Mother’s Day Stall

 

The kids school holds a Mother’s Day Stall every year where the kids can bring money in and buy a little something for their Mum that can cost $5 or under.

Last year I made a few cup cosies and fabric notepad covers with a little notepad and pen.

This year I thought I would make some Key Chains.  There will be a quick little tutorial over at Bits & Bobs 4 Bubs tomorrow.  It’s just like the one I made for the handle on my mobile wallet but I changed it just a little bit.

Made 10 in about an hour with a few little interruptions.

Jennifer xx

 

Blogger Tags: key chain, keyfob, fabric, mother's day, gift, stall, donation, tutorial, sewing

Long weekend camping

 

We have just spent the long weekend camping at Janowen Hills 4WD Park.  It was a great weekend with the gang and our first trip out after our big one late last year to the Victorian High Country.

I thought I would share a few pictures of our weekend with you:

Panoramic view of our camp site

Ethan helping our Daddy

 

The local cows checking out our camp lol

Some afternoon nibbles

Afternoon drinks around the campfire

Hope you all had a great weekend.  Now back to some crafting, gardening and yummy cooking lol.

Jennifer xx

 

Blogger Tags: camping, 4wd, janowen hills, food, campfires, fun, friends

My Made It weekly picks

 

Checkout my weekly picks over at Bits & Bobs 4 Bubs:

Some great gift idea’s here for Mother’s Day!!!!!

Jennifer xx

 

Blogger Tags: made it, handmade, clutch, wallet, coin purse, ooak, mother's day

And the winner is!!!!!!

 

Congratulations Amy who said:

if you could please email me your full name and address within the next 48 hrs and your Samsung/Iphone wallet will be posted to you asap.

Thank you to all the lovely people who entered the competition and to all who have visited my page in the last week. 

Stay tuned for my next tutorial over the weekend.  It’s a little bit fishy lol!!!!

Jennifer xx

 

Blogger Tags: giveaway, competition, wallet, iphone, samsung, tutorial, new

Last Chance to enter

 

I will be drawing the giveaway over later on this evening so don’t forget enter by leaving a comment below the post.

Good Luck!!!!!

 

Blogger Tags: samsung, iphone, wallet, giveaway, eat craft sow

Found it at the Library – A little course in Sewing!

 

This is a new book that has been published by DK that is great for anyone who would like to learn to sew. 

Made up of 3 sections Start Simple, Build On It and Take It Further you learn all about the tools, then the techniques and then you can complete a project.

You don’t have to wait till you have read the whole book before you get to complete a project.  Each section has its own.  Some you will get to learn are Lavender Heart, Drawstring Bag, Tablet Cover, Pillowcase Dress, Apron, Childs Skirt, Shorts.

So if this is something you have been wanting to do for a while or you have a young person in the house who would love to learn, this is a great book for you.

What great books have you found in your local library?.

Jennifer xx

 

Blogger Tags: DK, publisher, library, books, sewing, lessons, lavender heart, drawstring bag, tablet cover, pillowcase dress, apron, childs skirt, shorts

Linkup Party Likes – Home wares

 

Last week I picked a few of the lovely home wares you can buy over at MadeIt.com for my Monday Made It Likes post at Bits & Bobs 4 Bubs so I thought why not have a look through the linkup parties as well.

And here is what I have found:

1. A stool redo by The Velvet Door
2. Rustic Patio table by Happy, Healthy & Domestic
3. Ikea dresser to Ombre dresser by Sew Much Love
4. Trash to treasure table by My Love 2 Create
5. Craft room redo by The Seasoned Homemaker
6. DIY picture frames by It’s Overflowing
7. DIY zipper pillow by Less Than Perfect Life of Bliss and
8. Vinyl Chalkboards by Whipper Berry

Great inspiration for when we finally convert the garage.  Not long now as hubby has purchased the sliding door, so excited.

Have you converted a room/garage at your place?

Jennifer xx

 

Blogger Tags: chair, stool, table, rustic, dresser, ombre, trash to treasure, craft room, redo, picture, frame, DIY, Tutorial, zipper, pillow, vinyl, chalkboard

Samsung/Iphone Wallet Giveaway

 

Morning everyone, I have an extra spring in my step today because my tutorial was shared on Craft Gossip.

