My (washi tape) Creative Space

 

 Hey peeps,

I hope you are all good?  Are you a washi tape addict? So many people are.  I do love the stuff.  Don't ask me why I only have a handful of rolls, I honestly have no idea (that needs to change!)

There must be eleventy billion uses for washi tape. This week, we discovered one more use for washi tape: decorated rocks.

Grab some washi tape and a rock.  Pre-cut the washi tape for little kids.  For Zoe, who is 3 years old, I cut many strips for her and stuck them on the edge of the table.  She could then easily use them to cover her rock. 

Bigger kids can rip it easily themselves or use scissors to cut their own strips.  Cover your rock with as much or as little washi tape as you like. Use the one type of washi tape or mix it up. My girls loved this activity. I know we will be making more of them soon. 

Ta-da, cute washi tape covered rocks. Matching outfits are optional (and were a happy accident)

Happy Creative Space day to you.

Cat xox

My (very first quilt) Creative Space

 

Hey peeps,

I am making a quilt!  Yes, I am.  I really am. It will be for my Grandma, who turns 90 next month.  She has recently moved into a nursing home.  She does not want to be there, she wants to be back at home. I can't blame her, but she needs lots of help with everyday things and the nursing home can help her with these.

We visited her in February when we were in Melbourne.  I immediately felt that her room needed some more hand made goodness.  She has been able to bring a few items of furniture from home.  My step-dad installed some shelves, and they have been filled up with family photos. I felt she needed a happy, bright quilt for her bed.  One made with love - so my mum and I got started right away.

I had "won" some fabric charm packs (pre-cut fabric squares) in the Let's get Maybelle to the Ellen Show charity auction.  We used two packs of "Honey Honey" by Kate Spain for Moda and part of a "Trade Winds" by Lily Ashbury for Moda.

The charm pack squares were all arranged and sewn together over a few days while I was still in Melbourne. I added the border to the quilt top when I got back to Hong Kong. The border is "Petunias" by Phillip Jacobs for Rowan, Westminster Fibers (pastel colour way)

Yesterday, I finally found the courage to make the backing.  We had chosen more of the petunias fabric (in different colour ways).

Today I will finish sewing the petunias backing together.  Then I will be ready to quilt this.  This is what I am scared about.  I have never done this before.  I'll read a few more (hundred) online tutorials.  I hope I'll be ready then to quilt.

If you can recommend any great online tutorials, please let me know.

Wish me luck!

Happy Creative Space Day to you.

Cat xox

Tiny, wee blankies make it all better

Hi peeps,

Today was a bit bleugh. I was tired, feeling flat, uninspired. There were lots of boring chores to do like washing and cooking dinner.  I was annoyed at myself as I could have done some sewing.  I should have done some sewing.  I have no idea what I did much of the day, I hate feeling like I have wasted a day.  I do remember reading Zoe books, that was lovely.  It involved cuddles and sloppy toddler kisses.

 

I can say though, that 5 minutes of sewing at 5pm made it all feel right again.  Two teeny tiny little strawberry blankets later, and I was feeling better already.  Oh, and so many lovely words from my Instagram friends made a big difference too (thank you lovelies!)

Wee little blankies are a great use of fabric scraps from the Strawberry dress, I say! Perfect for little girls Sylvanian Families animals. Sweet dreams, little critters.

Sweet dreams to you too.  Cat.

PS: Creative Spaces has moved.  Pop over here to see our new home. 

My (sewing space) Creative Space

This week has been bliss.  Bliss because I have been sewing every single day.  This has not happened in the land of the Raspberry Rainbow for goodness knows how long.  It feels good.

The main reason is that last week I finally got my very own Hong Kong sewing space.   I don't mind that I am crammed in between a cupboard and a tower of packing boxes that still need to be emptied.  It is in the main room, full of lovely natural light during the day.  It is nice and easy for me to sit down for a few minutes of sewing in between every thing else I do (and no, it is no longer this neat and tidy)

I have made sure there have been things ready to sew, like this pile of zippered pouches.  Yes, more zippered pouches.  Can you ever have too many to use as gifts?  Um, no.

There has also been the birthday red delicious bunting to finish this week.  I decided to make Zoe two separate bunting strands to decorate her bedroom, so I kept on sewing.  I cut out so many bunting triangles, I will have maybe two more strands to use as gifts.  If I am feeling crazy energetic, I could open an etsy store? I have not decided if it would be too much of a commitment or not. Probably.

