iMac Cover and Cupcakes

My daughter turned 20 years old yesterday. Gosh it only feels like a few years since I had her - doesn't time fly insanely fast...

She had a great birthday and I got to spend the day with her making cupcakes and a full roast dinner with yorkshire pudding and gravey. YUMMO. Of course we ate too much and I went to bed suffering from an achy tummy...

As part of her gift I made her a cover for her large iMac screen. I used a top quality imitation leather from Warwick and stitched one of her favourite graphics on it - the union jack. It looks bad-ass cool!

On extra special days we make this too-good-to-be-true amazing frosted cup cakes. I made them for the first time on her 18th birthday and they have quickly become our favourite. The recipe calls for a lot of butter and sugar, but if you're only making them occassionally you can get away with it. Well, thats what I tell myself...

I found the recipe off the internet but can't for the life of me remember where. Here is the recipe for anyone with a special birthday coming up....

Frosted Cupcakes

Cake (makes 24): 
2c Flour
2c Sugar
1/4 tsp Salt
4T (heaping) Cocoa
250gm Butter
1c Boiling Water
1/2 c Buttermilk (1/2T white vinegar + milk)
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Vanilla 

Frosting:
5T flour
1c milk
1tsp vanilla
250gm butter
1c sugar
Colouring (optional)

In a mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt. Set aside
In a saucepan, melt butter. Add cocoa. Stir together.
Add boiling water, allow mixture to boil for 30 seconds, then turn off heat. Pour over flour mixture, and stir lightly to cool.
In a measuring cup, pour the buttermilk and add beaten eggs, baking soda, and vanilla. Stir buttermilk mixture into butter/chocolate mixture. Pour into sheet cake pan and bake at 350-degrees for 20 minutes.

While the cakes are baking start the frosting. Begin by pouring 5 tablespoons of flour into 1 cup of milk. After adding the flour, whisk it together until combined, then place the saucepan over medium heat. Whisk it as it heats up and thickens, and stop when the mixture is very very thick.
Cool the mixture completely - put in fridge to make very cold.
Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla to the cooled flour/milk mixture. Stir it around to combine.
Pour one cup of sugar into a bowl with one cup of butter.
Whip it around until it ís light and fluffy, scraping the bowl once or twice to make sure it ís all mixed well.
Add the cooled flour/milk/vanilla mixture.
Next, just whip it on medium-high until the mixture resembled whipped cream.

Industrial Chic Lamp

A couple of months ago my daughter melted her bed-side lamp shade. Silly thing draped a scarf over it whilst it was switched on, the heat built up and the plastic shade parts melted.

Luckily she turned it off before burning her room down!

She has a very eclectic bedroom and loves funky and unusual pieces. She has a enormous union jack painted on her wall, and has lots of vintage memorabilia. She is not scared of trying different things and mixing things up a bit.

When I started to make a new lampshade she was quick to ask for an industrial look....no fancy-pancy shabby chic ruffle nonsense for her. lol. So out came the trusty chicken wire and pliers.

It took me about 2 hours to complete and I'm really happy with the result. The after photo below doesn't do it justice to be frank... it looks way better in person.

This is the bits I started with once the outside shade was removed. Two rings and nothing else. I was tempted to spray paint both of these silver (one is just metal, the other is a grubby white) but I liked the contrast to be honest.

SORRY NOT FOR SALE 

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Check out my other items for sale
See samples in my Gallery page

Email me for commissions or enquiries

Like me on Facebook
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Pillow case apron - TUTORIAL

I have used pillow cases for many projects over the years - making little draw-string bags, soft toys, wheat sack linings etc - but this project is my favourite!

I made this apron from two vintage stripped pillowcases I've had lurking in my fabric-stash box for ages.

A friend posted me some kiwiana themed fabrics this week and included a couple of magazine patterns (thank you Raewyn!). One of the patterns was for an apron made from an old table cloth.

Well, I didn't have any tablecloths so vintage pillow cases were the next best thing.

Of course, I had to adapt the pattern to fit my fabric but I'm really pleased with the result.

Want to have a go yourself? I've added a tutorial for you. :)

No-Sew Dog Tug Toy - TUTORIAL

We have two dogs in the family a Maltese Shih Tzu named Boston and a Jack Russell x Foxy named Deno.

Both a very boisterous.

