'Birds & Bees' cushions in Homespun magazine

I was still celebrating the publication of my first project with Homespun magazine when they asked me if I would be interested in designing and making a pair of cushions for their February issue, which has a 'Birds and Bees' special, a cute take on Valentine's Day. Would I?!



I really enjoyed making these whimsical cushions. One in the shape of a bird in a cage, and the other in the shape of a bee hive. They have linen fronts and coordinating fabric backing (birds on one and a honey comb on the other), and the fronts of the cushions are hand-embroidered and appliqued.



There is a full tutorial on both cushions with step by step instructions and images demonstrating each technique used in their construction, as well as a little profile piece on me and my Down Grapevine Lane and crafting journey.

And there you have it. My 'birds and bees' special for this year. Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Happy, happy birthday

Down Grapevine Lane is one! My third baby is practically a toddler now... It has been such a busy year but when I look back at all the things I created since starting on this journey I can't help but feel proud. What started as a spare-time hobby has turned into a full time job now. Thanks to every one of you for following my blog and helping me live my dream - doing work I adore and enjoy so much that it doesn't feel like 'work'!

To mark the occasion, I set about making something I have been lusting over for a while - a cupcake pincushion.



I found a free pattern on Ravelry, and sat down one evening with my hook and yarn, aiming to have my coveted pincushion ready in an hour. Not to be. I finished the base and it didn't look anything like in the photos. Nooo! There was a new stitch (back post double crochet) that I had never used before so I thought I must have got that wrong. Not a problem, easy to fix. Google 'bpdc', watch a few You Tube videos, start the base again. Aha! I have to turn the whole thing inside out after I 'turn' in round 3! Finish the base, compare against the pattern image - looks even worse than my first attempt. Getting seriously frustrated now (and it's already bed time). Start again. This time, when I came to round 3, I just ignored where it says 'turn', slip-stitched to join, and kept on following the pattern - and finally! It looks right! I have since discovered it's most likely a typo in the pattern, as others had the same problem as me. Ha!



The dome on mine is a bit higher than in the pattern, I just kept going in the round a little more. And added a rose and a couple of leaves on top (I just made these up myself but there are many patterns on Ravelry for similar).

Such a gorgeous pattern and it really takes no time at all (as long as you remember to ignore that 'turn' in round 3!)



I thought Down Grapevine Lane and its owner deserved a bit of a birthday treat too, so I ordered some Zakka supplies I have had on my wishlist for way too long. I keep a 'Wishlist' board on Pinterest, in the vain hope that, one day, my hubby will remember to check there when looking for a present for me. But he keeps forgetting, so I will just buy them myself then.

Here is my haul - three Zakka books with so many cute projects to choose from, and by some of my favourite bloggers too! I also got some cotton tape and some cute Japanese animal fabric that will make the cutest patches.



Last but not least - a delightful scrap bundle from my new favourite Etsy shop Billycottonshop (which seems to have free shipping all the time!). I am so in love with some of these prints, such a shame the shop doesn't seem to have any yardage left! I haven't quite decided what I am going to make with these scraps yet - patchwork for sure, but what? Any suggestions?

Sweet strawberries

We have been in a strawberry mood in our house lately. My kids can't get enough of them and I have been drawn to them in a big way for inspiration. Everywhere I look there are strawberries - Pinterest, fabric prints, my favourite blogs, even specials on strawberry jam at my supermarket! Something had to be done.

Remember the hexagons from last time? This is what they have turned into. The backing for a felt needlebook. With a super-fussy-cut strawberry applique front.



I used this tutorial by Amy from Nana Company (did I mention how much I adore that blog?). 



The page labels have been printed on inkjet-printable fabric - crewel needles, sewing sharps,  tapestry needles, beading needles and so on. The lining fabric is a gorgeous strawberry print that I have been meaning to use for a long time. The felt pages have been trimmed with my scallop pinking shears for a cute finish. I am using the needlebook every day now, I don't know how I survived without it! However I wish I had followed Amy's advice in a later blog post and left the button closure out - it is not really necessary (but a cute touch nevertheless).



My strawberry madness did not end there. We had a crazy heatwave here in South Australia last week - several days above 45C, and on one of those days Adelaide was officially 'the hottest city in the world'.  That day my west facing sewing room was simply too hot to work in despite the air conditioning, so I decided to spend the day making strawberry pincushions in our cooler lounge room. There is a tiny bit of machine sewing involved but most of the work is by hand - perfect for the couch.



These aren't my first strawberry pincushions. Although I loved my first 'strawberry patch' I wasn't entirely satisfied with the shape of the strawberries. So I set about tweaking my pattern and method until I got my strawberries just how I wanted them - not too thin, not too fat, not too pointy, not too squat. I think they are delightful, and a great way to keep a momento of my favourite fabrics.



If you would like me to blog my pattern and a tutorial please leave me a comment. Be warned they are addictive - you won't be able to stop at just making one. I set out to make three this time, and ended up with six! You try picking only three of your favourite fabrics - it's virtually impossible if you are a fabric addict like me.



But I have to say, the sweetest of all the sweet little strawberries in my house has to be this one, without a shadow of a doubt.

'Too cute' Mary Janes

My last project for 2013 was a pair of cute crochet shoes for Alice. Not just one pair but two pairs in fact - in aqua and red.



