Craftyclaudes handmade:: Pretty little Babushka Doll Softie

I have been working on a new softie/doll.  For a while now I have been researching Babushka dolls but hadn't found any that incorporated a little bit of hand sewing as well as up cycled fabrics that I liked.  So I set about designing one using a simple pattern I made on my own.

The pattern allows me to use double layers of fabric for extra strength and colour possibilities.

So on my recent visit to the Salvos I found these beautiful linen knickerbockers in a light grey. The quality of the linen is A1 - no pesky knots (slubs) in the fabric.  Although they are a very tiny size 4, for a couple of dollars I couldn't resist.  

snip snip - off with the leg!

I also found this lovely fabric napkin.  This one has a sweet, hand embroidered trim that sets off a little  applique flower.  A lot of  hand made love was put into this napkin, and just my luck, I rescued it from the fabric miscellany bin.

After cutting out the fabric pieces, I did a little hand embroidery.  A quick refresher from mum allowed me to chain stitch the eyes in a sleepy little look. A peaceful babushka ready for a nap and many hugs.  Here she is all finished!

The new Brother NS20 is working a treat. Allowing me to sew through many layers of fabric and with 40 stitches I get to experiment a little with some machine embroidery.

So there she is all finished. She is very cute and plump like a good cushion and soon leaving me to go to a new home.

Quick Crafty Project :: Mini Paper Bunting

A fun little project that anyone can make. You don't need any special tools. This could have easily been made using a pen/pencil/marker to write the message on each little flag. However, if you are feeling a little bit more crafty and you have access to some lettering stamps and ink, then go for it!

Materials I used:

* card stock/paper
* scissors
* wooden skewers
* twine
* hole punch (I used a single hole punch but a two hole one is fine )
* lettering stamps
* stamping ink (my colour was Harbor Blue by ColorBox)

Step 1:   Draw and cut out a template flag of your chosen size and shape.  Mine were tiny ones measuring about 3cm wide by 3.5cm long.  Once I was happy with the size, I used that template to trace onto the card stock/paper.  I used scrapbooking card stock in various patterns and shades of pale blue.

Step 2:   Once you have cut out enough flags for the message you wish to write, line them up and get ready for the stamping!

Step 3:  Stamp or write your message.  If using ink, make sure you let each letter dry before punching the hole on each corner.

Step 4:   Once you have written or stamped your letter, then take the hole punch and  carefully punch a hole on each top corner - making sure that you leave enough room between the hole and the edge of the flag.  I suggest cutting extra flags so you can try lining up your hole puncher to the edge.

Step 5:   Once you have punched 2 holes on each flag, then you simply thread them with the twine (use more twine than you need as you can always cut the excess away).   Then tie each row of flags to the wooden skewers.  I used 2 cups to hold the skewers in whilst I did all all the tying.  

Tadaaaaa.  Its done!  I think the Birthday Boy was very impressed :-)   It was a fun project to do and made for a nice keepsake.

I love Birthdays.....how can you not?  When there is laughter, yummy food and cake!  happy times!

Look what they made........

I love this time of year.  When the work day is done and you start to notice the evenings (slowly) growing longer in daylight.  When you get to enjoy the slightly warmer weather and you find more people are out and about enjoying a little social interaction before heading home for their usual evening routine.   This time also brings with it exhibitions and  pop up galleries adding a little creative goodness to a regular 'school night'.

I love making time to attend all these exhibitions.  I also love sharing them with you guys because I know that we all have times in life where we feel a little scared to put ourselves out there.   Seeing all these people giving it a go, sharing a piece of themselves and their passion fills me with much joy and encouragement.  If it does the same for you, then a lucky lady am I to have been part of that process.

:: Made to Measure -The Treadlie Handmade bicycle Show  @ kind of Gallery  ::

Aemelia - Rescued from a shed gets a bit of love and handmade laser cut wooden veneer spats by fairweather bicycles.

Bumblebee is discovered in a pile of refuse on a rainy Melbourne day. I love the indigo violet leather seat and matching handlebar stitching detail.

Here are some more of my favourite bikes of the exhibition:

 

:: A touch of Class  @ Somedays Gallery ::

Using the doily as a canvas, 20 female artists consider the notion of women's 'traditional skills'  and examine how they remain relevant and transferable to the artists' current practice.

Lindividual at Glebe Markets

Summer means market time.  In Sydney we are lucky to have some really great markets, all of which support handmade and feature some very talented artists.  This weekend we visited Glebe Markets to support and check out the latest works by our creative friend Lindividual (aka Lindy).

All sculptures range in size from 15cm to 36cm

Series include (R)awe, (R)evolution, Rough and Regal

These sculptures are all designed, cast , and hand painted by the lady herself.   Each piece requires much research into the various tribes found within Africa - her motherland. 

For more information regarding the process and inspiration for these pieces, please visit the Lindividual website

Also for a gorgeous account of Lindy's first market day, as seen through the eyes of her 9 year old daughter, please visit TJLine's blog.


  

Update on owlies

owlies by crafty claudes

It has been a very busy last couple of weeks at owlie central.  I have been cutting out countless pattern pieces and then sewing on the trusty old Singer machine.   I am now ready to start sewing eyes and wings which is best done by hand.  This is one of my favourite parts as hand sewing is something that can be done anytime, anywhere.  This week I will be sewing during my lunch breaks at my day job.  If the weather co-operates It means I can sit at the local park enjoying the spring goodness in the air.  Although the progress on some days does seem a little slow, I am getting better at accepting that this is the process.  Today I wanted to share some of the lovely fabrics I have been using in my creations. Some are gifted (by some lovely and very generous friends) some I have found at the various thrift stores I have been visiting and others I have had for years in my fabric stash .   All are now coming out and being given their chance to shine and show off their pretty colours and patterns. These are going to be some very funky owlies indeed!

cotton and linen fabric - for crafty claudes owlies

Handmade goodness of the film kind......

I have been checking out some very cool videos lately.   Here is one found via Black-Eyed Suzie's blog.

Etsy Finds......For the home

Check out some of these beautiful designs made by some very talented Etsy folk.  Reminding us to show some love to the space we live in.....

Chenille and Mother of Pearl buttons cushion by Letter Perfect Designs

Fox on a bike? ofcourse!  A door mat by Dark Cycle Clothing

Boston Terriers print by Corella Design

When life hands you lemons tea towel by Dear Colleen

ps - oh and they all also ship to Australia!