Spiderman Spiderman does whatever a spider can...

My little man Jeremy has become a little bit Spiderman-obsessed lately, see figures 1 and 2 for example...

So I told him I would make him a Spiderman cape. Well you should have seen his face! He was so excited! He even came to Spotlight with me to choose material.

This is what we came up with...

I was rather proud until Chris came home from work and told me that Spiderman doesn't have a cape...

Hmm... well if he did I'm sure this is what it would look like!

Kate xx

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DIY Handtowel Tutorial

I've found that I somehow seem to have an over-abundance of tea towels and yet only ONE hand towel in my kitchen. Which I'm finding to be incredibly annoying, because I'm forever having to wash it (and when I do, I have no spares to use)! So, I decided to turn a few of my extra tea towels into some hand towels. 

This is my first attempt at writing a tutorial, so I hope that you find it easy to follow! Let me know what you think =)

You will need:

1 tea towel

1/4 metre fabric

Approx 15.5 inches of 1.5 inch wide ribbon

Hand towel template (print it here)

1 button

small square of velcro

sewing machine and other sewing supplies

Step 1

Cut your tea towel in half (you can use one tea towel to make 2 separate hand towels! Yay for re-purposing!)

Step 2

Take your ribbon and pin it across the bottom of your tea towel somewhere. Be sure that you fold under the edges (which are still hanging over in my photo) so that the frayed ends don't show once sewn in place. I used about 15.5 inches of ribbon - I got this measurement by taking the width of my tea towel (which was 13.5 inches) and adding roughly an inch to either side.

Step 3

Use a straight stitch to sew along to length of the ribbon, both top and bottom. Then sew down the very outside of the short edges. You should end up with something like what can be seen in the below photo.

Step 4

Turn your tea towel over so that it is ribbon side down (with the raw edge of tea towel at the top and ribbon at the bottom). Fold it over one third of the way.

 Step 5

Now you need to turn this fold back on itself and pin in place. This part sounds a little confusing, so I hope that the photos help you to get a clearer picture of this step.

This is what your Step 5 fold should look like from the top:

Step 6

You will need to repeat Steps 4 & 5 for the other side of the tea towel. Both sides should be pinned in place. This photo is the view from the top, showing the completed folds. When you measure across, it will need to be about 6 inches wide (so adjust your folds to suit this).

And it should like this when you are looking at it flat on the table:

Step 7

Sew a quick stitch across the folds to hold them in place.

The front of your tea towel should now look similar to this:

Step 8

We are now going to move onto making the top for our hand towel =)

Fold your fabric in half (right sides facing) and trace around the hand towel template you have printed out (print it here). Cut around the shape you traced.

You should now have two identical pieces.

Step 9

Place the two pieces right sides together and sew 1/4 inch seam around all of the sides, except for the bottom. Trim off the excess fabric around the edges and cut some small triangles into the corners, as you can see in my photo. Turn the whole thing right side out (you may find it helpful to use a pen to push upwards when turning through the long part).

Right side out, it should look like this:

 Step 10

Fold under the bottom of your hand towel approximately 1/2 an inch (this hides the raw fabric edges) and tuck the tea towel a couple of inches into your hand towel top. Sew a straight stitch 1/4 inch from the bottom, through the two parts. You may choose to sew another line a 1/4 inch from the first one, however this is optional.

This is how it should sit (although I haven't yet stitched it together in this photo):

 Step 11

There are two different ways to add your button here. You may choose to do a traditional button with a buttonhole. Or your other option is to do what I did, and use velcro (my husband has now proceeded to inform me that this is actually cheating! I beg to differ haha).

If you are using my 'cheating' method, take your two halves of the velcro and place them onto the hand towel. Sew firmly in place.

Step 12

Last step! Woohoo!

Now all you need to do is hand stitch or machine stitch your button on the opposite side of where you sewed the top velcro piece. And you're DONE!

ENJOY the satisfactory feeling you get when looking at your finished product =) Hang it proudly on your oven or a kitchen cupboard handle and feel the satisfaction every time you dry your hands!

 Now get cracking on using the leftover half of your tea towel to make a second one! Get creative and add extra ribbon or lace or embellishments or whatever your heart so desires!

Would love to know what people think of my first tutorial, any feedback would be very much appreciated =)

I'm off to go have some dinner....mmmmmm yummy.....a little bit of pea and ham soup, followed by a walk with my husband and our puppy, then topped off with spaghetti bolognese. Bring it on!

