ADDICTION????

CRAFTY ROUND-UP 2011

While putting together my mosaics for this year, I realised how little I've made for myself, family and friends. Most was for my market stall, something I hope to rectify in the coming year.

I have learnt new techniques and tried different things so I am happy (note to self; take photos of everything made and remember to upload them to Flickr and blog). So for that reason these mosaics don't show all I have made.

January 2011

February/March 2011

April 2011

May 2011

June 2011

July/August 2011

September/October 2011

November/December 2011

So there you have it, some of the things I managed to make in 2011. I hope 2012 is a very productive year especially with my new organic and re-purposed lines for my market stall.

PINWHEELS

I have finally quilted my very favourite quilt for 2011. It's taken me all day but it's done.

I decided to free-motion quilt simple swirls on the pinwheel blocks and then added a pebble quilted border. All patterned fabrics are by Denyse Schmidt, I'm so happy with this one.

All that's left to do tonight is tie in 100's of threads and hand sew the binding down.

There has beena serious lack of sewing going on around here. I did sew a quilt back together all ready for pinning yesterday but I'm still unwell from this silly tummy bug I had last week and really have no energy to do much at all.

While I've been lying around I have been crocheting. I've nearly finished all of my 18 granny squares and can't wait to turn them into a cozy cushion. I have also started a large blanket, here is the first of many blocks.

I was nearly tearing my hair out yesterday trying to get this to lie flat so I made an adjustment to the pattern, it's not perfect but I'm hoping to improve with each block.

VISITING MY CARAVAN

It's been a while since I actually did any playing in my van. I mean I've been in there to find wrapping paper or tape and I've dumped lots of stuff in there and closed the door, but to actually have a little play, well there just hasn't been the time.

Tonight I left the family and headed to the van and after a very quick tidy up, I actually made something.

This tag is for an album I've been making for Sophie about her dancing.

So I cut, sanded, stamped, inked, sprayed and embossed and had lovely time just me and some Glee on the stereo.

MEET FELIX

Felix is a fox, a handsome fox at that. He is made from the book Hop, Skip, Jump by Fiona Dalton.

Felix is made from a felted re-purposed 100% wool blanket and some scrap flannelette. His scarf is made from vintage sheets and he is stuffed with eco friendly corn fibre filling.

Please enjoy Felix's photo shoot relaxing in the garden.

THEY'RE GROWING

Four finished granny squares, love!!!!

ONE CRAFTY HABITAT

This is what I'm now naming my blog (new banner to come). After thinking about what I like to show on this blog, Sue*Sewn doesn't really cover my many interests. I find that I don't show a lot of mixed media work or scrapbooking anymore and am feeling guilty with my new crochet addiction due to it not being sewing. So a change of name was needed to incorporate my other interests, I really like One Crafty Habitat as it also implies it's earth friendly and that is definately the road I'm now taking.

Look what I learnt to make last night, granny squares!!!!!

I'm thinking they will make a lovely wool cushion to rest my head on.

WRAPPING THE GIFTS / CROCHET

:: gifts wrapped
:: gifts stamped
:: messages written (more to be added if the mood takes me)
:: ribbon tied and curled

Wrapping this way was fun and a little more personal than the usual Christmas wrapping.

After making my Christmas bunting I wanted to make more so I'm now hooking some cute mini bunting for girls (boys to come). I wasn't happy with the way the edges looked so I've added a border in a contrasting colour around the edges. I love them now, they're so cute. These bunting are made with 100% wool to keep in line with my natural products I intend to sell. I'm still sourcing organic wool, so for the moment this will do.

TODAY

I spent some time sourcing some organic threads online, hmmm that's not as easy as I thought it would be.

I had better luck with the stuffing, I will be making softies etc using Innergreen's corn fibre filling:

Innergreen™ have taken the time to research, develop, and produce a sustainable Fibre Fill that is made from 100% Natural Corn.

• Innergreen™ Fibre Fill is an eco-friendly alternative to non-renewable resources.

• Less than 60% fossil fuel usage in Innergreen™ Fibre Fill manufacture, when compared to traditional synthetic polyester Fibre Fill (petroleum-based plastics such as PET or PE).
This equates to more than one tonne of CO2 emission saved per tonne of Fibre Fill.
With the future use of Wind & Solar, we hope to increase this reduction to around 90%.

