns from Heidi and Finn on Etsy? I have heard they are easy to follow which is always refreshing news. I would love to sew these for my girl (although she loves a good twirly skirt)! The little bolero is too cute, I'd like one myself.



This is a great unisex pattern! I am desperate to learn to use the over-locker (serger) my Mum gave me to use.... especially when I see patterns like this. On an un-related note, how frustrating was it having blogger out for over 24hours!!!! We have started my migration to Word Press - not fast enough I say! Have a great weekend.

My Creative Space - Hello Birdie Pillow

The lovely Posie gave me a spare Red Thread pattern she had and I made this cute Hello Birdie Pillow for Anya's bedroom in a couple of hours! So cute and looks great on her bed! I highly recommend the pattern, it is easy and designed to be made from fat quarters which I love, because we all have fat quarters in our stash - don't we ladies!!!! So easy to make for a quick kids/baby/girlfriend present! For more creative spaces visit 'Our Creative Spaces'!

Ed's note: Thanks to everyone that left comments last week - sorry blogger deleted them all in the wobbly it had last Thursday!

Modern Work Space Interiors

This would inspire me to work! A neat clean space surrounded by beautiful prints (minus the dog under the table!)



A beautiful light and airy workspace, not so great for the laptop with glare but perfect for dreaming of new designs, sewing and writing cards!



I like the hanging screen which looks like it gives the appearance of designating 'spaces', maybe in an old church loft? Beautiful windows, don't you think.



Another gorgeous vintage desk in another great light and airy space! Don't worry my work space does not look like this and I won't be showing you any time soon :-)

Click on images for links - all via Pinterest!