Emilley xx

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Cute Cushions

Happy weekend everyone!
Not only is it really cold here, it is also raining! One of my favourite combinations =) Well, that is until I have to go out! Then it's not so fun.

Anyways, after a super busy week of work, I have finally had some time to make a little housewarming gift for a young couple that we know.

 I made these two cushions for our home not so long ago and have had a lot of people say that they really like them...

So I decided to make a pair of the cushions for their housewarming gift! Hope you like them as much as I do =)

Sorry that these last two photos aren't as bright or clear as the first two - hard to get great lighting on such a gloomy, rainy day.



Can't wait to make more cushions, maybe even adding some pretty things like ruffles or lace. Hmmm so many choices! I think our bed is looking like the next good place for some new handmade cushions =)

Emilley xx Pin It Now!

Lest We Forget

Today marks 97 years since the Anzacs landed at Gallipoli. Thousands of brave young men fought for our country all those years ago, and today we stop and remember these men, and all of the other men and women who have served or are currently serving our country.

These men and women are true heroes, sacrificing so much and yet they proudly march on. The Anzac spirit is something that will not quickly be forgotten - courage under fire, loyalty and true mateship.

Take a moment throughout your day to reflect on and to honour the service of these wonderful people. Also remember the families that stand behind them, supporting and loving.

If you were able to attend a dawn service this morning, you will understand just how incredibly touching the experience is. If you have the opportunity in future to do so, attending a dawn service is one of the most moving ways in which you can remember the Anzacs. As the sun rises over the hundreds of people gathered and the bugle pierces through the cool morning air, emotions are stirred and you can't help but get goosebumps as you remember our brave soldiers.

It is so heartening to see the ever-growing numbers attending dawn services. It is wonderful to see families bringing their children, as we teach the youngest generation about all that Anzac Day encompasses. After all, they are the ones who will continue to remember and to carry on the Anzac tradition one day.

If you would like another way to remember Anzac Day, you could also make some Anzac Biscuits. If you have children, get them involved in the cooking process and use the moment to tell them some of the history behind the iconic biscuits:

"During World War 1, the wives, mothers and girlfriends of the Australian soldiers were concerned for the nutritional value of the food being supplied to their men. Here was a problem. Any food they sent to the fighting men had to be carried in the ships of the Merchant Navy. Most of these were lucky to maintain a speed of ten knots (18.5 kilometers per hour). Most had no refrigerated facilities, so any food sent had to be able to remain edible after periods in excess of two months. A body of women came up with the answer - a biscuit with all the nutritional value possible..."
- Anzac Day Commemoration Committee (QLD)

 The ago old debate is over whether today's biscuits should be cooked until hard, or still slightly soft. We'll leave that up to you =) But this recipe comes from the Australian War Memorial website and is an original recipe provided by Mr Bob Lawson, who was an ANZAC present at the Gallipoli landing.

Ingredients (makes approx 35 biscuits):
1 cup each of plain flour, sugar, rolled oats and coconut
115g of butter
1 tbsp treacle or golden syrup
2 tbsp boiling water (add a little extra water if the mixture is too dry)
1 tsp bi-carb soda

Method:
- Grease biscuit tray and preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius
- Combine dry ingredients
- Melt together butter and golden syrup. Combine water and bi-carb soda, then add to mixture
- Mix butter and dry ingredients
- Drop teaspoons of mixture onto tray, allowing room for spreading
- Bake for 10-15 minutes or until golden

 Lest We Forget

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Re-purpose and re-use!

Lately I have been looking at ways that I can give new life to some old clothes, and make better use of clothes that no longer fit or that I have only worn once or twice.

The other day I cut up a top that doesn't quite fit right, as it is too short in length. I used the material to make a simple skirt for a little girl, and also as the material for my teacup pincushion (see below). I was pretty happy with the results!

And I know that the two new items will get more use than the top ever did. Which was the whole idea of the project!

Next on my list was an old, over-sized, tunic-style top that had no shape to it whatsoever! I love it, however it really does resemble a potato sack as far as shape goes. Definitely not flattering on a pregnant body! I found this tutorial: Sweet Verbena - 20 minute cinch tee tutorial
Very easy to follow and I was able to revamp my old top and give it a much nicer shape =) Can't wait to overhaul other tops in my wardrobe now!

Emilley.

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Emilley's Pincushion!

Good morning everyone =)

I have made my first pincushion! Yay!

