Quick Personalised Wrapping Paper

Looking for a quick finishing touch to grandma's mother's day present. Easy - just grab some brown craft paper, some of your childs artwork and some bakers twine and voila. Or if your paper is large enough, or present small enough, you can skip the craft paper and just wrap in the artwork. And why not make a matching card while you are at it.

Pottery Week 2 - Coil Pots

Last night i had my second of 9 pottery classes and this week it was Coil Pots. It is a pretty simple concept - all you need is a slab base, then you make long coils and wind your way round, joining them as you go. You can go up, in and out - but I was not quite that adventurous. I think my final product is reminiscent of Pooh Bears Honey Pot. I wasn't quite feeling this way of working with clay but apparently it can be used to form the most amazing shapped pots both super small and super huge.

No idea what i am going to use it for as it is a wierd size. Too big for small objects and too small for big objects. Any suggestions? Next week is glazing - bring on the pretty colours.

On a side note, we were talking in the class about what other classes we would like to see offered. My suggestion was a sewing class for children's clothing. What classes would you like to see your local community centre offer?

The Ultimate Hostess Gift - Little of This, Little of That

I am thinking you could combine this

Image and details from Sinnen Rausch)

with this

Image via Laura Parke

to make the ultimate hostess gift. And if you added a little something in the inside bottom of the mug like this

Image and work by Mrs Petterson Pottery (found via Mon Carnet)

 it would be that extra special surprise when the herbs are all gone and they use the mug for tea!

My Little Quilting Helper

After the success of my first quilt I am now making a bunny rug quilt with some left over fabric I bought for the embroidery hoops on little ones wall (which reminds me I still need to write that post!). But I couldn't make it without my little "helper"!

Quick Pinspiration Post - Flowers and Beads

Huge flowers anyone?

Image and details over on Mon Carnet

Or how about a DIY painted wooden bead necklace:

Image from Laura Parke

Click on the image caption links to find out the how to's. I am also thinking those beads would be great for garlands or even a mobile.... hmmmm.... now where to find wooden beads. Anyone know?

My First Ever Quilt

This week i finished my first ever quilt, and i must admit I am just a little bit proud and already planning my next one.
It went from this:

to this:

to this:

Small confession - i didn't do the actual quilting myself as i couldn't justify a quilting foot for my machine when i hope to get a new machine mid year - so a quick google search led me to Kim's Quilt's who can quilt your quilts for you - and better yet - she is only 30 mins down the road from me!

I used a few excellent tutorials along the way including Diary of a Quilter and Retro Mummy (who I also bought the charm packs from at a market in sydney). If you ever wanted to make a quilt - charm square quilts are the easiest ever - just start and you will be done in no time.
If you are feeling inspired and want to check out some other creative spaces - head over here

Even more cheer for your kitchen

Did you catch my blog a few weeks ago about painted serving utensils. Well why not go one step further and colour block your wooden cutlery for your next event or dinner party.

(images via Studio DIY)

Check out the full how to over at Studio DIY

Easter Egg Hunt Minus the Chocolate

With a two year old who is going through a bit of the terrible twos at the moment I wanted to limit the amount of chocolate he got on easter day (yeah right!). So for his first ever easter egg hunt I grabbed some animal finger puppets from the local $2 shop and some refillable plastic eggs from Lindcraft (plus a few Cars 2 eggs as well) and voila - an easter egg minus the chocolate.

Did you have a traditional easter egg hunt or something a little different?

Pinspiration - Bunny Onesie

For all those Pinterest addicts out there, here is a question for you: How many pictures have you pinned of things that you want to make or do and how many have you ACTUALLY made or done? My answers would be hundreds, and less than 5 respectively! So today I am starting what I hope to be a regular feature on my blog - "Pinspiration" - that is, things i have pinned to my DIY boards and Sewing Inspiration boards and ACTUALLY made or done.
First off the ranks is an easter appropriate onesie.

Inspired by this tutorial by Finley and Oliver

Image by Finley and Oliver

I made this:

Check out Finley and Oliver for the details on how to make a bunny onesie, and check out my Sewing Inspiration for Kids board on Pinterest to see more things I hope to make.
Have you ACTUALLY made anything that you have seen on Pinterest. I would love to see it - leave a link in your comments below to your blog post.

My Creative Space - Rocking the Headband

So apparently when you have a girl you are meant to go accessory crazy! I didn't think I would because I am not a girly girl by any means (I can't remember the last time i wore heals and I don't even own grown up lipstick!) but who can resist a baby in a cute little head band. There is just something so sweet about them. And being the crafty person that I am of course I thought i could make my own. And here is the result.

