Creation a week # 18 & 19

Here are a couple of creations I've been working on in the last few weeks...

A nappy pouch for me. Lined and with a drawstring. It fits the Huggies travel wipe pack a few nappies an old fashioned flat nappy (I use these as change mats) and nappy cream etc. Great to have it all in one pouch that I can just throw in whatever bag we're taking. Although to be honest, Adele rarely needs to be changed when we're out these days.

And a shopping tote for my mother-in-law's birthday. I love this fabric. I got it at the op shop. It was an old cushion cover :) It looks like birds sitting on telephone wires. My MIL loves birds so it seemed appropriate for her. Hopefully she'll get good use out of it - getting groceries or as a library book bag perhaps?

Creation a week #17

I made this wee purse for my niece Jacinda who turned 7 this week. (It's in the mail... or will be in the next day or so...)

I used this tutorial but put some stuffing in the tail instead of quilting it like she suggested.

I hope J likes it! Might have to pop some goodies inside it as well :)

Creation a week #16

Oh dear, it's been so long since I posted anything let alone a creation. I have been making stuff just need to remember to photograph them.

I'm in love with this one though. I never thought I'd need a pincushion. It seems like an old-lady type thing to have but boy! it's useful.

This is made from an old baby food jar. I used this tutorial. I wish I had a pile of buttons to go inside but my collection is nil at the moment! But I found some paua pieces, the colours go well with the fabric I think.

Creation a week #15

Can you believe that my little girl is one?

Her party is coming up this weekend so I thought I'd better have a practice run at baking a cake & icing it. The baking part went fine. But the icing... why does my butter cream icing always split? Noone I've talked to seems to have this problem. They just look at me like I'm a freak. Apparently butter cream icing is easy. Sigh.

For the actual party I'll be attempting a teddy bear!

So anyway, I forgot to photograph it before coffee group - here are the remains.

Creation a week #14

And here's another creation. I made these pocket tissue holders to give as a wee gift to the facilitators of the SPACE programme Adele and I have been attending over the past year.

Really simple and quick to make - 5 minutes? I even used a pair of my old jeans :) I think I'll make a few more to pop into my box of 'emergency gifts'. There are tonnes of tutorials online but I used this one.

Creation a week #13

Finally made use of the two formula tins my friend gave me. Adele loves these drums. I put uncooked popcorn in one and chickpeas in the other so they double as shakers.

Adele sits up on her knees and rocks side to side while I beat on the drums and sing a Mainly Music song,  'I can beat on my drum, on my drum..." Love it!

Creation a week # 12

I know, I know, it's been ages since I did a creation a week post (May 10th!). That's cause I stopped creating. And then I started again but kept forgetting to photograph them before I gave them away as gifts! But now I've started again in a flurry... might even have enough to catch up! So I'll eek them out over a few days :)

I've been making these crayon rolls for 1st birthday gifts (we've had a few of them lately). This is the 4th or 5th that I've made. Finally remembered to photograph one. I used this tutorial.

Creation a week #11

Made some cards this week. Just to store away for a rainy day. The top two are my favs.

Creation a week #10

I made this taggy blanket for Emma's baby. It was her baby shower yesterday. Sooo excited that she's gonna be a mama too!

Creation a week #9

I've been awol for a few weeks. Not much sleep, holidays, sickness, busy-ness etc. But this creation I actually did over Easter! It's just taken me this long to get around to photographing and posting it. Adele is getting back in to the swing of things now (sleep-wise) so I'll hopefully have more time for blogging again :)

So here is the Easter bunny I made for Adele. It would have been really cool with a wee bell inside but I didn't have one - next time!

Creation a week # 8

This week's creation is a book for Adele's birth-day cards.

Creation a week # 7

My very first softie!

It's a dinosaur-dog-horse. I made it for my neice Abby for her 2nd birthday. It was so fun and totally easy to make. I just drew a rough shape on a piece of paper, cut out the fabric (green polar fleece) popped some blue acrylic felt in for a mane and stitched it up. Easy peasy. I plan to make more!

Adele had to try it out before I wrapped it to sent to Abby! By the look on her face I think we can safely assume she approves.

Creation a week #6

Back after an absence! Busy week - colds, birthday, lenten blog taking up lots of my free time...

So I missed a week of creating. I did bake a ginger slice which is pretty yum but seeing as it is a recipe I've done a few times before I didn't think it counted.

This week's creation however is something new!

Caramel popcorn

It is sweet, and caramelly and salty. I think I'll be making this a lot. And taking it out places when I need to take junk food to share cause it is super dooper cheap to make :)

Here is the recipe. I googled Caramel Popcorn and found it on nzfavouriterecipe.co.nz

4-5 cups of popped popcorn

1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1 T butter
1/2 t salt
1/2 t baking soda (press down on it break up any lumps)

1. Put the popcorn into a large lightly oiled heat resistant container.
2. Place the sugar, water, butter and salt into an, at least two cup capacity, heat resistant glass jug (the jug should be uncoloured as you need to keep an eye on the colour of the caramel).
3. Microwave the mixture on high for 2 min, then stir it until all the sugar is dissolved.
4. Microwave on high, watching carefully, until the mixture turns a light brown (in my microwave this takes 3 - 3 1/2 min). Be vigilent, it can burn very quickly after starting to turn brown!
5. Add the baking soda and quickly stir to mix well.
6. Immediately pour the mixture over the popcorn while still bubbling, and mix well with a large spoon to coat.
7. Break the popcorn up into another bowl while still quite warm.
8. Store in an airtight container when cool.

Yummy yummy scrummy!

Creation a week #5

These flowers are for Adele's room. Recognise the fabric?

Creation a week #4

Wow! I can't believe I'm up to week 4 already. Well, this week's creation has been this new blog.

I had had other plans for creations this week but they just didn't happen. Next week?

But I did spend a significant amount of my spare time creating Silver Jandals so it does count!

Creation a week #3

This week I made a simple cushion cover. Really. Simple. Only took a few minutes. Well maybe an hour by the time I fluffed around getting the sewing machine out etc. I just used a simple (did I say that already?) envelope pattern so that I didn't have to worry about zips (don't know how) or buttons (baby might eat them). And voila!

Oh yeah, forgot to say where the fabric came from. It's a Von Trapp cushion. Yup. Made from my old curtains. Yup. Just like The Sound of Music. Watch out Adele...

But i have to admit it is a bit boring. Perhaps some applique? Right off to google applique.... what is it?.. how do i do it?

A creation a week #2

Whipped up this wee soft cube for Adele last week. Does the fabric look familiar? Stay tuned for more installments of "How many things can Chrissy create with this fabric?"

A creation a week #1

Inspired by Faery Sarah over on Bobbyrobin, I've decided to copy her new year's resolution and try to create something each week. Thanks Sarah! Anything from a sewing project to baking a cake. And I figure if I haven't gotten round to doing something else I can always just say I made some milk this week!

So I missed the first week of the year but I'm sure you'll forgive me. But here is my creation for the second week of the year:

Its fabric over cardboard with a bit of felt in the middle to make it softer. I'm quite chuffed really. Painted wooden letters are really popular at the mo and I had originally thought I'd do that but decided to go for something a little different. The 'd' is my favourite. Love the fabric. Ohh and the green gingham on the 'l' is gorgeous too :)

One day soon I'll post some photos of the whole room for you to see.