planner
Showing posts with label planner. Show all posts
a few (mostly fabric) additions
One of the things I love about visiting a quilt shop is getting to see fabric collections you've seen online, in real life. I was teaching at Patchfinders the other day and, after ogling City Nights by Lewis and Irene on my laptop, some had to come home with me! It has lovely touches of metallic, just enough sparkle without being too much. I fell for, from left to right: Architectural Blender in copper on light and City Buildings in copper and copper on multi. The copper glistens so beautifully and the colours are totally my style.
While I was at the shop, a local quilting group was meeting in one of the rooms and they were selling Super Snips mini scissors to raise money for the charity Siblings Together. Of course I bought a pair and of course I chose pink. How dinky and cute are they?! Handy that it has an attached cover too. The whole thing measures less than 2".
fabric bookmark tutorial
The theme over at Le Challenge this month is 'reading'. I decided to make a bookmark and I wanted something that would feel sturdy but still look cute! Here's how I made my laminated fabric bookmark...
Supplies:
505 Craft Adhesive
(2) 2" x 7" pieces of fabric
1.75" x 6.5" piece of Aida or thin cardboard
small fabric scraps
Sewline glue pen
paper to cover your work surface
a laminating machine and laminating pouch (optional)
If you would like to create a frayed edge, use a woven fabric and gently pull the threads from the bottom. Repeat on the other piece of fabric and put them together to make sure you have the same amount of fraying.
Spray one side of Aida lightly with the adhesive and stick to the wrong side of one of the pieces of fabric. Spray again and place the other fabric piece on top, right side facing up.
Now for the fun bit, decorate your bookmark using fabric scraps!
Originally I tried to use up some teeny bits of Liberty and make a confetti pattern but it just didn't work as I envisioned.
I opted instead to fussy cut some Liberty print flowers and create a collage...
Which was much prettier! I used embroidery scissors, layered the flowers and stuck them down with the glue pen.
At this point you could quilt over your design, just a few straight stitches will hold it in place, then top stitch around the edges (and above the fraying). You could also zig zag the edges.
Another simple way to finish, that will give structure and make your bookmark more hard wearing is to laminate it. I do like a glossy finish!
Since putting one small bookmark through the laminator felt wasteful I also made myself a little inspiration card to keep in my planner. I used a Project Life card, some washi and stickers.
A little tip - if you are laminating and want rounded corners, use nail clippers to take the points off the corners!
Check out the other finishes at Le Challenge and link up your 'reading' projects for a chance to win great prizes :)
colouring sticker fun!
The Wild Olive patterns and printables are so adorable and I was thrilled to see the Kawaii Christmas Coloring Pages that Mollie released the other day - with a link to another Kawaii Coloring Picture.
In a moment of genius I decided to print them on A4 sticker paper (I got 100 sheets from Amazon
for £4.75) and we have been having so much fun colouring our own stickers!
for £4.75) and we have been having so much fun colouring our own stickers!
I suggest colouring them all first and then cutting out the ones you want to use. The kids have all had a go and it keeps them really busy! After all it's colouring and stickers!! Even my husband had fun (despite the fact I had accidentally printed his on the wrong side so they weren't stickers!).
Here are my colourings (not all done yet)...
I know colouring books are a big trend but honestly it's not my thing, I do like colouring though and the fact I could cut these up and use them as stickers meant I really enjoyed it! I've even put some in my planner already :)
Yes I am a big kid when it comes to stationery. Stickers are my love and kawaii stickers are even better!
You can get the printables at Wild Olive but be quick because they are only available for a short time! Also please be respectful and remember they are for personal use only.
Happy colouring and sticking!
Linking up to crazy mom quilts for finish it up friday
unwound
When life is stressful there's nothing quite like sewing. It got to the point last week where I have had to prioritise trying to relax and getting back to sewing has really helped me unwind.
I finished this Bee A Brit Stingy quilt row for Di:
Di has to take some of the credit for this one because she made all those small butterflies. I added some nine patches and made large butterflies on the ends, the shapes of those wings and the row underneath were inspired by Lori Holt's instagram.
Spurred on by this successful machine sewing I decided to start a new English Paper Piecing project. I have created a pattern and hope it'll work out so I can teach it!
I also got some pretty goodies for my planner, I mean Totoro, Hello Kitty and robots are bound to make me more organised, right?!
Of course I had to have some sewing machine sticky notes too :) These are all from The Idea Owl.
Here's to a productive and tension free rest of the week!