I found these teacups at an op shop the other day when I went looking for a sewing table (so that my dining room table could finally go back to normal!). I loved the silver-outlined roses around the cup and around the outside of the saucer. They came in a set of 3, which was good because I am making a second teacup pincushion as a little gift =) Anyone have any suggestions on what I can use the third, leftover teacup for?

I found the pincushion to be quick and easy to make. I did a no-sew version (for a change!).
You simply take a piece of fabric, place a large handful of hobby fill in the centre, bring together all the corners and then tie the ends together with a rubber band. Snip off the excess fabric and squash it into your cup. Then I just glued on the lace and bow around the cup.
It did take me a couple of times to get the amount of hobby fill right (the first time the cushion was too small for the cup, the second time it was too big, and the third time I just had to reshape it by squishing it into more of a ball shape).

Here is my finished result:

Oh, and yes I did end up finding myself a sewing table =) $40 and in great condition, all it needed was a good clean. Big enough desk-top for cutting out fabric as well. Feeling pretty happy with my op shop purchases!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Emilley xx

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Teacup Pincushions!

We have both fallen head over heels in love with the idea of teacup pincushions! They look so sweet and are so much more fun to use than your standard pincushion.
Their design is totally up to you!

They can be pretty and simple...














Or beautiful and detailed...
















A Mother's Day gift perhaps?














Or else make one for yourself like we are going to =) Explore some op shops for cute teacups, find yourself some scrap fabric, some shiny ribbon or some crafty buttons, and get creating!

This blog (luvinthemummyhood) has a whole list of links to tutorials on how to make teacup pincushions:
http://www.luvinthemommyhood.com/2010/08/teacup-pincushion-tutorial-roundup.html?m=1

So enjoy! And if anyone makes these for themselves or for their lovely mothers, friends or family - we'd love to hear how you went!

Keep an eye out for pictures of the ones we make to pretty up our own sewing tables over the next week or so =)

Emilley and Kate xx Pin It Now!

Peyton's Shabby Chic Room

These are a couple of projects I have been working on for Peyton's Shabby Chic room. After doing up Jeremy's room in bright, bold colours I am really enjoying the prettier side of decorating!


This is her Rose lamp shade with a chiffon pearl heart and lace trim. I am currently on the look out for an antique lamp base to replace the shiny silver one it came with!

I fell in love with this gorgeous rose fabric so I have made a matching bunting with a lace trim to hang above her window.

Kate xx

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Fabric Bead Necklaces

Last night I decided to make some fabric bead necklaces and bracelets. Fun to make and pretty darn cute too =)

Also good for children, as the beads can be strung together on the inside, for extra security. Even though the beads are encased in a knotted, stitched fabric tube, stringing the beads together provides that extra safety net should a child somehow manage to chew their way through the fabric casing to one of the beads.

I wore my necklace out today =)

Colours can be more vibrant, or even plain with no printing. Lace can also be added over the top of the fabric for added effect.

Emilley xx Pin It Now!

Interchangeable headbands

Remember these flowers from the the baby beanie post? Well I have been working out a way to turn them into headbands, this time for adults too!




This is what I came up with...

The interchangeable headband!

They can be made up in a range of sizes from newborn right through to adult. The band on the side means you can attach any kind of clip or bow and it can be changed any time you like!

The hair clips can also be worn on their own :)

I will be adding new styles of headbands and clips up regularly so keep an eye out!

Kate xx

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Tasty tanginess - lime meringue tart!

My pregnant self has been relatively lucky and I have so far managed to keep my normal taste buds (for the most part!). What I've found though, is that some of the things I normally enjoy...I now enjoy when intensified in taste. Extra pepper on a toasted cheese and tomato sandwich? You bet! Lollies? I'll take the sour variety please!
I don't overly love super sweet things - I prefer tangy and full of flavour. So my taste buds went a little crazy when I stumbled across this recipe. Sounds like it ticks all the right mouth-puckering boxes =)

http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2009/08/lime-meringue-tart/

I will most definitely attempt to make this at some point (and let you know how it goes, of course).

Emilley =)

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Cup Holder Jewellery Stand from Mod Podge Rocks! Super sweet idea =)

Have a squiz at this tutorial for a 'Cup Holder Jewellery Stand':
Mod Podge Rocks!: Turn a cup holder into a jewelry stand.

This is such a cute idea. We love it! Would be so easy to do. Simple, fun and effective we think. Perfect for little girls and adults alike =) Must try! For Peyton's room perhaps?

If anyone else gives it a go, we would love to hear about how you went! Feel free to comment below if you've made this or something similar.

Emilley and Kate xx Pin It Now!