Duvet Ribbons

One of the downsides to having a double bed rather than a queen is that when I buy bedding/linen they are always "double/queen" which really means that they are queen size but they will sort of fit on a double... except for the part where they are too big.

One of the main motivations for getting my sewing machine was so I could resize my duvet covers. I figure, that's about as simple as a sewing job gets - slice off the extra fabric, sew up an edge, wham, done. And it was that easy. While I was at it, I fixed another thing that drives me loopy... the fact that the duvet shifts around in the cover.

The fix was stupidly simple:

I sewed a bit of ribbon to each corner of the duvet (nice and securely):

Then I sewed a bit of ribbon to each inside corner of the duvet cover (nice and securely):

Then I put the duvet in the cover and tied pretty bows at each corner:Now my duvet cover is a proper Double size and it stays in place. Life is good.

Apron?

Emmeline Apron by Sew Liberated

I recently bought a sewing pattern for an apron. Which is funny because I don't wear aprons. Or cook really. But, hang on... it's a super cute apron. Check it out. I mean, how could I resist that? My excuse was that the finished product would make amazing awesome gifts for people - useful but pretty and handmade - the trifecta of gifting. Except I've never sewn anything following a pattern before. This is labeled "advanced beginner"... so, uh... I may need some help.

But, if I can figure out how to make it, and find the time to make it, and make it successfully - that will be awesome and that chain of events can only happen if I purchase the pattern, so really, it's all very reasonable.

Crafts

I just got back from a whirlwind trip to London-Stockholm-Paris... it was lovely! I spent a lot of time in museums (you could spend a lifetime in these museums and not see it all). What really struck me, looking at some of the most amazing ancient stuff collected from around the world - was the craftsmanship. Way before all of our technology, before industrialization... people produced some of the most jaw-dropping bits of art entirely by hand. The jewelry - such painstaking work that must have been - sometimes made before magnifying glasses existed too! It blew me away. Surprisingly (to me at least) I was most impressed by the portrait miniatures collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London - viewed with a magnifying glass because there is so much detail to be seen.

It really renewed my appreciation for handmade products - where the skill of the artisan is celebrated and appreciated. It also renewed by passion for crafting - knowing that I'm participating in crafts that have such incredible history and seeing the end results that are possible when you reach the peak of your craft (no matter how crude your tools might seem).

Puzzle Ball

Finlay, originally uploaded by Rees Bees.

Little Finlay turned one!

This is him and the little prezzie I made him.

He actually did seem to like the toy, but I think he gets a little weirded out by the odd metal thing I keep holding in front of my face.

The puzzle ball is a pattern from Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts. I definitely recommend it.

Paper Berry Tree from How About Orange

I just saw this on How About Orange and had to share it. I love love love this. Isn't it the perfect decoration to make with kids for a special event. The one pictured makes me think of Easter. But change the paper and it's Halloween, or Christmas, or a birthday! I think it would also be fun to make the circles with fabric. You could stiffen them with some light iron on interfacing first.

When I was a kid, my favorite thing about birthdays and holidays like Christmas and Easter wasn't the presents (although they were pretty awesome). It was that my mum would make the house (well, the dining room) look lovely and I felt like it had been decorated just for me, just for the sole purpose of celebrating our family and this time we were getting to spend together. The decorations wouldn't be huge or complicated. The ones I remember most are the nice tablecloth with berries on it, the paper garland hanging over the table and maybe a few streamers hanging from a lamp. I would come down in the morning and the room would have little surprises of colour. It made me feel very loved and special. I really hope that I can pass that feeling on.

Monsieur Stamp

My first hand-carved stamp! I'm very pleased with it. It wasn't hard, it just takes time, patience and a lot of testing.

I'm running out of things in the house to stamp.

I should note that I did not draw this. It's all Megan. I love her drawings. Send some love her way so that she knows I'm not the only one. She doesn't realize how talented she is.

Stamp Carving 101
Stamp Carving Tips & Tricks

statement

statement, originally uploaded by ninainvorm.

Geek Central Station Does Firefly

Firefly Complete Cast, originally uploaded by artoo1121.

I just found out that there's going to be a screening of Serenity in Vancouver at the end of the month but it's already sold out. Boo!
So I'm consoling myself by looking (again) at these awesome amigurumi of the Firefly characters. They're by the uber talented Geek Central Station. You should pop on over to her blog and flickr to check out the crazy details these guys have. Mal's jacket has a little patch where he was shot in the first episode, Kaylee has a strawberry, and make sure you see Jayne in his hat.

I'm off the watch me some Firefly.

So Excited

I was going to wait until I actually received this in the mail to blog about it . . . but I just can't wait to share.

I won something!!!

From Pippijoe!

I'm so excited. I can't wait to start playing with this fabric.

Baby Loves Banjo

Baby Loves Banjo
Originally uploaded by Kamepyon

tee hee. Makes me smile.

New Wallet

New Wallet, originally uploaded by Rees Bees.

About two weeks before we did Got Craft? my tried and true Sam Made purse finally gave out. I put that bag through the ringer, used it and abused it every single day and it still lasted well over a year. But it finally died. Actually, I probably could have fixed it up, but I knew Got Craft was just around the corner.
When Got Craft finally came and all the tables were set up I pretty much immediately decided that the bag for me was an adorable hedgehog print bag from It'sYourLife. I bought it and all was good.
Then a couple days later, what should pop up in my Flickr contacts recent photos page? Why this adorable wallet from DogWoodLane. I went straight to etsy and bought it (when I was supposed to be working).

I've never been terribly concerned with matching stuff. Actually, I don't think I've ever been concerned about it at all. But this was just too cute to pass up. My purse and wallet match but not overly so. I usually have to point it out to people when they inevitably compliment me on one or the other. I don't think I've ever gotten so many compliments on anything as I do on my new accessories.

P.S. Does anyone know how to do a blog post from Flickr with more than one picture?

Good week!

1. We had two items featured on the adorable Cuteable blog.

2. We were featured on Itsy Bitsy Industries Blog. Check out her etsy shop, there's some beautiful stuff there.

3. The four of us had our first official crafting session on Wednesday. It was awesome.

4. Megan is so close to finishing the first sock monkey that will being going up for sale. She'll post pictures when he's totally done, but I just wanted to tease you all a bit.

5. Rhi carved a rubber stamp of Monsieur. It's awesome and pretty much impossible to believe it's her first time carving stamps. I'll let her post her own pictures. More teasing.

6. I am half done the Irish mist stole I'm making for Diandra. It's beautiful and soft and I'm not the least bit bored by it.

7. Lisa left for vacation in London. This is not all good because we'll miss her, but I love London and will get to live vicariously through her.

8. We have a tons of new stuff in our etsy shop. Here's a link to fabric covered buttons Megan made while she was in Japan.

Equipment

So, uh.... I've got some news.


Crafty news.


It's kind of big.


And exciting.


I've been fighting off the urge for a while now and I finally broke. I saw an ad on craigslist that I could not resist. Even though I'm leaving the country tomorrow (for vacation), I still decided - it was time.


I'd waited long enough.


Little details like living in a tiny Vancouver apartment and not having space for more craft equipment no longer mattered.


I did it.


I bought a loom.


No, really, I did!

Check it out: