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

One a penny, two a penny, hot cross buns

Where has the month of March gone?! Only one week left of term one for the children, and next weekend is Easter, I can hardly believe it!

While Easter conjures up thoughts of rabbits and eggs and chocolate it also means hot cross buns in our part of the world. I like the traditional ones with fruit. The children, of course, love the chocolate ones.

In my quest to make felt food with an Australian twist I decided to give hot cross buns a try. I also used this as a chance to test some new felt (100% wool from the lovely Plushka).

What do you think? Good enough to eat? 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

Pin It

On the Flip Side

The front of an item is what we usually see....

but the back may be more interesting....

 

Don't you love a little surprise on the flip side? 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 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

Day 2 Blogtoberfest - What's rolling around in my head

Some project ideas I get move easily from vision to reality, while others roll around and around in my head, or take multiple attempts before I am satisfied with the outcome.

I've been playing around recently with two felt food ideas, that still aren't quite where I want them to be. One is pavlova. It was one of the first felt food items I made and sold when I opened my Madeit shop, but I haven't made one since. I like how it turned out, but there is something about the design that doesn't feel quite right to me.

Pavlova (aside from the fruit) has texture and the first version I made ignored this. So I have been playing with ways to create the swirls of the meringue and cream. I have also been playing with the idea of individual pavlovas.

The other is Vegemite on saladas (saladas are saltines or a square cracker if your not Australian:). Saladas are easy shape wise, but they are mottled in colour. I've been experimenting with tea dying and think this might be the answer, but haven't quite achieved the affect I want yet. And then there is the Vegemite. I thought about using "puffy"paint or dimensional paint and spreading it with a real knife. I've also looked at the idea of creating "worms" (for non Australians you put Vegemite (or Vegemite and and butter) between two saladas and press so that "worms" squeeze out of the holes in the saladas). But how to create the "worms?" Yarn or multiple strands of embroidery thread?

OK, I might not have the answers yet for my pavlova or saladas and Vegemite, but don't worry I am not giving up. I just need to let them roll around a little longer in my head and try a few more ideas:) 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 - Jam Drop Biscuit

Have I mentioned I love working with felt (as exemplified by here and here)? Over the weekend I decided to add a new felt biscuit to my collection that Australian home baked favourite, the jam drop. So I made one, then a second, then a third and finally a fourth, but of the miniature kind:)

Yes, I couldn't resist adding it to both my felt play food collection and my growing felt biscuit brooch collection. Do you think there is a way I could wear all four at the same time?

Hope you got a chance to work on something new this week. Be sure to visit My Creative Space for more inspiration. 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 - 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

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

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: Meet Miss Polly

At Christmas a new member joined our family - Miss Polly. Miss Polly is a doll that I made for littlest. Littlest had fallen in love with a friend's doll and I ran across the maker of the doll (AK Traditions) at the Melbourne Craft and Quilt Fair way back last July. Not only do they make dolls, they sell patterns for dolls. And so the deal was sealed; I came home with the pattern and the felt to make littlest the doll of her dreams for Christmas:)

Of course, I didn't start early enough and found myself still needing to complete the doll on the 24th of December. It was quite a marathon. Did I also mention that I had committed myself to making matching bedding for the doll (I had gotten an IKEA doll bed for her as well)? Yes, what I was thinking.

The good news is that I managed to finish the doll, a nightgown and the bedding. And so there she was waiting on Christmas morning for littlest.

Miss Polly has definitely been a hit. She is a constant companion, sleeping in her doll bed right next to littlest's bed at night and accompanying us when we go out and about.

Over the summer holiday I have continued to add to Miss Polly's wardrobe, with the most recent items being a pair of boots and a hat this week (I think we are already preparing for winter:). Littlest also has a few requests for Miss Polly on my crafty to do list - first and foremost is a boyfriend. I think that might have to be a birthday present:)

Hope lots of creating is going on in your creative space this week. For more creative spaces make sure to visit here. 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

Felt Play Food: Hundreds & Thousands

In one of my more desperate inspired parenting moments this week, I plucked a packet of Hundreds & Thousands off the shelf while shopping with littlest at Aldis. I had forgotten to bring her water bottle and a snack and she was whinging up a storm. I was hoping the promise of a biscuit when we got home would keep her quiet. It didn't:(

My impulse purchase, however, wasn't a total loss. I had been thinking about making a felt version of the biscuit for a while, and now I had the research I needed. And yes, my research did require eating some:)

You will note these are a round version (non Arnotts), there are also square ones (Arnotts). I decided to make the round ones as so many of the other felt biscuits I have made (e.g. iced vo vo, tim tam) are rectangular:) You know, just trying to shake things up a little:)

Next on my list? Tic Tocs - more research though is required:) Cyndy Pin It

My Creative Space...

