my ramblings

maya road projects for CHA-S 2008

Maya Road is making some gorgeous stamps, both in sets and single stamps (which are called singletons). You can see the stamp sets (including new CHA releases) in the Maya Road CHA-S Catalog.

A couple of my favourites have features in some of my projects which have gone to CHA.

I've used owl stamp (below) on a few little projects.

The tiny owl stamp and the 'what a hoot' have been used below, with Pink Paisley paper on the background.

The owl stamped on acetate and coloured and mounted on a round tag with Scenic Route paper:

These owls were stamped on linen fabric then embroidered:

And while I was making little fabric hanging ornaments, I used the new Maya Road cupcake singleton stamp for these:

I love cupcakes. And now Maya Road have several new cupcake themed products. There's the stamp (which I mentioned above), but also there's

• a cupcake stamp set (with six cupcake stamps plus more),
• a cupcake chipboard album,
• cupcake rubons sheets,
• a cupcake sheer ribbon,
• a cupcakes chipboard set and
• a cupcake coaster album.

Below I've used a chipboard cupcake shape from the cupcake coaster album as the base for the felt cupcake below. This book is a Maya Road sheer tab binder book, which I covered with fabric slip cover which I sewed.

And a few pages from inside my cupcake book. This book holds most of my cupcake secrets, the recipes, the frostings, the fun stuff. Being the binder style book, I'll be able to add more pages as I go along, with more fun ideas.

This book was lots of fun to make.

That's all for today, I'll gather some more photos of my Maya Road projects and post very soon.

Thanks for visiting.

Cheers

Fiona x

Ribbons Galore update: new fairy tale ribbon, Christmas ribbons and ribbon handbags

This is a Ribbons Galore update.

There's a new fairy tale ribbon available at Ribbons Galore. "Goldilocks" is gorgeous with Goldilocks eating the porridge in the woods, with the bears' cottage and three chairs nearby.

There are some new Ribbon Bundles, Pink Grosgrain and Blue Grosgrain, which are available in limited quantities.

 

New ribbon handbags are now in store.

We are starting to stock up for Christmas. Our Christmas Trees and Christmas Cakes ribbons are in store again. These are beautiful quality jacquard ribbons. Perfect to start your Christmas projects early.

Also, the Tiny Cakes ribbons in blue, taupe and blush are back in stock.

Thanks for visiting.

Cheers

Fiona

short break and some sewing

We're back from a short break at Hawks Nest. It was a nice six day escape. Lots of relaxing, eating, climbing giant sand dunes, boating up the river, eating, visiting the beach, walking through the rainforest, playing monopoly and sewing.

Yes, I put the sewing machine in the car with my fabric box, as well as the girls growing fabric supply, with the aim of us sewing the week away. The girls and I were very industrious. We've made some bags and pouches. Emily has made some progress with her quilt, which is looking good.

We made several visits to a lovely little fabric shop at Tea Gardens called Black Possum Gallery to stock up on even more fabric.

I've only taken photos of one project so far, my new bag. I've finally made myself a bag with some Amy Butler fabric. I love it. Here's my lovely assistant modeling the new bag.

I quilted the outside fabric, and left the inside (lining) unquilted.

This is just a favourite photo from our break... taken on Bennetts Beach.

Fabrics used: (Amy Butler Midwest Modern fabrics) Ivory/floating buds (ab-33) on the outside; Grey/happy dots (ab-29) on the inside.

A friend has just popped in for a cuppa, so I'll be back in the next few days with some pictures of our other projects when I've taken some photos.

Hope you're all having a lovely holiday (for those with kids on school holidays).

Thanks for visiting.

Cheers

Fiona x

fabric and patchwork

Several weeks back I discussed with my gorgeous girls a project (or projects) I wanted to make with them.... patchwork quilts. We talked about them creating a patchwork piece with me, so they would have something we've made together, to keep, hopefully, for a long time. They seemed keen on the idea. We'd start simply with a square patchwork. So I let Emily loose on my ever growing fabric collection, she looked for a while, pulling fabrics together and came up with this collection:

I cut the squares of fabric for her, she started sewing the blocks together. I had trouble keeping up with her, madly cutting the squares to supply her sewing frenzy.

She did well, I tried to teach her about matching the seams/corners, etc (reminded me of a project I had to complete from my Clothing Manufacturing TAFE course many years back). Within a few hours she'd completed the patchwork top. She's only 12 and I think she did an amazing job, and I'm really proud of her!

We now have to find some backing fabric and the wadding, etc. Then we can finish this quilt. Now if anyone has patchwork/quilting experience, I'm wondering what sort of wadding you use, I'd like to hear what is your preference and why. I've started looking at the different types and I'd appreciate any advise.

Phoebe has her fabric picked out, and has already discussed some design modifications from Emily's quilt. I'm looking forward to starting that project next and working with Phoebe.