But as promised here is a little giveaway for the second wallet that I made.  All you have to do is comment below, that’s it.

I will be drawing a winner next Friday to give everyone a chance to enter and win and YES I mean everyone, this is not limited to Australia.

So please share with all your lovely family and friends.

Have a lovely day and good luck!!!!!

Jennifer xx

Winners will be drawn via Random.org and will be announced on this blog on Friday 19th April.  Standard postage to the winner will apply.

 

Blogger Tags: giveaway, wallet, iphone, samsung, random.org, craft gossip

Tutorial – Samsung or Iphone wallet

 

Same afternoons when I’m running out the door with Mr E half asleep as I have had to wake him up to go and pickup his big sisters from school I only grab my phone and car keys.

But then I realise oh I need milk or bread as well and rather then take my whole handbag with me I grab my ATM card.

Then I worry I might drop my phone or my pockets are full because I have both my keys and my phone in them and my big bottom looks even bigger in my jeans lol.

So I thought to myself why not make a small wallet that is not bulky and I can carry both my phone and my ATM cards in along with my car keys.

Well here is what I came up with:

It has a zipper pocket to hold my cash/cards, business cards as well as my phone:

To make one for your own, here is what you will need:

• 2 x fabric measuring 6.5 inches wide by 7 inches long for the main part (outer fabric and lining)
• 1 x lining measuring 6.5 inches wide by 7 inches long
• 1 x 6.5 inches wide by 4 inches long and 1 x 6.5 inches wide by 5 inches long for the outside of the zipper pocket
• 1 x 6.5 inches wide by 4 inches long and 1 x 6.5 inches wide by 5 inches long for the lining of the zipper pocket
• 1 x 8.5 inch zipper
• 1 x 2 inches wide by 11 inches long fabric for outside of handle
• 1 x 2 inches wide by 11 inches long fabric for inside of handle
• 1 x 2 inches wide by 11 inches long lining for handle
• 1 x 2 inches by 2 inches of fabric for tab
• hardware for making handle (you can find this in any craft/haberdashery store, discount store in craft section)
• Velcro or magnetic fastener (I have a snap gun so that is what I have used to close the wallet.

Here’s how to make it:

Lets first start with the zipper pocket. With right sides facing each other place the lining underneath the zipper and outer fabric (6.5 inches wide by 4 inches long) on top of the zipper, pin and using a zipper foot sew the pieces to the zipper:

 

The repeat on the other side of the zipper with the 6.5 inches wide by 5 inches of lining and outer fabric the same way and sew.  With both sides sewn on now it’s time to iron the sides flat so that you can go back and top stitch each side:

Now fold the pocket side that measures 5 inches in height to the back so that the zipper is sitting about half an inch from the top of the pocket at the front as pictured rather then sitting on the very top of the pocket (I just folded where I could feel the top of the zipper):

Now to top stitch about 1/8 of an inch to help the pocket sit flat. Next to pin the pocket to the lining of the wallet.

At this point if you are planning on using velcro or a magnetic closure for your wallet you will have to sew/attach the closure about 3/4 of an inch from the bottom of the zipper in the centre of the pocket:

Now I placed the pocket on the lining so that it will measure about 3.5 inches in size.  There is over hang of fabric from the zipper pocket which I trimmed off once I had the pocket in place.  This would also be a good time to attach your velcro/magnetic closure on the lining:

For the tab that holds the little ring as pictured above, I folded the fabric as if I was making double folded bias tape, then sewed about 1/8 or an inch all the way done one side to secure.  Then pin it about the pocket on which ever side you would like the handle to be:

 

Now to pin the it all together (right sides facing each other with the lining on the top) and sew making sure to leave an opening wide enough for you to pull the hole thing right side out. I did this at the very top of the flap.  I also wanted the flap to have rounded corners so I used a glass to mark the fabric:

Once sewn and turned the right side out, iron flat and top stitch the flap.  Not only does this make it look nice and give it extra strength but it it also seals the hole.

 

If you have a 1 inch bias tape maker use this to iron your 2 inch fabric strips to make the handle:

If you don’t then all you  need to do is iron the strip in half, then fold both sides into the middle one at a time and iron them flat:

 

Let’s pin then together and sew, but first place the 1 inch strip of lining inside the folds of one of the sides of the handle.  I sewed about 1/8 inch from the edge.

