Upcycled Clutch Tute :: Mollie Makes

Super pleased to have been asked by Mollie Makes magazine 

to do a tutorial on my upcycled clutch bags.

Here I have used a vintage table cloth, positioning the flap to make a feature 

of the vintage button and the lining is made from

Curlypops Go Granny fabric! {adore that fabric!}

Out now in the UK, or available digitally elsewhere. 

Will be available in print here in Australia, in a couple of weeks!xx

Shop Update :: Floral Neckpieces

Floral neckpieces made from vintage tablecloths, neckties, seersucker and linen.

There are a couple that I have handpainted and free motion sewn too!

Available over in my Etsy Store now.xxx

Thread drawn flower necklace ::

I found an old linen Australiana tea towel in my stash,

 that had already been cut up quite a bit

and thought the colours along with the lovely

texture of the linen would be great for some flowers 

in Frida's hair...

So did a bit of free motion sewing to turn them into small 

flowers and a few leaves too.

I mainly made up the flowers as I went, to make the most use of the tea towel.

There were some smaller flowers that I was able to sew around too.

The leaves were too big for the Frida dolls.

(Here are a few of the flowers pinned on Frida)

And in the end I used up the leaves and some of the smaller 

flowers to make a necklace! Backed with merino wool felt and sewn

on a black ribbon. Now that I see this pic, I can see where I

need to make some changes - a bit more red maybe!xx

What a find ::

Seeing things. In the op shop.

Sometimes you walk past them.

Sometimes you stop. And see them for what they could be.

For a long time, our eldest has had a gorgeous

inner sprung mattress and storage drawers beneath, but no head board.

We lugged it all the way from England.

And at last, in an oppie - I saw a head board for $10!

Not much choice of colour.

She had options, but only from the spray paint we already had.

So of course she went for the green. (yay!)

So now Gordon and Ella are comfy and settling in.

The white walls are gradually getting some colour from shelves,

pictures and now headboards!!x

Hoppy Shop Update

These are the free motion sewn 'oddbunnies'!

They are made from a mix of new and vintage fabrics -

including some vintage Dick Bruna fabric! (Miffy)

There are a few in my Etsy store, but they could be made from 

your own sentimental fabrics, or some fave fabrics you have at home too!

A weekend for bunnies...

So here's a few bunnies to show you!

The brooches are sewn using free motion sewing (which I talk about here).

Another spur of the moment thing, and again - they don't all look happy.

Actually I think they have alot more character this way!

There's a couple left in my Etsy store.

The oddbunnies were made from repurposed fabrics, for the Reverse Garbage 

shop in Brisbane. So fun to make! These ones have safety eyes,

but I have made some other ones with free motion sewing too!xx

Working on...

Trying to line up stripes...!

Short yellow wellington boots (or gum boots).

Some furry warmth.

Ballet shoe ties.

Sorting bits of tutu fabric - cut from some real tutu's, sent to me for these custom dolls!

I've been working on these at the same time as the Twiggy inspired doll.

It felt like I hadn't made a doll in ages and now I'm jumping head long back into it again!

Miss 11 has been working on another flower brooch - a poppy.

Its alot more difficult this time, and has taken her a while.

Its a pattern from an American crochet book, that she translated to English crochet.

The brooch is being sent off to a clever crafter to test out durability!x

Sustainable Living Market

Catch me and some handmade goodness this weekend at

The Dwell Sustainable Living Market

9am - 2pm

Saturday 25th August

199 Brisbane Street

Ipswich, Queensland

More info over here!xx

My Creative Space

Miss 11 said :: "he looks like he's eyeing someone up!"

"and she looks a bit worried about it!"

Quite a bit of vintage neck tie action going on here at the moment!

Some 1970's tie zipper purses and wool rug koala's for

the Sustainable Living market I'm doing on the weekend.

Will post the details tomorrow!xx

more creative spaces here