WIP IT 6 - Bedoilied Recycled Sweater pouches

Finally one more off my wip list, I'd been hoarding thrift store wool sweaters for a while and for my Mums birthday last year she asked for some little pouches to organise her makeup etc so I made her one of these (the very first one I ever made) as usual I cut out a few more (4 to be precise) and just never got round to finishing them off.

I loved working with felted wool, it has some stretch to it so is great for you newbie sewers if the two pieces don't line up exactly, also it's similair to using cheapo kiddy felt in that it doesnt fray so there are no ugly seams if you don't want to line something, or are starting out and not sure 'how' to line something. You can also sew using regular needles, thread, stitch length, no special feet, simple. Oh and of course it's recycyling, my fave.

The mini floral pattern is crocheted with plain cream Cotton on the largest pouch (which would not sit attractively despite much stuffing!!) the two smaller pouches have a cream with gold running through it.

I'd ummed and ahhed about adding some vintage buttons to these as I did to my Mums original gift but these I couldn't decide on, but they're done and I can finally cross them off my wip list Yipppeeee

I must also let you know that I've had the loveliest week, I've been nominated for two awards by two amazing bloggers, both sewers too. I'll be blogging about this later and sharing their link with you so you can check them out too, I want to give them more than a couple of lines on the bottom of a post y'know!

I've also been asked if I wanted to be 'featured', on another blog I love, get that, little old me being given a guest spot, but more about that tomorrow.

WIP IT 4 - Circular Jewellery Pouch

Busting out another aged project from my WIP list, this time it's a circular design jewellery pouch. When I make something for a gift I tend to cut out two and try and make a spare, either for me or for a quickie 'I'm rubbish I forgot your birthday' gift. The original pouch went to my sister Hannah last September, and I added some beads to the drawstring and a teeny tiny Key charm was sewn on to the centre of the inside, it looked so cute.

Anyway here is the not so detailed version I wipped (te he he) up last night, It's such an easy design, you could totally make it using a Dinner plate and a side plate as a pattern then mark and stitch four lines from each corner of the inner circle. Adding another circle would give you another 8 pockets also, it's as simple as that. 
For written instructions only, you could try this tutorial which is slightly different to the way I made mine but still quite detailed.

ehow jewelry drawstring pouch

Fully opened out flat showing the Gold rick rack to separate each of the 8 pockets.

As you start to pull it closed the pockets start to be more visible.

Sorry about the yucky photos and different backgrounds, this was me using baby Noahs play mats and a sheet of printer paper as a background, I know I'm so ghetto, no Photoshop wizardry for me :)

WIP IT 3 - Mini Leather Journal

Sorry no cheeky titles today! I've been meaning to make one of these Leather journals since I saw this lovely lady's Etsy shop Pearls of Wisdom, incidentally she is also a Craftster too, check out her blog Classic Inez

I had a ton of Leather scraps in different bright colours so I couldn't resist making one of my own and I just happened to have a tiny scrap of this beautiful vintage ribbon to tie it with. Inside I have covered each batch of paper can't remember the correct term, after all I'm more at home with a sewing machine :) with a scrap from an Atlas that shows places I've lived or visited, these two facing pages just happened to have where I was born and where I live now which I thought was cool.

This was a fantastic idea and again I give full credit to Inez for this idea

I'm no journal maker, in fact I don't even journal but I am a total Bibliophile (that means I love books right? hoping it doesn't mean that I like to do rude things with books or something odd like that haha) I also love stationery and anything I can write notes in or on especialy if it's pretty so I'm so happy with how this turned out, perfect size for my handbag and completely out of recycled materials, go me!

Lastly the lovely reason why I am blogging at lunch time instead of first thing in the morning, my little fella baby Noah wants his cosy time with his Mama reading books on the sofa, and how could I turn down this cute little boy!

