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

Felt purse and cupcakes

As part of my blogging to do list I find tutorials I like and make them and tell you all about it, this weeks tutorial I found is one I found ages ago before I started blogging and I always said I'd like to make that so I did. I can't remember how I found it but I found Paper and String's blog and loved it straight away. This is their wonderful purse designed in felt so not worring about fraying fabrics.

 

click here to find Paper and String's purse tutorial

 

I did try to make one of these before but with having a small baby and a pre-schooler around and 3 school runs a day I managed to put it down somewhere and still haven't found it.

This is make try at making this purse.

 

 

The whole process of making this purse was fun, quick and very easy. There are loads of photos to help a novice to advance sewer. It's all done by hand so you can take it anywhere to make.

I made mine while keeping an eye on my poorly DD. And she looked quite interested in making one for herself.

The only thing I did slightly different from the tutorial is add some interfacing to the felt as it was very thin and I wanted my purse to last a while.

 

Zoe xx

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

Another week has passed

Wow, another week ago gone, another week closer to the end of the school term. I managed to get more sewing done this week, I'm working on bunting, gifts for teachers and made a fabric storage box.
I've been meaning to make more fabric boxes after I made a few felt ones and kept finding other things to make, while looking at one of my favourite blogs I found a tutorial by Pink Penguin and it reminded me to make my own, Mine is a different size and shape to Pink Penguin and her pattern is quite easy to adjust.


My patchwork fabric storage.

closer look at my felt storage with a S

Made from felt ready for bits and bobs.

I really like my fabric storage, my blue one doesn't have DVDs in it but toilet rolls and now lives in my blue bathroom and my felt boxes are in my eldest daughters room and full of all the little things that teens like.

My youngest daughter has been reading Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl at school and inspired by Wes Anderson's film I'm working apple key rings for her teacher, I can't show any pictures at the moment but I will once it's complete but have a little look at this recipe for Mrs Beans famous nutmeg ginger apple snaps I'm going to try making them in the summer holidays.

My bunting will be complete soon this is a preview of it so far (please not I have spelt the name wrong but as the letter aren't fixed in place I managed to rearrange them) I really like the fabric chosen for this bunting which I got  from the wonderful Emma's fabric studio based in the UK. I've got a few bundles for there now and would happily recommend her shop.

Tomorrow we have the Olympic torch coming to Stevenage and I'm going to take some excited children to watch it so if your local I might see you there.

See you again soon,
Zoe xx

Pink Paper peppermint's tutorial

Today I was looking to try and my a quick flower hairclip, I'd seen some brooches on folksy and thought there'd look nice as a hairclip so I had a look on the internet and found a tutorial by pink paper peppermints and had a look and within 30 mins I had read it, cut out the circles and stitched them together added the little button and added my hairclip and I ready to go. This tutorial is well laid out with very easy to follow instuctions and great pictures, so why not have ago yourself.
Here is my little clip.

Now there's no stopping me.