This week I have started getting ready for my first market! That's right, a market:) It's not til November, so still a ways off, but with how things work around here I figure I need to focus on it when I can. If you have any market advice or tips I would love to hear it!

I have also been working on some more Christmas items. In keeping with my love of felt food, I have been working on some Christmas themed felt food. This is my first take on a Christmas pudding. I am also thinking about doing BBQ shrimp on a skewer, but need to figure out what I can use as a skewer that won't be sharp - a paddle pop stick perhaps? Well, I am sure I will come up with something:)

Hope you are getting lots done in your creative space this week! For more lovely spaces you can go here. Cyndy

PS can you believe it's the school holidays - starts tomorrow for us, that means only one term left in the year! Where has the time gone?! Pin It

My Creative Space...

What do you do when you have an idea in your head? Me? I usually go through what's in my craft stash, pull out anything that I think might work with what I see in my head and then its trial and error. If it's something real (like a flower or a food) I will look for pics on the Internet or in the case of food look for the real thing (had to buy a pack of Iced Vo Vos the other week in the name of research:) Sometimes my first try at making is the best try, sometimes it takes more than one try to get it the way I see it in my head.

This week I finished up the Iced Vo Vo set I was working on (just listed in my Made It store if you are interested:) and already had an idea for the next food I wanted to make. I have been on a sweet treat kick (Iced Vo Vo, lamington, pavlova, fairy bread) and have been feeling guilty. My new idea is definitely healthier - Weet-Bix!

Above is take two of my Weet-Bix, conveniently situated next to my research (not as fun as the Iced Vo Vos I will admit). Yes, Weet-Bix is a brown rectangle, but that by it self doesn't capture its essence. Weetbix has texture, and how to capture that in a felt food has been challenging. My first take was one layer of small pieces (like the piece at back of plate in the pic), but it didn't look right. I have now added another layer of pieces, in a more rounded shape. Better, but still mulling it over. And the sides, I do have an idea, but I think it is going to be even harder than the top!

Hope you are getting lots done in your creative space today! For more lovely spaces you can visit here. Cyndy Pin It

My Creative Space

This has been a hectic week. Lots of extra things happening amongst the regular schedule and lots of unneeded drama from the children. Oldest daughter decided she didn't like how her book character costume was going so after much moaning and groaning (can also read tantrum) finally got her to agree on a new costume last night - Nancy Drew. We already have everything we need except knee socks:) Will need to get those tonight - not even sure if you can get them anymore! My son waited until the last minute to complete his model for the junior school dinosaur exhibit and admist it all the youngest decided late yesterday was the time to get gastro.

The control freak in me isn't doing well with it all:)

I did manage to finally send out my items for the Snail Mail Swap hosted by Seaweed and Raine. Above is a little peek at one of the items I made to send (it's a pin cushion) - will do a full post this weekend on everything I sent:)

Hope you are getting lots done in your creative space this week! For more spaces you can visit here. Cyndy


Pin It

My Creative Space

This week I have done a little bit of this and a little bit of that. As a crafter my concentration tends to wander, which is why I usually have several projects in process. It is also why it often takes me a while to actually finish something.

Fortunately there are a few things that made their way into the "finish" pile this week. I did finish a new felt food idea Again, I don't know why, but sweets seem to make the funnest (is that a word?) felt food to make. This is my take on the iced vovo (front and back).

Also in the "finish" pile my items for the Seaweed and Raine Snail Mail Swap. More to show about that in the next day or so as my partner receives their package.

In the "in process" pile, book character costumes for my two oldest, due next week. Yes, I have left this one a little late this year, so I have told the children they need to have simple ideas (my son usually comes up with a bionicle or Pokemon he wants to be). It looks like they have settled on Amelia Bedelia and Butler (from the Artemis Fowl series). Funnily enough, both costumes are black and white. At least this is a project with a clear deadline.

Also in the "in process" pile, a Christmas garland and tags from a damaged copy of the children's book The Australian Twelve Days of Christmas (there are some pages missing). As it's August, this project is clearly ahead of schedule:) I found the book recently at the op shop. It didn't fit in my bookshelf, so I had to start working with it!

I hope you were able to put something into your "finished" pile this week or maybe you've got a few things "in process". To see more creative spaces you can visit here. Cyndy Pin It