A few beautiful handmade journals I found on Etsy

wee chunky book

Love Journals

Hoot Owl Journal

Vegan Leather Journal

Crimson and Red Lace Journal

WIP IT 2 - Sweary Mary Cross Stitch

Oh no she didn't! Yep I've scraped the barrel of my WIP projects for these two beauties, hoping I don't scare off my new readers who may be under the misconception that I am a mild mannered polite English lady :)


I'd like to preface these two pictures by giving you the low down on English people (and pretty much anyone from the UK too)


1. We all swear, even if we do it privately we all do it, yep Grandmas, posh people everyone.
2. We firmly believe that swearing DOES make you cool despite what our teachers/sunday school/parents told us.
3. There is not a crisis that cannot be eased by dropping a few F-Bombs (as the polite Canadians refer to them in my neck of the woods)
4. There is no situation in which swearing is inappropriate, swearing is ALWAYS appropriate, it's just the volume you need to alter to get away with it ;)


Lastly, call it what you like, cussing, cursing, potty mouthing, my personal favourite is effing and jeffing. It's funny and even funnier when paired with one of the 'gentle arts' as they were once referred to, so prepare to cringe, peep through half closed fingers, shield your screen from your Boss/kids but hopefully let out a naughty little giggle.


If you like this post you must check out Julie Jacksons genius subversive cross stitch patterns and kits.



Tilt your head to the right!

This one was actually for my Mother-in-Law and no I don't hate her but my hubby thought it would be hilarious, fingers crossed!

So there it is, base humour at its finest :)

WIP IT 1 - Felt Dahlia Broch

Busting through those WIP projects this week for what I am calling WIP it (I know, genius right?), I'm going to be going hell for leather and applying my stubborn Taurean streak to the numerous unfinished projects I have littering my apartment.

Todays finished article: the Felt Dahlia brooch, I've had these pieces all cut out since November, I'm such a slacker I know.

Check out the link to make your own, link 2 is some notes to make the process easier, I found using fabric glue was not successful but I wizzed through with a glue gun and didn't need to leave my petals overnight to dry so it was even quicker, allowing me to get cracking with another WIP project I've put off since September this time, yep I'm going Chronologically (at least for today anyway!)

Not Marthas Felt Dahlia Brooch Tutorial
Notes to accompany the tutorial

Tomorrow some offensively worded Cross stitch, be prepared to look through your fingers folks as I become a sweary Mary, sorry Mum sorry Nanny Gray! (Yep I call my Grandma Nanny, I'm English what did you expect!)

2011 Pledge? Anyone?

So I've been a slacker, I am a typical Taurean and go balls bulls out for a new project forgetting totally about previous ones so my promise to get cracking on the WIP list has fallen by the wayside in favour of my beloved Hand-me-Down Horrors restyles.


Yep, I have completely ignored my 2011 pledge for at least a month, anyone else have the March 'I've already forgotten my New Years resolutions' feeling? I'm sure it's not just me that needs to 'fess up.


No longer will I leave those poor unloved WIP projects to fester in a dark drawer, I have a ton of projects that are so close to finishing that I have no excuse, so here goes; a Week of WIP (work in progress) I will be trying to complete a project a night and put all my new project ideas on the backburner, for a little bit anyway.


If you have a few WIP projects hanging around maybe it's time to bust them out too, time to stand up and be counted people, no more neglecting of these unloved projects.

Hand-Me-Down Horror No. 6 - No Love for Moths

So this one had me stumped for a while, it was originally a short sleeved fitted sweater in a gorgeous soft wool, so gorgeous in fact that Moths had taken a great big nibble out of the back in a most inconvenient place, over one of the shoulder blades. Not easily patched up or cut out, had it been on the front then easy peasy.

I threw it in the Washing Machine to felt it a little then drew on the back with yarn and stitched it down with embroidery floss, I think stitchy types call this Couching?

The felting process also made it too small especially as I had decided to make it into a Cardigan so I added some Crochet to the edges and now it fits. It's nothing difficult, just single crochet then some shells for the button holes. I'm not an expert at Crochet by any means but this did the trick. I added some mismatching buttons mainly because I couldn't find 8 matching buttons, I love how this looks though, and finally some Rick Rack around the collar and voila!

Some before shots of the Horror that is was before!