I bought all the materials on Craftumi (bands by Gemma Joy, Crochet  Flowers by DeDor Supplies and buttons from collection at home) and they were a great nap time craft (i.e. it didn't take too long and it didn't matter if i had to go to Little Miss' room every five minutes to stick the dummy back in!)

Emily rocking the headband

And while Little Miss has been rocking the headbands this week. my little man has been rocking the raincoat. Looking forward to some more rain so we can team the raincoat with his new Charlie & Me gumboots.

Be sure to head on over to Our Creative Space to check out some great other crafty ideas and beautiful projects

The Babies Room

I know I said I wasn't going to blog for a bit - but before I take my break, I thought I would quickly share the babies new room with you all. As we are not finding out whether we are having a boy or a girl I have had to go neutral for now, and then once bubs arrives, I have my eye on a whole bunch of prints for the main wall.

 First off is a cloud mobile made from some fabric I bought over a year ago with no particular project in mind, and a branch that i found washed up on the beach at Copa when I was away on a girls weekend last year. The plan is to hang it from a eye hook in the ceiling, but as that requires husbands assistance it is taking a little time!

My inspiration for this mobile came from Jolie Momes Factory blog.

Next up is the family photo wall above the cot

And lastly an ABC gardland to fill the main wall until I decide on some prints

(This garland will be available to buy in my etsy store as a DIY kit in the next month or so - keep an eye out).

So there you have it - if you want to see what the room looked like when it was my son's first room - you can check out my post on it here. I also have a pinterest board dedicated to my fav kids room ideas - I have so many ideas and things i want to try.

My Creative Space

A day like today (grey, raining and cold) I really wish i was at home in my trackies and ugg boots creating away instead of sitting in an office surfing the web for cool things I could be making. Top of my to make list right now is:

Sheep pillow by Purl Bee - My son calls them Baa's and refuses to say Sheep

My little man is 2 next month so this Birthday shirt vai I can teach my child is perfct!

Some little man pants via Made

10 minute pencil roll via My Poppet - perfect for travelling over the silly season

I have been able to squeeze in some crafting time at night over the last week- and have whipped up another pair of shorts for my son - this time to be worn out in public (no photo sorry - it is too wet and cold in Sydney right now for shorts!) and I have been working on some Christmas presents for my girlfriends (sorry can't share the details yet just in case they read this blog!).

I have also been working on some counting cards for my son. I looked high and low for some that I could buy online but couldn't find any that met exactly what I was after - being recognisable pictures, and then the number in both letters and numerals - so I made my own with my trusty laminator (I splurged and bought myself a laminator last week!)

I am now working on colour cards (but need some sunny weather to take some more photos)

They are by no means perfect but nothing my son will complain about (just his slightly OCD mother). I am also waiting to pick up a book I ordered on snapfish filled with photos of my son's favourite things (birthday present).

Have you been up to any exciting crafting lately? Head over to Our Creative Space for some inspiration

Wordless Wednesday - Backyard Painting

For more Wordless Wednesday's - head over to Faith Hope and a Whole Lotta Love

Sock Toys by Craft Schmaft

Apparently these sock toys can be made by kids from 8 years and older - so there is at least some hope for me. Created by Craft Schmaft (a fellow sydney sider)- these great patterns are available to purchase as a PDF instruction booklets - so they are great to have on hand for when those inevitable odd socks end up in the washing basket.

With Christmas coming up these toys would make some great presents for nieces and nephews.

PS - if you get in quick the Sausage Dog and Lil' Monster Patterns are on special for $9 (usually $16).

DIY fun - Serving Pink Lemonade

Thanks to the wonders of Pinterest (thanks Janette of My Sweet Prints for pinning this one!) I have discovered the wonderful blog of Serving Pink Lemonade. This great blog is the brainchild of Jeanine and Amy - two sisters who live on opposite sides of the country - but share a common love of activities to keep the kids busy and happy. And best of all - they offer great tutorials on how to make all the stuff too. And don't be fooled by the name - there is stuff for the little boys in your life too.

Some of my favourites (but there are way too many to list them all):

Travel car mat

Mini Take along barn

Dinosaur play mat

Felt Tools and Toolbox

and the best for last - Quiet Books including full templates and tutorials.

If you have kids and are crafty inclined (or have a granny that is!!!) - i cannot recommend enough that you check out Serving Pink Lemonade. And best of all - you don't need super fancy sewing abilities to do these tutorials.