An Idea Whose Time has Finally Come

I don't know about you, but I have a fairly long lag time between having an idea and executing that idea. I think through over and over how I will actualize my idea. When I think I've finally got it figured out I give it a go. Did I mention my lag times range from 6 months to a couple of years?

Crazy? Probably. I think it's because I am a bit of a perfectionist and I don't like to waste ANYTHING.

I've had the idea for Australian animal finger puppets in my head for a while now. A seemingly simple idea, but for me it was about how I was going to actualize key characteristics of each animal so they would be immediately recognizable and deciding what to hand sew and the colours of felt to use.

I'm not sure why but a few weeks ago, it was an idea whose time had come. In the space of a couple of hours I created three of six animal prototypes. I have three more to create, but at least I have sketched them on paper and identified felt colours.

Wonder which idea will be next:) Cyndy Pin It

A New Needed Prop

If you have stopped by before you probably know I am an avid op shopper. I love finding things I need, like a bathing suit for middle or a casserole dish to replace one I have broken. I also love finding things I don't need, like this lovely tea cup.

Why don't I need it? Well, I don't drink tea. I know, I know, I have never liked tea. I think it's because I associate it with being sick (when I was a child my mum always gave me tea with honey when I was sick). Second of all, it's an orphan. No saucer, no other cups. Just a lonely little cup.

Turns out though, I was wrong about not needing it. I decided to take new picturesof my felt biscuit brooches for my Etsy shop  and the tea cup was the perfect prop, don't you think?:) Cyndy

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To Market To Market

One market down and one to go! This weekend I had a stall at the Ashby Primary School Market Day. This one is a bit special for me, as it's my children's school and not only did I have a stall, but I was one of the organisers:)

The market included indoor and outdoor stalls featuring handmade, vintage and eco-friendly goods, food, activities and the student art show. We were blessed with fabulous weather and it seems by all accounts (stall holders and patrons) it was a wonderful day.

The school didn't do to bad either, we raised about $1,000 more than last year despite shortening the event by an hour. The proceeds will help support the school's music and visual arts programs, both of which are fantastic. We are a lucky little school!

Despite having another market in two weeks (Piccadilly's Market, Sunday November 25th, Geelong Waterfront) I feel I can take a bit of a breather - only some stock to finish up. No worrying about volunteers, flyers, supplies etc....hooray! Cyndy Pin It

Day18 Blogtoberfest - My Creative Space

This week I have been working on a few of my felt Australian biscuits and cakes. I did a special order of Iced Vo Vo and Hundreds and Thousands biscuits so I need to make some more. I find it easier to make them in batches of about 6 - you sort of get a rhythm going. Both biscuits have a lot of detail stitches (can you say hundreds and thousands of french knots?), but at least they are colourful:)

As I have started each batch, I have made some small changes to the design or the how I am making them. I've decided to try cutting the Iced Vo Vo biscuit shape after sewing on the "jam and icing". In the past, I've done the cutting before.

And I have decided to change the colourway slightly on my Hundreds and Thousands biscuits (thanks IG friends for weighing in, you can follow me here ). I am going with brighter colours than I have been using.

Do you make changes to things you make regularly? Do your designs evolve the more you make them?

I hope things are evolving in your creative space this week:) To see what other have been up to, or for inspiration be sure to visit My Creative Space. Cyndy Pin It

Day 11 Blogtoberfest - My Creative Space

Have you ever been afraid to make something? I have. I have embroidered many Australian native flowers, but for some reason I have been intimidated by the idea of embroidering a waratah. I am not sure why. Maybe because its big? Maybe because it has lots of texture? Maybe because it's red?

Honestly, I have no idea why, but I've been scared so I haven't.  And then a funny thing happened, last week some beautiful photographs of real and sketched versions of waratahs showed up in my instagram feed. I knew when I saw them I needed to bite the bullet and try one. So I did:

There are layers of stitches and a lot of them, so its taking me a while. And while not done yet, I can already see some things I would do differently when I make another one.

