Inspired

Nursery additions

2008-04-25T15:03:00.004+01:00

I was planning on making 2 boxes using "In Stitches" pattern. But the interfacing I was using is so stiff that I couldn't follow the instructions. So I ended up with the box half done and no clear way on how to finish it. Then I discover a very nice tutorial (JCarolinecreative) where it constructs the box attaching the bottom in the lining with glue. That was the solution. And here is the final result:

For the next one I decided to try something different. This time I made a bucket following the instructions from Vintage RicRac:

Happy New Year

2008-01-16T17:11:00.000Z

Christmas holidays have been very special this year with the new addition to the family, although he was still too young (just 5 months) to understand what was going on around him.
As usual somewhat stressful with all the Xmas shopping, family visits, ...
But we had a good start of the year and I sensed it is going to be a good one.
I have a huge list of things I want to sew. And one of my new year resolutions is to craft more often. Will try.

Handmade Christmas gift

2007-12-19T14:44:00.002Z

Today I am very busy finishing some Christmas gifts before flying tomorrow to spend the holidays with the family. A tshirt for my 4 month old cutie and a stuffed monster for my niece. No more time for anything else. Pictures to come.

Tshirts

2007-12-12T16:31:00.001Z

Some old projects like these fun tshirts I did for my niece and nephew just before the delivery.

Good news

2007-10-11T12:57:00.000+01:00

This time my blog break had a good reason. At the beginning of August I had a little gorgeous baby and taking care of him is taking all my time. But I love it.

Curtains

2007-07-19T20:32:00.001+01:00

I knew I was not going to be able to keep the promise of writing something every week or so, but 5 months of silence ... I have no excuse, really. Oh, well. Let's give it another try, shouldn't we?
Here is one of the first sewing projects I did for the apartment.

At the end of the living room there is some part of the ceiling with windows. We looked around but the prices we were asked to get some blinds fitted were ridiculously high. So after several technical discusions between my husband and me and some tips from the parents, we decided to make our own. The result is not bad, is it?

Mail orders

2007-02-12T15:39:00.001Z

I just got two wonderful packages this weekend. One consists on 2 pieces of fabrics made by Cheeky Beaks that I wanted to buy for a long time

I also bought 2 prints from The Black Apple that I love. The plan is to use them on the room for the baby I'm expecting. Pics to come.

Update

2007-02-09T19:41:00.001Z

It seems that I can't keep the promise of trying to update this blog every week. Would I be able to do it at least once per month? Will see.

I had so many plans for Christmas. I wanted to do one handmade gift for everyone in my family. But at the end, due to my lack of discipline I could only get to do some for my nieces. For the smallest one, just 2 years old, I did Olive from Wee Wonderfuls. But what was my surprise when we opened the presents and she got 3 more dolls. There was no comparison, the rest were store bought with a bunch of different accessories, but I hope some day she will appreciate the cute fabric doll made by her aunty. Unlikely I forgot to take a picture of it.

The second gift was a messenger bag for my adorable niece who is 5 years old. She always loved to carry bags all around. I still remember when she stole mine during her own batipsm when she was not 2 year old yet. It was so difficult to get it back.

On this one I used brown felt and appliqued some flowers using the same fabric as in the interior. I love the idea I had of using a butterfly as closure as it seems it is flying over the flowers. It was so easy to make that I'm thinking on doing some other in different colors ... if I can have some discipline of course.

Knitting and stitching Show

2006-11-26T14:07:00.000Z

I attended the Knitting and Stitching Show here in Dublin. It was my first time, so I was not sure what it was all about. There were like hundred shops mainly from UK and few from Irelands selling stuff. Not only knitting and fabric related but many of them selling paper and scrapbooking stuff. Also there was an exhibition with quilt and textile art in general which was very interesting. Here some examples.

I couldn't attend any of the workshops. All the ones I was interested in were all sold out. Oh well, next time.
Here a picture of the felt purse class I wished I could have attended.

I can't believe ...

