Funky Junk Friday

I feel like I need to buy Funky Junk a present to say thanks for all the wonderful Junque you keep providing to brighten my dreary winter days. What do you buy a building that holds Junque?? It could do with better lighting, maybe I should buy it some 300 watt light bulbs. But that’s not a very good thank you gift.

Maybe a nice poem….

Funky Junk you are my savoir

You rescue me from boredom

Save me from my over-spending ways

provide me with more fabric

and vintage goodness

than I can ever hope to use

your dark, dusty interior

will never deter me

for I know now of the treasures

hidden within.

What do you think? That was a spur of the moment creation, inspired by these great finds…

Two bags of fabric, some of them BIG pieces, like that brown one is about 6 metres, and the pink is about 3 metres.

One FANTASTIC pattern book and a magazine complete with patterns.

These are some of the projects out of that pattern book, I just have to make a tea cosy and these cute crochet balls.   

Maybe I can use some of this wool to make them. I have no idea if this stuff is actually wool or acrylic, but the label on the pink ones say to handwash only, so that means its wool, right? and the brown feels like wool, but doesn’t have a label.

Some vintage (and maybe not so vintage) linen goodies, like 2 vintage pillow cases, a huge rectangle polka dot table cloth, a table runner, some kind of padded table mat, and some doilies.

And these very nice handmade silky floral scarves.

Plus the 113 squares of fabric I have cut out to make my puff pillow quilt. Yes it’s going to take much longer and be a lot more work, but I have decided that a puff pillow quilt will make me so much happier than just an ordinary quilt. Now I just need to find backing fabric and cut 113 squares (or actually 113 is an odd number so that won’t work, I’ll have to do some maths to work that one out) out of that, then I can start sewing.

My Creative Space

 

This is the beginning of my very first quilt. These fabrics were all found in Funky Junk tonight. I was inspired by them and went on a square cutting frenzy. I don't know how many squares I have cut, this doesn't show all of them, so it is more than enough for a queen size quilt I think. This was going to be my puff pillow quilt, but I am thinking that possibly it might just be an ordinary simple block quilt. Maybe, or maybe I'll change my mind while I toss and turn thinking about it all night. I have a few more great funky junk finds that I will try to photograph tomorrow.

I feel like I just want to get my sewing machine out and sew all night, to finish this thing which is exciting now, but will be less exciting in the morning, and even less exciting by the time I actually get a chance to do some sewing. Hopefully if I keep the squares somewhere I can see them it will keep me inspired.

Puff pillow quilt....ordinary quilt....puff pillow quilt...ordinary quilt....how will I decide.

To see more creative spaces head over to Kootoyoo.

Thrifty Finds…

Another trip to my local thrift store this week was unavoidable, because I had mail to post, and the post box just happens to be about 5 meters past the thrift store. Who can walk past a thrift store without going in? Certainly not me. And I most definitely can not go into a thrift store and not buy anything. nope. it’s impossible.

It was really hard to get a decent photo of these plates, but in reality they are gorgeous. They have a texture/pattern on them that is very hard to photograph. They will not be eaten off, but will be great for display.

The rest of my finds: A glass apothecary jar probably destined to be a button display or maybe a little moss terrarium like this. A smurfs mug ( just about squealed when I saw it, and I think the lady at the counter was a bit miffed that it was prices so low at $1.00 because she made a point of telling me how valuable those things are now). A tiny little blue & white china plant pot. A few vintage pattern/craft books. An embroidery hoop. A bag of random bits of wool, for making granny squares or other little crochet goodies. A few doilies. And a couple of fairly big bits of fabric.

I also got this great knitted cardigan for little princess, but the buttons on it are hideous. The are slightly tarnished gold tinted metal buttons, yuck! I don’t often see a button I don’t like but these ones have to go. I haven’t decided what I will replace them with yet, I’ll have to go through my stash and see what I can find, or more button shopping may be in order :)

I also have some great funky junk finds, but I haven’t had a chance to take photos yet, because the last couple of days have been all about getting the house clean and tidy and on it’s best behaviour for viewing this weekend by a very promising potential buyer (keep all fingers and toes crossed for us please). I’ve been dying to get onto my sewing machine to get a few things done, but I had to pack it away so my dining table resembles a functional dining table. It’s funny how happy a clean house makes me feel, but I can never keep it clean for long because housework is not even close to the top of my priorities list.

Linking to Sophie’s Flea Market Finds.

The Elephants Go Marching

While I seem to have a lot more crafting time lately, my blogging time has just dwindled. Little man has been sick on and off (more on than off) since winter started, and currently he has some kind of tired all the time bug, which means I have a lot more free time, even if I do spend that time worried that he is not eating or drinking enough and is it possible to sleep too much. Also, winter means a lot more time snuggled up on the couch under a blanket, so there has been more time for crochet and finishing projects that require hand sewing.

