Sewstainable Gifts and Decor

It's been a minute since I made a cross-body messenger bag, but I was inspired today to make one as a gift for a very special person this week, and needed a practice run.
And I LOVE this print 😍
This one will be a donation to a charity auction next weekend, if I can bear to let it go.

New wristlet colourways in production.
Huge drop coming soon.
Watch this space for details of the drop.

Building my wristlet stash, a few at a time.

Wristlets are handy! (See what I did there? 😉)

A string of bookmarks, that are bound for my church's fundraising table at a local shopping centre, or local schools as prizes for students.
A quick, easy project that uses up lots of scraps really simply.

New tricks!
I've been wanting to try these for a while.
Wristlets, that can be used as a keyring, a phone clip (with your own fitting) or turn a wallet into a clutch for a night out.
There'll be lots of these popping up as my energy starts to come back after recent surgery. They'll be $6 each or 2 for $10. Cotton canvas or quilting cotton+wadding.
Option to add a name for $2-3.
Great gift idea, or buy a few to co-ordinate with your outfits.
Watch this space. 🤩

Quilting inspo is everywhere.
I'm having a hospital stay at present, and this artwork at the nursing station caught my eye. It's bright, cheerful and would challenge my piecing skills.

Not getting much sewing time these days, but I'm so happy with this random crazy idea inspired by one of my favourite followers.
Hand pieced hexagons, appliqued as a wreath. So many new skills.
It's my first Anzac Day out of uniform in 18 years tomorrow, and somehow finishing this project became really important to me.
Back to stash busting now, and hopefully I'll have some gifts for Mother's Day up soon.

I've been using my beautiful shopping tote bags lately, and can affirm that the long-handled version make it so easy to carry in all the groceries you can fit into them.
Mother's Day is coming up. Thinking of doing a re-stock of the tote bags and maybe some pretty tea towels - I saw a tutorial I'm keen to try out.
Who's interested?
$20 tote bags
$25 quilted tote bags
Tea towels - no idea. Maybe $8 each or 2 for $15.

A bonny wee bloom. 😍
Still slow stitching.

Slow stitching is, well, slow.
But it's also so satisfying! Check out the seam-side view bottom right of photo 1 - SO neat!
Lots of recreational ironing, and I've discovered the joy of starch!
Each individual hexagon is hand cut (with scissors), secured into shape around the templates, hand-pieced into the flowers, templates un-glued, seams basted, and now I have 10 beautiful pieces ready to applique. Each piece passes through my hands about 5 or 6 times, so there's a LOT of love going into this project.
All made with scraps from other projects, nothing from my stash so far. And re-using the paper templates as many times as possible.
It's a beautiful, peaceful way to pass time at the end of the day. 😊

Finally found a re-purpose for all those masks I cut out but didn't see.
New obsession: English paper pieced hexagons. No idea what I'll make with them, but that's a whole new hobby 😉

My first paper-pieced block.
I love this technique, which I learned today.
Such a simple way to create consistently square blocks! I made about 15 in a couple of hours. Really looking forward to seeing the finished quilt. I'm planning to do a QAYG and hopefully try some fancy quilting stitches on Edith Pfaff if I ever get my sewing room unpacked.

Take 2.
Coconut ice exfoliating and moisturising soap. Yes, there's a white layer under the pink.
So far, it looks more promising. Mostly because Mum got her Mum's double boiler out today for Christmas baking, and I thought it might be worth a try for soap melting. Mum was not amused 🥺
It looks like it should smell like musk sticks rather than coconut, but I can't wait til it dries. It seems to be setting better than yesterday's effort already.
Now I'm off to wash the double boiler so I can use it for truffles tomorrow.

So, I did bring Jerry the Juki away with me for Christmas, but my fingers got itchy and I've been running around, so I spent half an hour experimenting with soap today.
I think it's going to be a science experiment fail, but 🤞when it's set, I might have some lovely fragrant soap for Christmas stockings...
Fragranced with vanilla, Balance and Harmony blends, and added coconut and rice bran oils for moisturising.

TFW you see a gift you made for someone and you see it in their house 😍

What's a girl who loves to sew supposed to do when she's stuck on the road for hours on end?
This girl just cut out loads of Christmas wrap strips, ready for a day of car-crafting while her L plater gets up some hours of highway driving.
The first star will be a gift for our hosts before we hit the road in the morning.

I did it!
A tiny tote.
I do love a challenge, especially when it's finished.

When you planned an early night, but you have ideas to turn into beautiful things.
Hopefully.
This is a custom job commissioned by my Mum.
If it works, I might make more.
My first (small) tote bag with a zip.

Two special custom bags today.
Wonder Woman (with red quilted lining) and a vintage coffee print (with black quilted lining).
I don't usually take orders, but there will definitely be some coffee print bags coming up (in between repairing, packing and cleaning my house) over the next few weeks. One for me, at least one Christmas gift, and hopefully then a few for purchase.
These are priced at $25, not the usual $20, as they take longer to make, and the quilted fabric is hella expensive ($27/m) compared to the fabric I normally use for lining ($6/m).

Yesterday was a creative day.
I winged a tutu (my first!) and some headbands for a first birthday yesterday, and then followed up with a paint and sip class.
Loads of fun.

Dreaming of cool, refreshing blues?
This bag has your name written all over it!
$20, 2 only.
And no, the coffee themed bag is not available, but I bought more of it this week, so I might have time for a couple of custom orders.

She's a 10, but you forgot to check you had both outer pieces in the right direction before you cut the corners 🤦🏼
I guess I'll have to keep her 🤷
Wonder Woman, with a beautiful thick, structured lining. Great to protect your mangoes and avocados from bruising, or to protect your rice crackers and cream biscuits from crushing.
There's enough for at least one more. She'll be $25 though, because of the licenced fabric and quilted lining.
These bags take, on average, 1-2 hours to make, so you're still getting a bargain.
Keep an eye on the Christmas Collection album for a sneaky release later today or tomorrow. You might like to "follow" the album so you get a notification.

I didn't fuss with photos, so they're not great, but I just found these when I was putting my bookmarks away.
NOTE: These have an open seam in the bottom of the rear pocket, but for $5 each, I'm not hand sewing them.
These are great as card wallets. I keep 4 or more cards in each pocket of mine. They're also good for coin purses (if you stitched the seam closed), tea bags, even a panty liner or a couple of tampons.
Good stocking stuffers.

Supermarket tote bags, zipper pouches and more. Description and price on individual photos. Comment to buy.
More photos to come over the next few weeks.

Checks available.
Stripes sold.

Loving the turquoise hues. 💙
Coming up next:
Reds ❤️

Shut the front door! 😍😍😍
This beauty isn't quite finished, but she's so beautiful, I just had to show you a sneak peek.
I know I promised the Christmas collection would launch this weekend, but it might be another day or two.
I forgot the time it would take to photograph. 🤦🏼

Finished this lovely supermarket/tote bag this week. The handles were a bold choice, but I LIVE them! 😍
And I have news 🧑‍🎄
Christmas Collection is launching this weekend! Prices so low you'll ho ho ho.