What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #389

Those four weeks flew by. I don't seem to have much time for my poor neglected blog these days. I taught a class this morning and snapped the contents of the kitchen table, once I'd unloaded the car. The tools of my trade.

I've had two new ladies join the group in the last couple of months. The challenge is to build up their skills, beginning with the basics, but keep the projects interesting for those who have been coming several years. Today, that was a fairly simple box to hold four tealights. The lid lifts to reveal the contents.....

.....and the drawer slides out to access them.

The finished box makes a sweet little gift. That's it from me today. Linking up with Julia and the Deskers. I'm about to head out and pick up my girl. I'll be round to visit after dinner. Happy Wednesday.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #365

It's been a busy kitchen table in the past couple of days. I'm getting ready for my catalogue launch party on Friday and I had a class this morning.

Here I'm using the Balloon Celebration set. I always like to find a way to get the less obvious stamps off the backing sheet. The circular designs were ideal for making a pattern on my card stock before folding it up into a box....

Linking up with the Deskers again today, ably hosted by Jan for the time being. We're all rooting for you Julia and wishing you a speedy recovery.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #346

It's the third Wednesday of the month, which means another class at the Arts Centre for me. It also means there was something on my kitchen table to snap. Not the most exciting shot I'll grant you. This was the state of play at lunch time yesterday. Kitting and making all the in between stages, ready to demonstrate.

And this is what those pieces of Spring green card stock turned into.....

.....a box to house a set of Thank you cards.

Linking up with Julia and the Deskers today. Thank you to everyone who took the time to return my comments last week, even though I wasn't joining in. Your kind thoughts on my set of cards were very much appreciated. Happy Wednesday.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #338

On the kitchen table today, a few things ready to be traced and/or cut out. Some booties and a bib/apron for the new baby, due next month. My niece has chosen a grey and white colour scheme for her nursery and I thought these fabrics would fit.

I bought a copy of Love Sewing this month, because there was a pattern I wanted, and found it much improved. It's quite an expensive magazine at £5.99, but worth that just for the Megan Nielsen Kelly skirt (full size paper) pattern which was free inside and the cute red wool coat ornament from Posie Gets Cozy. There are lots of others, including dresses, children's clothes and festive makes.

I made this pair of cards for a class, back in October, but it was just too early to share them here. I cut the little houses on a hillside with an edgelit die, stamped a sentiment and added a punched glittery star. It doesn't get much simpler than that for mass production.

I liked the negative and, by cutting a full size mat in white, I realised I could make two cards with one cut. To finish off I embossed with falling snow and added the same sentiment as before. I do like making cards that require a lot more effort, just not at this time of year!

Linking up with Julia and the Deskers, after a missed week due to that pesky migraine. Hoping for some festive inspiration when I go visiting later. Happy Wednesday.

SIPIDI! ~ Update

I realised this morning, that today is not the last Friday of the month at all. That would be next week. I said I'd be back with a progress report though, so here I am.

When I made my first Ginger skirt, I added a contrast waistband facing in a printed cotton. Mainly because I thought a double thickness of denim would feel bulky around my waist, but also.....polkadots. I didn't pay attention to the instructions (which are very comprehensive) because I thought I knew what I was doing.

Once I'd pressed the facing to the inside, I proceeded to catch it down by hand, in the same way I did with my Lonsdale dress. What I should have done is stitched in the ditch with the machine. I turned a 5 minute job into a very much longer one. Ah well, I love the nice neat finish on the inside.

I'm planning to make the pocket version with a soft non-stretch denim. I think the skirt has a 70s vibe to it and I'm hoping the fabric I've ordered will be just the shade of blue I associate with that era. I'll be adding a patterned facing again, but this time I'll follow the instructions and sew it down with the machine. I think having contrast stitching on the outside will be a nice feature on a denim skirt.

As for the cafetiere cosy, I have the fabric cut and ready to sew. I need to source some fusible fleece (although I may just use interfacing instead) then I can get started. I already have the Insul-Bright and didn't realise any other specialist supplies were required. Not paying attention to instructions? I'm sensing a theme.

That's my SIPIDI! How's yours going? Point me in the right direction, if you've blogged already, and I'll add you to the Pinterest board. Next week, when it really is the last Friday of the month, there will be another post with a Linky list and, if things go to plan, a finished project to share.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #332

The answer to that is nothing crafty, at the moment. My kitchen table task, for this afternoon, is filling a shoe box to wrap and send to my boy.

