As promised yesterday I thought I would do something relevant to the start of this year and our key message from our Prime Minister here in NZ. We went into lock down hard and fast and it seems to be paying off. Staying at home and in my bubble is easy for me.
My husband buys me the best birthday presents. He’s bought me an over locker, sewing machine, JBL speaker, Soda stream delux …and this November he bought me a CRICUT|Maker . I know right!
So I’m learning how to use it. It can do so much …. cut material, vinyl, card. So I thought I would make my first thing and chose to make a stencil from some card I already had. I made the word on my iPad and wirelessly sent it to the CRICUT. It worked perfectly!
I didn’t have any fabric paint for my new stencil so I used a black fabric marker pen someone had given me and coloured in on white cotton repurposed sheets. It wasn’t the best look so then I went over it it with my free motion sewing …. one in white thread and one in black thread, and quite honestly they look so good.
So, with the latest trend being kimono jackets, or bright coloured long jackets, I grabbed some beautiful Chinese brocade out of my stash of fabrics. It had been siting there for years. However, after laying it out on the floor I realised there wasn’t enough for a long jacket, and so I went back to my stash to see what else I had. And there they were….. gorgeous size 6 pants that I had bought at an opshop about three months ago just because I loved the fabric (which is stretchy incidentally). I absolutely LOVE the end result…
After making the jacket I decided to make a clutch purse out of the scraps. You will notice the little pocket taken off the jeans on the other side of the purse. 
A little summer holiday project. I love the way it isn’t perfect, the hessian style border with the stitching showing makes it simple and clean. 
After spending some time in the garden this morning it’s always nice to come inside and watch gardening programmes on Netflix while doing some sewing. With Christmas coming up I’m trying to make as many Christmas presents as possible so it is enjoyable without the stress of time pressure. I had one lovely piece of beaded fabric just enough for two purses and matched it with a soft fine weave sacking type fabric.
I was tidying up my fabric from the weekend to change my ‘sewing room’ into my ‘study/office’ and while putting some fabric away my eyes joined these three fabrics together. So I just had to follow up with a quick purse before putting my sewing machine and overlocker away! 45 minutes max to make these. Check out this video for the best tutorial I’ve found on making them…MADE EVERYDAY.
I have been wanting to give making a tote bag a go for a while, so this weekend was the right time to try. I have combined the canvas type fabric (found at the Mt Maunganui Sally Army) with an opshop find tray mat with orange embroidery. Lined with blue gingham, and the other one yellow, I love them!
Then of course I had to make a few matching purses with the cutest little brass zips found in my zip stash!
I know we all 💕 Kmart … They had some cute tops recently and I loved the red and white floral fabric, but the top wasn’t my style (it was like a singlet top). So I waited for them to come down to $5 each and then snapped up three as big as I could get..just for the fabric and turned it into this little red top/dress…
Each top had a little frill and a big frill at the bottom, so I used one top for two sleeves (back and front piece) and one underneath to make it longer.
There’s nothing like a good sale, and this sale was cheaper than buy the fabric! $15 all up. Finding a good bargain is exactly the same feeling as catching a fish (and believe I can fish!).
This is obviously not my first doll, but the first doll I have ever sewn. And, I can’t believe how easy it was. Too easy! I used to make dolls clothes all the time so made the dress out of a piece of doiley I bought for like $1 at the opshop the other day.
The hair …. this video made it easy! And, randomly I just happened to have bought 5 new balls of this colour crochet yarn at an opshop last week for $7, not even knowing what I might use it for. Don’t you love that!
A few weeks ago I scored three of these memorial tea towels for Horsham Downs school and I immediately set to work embellishing. Today I finished off all the free motion sewing (quilting) and I’m pretty pleased with the result. I will probably frame in a large frame with white edge and perhaps hang it in my laundry. We will see.
Here is a small video of the freemotion sewing
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