A baby gift for a friend

Rather than a traditional baby gift I did newborn photos for a friend. I hope she likes them.

More journals

Jacqueline and I had another "craft day". We both are attempting to craft out of recycled and repurposed items. I made an album out of freezer bags from frozen berries (you know the kind with a ziploc top on them). Jacqueline made a mini album out of a Philipino coffee package and a gardening journal out of the fabric we made out of recycled grocery bags and felt.

Car mat

I made this car mat by using fabric paint to paint the roads. Then I sewed the top to back and I was all done.

Favourite sweater into a journal

I have held onto this sweater for a long time, it was one of my all time favourites. I bought a book on amazon called rebound and one of the patterns called for making a journal with an old sweater. I finally found a purpose for my old favorite sweater.

February 20, 2010-slippers and a banner

Two of my recent projects. The first are slippers that I crocheted from this pattern I did the 9 month size but I did it with a larger crochet hook and I used a chunky wool, so now they fit a kids size 9 foot. They were a little loose and falling off so I sewed an elastic around the ankles. And even though these ones are purple the pattern itself is surprisingly unisex.







This is a happy birthday banner I helped to make. I cut out the shapes and assembled and an acquaintance strung them onto the ribbon.

February 10, 2010-from grocery bags to wallet

Today my friend Jacqueline came for a crafting marathon, we decided to make reusable grocery bags. Inspiration So basically the instructions is to layer several grocery bags in between parchment paper and iron until they are fused together to make a fabric. So we went assembly line style (well as best as possible with only two people) and made a bunch of "fabric". Jacqueline chose to make produce bags and a lunch bag for her hubby. We made one piece of "fabric" with a green department store bag and it was such a beautiful colour I had to make it into something more.

So this is what we started with


And this is what the "fabric" looks like


This is the finished wallet, the entire thing is made of grocery bags, except for the key chain, the zipper and the embellishment on the front (that is done with felt)


The inside


The outside wide open


Oh and the key chain link thingy is from a dog leash that Jacqueline's dog chewed apart.

From scrubs to skirt

I bought these scrubs back before I got pregnant and now they don't fit and I don't really like the style anymore. So I gave them a good wash and figured these would be a great addition to my 2010 challenge.



I have no pattern to share and the steps were really simple. For starters you need a waist measurement. Then I just added a few inches onto the waist measurement for seam allowance and to cause the skirt to gather a bit once I added the elastic.

The first dark purple strip was 4.5 inches wide and 20 inches long and that was the strip that included the waist band. The next strip was 4.5 inches as well and 30 inches long. I gathered the second strip and then sewed it onto the first strip. The third strip was 9 inches wide by 50 inches long and same as the second strip I just gathered it and sewed it on. Super simple and super cute.



Then I needed a matching top to go with the skirt. So I grabbed a simple white shirt I had picked up at walmart at 2 for $6 and appliqued a heart onto it. Now that I know how to applique it looked so much better than my first attempt. The secret is to iron on some very thin interfacing as a stabilizer on the back while you are zig zagging.





And the outfit in action

January 24-birthday gifts

Following with my 2010 challenge I am hoping to also make most of my gifts this year. My mother in laws birthday just passed and I ended up making her a bunch of greetings cards so that she can bless her fellow church ladies etc with nice cards to go with her thoughtful gifts. I included stamps and some nice pens.





A few of my favorites



For my father in laws birthday on February 1st I was having trouble coming up with something. I find it so hard to make gifts for men and he is not the type to wear a sweater. Then it clicked; I made him a pan of cabbage rolls. He loved it. Sorry no photos though.

2010 challenge-knitting

I dyed this wool last summer and used it to knit up a cute little skirty a while back but I still have a lot left over and I didn't feel like knitting more longies etc. And I have seen this scarf all over hyena cart etc. I found the pattern on ravelry here

January 14 2010, a very special girl

A very special girl has a birthday coming up this week. Happy Birthday my sweet girl.

January 13, 2010-Some recents

January 11, 2010-Serenity now

This week I took holidays, I am not going anywhere sunny or exotic. I am staying home and cleaning. I imagine you all are thinking "how lame". But so far I have completely organized my room, the hallway closet and Miss C's room. I cannot tell you the sense of calm I am already starting to feel. That is the reason I took the time off work, while I was at work all day I would fret about the house and all the things I needed to do. I am hoping if I really get things organized around here I will be more calm and organized in other areas in my life. Wish me luck!

Not Perfect

I finally finished the quilt that I started in the fall for Miss C. Her most favorite blanket is one she received as a baby gift, it is made of pink and purple flannel. It was the only one of flannel so I figured that is why she liked it so much. Of course it is getting too small now and she needs a bigger one so I decided to try my best to make a bigger favorite blanket. Here it is all finished. It is no where near perfect but it is flannel and pink and purple and bigger than the last one so it will do just fine. And Miss C seems to love it.