Category Archives: scraps

Creative Bug class.

I was hanging around last night with some people, mostly just to be in the company of others. They were geeking out with various games, roleplaying things and such and I was just happy to be out and about. I actually got to a lot of things I’ve been meaning to do. Things I wouldn’t have sat down and done at home, I would have let myself get distracted by chores and such.

I watched some Craftsy classes, I read some of my online magazines and I watched a Creative Bug class. I watched this fun bracelet making class while I was out and then got home at around midnight, put the kettle on and started to find the fabric I wanted to use so I could take the project with me to embroider. But then I got inspired and decided to quilt together scraps and make my bracelet out of those.

When I tried to insert a fun snap I discovered my bracelet was too thick. I chose a thick interfacing so note to self not to do that next time, but also I think the quilting, depending on where you had seams, would effect the snap being able to work too. I had to resort to velcro, but it still works. I was going to add a fun wooden button to it too but I think that would make it too bulky. Can’t wait to give another one a try.

Now of course my favourite section is the sewing classes, but there are lots of fun other classes to watch too.

And yes, I write notes on my hand. Had to remember the mall and berries today. It was super important.

Fabric swap anyone?

Ok I’m sooo ready for this.

I think I’m so ready that I’ll play twice.

Fine print –

– scraps must measure at least 2 inches by 2 inches, there is no maximum size but it is supposed to help you destash your scrap bin so sending fat quarters probably won’t help with that.

– scraps must be unwashed, clean, and in usable condition

– fabrics should be of relatively the same weight, cottons/linens/light canvas so allow for quilting or use in the same project

– be able to send 10-ish ounces to your partner mailed by May 27th

Leave a comment with your blog or email and I will match us up on Monday May 20th and send an email to you and your swap buddy.

Magnet oops giveaway.

So I mentioned making magnets and sometimes while crafting things go a bit wrong.

These lovely magnets are indeed, lovely, however they have a few bumps and bruises.

A few have spots on the back where the fabric didn’t quite catch in the button machine. And while this doesn’t effect the look from the front, or the fact it’s still a magnet they’re a touch substandard for selling. Soooo I’ve decided to do some clearing out and give them away. They’ll be fine holding things onto magnetic surfaces and with normal use. If you start poking at that little sticky outtie bit of fabric it’s going to fray and possibly peel off the magnet.

So if you would like to win either the 7 little magnets or the 7 big magnets leave a comment below! I will choose 2 lucky people and get them mailed out next week. Leave a comment before Friday, March 22nd. I’ll draw the winners on the weekend and send the emails!

Magnet crazy!

Well I went a little nuts over the March Break making and packaging magnets.

It was easy work, sick just time consuming, buy cialis and it resulted in me taking over the kitchen table many times while the kids played with friends or came in for a game or snack.

I just used some little baggies and cut some cardstock to fold over and staple. Then I use a MOO sticker to cover the hideousness of a staple. Pretty simple and easy. Now I just need to order more stickers. I use the MOO MiniCards for giving away SewTara magnets, case price tags and just usual business cars. I love their stuff.


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Since it’s March Break and I have a 10 day stretch of no school I’ve been taking over parts of the house.

The kitchen table has fallen victim the most.

I’ve been working on small projects, hair clips and more magnets. If you follow me on my Instagram I’ve been moving around and creating various things.

Haven’t really hit the sewing machine yet since that’s in the basement and at least, even if my nose is buried in my crafting, I feel like I’m there for the kids. They’ve been enjoying the break by playing wii, having friends over, mastering Angry Birds on the iPad . . We have also hit swimming, gone for walks and hit indoor play places. So I’m going to say the break isn’t going too badly so far!

Pretty fabrics

I splurged and got myself some fun Japanese fabric scraps the other day from this shop, physician Beautiful Work.

They arrived ridiculously quick. All the way from Japan.

I love how I can mail a cup cozy to the US and it takes ages to arrive but fabric from Japan got to me in just under a week.

Silly postal mysteries.

Did you hear?

Michelle Patterns are all on sale for $5!

I know I rant and rave about this lady and her stuff all the time, but yeah I’m doing it again. Also, how appropriate I post this the same week as my digital hoarding post.

Fun Fabrics

I was asked recently by My Girl Thursday to share my sources for the fun fabrics I have. She says she has the bug now, if you kind of sort of like fabric I’d leave now because you’ll be totally addicted to hoarding it after this post. Almost all of mine comes from Etsy shops so I’ll share some of my favs with you. Sometimes I just do a search for scraps, but my brain gets confused with number crunching the prices and shipping combos and I usually head back to the stores I know.

I’m addicted to cutesy Japanese prints. Boqinana has great stuff. It’s so hard not to fill my cart with ribbon after ribbon after ribbon. This store is also full of some great fabrics.

