Mothers Day Picks on Etsy

A gorgeous jotting pad for all those creative ideas!  This is dragon scales by Wit and Whistle.  I started a sewing projects sketch book this year and keep it next to my machine - it has been a great place to sketch ideas and keep all the sewing ones in ONE place!!

 

Lovely porcelian tea light holder from Wapa studio, all the way from Israel.  If you have been visiting here for a while you know I am a sucker for white porcelain.

Something sweet for your wall from Retro Menagerie.  Lots of great designs.

A cool knot bracelet by Amy Stewart - Junghwa.  Amy has lots of lovely simple and modern pieces that are so affordable, any mum would love them.  Have a great weekend!

ANZAC Day - Lest we Forget

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Litany of Remembrance for Anzac Day

In the rising of the sun and in its going down
we remember them.

In the blowing of the wind, and the calm of its stillness,
we remember them.

In the opening of buds and in the rebirth of spring,
we remember them.

In the blueness of the sky and in the warmth of summer,
we remember them.

In the rustling of leaves and in the beauty of autumn,
we remember them.

In the midpoint of the year, and as its beginning and end,
we remember them.

When we are weary and in need of strength,
we remember them.

When we are lost and sick at heart,
we remember them.

When we have joys we yearn to share,
we remember them.
So long as we live, they too shall live,
for they are now part of us,
we remember them.

Roland B. Gittelsohn

Crocheted flowers

Cool crocheted flowers which double as a little pocket from Tweety Atelier!  It's a Korean blog so you will need an online translator.  I wish I could crochet!  One day... it's on my list!

Gift Wrapping for Mothers Day

The humble brown paper package can come up trumps with a little DIY love.  Did you see these on How About Orange?  Cool origami bows made from recycled magazine's.

Beautiful fabric covered buttons from Martha, they look like they are covered in Liberty!  These would translate well for a kids birthday favour too, (the button in fun fabric maybe not the soap ;)

 A woman after my own heart, Ez from Creature Comforts made these lovely fabric Peony's.

Everyone's favourite.... washi tape so many colours and patterns to choose from. 

Ending with a favourite... something from the talented, Leslie from A Creative Mint, soooooo pretty don't you think?  There are a tonne of clever ideas out there to make your mothers day gift that extra bit special.

Canberra Etsy Seller: Flower Hair Comb

I finally purchased some actual vintage millinery leaves and here they are on a lovely comb just listed in my etsy store.  My flower pieces are often 'missing' leaves I think, they really complete the piece. 

Layers of floaty buttery fabrics make for a soft, romantic flower.  The Swarovski pearls I used are an unusual pewter/gold colour and I really like the subtle contrast they give.  These sorts of pieces take a couple of hours to make, even the small ones, every layer is hand cut with my own flower template and then edges sealed where possible to prevent fraying!  Things have been moving much slower in my Etsy store since I had Josiah!  He is almost two can you believe?  Hopefully with Anya off to school next year my production can increase as I do enjoy my fabric and paper flowers!!  

I read a great article on building a creative business with small children on Handmade success yesterday - I spotted it Gret's facebook page!  I will be doing some archive reading on that blog and subsequent links! 

Travelling with Children

Travelling with children is on my mind!!!  Here are a few good tips I have seen around lately.  Firstly Jordan's travel gifts to the passengers around them - pure gold :-)

My cousin made one of these cute mini tote's recently for a gift, I thought this would also be a great activity for kids to take on the plane.  I have only just found the Lbg Studio blog!

I haven't heard of I spy bags before?  I know my kids would love these... might be good to keep in the handbag for all sorts of occasions, doctors waiting room and the like :-)  Oh Happy Day and A Cup of Jo both have great tips on travelling with small children too.  Thanks ladies.

Wiksten Tank in Stretch Knit with Sleeves

The Wiksten tank is everything - everyone says it is... the perfect fit!  I haven't taken a photo of my white tank yet (the wearable 'muslin') but since it's getting cooler here I tried it in stretch knit fabric and added sleeves.  Sewing with a twin needle was a first for me, it worked on the neckline very nicely but caused the hem to roll as you can see above - I can't remember if I ironed the hem but that might solve my problems?