Boston loves his stuffed toys... he carries them around in his mouth, then chucks them in the air and pounces on them. Deno loves balls and chew toys. He can kill a tennis ball in about 2mins flat, first by skinning all the fluff off and then by shredding the rubber to pieces.

Neither Deno or Boston like the same toys much, but they do love fabric tug toys! You can buy rope style ones in the pet store but I make my own out of old teeshirts. Here's how:

Rolled Rose & Rosette - Tutorial

Calico is such a lovely, under appreciated fabric. I buy it on the 50m roll as I use it for furniture upholstery a lot. It has a lovely strong raw nature to it, takes to dyes well, and depending on the grade / thickness it can be used for most things.

In my mother's day they'd use it to make mock-ups of dresses. It is often used today for inexpensive furniture slip-covers and drapes. For for me I've been making some lovely cushions and roses recently!

Rolled roses are lovely. They can be used to embellish so many things like bags, clothing, cushions, craft items. You can use any sort of fabric including thick sacking or thin lace. Today I've created a tutorial for a rolled rose using torn calico, along with an optional rosette.

Envelope back cushion cover - TUTORIAL

My favorite style of cushions is the envelope back. Why?

Because you don't need to muck around with any zippers or buttons, and you don't need to hand stitch an opening closed.

These cushions have flaps in the back so you can pop the inner in and out, making them removable and washable.

Thats my kind of cushion!

I have made a few recently whilst experimenting with printing on fabric. They are so quick, and can be easily adjusted depending on the size of the cushion inner.

It has been 2 months since I've not worked on any furniture refurbishments due to recovering from surgery. I MISS IT. But these crafty tutorials have been keeping my mind and hands busy.... I hope you are enjoying them. This one included....

Muslin ruffled rose - TUTORIAL

Brrrr, its so cold this morning I'm tempted to wear fingerless gloves whilst crafting!

Actually, I WOULD wear them if I could find the blimmin things, but the house is so chaotic at the moment I dont know which end is up and which end is down.

But I did find some lovely blush colored muslin today at the back of my linen cupboard. Muslin is such a lovely delicate fabric, sheer but with a little body.

To keep my fingers busy I thought I'd use it to make a few ruffled roses today. I was too lazy to get out my sewing machine or my glue gun so I made some the old-fashioned way... with a needle and thread. It only took about 10mins... it would have taken me longer than that to find the glue-sticks!

Anyhoo, while I'm on a roll with my tutorials I thought I'd add this one too.

Recycled can basket - TUTORIAL

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Some days you are the bug, some days you are the windshield. 

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Fresh mushrooms are readily available over here but my daughter LOVES the tinned ones.
I know I know *shakes head*.

But they are convenient so I buy them in extra large cans, divide into small containers and pop them into the freezer.

This evening I made Sweet & Sour Pork so I opened a new tin of mushrooms. After draining and dividing them up I was left with a lovely huge tin just itching to be transformed into something!

Oh what to do with it....

I've used them for planting herbs and for storing bits and pieces in the shed. But this time I wanted to transform them into something a bit more stylish.

By the time I finished cooking dinner I had decided to make a tote basket for some of my work tools.

It was really easy to make... in fact I completed it in less than an hour. Here is a quick tutorial for you below.  If you don't have a large can like this you could also make them out of large coffee tins or baby formula cans.

15min Doggy Coat

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When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.

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We are starting to head into Winter here in New Zealand. Not that we had much of a summer this year. Sigh. It rained almost full time... which was sort of good for the garden, but not so good for all the planned bbqs, beach picnics and fishing.

We are now in May so it is definitely getting chilly in the nights and early mornings. My two indoor dogs Boston and Deno are starting to feel the nip in the air just like us and like to have pjs on at night to keep them cozy.

But instead of paying $20-$40 each for a new fancy-pancy coat from the pet store I managed to whip up a few for less than $3 each and in less than 15mins!

I found some kids polar zip-up vests from the local op shop (thrift store) for between $1-$3 each. For Boston my small Maltese Shihtzu I brought kids size 2. For Deno my larger Jack Russell Terrier I got size 4. I also found a couple of shower proof padded vests for outdoor coats.

Of course, when I put them on they were a little ill fitting, but a few mins later I had a lovely custom fitted coat. YES!

