Found it at the Library – Stress Free Sewing

 

 

Stress Free Sewing by Nicole Vasbinder is definitely a must have in your home library.  It’s like a bible of sewing with great Question and Answer sections (a bit like a FAQ section).

Whether your new to sewing, self taught like me or even experienced this book will you to find out anything you need to know about sewing from Sewing Tools, Notions and Trims, Fabric Solutions to Finishing Solutions.

Nicole Vasbinder owns and runs a California based sewing studio called StitchCraft.  She has designed and operated the independent accessory line Queen Puff Puff and sells her own designs all over the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and also Japan.

What’s your favourite must have sewing book?

Happy Reading

Jennifer xx

 

Blogger Tags: sewing, books, nicole vasbinder, author, library, reading, stitchcraft, queen puff puff

Monday Make It Picks – It’s Playtime!!!

 

What’s happening over at Bits & Bobs 4 Bub

 

 

Blogger Tags: balloon, ball, fabric, plushie, bunny, easter, taggi, owl, playmat, colouring, teepee, tool set, kids, pram bumper cover, amigurumi

A Sneak Peak

 

Just some of the books that I have borrowed out of the local library lately!

Jennifer xx

Blogger Tags: crochet, books, library, baby, snowflakes, learning how, sewing, granny squares

The Simple Things

 

I found this great magazine while looking for the latest addition of Mollie Makes and I if you haven’t heard or seen this magazine before, I highly recommend that you walk, run or drive down to your nearest newsagent and grab a copy.

The Simple Things makes me want to snuggle up on the coach under a blanket with a hot cuppa and just loose myself amongst the pages.  Only problem is it’s summer over here and it’s their winter additions lol.

This magazine is not full of craft ideas with tutorials or patterns but more of a lifestyle magazine.  What you will find inside are stories about people, what they do and why.  Where you can find great items for your home or as gifts or just to brighten up your day.

It also has great book reviews and will inspire you to get outdoors too.  So what are you waiting for, go and grab a copy now.

Happy Reading

Jennifer xx

What’s on the Menu – Homemade Ice Cream

 

While visiting my Mum on Friday she offered me a taste of some ice cream she had in her freezer.  OMG how yum is this!!! Very rich but oh so yummy. 

And to my surprise when I asked what brand it was, my Mum informed me she made it herself.

It’s a Nigella Lawson recipe from her Italiano TV series called One Step No-Churn Coffee Ice Cream that aired on the ABC recently and obviously an episode I missed because I would have been making this ages ago.

All you need is:

300 ml double cream

175 gram(s) condensed milk

2 tablespoon(s) instant espresso powder

2 tablespoon(s) espresso liqueur

2 500ml airtight tubs or containers

Whisk all the ingredients together until soft peaks form and freeze over night till its firm.

Delicious!!!  The possibilities with this recipe are endless.  But just a quick note, this makes a very rich tasting ice cream.

So what flavour are you going to make?

Jennifer xx

 

Blogger Tags: ice cream, Nigella Lawson, homemade, no churn, recipe, cream, condensed milk, coffee

Monday Made It Picks

 

Head on over to Bits & Bobs 4 Bubs to see how you can grab one of these great items as your next gift to that someone special!

 

Jennifer xx

 

Blogger Tags: boys, handmade, made it, gift, birthday, baby shower, christmas, apron, cape, crate, cover, blanket, cushion, rocket, shoes, owl, suspenders, canvas, personalised, wall hanging

My Apprentices'

 

For Christmas my Mum bought the girl’s a sewing machine each along with 2 fat quarters.

My girl’s have been asking me for ages to teach them to sew or knit or crochet, so when Mum surprised us with these cute little machines the girls and I were over the moon and they couldn’t wait to get stuck in.

So after we finished rearranging my sewing area, we set up a little table for both of them to sit at and make there items for their favourite toys.

Miss J wanted to make a sleeping bag for Dog and Miss G wanted to make a skirt for her Horse.

I must say I am very proud of their efforts and they listened very patiently while I explained how the machine works, how to measure and cut material and how to put the pins in place.

This little machine is fantastic for little beginners and has 12 different stitches which includes 2 types of button holes.  These machines can be purchased at Lincraft.

Does your little one want to learn to sew.  What have they created?

Jennifer xx

 

Blogger Tags: sewing, machine, children, junior, toys, apprentice

Valentine’s Day Beanie

 

I have been so caught up with finishing off my items for the fabric challenge over at Little Starfish Fabrics that I nearly forgot to make this beanie to share with you.

I love trying to use fabrics with my crochet designs and this is something I have had in the back of my mine for a little while.

The size of the beanie is for a 6-12 month old and I used a basic beanie pattern.  I will share links to some great patterns for beanies and the heart at the bottom of this post.  But here is what I have done:

First of all I was planning on using 3 different layers of fabric hearts to make this embellishment but decided on only using 1 fabric along with a crochet flower. 

Using PicMonkey I created a template using the hearts overlay options and created 3 different size hearts.  I only used the middle sized heart.

1. Using the template I traced the heart onto some Bondaweb/vilene (bonding adhesive) and cut the heart out.  Placing the template on the wrong side of the fabric, I ironed the adhesive on and let cool for about 15mins.
2. After this has cooled down, I removed the backing and placed the heart with the right side of the fabric facing out onto some white felt and ironed.
3. Then after this cooled down I sewed around the heart.
4. Back view of the heart.
5. Now with all 3 hearts I secured all 3 hearts with the button.