I went to the Craft Fair last week with a friend. I was so nice wandering around. We both enjoy different crafts so I was nice looking at what each other enjoys. I was mainly looking at the fabric stands. Loved the Vintage Comfort quilt on the Amitie stand. Unfortunately the kit was sold out. Material Obsession and Quiltsmith both appealed being Sydney based stores, which I'll be visiting very soon. I bought the Material Obsession book, which offers beautiful (and simple) projects, with gorgeous photographs and easy instructions. It was a good book for the girls to look through as well and gather ideas.

Well that's about all for now. Life's very busy here with lots of girls things on at the moment. I'm helping to make costumes for the school musical Emily is in. Both my parents are not well, so there's been extra visits to them, cooking dinners, making sure they are OK (thank goodness they live close). And of course ribbon orders are always being packed.

Thanks for visiting, thanks for the birthday wishes/emails to Phoebe and myself over the last couple of weeks.

Have a great weekend.

Cheers

Fiona x

a little catch up

We've all been a bit under the weather around our house over the last week. We're feeling better this week, thankfully.

Some non-crafting news: A friend of ours has started embracing life in the slow lane and has started a blog to reflect on his finds. Take a look at the Slow Lane blog.

And there's just a few things to share from me from the past week.

Made this little fabric bookmark as part of a present for Phoebe's friend last weekend. It is inspired by a a m s' work over on flickr, here are some of her bookmarks. My bookmark is more "rustic", shall we say, and could be a good one for the kids to make - hand stitch the felt monogram to the fabric and straight machine stitching around the edge.

A quick card I made last week....

I've been back at school this morning playing working with Phoebe. It is Education Day. My tasks were to paint the sun and make a find-a-word. Loved sitting with the kids painting and chatting.

That's about all, short and sweet today.

Thanks for visiting.

Cheers

Fiona x

Maya Road projects

Maya Road is exhibiting at the National Stationery Show in New York. The design team has been creating some new projects to display at the show. Make sure you check the Maya Road DT girls blogs (they are listed in the left column) to see their projects.

Here are my projects, using lots of the recently released products from CHA-W. One of my favourite new products are the MR Johathan Chipbaord Alphabet Set. They are such a great sized chipboard alphabet (small than the other MR alphabet sets).

Thank You Card materials:

• Maya Road Johathan Chipbaord Alphabet Set
• Maya Road Trinkets Ribbon - Forest
• Maya Road Trinkets Textured Knit Blossoms

Love Card materials:

• Maya Road Stamp Seals Set
• Maya Road Microchips - Hearts Chipboard (both neutral and brights sets used)
• Maya Road Las Vegas Ribbon - Avenue

Journey Card materials:

• Maya Road Travel Keychain Set
• Maya Road Trinkets Buttons - Grass
• Maya Road Air Mail Rubons

The Girls Frame materials:

• Maya Road Scroll Frame Chipboard Accordian Album
• Maya Road Microchips Neutrals - Hearts Chipboard
• Maya Road Stamp Seals Set

Nature Girl album materials:

• Maya Road Sheer Butterfly Coaster Album
• Maya Road Jonathan Chipboard Alphabet Set
• Maya Road Trinkets Crochet Shimmer Butterflies
• Maya Road The Cubicle Rubons

Thanks for visiting.

Hope you all have a great week.

Cheers

Fiona x

Easter craft project #3 and a DCM challenge card

The mid week challenge over at the Daring Cardmakers blog is "These are a few of my favourite things" set by Mel. We had to use one of Mel's favourite things on our card (embroidery cotton/thread, buttons, felt or fabric) and combine it with one of our own favourite things.

This is the card I made.

I thought it would make another good Easter project, so here we go...

Materials: Urban Lily Secret Keeper Cards, pattern paper (I've used new Paper Salon KN Easter Sorbet paper), cardstock, embellishments (felt ribbon, buttons, flowers, brads, etc) and greetings stamp for the inside of the card (I've used some new Paper Salon Easter stamps which I've just received).

Just case you haven't seen them, this is what an Urban Lily Secret Keeper card looks like when it's open. They are very versatile, but I find they make fun interactive cards.

1.  Cut an oval/egg shape from pattern paper. Make sure it will cover the UL Secret Keeper card if you are using one, or that it covers whatever base card you will be putting this on. If you are using pattern paper, you may wish to back it with some cardstock to make the card a little more sturdy. I've cut another egg shape from yellow cardstock. Glue the paper and cardstock together.

2. Cut the egg in half. I've used a zig-zag line to {hopefully} resemble a cracked egg on my finished card. See my other sample below where I've just cut straight across the egg.

3.  Embellish the egg. I've used felt ribbon which I've attached to the egg by sewing buttons onto the egg and have used brads through the felt flowers.

