Shruggy show off and some tips to make it.

I've just sewn in the ends for this shrug, my last finish for 2016.   A shrug for my Laney ...but she refuses to model it, not that I blame her as it is summer here!
I'm also adding a couple of tips on how to make this shrug as I found the pattern to be slightly confusing and wanted to help out others with these two handy tips.

tis the season to save!

Here in Australia, the big sales happen on Boxing day ... which is right now!  There are so many great deals on everything, including fabric, yarn and of course, patterns that I've listed the best of the best sales below. Note that this list will be constantly updated over the next couple of days when I come more sales to add!

My Gift To You!

As my gift to you this Christmas, you have the chance to win ANY pattern of YOUR choice on Ravelry.

Just head over to my group on Ravelry to enter.

Good luck!

Making a Makers Case

 

"Can I borrow your special textas Mumma" and "can I colour in your special colouring book Mumma" is something that I hear weekly from Joe.

A 5 year old Granny.

This was a quick-ish granny to make ...as I'd already started & found it abandoned in my wip pile! (oops).

Carrot Boy

 A carrot boy for my boy because what boy doesn't like carrot toys??!!

because everybody loves a sale

I get a little giddy when I see a good sale on and I want to share the awesome ones that I've come across this week with you but you'd best hurry as you don't want to miss out on the discounts!

Mr Cactus

 

Every now and then, I come across a pattern that I have to have just because it's so unusual (and totally cute too!).

A blanket fit for a princess!

So what is this rolled up blanket and how could it be fit for a princess?
Well, let's unroll it and find out!

Sorry but I'm just not that into you

I looked forward to meeting you and not-so patiently anticipated your arrival when at last it was time to meet but alas, my expectations are falling short.

four before the two

Guess what? 
...it's my birthday today and because I've gotten so old, I've decided to give you a present!

A vintage super hero

A super-cute retro Super Hero cape.

A baby for my baby

 A cute little baby in a bassinet with an itty bitty granny square blanket, made especially for my baby girl.

A school jumper... kinda

A couple of weeks ago, I had this thing where I wanted to make one of the pdf patterns that I already had -- make it & move on, so the money I had spent on the pattern wasn't wasted ... do you know what I mean?

Anyway, I decided on this pattern from my e-stash and decided to make Joe a jumper for school seeing as school clothes is what he wears the most often.   

Hunting for bottle green fabric proved a little harder than expected but finally I got some and then I set about cutting it out and sewing ... and then well, the disappointment. 

 

I don't like the jumper.  The pattern is too narrow in the torso and too long in the sleeves. 

Joe can't get himself into or out of the jumper, so I've ditched it to the side of his bedroom even though he keeps asking to wear it.

Anyway, task completed: I've made something from my e-stash and now back to making pressies for Christmas!

Oh, just in case you like the style of the pattern, you can get it either here. 

I'd love your feedback, what else should I add to these Crafty Inspo lists? 

I utilise affiliate (aff) links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. 
If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you. 
So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links!Many thanks, Rie

a needle wallet

Every now and then, I make something and really impress myself. That is what happened when I made this awesome wallet.

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The pattern was super easy to make.

Well, for a starters, it will provide a handy storage for singular sewing needles and provide a spot for those silly little packets of needles.  You can use the grid provided & print it onto fabric. There are two different types of grids, one for sewing machine needles and the other for hand-stitching needles.   Instead of using the grid provided (which would have been really simple to do), I decided to use the fancy lettering stitches on my sewing machine.  I've had my sewing machine for over 20 years and have only used the lettering when I first got it!

The little vinyl pockets are really easy to add, really easy!  I was worried about using vinyl but nope, it was so easy!

Then there is the super handy zipper pockets on the outside and let me tell you, installing the zip (according to the pattern/video) will blow your mind. Yes. I've never installed a zipper like that and wowser, it's brilliant! ...I'll never go back to my old way of installing a zipper ever again!

You could also add the strap (that is part of the pattern) but I knew I wouldn't be using that, so I missed that step and I really like the effect of the elastic closure.