On the sewing front, I've started to gather supplies for this month's SIPIDI project. I need to find a contrast fabric to go with this one. I'm sure I have something suitable in my stash.

How cute is the selvedge on this Japanese print?

That's it from me. It's my girl's long day at college (I don't collect her until 6.30pm) which means I need to have dinner ready to go when I get back home. Better make a start then.

Linking up with Julia and the Deskers, this glorious Autumn afternoon.

SIPIDI-Do-Dah!

I've been meaning to resurrect my SIPIDI! meme for the longest time. When the last week of the month approaches I think about it and then, without warning, we arrive in the next month while I wasn't looking! What to do about that?

I thought about it a bit more and decided to make SIPIDI! a two part affair. I'll post on the second Friday of the month with one or two (or more) things from my Pinterest boards that have inspired me. Then on the last Friday of the month, I'll post what (if anything) I've actually done about it.

Today's offerings are a Cafetiere Cosy from Very Berry Handmade, which I have in mind for a coffee loving friend, and a Ginger skirt hack from Colette. You might remember I made myself a denim Ginger earlier this year and I love the A line style. I've been planning to make another and pockets can only make it even better.

If you're new around here and have no idea what I'm talking about, then check out my original SIPIDI! post here. Both my pins for this month happen to be sewing related, but yours don't need to be. It might be a new recipe you've been meaning to try, a card design or scrap book page that's inspired you, or anything else at all. If you took the trouble to pin it, it must be worth a second look. Right?

Who's ready to See It, Pin It, Do It? Let me know in the comments and I'll be sure to follow your efforts. There'll be a new Pinterest board and I'll do my best to figure out adding a Linky List for the second blog post of the month. I'm looking forward to seeing what's inspired you this October.

PS Please don't feel you can't comment, if you don't want to take part. You might not be a Pinner, I realise that not everyone is. I'd still love to hear your thoughts.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #329

And just like that it's Wednesday again. Not one single creative thing has happened around here since last week, unless you count fitting everything that a boy might need, away from home, in the boot of a Ford Focus.

Here's that notelet holder I was kitting for last week.

Sized to hold a set of four cards. Tutorial to follow next week.

The sun is shining here and I'm not long back from dropping my girl off at the bus stop. It's an hour round trip for me so I made the most of the early start and did the weekly shop while I was out. I came home to an empty house for the first time in a very long time. Have a great day.

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday #328

It's Wednesday again and a whole week since I last blogged. It's all a little bit crazy around here right now. With a few minutes to spare this (Tuesday) evening, I'm scheduling a quick kitchen table post.

This was the state of play on Sunday afternoon. Kitting (well in advance for me) for Wednesday's class. This week's project is a set of butterfly notelets and a holder to keep them in. It would make a lovely gift. Somebody, on Facebook, helpfully pointed out that it is 100 days 'til "you know what" so I may just put together a little tutorial.

I've shown you mine and I'll be round to see yours later. Happy Wednesday.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #322

Still no crafting happening at my kitchen table, hence my absence last Wednesday. No desk shot this week either, but I remembered something I haven't shared yet.

A little bit of wedding related faffing from last month. My niece and her fiancee requested money or vouchers as they already share a home and I thought it would be nice to put the cash in a little box.

Just for fun I made it hexagonal. It wasn't that difficult to figure out, but quite tricky to keep the angles even when assembling. Gluing a circle inside the base and lid kept the hexagon from elongating.

I decorated the sides with old favourites Everything Eleanor and Gorgeous Grunge. Topping it off with a layered flower and tiny gold butterfly.

I'm linking up with Julia and the desk hoppers. Maybe next week I'll have some work in progress. You never know!

PS I'm putting a Stampin' Up order in this evening, if anybody needs anything.

Sewing on Saturday ~ Little Houses

Remember that little project I started earlier in the week? Ta dah! I finished it.

It took three sessions. One to cut the fabric and interface the pieces. One *slightly* longer session to put in (and take out!) the zip. A final one to sew it all together and turn the right way round. Ideal for little windows of creative time during the week.

All the zippy bags I’ve sewn, up until now, have followed pretty much the same method as the first one I did. This time I did a few things differently.

