Making up drawstring bags

Yesterday my 7 year old son reminded me that I hadn't actually made him the bag I promised to make mine after he got his Star Wars figures for his birthday (end of May) and now nearly a whole month later I actually make time to do it.

Star wars lined drawstring bag

 

I used Jeni Baker's drawstring bag tutorial on her blog. I had seen lots of people on Instagram using it and thought 'That's exactly what I need' when I was making my Doctor Who craft swap and gave it ago and OH MY GOSH! it was so easy and well laid out that beginners would find it easy to work with. I will probably be doing lots more.

Doctor Who inspired spoonflower fabric drawstring bag

There this a pattern you can buy if you are looking for different sizes.

Thanks for visiting

Zoe xx

Last mintue gift.

When my children have parties to go to I like to get the children a book as a gift but there has been a few times I've had to do something different and I had to do that this week when I was asked by one of the mum's at school if my son was OK to come to her son's 5th Birthday party. I tried not to look too shocked that one I had forgotten and two I hadn't got his gift.

 

I tried to find something that day but I didn't have time to order anything and I had no idea what he likes so the next day (the day before the party) I asked the boy's mum what he was into and she didn't really know what to say. She said he liked Cars and I had a little think.

That evening I got my son to help me find some fabric for a last minute gift, we decided on a cushion with the little boy's name.

 

 

So the day of the party I set to making the cushion. It wasn't a difficult one it was just a square piece of fabric, with felt letters bondawebbed in place then stitch on for security and two back pieces.

The mum was pleased with the cushion as it was so different to the other wonderful gifts he got plus my little boy brought some chocolate too as the little boy did ask for that in the first place.

 

I love making cushions with names on mainly as my children all have names that rarely ever find on items so it inspired me to do this in my work.

 

Here is some on my other cushions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If your interesting in one please email buttonedupandpinneddown@yahoo.co.uk for more details

 

Zoe xx

week four of the hoildays

Week four has come to an end and this week it's been a less busy making week, I have brought a little bit of fabric for myself but still don't know what it will become, I've been planning my pincushion swap which the lovely Quirky Hannah has set up, and made a start on a lovely little girls dress. I also had a little birthday shopping spree with my birthday money have have a few new clothes and waiting for one of my favourite bead shops to get some bits and pieces in stock to make myself some new things.

This is the only thing I actually made this week.

Also I had to get a new washing machine as my one was has gone to washing machine heaven, luckily for me we have managed to get a new one.

Well that was a short blog, I'll try and add some new and old items to my Etsy shop next week as it only has 5 items and looks like it needs a bit more in there x

Talk again next week
Zoe x

Week three of the Holidays

Hello you lovelies, we are at the half way make of the six weeks holidays here in the UK and that means that it's my birthday was this week. But before I start on my birthday I have a gallery of photos of things I managed to make this week as last week was more about my birthday girls than anything else.

Sunday was my first day with my restored mojo as it had gone out for a few days but this is the week of plenty.
I started this hat using Oliver and S bucket hat pattern which I found on their blog for free, I found my printer didn't like the printing size so I did have to enlarge the print out by 6% to get the box to 2in square. But overall it was good. (full review coming soon)

And I also set to work on a Blackberry Playbook dust cover but sadly I found I only had navy or brown zips even when I thought I brought black zips.

Monday was all about recycling, I had an old top from my eldest daughter than was plenty good even if she has had it for years added a little skirt and a zip that was the wrong colour for something else, so I made them into a dress for my youngest daughter (do you want to know how??? If so I'll do a little tutorial) It turned out well I think and my daughter loves it x

Tuesday was Superman part 1 as a customer asked if I could make a skirt using some more Comic hero fabric and after my fabric arrived I set to work and made this lovely skirt for a 5-6 year old.







Wednesday was my birthday so NO SEWING, just spending time with my Chef partner (anyone who knows a chef will know that they hardly get time at home so anytime they do get, make the most of it) So as it was my special day we had croissants with lots of butter and jam (plus chocolate spread for the children), after which I opened my cards, I didn't get lots but what I did get was just what I wanted (and I did get a sewing machine from my mum and dad a few months ago)

Then I had some visits and some birthday calls after which we got ready for a picnic lunch that turned into an adventure because we've had so much rain then so much sun all the fields we where normally walk passed was so overgrown that we had to go though woods and down ditches, but we had a good time and then I cooked chicken wraps to end our lovely day.

Thursday was an early start for Superman part 2 as I couldn't sleep well so I was up a 6 am to make another Superman skirt, this time it's for my Etsy shop so I had managed to make it and list it all before 10am.