• Recent Burn Test results show Innergreen™ Fibre Fill fibres are slower to ignite than many natural and synthetic fibres.
Peak energy release rate of burning Innergreen™ Fibre Fill is less than 60% that of PET Polyester. This is due to Innergreen™ Fibre Fill’s high limiting oxygen index (LOI).

• It was also found that the smoke emitted from Innergreen™ is much less toxic than other synthetic polyesters.
The conclusion being, Innergreen™ Fibre Fill is much safer, as well as being more environmentally friendly.

• Innergreen™ Fibres are non-allergenic, odour free and DO NOT support bacterial or fungal growth.

• Under controlled conditions Innergreen™ Fibre Fill is 100% compostable.
In fact by increasing the Carbon to Nitrogen (C/N) ratio in the organic waste the compost quality is actually improved !
…….so eventually, when you place your old Innergreen™ Fibre Fill in the compost bin, it really will be a Garden Bed !?!

I have ordered some organic fabrics but don't expect to see them until the new year due to postage issues over Christmas.

I went op-shopping and picked up 2 wool blankets for felting, a vintage chenille blanket and 2 vintage pillow cases. Time to start on my many ideas for the repurposed fabric while I wait for the organic fabric to arrive.

A DECISION HAS BEEN MADE

It's been on my mind since I began selling my products at our local market in January this year and I have finally come to a decision about the type of product I want to sell.

Starting in the new year I will be selling a range of products made from eco, earth friendly materials. My aim is to offer items made from organic fabrics, natural stuffing and thread. I also want to produce a range from pre-loved, recycled fabrics.

While I have shelves full of gorgeous fabric, they are also produced with a lot of chemicals and that makes me uneasy at times, so while I will still make items with the fabrics I have on hand, my hope is to not buy anymore.

The range of organic fabrics is increasing all of the time with big name designers bringing out gorgeous lines and I have high hopes that this will continue. Ultimately I would love to be able to buy all of my organic lines within Australia to reduce my carbon footprint but for the moment I will have to purchase from overseas as the Australian market is so expensive. The good news is the items I produce this way shouldn't cost much more than the other items.

Going down this road makes perfect sense to me, I eat organically where possible, we don't use chemicals in the home for cleaning and we try and recycle and re-use as much as possible therefore it's only natural that I would want to make things as naturally as I can.

What are your thoughts on this? Would you buy quality home-made products using earth friendly materials over chemically produced?

CROCHET BUNTING

I worked out how to hook triangles last night and made up this quick and easy bunting to hang for Christmas.

I think I will have to make more of these in bright colours for the market next month.

OH MY!!!!

This month's art and craft market was HUGE. With extended hours, around 60 stalls and what seems like thousands of people wandering, I have to say that I'm exhausted and completely depleted of stock.

Here is what my stall looked like before the market began.

I'm spending the day cutting up fabric, thinking up new designs and hopefully a bit of crochet as well.

BIRTHDAY GIFTS

Yesterday was my MIL's birthday. I decided to make her a crochet hook roll as she had commented on mine a few times and I wrapped her some home-made soap. The card was one I made a few years ago that I found in my card folder and the gorgeous linen bag will hold the wrapped soap.

I love giving homemade gifts and hope that the person receiving them appreciates the thought and time taken to make them, I know my MIL will.

TUFTY EARS

Well I love these owls!!!! I saw a photo of them on a blog and knew I needed to make up my version. I believe the original owls are from the book Christmas Crafting In No Time by Clare Youngs.

I'm really in market mode for this weekend, there are so many ideas and not enough time. Oh well, back to it.......

ONE DOWN......

These stool covers fun to make and fun to look at.

I ended up making a seperate band for the cover then crocheting that on to the top. I might still put some foam under it but I'm happy with the way it looks as is.

ONE WEEK TO GO

before the last craft market of the year. I wasn't going to do this one as it's Lachie and Sophie's birthday that weekend but it will be huge and I could really do with some more Christmas money.

Here are some new items I've finished.....

Cushions

Crochet Hair Clips (cool metal tree from Typo)

Fabric Buckets (pattern from the book Pieces Of Me by Janelle Wind)

I'm still working on my stool covers and will hopefully show a completed one soon.

Back to sewing.......