our creative space . . . 'bunting meets baby clothes'

Greetings all,

I've had a lot of business success with bunting flags & children's clothes so why not combine the two??  This week's Our Creative Space offering is . . . tiny little bunting flags applique onto baby clothes.  Da dah!!

Grab a bunch of fabric swatches, iron on fusible webbing to the back, then cut up into the triangle sizes you desire (i've done 2 sizes for different projects).  I see these on skirts, cushions, pencil cases . . . i've created a bunting flag monster!! 

 This process is long & slow, back breaking if you're on the floor like me, but you can always store your 'readymade' bunting flag triangles for future projects.

 Look at my lovely scraps, their prettiness is not lost on me!!

 Lay out your desired colour combination . . .

 peel off the fusible webbing paper, reposition flags & press into place with a warm iron.

 Sit down at the sewing machine & stop day dreaming out of the window where it's all sunshine & happiness, you have sewing to do first!!

 Applique around the edges of each flag (i'm a fan of blanket stitch detailing) & if you're keen to finish the 'faux bunting' look with a ribbon, zig zag stitch is into place across the top, tucking in the ends, i don't do rough edges, i'm delicate & refined.

The finished product, pretty cute, non??  I want to do a bunch of these in different styles, like spots, dots & circles.  Working on a boys/ unisex too, butch them up with traditional blues, greens, greys & disguise the gender stereotypical colours by using awesome Japanese printed themed fabrics . . . there will be elephants & caravans!!  Love Posie

my creative space 'my new creative space'

Greetings all,
Da dah, my new creative space.  Sure i had visions of quirky ornaments & repurposed furnishings with beautiful finishes on a palate of pastel, even an inspiration board or art on the walls, flowers & a view . . . nope, this is a working studio & as functional as you can get!!  I can save that dainty dream for when we move.  This was more a quick fix, halve the studio space (yes, i used to have twice this much space, greedy me) & it feels great!!

Everything is so easy to access from shelves, pigeon holes & cabinettes.

Still not sure if i should move my sewing table into the centre??  At least it would hide the mark on the carpet, ooppss.

Voila, the fabric wall/ room divider.  Next time my husband is in town we'll move our 4 children around their now 4 bedroom options & finish off the other side/ the high schooler's bedroom.

This neat cabinette was $25 from Revolve, who knew i had so many pegs??  Acutally i know there are more in the garage, sorting sorting sorting - it never ends!!

Honestly, this was a HUGE & all consuming effort, i sorted every safety pin, needle & thread - total 7 garbage bags of things-i-can-live-without, so i'll make this a picture-post.  I have a lot of bulk to use up to free up more space (batting, wadding, denim & chunky blanket making materials) so i had better get busy before Winter strikes.  There is another book case & television storage cabinette opposite the sewing machine table, oh & a cutting table with wings next to the fabric racks, so more images to come. 
Happy Creative Spacing this Thursday folks, thank you Kirsty at Kootoyoo for hosting . . . but before you go, check out my latest G I V E A W A Y, just follow & comment, share the love & comment for extra entries, 'tis simple!!  Love Posie

fun crafty finds at your local shopping centre

Greetings all,
End of January i picked up these cool tapes & stamps from Typo.  It's so great to see shops like these at your local shopping centre, expanding into the craft world with supplies like this - moustache tape, what's not to love??!!

 The tape which didn't photograph well has birds on it, kind of like the bird ribbon from Kikki-K.

Oh the things i have in stall for these crafty supplies . . . can't believe i didn't blog about them sooner??!!  I'll get sewing production style once my studio make over is done (i've cleared out the half of the studio to create an extra bedroom) but i have a head cold & itchy throat - nothing major, just annoying really.  I can't wait to use my new pigeon hole book case (a freebie) & fill every boxed in shelf with craft supplies, oh, life changing it will be!!
So i don't feel like hand sewing tonight, i left my camera at Shop Handmade with my weekend shots & i wanted to share something cool which happened to me today too . . . next post.  So i'm going to watch the Oscars & fall asleep early.  Happy frock knocking (Cate Blanchett, only you could make that dress so stunning, your confidence & sense of style, oh, sheer brilliance & grace).  Love Posie

my creative space 'fabric ribbon purses'

Greetings all,

Well it has been an exhuasting week with ALL of us getting back into the swing of school routine.  High School starts 20 minutes earlier than Primary School, which puts me in heavier city traffic, sigh.  I'm trying to think up exciting sandwich & lunch box options + i'm back behind the counter at Shop Handmade. 

