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

Day 25 Blogtoberfest - My Creative Space

Even though I had a million other things to do (read should be doing) this week I indulged in a bit of Christmas crafting.

 

 

I shared a sneak peek earlier, but now I've done more and taken pics in better light:) They are Australian animal shaped Christmas ornaments!

This is an idea that's been in my head for 3 years. How do I know its been 3 years? Well, I had the idea right before we last went to the US and that was 3 years ago this Christmas. You see, I thought my idea might make a nice project for the children, something they could give Grandma, Auntie etc....

Only the project never happened, too much going on, children weren't interested. Honestly I don't remember why, I just know the idea never came to fruition.

So skip to this past Sunday. Looking for something to keep middle busy. We are going overseas again, so I thought they might make good presents (sound familiar). This time middle was interested so project was a go, despite a million other things I should have been doing.

I found the shapes many moons ago at Kaisercraft, some traditional Christmas shapes and some Australian animal shapes. It was the Australian animal shapes I was most interested in. In my quest for creating Australian themed craft activities I thought the idea of combining Australian animal shapes and Christmas themed papers was genius. Well, in my head at least. That is until now:)

I painted the edges, cut and glued the paper on both sides and voila, Christmas ornaments. Simple, no? And now that I have made them, yes, I do believe they are genius:) I even went out and got more shapes to make:)

I hope you are bringing genius ideas to fruition in your creative space:) For more spaces and inspiration this week, be sure to check out My Creative Spaces. Cyndy

PS Be sure to also check out the My Creative Space challenge for November! Pin It

Day 22 Blogtoberfest - Lorikeets and Cockatoos, Oh My!

There was quite a racket in my backyard yesterday; that can only mean one thing, the birds were here.

We get two noisy visitors to our backyard from time to time: rainbow lorikeets and cockatoos (white and black). While both birds are common to our part of Australia, they are not common to me. I grew up in the United States. Common birds to me are robins, cardinals, and blue jays. Lorikeets and cockatoos are something I would expect to see in a pet store or zoo.

As a result, I get excited when they show up in my back yard and have their conversations. Yes, my kids think I am a bit crazy. Yesterdays visitors were lorikeets. There were a handful of them squawking up a storm in the almond tree. The cats and I watched them for about an hour:) Cyndy Pin It

Day 21 Blogtoberfest - A Koala Christmas

Not that I don't have enough to do, but today I decided to work on a few Christmas ornaments (that's right, I said the dreaded C word).

 

I've had the idea for this ornament in my head for about 3 years. And a simple idea it is: Australian wooden animal shapes covered with Christmas themed papers.

I still need to punch the hole at the top and add ribbon, but hopefully you get the idea:)

Originally I thought the children could make these for my family who live overseas. They still could, if I hadn't used all the Australian animal shapes:)

Have you started any Christmas projects or gifts for friends or relatives yet? Cyndy Pin It

Making Something New

This weekend I made something new, a potholder. Not an earth shattering craft project by any stretch of the imagination, but I had never made one before. I made them because someone asked me to. A friend who is traveling overseas this week called me Thursday and said "I need something for my Aunt, she has an organic bakery, can you make some pot holders from vintage tea towels with Australiana on them?"

I said "yes" and I did. Now, I don't know about you, but whenever I make something specific for someone I am always a tad nervous about whether they will like it. Fortunately, she did, even deciding to give one of them to her mother in law instead:)

It also got me thinking about how I come up with new ideas of things to make. Clearly being asked is one way. I am not sure I would have come up with pot holders on my own accord. Sometimes I am inspired by things that others have made (online, magazines, at markets), like a skirt. Other times I am inspired by necessity, like headbands and hair ties (for my girls). And still other times I am inspired by the raw materials themselves (fabric, children's books) and think what can I make that will best utilize or showcase the materials, like bunting or cushion covers.

 

Regardless of how I come up with new ideas, one thing is for sure, I have more ideas than I can implement. I don't know about you, but I keep a notebook, where I write down all my ideas, and as I implement them, I fill in the details, like measurements, materials/colours used, costs for me to make etc... Why all the details? That's in case I want to make something more than once. I'm a make by the seat of my pants kinda crafter, so its usually documenting after the fact rather than before:) But documenting none the less.

So, hope you like my newest idea. My friend thinks I should make more of them for markets. I'm not convinced yet, but glad I made them at least once. So what's your newest idea and how did you come up with it? Cyndy Pin It

Fabric Stash: Koala (Bear)

In the last two weeks I have been on a bit of a binge. No not food, fabric! I am always looking for Australian themed fabric to use in my projects (all part of my Australian obssession:). I don't often find such fabrics in shops, instead the internet is my friend and for some reason over the last week or so, I have come accross five different koala (bear) fabrics that I needed to have for my stash.

The first two seem to be cotton poly blends. Not my favourite fabric to work with (I don't really like the feel) but on the plus side they don't wrinkle much:) Plus how could I resist this little beach koala?

The other three are all cotton flannel. Love the feel of flannel, and the koalas on these three are so sweet:) I've been thinking about making some rattle balls (for babies) and think this flannel would be perfect mixed with other fabrics.