I have not yet decided if I want to leave the matching booties they way they are or to sew some fabric onto the bottom of them or to just add some coordinating buttons.

What do you think?

Oh and here are some great tutorials that you can use to crochet a beanie yourself along with a heart.

• Crochet Baby Beanie Video Tutorial and pattern – Crochet Hooks You
• K2 Buttercup Baby – on Raverlry
• Baby Beanie – Crochet n More
• Crochet Heart – FiberFlux
• Crochet Heart – Pink Flubby Warrior
• Tiny Crochet Hearts – The Party Artisan

Hope you have fun creating your own little beanie.  Would love for you to share your pics over on my Facebook page.

Happy Valentine’s Day!!!!!

Jennifer xx

PS. to find out where this beanie will be available to purchase, please head on over to Bits & Bobs 4 Bubs Blog!

 

Blogger Tags: valentines day, heart, beanie, crochet, button, fabric, applique, baby, booties

In the Garden – The veggie patch

 

After all the rain we have had, I thought it was a perfect time to get back into the veggie garden.  Due to our holiday at the end of last year I stopped using the veggie garden so it was less maintenance for the house sitter.

So with my little helper we set off for some supplies at our local Bunnings and got stuck into turning over the garden beds.

I have also purchase more little worms for the worm farm to give it a boost as I am hoping to have a organic, pesticide free vegetable garden this year.

I also picked up a new cover for the top of the farm instead of only having newspaper.  You have to keep these little fellows out of the sun/heat and make sure you don’t over feed them as you don’t want the scraps to rot before they can eat them.  If you can smell your scraps, you are giving them to much.

I poor water over them ever second day and have a bucket underneath to catch the juices.

Do you have a veggie garden and/or a worm farm?  Would love to hear some of your tips and tricks you use.

Happy Gardening,

Jennifer xx

Blogger Tags: garden, vegetable, bunnings, worm, farm, organic, water

Linkup Party Likes – Valentines Day!

 

Can’t believe it’s Valentines Day next week.  Wasn’t it just Christmas and new year last week lol.

Getting back into my regular postings I thought instead of giving the Linkup Party Likes a number I would now choose a theme.  So why not start with Valentines Day!

I must admit I haven’t made anything yet but have a few ideas swimming around my head and if I get a chance I am hoping to have something for you next week.

But in the mean time what have you lovely crafters been up too?  Here a few that I thought would be great to pop in your kid’s school lunches, something for the teacher or just something for your own special Valentine!

1. Serving Pink Lemonade: Healthy Valentine Treat
2. Organized 31: Valentine Tic Tac
3. Dreamsicle Sisters: You make my heart blossom
4. Kitchen Fun with my 3 sons: Valentine Babybel Cheese Snack
5. Echoes of Laughter: Valentine Marshmallow Pops
6. Amanda’s Parties to go!: Treat box tutorial
7. Ode to Inspiration: Love is in the air (chocolate spoons)

Always

Jennifer xx

Blogger Labels: Linkup,Valentines,teacher,Valentine,Pink,healthy,Treat,heart,Cheese,Snack,tutorial,Inspiration,Love, marshmellow, tic, tac, chocolate, wrapping, fruit

Ching Ching!!!!

 

I know I know it’s now February but Happy New Year too you all!!! I don’t know about you but we have had a very busy and interesting start to the year.

First we decided that it was time that the kids had their own rooms and so we moved 3 of the rooms and the garage around.10 trips later to the recycle centre and charity bins I have managed not only to clean out the kids rooms but the rest of the house.

Now I have one big area for my sewing room along with our computer desk.  Hoping to convert the garage this year.

And while were at it we decided that after 10 years in the house it was about time that we updated our lounge room.  Yeah!!!!

As you all would now we have had some serious weather happening here in Qld with a lot of areas flooding and people losing their homes.

We were one of the lucky ones.  Our area did flood blocking us in for a few days and the power was out for over 60 ours which and we lost most of the food in our fridge and freezer (thank goodness we are campers) but that is nothing compared to the devastation in Bundaberg and the people living around and near rivers that broke their levies.

My baby girl Miss G started Prep last week.  One a few tears, most while getting her ready and after dropping her off but otherwise she did well.

I have recently opened another shop front for Bits & Bobs 4 Bubs on Etsy which has done well in the few short weeks it was open.

After winning a Mollie Makes magazine from Plushka’s Craft I have been discovering some fantastic magazines from the UK and here at home.

But what about my poor neglected Blog.  Well you will be happy to know that I will be back to my regular posting with a few more thrown in between. 

Now that it’s just me and my little man I can better manage my time.  I’m hoping that I can get a few guest postings happening along with some SPONSORS, drop me an email. And I am hoping to have a few giveaways of my own too!

I have been trying to change the look of the blog again.  Fresh start for 2013.

So once again thank you so much for sticking with me and I promise you want be disappointed.

Always

Jennifer xx

 

LiveJournal Tags: esty,bits & bobs 4 bubs,magazines,mollie makes,handmade living,peppermint,tickle the imagination,the simple things,flood,plushka craft