I am really random
First I just have to say a huge thank you to everyone that's already entered my giveaway, I LOVE reading your comments and sorry I can't reply to all the comments during giveaways. I like to ask questions that are positive and since I do read them all I want something interesting and that might make me laugh. Previously I have asked things like 'what made you smile today?', 'who's your favourite muppet?', something about my son having chocolate for his birthday etc. This time round the question is oddly random and I am so pleased you all have just gone with it and I have been laughing so hard. So thank you all for bringing me joy :) and it was husband who provided the inspiration for the random question this time.
I actually haven't done any sewing for a few days, it feels very odd. It's not for lack of mojo, I have been feeling really creative and have written a couple of patterns. Now I just have to find time to make them!
I couldn't live without my planner and I am trying to get through so many things and stay organised. My party of 5 always has so much going on and I have to write everything down (and look at it!) to remember all the stuff!
The weather this week had been gloomy and rainy (not complaining, rain is my favourite) and our cat Amber has been hanging out inside...
on top of the chest of drawers in the girls room and in the drawer too:
I just posted over on the le challenge blog, with inspiration for the theme 'wood'. We would love you to join us in our creative challenge, just make something based on the theme and link up on the 15th May for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop! It doesn't have to be a big project so head over there to check it out!
Rose Red Woodland Doll pattern by Lella Boutique
Hope you are having a happy week!
diy project life notebook and a kitty needleminder
I've made a couple of little things involving thread and fabric, though there's no difficult sewing involved!
The first is these little notebooks made from Project Life journaling cards. They end up 4 x 3" a perfect size to fit in my organiser / planner and handy to have just to scribble down ideas. I will be using them to keep my sewing and quilting project ideas in!
They were very simple, take one Project Life card (or piece of card that's 6 x 4") and fold in half. I then folded up some regular A4 printer paper and used a ruler to rip it into pieces that measure approx 3.75 x 5.75", I like those torn edges but you could cut the paper if you prefer. I used 10 pieces of paper in each notebook. Fold the paper in half and place inside the card. Using a strong needle, pierce through the card and paper - once in the middle, then make two holes above and below. Take some thread (I used perle), thread your needle making a small knot at one end and stitch through the centre. Stitch through the next hole and then through the one above, you are making a figure of eight essentially... come back through the holes until you are at the centre and then do the same thing on the other side. Once you are back though the centre, make a knot and snip off any extra thread. I decided to clip the corners because they were poking out a bit, you could use a punch or fingernail clippers to make the corners rounded if you prefer.
I decided to embellish them with some cute stickers!
Next I made a needle minder, I have been wanting to make one for ages! I bought some magnets (these are the perfect stength) and a self covered brass button (perfect size for the fussy cut fabric I used):
I popped out the little wire doodad, stretched the fabric over the front, pushing it into the grippers and smoothing the edges then pushed the back on.
I found the most perfect fabric, from Hello Petal by Aneela Hoey because hello?! that's my name printed right there!! :)
It was such a simple make and took about two minutes to do. Blob of super glue to stick one of the magnets on the back and done! I need to be getting back to some embroidery and cross stitching so I can use this baby.
I recently got a haul of zips, some felt and some cute twine from Rickety Rose Crafts - great selection and excellent prices - this should keep me going for a little while (though I might need more peach, pale green and gold zips because I love them so!)
Wishing you all a happy weekend and do pop back Monday because there's a giveaway brewing ;)
Linking up:
run down
**be sure to enter my Cotton + Steel bundle giveaway HERE**
It's that time of year when things get a little crazy, the to do list is never ending and it seems everything has to be done yesterday...
Or should have been done last month, like these ridiculously late bee blocks I finally sent to Helen today:
.jpg)
So sorry they are late Helen and I do hope I pressed them correctly!
Today I woke up feeling totally yucky and really run down. No fun at all but I listened to my body and slowed down a bit, which meant lots of snuggles and reading time with the little one:
She loves picking out books and wearing her crazy cardigan (knitted by my mother-in-law's friend). She adores the hello kitty buttons and I love that she looks like a little chick ;)
Today I got the cutest stickers that I ordered from The Reset Girl Shop, perfect timing to keep me motivated and organised.
They are gorgeous quality and so well made that I may have just placed another order, I can't help myself! The stickers are a matte finish, which I really like and they do plain ones for you to write on yourself (yes some of those were in my new order). She also sends them in the cutest packaging that now has me wanting some personalised stationery!
I'm going to go chug some Lucozade and gather the strength to cook tea.
Happy Monday lovelies :)
mixing my interests - le challenge
Since I've developed a stationery addiction along with my sewing addiction I thought it appropriate to 'mix' my two loves and create a home for my pens, washi tape, notes and stickers for this months le challenge.