Yes, I can already tell I will make another one. You see, it turns out it's not as hard as I thought it would be to embroider one:)

Hope your not feeling intimidated or scared to make something in your creative space:) And don't forget to check out My Creative Space for more inspiration. Cyndy Pin It

Day 5 Blogtoberfest - Flannel Flower Pin Cushions in Progress

I love flannel flowers. I love the white and green colour combination and I love the different textures.

When I was playing around with the idea of pin cushions using my wool embroidery of Australian native flowers, it's no surprise that my first one featured a flannel flower. Unfortunately I didn't like how the pin cushion turned out (the round shape didn't work for me), so I kept it for myself and moved onto other flowers.

Since then I have made a number of pin cushions (square in shape, much nicer in my opinion) featuring bottle brush, gum flowers, Geraldton wax flowers and eremaea, but no flannel flowers until now. I made one similar to my very first one and then a different second one.

Same flower, but definitely two different looks. Which one do you like better? Cyndy

PS In case you hadn't noticed I decided to do this crazy thing called Blogtoberfest, an annual blogging festival hosted this year by I Saw You Dancing, where you challenge yourself to blog every day for 31 days.

When I first started blogging I set a goal of 2 posts a week, but since March I have averaged 1 post per week. I thought I needed a bit of a kick in the pants and I have found making public commitments makes me more accountable. And looky see, with this post I am already 1 post more this month than my average:)

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Day 4 Blogtoberfest - My Creative Space

I am one of those people who likes to keep busy, so I always carry a project I can work on in my purse. Although it's the school holidays, the children have had an hour and twenty minutes of swimming lessons each morning, so I have been working on finishing up some felt strawberries and blueberries.

I might have also finished a lamington...

or tim tam or two:)

Hope you are getting lots done in your creative space this week, little or big:) To see what others have been up to be sure to vist My Creative Space. Cyndy Pin It

My Creative Space

The creative process is an interesting one, and probably different for everyone. As I prepare for an upcoming market I am reminded of my creative strengths and weaknesses. I love creating new things, and I am excited that others will be able to see them soon. I am not so good, however, with the repetitive processes required to create more than one of something.

This week I have been working on more Australian biscuit and cake felt food sets. I have decided to focus on making multiples of one biscuit at a time. That means cutting, embroidering, sewing and stuffing the same biscuit or cake, over and over and over. Not sure this is really working for me. How do you handle repetitive creative tasks?

Hope you are getting lots of things done in your creative space, whether they are one offs or repetitive tasks:) And be sure to visit My Creative Space to see what others have been up to this week. Cyndy Pin It

My Creative Space

Still making pin cushions (among other things). I have been trying to vary the Australian native flowers I use, but I do think some look better (and honestly are more recognizable) than others.

Here are two more finished pin cushions (wattle and eremaea) and two more embroidered (swan river daisies and another red bottle brush).

I have two more pinned for sewing (yellow bottle brush and geraldton wax flower)  and two more on the hoop (another wattle and heath). I would also like to do a flannel flower. Phew:)

Hope you are having a productive and creative week. For more inspiration be sure to check out My Creative Space. Cyndy Pin It

My Creative Space

Only 6 weeks until my next market. I had visions of lots of making (the last market I did was in March), but somehow 6 weeks out it appears my vision is not yet a reality.

I have been working on a few new items for the market, including these pin cushions that feature my wool embroidered Australian native flowers. It's an idea that's been percolating for a while (i.e. what size, what shape, how to to do the back), but I only finished the first two in the last 2 weeks (the school holidays here).

I have embroidered the flowers on pieces of old wool blankets found at op shops and have backed them with coordinating quilting fabrics. They are square in shape and measure about 4 inches square finished.