 

To add the hardware so that your hand looks like a keyfob handle, place the fabric through the ring of the clasp so that it is in the middle of the handle. 

Fold both ends about half an inch to the inside of the handle, pin together and sew.

Now pull the ring down so that it is at the bottom of the handle where you just sewed and then sew above the ring.   This is so that it holds in place:

And now your done. Can’t wait to use this.

 

I also made another after this which I would love to give away to one of my lovely followers. 

Anyone can enter it’s not restricted to Australia.  But you will have to stay tuned to find you how.

Jennifer xx

PS.  This tutorial is for personal use only not for resale.  If you have mentioned this post anywhere, used it on your own blog, I would really appreciate a link back or a mention.  Cheers!!!

Blogger Tags: samsung, iphone, mobile, wallet, tutorial, how to, giveaway

Tutorial & a giveaway coming soon

 

 

Blogger Tags: tutorial, wallet, samsung, iphone, giveaway

In the garden – Marjoram

 

One of my favourite herbs to cook with is the lovely Marjoram which is from the mint family and has a mild, sweet oregano like flavour.

I haven’t had much luck growing this lovely herb and the have bought quite a few pots form the local markets but can’t seem to keep it alive.

So I thought I might try it in a hanging pot on the back veranda as a last resort otherwise I’m giving up and resorting to the dry, ground variety.

I picked up 2 lovely hanging pots from Ikea and had planed to grow mint in one of them as well as it doesn’t like the heat of the sun.

The pots don’t have holes in the bottom so to stop the plants getting wet feet (roots) as they say I placed a handful of small stones in the bottom.

Well I’m happy to say that the plant is loving it’s new home and thriving.  I love to mix a little of this delicious herb through my scrambled eggs for breakfast.

Do you have a favourite herb and what is your favourite thing to cook it with?

Jennifer xx

 

Blogger Tags: herb, marjoram, cooking, plant pot, hanging pot, mint, oregano

Cake with 2 ingredients

 

Last year I came across a pin on pinterest for a cake only make with 2 ingredients which was  a tin of crushed pineapple and 1 packet of cake mix.

Will I tried this while we were away camping as it meant that I didn’t have to worry about carry lots of stuff to make a cake.

I must say it was very yummy and moist and a hit with the other families.  But can you make it with something other then pineapple, while I decided to give it a try with a tin of apple pieces.

Wow what a yummy cake, you have to try this out.  I actually added sultanas for a little extra yumminess and I used a potato masher to mash up the apple pieces.

Have you made a cake with only 2 ingredients?

Jennifer xx

 

Blogger Tags: apple, cake mix, sultanas, cake

Found it at the library – Custom Crocheted Sweaters

 

Ever made a crochet pattern that doesn’t fit even though your tension is correct and matches the measurements in the book. 

Well Custom Crocheted Sweaters by Dora Ohrenstein is the crochet book for you. Dora shares important techniques to help you custom design your sweater to fit you.

This book consists of 17 lessons and 10 projects to show you how to shape that neckline, blocking to your measurements through to bust alterations and sleeve alteration.

Dora is the founder and editor of the webzine Crochet Insider.  You may also have seen her designs in Crochet Today magazine.

Have you ever made an item that was a disaster fit?

Happy Reading

Jennifer xx

 

Blogger Tags: crochet, lessons, design, alternation, dora ohrenstein, custom crocheted sweaters, library, reading

In the garden – Strawberry patch

 

A little while ago I came across a great idea for growing strawberries in the January 2013 Gardening Australia magazine.  And as my little Miss G absolutely loves her strawberries and I have tried a few times to grow them for her but been very unsuccessful I decided to give this a go.

 

I managed to get my hands on a pallet and bought some weed mat from Bunnings as well as a tray of strawberries.

Now they use star pickets to stand the pallet up but I attached ours to the fence of the veggie patch with some fencing wire.  And I used a staple gun to fasten the weed mat to the pallet.

        

Lots of potting mix with our very own compost added (it took about 4 bags) and then it was time to cut holes and plant the strawberries.

Well I must say it is working well as we have lots of little flowers on our plants and we bought a few more to fill in the spaces on the bottom.

Have you tried something new in the garden you found in the magazine?

Jennifer xx

 

Blogger Tags: gardening australia, strawberries, pallet, potting mix, compost, veggie garden