Christmas Coasters

Our Sip Tea and EPP Christmas Sew Along is going strong and we still have some ideas to share with you. During our second week, Irina and I made some coasters. I can never have enough coasters! I love using them and I love gifting them to my friends. They are quick to make and let you try out some new ideas and explore new techniques. It's that kind of make that gives you an instant gratification.

Tutorial: Lovely Postcard Coaster

Two years ago I made a set of Christmas coasters using my ever so favourite Belle and Boo fabric. I planned to use them only during the holiday season, but they turned out to be very popular, that I decided to keep them all year round. Every time the late night tea is served I tend to use only these coasters. They do bring joy and make us smile. I though it would be nice to spread the joy at this special time of the year so I wrote a quick tutorial for you to make your own Lovely Postcard Coasters.

Tutorial: Stitching Notes Needlebook

I am not sure about you, but I can never have enough needlebooks around. I keep one in almost every WIP (work in progress) bag or box, I have a few sitting on my shelf and they are all filled with different types of pins and needles. Apart from being cute, those tiny sewing accessories are very useful too and make a lovely gift to your sewing friends. This needlebook is very quick to make and can be easily adjusted to your needs. What I like about this needlebook is that you can decorate the front in any way imaginable - that tiny patchwork that wasn't used for anything or a precious tiny scrap of fabric as an applique, maybe an embroidery or simply your favourite fabric. I really would love this tiny make to tickle your imagination and inspire you to make your own needlebook with a cute front. OK. Off we go!

Tutorial: Cute Fabric Stamps

Recently I have been asked how I make my fabric stamps and I thought I would put together a quick step-by-step process to show you some of the tricks I use for these cute little things that can make a wonderful addition to any sewing project.

Stamps, Watercolours and Fabric

You might be wondering what could be in common between these three things. When we went on holidays to Singapore last October, I found a very cute set of stamps featuring a little squirrel, mushrooms and acorns. The stamps came in a box that opens like a little book. I simply could not pass by that little find and took it home with me.

A Set of Christmas Coasters...

...that I made for this Christmas and no one wants to use them. Not because we don't like them, but quite the opposite. The boys are saying that they are too pretty and nice to be used for something like a cup of tea that might stain the coaster. Well, I kind of agree with them. :-) The coasters turned out so sweet that I myself keep looking at them and fiddling with them while having my cup of tea and trying my best to keep my cup on the very corner of a coaster or using a different mug rug all together. That's ridiculous and we should stop this nonsense once and for all and enjoy using the things I make no matter how much we love them. Right?

Valentine's Makes

Even though the Valentine's Day is well and truly over and a few decorations that we had hanging around are already packed away till the next year, I felt like sharing the things I made with you.

Little Friends. Mousy Mail Notepad Cover

An envelope, a pencil, a few stamps and a lovely note. "Patchwork, Please!" by Ayumi Takahashi inspired this little project. I was going to try out a smaller version of an envelope paper pieced block featured in this book before making something bigger. The envelope turned out really cute...

Treats For Friends and Pretty Bags

It's that time of the year again when we all overload ourselves and our loved ones on chocolates. Bunnies, chicks, baby lambs, eggs of all sorts, sizes and colours. Simply scrumptious! Easter treats are special, they come in beautiful pastel wrapping paper and bags, and even eggs are coated in soft, delicate colours. Don't forget about freshly baked delicious hot cross buns. Yum! So, yesterday I was packing some treats for friends, I was putting them in paper gift bags that I bought thinking that it would be too much for my poor hand to sew any gifts that I planned... mug rugs, apples, bunting. Well, half way through I stopped packing and went to my sewing nook, pulled some lovely pinkish pastel fabrics of the shelves and started sewing. That's just me.

Cute as a Button or Stamps Everywhere

Look what I have been playing with! Stamps and ink, buttons and fabric snippets. If I spent a bit more time at my desk the other day, I would've stamped everything around me, that's how much I enjoyed doing that.

Stamps, Stamps and More Stamps

I have been busy. Very busy. Busy with making stamps. Yes, fabric stamps. Aren't they lovely? So many of them and they are all different. Any ideas what to use them for? I am still thinking.