The elephant project started about a month ago, right before my sewing machine died, so I never got a chance to finish them. Well I still haven’t finished them all, but I am getting there with only three out of twelve left to sew. These are the ones I have finished recently….

Meet Dot, she is a little baby elephant rattle, she has a bell inside that jingles when shaken and crinkly cellophane inside her legs.

This is Elsie, she is MINE. I love this retro print fabric, even though others think it is hideous. She will be the guardian of my craft room (when I finally get a craft room).

This is Annabelle, apparently she is from Antarctica. She is made from a soft corduroy, so nice and cuddly.

And these two don’t have names yet.

I have also had a few trials at making other animals/creatures, but I don’t like them as much as the elephants. In case it’s not completely obvious, that’s a taggie hedgehog and a (very skinny) Scotty dog.

And a bunch of fish, which are almost complete, but some still need to have eyes sewn on or holes sewn up. I haven’t got rods yet, at the moment little princess is using a rather dangerous, pointy ended, too long, make-do fishing rod to play with them.

Don’t ask me what I am going to do with all these softies, I haven’t got a clue, I just like making them. Maybe they will go in my Felt store one day, if I ever get around to setting that up. Or they will just stay in the cupboard until I need a gift for a baby/child.

Linking to Anything Related @ All Thingz Related and Craftastic Monday @ Sew Can Do (see buttons on sidebar).

My Precious…..

This is my precious (ignore the mess around her, in my excitement I didn’t really bother to tidy up, I just pushed everything aside to clear a space).

Isn’t she beautiful. She has been living on my dining table since coming home with me on Wednesday. She has helped me make a few things so far.

Like this dress for the little princess, which is still in need of some embellishment, so we are going button shopping this afternoon (yippy yay button shopping!!!).

  And this little taggie blankie for little man (munch, drool, suck, he seems to enjoy it).

It also made a balloon ball, but I couldn’t take a photo because it was made by request at 11pm last night and taken to work first thing this morning. I will be required to make more of these in the near future. Many more. (they are pretty cool though).

I have cut out a whole lot of softies ready to be sewed (?? sewn ??), when I get a few moments of peace and quiet from my two sick children. And fish for three fishing sets, or maybe just one fishing set with lots of fish…..we will see.

Who knew sewing could be joyful (or maybe that's an exaggeration, maybe “less stressful” is a better description). I’m excited about all the possibilities now that I have a decent sewing machine.

By the way, in case you care, I just want to put it out there that this machine did not come from Spotlight, as it was supposed to. It had been almost three weeks, I had heard nothing about my online order, I emailed to enquire, still heard nothing, then hubby saw this great special in the Noel Leeming catalogue, I could get the same machine, plus a bonus label maker, for less than the one I had ordered through spotlight, and I could get it immediately! So I picked it up on Wednesday, sent spotlight an email to cancel my order and what do you know, later that day I get an email from spotlight to say they had allocated my order to the hamilton store and someone would be in contact with me soon. Well of course the next day someone rang to say they were ready to ship my order, and I said too late, and they didn’t seem to care so my opinion of spotlight has lessened considerably and I now understand why people refuse to shop there. I’m just putting it out there, so you know, for future reference.

Crafty Goodness

I am so proud of myself this week, because I finally crocheted something! I found the greatest instructions here for learning how to crochet a granny square, so yesterday I sat down and watched these videos over and over again until I figured it out, and now I think I can almost do it without the instructions in front of me (almost). The hardest thing I find is keeping track of where I’m up to, with distractions all around constantly, but I think as I get better at it I will be able to see where I’m up to. These are my two itty bitty practice granny squares:

Now that I know I am capable of crocheting (because I really was starting to lose hope), I think I will try a different granny square tutorial that I found here. I would LOVE to be able to make a whole granny square blanket for my little man. When (or if) he gets his own room, the colours scheme is going to be blue and brown, so I want to make a blanket for his bed in those colours, similar to this, but imagine the stripes as rows of granny squares:

Last week I made a couple of things to give to a little miss 3 next weekend for her birthday.

But then I felt like she needed something else, so I spent a few days throwing ideas at hubby, who is her teacher at daycare so knows her a lot better than I do. Well, I went through LOTS of ideas, before I came across one he liked. I had seen this tutorial a while back and thought one day I might make that for my kids, so it was added to my mental to-do list. I altered it a bit, switching things around so the magnets are inside the fish and the washer is the “bait”. I also had to hand sew because I am still without a sewing machine, so I blanket stitched all around the outside, which was way easier because I didn’t have to turn them.

I just love this fishing set, and so does my daughter. I think I will have to make more and give them to every child I know, but that will have to wait until I have a sewing machine to speed up production. Now that I have made them, Hubby has changed his mind and wants me to make her a fabric book cover, but that will only be happening if I get my sewing machine before the weekend, and because it is coming from Spotlight that is highly unlikely.

These are the flowers I made using the knitting needles bought from a thrift store in the weekend. I have only made 5 so far, so they don’t really make a nice “bunch” yet, but I plan to make more. I decided to go with a neutral linen fabric, because there is plenty of colour in the needle stems, felt bottoms and button middles.

