NIKKI-SHELL

Declutter update

After my last post i tackled the dishes and guess what?  They've appeared again!  They're like a fungus or something, they just keep coming back!
I also got to work on the bedroom.

I ended up with almost 2 large bags of stuff to go to the op shop and 2 bags of rubbish!  And now it looks like this:

I'm not sure how long for though.
(I see something peeking from under the bed in this photo!)

There'll be no crafting this weekend........

.........how is it that i clean up every day but each day my house still ends up looking like this:

and this:

and this:

We are naturally messy people but i'm at the point where i'm really sick of clearing up only to find a mess again within a few hours.
So, i'm declaring this weekend 'Decluttering Weekend'.  I'm going to start with those dishes up there then i'll go room by room.  I'm going to be giving a LOT to the op shops on Monday i think!  I'll post updates over the weekend.
Anyone want to join in?  We can encourage each other to get it done.

A few things finished

Miss Buttons
Pattern can be found here.
There's another in the works.

Clutch purse
Pattern from Amy Butler's 'In stitches'

I'm off to bed....

Azalea Recycled

Made entirely from recycled fabrics. 
Underskirt-tablecloth
topskirt-net curtain
yoke and belt-silk fabric
decoration-crocheted doilies

Made from this pattern.  See my how to here and read my column here.

Will i win?

maybe, who knows.  I've entered the Etsy/Instructables contest.  There are some sweet prizes up for grabs including a few sewing machines!  I uploaded my cloth pad how-to and may enter my slipper how-to once it's done at the weekend, although there is a slipper how-to already on there, that shouldn't matter though should it?  You can enter up to 3 times so if i'm feeling crafty i may come up with another how-to.

(image borrowed from BurdaStyle)

So, if you'd like to enter head on over to Instructibles, sign up, upload your how-to and add it to the Etsy group, then go to Etsy and upload your item for sale and make sure to add the tag 'sewuseful' so it can easily be found.  Contest details can be found here.

Last night's craft business talk was very successful.  Around 15 crafty ladies (and a guy) attended, Mary talked about how to go about setting yourself up and answered questions.  I hope that all who attended went away with plenty of information and lots to think about, thanks for coming along.
In answer to those of you that could not attend and wanted some sort of Q&A, Mary is going to have a column in Mix Tape Zine so if you have any questions you would like to ask her please email Justine and I at mixtapezine(at)gmail(dot)com within the next week, we have a tight deadline with the first issue.
Justine and I are organising another business talk which will be held in the very near future at Meet me at Mikes where Pip will talk about selling your handcrafted goods on consignment.  We will give out more details in the coming week.

Oh and i was mentioned on Craft!

Toasty toes

Our house is slightly elevated which means lots of air blowing around underneath and cold cold floors. Last night my feet were so cold that i put aside all my projects to make myself a pair of slippers.

I made them up as i went, drawing around my feet and adding a seam allowance then making up the top part and adjusting to fit. They are made from a woolen blanket i found at the op shop (and have used for many other projects), i added some binding around the openings and a fleecy layer (also found at the op shop) on the inside sole. 
Next time once i have the fit right on the first slipper i'll make a pattern to get the second slipper exact, these are slightly different.   I'll also add another layer of fleece in the sole and completely line them.  Kev requested a pair once he saw mine.
I'm thinking of doing some stitching on the tops, what do you think?

A new zine

For quite some time now we've had it in our heads that we'd like to make a printed zine, and finally the ball is rolling.
We (partners in craft) both love writing our respective blogs, organising blog meets & craft business talks. So we feel that this zine is just another extension of our passion! Also we met "online"!!, and then in real life and have formed a wonderful friendship which we owe to this amazing online community.

The subject matter is going to be 'craft, eco/green living, parenthood, DIY and pop culture '
So, we're looking for like minded people (you don't need to have your own blog) that would like to contribute their work. We can't pay you but you will get a free copy of the zine when it's finished.

Here's the kind of stuff we are looking for:

Gardening
News/Feature stories of people doing something notable or related to the topics covered in the zine
Interviews with influencers  (600-1000 words)
book/cd/film reviews
DIY/tutorials 300-600 (word articles with pictures)
refashioning
recipes
using what you have, being eco-friendly
natural alternatives
parenting-natural/alternative and anything related
illustrations-comic strips etc
photographs
articles on recycling - lifestyle and craft related
Personal essays-could be craft/family/eco-friendly/gardening (600 words or less)
Anything else you feel is within this topic

So if you're interested then please email us with your ideas mixtapezine (at) gmail (dot) com
We look forward to hearing from you!

The first issue will be out in August and then every 3 months after that.

First project on the big machine

Mia: "Mammy i want to sew toooooooo"
me: "Ok get your little sewing machine and sit next to me"
Mia: "Nooooooo, i want to sew with youuuuu on your machine"
me: "Ugh, alright, what do you want to sew?  A purse?" (something simple right?)
Mia: "Nooooo, a dolly!"
me: "Ok, you draw a dolly and we'll make one"
Mia goes off to draw her dolly then we get to work




'Princess dolly' all finished.  I'm not sure why she has no hair though.  Mia had great fun and it kept her entertained for a good few hours, she enjoyed it all and loves the result.  A great rainy/foggy day activity.

Starting a craft business?

STARTING A CRAFT BUSINESS TALK

If you're interested in finding out how to go about starting up or have already done so but are unsure of something then my wonderful friend (and accountant) Mary will be giving advice and answering questions on the night.

DATE-THURSDAY 21ST JUNE
TIME-7:30PM START
PLACE-AMITIE TEXTILES, 281 CENTRE ROAD, BENTLEIGH

Leave me a comment if you think you will attend.  On the night make sure you arrive before 7:30 (you may be distracted by all the beautiful fabrics on your way through the shop) and bring a notepad and pen.

See you then.

Emily recycled

See my How-To over on BurdaStyle.