Friday Create Along, well sort of.

Posted on January 27, 2012 by SewTara| 3 Comments

Okie so here’s a post that probably falls under the ‘bad blog etiquette’ category, but oh well. I’m not done yet. Along with report cards and just a plain busy week I also have the lame excuse of devoting oodles of time to a M.I.A. Create Along project. Remember these slippers? Well I’m not a crocheter but I thought ‘how hard can they be?’. Turns out pretty stinking hard when you’re not really a crocheter!

Here’s how far I was on those slippers by Sunday night.

Yeah, over a month after ‘assigning’ them as a project! Monday I managed to get a 3rd sole done. Yeah a 3rd! These lovely things need 4 soles so they’re all soft and squishy for your feet. Trust me I debated leaving it at only 2 but I figured if I was working this hard on these things I was going to make darn sure I’d be wearing them until they fell off my feet in tatters!

I’ve spent about 12 hours on them so far. 12 hours painstakingly counting and redoing = 3 soles. *sigh*

Onto last weeks assignment. Today I got together with a friend and cut out 36 pieces to make the alphabet A-Z and some for numerals 1-10. 36 8 x 8 pieces and 36 5 x 5 pieces are ready to go. Sadly they aren’t assembled yet.

Allow me to forge ahead and add on a project for this week (it appears I’ve got some sewing to do this weekend!). I ordered some vintage hankies yesterday while browsing around Etsy and some were from this shop. She sent me the link to her very new blog but I love this sachet tutorial. I’ve got a pile of lavender left over from my eye pillow project and this will be a great way to use them up. Plus they’ll make nice little gifts for some lovely ladies and they’ll use fun scrap bits too!

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Posted in createalong, uncategorized

Checking your Etsy activity feed? Danger! Danger!

Posted on January 26, 2012 by SewTara| 1 Comment

I swear every time I look over to the left hand corner of my Etsy page and see that number and decide to click on the activity feed I end up swooning, favouriting, loving or buying some item. Today I clicked on it and found this fun shop. It was Janee’s fault (it often is, I swear she lives to fave items!). The shop is called Octopurse, I mean how great is that!?

Not only are the fabrics and purse frames great but she seems to be a wonder at fabric placement. I sew with scraps or pieces from swaps a lot so I’m usually trying to make the most of the piece. Making magnets I’m saving the smallest pieces possible. The purses are super cute and the placement of the design is just fantastic. Click the images to be whisked away to the listings.

This one just kills me it’s so awesome.

And the other side.

I can make really cute coin purses too. Just sayin’

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Posted in fun finds

I won!

Posted on January 25, 2012 by SewTara| 3 Comments

I’m still a tad in shock. I’m not one for running all over and entering giveaways, unless it’s something I really like. Sometimes I’m just so behind in my RSS I miss the fun all together. Well this time, let me tell you, I’m super glad I went and entered because I won!!!

What did I win you may be asking . . . I can barely bring my self to type it I’m so thrilled, an embroidery hoop masterpiece from Lucky Jackson!!!!!

And I get an email saying go to the shop and pick one. Pick one. Seriously, how!?

Lookit these things? They’re fantastic.

People wonder how I have time to create so many things, I’m following patterns, or making 10 at a time, or spending 1 day madly crafting and not touching it again for a week. This lady makes one of these things every single day. I’m amazed. And then she says “how weird is it you won and I’m a fan of your blog?!” I love the handmade community.

You can see the works so far here in this Flickr pool.

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Posted in embroidery, fun finds, repurposing, scraps, sewing

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I’ve been making hexies.

Posted on January 24, 2012 by SewTara| 2 Comments

Like a lot.

They’re ridiculously addictive.

I was inspired by Rachel’s hexie kit I stumbled upon while Googling hexies and sort of put one of my own together. I thought I had a punch but it appears I have every shape but a hexagon, it figures.

The pouch houses all my hexie worthy scraps, scissors, thread and the paper pieces. Then I keep my other scissors (why two? who knows) in the other container and plunk the finished hexies in there. I had a bunch that I’ve already sewn together but they’ve already moved down to my production area (aka corner of the basement).

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Posted in repurposing, scraps, sewing

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Please, meet some lovely ladies.

Posted on January 23, 2012 by SewTara| 1 Comment

Here’s a little bit about this month’s sponsors, I also asked everyone what they were pumped about for 2012.

Meet Vanessa!

I share a bit of everything on my blog. . .sewing tutorials, photo tips, digital freebies, pattern reviews, giveaways, etc. I’ve also got my etsy shop, {lbg studio}, where I sell stuff like camera strap covers, accessories, and sewing patterns.

My biggest goal for this year….to publish more sewing patterns! It’s a lot of work but pretty rewarding when it’s all said and done. I also want to continue working on my photography skills because I just can’t seem to put my camera down and continue to work on improving the ol’ blog.

Check out the shop and her boards on Pinterest.

Here’s Brianna!

The One Year Lease is a repository for the things that inspire me and bring me joy in life- art, photography, crafts, food, and, most of all, my family. Life is full of incredible moments. I hope to capture as many of them as possible.

Last year was such an amazing year with our daughter finally joining our family that I can’t imagine 2012 will be able to hold a candle. Still, with so many possibilities in the world, I am looking forward to finding adventure with our little family in the year to come.

Say hello to Katrina!