Anyway, not bad for a first effort sewing for me in stretch knit.  I read lots of recommendations on sewing knits with a normal machine.  My machine doesn't have the lightening bolt looking stitch that some blogs suggested using but my machine had a 'stretch knit' setting that I used for the main seams that was nicer looking than a zig zag stitch.  I did make the neckline slightly higher and used the sleeves from the Wiksten Tova pattern too.

I also made a skirt for the wee girl who has been asking on an almost daily basis, "Can you make me something Mum?"  Good old el-cheapo Spotlight fabric and offcuts in my stash came to the rescue for such an occasion.  Anya was very happy :-)

Handmade Hair Accessories: Canberra Etsy Seller

Listed in my Etsy store today, a delicate layered blossom in white.  I love the side view, almost Ranunculi like.

Fresh Flower Inspiration: Cecilia Fox

Cecilia Fox

Babies Breath (Gypsophlia) was rife back in the late eighties, early nineties when I was a florist.  Customers wanted it mixed in with EVERYTHING!  Now, some twenty years later, it seems a comeback is on the cards for Babies Breath and these balls from Cecilia Fox look the perfect way to show off these delicate flowers.

This stunning flower chandelier was made by the Cecilia Fox team for a wedding styled by Gorgeous, Simply Gorgeous Occasions.  See the work in progress or more photos on the 'Gorgeous' facebook page. The hanging flowers are little bunches of Lisianthus.

Image - LyndseyMyra

I had to share this photo of a Peony farm in Victoria!!!!!!!  Would you look at the size of these stunners?  Oh my...  If you love flowers and stylish events you will enjoy a poke around Cecilia's website, they make me want to jump back into the game.

Ikat Pillow: Palladium by Dear Stella

A lovely Ikat fabric in grey from the Palladium collection by Dear Stella, to cover my old brown suede cushion that has been hiding in the cupboard for a while.  I like the subtleness of this Ikat fabric.   I also purchased the Chevron in yellow as it has a softer appeal than the straight out yellow and white fabric you see around.  It is destined to be a lap quilt for me... especially now Autumn is getting cooler.

Lastly, a few pin tucks on my pillow to add interest.  I discovered after I made it I have a pin-tuck foot (of course I do) and Janome has a tutorial showing you how to use one.

Easter Wrapped Up

We made these bunny ears as a pre-Easter craft... Anya's ears survived a few days of wearing them all day long!!  We had a wonderful time with some of my family in Sydney over the long weekend.  I loved doing special family dinners, church with my grandmother and having my lovely nieces and nephew dote over my children and chase them around for us!  Bliss.

We did an Easter egg hunt before church - grab what you can, then we pooled the eggs and divided :-)  I wanted to do the Oh Happy Day yarn trail but wasn't very well prepared {read - no yarn!! he he}.  

With three of my four siblings and my youngest nephew!  Yes, there is a varied age range here :-)   

Happy Easter

Carolyn Cochrane - Etsy

Enjoy your easter break, I know I will.  I'm looking forward to four days with my extended family - especially excited to see my neices and nephews :-)  It's so great for our kids to hang out with their cousins, we still hang out with mine.  Isn't this a beautiful image!!  For me a lovely reminder of what Easter is about, new life!  Cool!

Mini Paper Rose - Easter Table Setting Decoration

Scraps can make amazing things... this little rose is made from the leftovers of my Easter flowers.  I gave it felt leaves for some texture and it is attached to a toothpick!  These roses would make darling table arrangements or for individual place settings.  The tea cup was mine when I was a child, I remember sitting up at the bench having 'tea' and toast with my Mum at four years old.

To give you an idea of the size, the flower head measures 10x12cm and the vase and cup are 5cm high.  I cut the petals free hand and hot glue as I go.  I wish fabric flowers were this easy to make!!!

Handmade Kindle Cover

We bought my mother in law a Kindle reader for her birthday a few months back.  She requested a Kindle cover for Mothers Day, so I made one up early, so she could use it straight away.

It is the Lotta Jansdotter - Florine Brass Mesh fabric from the Echo line.  The lining is linen.  I quilted it for some extra padding and went with a velcro closure as I didn't want a button or magnetic snap to wear into the fabric and possibly the kindle reader.