Pay it forward

• So here are the rules ( I thought I'd join after entering myself at Peta's blog)
• I will send the first three people to leave a comment on this post a handmade gift within the next 365 days.
• I am willing to post anywhere in the world
• The catch is that you have to have a blog and be willing to do the same thing....
• So if you'd like to participate, then leave me a comment and make sure to leave me a valid email address so that I can contact you for your address, etc.
• So if you're game then go ahead and comment!
• So I'll send to the first three persons with a valid e-mailaddress leaving a comment and posting this "post it forward" on their blog too

drawstring bag

I needed a b-day gift for dd7's friend. As I've already given her with a previous birthday a personalised painting I had to think of somthing else. Something personalised (I like that) and not to intensive to make as I have a time pressure at the moment with a couple of orders and of course wee baby of 1 month.

I let dd draw an animal, paint it with textile paint and then I've made a drawstring bag from it 45cx45cm using orange fabric with white dots. I googled and find this perfect drawstring tutorial made by schetched soul, plain enough for me to follow.

Unfortunately I didn't have time to make it a bit more interesting with applications or reversable or with a quilted backing. This just'll have to do and next time I must start sooner!

Poppies, daisies and corn flowers

A dear internet friend of mine, ordered a bag from me. It is the second time she gives me a theme to paint on a textile bag. The first one was in autumn and this one in The Summer. She said I could take my time and has a lot of patience because it did take some time to get it to her!
she asked me to paint poppies, daisies and corn flowers in a meadow. I wasn't sure if I was able to do that. You see the result and here is the other side:

I've painted it with textile paint (washable) and lined it with gold, black and white on a cotton bag.
It was a joy to paint because I love the flowers she picked, too ;-)

Reversable handbag

I bought these handles at happytex and got a pattern for a handbag for free. I'm still a beginner sewer and had some difficulty understanding the (easy) pattern so improvised. I wrote the shop asking for a bit more detail on the instructions and got very good service. So The next bag I'll follow the added instructions. I'm anyway happy with the way it turned out. I'm thinking of added d-rings to clip my keys on and maybe a chain so it is possible to carry the bag over one's shoulder.

fabric: Ikea

handles:Clover CL-6341

Size: without handles: 62 x 28 cm

sewing hats

I'm terrified of knits,
they seem to have a life of their own
and sewing....well I would love to but need some guts to start
(why does my mom live 10 000kms from me....! Oh maybe because I emigrated)

At the crafty mama's site I'm almost daily confronted with beautiful fabrics and creations sewn by other crafty mama's. Yes, I'll come clear: I do have a fabric addiction.
so.... In the last weeks of my pregnancy there was this sale(always some sale their to have a look at!) at the crafty mama shop and I did a naughty thing and ordered me some knits!
White puppies on a light pink background
White puppies on a dark pink background
Cakes on a yellow background
and mjammie watermellons on a pink background

yes....we have 3 girls at home and I'm not afraid of pink!

The package reached me in a week time (!). Great service (as always) from the crafty mama shop in Australia.
My husband brought me the package in hospital where I was after a c-section. He thought somebody sent me a gift for the little girl...yeah me! hihihi rof lol
So there I was with a cute littlel girl and these delicious knits.

After a week when I got home I was stuck and needed baby hats. One eloped in hospital and the others were too big. Little Avon just had 1 to wear and she desperately needed hats to keep her body temperature up to date. Yes...sadly the summer here turned much too soon into Fall (people from warm countries may read Fall=mid winter)
So..... the alluring knits and so creative mother conquerer pain(c-section) and fears (sewing, knits) to save her baby:

I tried to make a reversable hat but it turned out a hat with a different front and back. I guess so soon after being pregnant my hormones is still deleting logic. I'll try again.

Here Avon is just 1 week old. Isn't she just a super cuty??

Well, the day after I came home the midwife (a veteran guy) came to check up on me and burst out in laugther.
He was supprised that a mother supposed to be in bed got up to sew a little pink hat. My reply: creativity gives energy and that is what a mom needs, isn't it? Of course!

Introducing Avon Florenza

And here she is the little princess...an adorable little girl.
She's very peacefull and has a marvelous head with hair. Will look for some photo's to prove ;-)
Born on 09-09-08

08-09-08

I just came in running to tell you about a giveaway at this fun-to- read-blog of one of the Crafty Mama's. So go here to her blog "may the cloth be with you" and try your luck too for this overcute-I-want-to-have- it! pincushion.

and..... it is my last day looking like this: as I'm phoning at lunch to hear if I have to check in this afternoon or tomorrow morning at the hospital
for the c-section
on 09-09-08. ...! Why am I typing here anyway??
I have to pack "that suitcase"!