I totally fell for the 'Fly the Flag' quilt by Katy Jones in Issue 2 of Quilt Now magazine. I love that they look like sticky page flags, so I resized them and used some of my favourite Moonlit by Rashida Colman-Hale, Cotton and Steel prints to make little flags and a cute banner.
The background is the most gorgeous mint fabric that I picked up on a trip to Abakhan, I wish I knew what it was!
So now my stationery has a pretty place to live and I can happily decorate my organiser and get my 'to sew' list under control ;)
We would love you to come and join in the link party over at le challenge, it stays open until 8pm BST on 16th October and you can link up any finished project that fits the theme 'MIX', so long as it has been made in the last month.
One random winner will receive a $25 gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop!
And if you're not already then head over to the le challenge blog, check out the other links and start following us, we have some awesome themes lined up!!
I need to write it down
Thank you to everyone that sent me some 'ade' yesterday to help battle the lemons, I appreciate the kind support :)
I'm deviating from my usual sewing posts to show you a little of my first love... stationery.
September fills me with joy, I'm a natural organiser (though baby brain has trashed that of late), and to quote one of my favourite films it makes me want to buy "a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils" (You've Got Mail). With a brain like a sieve I have to make notes about everything and, even though I've tried the technology method (iphone calender, reminders and the like), the best way for me to stay organised is to write things down.
I've seen the 'bullet journal' system (that Trudi is proficient in!) and it appeals to me but since I already have a organiser that I love it makes sense to me to use that. I have used Filofax organisers since I was a teenager and my very favourite thing growing up was stationery. I still love stationery shops and all things cute and useful. Before I had kids I treated myself to a beautiful Smythson Bijou Organiser, small and perfectly formed. I carry it around with me all the time, it's chucked in my bag daily and it's still looking good. The twist closure is one of my favourite things about it, as well as the gorgeous orange colour. All the rings close perfectly and the original card dividers show no sign of wear or tear, which is pretty amazing.
So armed with my organiser I came up with a way for it to work best to suit my needs; a realistic way for me to keep up to date with what I need to do and my schedule. I came across one of the nicest online stationary shops I've seen, full of gorgeous things at reasonable prices: The Journal Shop. I shopped the sale section and got this cute Mnemosyne note pad, which has graph paper perfect for to do lists! The yellow first page has now been been torn out (and kept because it's nice!) and I love that I can open my organiser and see my 'to dos' straight away.
.JPG)
The only thing my organiser was missing was a 'today' tab/bookmark. I thought about getting a Filofax ruler page marker but they're so boring (I totally would get a clear one if they made them for pocket size though). It was fun to find these cute Midori Arrow Magnet Markers and they work perfectly as tabs at the top of my organiser so I can find the important stuff like what day it is! (...reminds me of Reality Bites where she hasn't used her filofax for years!!). I also couldn't resist buying a super sweet Midori Otegamo Memo Pad, notes that turn into hexies?! Yes please! They also have bows, fish, hearts and more. It also meant I had just more than £10 in my basket so I got free delivery, I love that! The Journal Shop offers free UK delivery on orders over £10 and has free delivery worldwide if you spend £75.
.JPG)
I already had a photo sticker of Fred as a baby on the front of the diary and decided just to go for it and make it more personal with kawaii stickers from this Etsy shop and washi tape. I've been using the stickers as a fun way of adding cuteness to my schedule and to do list.
I adore the quality of the Smythson paper but since I'm not working full time and now have 3 kids there's no way I can justify buying the refills. Instead I have used the Filofax diary refills in the past (the pocket size fits my organiser perfectly) but while googling alternatives I came across the Paperchase own brand refills so I snagged a pocket week to view refill for £4. Total bargain considering it comes with divider tabs, some note paper, graph paper and spare address pages. I'm not using the dividers because obviously I like the Smythson ones and also since I have a pocket size organiser I really don't have space for an agenda, planner and diary (nor time to write all those things?!). Obviously you get what you pay for and the quality of the paper isn't great but it's not terrible either and it will do the job. I really like the plain layout of the pages, not full of holidays etc that aren't relevant to me and I can just add those dates in myself. My organiser also has two slip pockets, which I have kept sweet notes and pictures of family in.
It's early days but I'm hoping to stop scribbling notes everywhere and really use my organiser to the full. By having my to do list in there I might even remember to keep my appointments as well, that is if I can get out of the rabbit hole that is watching YouTube videos of how people organise their organisers... really Lucy get a life!!
*just so you know I bought all this stuff myself and I've provided links should you want to go get yourself some new stationery, this is not a sponsored post.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)