Being Crafty

I sat down to write this and couldn't remember how long ago I last posted (how sad is that) especially as it has only been 5 days!!

This week has been fairly insane due to our bi annual work breakfast for 250 clients which was held yesterday.  Lots of work got done and the event went off without a hitch which is fairly rare for one of these breakfasts.

However, I have also been fairly crafty this week.

On Monday night I finished this little guy (I bought the kit and stitches and craft from Claire at Craft Schmaft).  I found him really easy and there is enough of everything in the kit to make a second one  - but I need a new sock.

Then last night after Jot retired to bed (a very exhausted little girl) I made soap.  Yes you did read that right I made soap.  After making my deodorant last month (which I still have tons of by the way and am still loving it and using it every day) I decided that soap couldn't be that hard and I would like to give it a go.  So I did and it isn't hard and is slightly addicitive.  The girls at work can't decide if I am a) impressive or b) nuts - time will tell.

I didn't grease the ice cube tray well enough and I can't get them out so I am hoping that a few more days drying will make it easier.  If not I think they will go in the bin and I will not use the tray for soap again.

Now my next thing on my list is a MIP Versatile skirt for me (actually I want to make two) ideally by next weekend as we are off to the Mornington Penninsula for a weekend with a group of friends for a 40th birthday (or is that two 40ths - I can't remember now).  The first will be made in a green cord and yesterday I went and bought this for the second.  It is by Donna Wilder for Fabric Traditions and I found it in SPotlight and can't find it anywhere online to link to so you have to make do with the photo below.

The main panel of the skirt is going to be the blue and the ties will be in red.

Ok if I am going to get the pattern cut out tonight I need to get going.

Have a good weekend.

Jots Mum

Two posts in one day - miracle or forgetfulness?

I can't believe I forgot to mention the inaugural meeting of the Melbourne Modern Quilters Guild that I attended yesterday morning  (where I got truely stuck into the binding on that tablerunner and so finished it last night).

It was good fun.  There were 29 ladies present (and 3 children).  The first part of the morning was taken up with 'show and tell' and boy are there some amazingly talented quilters in Melbourne.  I forgot my camera but I promise to take it next time.

If you are looking for a bunch of quilty friends of all ages (our youngest member is in year 12) the join us by followin the link on the right  = = =>

Can't wait till the next meeting it is on a Sunday and I have negotiated the full day with R so I am now planning what to take.

Hope you all had a good weekend and have a good week ahead.

Jots Mum

I fixed it!

I fixed my lovely sewing machine today!  R told me I had to save up before I can get it serviced and given I have a bike on lay-by and a quilt worth fo fabrics to save up for I decided to see if I could at least clean it on my own.

So this is what I saw when I took the foot plate off

 Full of fluff

So after ten minutes and a large amount of brushing it now looks like this:

Not quite like new but pretty darn good.

To test it out I made another little FQ skirt for Jot, this time with birdies on it but I don't know when she will wear it.

And I have finally finished the binding on my skinny verna table runner that I made (but decided wasn't right for my friends wedding)

It has been a productive weekend.

Jots Mum

I have sewed!

On Sunday we were off to welcome a new born boy into our midst.  Welcome Oliver! and as I got up and was sitting with Jot at 6am on Sunday I suddenly realised we had no gift.  Not on!

Not knowing whether the baby was  aboy or girl (R was still asleep and he had such information) I started on two taggies.  As my machine is still in need of a service (I am really hoping to get it there tomorrow afternoon) I was really grateful he work up before major sewing had to be done to tell me the baby was a boy.

So at the end of the day we were able to put this Tagggie amoung the pile of gifts at his head wetting!

My first use of Minky and although it won't go down as being my favorite fabirc to work with, I have dealt with worse.

As I was looking for this photo to post I found this one of a fat quarter skirt I whipped up for Jot that I don't think I have posted yet.  So quick and easy (or would have been if my machine was well)

Afraid I can't remember what fabirc it is but its really cute!

I am off now to get some dinner but I have a poll for you tomorrow (or maybe Friday if I am too busy tomorrow) to help me narrow down the choices for my Sisters wedding quilt.  Please come back then and help me out.

Night all

Jots Mum

A future sewer

Perhaps Jot will grow to love it too

Stitches and Craft Show

I went off to the Stitches and Craft show in Melbourne yesterday (it is on at Caulfield Racecourse till Sunday) and Jot and I had some fun wandering round looking at the stalls.  Not a whole lot of fabric or quitling (just a few stalls) but that is a good thing as I still managed to spend nearly $100 (shhh don't tell R) but that included the entrance and parking.  In fact I bought most of my things from the Incubator and area of the show that highlights small businesses most of which are bloggers.

I got to meet the wonderful Jodie of Ric Rac who by the way is lovely and gave Jot a beautiful little keyring and I met Claire (I think) from Craft Schmaft who gave Jot a little owl sticker (which reminds me I must take it off her top before it goes in the wash).  I also popped by Ink & Spindle, Oz Handmade and Two Little Banshees all of which looked fantastic (I forgot to go back to Two little banshees ot pick up the quilt pattern I was eyeing off (oh well some day soon).  I was scared to go near Nikki's stall as it had the most people round it and I was dealing with a buggy but her samples look great and I think I will be visiting her shop in the next few months.

So my purchases:

From Ric Rac

the cute little keyring Jodie gave Jot

Sock Softie Pattern and Kit from Craft Schmaft

The wrap skirt pattern I have been after for a while.  From Earthgirl Fabrics who had some really nice fabric but by that time I had already reached my spending budget for the day.

I was only there for a couple of hours (Jot didn't fancy a longer stint) and as I had Jot in tow wasn't able to do any of the workshops or craft bars I wanted to but that I can save for the next year when I will go solo.

Hope you are having a good week.

Jots Mum

Phoenix Trading

Well after some umming and aahing I have taken the plunge and am now an independent Phoenix Trader.

Phoenix Trading provides greeting cards, gift wrap, invitations, postcards, etc at up to 50% of ones you can buy in the shops.  The average Australian sends 28 greeting cards and year and cards usually cost between $5 - $7 each that is a minimum of $140 a year. 

I will be launching my new role in a couple of weeks time but in the meantime I am doign the soft foot approach and contacting a couple of close friends to see how they react.

Phoenix Cards

Wish me luck on my new enterprise.  I think it may eat up my sewing time quite considerably but it looks like fun.

Have a good week
Jots Mum