Knowing it would be a challenge to do any sewing this week, i got stuck into fabric & ribbon coin purses on the weekend (watching Mad Men series 3, again).  Here is this week's offering for Kootoyoo's My Creative Space.

 Finally able to upload images - these are some close ups of the pencil case in the 'packing for high school' post.  She studies Japanese & likes birds, deer, hearts & mushrooms, voila ribbon perfection!!

 This is the 'just in case' purse, more oriental ribbon love.

 I made four dozen purse pouches, seeing the first batch sold out quickly, this should last a while.

 I'm working on a Euro theme for the Handmade Market in 10 days. 

 How cute is this for some French amore??

  Plus a new batch of larger purses in my gorgeous collection of linens printed in Japan.

My feet are sore - i'm not 'Shop fit' meaning i'm not used to standing for 5 hours a day but wow, do Rachel (Shop owner) & i laugh, at anything & everything, all day!!  Then home to cook dinner, organise uniforms & bake for the following day (i bake twice during the week for recess, while the oven is on for dinner).  Small mercy we don't have homework this week as i get back into the structured school routine, covering books & labelling every single thing my children need for school.  Oh & so far - putting my credit card on no less than a dozen notes for all sorts of things from school photos to camp.    
My husband has been out bush for almost a month now in hot humid Brisbane & tries to call in every couple of days.  I have to say technology has come a long way since the days when he'd go out & i wouldn't hear from him at all during an exercise, little babies or not (i'm possibly the world's more relaxed & patient wife).  Skype is working a treat, the children can see his face & chatter away about their day, their new teachers, classrooms, friends, it's gorgeous & natural.  I've love it, i can chat meaningfully & hand sew at the same time, glee!!

Shall enjoy the rest of the week home alone sewing up a storm, ahhhh . . . once i nail the new school run & earlier start time, i should be home from 9a.m. for almost 6 hours of sewing & gardening, yippee!!  Love Posie
PS so good to be running at full internet speed again today, ah, i'm off to visit blogs, tally ho.

& we resume normal school life again

Greetings all,

High school was a huge success, she loves it, thanks for the fantastic comments on the last post!!  I was one of the keen parents arriving early this afternoon, i got a happy-to-see-you-mum kiss & cuddle, then she took us on a tour of her new adventure . . . the canteen, home room, locker . . . while her brother ate the chicken salad roll from her lunch box (lunch was catered today, nice!!) . . . middle girl carried her laptop & . . . 3rd daughter wore her back pack around.  It was really gorgeous to see my 4 bonding over a new experience like this, especially seeing the twins will go to this school too, in a few years.

Not to be forgotten, my primary schoolers got new pencil cases too - i aim for 35x15cm as a standard size, but you could make them the size of a pillow, they'd find stuff to shove in there!!

I had fun with a bit of ribbon detail too.  There are more images but Picasa won't upload them to my blog & i'm running slow after blowing internet allowance this month (clicks over shortly). 
To say i'm exhausted is an understatement, i feel like i'm seeing double, my eye lids are heavy.  I put 150% into our very long school holidays with my children, especially when their beloved Daddy is away.  They really are great children, easy to love & fun to be with.  They are never bored, how wonderful is that??  It's another big day tomorrow as primary school goes back.  We find out the new classes & teachers for my 4th grade twins & year 2 boy, then it's normal school life again . . . i head off to the happiness that is Shop Handmade, were i giggle away 3 days each week in the wonderful world of Handmade retail.  What a way to spend your school day when you're a housewife, i love it!!
Yawn, sigh, love Posie

little rainbow bursts everywhere i look

Greetings all,

I love colour in my life & clearly it steers my shopping habits - i have a taste for colour in the craft supplies i buy.  There are little rainbow busts of colour everywhere i look in my studio.