I think this one will grow on me, I had it half finished for a couple of months and wasnt sure how I felt (te he he) about it, and I think I still have some tinkering to do when I get some more ideas about the sleeves, they need some trimming I think both with Scissors and Crochet too, Hmmmm maybe some more Rick Rack'll do the trick! haha 

Hand-me-Down Horrors No. 4 Mens shirt recon

Finished this puppy last night but taking photos of stripes? I'd forgotten how much of a pain it is phewee!

So this was a uniform shirt for Sysco, it had two pockets and was originally an XXXL so plenty of room for little ole me!

I wipped off both pockets and placed one higher up to cover the Sysco embroidery, added a bit of the beloved baby Rick Rack and that's it. I did use a pattern for this, patterns definitely serve a purpose when it comes to something more slim fitting.

Unfortunately the photos of this one suck and little baby Noah was only asleep for half an hour today so I didn't get much time to play around with photos, that and I do not use Photoshop, I don't even have it so when I get a good photo it's all me!! Unfortunately sometimes like below the photo makes out like I've made a booboo!!the top looks a little wonky but it's actually not, belt too tight maybe?

So what do I have planned for week 2 of Hand-me-Down Horrors? all being well I have an old Ultrasuede coat recon to something completely different and fingers crossed it works out, a wool granny coat recon, maybe a few more, if you're good!!

Itty bitty Gingerbread house... of plastic

So I finally got this slice of cuteness finished last night and added a few sequins this afternoon when the little fella was happily smearing Peanut Butter across his face (he calls it eating!)

I followed the tutorial from http://www.craftypod.com/ as it was the first time I've ever used Plastic canvas to make something 3D, and I am now deep in Plastic canvas love.

I even managed to score the perfect size plastic canvas from a recent thrift store expedition for a wopping 5c for a whole bag, I hadn't been to this particular store for a while and I showed up on 50% off everything day, what are the chances?!!

Anyway this was made with 7 count plastic canvas and stitched with Continential stitch (apparently) using all 6 strands of embroidery floss and measures less than 2'' tall/wide.

Enjoy x

WIP list, another one bites the dust

Yowsers I am storming through the dreaded WIP list, totally kicking butt and taking names, ok so it's only the first week so I am revelling in my short success and just hoping it lasts the distance.

I'm looking at the cutest little plastic Gingerbread house at the moment, but alas I live in an apartment with such bad lighting it is only rivalled by a mole hill, so no photos until tomorrow, but just prepare yourself for some miniature loveliness. 

WIP project 2 down ...

So it would seem that blogging albeit this short time has already put a fire under my butt and has prompted me to finish the first on my WIP list yahhoooooo.

These Cross stitch hoops measure 4 inches and are due to go to my swap partners for a Craftster swap, if you've not checked out craftster(http://www.craftster.org/) then head on over there sharpish.

The Monogram really had me squinting at the screen after my printed failed me again Agggghhh, but it all worked out great in the end thankfully.

Patterns:
Cat - http://www.etsy.com/shop/andwabisabi?ref=seller_info
Vintage Monogram - http://patternmakercharts.blogspot.com/

What's it all about... Ruby?

I started this blog for a few different reasons, but mainly to keep track of my crafty projects that seem scattered all over the joint otherwise.

Here goes,

1. I have the worlds biggest scrap bag, honestly I can't bear to throw anything away so look out for me on a future episode of Hoarders, possibly to be entitled 'the house the Hoover forgot'
So back to the subject again!, in 2011 I really want to work on reducing my scrap mountain, Mount Scrapapalooza if you will.

2. I also have WAYYYYYY (repeat to fade) too many projects that I've started and never finished, seriously it's a continuing joke that I just start projects for fun but am not interested in finishing them. 2011 is the year to bust those WIP projects.

3. I also have an embarrassingly large stash of everything crafty, I literally never need to shop for supplies for new projects, except I do because, well ladies we all love shopping am I right?

So here's the dealio friends, in 2011 I'm making a pledge to:

• Finish min 2 wip projects to every one new project I start.
• Any new projects must be completed properly start to finish.
• Work through my scrap bags for new projects.
• Once scrap bags are gone/manageable get stashbusting.

If you're up for the challenge and want to join in let me know. I'm going to be posting pictures of what I've finished (wip projects) and new projects too so keep up with progress and feel free to share links of projects you've finished too.