August

I'haven't posted for quite some time now though I've been quite creative in August and gotten one year older. I've for one made two necklaces, the fist one I've crocheted with wooden beads and added silver leaves (measuring 96cm all around), making it look like a vineyard in fall. The other one was made in a more African theme with glass beads and measuring 52cm (possibility to lengthen or shorten a couple of cms). For more photo's of these pieces have a look at my flickr photo's

I've also been working on orders crocheting applications and painting panels for pillows, did a couple of swaps by making ATC's and dotee's.

No I have to ease up a bit with the creative juices and the reason is of course to be seen top right on my blog ;-)

My first ATC's

What is an ATC?
It is an Artist Trading Card and you can read all about it here. I've been trying to ignore their excistance but couldn't and decided to participate at swap-bot's First timers for ATCs *International*. One has to make 2 cards for 2 partners to swap, no theme as it is for first timers. I've used stamps from South Africa taken from letters my mom sents me.

I just love my kitchen

By now you've gathered we've moved and oh it was so worth it. I'll be showing some views in and around the house. The house was bombed in WWII and rebuild in the 1950's. It has 4 levels and the 2 lower levels were used for straberry storage. The area we live in is known for its cherry, pears, prunes and apple orchards and strawberry field. It is a house situated on a dyke and the property is between a church (1700's) an old school (occupied by a beautifull artist couple) and a "tree farmer"(can somebody give me the right term?) . The house overlooks a watery landscape, sort of overflow (haven to lot of birds) of one of The Netherlands' trade rivers. As the house was added to over the years it has a lot of character and special corners.

This is part of my Oilily/Douw Egberts crockery

The spot where I'm writing my blog

When I leave my kitchen...

Sewing update

Last week it was raining cats and dogs outside, inside the cats teamed up with (or against) the dog.
The dog thought..." if you can't win them let them join or else get out of your own basket in shame". I think the the black and white bouncer with his expensive coat is using some version of sign language to tell that there is space for no one else... The little ratty catty is trying to stay unrecognisable regardless of the paparazzi catching them in a very intimate setting.

This week the weather looks better and I odly enough I need now to finish the kitchen curtains to keep the midday sun out otherwise it gets too hot.

I've used Dutch Folk print fabric and made it retro with red fabric with white dots.

I struggled with getting everything to align (it is my second try at making curtains in my life), so took a time out and made a silly but very friendly girl. She agreed to pose at a little niche in my kitchen:

I was actually cutting a couple of dotee's and then thought if I add legs and arms it would be a dolly dotee ;-) I've made the limbs so long as little kids just love clutchable softies....only catch is....I'm keeping her! Though I made her very child friendly

What to do with Fat Quaters

I've looked up some tutorials in blogging country:

• Marmadaisy: She has FatQuater friday tutorials!folding tray, Chicken bookends,etc
• The Jolly Jabber: Binding tutorial
• Island Mama: Kid's FQ tote bag
• Crazy Lanea: Sock bag
• Focus on finishing: tuck pillow
• Buttonberry: Posh pick and mix bag and Stash buster quilt
• Dulcinea's Windmill: Fat quater knitting needle roll
• Quilter's jewel: FQ book cover
  
  ok ladies so please please add your tutorials to this post because there can a lot more done with our FQ's
  
  
  ps. Folding your FQ's for gifts/swaps:
• folding fabric fat quarter cuts to the proportions
  of playing cards.
• Folding Fat Quarter Stars
• Fat Quater gift cracker

Using your scraps:

• Cut out and keep:fabric ball necklace
• Skip to my Lou: crayon roll
• Needled Mom: fabric postcards
• Molly Chicken: lavender baby softy and fabric house
• Craf pudding: patchwork sewing basket and a fabric card holder and covered buttons(without kit!)
• Kmel's Grocery bag dispenser

sewing flowers

I'm looking for tutorials on sewing flowers for the girls' rooms, I've already found this really nice one:
Sew Blessed: fabric flower tutorial
PortabelloPixie: Rolled roses
Artsy craftsy babe: Fluffy Flower
Blair peter: fabric flower
Pixie blossoms: fabric flower
Spilly Jane: making round petals
Molly Chicken: fabric flower & Raggy flowers
Sew Blessed: fabric flower
Trufflegirls: fabric flower
Chris's creation: fabric flower
sophie stansfield designs: felt flower
I love to create: fabric rose
wiki how: silk,satin,ribbon rose here on a video clip
Kalamity Kim: fabric roses

Do you have other links or your own tutorial on making a fabric flower? Please add.


and then at crafty pod's a bouqet of links to make flowers from fabric, paper, beads & crocheted: let's make flowers

"We've moved"

I took a pic of our new house

and then drawn in my own style it over, including the birds lol.
Then I've coloured it digitally and let it be printed. I was impressed with the result and addressed all the cards today, sticked a stamp on it and posted it to family and friends with our new address information on it. I wish you can see the cards!

