Tags.

So, it seems that everyone is is cuckoo over my new labels. I know, they're pretty good right? I got them from this etsy store. I got 300 for what worked out to be around 40AUD. A bargain I thought. The service was really good too. You tell them what you want, they'll email you a draft for you to approve and then when that's all done they'll print them. You can also use any free font, this includes open source fonts I think. So there's lots of variety! And I'm pretty sure that if you choose some of the other options they can do pictures and everything. I didn't really look at them though.

And as for the pressing ham, I was going to do a tutorial maybe? But it was so easy that I felt silly. I'll just tell you. I asked my dressmaking teacher about them, because like a lot of you I'm sure I have the "why buy when you can make" philosophy. I pretty much just cut 2 pieces of fabric into a rough ham shape (let me know if you'd like me to post the template) and sewed them right sides together. With no real strong understanding, I figured that you would need to use stronger fabrics. So one side is calico, and the other is some nice sturdy linen from Amy.

To stuff it you can pretty much use anything that won't melt. The one in my class is stuffed with sand and saw dust, so it's super sturdy. For mine I bought a cot sized piece of natural fiber quilt wadding. Bamboo or cotton should do. Then I just cut it up into little chunks and stuffed in as many as I could. And I do mean that literally. It should be a struggle to sew up the gap because it needs to be as firm as possible!

Hope you enjoy!

-Jemma

My Creative Space

I've been working on my dress making things this week. I made a pressing ham last Saturday to iron my darts and princess seams. And I also got this new whiz bang iron on Sunday on the way home from the fair. It's great! There's not even any wadding melted on it yet. And can I say, "Quilt basting spray, where have you been all my life?!". I got some on the cheap at the fair. And it's the best! I always screw up the basting, and have puckers and things. Now, can anyone teach me how to quilt well please?



More creative spaces over with Kirsty!

-Jemma

P.S. I used one of my fancy tags for the first time too!

Craft & Quilt Fair

I know, I've been M.I.A. again. I've been way too busy at the real job to have any energy for blogging. I've still been crafting though! Sewing class is going good. And I have plenty of inspiration brewing from the fair.

-Jemma

My Creative Space.

I've not been feeling too motivated this last week or so. I got my new car, so I've been spending a lot of time just driving nice places. And last week the light in my sewing room broke. And lamp light isn't really doing it for me. I haven't used the machine in a while. But I did go back to sewing class after a 3 week break last weekend. It was great! I'd missed it, and I'm pumped to get my dress done. I think that this weekend I'll finish my final calico dress and be ready to start with the good fabric. Fun!



And last weekend I had a go at making some knitting needle bracelets. They came up a treat!
More creative spaces as always at Kootoyoo.

-Jemma

Beep Beep!

I got a new car today. Exciting! Since I've had NO car for 2 weeks. And before that I had a car with no working horn. And boy, do I love to beep people! Watch out for me! I'll be the one beeping you.

-Jemma

Recipe Monday

It seems like Recipe Monday is a fortnightly thing. I don't mean it to be, promise! So this week is Bakewell Slice. Or coconut slice as some people call it.

Ingredients

90g butter
1/2 cup caster sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup self-raising flour
2/3 cup plain flour
1 tablespoon custard powder
2/3 cup raspberry jam (you can use whatever you want though)

Coconut Topping

2 Cups desiccated coconut
1/4 cup caster sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten

Method

Preheat oven to 180c. Grease lamington pan and line with paper, leaving a small overhang

Beat butter, sugar and egg until light and fluffy. Then stir in sifted flours and custard powder. Spread evenly into the pan and then spread jam evenly over the top.

Combine ingredients for the coconut topping in a small bowl and sprinkle over the jam. Bake for about 40 minutes and allow to cool completely in the pan.

Cut into bars, and then eat lots of them!

Add you're link if you're playing along!

-Jemma

Sunday Stash

I'm sure that you all know by now that Amy has started selling fabric over at Badskirt.
These are the beauties that I picked up. She has a nice little selection of stuff that might be a little bit more rare in Australia, and very good prices! You should definitely go have a look.

-Jemma

Handmade Help

In case you haven't seen it all over the internet yet, the Handmade Recipe book is available for pre-order! I'm sure that everyone knows what a great cause it is by now. And what great quality the recipes will be of course! I'm ordering mine now. Very exciting!

-Jemma

Snail Mail

So, a question for everyone.

Would you prefer to buy this as a stamp, or as pre-stamped envelopes or address labels?
Or would it be better to offer both?

-Jemma

Saturday Shopping List

1. Cocktail Shaker and 6 Glasses
2.Vintage Numerology Cocktail Shaker
3.pair of wild bird DRINKING GLASSES
4. Zodiac Ice Bucket and Glasses

Ok, I'm really not a lush. I just think that these are really pretty! (And I do enjoy the occasional cocktail, if I'm honest.)

-Jemma

My Creative Space.

I've been home sick these last 3 days. Nothing too major, just a yucky cold. But it's keeping me here at the moment! Since I'm so bad at being sick and resting, I've actually gotten a lot of sewing done. So that's good.

I've been actually looking at all of the patterns I've gotten at op shops, instead of just having them. This dress is the first thing I've made. I did it just off the pattern, no alterations and it fits great! What are the chances?! I think that I'll be making a lot more of these. Some knits maybe? And with a fuller skirt I think. I've also 90% finished a little shirt thing that kind of fits. As most other things, it's too big in the chest area. I'll have a go at altering that I think though.

For more creative spaces head over to Kootoyoo!

-Jemma

(Sorry for the bad photo. I don't have a dummy and I had to take this myself!)

Giggly Monkey

Giggly Monkey
Originally uploaded by amityville boronia

Found this piece of paper today with a print of a stamp I made a few months ago. I was particularly proud of this one!

-Jemma

My Creative Space

This week I started working on a scarf for my brothers birthday. It's looking good so far! But it's my first attempt at stripes, so I'll probably be asking everyone how to weave in the ends pretty soon. Also in the pictures, last week I got a roll of freezer paper! They just had it at my local sewing store. I've never seen that before. So I snatched it up with no real plans whatsoever! I thought I could give some away, so I'll choose a commenter on this post at random on Sunday and send you a metre or so. Cool?

And I've been doing some little drawings, thinking of making a stamp to make letter sets or maybe address labels. Snail mail?

Head over to kootoyoo for all the other Creative Spaces.

-Jemma