So that's two and a half things ticked off my mental to-do list, about a trillion to go ;-p

Pinkilicious thrift store finds

Yesterday we went out in search of teapots, and this is what I came home with: A pink floral vintage single sheet, a pink jug (don’t they just match perfectly), and some bright coloured plastic knitting needles. The knitting needles will be used to make something like these, but using them for the stems instead of dowels, and maybe putting buttons in the middle?? Might have a play around with that later.

Remember this dress??

This was one of the things I completed on Wednesday (before my sewing machine died). I made this dress especially to match her gumboots, because she doesn’t have a lot of outfits that go with them, but she loves wearing them. I think it matches perfectly.

Speaking of sewing machines, I am getting a new one, WOOHOO!! Thanks to my wonderful mummy, I will be getting a Brother LS2160 as an early birthday present. I’ve ordered it online from Spotlight, so I have no idea how long it will take for them to send it, hopefully soon because I am SOOOOOO excited to start sewing again.

Linking up to Flea Market Finds over at Sophie’s gorgeous blog. Also linking to Thrifty Treasures over at Southern Hospitality.

A few things I’ve made

I thought I would share a few things I have made recently, all using materials found at Funky Junk.

I made a drawstring bag to use as a gift bag for my MIL’s mothers day gift. I liked the idea of a fabric gift bag because it is reusable, not necessarily as a gift bag, but to hold delicates, jewellery, makeup for travelling, for example. The fabric and the lace used as drawstrings were from funky junk. I hand sewed the bag, using thread given to me by a great crafter from my craft group. So this bag cost me nothing to make, and I think it is lovely.

I also made this pin cushion using vintage curtain fabric and a little pottery bowl found at funky junk. I can see myself making more of these, because they are so quick and easy, and CUTE! I got the idea from a tutorial for making teacup pin cushions found here, but I didn’t add extra details, because I thought it looked pretty cute as is. I do plan to make a super embellished teacup version, using cups & saucers that will be left after the Tea Party.

This is a work in progress, a dress for my daughter. Everything used so far to make this, except the buttons, was found at funky junk. The main fabric is polar fleece, and the peice I found was quite big, because even after cutting out the peices for this dress there’s still a lot left. If I ever get around to it, I would like to make mittens to match, and maybe a scarf. Oh, and a hat would be cute too, but she is not a hat person (much to my absolute horror, she won’t wear anything on her head, that includes headbands, hair ties, hairclips, or anything remotely cute and girly that I would love to make for her).

On a totally different topic, I have TWO new followers since my last post, so that number is creeping up and I am shocked and amazed, but totally thrilled and looking forward to giveaway time.

Linking up to Anything Related Tuesday at All Thingz Related. Go have a look to see a whole lot more crafty projects, and browse through their awesome blog to see the great things they have made. Also linking up to Wednesday at Tea Rose Home link party, another beautiful blog with heaps of great ideas and tutorials.

In the beginning....

I want to start off by saying that I have just recently decided it is time to conquer my fear of sewing, and finally make some of the things I've been putting off for years.

So last week I got my hand-me-down sewing machine out of storage, downloaded the instruction manual and gave myself a crash course in sewing 101. I mean, it's not like I have never sewn anything in my life, but after several failed projects in sewing class at school, I just kind of figured that was one of the skills that didn't come naturally to me, like driving and cooking.

Now having two kids and living on a fairly tight budget, I figured this would be a good time to be able to make things for my kids to wear, use and play with.

So, last week I successfully made a few softie baby rattles for my son and a mini crayon roll for my daughter, but this week my greatest accomplishment has been successfully making a dress that my daughter can actually wear!! And I wanted to share that HUGE accomplishment here (because I am so proud of myself!!)

So I found a project in Australian Homespun magazine, vol 11.2, for this gorgeous pinafore dress.



And I found this gorgeous woman's skirt (which is WAY too small for me) at my local thrift store.



And I immediately thought that skirt would make the cutest dress for my daughter, and that's how it began.

I didn't take photos of the process, because I was just obsessed with getting it finished before I lost interest and gave up. But I used the lace feature at the front of the skirt for the front of the dress, I tried to use as many of the original seams as possible, because there's no way my seams were gonna be anywhere near that good, and I used the lining as well. Towards the end I realised that buttonholes were required to do up the dress, and I freaked out a bit, because I have never sewn a buttonhole in my life, and even after reading through the sewing machine manual I still had no idea how to do it. I did a couple of practice runs on a scrap of fabric.



But, as you can see, they were disastrous. So I rummaged through my craft supplies and my junque supplies and finally found a couple of those little metal dome thingies (I don't know what they are called), that just needed to be hand sewn onto the dress, easy peasy.



There you have it, my first wearable creation!! And it fits and looks cute and it's just like I imagined. Can you tell I am just a little bit proud of myself ;-)