Used interfacing that didn’t make the fabric feel like cardboard, once I’d ironed it on. Held the zip in place with Wonder clips. That worked well. Avoiding the slight distortion of pins in the zip tape, while cutting out the extra step of gluing it in place. Added end covers to the zip. I think they give a lovely professional finish.

The thing I find the trickiest, when putting in zips, is keeping an even distance away from the zip teeth. Ideally the width of yellow zip tape on show would be the same all the way along. It wasn’t! I unpicked it and tried again. The result was much the same. I’ve got a new zip foot now so no excuses.

I start close to the teeth and then worry that I’m too close and veer away from them as I head towards the other end. A fact which those lovely zip covers highlight all too well. Did you notice that all my photos show one end or the other and not both in the same shot? Creative cropping! I’m counting on the cute fabric to divert attention away from this flaw. Of course I’ve pointed it out now. Shh! Don’t tell.

What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #310

Hello and welcome to our weekly hop around the desks of the crafting world.

Yesterday afternoon I decided to squeeze in another little project, with a zip, between prom dress sewing sessions.

This time I’m trying out end covers to see if I can get a better finish. I decided I didn’t like the red zip after all…..

…..and changed it (along with the lining fabric) to sunny yellow.

What’s happening in your work space this week?

What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #288

Last Wednesday was one of those days that you just want to forget and I didn’t make it to the desk hopping fun. I managed to squeeze in a little bit of crafting yesterday and here’s the kitchen table just as the light was going.

I’m making little boxes. When you lift the lid, the cut out shape reveals the four tea lights nestling inside. This version is going to be blue and white with snowflakes.

This is the one we made in class. You can see the star shaped peep hole, which is underneath the lid, in the first shot. There was a card to match, but I’ve already given it away and forgot to take a photo.

Finally a mini cracker treat box. Perfectly sized for a lip balm (or sweets/chocolate) and made using the ever useful Envelope Punch Board. Three more projects to come up with for next week’s class and then I’m done for the year. Just like that.

I said it yesterday, but I’ll say it again: Apologies to anyone having difficulty getting past Word Verification. I seem to be unable to turn it off. I have tried and tried. I don’t think it’s just me. It has reared its ugly head on several blogs that I visit regularly. Come on Blogger, give us a break!

Friday Finds ~ Bunnies

I’ve tried teaching myself to crochet a couple of times, but never quite got to grips with it. These sweet little bunnies might tempt me to get the hook out again.

You can find the free pattern on All About Ami. There are many others available including practical cowls and beanies, as well as more cute animals.

In other news: I posted off the last square for the Friendship Quilt this afternoon and we are off on another university tour tomorrow. Have a great weekend.

Stampin’ Up Saturday ~ Notelet Set

If you visited on Wednesday you would have seen the panic stations preparation for this project. As last minute makes go, I’m pretty pleased with it and it was well received. The box is very easy to put together, using the envelope punch board.

You’ll need an 8” square of cardstock, stamped with your choice of design. I’ve left mine blank for the photos so that you can see the score lines more easily.

Line the left hand edge of the cardstock up at the 3 1/2” mark, punch and score. Slide the cardstock a little further to the left, lining up at the 4 1/2” mark, repeat.

Turn the cardstock anticlockwise, line the score guide up with the previously scored line, punch and score. This gives a perfect right angle, which you might not achieve by lining up the edge of the card with the measurements at the top of the board.

Continue to turn the cardstock anticlockwise, until all four sides are punched and scored. Lining up the score guide with the previously scored lines each time. Use the corner rounder, at the back of the board, to finish the top and bottom flaps.

Cut from the first score line up to the second, at the corner squares, to form tabs.

Turn over and bring the side flaps in, adhering with a small amount of glue. Add a little more glue on the inside of the bottom flap (as shown) and on the bottom tabs (marked with a star in the previous picture) and fold up to form the box.

This size box will hold four 4” cards and envelopes.

To hold the box closed, I added one of my “fluffy” flowers. It is raised up on foam pads, stuck only to the side and bottom flaps. The top flap tucks behind it. I stamped my cardstock to match the notelets, but you could use heavier weight scrapbook paper and substitute a scalloped layered circle to match your box.

The Envelope Punch Board is a very useful tool, not only for making envelopes to match your handmade cards, but for lots of different boxes, including these. Endless possibilities for packaging little gifts. If you make one, I’d love to see it.