Then I was down the town with my minis to get a black zip to finish off an order and take the girls out to spend their birthday money (but they didn't spend much this time).

Friday I planned to make my youngest daughter a sun hat (yes you guessed it with the Oliver and S pattern) so while I had no children (they was still asleep) I started sewing the pieces together and by lunch I had finished the hat and it was beautiful.

After lunch I had to take a break from sewing and I managed to do some housework, yes that thing that we have to do sometimes so we can get from one room to another as I currently don't have any little elves to help me (or are they just shoe makers?) But before I knew it, it was time for my eldest swimming lessons and my wonderful dad collected both my girls (and the new hat as well) and off they went so I set to making my eldest a dust cover for her new e-reader so I made this.













But my day didn't end so well as my daughter's new lovely beautiful hat was lost in a space of 2 hours, yes I did cry and I tried so hard not to be cross with my children or my dad as it was a total accident and I wouldn't of made a big fuss if it was a shop brought hat. Yes I will make a new hat once I'm over the shock of it getting lost. 

Well that was a full week, but not much work done on the REcycling project yet but I'm sure I'll do more of it next few weeks as it has to be done before school starts.

Hopefully I'll see you again next week

Zoe xx

Week one of the holidays

The first week of the holidays has been and gone and it's been a crazy week for orders I didn't have lots but enough to fill in the time when I wasn't entertaining my children. So far this week we have had the paddling pool out, been for a few picnics, my eldest had a tooth removed, watched The Smurfs movie, had my eldest daughters friends round, been shopping for a gift, brought a few little craft things and had a few accidents (none of which where bad ones just cuts and bruises). I'm guessing that many parents have done similar things.
Almost forgot the very long night on friday watching the Opening of the Olympics, my 4 year was over excited to see the Queen (bless him) he screamed at the TV shouting "It's the Queen, It's the real Queen."
My youngest two managed to stay up till just before Team GB came out but also managed to be up 8am (I guess I did get a bit of a lie in.)

Go Team GB

I have also done a bit of birthday shopping for both my girls as it's both their birthday next week. They both share the birthday but aren't twins as there is 6 years between them. I'm still working on extra 'mummy made' gifts too.

Amongst all of this I have started adding new items to my Etsy store I haven't added much there yet but I'm hoping to do better than last time.

Here are some of the custom orders I've made this week.

Marlee Rae bunting, Letters was had to photograph but the do look lovely in the flesh fabric

Teddy bunting, in stripes and stars.

A matching stripes and stars cushion to go with Teddy's bunting.

Super hero Spider-Man girls skirt.

And I've also got some new labels to put on my new creations they are from Care Labels and look fab, I've only used one so far but I'm looking forward to using them on my items.

My new care labels.

Don't forget I'm on Facebook and Twitter so pop over and say hello.

Well children are starting to get bored (again) so I better get my jester hat on and do something with them.

Speak soon
Zoe x

I finished it just in time.

In my last post I was saying I was trying to complete my son's quilt for his birthday, and I've actually finished the whole thing as all my fabrics have arrived. It is fab if I don't mind saying so myself.

On the morning of his birthday he got up thanks to his over excited sister and when he came downstairs he was a bit grumpy (like Daddy pig from Peppa Pig) he saw his presents and wasn't at all interested in them but then he saw his quilt all folded up on the stool and asked if it was his, so I said it was and he could have it, he started to smile, unfolded it and snuggled up it in for about 5 minutes before he wanted to open his presents. It was a lovely feeling seeing him happy with his quilt and it wasn't all about toys.

Elli-bot quilt

I'll be making another one soon for my middle daughter as it will be her birthday in two months and if  I can get this one done in a few weeks I might get hers done quicker than my previous one that seemed to take over a year (I did try to hand stitch it together after completing the top)

Be back again soon
Zoe X

I'm back but not much to say

Hi there, I'm trying to get in a habit of actually using my blog in a good way instead of it sitting here like a toy that was wanted for christmas and then put in a box and forgotten.

Today I'll talk about the little gift I'm working on for my nearly 4 year old son, I planned to make him a quilt last year as a moving from cot to bed cover but I didn't get it done in time so after talking to a friend she said I had enough time to get it finished before his next birthday (in least than 3 weeks at the time) I had 4 of the 12 patchwork panels all made up but still needed 8 more to do,so after cutting out all of the patchwork pieces

I spent the next evening starting the task of sewing them together

Now I'm waiting for more fabric to finish making up the remaining panels but here are some of the  completed panels ready to be stitched together to make the quilt top.

Until I receive the fabric I will have to find something else to make like all the stock I need for the Arts and craft market  in Letchworth on the 16th June 2012

I hope to be back before the next week with more quilting fun

Zoe x