And these are just the five koala themed fabrics I found this week - can you imagine what else is in my stash after years of collecting? Cyndy Pin It

My Creative Space

I know it's the third week of term 1 but we are still settling into the school year routine in our household. Littlest's kinder schedule has been a bit truncated (to help them settle in I guess). It has made things are a little hectic as her schedule has been inconsistent. But next week she starts her full schedule so that should all change. It will also mean almost 12 child free hours a week for me - not that I am counting or anything:)

Despite the inconsistencies, this week I have been working on some items for a market coming up next month. As it's just before Easter I thought I would create some more of the  Easter finger puppets that are in my Madeit shop. They include a bunny, a chick and of course, since we live in Australia, an Easter bilby:) So lots of cutting felt and embroidering sweet little faces. Just sewing them together is left to do; hopefully I will get to that this weekend.

Hope you are settling in if you have children back at school/kinder and getting some child free time to get more things done in your creative space:) Check out more at Our Creative Spaces this week. Cyndy Pin It

My Creative Space - Easter Finger Puppets with an Australian Twist!

My creative space has been a bit hit or miss over the summer holiday. With all three children home there just hasn't been the time I would like (or space for that matter as they have taken over all spaces including my crafting studio, the kitchen table:) as keeping them occupied has taken centre stage.

But amongst the strawberry picking, beach going, op shopping, movie going, play dating, board gaming, video gaming, crafting and legoing I have been working on one little project for my Madeit shop - Easter finger puppets! I know, I know Easter already? But for once I am trying to be ahead of the curve:)

I find the focus on chocolate at Easter a bit overwhelming, so I try to minimize the chocolate by giving the children a few small bits and bobs in their baskets. I came up with the idea of Easter finger puppets last year. I know pretty mundane, but there is an Australian twist, as they include not only a bunny and a chick, but an Easter bilby:) They seemed to be a hit last year with the kids and friends, so I decided to make some to sell in my Madeit shop this year.

Despite the lack of routine and the feeling of constant chaos and clutter about the house, these summer holidays have passed quickly. Oldest and middle start back to school next week and littlest starts 4 year old kinder. Now that will be a big change - not sure what I will do without my constant shadow of almost 4 years!

Hope your holidays have been enjoyable whether you have been creative or not:). For more creative spaces this week check here. Cyndy Pin It

My First Crafty Swap - My Sunshine in the Mail

It's a little bit late, but I am finally sharing what I received in my first crafty swap, the Snail Mail Swap organized by Sheree at Seaweed and Raine earlier this month (you can see some of what I sent to my swap partner here and here).

Per Sheree's hope, it really was a little bit of sunshine in the mail! I received my swap from Christie at Describe Happy. Christie lives in the US, so it was not just mail, but INTERNATIONAL mail - loved that!

The day the package arrived was a cloudy day and as soon as my children saw a package in the mailbox they tried to claim it as their own. As soon as I saw it I disabused them of this notion, and claimed it for my own. I did let them help me open it:)

Christie had done a little tease post, but I resisted the temptation of looking. I wanted it to truly be a surprise, and what a I lovely surprise it was! Christie had definitely been sussing me out. The package included all sorts of little goodies: fabric, origami paper, cheeky birdie labels, a beautiful jade bracelet and some origami corner book marks. The piece de resistance however, was this fab zipper pouch:

How cute is that?! And how perfect for me - wombats on one side and that gorgeous koala fabric on the other. There are several handy little compartments inside as well:)

I have already been enjoying some of my goodies, although I have had to fend off my oldest daughter (age 7) who really wants the jade bracelet and the origami paper:)

A BIG, BIG thank you to Sheree for organizing it all and to Christie for her package of goodies! It really was a little package of sunshine in the mail:) Cyndy

PS if you haven't done a crafty swap you should - I had so much fun giving and receiving:) Pin It

My Inspiration

Sometimes a project just comes together. My youngest daughter (age 3) had a birthday party today. We had settled on a little baking set as the gift for the birthday girl (age 4), but it just seemed, well a little blase. Last night at about 5pm it hit me, what the gift needed was a little apron to go with it. I could see the apron in my head; I was imagining a 1950's style apron, but with an Australian twist:) So I went in search of inspiration:

I love this beautiful retro style apron from SpicerRak Designs . The pockets are fabulous!

And this solid color apron with a fun print from StitchnShout is cute, especially the ruffle!

And who could resist this halter neck style apron from Lovers Dovers . I love the dots and rick rack combination!

So with my inspiration in mind I went to work and before 2pm today I had created this:

My 1950's inspired apron for a 4 year old (as modeled by my youngest).  Since I gave this one away, I am thinking I might have to make one soon for another little girl I know:) Cyndy Pin It

My Creative Space...

One of the crafts I enjoy the most is cross stitch; I find the repetitive nature of cross stitch very calming and I like watching the image slowly appear. I have been working on this one as part of a series featuring Australian wildlife. While I have done a lot of different kinds of cross stitch (from table linens, to hand towels, to birth samplers) I especially love the silloutte look and the use of tone on tone in this one. I also like the rustic look I achieved using hessian fabric as my canvas.

You can see more creative spaces here. Cyndy Pin It