I was feeling inspired enough this week to take out my macro lens, brush off the cobwebs, and take some photos of this gorgeous pile of red delicious bunting triangles, before they were promplty sewn up.

Today is a crazy day, one little girl turns 2, one very excited big girl starts ballet lessons for the first time, and one bigger girl is getting very excited because her mum is coming to stay tomorrow.

If you want a peep at fabric shopping in Hong Kong, pop over and see my post from yesterday.

So many creative people are having fun over here.

Have a lovely Thursday peeps, Cat.

My (travelling) Creative Space

I am working on a few little things this week, but there are no photos of them yet.  I have been busy packing and sorting, so not much creating happening (boo)

This is what I made my mum for Mother's day a few weeks ago.  A cute zippered travel pouch.  I put some Hong Kong money in the pouch too, so she is all ready to come and visit us when we have moved to Hong Kong.

It is the perfect length to fit her boarding pass and other travelling documents. I find it much easier to have them all in the one place when they are needed. Zippered up, nice and cosy. 

I have a funny feeling I will be making lots more of these.  For starters, I want one for ME! Then, I guess my Shropshire boy could really do with one too.  

Don't you think they make a great gift idea?  So yes, I will definitely be making more.

All the Creative Spaces are over here now, in a new home.  Do pop in and visit.  You will be glad you did.

Happy Thursday to you.

Cat

My (Bunting) Creative Space

This really should have been last weeks My Creative Space, but I ran out of time. Last week, my big girl turned 5. Five! Last Thursday I was still recovering from her birthday party.

I can show you in photos, how my bunting evolved. First, I cut out the "Happy Birthday" letters from black felt. I had read a very handy tip (can't remember where) that to stop the felt moving around too much when you cut it, sticky tape the felt to your template, don't pin it. It works a treat, I can tell you.

I was originally going to use 2 or 3 different fabric's for all the flags/triangles. Once I had raided my fabric stash, I was quite surprised how many different pink fabrics I really had to choose from. I had more than enough to use a different one for each letter.

This was my first fabric arrangement, but it did not sit right, I was not convinced.

I played around with the fabric selection and order some more and came up with this arrangement.

So lush, all that beautiful fabric. I am happy with my selection, as many of the fabrics used have previously been made into dresses for Abbey or presents for friends and family.

I even had Chris helping out at one point, tying off all the ends after I sewed the letters on. He did not mind, he had beer and the TV remote control (and Dotty doll to keep him company)

Almost done, one lovely pile of bunting triangles ready to be sewn all together. I top stitched around each bunting edge.

Pegs worked better than pins going through all those layers of fabric.

There is no easy way to photograph bunting hanging up, I have decided. Especially when it is hanging in the darkest room in your house.

Yay! Finished. Pop over to Kootoyoo for more Creative Spaces.

Cheers, Cat.

My (carroty, part 2) Creative Space

The topless carrots have been dressed finished. They are just a bit cute, I think. And squishy. I like squishy.

Clare's look really good with the ribbons added, but I did not have any carroty looking ribbon and had no budget to get any this week. All these carrots were made with fabric from my stash.

I had to make a Very Hungry Caterpillar carrot for our librarian, I know she will love it.

I survived kinder duty last week. It was exhausting and non-stop, but so much fun. I enjoyed chopping up the fruit, I had way too much fun arranging it on the trays artistically (I wish I had taken my camera to take a photo) The best bit was the singing and dancing to music while walking around the room. Yes I did join in, it was a hoot, especially pretending to be a kangaroo!

It was so special to see my big girl at kinder, playing, crafting and interacting with her her friends. Not to mention her new favourite kinder activity - playing in the mud pit. She comes home filthy, which is OK with me. Her pretty skirts are certainly not quite so pretty any more.

Want to see a whole lot of Creativity? Pop over to Kirsty's for some inspiration.

Happy Thursday to you.

Cat.

(If you don't want a carrot in your ear, don't look here)

My (carroty) Creative Space

I might be procrastinating here, I suppose I should be packing up our entire house to move to Hong Kong, but to tell you the truth, I'd rather be sewing.

Since Easter last year, I have wanted to make these fabric carrots. Then after the felt fruit and vegetable caper of last year, I wanted to give Clare's carrots a try even more. Fabric carrots look so much more appealing than plain old orange felt ones, don't you think?