So, stop what you are doing and go & grab the pattern and make your sewing space tidier!

Triangle Purse

 
 I made this little triangle purse, for no other reason that because it was cute!

Making a making list ...& checking it twice

The clock is ticking... it's the middle of September and Christmas (as well as Joe's birthday) is on it's way, so it's time to set a plan into action for all the handmade gifts I'm planning to make!

Fabric bowl/pouch

How totally ace is this fabric bowl?!  It's a bowl & a pouch as it zips up to hold everything secure then opens out to this wonderful bowl-shape with a flat bottom.

Topsy Turvy

My lil Laney turns 3 this weekend and I wanted to make her another doll but not just any doll but a doll with a secret!
..what is the secret?  She is a Topsy-Turvy doll!

A pressie for my Mum

A big happy birthday to my Mum ...but what to make someone who has lots of stuff? 

Hmm...
I made her a bag, in her colours so I hope she likes it because they are the exact opposite of my colours!  I also popped in a vinyl front on the first pocket and then covered a boo-boo with buttons!

I still hold true to my review of the bag pattern here...  The pattern for this bag is absolutely shockingly terrible to understand & if I could, I would have ask for a refund..... but after I've seen the designer bully other customers, I'm not game to become one of her victims. 
If you wonder why I don't want to spread joy about this bag, here is a screenshot where the designer bullied a customer for asking about her order in a Facebook group that was especially for the orders:

So that being said, I'm 100% over this bag. I've since made myself one but then every time I looked at it, it gave me the heebee-jeebies .. so I gave it away.  There are so MANY nice bag patterns out there, lots of great alternatives so I'll list some below so you can check them out and see if they inspire your creativity.

The 'original' multi divider bag: The Sew Together Bag pattern here...

A fantastic divider storage bag: A Place for Everything pattern here.. (it's on my list of bags to make!)    and you can do a fantastic online class that comes with the pattern for the bag here.....

The Rosie Sewing Case pattern here....

The Carry-along Maker's Case pattern here...

One of my favourite craft bags is the Double Zip Gear Bag pattern. I absolutely love mine as it's great for storing things that you are currently using as it doesn't roll or tip over and it's perfect for car trips or just sitting on the couch. I filmed a pattern review of this so check that out for a better look inside.

The Little Sewing Buddy pattern here....

The Running with Scissors Case here...

I've made 4 projects from the book Stitched Sewing Organizers, they're really useful and have clear concise directions and are fun to make too! I filmed a book review of this sewing pattern book (here.....) along with some of the projects that I made from it.

or if you'll still keen to try this bag even after my review then go on! The pattern is called the Bionic Gear Bag or BGB and it's available here........

If you need more Crafty Inspo, then check out my shoppable lists here....

I utilise affiliate (aff) links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you. So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie

Rainbow Blanket

I've finished this super cute blanket and yes, I'm really chuffed with the result!

I used this blanket pattern and yes, it's super easy & fun to make. It looks complicated but trust me, the pattern has an easy technique and you'll be super proud of yourself when you've finished a row, then another, then another!

The yarn, well it's became a new favourite I mean check out those colours! I actually purchased more than what I would use so I would have plenty of leftovers to play with! You can get the yarn from here or here.

I made the blanket into a baby blanket size for a friend who was having a baby. This friend is awesome, she came to visit me in hospital when I had my baby girl (whereas no family came to visit me). She also knocked on my door about a week after I got home with Laney bearing a fully cooked roast chicken dinner with all the vegies. She also dropped off another dinner on a different night and then surprised me with a homemade cake for my birthday too.  So she is very special to me, she not only cares about me but my kids too and although I'm way older than her, she never makes me feel old! My kids absolutely adore her as well, so we wanted to make her something extra special. 

And speaking of my baby girl (who turns 3 next month), here she is modelling the new blanket:

 Isn't she the cutest?!
Anyway, one last shot of the blanket before I say farewell for today. 

Need more Crafty Inspo list, then check out my shoppable lists here.... 