Friday Finds ~ The Quiet Fox

There’s been no time for sewing around here lately, but that doesn’t stop me pinning cute projects when I come across them.

Ros at Sew Delicious has made this lovely pencil case, using a free applique template, designed by Cassandra at Cass Can Sew. If cute little foxes aren’t your thing (really?) then there is also a Russian doll template available. There are links to lots of examples of how folk have used them, in various crafting projects, to give you some extra inspiration.

Could be a contender for SIPIDI, which makes its return later this month. Will you be joining me?

Friday Finds ~ Entrelac

Checking back through my blog archives, it appears that I stopped sharing Friday Finds over a year ago. I thought I’d resurrect the idea during Blogtoberfest.

So, what exactly is entrelac? Anyone? No, I’d never heard of it either.

It is a technique which produces this rather beautiful woven pattern and yet it is apparently achievable by “Advanced Beginners”. I’m not a knitter myself so I can’t say if that is true. The secret is in the self striping wool it would seem.

The pattern for the pictured scarf, by Allison LoCicero, is available free at Craftsy. There is also a video tutorial using it, by Staci Perry, if you fancy a peek. I’m hoping to persuade my Mum to take up the needles again and make one for me. As much as I am loving this prolonged Indian Summer, I’m sure scarves will be needed soon.

A Friendship Quilt ~ The Leftovers {a tutorial}

So, you joined a Friendship Quilt square exchange. You bought way too many a few fat quarters and now that the project is almost three quarters of the way through, you realise that you have rather a lot of a little leftover fabric. What to do with it?

Enter the tissue holder. A very simple beginner sewing project. A great way to practise 1/4” seams. OK, it’s a bit late for that one, if you’re a Friendship Quilter. A last minute teacher gift or Summer Fayre fund raiser. A useful project from scraps.

I’d seen a few tutorials online, using the same fabric inside and out and then I saw these with a contrast binding at the opening. I pinned it for future reference, but when I looked at the instructions, it seemed like a lot of work for such a small project. I thought, ‘There must be an easier way.’ Do you know what? There is.

You’ll need a 5 1/2” x 7 1/2” rectangle of your inner (plain) fabric and 5 1/2” x 6 1/2” in the outer (printed) fabric. No need to cut a paper pattern. I just used my rotary cutter, but forgot to take a picture of the fabric pieces before I sewed them together.

Place the rectangles, right sides together, matching along one of the short edges. Sew a 1/4” seam. It doesn’t really show up here, but I’ve turned it over for the next picture. I matched my thread to the lighter fabric.

Now line up the other short edges and stitch another 1/4” seam.  As you can see the lining will bulge. Don’t worry, that’s how it’s supposed to look. The plain fabric is longer so that it shows on the outside to give a contrast trim. Turn right side out.

Centre the outer (print) fabric to give yourself a narrow border (approx. 1/4”) of the lining (plain) fabric on each side, as shown in the top example. Turn over. Press with the iron on the reverse so that it’s nice and smooth, as pictured at the bottom.

Fold in half by bringing the two borders together. Finger press at the top and bottom of the fold to mark the centre point. Unfold. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get those little creases in the centre to show up, but trust me they *are* there.

Bring the right hand side in to the centre mark and the left hand side to meet it. I didn’t actually pin my own, but this is the best place to put them so you can sew both ends, without having to remove the pins. Sew a 1/4” seam across each end.

Turn right side out. Push the corners out with a chopstick, or similar pointy stick. I like to take the tissues out of the cellophane before putting inside, but if you’re making these as a fund raiser you might prefer to leave them sealed. Try not to get too carried away, once you realise how easy they are to make!

I made these from my leftover floral skirt fabric and some plain blue cotton I had in my stash. If you’re cutting from a fat quarter and the long edge (22”) is intact you can get four out by cutting a 6 1/2” strip (outer) or 7 1/2” strip (inner) and then chopping into four 5 1/2” pieces.

I’ve never written a sewing tutorial before so if anything is unclear please shout and I’ll be glad to help, if I can. Happy sewing.

ETA Some of the photos show both sides of the project, or two stages, at once. I did this to avoid the post being too photo heavy. I had two sets of fabric pieces, to illustrate the different steps, which you won’t necessarily. Apologies for the confusion caused.