Yes, I am moving at a bit of a snail's pace, but sometimes I need to let things sit for awhile until I work out what I really want to do. I think it's the anal retentive perfectionist in me:) I think their making will move faster now that I've worked out all the details. Well, that's what I am telling myself:) I hope people like them! I've kept the reject one (round in shape, about 3.5 inches in diameter and 2 inches tall) for myself and even though I am not in love with the shape/size, I do like looking at it every time I need a pin!

To see what others have been up to this week, surely at a faster pace than I, be sure to check out My Creative Space. Cyndy Pin It

Op Shop Finds

Sometimes your lucky and sometimes your not, that's the nature of op shopping. This weekend I was lucky:)

I've been looking for some vintage pot holders and  I found two, both in yellow my kitchen colour. Love this little lidded jar too:)

I also managed to find a few things for my girls: a sweet pillow case with embroidered flowers, a sleeping beauty puzzle and a crown cookie cutter.

But my favorite find of the weekend? This wool blanket found in the dog blanket bin! The colours are fabulous.

It has been cut in half (so it's two pieces). I am assuming this is because there are some damaged areas (holes from moths it looks like), but I think I can selvage enough to create a throw blanket for my lounge room and use the remaining bits as background for some of my wool embroidery.

Speaking of, here's a piece I finished this week featuring gum flowers on another op shopped blanket background:)

In case my finds aren't enough for you, be sure to check out Flea Market Finds over at Her Library Adventures:) Cyndy Pin It

My Creative Space - Iced Vo Vo Brooch

I love getting new ideas. Last Friday littlest and I were having coffee with a friend. My friend noted how she loved my felt food, but how her were children were already too old for them. She then commented on how I should have a "big girl" version.

And with that little comment she got me thinking about my felt food a little differently. How could I take what I do and make it "big girl?" And it hit me, a felt brooch. So Friday night after the kids fell asleep I stayed up late making a "big girl" version of my felt Iced Vo Vo - as a brooch!

Wish all new ideas were so easy and came to fruition so quickly - I hope you are getting lots of new ideas in your creative space:) To be inspired by others  this week be sure to visit My Creative Space  at its new home on Village Voices on Kidspot. Cyndy Pin It

My Creative Space

I am not feeling I have much to show for my crafting time this week. It started well. On Sunday morning I managed to complete two accessories for littlest's dollhouse: a mattress and pillow for the bed and a potted plant for one of the rooms.

But since then its been all downhill. I tried to steal some time while I was waiting for littlest at swimming and middle at ballet on Monday, but you can only get so much done in 30 minutes:)

I had high hopes for our extra day off (ANZAC day). I thought it would give me time to complete the flooring and wallpaper in the dollhouse bathroom and bedroom. Unfortunately, I made some miscalculations in cutting, so I won't be able to finish until I get some more scrapbooking paper:(

I hope you have more to show for your crafting time this week than me:) To be inspired or to see what others have been up to you can visit Our Creative Spaces. Cyndy Pin It

My Creative Space - Weet-Bix

Next weekend I will be doing my first market of the year. I have decided 4 markets in a year is probably the most I can handle, both in terms of making stock and balancing all the other activities in my life:)

This week I have been working on finishing up some more of my felt food for the market. Tim Tams, Iced Vo Vos, Hundred and Thousands yes, but I have also been working on finishing up a design I started last year, when I was feeling guilty that all my felt food was of the sweet kind. Surely there had to be some good for you foods that are unique to Australia, right? Well, one of the ones I decided to give a go was Weet-Bix. Yes, you heard right felt Weet-Bix.

If you have visited before you know I do a lot of research on my felt foods. That means I use the real thing as my model (it's a hard life looking at a plate of Tim Tams:). We are not a Weet-Bix family (its NutraGrain in our house) so I did have to buy a package of Weet-Bix.

In examining the Weet-Bix I decided the key element in creating a felt version of Weet-Bix is creating the feeling of texture; to create the look of all those flakes squished together. It took me more than one try, but I am actually quite chuffed with how it finally turned out. I have also added some banana slices for a bit more colour. I may also throw in a few strawberry slices for more colour.

