THE dress ...

This dress nearly broke me!  I finished it half an hour before HB had to leave for her big night.  But she trusted me to get it finished for her as I'd told her I would have it finished on time.  Bless her.  I even had her big brother involved, trimming off all the little frayed threads of chiffon hanging down below the hem.   It's taken me this long since the last post to be able to write about it!

For those who like to know such things, this dress deserves it's plus difficile/advanced rating, as it is a challenge - but what a feeling of achievement.  It's a Vogue pattern, number V2880.

It did look gorgeous when finished though.

Side ribbon detail

But even better than perfect when worn by my gorgeous girl ...

HB has said she wants me to make her wedding dress one day - it's not going to be chiffon and satin - simply gorgeous polycotton :)

Where is everybody?

Hi!  Just an update to say I haven't gone away - my life has just got a lot of demands at the moment and I'm letting a few things slip, not intentionally being slack, just trying to retain a teeny tiny bit of sanity :)  It's the time of year for the high school ball, and I've been knee deep in ruffles and chiffon for the past few daysas I produce an evening dress for my lovely girl.  Although I'm very excited for HB I will be mighty pleased when Friday evening is over.  And then I have orders for knitted gloves to fill ... placed by Little Man and friends as they freeze on the cross country course, poor little mites.  I still can't get my head around roasting hot summers and cold, cold winters.  Weird ;)

Work is going well, but it's a huge learning curve as I learn how to juggle home, kids, hubby and work and get to spend quality time with my family.  If any of you have any tips, I'd love to hear them!

Will show you some of the progress I'm making with the dress and the finished article by Friday.

Love to all xxx

Create it with Lego!

Forget about Cluedo.  Forget about Monopoly.  If you want creativity and a good time when you play a game with your little ones, this is the game to play!  Create-It by Lego.  So much fun should not be possible when playing board games!   I've been so busy with my new jpb, everyone has lost out on quality time with me, so when Little Man asked if he could possibly monopolize some of my time for a quick game I couldn't say no.  

And it was just so lovely.  Just him and I.  We played 2 rounds.  He won.  Both times.

Then we souped up our creations and had a fab time making car and boat and helicopter noises whilst driving our creations around the dog (and our dog around the bend) and the front room.  Awesome!  What a great way to start the day :)

oooooooooh! ........

Have lost my card reader so unable to download any photos!!!!!   Sometimes I annoy myself so much!

But I can tell you about this. an op-shop swap started by Jody Pearl:

Pop over to this blogpost to find out more.  If you're into thrift, recycling and op shopping, you're going to love it!  I've signed up ... will you join me?

Creating Success Around the World

Wow what a week I've had!  In a good way ... I've been super busy with beginning paid work after 8 years away, then I've been super tired with all the new stuff I've been processing!  This week's crafty superstar has some insights and advice about being a working mum.  I gave you a heads up to my guest last week when I showcased some of the lovely handmade goodies and vintage supplies available on Made-It, and showed you the lovely gingham buttons I'd sighted :)  So let's say hello to the lovely Elethea from Sweet 'n' Kitsch ...

What do you create? 

Hi there, my name is Elethea and I’m the owner of SweetnKitsch, a cute little online shop selling new and vintage craft supplies. I’m a full-time mother of four, thrift store shopper, home renovator and part time crafty gal. I’m also the creator of Diddle & Ro, another online shop that which sells vintage inspired girls dresses, hair accessories and quilts, all made by me.

Why do you create?

I started both my stores as a way to make some extra money while at the same time indulging in one of my favourite hobbies – sewing. Creating and selling from home is perfect for a busy mum like me. I have 3 autistic children so life can get ‘interesting’ at times; I need to be able to work flexible hours. Working with vintage fabric makes me happy, and I enjoy making patchwork quilts in my “spare’ time.

Do you sell your creations? If so, how? Where? And is it profitable?

I was making custom made dresses for my online brand Diddle & Ro, plus selling at craft markets, but this started to become quite stressful and time consuming. Thankfully Sweetnkitsch has been doing so well that I’ve been able to have a break from D&R to work on some other craft projects plus start enjoying weekends again with my family.

What mistakes have you made or lessons you have learned?

I’ve made heaps of mistakes! Probably the biggest being that I would be often influenced by what other people were selling and lose focus on what I enjoyed. You really need to love what you create otherwise it just becomes a chore.

I’ve also learned that ‘skimping’ on postage is never a good idea. It’s very easy to fall into that trap of not using enough packaging to keep postage costs down. Customers are usually happy to pay extra shipping if it means their products arrive safely.

 

So what's next?

More products! I have the best time searching for vintage and interesting supplies to sell in my store. I’m also hoping to create an exclusive range of products for SweetnKitsch. I don’t really want say to say too much, as I will probably change my mind a hundred times.

Where can we find you? 

  

SweetnKitsh has a store at Craftumi and Etsy. I’m constantly adding new stock, so make sure you drop by often.

My Diddle and Ro store is currently closed while I work on some new ideas. I’m hoping to have lots of new products in store later in the year.

