scrap bunting

Today's guest tutorial is by Rafael.

The scrap bunting

First you pick out your basket of square scraps.

Lift the foot, put your square like a diamond and sew.

When you get to the end, lift the foot and put a new square in. Put the foot down and sew again.

Keep adding squares.

Keep feeding more in until ...

you get a lot.

Then you can hang them up or wear them!



This project has been an easy, successful one for my boy who wants to sew on the machine. And the other thing that makes it a success is my new machine.
I've taught him how to sew on my old machine. It was quite the process of turning the wheel, making sure the needle was always down before you turned the fabric to go around a corner. AND, don't forget to lift the foot first. This time, my machine makes it easier with an option of having the needle end up or down. Every time. So now, he just has to lift the foot and slip the new square in.
Also, the 3 speed variables is great for learning. No worrying about sewing into the fingers with a heavy foot. On the slow setting, the kids can get a feel of the machine and to control the fabric as it goes through. Half way through making 4 of these strings of squares, he increased the speed as his confidence grew.

Another great thing about this project, it is easy and enticing enough for his sister to want to make one for her friend. And while I'm writing this, he's teaching her. ahhhhh, hear that? 2 kids getting along. Creating, sharing, teaching and learning. How nice is that for a Saturday afternoon?

Now, if I can just find something else for them to do. I miss my machine.

ciao,
Amanda

peaceful wishes

With a little help from Stampin' Up stamps and some shipping tags, we made a batch of wishes for 2012.

After our traditional New Year's Raclette of course.

here's the back


This pile o spools and buttons came from a garland a la Martha Stewart. I love thrift shops!

Then we put the spools on. The buttons wouldn't go on with the thick string, so we left them off.

Then we hung them up with out snowflakes. It looks a bit messy, but the kids like to read them and find their wish. We left a few blank to add more when they come to us.

And many peaceful wishes to you for 2012. Thanks for joining me this past year(s) and hopefully more in 2012.
Cheers,
Amanda

Weekend Happenings

G'Day!
it's another beauty here. Any warm days after the middle of October are a gift. It's supposed to get to 15 degrees celcius today. Awesome!
We had a a warmish weekend also. good thing, I was selling my wares at an outdoor venue!
Special hi to all who are visiting here from the Fair! Welcome.
Here is my table. i forgot to bring a few things to add various heights to the table. It's rather flat, but tons to look at.

I made a batch of mittens that went like hotcakes. it was just enough chill in the morning before the sun came around the building to want cosy mittens. This is my almost empty basket. I should have taken a picture before to keep the ideas for future mittens. I have since scored with some great sweaters and will be sewing up a mitten storm this week. Another craft fair this weekend.

Here are some clothes and doll slings on a line, with the happy teapot bunting.

Here are some money cuffs to be featured later. I adapted a lunch money cuff from A lemon Squeezy Home

And lastly, Halloween!
Neve decided on 2 costumes to play with. The first is super woman. She has red and gold hairspray in her hair. You could hardly see it, but she was excited just the same. This was for the school-indoors.

For outside, she was a wizard. A few layers went under this costume. And Rafael wanted to be Mario. Homemade is good enough for him. The mustache was attached with 2 sided carpet tape. Let's just say that we learned to make it a little less sticky before applying to the face. ouch. Last year, he was Alvin the chipmunk. Next year, he wants to be an Angry Bird. Lord help me!

And when the Mario is in the washroom, the wizard goes into disguise!


must make some mittens....
thanks for stopping by,
Amanda

Teapot Bunting

This was whipped up for a little party decoration. It was a tea party, hence, the teapot.

I searched for a teapot on Google image and pasted it into InDesign. There may be other ways to enlarge it, but this was the easiest I could think of. Can't waste precious time trying to figure such things out when there is sewing to be done! The original teapot was more wide than tall, so I rotated it to be on the paper sideways and stretched it out. Just right for a triangle bunting.

Instead of cutting the triangles with my straight edged rotary cutter, I used a scalloped edge blade. Softens it up a bit.

The doilies came from Ikea. I knew I would find a use for them.


It was a warm, sunny day. 25 degrees Celsius. A gift really. It was enjoyed.

Cheers,
Amanda

Bits of love

Bits of love around the house today...


This garland and a super easy way to make multiples is found at Betz White


There were hearts left over, so rafael had some fun stringing ornaments and putting them around the house.
On the bathroom door...

On the lamp...

On the speaker...

And bits of love on the chair...

Have a good one,
Amanda

Nature bunting

My friend Michelle is finally getting some "stolen moments" from her growing children and is finding her way in the crafting world. She made this bunting for her son's bday.


I love her stitching.


Cutie owl




The stitching on the back is almost like the front.



And this itty bitty hedgie....


Isn't it just wonderful to look at. Drink it in.

THanks for looking,
Amanda

bits and pieces

So here are some happenings around here...
A post at
mama from the hive reminded me that I made these eye spy bags last spring. So this summer, I've been on the look out for tiny things at yard sales. I got 3 good bags out of it.

Eye spy with my little eye, a spiderman...


See those felted stars under the tools? More to come... just trying to figure out how to attach them to the stick.


Here's a shot of the batik bunting i made. Still have a few more to paint, but I wanted to get it up for the party. what a lovely party.


And I googled the solution for these massive bubbles. Such fun. And to see the cars at the intersection stop a little longer to watch the next batch come out.

Great day at the beach today. I got burned. silly me. Summer is a slipping away.

have a good one..
Amanda

Glue pictures---help!!

I had this pile of canvas circles given to me. They came from the Tilley factory. You know, Tilley Endurables?
ANyhow, I wanted to make something special with them. A bunting, but what kind? I decided on the glue batik look. Can't remember where I saw it. it was a few places. Big plans of having the kids draw the pictures in glue. Then I imagined having to wait another day before painting. No thanks, SO I did them up myself when they were in bed. Smart mama.

Aren't they purdy?

Today, we got out the paints, found brushes and got to work.


Here's Neve's work. She was so focused on it with a tiny brush. Then she wanted to do the grass and sky like mine. So cute.
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Here's mine. But can you see the problem? The glue is not coming off. What is the problem? What kind of glue do you use?

I used cheap dollar store stuff that I had on hand. Should I have used a more expensive glue? Would it have stayed in a string instead of sinking in to the canvas? We painted 4 canvases and spent too much time trying to peel the glue off with tweezers. So I'm going to call it a fail and use the back side to try it again. After I hear from you on what glue to use. Glue gun?

Here's my favorite magazine of late... check it out.


one more day to enter my giveaway pass it on...

thanks for looking,
Amanda