I've previously got a "we've moved" card from a friend with a photo of their house. To congratulate them with their new house I got the idea to draw their house in my typical style and send them a card. They' loved it ;-)
By the way as a gift I crocheted 2 crazy cloths in my friend's favourite colour.

I can make one of your photo too! For 15Euro's I'll send you a digital image you can print yourself or take to a photo or card shop to print it. Let me know ;-)
(paypal accepted)
** 20% DISCOUNT FOR MEMBERS OF CRAFTYMAMAS - which is a free membership!(must have more than 30 posts at forum) **

Gift idea?

DD7yrs went to a party of twins. As usual I'd like to make something and it must be personal but what if you don't have time or energy?

Well, I took 2 simple cottons bags from my stash and added some dotted fabric, Japanese fabric, cute buttons (hello kitty buttons bought at CraftyMamas shop!), ribbons and emboided their names on the bags. I've added a schetchbook in each bag for something extra. The photo's did come out a bit dull. Here is the one bag's pics:


close-up

Bedotted!

via swap-bot i got infected by the Dotee craze and do not want to be cured:

The guidelines for a dotee is more or less it should be around 3 inches, have a "tail", have a (felt,embroided/drawn) face and have a hanging loop. The body can be any form as this is an art doll an you can just go ballistic with embelishments! Read more about the origin of Dotee's and how to make one.


This was for the "any color theme"

This was for the "dotted dotee theme"

This was the pink/orange Dotee

This was the pink Dotee

This was the flower power Dotee

Girls' stuff

ok I've made my 7 today....
(this was 28/6)
This is how I've done it:

At craftymama's this very usefull link (see the tutorial for creating these tutu's)brought me to it:

Per tutu I used:
2m of tule (width 140cm)
Length of tutu 50cm
I used the cheap rough "tule" as they're going to play outside
(If I want to use 3m I'll think it would be best if I make it longer than 50cm)
That worked out at 28knots per tutu
I've
used the thin elastic (I had) and just measured the waist of my girls

the colors as requested by b-day girl dd5yrs, I've used as follow:
2x lilac and pink
1x purple and pink
1x lilac and purple
1x sammon and pink
1x sammon and orange
and te b-day girls got:
3m in total of orange,lilac and pink

I've had enough pink if I get sick now I would throw up in pink I think

I've cut the ends of the strips for my little curl a bit round to create the look of flower petals.

Isn't it lovely

On the 17th my husband and I was married for 9 years.

We didn't plan anything as next year is the first decade celebration and we're in the middle of renovating here.

I decided to make him a very nice dinner as his love is definitely influenced by what goes in his stomach

I made his favourites

• fresh spinach cooked and dressed with gorgonzola and sliced boiled eggs


• endive (boiled) dressed in a jacket of ham and then topped with a white cheese/ham sauce, crumbs and old cheese and in the oven


• oxtail stew with brown button mushrooms


• mixed chopped baby lettuces (don't know their English names but more than just butter and ice) with balsamic/garlic vinaigrette and chopped baby radish

He didn't expect it an dived into the dinner and luckily I didn't make any starter and only bought a Ola Viennetta ice for dessert.

Husband came home with this beautiful large bouquet with lilies(5 different ones), which are my favourite and was in my wedding bouquet and and 2 poppy seed things (I adore poppies). The special thing was also the agapanthus which is called here in The Netherlands South African Lily ooooooooooh I had to cry! A pity the photo isn't that good.

Oh and I'll show you my WIP crochet blanket I'm making for baby nr.3. I've decided to add 10 more blocks, 5 on each sides before bordering it and adding picots

Baby boy born!

I was flattered when asked to design a announcement card for a baby born by a couple who also asked me to design them a wedding card. I'll post the card some other time.

As a gift a painted the card (to be framed) with textile paint on cotton and embroided to give it a 3d look instead of using my usual liners.

Earth toned Granny Squares

Man! I've finished it, 18 10' granny squares , that is 25,5cm squares.
Here they all are as prove

They're packaged and ready to be sent to the US