Who thought someone could write a whole post on felt Weet-Bix? Anyway, this will be available via special order from my Madeit shop after next week, and at the Artefact Market in Geelong, March 16th:)

Hope you are getting lots done in your creative space. To see what other have been up to you can visit Our Creative Spaces:) Cyndy Pin It

Op Shop Find - Vintage Embroidered Linens

If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram you would have seen a peek of my latest op shop finds - beautiful vintage embroidered linens! I love vintage linens of all kinds, doilies, tableclothes, tea towels, hankerchiefs, pillow cases, sheets etc... Depending on their condition they can fabulous on their own, or they can be re-purposed to create something else.

I saw one of these gorgeous luncheon napkins (there were four total) and fell in love. They are so sweet and delicate looking. Littlest wants a princess party later this year for her birthday with a few of her friends and I am thinking these would be perfect at a princess tea party:)

I also found this gorgeous cross stitch table cloth. It's the standard square tablecloth size (52 inches). This rose motif is in each corner with a fuller version in the center. It was marked $3.99 but I only paid a $1 for it! Can you believe it? Clearly a great deal of time and care went into making it. It's in lovely condition so I could use it on its own, or maybe someday as part of a quilt?

And then there was this little hankerchief with a basket of flowers in the corner. My first thought was to make a dress for Miss Polly (the doll I made for littlest for Christmas this year) from it.

Oh the possibilities, now just to find the time:) Cyndy Pin It

My Creative Space

Remember those 12 extra child free hours I have been looking forward too? Well, I've found out that's not exactly how it works:)

While it's true the littlest is now in kinder for 12 hours a week I forgot about the to'ing and fro'ing that occurs, how her time overlaps with middle and oldest's school pickup, how I need to do kinder duty, and how I would try and get things done that are easier without any children around like cleaning and groceries.

As a result, while technically I have 12 "child free" hours a week they do not equate to 12 hours for me and my making! Yes, secretly I was thinking I would have more making time. When a I bemoaned my discovery to a friend earlier this week she laughed, smiled and told me she had already discovered this but didn't have the heart to burst my bubble. She thought it would be better for me to learn this on my own:)

I also think I had been hoping/planning to use all this "extra" time to make stock for my first market of the year which is later this month. Now that I have been disabused of that notion, I feel like I am trying to squeeze in a bit of making everywhere I can - even the children's swimming lessons, which of course are now on two different days instead of one.

I have been working on a few new felt food items (yes, I do love my felt food:) I decided to try making teddy bear biscuits. My middle thinks they look like tigers not teddies. Hmmm.

I have also made some pikelets. I think I need to make them a bit smaller though, as they still feel like pancakes (they are ~3 inches in diameter). I also need to put something on top of them, I am thinking strawberry jam and cream?

I hope you are getting lots done in your creative space this week! You can visit Our Creative Spaces for more:) Cyndy Pin It

Op Shop Finds: Vintage Cot Sheets and Pillowslips

On the way to a play date for littlest recently we stopped at one of my favourite op shops. As we pulled up to the oppy I saw what looked like a wooden doll swing sitting outside. My heart skipped a little beat. I got littlest out of the car and started heading across the parking lot and saw what every op shopper hates - someone else picking up the item you have spied! I tried to act nonchalant and to look at some of the other items sitting outside, all the while hoping the other shopper would walk away from the doll swing. But they didn't. Instead they took it inside and purchased it:(

Devastated, littlest and I went into the shop. I wasn't finding much and then I saw it. I couldn't even see the whole thing, but I knew it was a find. I pulled it out from the pile, a vintage embroidered cot sheet. I quickly sorted through the entire pile and found one more cot sheet (same as the first) and two different cot pillowslips.

The photos don't do them justice. The embroidery is so sweet!

Since we don't actually have a cot anymore, I might make pillow cases for littlest and middle from the cot sheets. Or maybe I will just look at them for a little longer:) Cyndy

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