Category Archives: crafty books

Friday Create along

Here are the two Tooth Fairy envelopes I made from this tutorial.

Wesley’s already lost 1 tooth and has another that’s super loose. Nate’s still a while from losing teeth but I wasn’t going to leave him out. Plus I love their faces when they wake up to discover I’ve handmade them something.

Next I’m going to try another project from Zakka Style. This time the sewing kit on page 22. It’s also pictured on the cover.

Friday Create Along

Ok so here’s the tutorial for last week, the little macaroons. I finished mine last night.

It’s pretty cute. It’s also pretty tiny and other than storing or giving rings/earrings I’m not sure what else I could do with it.

I also had a problem, see if you can figure it out.

Yeah, there’s no way I can get the inside pieces in. I might have to get a slightly smaller size. I’m not sure if the fabric I chose for the outside is too thick, it’s a Japanese cotton/linen blend. Or if it’s just all to bulky in there.

But the good news is no one will ever see in there since this is my little macroon and at least it looks great from the outside!

Next up is this charming little brooch. Now this is a great project because it’s hand sewing, uses felt and creates an accessory and that fits with my goal to accessorize more!

Glad I bought it!

I certainly don’t need another craft book, but I’m sure glad I picked this one up.

It’s by Sue Kim and I didn’t even connect that she’s the lady behind I Think Sew, and I certainly didn’t know she lives in Toronto just minutes from me!

See all those cute stickies flagging pages? Yeah, I want to make all those. I’ve got a bag problem . . and a sewing problem . . . *sigh*

I also picked up this one to add to my collection of fabric printing books. Hopefully I’ll get to spend some time reading them someday. I’m dying to get into making my own fabrics.

My zakka style

I mentioned yesterday I got a copy of Zakka Style just before the holidays. So far it has been responsible for intriguing me enough to actually try making hexies (I had an idea for how to use them) and I managed to sneak this project in on Christmas day. You know, between the chaos of presents and packing and leaving for a trip, I had a few minutes to kill.

I wanted to take the book, my idea notebook and some pens with me on the trip. I couldn’t just take them in some silly plain old pencil case, I *had* to make this cute one. Plus that cute piece of fabric has been begging to be turned into something for quite a while.

I’m sort of falling in love with embroidery.

I ordered some books on the subject.

Because I need another crafty hobby to like.

Or more craft books . . . this one came just before the holidays so it went to Belize with me.

Anyone else counting the days?

Until this book comes out?

Indigo or Amazon

And also this one, I want this one baaaaaaaad

Indigo or Amazon

Can’t wait!

Perhaps you’ve heard,

I’ve been published! Like on that paper stuff from real life!

Thanks to Sara for Tweeting about it and sharing an Instagram pic I could steal. Stitch is sending me a hard copy and I can’t wait to see it in person!

I cracked the code

Well sort of. I have this fun Japanese sewing book.

I gave one of the patterns a shot, I figured it was simple enough, but I managed it!

I even had to do some tricky math to scale the pattern because my hardware was a different size from what the pattern called for . . . well I think it was.

I used my fun hippo fabric I’ve had lying around for a while with a scrap swap piece on the inside. I’m super happy with how it turned out.

I’m not sure about how I handled the openings where the snap frame slides in but it works and looks good. Time to try another pattern.

Sewing machine cover

Well I did it again, stayed up way to late but, also again, it was for a good reason!

I made myself this sewing machine cover. I got on a roll and was inspired. I’m in some craft swaps so I was being a bit of an assembly line into the wee hours and working on a few different takes on this general idea.

I took inspiration from I Love Patchwork by Rasida Coleman Hale and Fresh Quilting by Malka Dubrawsky.

I didn’t add any straps or grommets or anything like that to mine, so it just drapes over the machine. I figured that way it’s reusable as a table runner or something else if I ever change my mind. At least it keeps dust off the top.

I love how it turned out! Pardon the poor pictures but it’s hard to take shots in a windowless basement corner. It’s my cozy little nook.

The Workroom, a new to me fabric store.

So Monday night I wandered around Toronto as part of enjoying my first night ever in the history of Mommyhood that the boys were out of the house with daddy for just over 24 hours! Strangely I choose to head into the city for the evening instead of enjoying an empty house. I wandered around and took street cars and subways, had a burrito and walked and walked and walked. But it was all worth it because eventually I arrived at The Workroom.

If you live in/near Toronto The Workroom is a craft and sew place that lets you make use of the studio by the hour. They’ve got sewing machines, sergers, cutting tables and other crafty people hanging around. The exciting part for me was all the pretty fabric they have for sale. Oh and sewing books, and Japanese craft books. They also have Amy Butler patterns, Colette patterns and some other goodies I can’t remember now.

They sell some lovely fabrics and have a whole pile of shelves full of fun fat quarters. Of course I left with some goodies.

There’s also a blog if you want to check out some of the things they’re up to.

Images stolen from here, here and here. I felt silly asking to take pics with my iphone.