I Made a Lampshade

 Yonks ago, I saw this project in a Real Living mag. It stuck in my mind as something I'd like to make one day, so I'd always kept my eye out for lamp shade frames when op shopping. My lucky day came when a friend had a garage sale and her Mum sold me the perfect frame for five bucks. All I had to do was choose some yarn from my hand-me-down stash, and get weaving! Jane would be so happy she no longer had to abide my naked light bulbs. All good things come to those who wait...

The inspiration

I got by with a little help from my friends ;0)

And 'twas done!

Let there be light!

Actually, I was just thinking, a way you could probably cheat with this, is to use a plant hanging basket frame. I might do this for those naked bulbs in the hallway!

Cushion Month

I have finally taken up the challenge of "Cushion Month" and I'm only about six months late! It took me ages to find an idea for cushions that felt right and fit in with our daggy old couches, but I am really happy with these! Years ago, on holiday in NZ, I was leafing through a lovely house magazine and they featured a very groovy home where the owners embraced "Kiwiana" and made it look arty and cool. This always stuck in my mind and inspired me; I was wondering if Australiana would ever become cool instead of cringe-worthy? Well, the jury's still out on that, but I'm getting into it!

In these photos you can see the fronts and backs of our new cushions. I got these great old tea-towels from.....can you guess? Of course, the op shop. Sadly I had to buy the spotty backing new, but I really love it. My favourites are absolutely the rainbow lorikeets; I'm not as in love with the map or the brown birds, but if better tea-towels present themselves I can change them later. Actually, they're not quite finished because I would like some big bright buttons to hold the backs in place. Anyway, it's great that these cushions are multi-taskers: you can sit on them, lie on them, hit each other with them or .... dry the dishes with them. ;0)

Sheet Pyjamas

Hooray, the next step in old-sheet-upcycling! Let's see now, there've been nappies, skirts, cushions... now pyjamas! Because you can't get much more cosy than flannelette pjs. Here they are, modelled by the lovely Sally, who will kill me for putting up this pic (above) which makes her look a bit err... masculine. (She had the pants on back to front.) Sorry Sally, but really this was the best shot of your arabesque ;0) and we know that's the most important thing, doodle or no doodle. It's the sacrifice you have to make for your art. But I digress...

I included this photo to show the lovely fabric, and I also thought Sally looked very pretty.

And here is my talented little brother. Well, he's musically talented anyway. I think he better stick to duets rather than pas de deux. Ben, Matt says it looks like even your hand thinks you're a "loserrrr".

Mini Sheet Skirts!

You might think that I'd become sick of sewing with sheets, but no, my friends, I have only hit the tip of the iceberg. Churning out at a rate of knots to sweet small girls are mini-sheet-skirts! Hurrah! PS: Check out the cute singlets embellished by Jess ;0).

Wronky Sock Man

I'd like to introduce you to Wronky, my first Stupid Sock Creature from the book by John Murphy. I would describe him as innocent, guileless, sweet and not particularly bright. Wronky was Jimmy's birthday present and quite well-received, although I think he is getting a bit lonely now. He's probably yearning for friends of his own kind.....I need some more old socks!

A Bit of Up-Cycling

A while ago I bought this dress, which, between you and me, I actually secretly loved in a comforting, drop-waisted, nostalgic kind of way. The material is a lovely grey with little sort of shiny flecks in the weave. But I couldn't really wear it in public. Not really. I'm not quite confident enough for that yet.
I considered wearing it like this, with the sleeves removed, even though it would be terrible for breast-feeding. And maybe I should have left it like that, because I do have a dreadful feeling that drop-waists are going to come back in fashion, and anyway, I just still really liked it. But, like Humpty Dumpty, once it's broken you can't put it back together again, so.....

Here's my new favourite top!! I added a band to the bottom, skimmed the sides in a bit and there you have it. I can't wait for the weather to be cool enough for jeans, or maybe a pencil skirt to go with it. I'm so pleased this worked out; I would have to say that I only wear probably one out of every three or four things I make for myself, because usually they turn out bad. Happy day.

Little Brooches

Hey Jess, I think I have worked out how to make rosettes. What do you reckon? Is this what you meant?

This is my latest project to work on during car trips. (While Matt is driving, naturally.) I have always suffered from car sickness, but surprisingly craft in the car doesn't upset me - yippee! The drive up the Bruce Highway is sooo much less boring now. These little rosettes are a great way to use up scraps. I made some others, but they just ended up looking like "First Prize" at an equestrian event; I think these are okay though. Just let me know if I look like a horse.

Welcome to Our Home!

I had been searching the op shops for a good book basket to try to tidy the loving sprawl of books around the loungeroom, and I finally happened upon this one. It was pretty manky with a gross dirty plastic lining with gingham underneath. I cut out the lining, but before chucking it in the bin....thought it just might be salvageable....

and after a bit of delectable afternoon time as the kids napped, which I relished with much glee and just a teensy tinge of guilt, ie, wasn't washing up or cooking dinner...

and some very diligent sandplay supervision...

and the addition of some jaunty spotted ribbon...

"Welcome" to our home!

I am feeling good about reusing that "awful" lining; I think I would have been quite handy in the Depression. Could've made Matt some undies out of it. ;0)


People sometimes ask me how I find the time to do these things. Really I love it, so I make time for it, but also, it is amazing what you can get done if you just do a tiny bit here and there: thread the sewing maching here, find a scrap of fabric there, iron interfacing here, do a bit of handsewing there. At first it can seem like a project is insurmountable - and I've had a couple on the go for years - but, if you just keep at it a little bit at a time, guess what? You will finish it! And you know what else? It's fun anyway, so who cares? The washing up, however, may just be piling up on the sink... now that's what I call insurmountable. xx

The Sound of Music: Revisited

I gotta tell you about a dangerous little addiction I am developing. As you know, I am quite partial to using old home furnishings to fashion clothes out of, a la Sound of Music. Now a whole new door has opened: the world of bed sheets! I had already dabbled in using sheets when I made Kees' beloved hat, and now it is time for skirts. Watch out, or you just might receive one yourself!


I just feel really good to be: giving to charity by buying from Op Shops; not creating any new manufacturing waste; saving old things from the bin; saving money; and getting something new and so comfy. And no-one else has one! Not yet anyway......

Sheet skirts. More coming your way!

New Shorts # 2

Aren't these lovely shorts? So bright and summery. And lovely and soft, made out of an Op Shop pillowcase for the teeny-tiny price of forty cents.

But it seems like in this case, it's true that "you get what you pay for". On the very day they were made, Kees slid down a tree trunk and that was that. Boohoo.

Dress-Ups

Kees is just getting into dressing up now - well, in more than just his pink fairy skirt, anyway - so that's a good excuse for me to sew. This cape is courtesy of a friend's old curtain, which feels very "Sound of Music" (and it's not the first time family clothing has been made from curtains, either). The kangaroo tail was out of an old chenille bedspread from the Op Shop and the pirate hat is just felt. I didn't make the wig, but you just can't have enough funny wigs in your costume box. I got a vision of the future when I put it on.... they say you end up looking like your mother....

New Chairs

I'm pretty pleased with these fancy new chairs! $7 each from the Op Shop, and new fabric for 80% off, means that these two beauties set me back less than $20!