Make sure your cracked egg can still 're-join' when the card is closed. I actually removed the larger green flowers (third row from the top) and left the smaller ones, as my egg wasn't closing properly.

4.  Stamp your greeting to the inside of the UL Secret Keeper Card. As the surface of the card is shiny, use StazOn ink. I've just received this gorgeous little Easter stamp set from Paper Salon, so was very keen to use it.

Add some colour with doodling. I've used Sharpie pens for this, again they are a permanent marker suitable for shiny surfaces.

5.  Turn your egg over, matching the two sides. Position the closed Urban Lily Secret Keeper card and glue in place. Leave the glue to dry before opening and closing the card.

And it's finished. Here it is closed...

and opened.

This is another Easter egg card which I made. This was a bit simpler. I cut the egg in half and added flowers around the edge before gluing to the Urban Lily Secret Keeper card.

And this one open.

Thanks for visiting. Hope you're having a great week.

Tamar has suggested I make Easter bonnets next... mmm will have to see if I have enough time before Easter.

Till next time.

Cheers

Fiona

Easter craft project #2

The next Easter project has hatched....

Project: Little Felt Easter Egg Bags

These are very quick and easy felt bags which can hold several little chocolate eggs. You can obviously make them bigger or smaller depending upon your chocolate easter egg needs :-)) Materials used: felt, embroidery thread and ribbon.

1.  Cut two pieces of felt. My pieces were about 10.5cm x 14.5cm. They were this size as I was able to cut four pieces from a small piece of felt (the size which is sold in craft stores).

2.  Cut four slits into each piece of felt, approximately 3cm - 4cm from the top edge.

These become the slits for threading the ribbon in a later step.

3.  Sew around three edges of the bag. You can use running stitch or blanket stitch.

4.  Now thread a length of ribbon through the slits around the whole bag.

5.  Bring the ends of the ribbon through to the outside of the bag.

6.  Fill bag with chocolate Easter eggs.

7.  Pull the ribbon tightly to close bag and wrap the ribbon round the bag to the opposite side.

8.  Tie a bow with the ribbon.

That's all there is to it. These would be easy for the kids to make too.

Now the RAK which I mentioned a couple of posts ago. I had three ladies leave me links to their easter projects. They were:

1. Sophia decorated her chocolate Easter eggs.
2. Trishia covered her eggs with tissue paper.
3. Mel has also shared some decorated eggs and a very cute bunny.

I'm going to send out a pack of ribbon to you ladies. If you'd like to email me with your favourite colour/s and I'll try to accommodate you with some ribbons.

Hope you have a great week, and I'll be back with another Easter project very soon.

Cheers

Fiona

PS: the bunnies have had their photo shoot, but Marty bear kept stealing their Easter hats. Will post some photos when I've sorted through them.

A few cards to share...

Over the last couple of weeks I've received a few good things in the mail (that is, they were not bills).

First to arrive was the PaperCrafts "Paper Crafting with Photos" magazine from the US. I was so excited to have two projects included this edition {extra excited in fact as this is my first time published overseas}.

Here's one of my projects from Paper Crafting with Photos with our gorgeous little bunnies. {papers are from the KN Hip Hip Hooray collection by Paper Salon}.

Last week Stamping and Papercraft magazine arrived in the post. I have a set of cards/tag in this edition (vol 13 no 6). This is another first for me, first time published in this magazine (and my tag is on the cover). Here is the set, there are how-to instructions in the magazine for each card. Love this paper collection from Paper Salon, its called Prestine {Paper Salon is available from Bumblebee Crafts here in Australia}.

So with Easter just around the corner {yes, the chocolate Easter eggs have taken over the supermarkets}, I'll be sharing a few Easter projects here on my blog very soon, so stay tuned.

And my Easter loving buddy, Mel, has already sent me an Easter goodie bag. I haven't taken photos of it yet, but I will and share the very cute things that she sent me. Thanks Mel :-)

That's all for today. Thanks for visiting. Hope you have a great week.

Cheers

Fiona

a very, very, very quick Valentine's Day project

I made some chocolate pockets ready for Valentine's Day today. The girls like to take little Valentine gifts to their friends on Valentine's Day. Phoebe decided she needed at least 10 for her friends (and is apparently still counting), so I wanted something that was very quick and easy to make.

I've used papers from three different Paper Salon collections to make these.... here's how to make them if you're interested:

1. Cut two hearts from pattern paper (I just used a chipboard heart from a Maya Road book as my template).
2. Sew the hearts together along the "bottom" edges, leaving the top of the pocket open.
3. Punch a hole about 2cm below the "point" of the heart for the ribbon.
4. Place a few small chocolates in the heart pocket.
5. Thread ribbon through the hole and tie a bow.
6. Give to someone special!

Easy!

Hope you're having a great week.

Cheers

Fiona