This and That from Japan . . . well the store name says it all. Sadly on vacation at the time of posting this but check back, it’s totally worth it. They carry great fabrics, supplies and craft books. Pages and pages of awesome I tell you!

The Hey Day Shop has fun fabrics and usually has a selection of scrap packs to choose from.

I’ve ordered from The Dainty Squid’s destash store before, not sure if it’s still up and running.

The only place I’ve been able to find fun Japanese fabrics in person is at Quilt A Bag in Markham, which is only good to know if you live nearish to there. The ladies are lovely and they carry a lot of Japanese craft books and supplies for projects, coin purse frames, handles, cute ribbons, Japanese craft books. They attend the Creativ Festival in October and carry a lot of great kits with everything you need to finish the project.

I’ve ordered vintage fabrics from Pink Fawn Designs before. While it’s pretty easy to find vintage linens if you go thrifting you can expand your collection, handy if you have a certain project in mind, and not have to use the entire sheet you bought on the one project.

Starlit Nest has packs sorted by designers, themes and even offers a big ole flat rate box deal. Shop 4 Craft has some great wooden buttons, if I’m just in the mood for buttons I go there if I have a hankering for fabric I’ll hit one of the shops that carries fabric AND buttons and get all splurgey.

For snaps I go to Cowgirl Snaps. When I found this shop I thoguht that the pictures must be tweaked adn there’s not way the colours could be that vibrant but when they arrived they were amazing. The colours are great and there are options for mixing and matching.


On my wish list are these great fun scraps. Sometimes, being in Canada, it’s hard to find scraps worth purchasing because shipping can get ridiculous. Someday I’ll splurge on these teeny bits of loveliness.

Scrap Swap Time!

Sooooo who wants to scrap swap?!

I’ve done a bunch of summer sewing and hope to do even more during the fall so let’s revitalize our stashes!

Leave your name here, make sure there’s an email address/blog/contact info and I’ll find you a buddy.
Sign ups are open until Sunday night, September 22nd, and then I’ll match us all up and let you know Monday who your partner is.

The keep everyone happy guidelines:

– scraps must measure at least 2 inches by 2 inches, there is no maximum size
– scraps must be clean and in usable condition
– scraps can be new fabric or vintage reclaimed pieces
– fabrics should be of relatively the same weight (cotton preferred) to allow for quilting, or mixing with other fabrics and use in the same project
– be ready to send 10-ish ounces to your partner by Monday October 1st.

Swap is open to everyone so please be aware you may be shipping internationally unless you tell me otherwise.

DIY Panda drawer sachets

While shopping at a farmer’s market the other weekend I picked up some lavender and got a neat idea for these sachets for my drawers. They’re really quick and easy and can help destash your scrap bin, something I love to do. I’m making a run for the border today and so in lieu of a Create Along post (too busy with back to school) I thought I’d share this instead.

So you will need the following supplies, along with a needle, on a machine or for your hand.

The fabric pieces can be any measurement you want, they just need to end up a square. I made 2 and one is slightly smaller than the other but they’re around 3 1/2 inches square. You need to make 2 quilted pieces that measure wide enough for your front piece and then have some extra because they will overlap and make an envelope pillow cover sort of closing.

You’ll need white and black embroidery floss, some black fabric for eyes and ears and I used some scraps from my cup cozies as lining for the ears.

Panda making

1. Place the eyes on the pretty scrap (sew them on with black thread or iron on with a fusible thing)
2. Embroider the features on the panda, white eyes, and a black nose and mouth.
3. Layer the ear pieces – black, black and then lining. Sew around the curved part of the ears and then turn right side out.
4. Quilt together the backing pieces from scraps, hem the edge where the opening will be.
5. Put the quilted pieces on your work surface right side up, make sure the hemmed parts where the opening will be overlap by at least 1/2 inch.
6. Lay the ears down with the straight edge lined up with the top of the quilted pieces.
7. Place the panda face pretty piece face down on top of the pile. Make sure the ears are sandwiched in.
8. Pin to hold everything in place.
9. Stitch around the entire square.

Sachet making

1. Get your scraps and lay one on top of the other. I use the screenprinted bits that got messed up and I can’t turn into cup cozies.
2. Stitch around the square leaving an opening on one side, about an inch wide.
3. Stuff your sachet with something pretty smelling (potpourri, lavender, etc)
4. stitch the opening closed.
5. Trim around the square, be careful not to cut into your stitches.

The great thing about making the panda with an envelope closure is you can swap out the inner sachet when the smell fades or to change things up a bit. I’d love to see what you make!

Also, I’ve been dying to use handwriting on my photos and haven’t been happy with the results/methods. But today I figured I’d give it a try and not be so picky. Elsie‘s post sabout apps and techniques helped guide me in my quest.