I also have a blog here – diddleandro.blogspot.com

Well, I'll be sure to visit Elethea's blog, and hope you've enjoyed reading her story here I've so enjoyed interviewing other crafty people - it is so INSPIRING!  Thank you all for sharing your stories - I think I might be running another series like this later in the year.  In the meantime, if you would like to be interviewed or host a blog hop for a month, contact your continent's host or click on the 'Creating Sucess Around the World' button below to contact Jill and give her your name and details :)

Be sure to add your link too - it's great to see what you are all working on and doing in your lives ...

Jill in Australasia

DIvya in Asia

Larissa in Australasia

Charlene in the Americas

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Creating Success Around the World

I'm going to come clean - today I start my new job, and I've been so focussed on it that I didn't get round to interviewing someone for this week's post.  I believe with creativity sometimes you just have to stand still and start from where you are at that moment, so this week I've had a good time looking at Made-It and it's sister site Craftumi to come up with my top 5 handmade crafters and suppliers.  (It ended up being six - I couldn't resist the last item!)  Anyhoo, it was wonderful being ensconced in the handmade world and I wish had enough dosh to buy everything on my wishlist from my top 5 6. 

This blogpost is a great excuse for some gorgeous online window shopping :)

Firstly, at Craftumi - "Buy and Sell Craft Supplies"

1.   Sweet 'n' Kitsch - here you can buy beautiful vintage and vintage-style fabrics and embellishments.  I couldn't resist these little gingham buttons - simply LOVELY!  And I can say from personal experience that the customer service is excellent :)

2.   Magpie Finds -  I just couldn't resist the name and had to have a look!      Just like a magpie, this store has a stack of beautiful embellishments, suitable for scrapbooking, sewing, card-making, craft.  I was particularly drawn to the beautiful coloured crochet doilies.  There are also care instruction labels for sale to sew in clothes - brilliant!  Vintage buttons too, yum.

Moving onto Made-It - "The Handmade Market Open All Day Every Day"

3.   Rosieok - Made-It were featuring rainbow items on their home page today, and I could not go past this delightful rainbow rabbit amigurumi.  If you look at the store, there are all sorts of gorgeous creatures (the monkey is also one of my favourites!)

4.   Dew Studio - I really am crazy about scrabble tile pendants at the moment for some reason!  And look at this one!  Perfect for my first week at work!  Dew Studio also sells supplies on  Crafumi if you fancy having a go at making your own pendants.  Glad I researched this as I've discovered a new resource for myself at the same time :)

5.   Image On It - okay, I was looking for more scrabble tile pendants, and there are plenty on this site, very beautiful, but this caught my eye and what's lovely about this bracelet is that you can choose the 8 images to be included.  It would make a wonderful gift for someone special tailored to their passions and interests (and of course, for yourself!)

6.   Iszle - the wildcard of my top 5!   Okay, okay - it's more scrabble tile pendants, but there are loads on this site, and look at this fabaroony one, specially selected by moi for my special readers out there who like the Timelord as much as I do xx

All these beautiful pictures are from the stores themselves.  I haven't given links to the individual items because I think you will have more fun visiting the stores and looking through the wonderful products for sale.  Some of the stores have a place on both Made-it and Craftumi and will tell you so on their profile page - so double window shoppping - yay!

Well, I hope you've enjoyed this little 'window' into Made-it and Craftumi - please visit them to be assured of good quality gifts and purchases.  :)  To be a seller on either online store you do have to be a resident of Australia, but of course this doesn't apply to purchasing.  I've found the Made-it people to be very helpful and the system is reasonably priced and easy to use.  I haven't sold anything on Craftumi but have bought a fair bit and found it a great way to shop (exciting to get those packages in the mail!)

Let's support handmade!!

If you would like to be featured in the Creating Success Around the World blog hop please contact your continent's host.  Feel free to visit the other hosts for May by clicking nn the buttons below ... and don't forget to leave your own link too!

Jill in Australasia

Suzy in the Americas

DIvya in Asia

Larissa in Australasia

Charlene in the Americas

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Me-Made-May - week 3!

Week 3 of Me-Made-May 2012 - didn't do so well this week in wearing things made by my true self: I owe 1 garment/accessory so to speak.  Time kind of went into a vacuum, and suddenly it's a week later and I start part-time paid work tomorrow for the first time in nearly 8 years.  I have a feeling it's going to be a shock to the system :)

Crochet scarf and my favourite purple glittery mohair scarf

The crochet scarf was made on a large (about 10 mm) hook - chain about 80 and then work 4-5 rows in treble crochet.  I double crocheted round the edge for a neater look in a plain yarn.

The mohair scarf is lovely simple garter stitch, until I used the ball of yarn up!

But - I did wear a couple of my favourite scarves and a skirt I have featured here before, but which I am also extremely proud of and it deserves a peek at again:

The photo is from my blog archive - I obviously hadn't mastered getting the photo the right way round! 

I drafted the pattern myself.  As I say, very proud.

I will endeavour to do better this week - it's been more of a personal challenge, I haven't worried about contributing to the Flickr group for the event - that would be a whole other world of techno-stress!