notes on totes

Earlier this year I decided that I wouldn't be applying for the Auckland Art and Craft Fair this year. I've decided (although I secretly already knew) that a production line of crafts or crafting just wasn't/isn't for me. I enjoy the process of making, coming up with an idea, seeing if I can do it and of course the actual making. I don't enjoy then making the same thing over and over again. No fun.

To be honest all the things I make take too long to actually make any money from them anyway, if I was to charge out an hourly rate, it would be cents not dollars. So why would I put myself and to be honest my family through all that market build up at such a busy time of year?

 I do however love making the connection with my customers, meeting blog readers, but there are other ways of doing that.

I have started to list some of my stock in my Felt shop, I'll list more over the coming months too. Once it's gone, it's gone and I have no plans to make any more. So with that in mind, if you've been after one of my embroidered linen notebooks, now is your chance!

Today I listed a couple of tote bags I made over the Summer. The bleach technique I used to make these totes, I tried to replicate on some more denim and it just didn't work. Reinforcing  my belief that the "production line" is not the crafting life for me.

for notes

My Felt shop has been stocked with a bunch of my embroidered linen notebooks. Made using pre-loved vintage linens, working around the stains and holes. I particularly love how the front and back covers form a little pocket that you can tuck notes and receipts etc, very handy. The notebooks are a standard size so the cover can be used over and over again, I love that too, reduce, reuse, recycle and all that. I always keep one in my bag, perfect for jotting down all sorts of notes, but if I'm honest it's mainly used for the kids to draw pictures if we ever have to wait anywhere. The make a great gift too - not too bulky for sending overseas or locally for that matter.

ornamental

Thank you for all the well wishes, this virus is still hanging around, but I'm pretty sure we are all a bit better than yesterday.

I've finished a bunch of the Pohutukawa decorations that I started yesterday, I had a few sneaky minutes using my sewing machine! I cut some into circles and others I left as rectangles. I sewed some red cotton thread into the tops, rather than loops, so they could either be hung on a tree or tied onto presents - versatility is key! They are listed in my new felt shop! You can find the link on the top right of this page. But don't go rushing there yet, despite having a previous felt shop I've still got to have my first 5 listings verified before they go "live".

I've got quite a few things I want to list over the next week, I'm trying to pop some of my market stock in there, for all of dear blog readers who can't make it to my local markets. So keep an eye out for a special giveaway hosted by a dear blogging friend over the next few weeks!

My local op shop has a few Christmas treasures out at the moment, most of the stock is newish (from China) and not that inspiring. But I did find a box of vintage glass baubles (just one missing) for $0.50 and a cute crochet Santa and a vintage angel! I'm actually looking for some wooden ornaments to make something a little like this, but I haven't had any luck so far.

for warmth

My miss E doesn't seem to want to wear anything warm. I am always worrying that she isn't warm enough. Yes we live in Auckland where the weather is mostly quite mild over winter, but it can get cold on our walks to preschool in the morning. I am hoping that this cardi will change her mind. I made it from a thrifted jumper, added some needle felted flowers and a snap to hold it closed hidden in the middle of one flower. I didn't have much jumper to play with so the sleeves ended up shorted than I had hoped but it's actually a good thing for preschool where sleeves just get in the way.

a gift

About a year or so ago my mother had a large tree trimmed on her property with all that trimming came a tiny birds nest. Miss E keen to also have a little nest of her own has been looking out everywhere. On all our walks we have been looking, wishing and hoping that we would come across one of our very own, but with no luck. I started to think that maybe I could make one to satisfy this urge.

I had a pair of linen pants from the thrift store that I had in my stash. Cut a leg into a strip and crocheted a little nest shape. I wove silver birch fallen branches in and out of the crochet and them sewed some around the outside. I lined the nest with some florists moss (that was quickly discarded by miss E and hasn't been put back in, apparently "it doesn't need it mum"). I needle felted a few little eggs, I thought about doing some little papier mache eggs too but the needle felted ones were a quick option.

So it is now very much loved, I was asked "did a bird give it to you for me?" I wish I had thought about making one much earlier.

for a little boy

I made this quilt for my little one year old as a birthday present. I made this wigwam for miss E for her first birthday so I thought another big sewing project was in order for mr A. It's made from thrifted jeans and my old cast off jeans, men's shirts were used for the backing side and the batting is a thrifted woollen blanket. The blanket was queen sized and marked as a dog blanket (suitable only for a dog to sleep on I imagine) for only $3. There were a few small marks and a couple of small holes but nothing I couldn't work around especially as I was cutting it all up into squares, I couldn't believe my luck. The whole thing cost me around $20 with nearly half of that price the thread. I used the ruffle quilt pattern again, mainly because it's so easy and I'm scared to try any actual quilting. It's really warm and I made it a generous size, would fit a single or a double. I tried to keep some of the "architectural" details of the jeans, like pockets. I think there are about 10 pockets sewn randomly around the quilt for hiding little treasures in, note to self - check pockets before washing! I hope that it is built to last a lifetime and will be treasured for years to come.

In other news, I'm having a summer sale in my Etsy and Felt stores check them out.

silver stars

I did a little update at my felt and Etsy shops. I added these sterling silver stars that I mentioned here. Hopefully I'll find time to do a few more updates in the coming weeks.