My name is Katrina Nixon a born & bred Londoner who as described in the words of my fiance a super hyper eccentric, fabulous vintage loving dudette!!! I would have to add who LOVES dresses & fashion in general, sewing, Tea and Cake :) My little blog is all about sharing the things I love with like minded people.
I started my blog in May 2011 as a way of sharing things I like & talking about things I love which of course includes fashion, high street & Vintage. I also love sewing and once I have completed my dissertation in May 2012; I definitely will be posting more projects.
I have met some amazing people though it, I love the community online, everyone is really nice. I have some up coming projects which I am working on with a fellow blogger, I can’t wait to share as soon as details are confirmed.
The event I am looking forward to the most is 2012 is my wedding :) !!! YAY!!!
The venue is booked, the dress is purchased… now all I need is a Fiance :) ….only kidding I am marrying my best friend and boyfriend of 7years Roberto. So excited!

Check out her blog.

And Janee once again!

Yellow Bird + Yellow Beard is a place where I post my work and inspiration. It’s a creative outlet to keep me going. I hope you’ll come join me!

I’m looking forward to moving in June! Not sure where to yet though… EEE!

Check out her shop, Twitter and Facebook.

And of course it would be awesome to share some corner of my blog with you too! If you’re interested head over here for details.

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Posted in fun finds

Friday Create Along

Posted on January 20, 2012 by SewTara| 8 Comments

Well once again I have slightly deviated during the following of a pattern, it’s how I roll. I had a great time making this great convertable clutch from LBG Studios! I hope someone played along too. I couldn’t decide between 2 fabric prints so I actually cut out the pieces for 2 clutches but only got to sewing the one together.

I planned on taking photos of it since yesterday was a nice sunny day and of course my camera batteries were dead. Today was a snow stormy blizzard filled afternoon so my pictures are so-so. I used this great seahorse fabric I stumbled upon a little while ago. It was probably something Keyka Lou mentioned on her blog and I ran off to buy it.

Here’s the little addition I made, I added D rings inside to allow for a stap. I’m not much of a purse kinda gal but I love totes and bags, especially if they can be worn cross body. Now I have the option of using this as a tote with a cross body strap.

Next up let’s try this wipe container repurposing into a fun game for kids. I’m going to make one with letters on it for my classroom. I’ve also got a fun idea for a numbers one too, we’ll see if I get that far. I’m excited about this one because it will be a chance to use up some scraps and also to get my Cricut out for some more fun.

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Posted in createalong, sewing

Why I sew all sorts of things.

Posted on January 18, 2012 by SewTara| Leave a comment

I like to try different things with sewing, I find I learn something. Sometimes it’s a big Ah Ha moment other times it’s just a neat little trick. I picked up this panel of fabric at Fabricland for something ridiculous like $4 a few months ago. My aunt is a big Elvis fan so I figured I’d make it for her. When I sat down to sew it I figured it was a no-brainer, cut and sew.

*Ignore the cat chasing a ball of paper and the big garbage bag in the background.

It was really simple but they used this neat way of boxing the bottom corners of the bag but folding the bottom all accordion like before stitching it. So I learned something new. Plus my aunt was all happy.

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Posted in fun finds, sewing

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My infomercial for the week

Posted on January 17, 2012 by SewTara| 1 Comment

Usually I’m a tad behind in my Google reader, and I end up missing some fun sale, or giveaway or contest or something. But it was my lucky day when I was on Twitter and saw Keyka Lou say she was having a sample sale for a laptop sleeve.

Now I already own most of her patterns, but I didn’t have a laptop sleeve and could totally make myself one, but this fabric was cute and it’s made by someone I admire so much. Of course I had to buy it!

The photos are Michelle’s, they’re way better than I can take right now in the scantily lit Canadian winter.

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Posted in fun finds, sewing

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DIY fabric covered wooden brooch

Posted on January 16, 2012 by SewTara| 4 Comments

One of my goals is to accessorize more and while I have bought a few things here and there I figured I should also make my own pretty things.

You will need:
- a scrap of fabric
- a wooden cut out
- glue gun
- pin back
- scissors
- Modge Podge or white glue

Trace your wood shape on the wrong side of your fabric. If you have a special part of the pattern you want to capture make sure you’ve placed it in the right place.

Spread Modge Podge on the wooden piece. Cut out the fabric and place it on.

Plug in your glue gun and add your pin back with a little blob of hot glue. You may need to trim excess fabric from places with small scissors or an exacto knife.

Next have someone around to take a finished photo for you because propping a camera up on items and hoping for a good shot is very hit and miss.

You get the idea.

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Posted in DIY, other crafts, scraps, tutorial-ish

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Friday Create Along

Posted on January 13, 2012 by SewTara| 2 Comments

Ok I’m not entirely caught on on previous projects. I’ve still got my slippers to crochet and my little sewing thread/scrap catcher thing to make but I did get to this lovely embroidery. And I’m sure glad I did.

I did some things differently, mostly because I was sickly on the couch and didn’t want to get up for anymore colours or to Google a certain stitch . . . I mean I took some artistic license.

I was pumped to try the whipped backstitch but my outer circle ended up a tad wonky so I decided to go around another time in an effort to even it out. Thanks to Nicole for having such an awesomely cute pattern. I proudly showed my hubby “Look!” and he looked and said “What is it?” and even as I started to answer I realized how silly it was sounding in guy speak, “It’s a hedgehog! In a tea cup! Floating . . in the water . . . nevermind.”

So onto this week’s project, the convertable clutch! The PDF pattern is available here on Etsy or here directly from the LBG site. And of course I do have 1 to give away. The lucky winner is . . . .

Ellen!!! (email sent!)

So congrats and I hope you have time this week to get sewing!

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Posted in createalong, DIY, embroidery, sewing