14 Sleeps to Go

Well its 14 sleeps to go or so I'm told until Easter. Not that we are really into the whole Easter commercialism side of things but we do enjoy just a little chocolate indulgence. This year I've finally gotten around to some crafty Easter preps - making fabric Easter Baskets. The pattern is from the "Kidlet Wall Pocket Tidy Tote" by JCasa Handmade. I've made a few of these before for the girls to hang on their doors and on the ends of their beds to keep all the small bits and bobs under control. They have come up really well as Easter Baskets. The best thing is they will be able to use them through out the year too.

The cute fabric on the front is the Eggshells Fabric by Aunty Cookie.

Making

A new fretwork bag from Thea & Sami's most wonderful fabric.  I adore this print so much.  The last bag I made with this fabric was given to a very dear friend for her 40th birthday.  Thea was so generous with her time when I ordered several metres of this fabric the other week.  It was printed super quick at a  time when she was busy moving studios.  Just beautiful!  

Little no sew envelopes from this pattern.  So much fun.  

Yummy bread rolls.  The recipe can be found here.  This recipe turns out so well.  I cooked some up yesterday for lunch when I had five children to feed.  It was the first time there was silence all day.  Warm, sweet straight out of the oven goodness.  I had mine with butter and strawberry jam.  Sorry no pics of the finished product as no one would wait long enough.  

I have also signed up to SoopSee.  I really like the idea of having my etsy shop, blog and bits and pieces together.  This is the link to Little Mary Moo's Place.  Shall see how it goes.  

Grateful Day 5

I'm grateful that my girls can see materials as one thing and make them into another. Some of you who do know my little etsy shop know I have a love for Pippijoe's Orchard fabric. When I cut this fabric, I try to use every bit I possibly can. I hate throwing away even the smallest bit. The artwork on this fabric is so unique and engaging it seems such a shame for any of it to go to waste. Recently I did have to cut these small strips to fit the pattern square on a bag. Well they were pounced on by Little Moo. I think she has been just waiting to get her hands on some. So with much excitement with her treasured gift she busily set about creating wrist bands with the left overs and good old Velcro. Sweet. Apparently they even have special powers or so says Little Moo. I wonder if that includes getting children to brush their teeth and eat their vegetables?

School Holiday Craft

(Photo from etsy listing)

Well school holidays are rapidly coming to an end. At Little Mary Moo's Place we are slowly coming to the end of fab, fun and limited mess producing craft to keep us occupied on hot and humid days. Well look what I found today in fellow BrisSytlers Trishalan Designs etsy shop. Looks like super fun for the 7 and up. I can't wait to have a go and I even might share with the girls if I'm forced to (with only minor stamping of the feet and tears).

Trish is amazingly talented and an extremely generous and nice person to boot. If you are looking for some crafting inspiration you should check out her website here.

For More Than Washing Faces

There is many a Nan, Gran or Aunt who will tell you that there is many a crafting activity to be done with the humble face washer. I was the recipient of many a crochet around the outside face washer at Christmas time as a kid. I have to admit, I do have a love for face washer craft and this is my fave:

The drink bottle cover!

I do love these very much as the days get hotter in Brisbane. The girls go to school with frozen drink bottle and these covers absorb all the condensation on the outside of the bottles so their books and Vegemite sandwiches don't end up wet and festy. The great thing about them is they are super quick to sew and can be thrown in the wash for a quick clean and be nice and fresh (unlike anything else that goes to or from school) for the next day. Below are my somewhat dodgy instructions for making your own if you so wish a bit of face washer crafting.

Choose a face washer, I made a bit of an incorrect choice with this one (it was the only new one I had). You are better of choosing one that isn't too thick around the edges for easier sewing and so it sits nice and neat on its bottom.
Sew a wee hem around the top edge of about 2 - 2.5cm should do nicely.

Pin together with the good sides facing each other like above. Sew a seam commencing at the folded edge at the bottom all the way to the start of the hem at the top.

Make sure to stop here so the two gaps at the top of the hem remain open for the tie to go through.

While the face washer is still inside out, take the corner where the folded edge is and pull to make a triangle to square off the bottom. Pin in place. Do the same with the opposite end of the bottom seam .

Sew a small seam about 1.5cm from the edge across to secure the triangle.

The seam should look like this when completed.

Now turn the face washer the right way out and the bottom should then appear nice and squared off like above.

I just had some cotton tape available today but you could use a pretty cord or ribbon if you wished. Just pop what ever you are going to use for a tie through the top. You can just tie off at a length just a little longer than what it takes to go through the top.

The face washes scrunches around the tie really well and will hold its form nicely around the top. Easy peasy hey! All you need to do now is pop in your frozen drink bottle and off you (or the kids) go. The cover will hold a bottle up to 750ml. Maybe you could even make a face washer stubby cooler for the man in your life(or maybe not I think!).

There are some super cute face washers out there so give it a go. I've shared my favourite face washer craft, so what's yours?