2006-11-26T13:46:00.000Z

... I haven't posted anything in 2 months. When I started the blog, I had the idea of writting something every two weeks at least. Then I moved to a new appartment and all my time was almost consumed in small fixes around the house, furniture shopping, etc. On top of that, my job continues to be very demanding and I arrive home mentally tired. That didn't keep me away to continue looking around the other people blogs. And in fact, I have even spent too much time reading other crafters. I'm so attire to read everyday what other people is doing that I forget to do something myself. But I have the firm intention to change. I promise. Less reading and more crafting.

Creating home

2006-09-26T22:57:00.001+01:00

We had our first guests in the new apartment and we enjoyed a lovely dinner. I think that from now on we can start to call it home.
The sewing machine is still in its box though.

Finally back

2006-09-02T13:30:00.001+01:00

The blogging break has been longer than I expected. We moved around a month ago to our new appartment and I never imagined there were going to be so many things to sort out.
And still using all of our free time to shop for furniture to fill the empty apartment.

Naturally, the sewing machine is buried under several boxes. I'm really looking forward to using it again. We are going to visit our family in a month and I need to bring some presents, specially for the young ones.

No time for blogging

2006-07-19T19:01:00.000+01:00

Lately I have been very busy at work and also I have a big change in my life. Tomorrow we are going to pick up the keys for our new apartment. We have been waiting for so long that the excitement is almost gone. But I hope we will get it back once we move.
Also in the meantime I have started a new project, my first clothes project, a strapless dress for a wedding we have in Malta in 2 weeks. I'm quite behind so I bought a backup dress just in case.

What's next?

2006-07-14T21:13:00.002+01:00

... a summer flower messenger. It has been my mom's birthday and knowing how much she liked sewing I made her a messenger style bag. Because she would appreciate it more than if I buy her something.
Also I have just dicovered Whipup, and their "bag" contest, so this may be my opportunity to show me in "public" for the first time.

At first sight it looks an easy bag to make but it took me some time to get the lining fitting perfectly inside the bag (perfectionism is one of my defects). I started making the exterior and interior with the same size but quickly I saw it was not the right way to go. Several tries later (and long past midnight) I got it right. Still I can't figure out which measurements to use for next time. And I'm thinking it is going to vary case by case depending on the fabrics and interfacing used.
And to complete the present, this is the matching card I did using the same fabric.

I like it a lot and I'm thinking on doing it in the future.
You would recognize the flower brooch. I saw it in someone's blog but now I can't remember where. I will look who it was and give her the credit she deserves.
There are 3 different categories to enter the contest. I guess mine would be skills.

My second challenge

2006-07-14T20:22:00.001+01:00

For my second bag I chose something more challenging, a diaper bag. My sister in law had a baby, so I though it was the perfect excuse to test my skills.
I also did a matching changing pad and a stuffed monster (following another tutorial on craftster).
The bag has 4 interior pockets (2 for diapers, one for a bottle and another one with a zipper) and one exterior pocket for the cell phone.

... with bags

2006-07-13T18:07:00.002+01:00

When I got the sewing machine I decided to start making things that don't require fitting. The first one I tried was a placemat and some napkins and were given away to my mother in law as a gift. Then I found crafters and the so beloved Jordi tutorial and I did one for myself. It took me a while to decide the fabrics, the shape, etc. But I'm quite happy on how it turn out. Here are some pics:

Everything started ...

2006-07-11T20:08:00.001+01:00

I always saw my mother sewing when I was a kid. She used to make almost all my clothes. But I never got attracted to it. When I got married almost 3 years ago, I though it would be useful to have a sewing machine at home to do the typical alterations in pants hems, etc. And the one day, some months ago finally my husband decided to buy me one. Since the I have enjoyed so much than I wish I had started before. I will post some of my first trys later.

The inaugural post

2006-07-08T22:27:00.000+01:00

Until recently I didn't take seriously the blog world. Then some months ago to my surprise I found a bunch of amazing bloggers full of creativity and passion for handmade things. I'm not considering myself at the same level but I though of giving a try at least to the blogging thing and start my own one. Will I keep on? Let's see ...