This is as far as I have got with them - they are all still topless. Feels a little rude saying that!

Wish me luck, this morning I am on kinder duty. 28 four and five year olds plus two kinder teachers who do this every day. And me. It will be crazy. But I know it will be crazy fun too.

I look forward to this afternoon, when I can sit down with a cup of tea and browse through all the Creative types over at Kootoyoo.

I hope you have a less crazy Thursday, Cat.

My (girly) Creative Space

This week I have had fun making a girlie birthday present. One of Abbey's new kinder friends celebrated her birthday today. Since they met just over a month ago, Abbey and her new friend Ellie have become almost inseparable at kinder. Abbey asks me many times most days what is Ellie doing now? Where is Ellie? When is kinder next? When I ask her what she has done at kinder, it always involves Ellie. It is so cute to see and makes me all squishy inside. My big girl, all 4 years of her, is making friends. I am so proud of her.

Ellie's mum summed it up perfectly - they are in love. And it is true, they both adore each other and play so well together.

This week I have been smiling as I was sewing, knowing these creations were for Abbey's dear friend.

I sent Abbey to kinder one day last week, and her mission was to ask what Ellie's favourite colour is. Mission accomplished by my little snoop, Ellie likes all the colours of the rainbow.

Abbey helped me choose which fabric's to use, and I made Ellie a zippered pouch and two headbands.

Little girls can never have too many hair bobbles (hair elastics), so I made some of these too.

To finish off our home made present, Abbey painted some brown paper with a colourful rainbow to use as wrapping paper and drew Ellie a birthday card.

Happy Birthday gorgeous girl! We had a wonderful time at your party.

Pop in and visit all the lovely Creative peeps over at Kootoyou on Thursday.

Cheers, Cat.

My (knotty) Creative Space

In My Creative Space this week, I have been finishing Abbey's kinder blanket.

She needed a little pillow too, so I made one out of the left over backing fabric (Abbey chose this fabric herself, I wish I bought more of it now, I have grow to really love it)

Her name is a little wonky, the "A" especially. Why do I feel that the letters in her name have to be perfectly formed? It is all about embracing the wonk, isn't it? It is home made after all, I have to keep reminding myself.

The proof is in pudding, she loves it.

I was inspired to make one of these blankets after seeing this gorgeous version. Fabulous idea from this lovely book.

Have a lovely Thursday checking out all the Creative Spaces.

Cat.

My Creative Space

Today I am finishing off some new skirts for my big girl for kinder. She rarely wears skirts, except with her kinder t-shirts, so I made sure I used some cute fabric. She insists on wearing dresses most days. I also made her some matching fabric covered hair bobbles, which I could not photograph as she is already wearing them.

Lots more Creative Spaces here.

Happy Thursday to you.

Cat

My Creative Space

My Creative Space this week has been knotty. Lots of knotty. Of the French kind. And the first time I have ever done anything like this. It is a little addictive and is keeping me up late at night.

My big girl has just started kinder. She will need a blanket for rest time on the long day she is at kinder. They have reduced hours the first few weeks, to ease them into kinder, so I still have some time to finish it off (thank goodness)

It feels good to be using my Grandma's embroidery thread for her Great Grand daughter too.

This is based on the Fairy Bread pram blanket from Pip Lincolne's gorgeous new book Sew La Tea Do. I have made it larger to cover my big girl (all 4 years old that she is)

Have a lovely day.

Cat.

My Creative Space

I have been having some fun in My Creative Space this week. I have enjoyed making these fabric head bands so much. They are so simple and quick to make, I wish I had thought of the idea.

These orange ones were made using the pattern supplied here, but we found them too wide for little girls heads (and mine too)

I adjusted the width, and voila, cute, easy to make head bands to match every outfit.

Blue ones to match the uniform of my dear friend Nell's little girl, who is starting school this week (good luck, gorgeous girls, I am thinking of you both)

Fruity ones for my two girls, as I have decided this fabric is simply divine, and must be worn. As often as possible. Especially with frilly bloomers. Squish.

(Fruity frilly dilly bloomers are almost impossible to photograph on one active 16 month old toddler. She did stop for a moment to watch some birds out the window. Thank you birds)

You will have to trust me, they are adorable.

Happy Thursday to you :)

Cat