 I think this is my full collection of washi tape.

 Deal of the year, yes, already . . . festive rainbow paper chain, $1 from Typo, hell yeah!!

 Colourful pins in a Lark knitted toadstool.

 Love some colourful coordinating bias detail.

 Fabric covered buttons, a huge success for my business!!

 So easy to stitch up a rainbow.

 Subtle colours on pretty woven ribbons.

 Hand painted colourful knitting needle ends.

 Ever need an excuse to buy more coloured twine??

 Disturbing??  Serial killer sewing maniac!!

 All happy rainbows in my studio prison - yes - that's the attractive grill which was put up after the burglary.  Amazing what $1 in festive rainbow paperchains can do to make it better.

Add some colour to your life, it's so easy & more often than not, tasteful!!  Oh imagine what i'll do after living in Army Housing & not being able to paint a wall for like 15 years, when we build our own home??  Fear not, i'm a blue & white girl, the house will be tame, you can always add colour with accessories like cushions, art & vases. 
Today i'm back at Shop Handmade, very excited, i know EXCITED to go back to work, but it's only a couple of days in the Shop for me these school holidays (while my husband does the dutiful Tuesday movie trips with the children) until school goes back on 7th & 8th of February!!
Speaking of movies, if you want some free tickets, Tangled giveaway still going!!  The lucky 10 IKEA lifestyle book giveaway winners of the book to be announced a.s.a.p.  Love Posie

My Creative Space 'what makes my craft world go round' . . .

Greetings all & happy Creating Spacing this week!! 
I've been playing around with different fabrics, ribbons & felt lately, all part of my master plan - to have new & exciting products at the next Handmade Market.  While you can use expensive fabrics, ribbons & felt . . . you don't have to spend a cent on templates & shapes.  The hero of this image is the melamine bowl from the Disneyland Hotel which accidentally came home with us (um, i said you don't have to spend a cent) . . . it's the perfect circle shape for the curve on my coin purses, the backround of my hair clip holders & for my penny wheel yo yos!!

Having one of those great weeks where my sewing is coming together on new projects, fabric arriving & fabric covered button MANIA.  I see a weekend of hand sewing, my favourite of all crafts, genuine hand stitched detail, ahhhh, nothing better.
Have a Creative Spacey kind of day, thanks for hosting Kirsty, love Posie

My Creative Space 'ribbon porn'

Greetings all,
Well a big week, exciting things like children's resuming school (yippee for everyone), starting my middle-of-the-day shift at Shop Handmade (most beautiful place to work), resuming my diet (properly), taking a visiting teenage nephew out for dinner (diet on hold for 2 hours), the motherload of fabric from RetroMummy (thanks Corrie!!) & cutting into my new bolts of Kristen Doran Sampler fabric (promise to share) . . . then a whopping migraine, oh, the humanity!!  Well i woke from my migraine haze to these gorgeous ribbons from suitably named Ribbons Galore . . .

does it get any better than deer, toadstool & owl on ribbons . . . yes, animals, red riding hood & robots!!

What to do with there glorious ribbons??  My Creative Space next week??  Maybe something fun for Mother's Day gifts at Shop Handmade, or something inspirational & whimsical for Handmade Living - the book of crafty wonder.  So sorry i missed a meeting with Tania McCartney yesterday due to migraine, Tania is the brainchild of Handmade Living . . . just gives me more time to think outside the square & come up with something really interesting & pushing artsy boundaries.  Check it out over here & get invovled in this super fabulous opportunity to show off your style (applications close 7th May!!)  Even Mathilda's Market are on the band wagon, great girls that they are!!
Happy Creative Spacing people, hello Kootoyoo, still a little heady so tally ho for now, love Posie