I utilise affiliate (aff) links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. 
If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you. 
So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links!Many thanks, Rie

buying less to make more

I've been feeling overwhelmed with everything lately, I think it's because I keep buying stuff and planning on making things but never seeing any gains from it.

In making

 

I've been trying to "make" a lot this week but I get distracted by creating so the making keeps slowing down.

Pants for two

It seems that Joe & I are developing a habit that every school holidays, we head to town and buy fabric that we then turn into either shorts or trousers. Well, this school holidays was no different, except this time I actually used a pattern!

200grams of crazy colour

I had a sudden urge to experiment with changing my dyeing technique during the week and produced these massive balls of crazy colours.

Sometimes when I get it right, I get it right.

Ok, so do you remember that I made a dress and I kinda stuffed it up but it was still ok? This time I sat down, made it right and let me tell you, it is good.

Angry knitting

I don't know what you think of this project but every time I pick it up, I feel angry.

Hey look, I made mistake!

This is a show & tell where I show you a dress and you say wow but then I'll point out the mistakes...because I made a big mistake but liked the finished dress to much to not fix it!

In making and messing...

This is me sewing, it's also me 'surviving' 2yo tantrums... it's a been a week of tantrums, I need a lot of patience and sewing is calming (sometimes).  

This isn't my sewing room though, I don't have one. I truly wish I did have my own crafting studio but alas, the kids need bedrooms so I'm stuck on the corner of the kitchen table.  Being in the kitchen means that I have to look at the dirty dishes, so they must get done first. Then the lunches must be made. Then the dinner prepped. Then the dinner cooked. Then 'can I have a biccie Mumma" and the "can I have a drink Mumma" and then "when are we eating Mumma" ... 

Patience. 

Patience.
I'm not even going to talk about all the tantrums that my daughter has been having, she is a real screamer and she is quite good at making her face turn blue and she is a hitter too and a slapper. Ouch.
Patience. 

Patience and back to sewing.
So, this is what my kitchen table looks like all the time....
**excuse the scrappy looking chair but it's actually an antique that was given to hubby, we didn't paint it though - that is how it was given to us**

We haven't eaten at the kitchen table since Christmas dinner... I know that is lazy but hey, nothing quite makes a point of "Mumma needs her own crafty space" then this crazy mess. In fact, when you open the front door, it's one of the first things you see and I'm hoping that hubby will get sick of it and then make me some proper space, fingers crossed!

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So, what have I been making or planning?

~ the fabric above, I found in the back of my stash.. how could I not have made it up before now is a mystery, so I spent the night cutting it and hopefully it will be a tote bag really soon

~ I've also cut the fabric for the Marie dress and hope to finish it today

~  I'm not happy with my current pin cushion, it's useless and keeps falling over so I thought I'd buy a magnetic one but geesh, they are more expensive than I thought they'd be (in Aussie dollars they are anyway)

~ I've got to hurry and finish my crochet blanket, the baby is due this week ...oops, I kinda put it on the backburner and am now paying the price for it. I need some speedy hooky skills!

What have you been up too?  Where do you sew? Do you have a knitting nook?

Welcome Mr Jacket Pillow

So, what to do when a favourite jumper of your child becomes too small?  You turn it into a cushion!

A cute way to store my iron

I hate ironing, totally hate it.
In fact, I don't even iron hubby's business shirts, nope they get a good flick when they come out of the washing machine and then are hang straight to dry so no ironing is needed but with all this crazy sewing I've been doing lately, my iron is out a lot! ..yeah, ironic
The iron was forever sitting on the kitchen bench waiting to cool down so I could put it away and hubby was getting annoyed that I would then forget to put it away and he would move it to some weird spot that took me forever to find. I needed to find a way to put my iron away whilst it was still hot.. and I found the solution.

Bunny slippers, I'm in love!

I have to share my latest finished project with you, these adorable bunny slippers!

Things I'm doing (or not doing!)

It's just turned winter here so you'd think I'd be snuggled up inside with a hot cup of tea and some crafts....well, no!