Shoes had been on my VERY long list of projects ever since I learned to crochet last year. I desperately tried to get them finished for her for Christmas morning, but ran out of time. So she got them on Boxing Day instead.



The pattern is 'Too Cute' Mary Janes by Two Sister Patterns (Etsy and Ravelry). They are super quick to make. The red pair was made using a size 4 hook and the aqua pair with a 4.5 hook - you can really see the difference in size with the larger hook. The red pair fits her well now, but considering how much she is eating these days, she will be wearing the aqua pair in no time!



And here is my next project... When I looked at my collage of 2013 makes I realised there was nowhere near enough paper piecing as there should have been. This had to be rectified immediately. So I grabbed my teeny tiny fabric scraps and some 3/4" hexies and settled on the couch with a good movie. Perfect backing for a needlebook perhaps?

Goodbye 2013

I have been looking forward to this for such a long time. A year's round-up in pictures with all the items I have made in my first year of blogging.



This isn't of course everything I have made this year. For a start it doesn't include the 300 odd items I made for my Etsy shop customers, most of them personalised (I like to keep shop 'stuff' separate from blog projects so if you want to see all the hundreds of bunting, dolls, hats, bibs and various other items I have been making for clients, head over to the Facebook page where there is albums and albums full of pictures).

And to fully round up 2013, here is a quick peek at something I made for Alice in this final week of 2013 - a pair of crochet shoes (two pairs in fact, also in aqua). I will show you more photos soon.



To me this was the best part of 2013 though... Watching my kids grow up from babies into two delightful independent little people. It's hard to believe Alexander can now ride a bike and Alice is walking! My husband and I are so proud of them, and of the fact that somehow our little family not only survived this crazy year, but thrived, with lots of special memories.



Thank you so much for being part of my journey in 2013, my very first year of blogging, and I wish you all the very best in 2014. In the words of Allan Chalmers, may the new year bring you all "something to do, something to love, and something to hope for". And something to craft!



Happy new year dear friends!

Jingle bells...

We had a lovely Christmas day here in South Australia on a beautiful sunny summer's day, the kids had a ball opening and playing with their new presents (and in the case of Alice, with all the Christmas decorations), and the adults got to enjoy a rather good bottle of bubbly!



The madness of the present unwrapping and Christmas feast now over, I just wanted to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for all your love and support in 2013. It means so much to me! For those celebrating Christmas, I hope it's everything you could ever wish for!

Tutorial: Gingerbread man ornament

I am back! I am so sorry for my extended absence from this blog - I have only just come up for air after a crazy three months of being busy with my two (very active) young kids, Etsy shop, and life in general. And just in the nick of time to share this pattern and tutorial for a felt Christmas ornament (a tradition I started last year). Last year I made a gingerbread house ornament, so I thought I would keep to the same theme and complement it with a gingerbread man.



MATERIALS:
You will need:
- The pattern (download it from here as a PDF and print it to A4)
- Felt in brown, red, white, and green
- Embroidery thread in colours matching the felt
- A few sequins / felt balls for decoration and a beading needle if you are using sequins (thinner than an embroidery needle)
- Two black beads for the eyes
- 20cm of white ric-rac
- Ribbon or string for the loop on top
- Stuffing material (e.g. Hobbyfill)

STEPS:
1. Cut out each pattern piece leaving a small margin of white paper around the pattern. Pin or staple each pattern piece onto the felt (I personally prefer to staple rather than pin, as I find pins distort the felt/pattern, but it's a personal choice). Cut each piece out of the felt, using the small curved scissors for smaller shapes like the eyes and bow
2. Applique the red felt buttons onto the front body piece. Embellish with a sequin held in place with a small glass bead (optional).
3. Applique the eyes onto the face. Stitch the black beads in the middle of each eye.
4. Make the green bow following the instructions in the Easter Chick tutorial. Attach to the front body piece.
5. Cut the ric-rac into pieces approximately twice the size of each arm/leg. Place the ric-rac on the arm and machine stitch it onto the arm. Turn the piece over, fold over the ric rac and secure together with a hand stitch (this doesn't need to look pretty as it won't show once the ornament is finished. You can also cut the excess ric-rac off rather than folding it back in this manner, but ric-rac frays badly when cut, and with this fold-back method you won't get any frayed edges on the arms and legs).



6. Using back-stitch and 6 strands of red embroidery thread stitch a smile on your gingerbread man.
7. Embroider name and date on the back body piece if desired.



8. Put the front and back body pieces together, then starting on one side of the body, and going clock-wise, blanket stitch the two body pieces. When you get to the top of the head make your hanging ribbon/string into a loop, insert into the opening and continue blanket stitching the felt, trapping the ends of the loop inside.  I used baker's twine for the loop but you can use ribbon, packing string, or even ric rac.
9. Continue blanket stitching until you have a 2cm gap on the side of the body, lightly stuff the gingerbread man with your filler material, then finish blanket stitching.
10. Decorate your top candy cane piece with any embellishments you like (I used red felt balls but you can also use sequins or buttons), then blanket stitch the front and back candy cane pieces together. Stitch onto the gingerbread man's hand.

And here we go, a cute gingerbread guy for your Christmas tree!



I am also going to make a gingerbread woman for my little Alice over the holidays - I will add the pattern for it here soon.