And I'm sure you will like instructions for this, so I've whipped up a quick and easy tutorial.

Teacup Pin Cushion - TUTORIAL

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If you carry your own sunshine with you, there will be fewer dark places in your life.
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Ok, I know I have a pin cushion or two already but when I saw a TEACUP PINCUSHION on pinterest the other day I had no choice but to make one. Its just too adorable don't you think?

I love tea. It must be the English in me. I drink it normally in a mug, not a teacup, and I drink it with the teabag still in it - I like it nice and strong. That might gross some people out, but I love it that way. In fact, I might have a cuppa right now whilst you check out my Teacup Pincushion Tutorial below.

Crochet Pot Scrub - TUTORIAL

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Never let yesterday fill up today

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In my last post I was talking about the satisfaction of making my own dishcloths. You can read that post here if you'd like.

Recently I've also been making my own pot scrubs. These are simply crochet rectangles of jute string. They are great for getting off the crusty bits off my roasting tin or bread tray. At the end of the day I just chuck them in the laundry, then dry them on the windowsill. I have about 8 or 9 and lasts for ages.

Here is one I made today sitting on a crochet dishcloth, including a free tutorial to make your own.

Vase - Yarn wrapped soda bottle - TUTORIAL

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Find something you love to do and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.

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I've been spending most of today working on my Horticulture assignment... which I've almost finished. Yes! This months topic is pest and disease on crops and I selected the tamarillo (egg-plant) specifically.

I needed a break from all those pathogens, viruses and nematodes so I decided to do a little crafting.

 Today I found a couple of glass juice bottles in the shed so thought they'd make great bud vases. I used some neutral cooled 100% wool for the yarn and a glue stick for adhesion.... I'm really pleased with the result. I have added a free tutorial for this cool vase.

Coffee Sack Expandable Tote - TUTORIAL

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Fall seven times, stand up eight

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I worked on another coffee sack project today. I'm not a fan of coffee in general. Actually, I hate coffee with a vengeance...the smell makes my stomach churn. But when my daughter got given some sacks for FREE I jumped to the chance! I find the rustic texture and recyclable nature of coffee-sack projects so adorable.

Today I made a large expandable tote bag. This tote is versatile because the sides can unbutton to make it wider. I figured this would make a great library or shopping bag, or perhaps useful for my uni-student daughter. Read more for a free tutorial to make your own.

Crochet Dishcloths - TUTORIAL

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If you dont believe in yourself, then how can you expect others to.

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Once a year I crochet or knit a dozen dishcloths, an annual chore I find very satisfying and it gives me some quiet pleasures. They last a very long time and if you use an absorbent yarn (like 100% cotton) they work brilliantly too.

I use a fresh one each day, and at the end of each evening I throw them into the laundry. If you put them in the dryer they come out lovely, soft and just like new. But I hang my laundry to dry outside so they always come in like cardboard! lol. But once they're thrown into the dishwater they're just fine again so don't worry.... :)

Here is a few of my current dishcloths. The apricot one on top and that lovely clean white one are brand new, the rest are 6 mths old. The mustardy yellow ones (I have 4 in that pile) are made from 100% bamboo fibre and are about 2 years old. The rest are 100% cotton ones.

I use either cotton or bamboo so they are lovely and absorbent. Don't be tempted to use acrylic or wool as they just won't do the job.

Wrapped coat hangers - TUTORIAL

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Words will only get you so far, actions will show people who you really are.

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Happy Mothers Day to all you mums out there. My daughter made me some delicious Red Velvet Cupcakes with cream cheese icing. And some little union jack flags for decoration. THANK YOU we all love love loved them. :)
My mum loved her homemade french cushion I made her the other day. I spent a lovely afternoon chatting mindless with her, drinking tea and eating cupcakes. Bliss.

Anyhoo...

Do you get sick of delicate or strappy clothes falling off your coat hangers?

I know I do.

In my mothers generation they'd have big frilly and lacy padded hangers. They were either sewn, knitted and crocheted - very kitch but sadly not my cup of tea.

But I had a problem with the clothes falling off.

So I made some shabby-chic fabric wrapped hangers instead. They look great and do the job! They might be a little time consuming... and messy.... but VERY easy to make. There are instructions below.

Draw-string Make-up Bags

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We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.

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Following on from my French look cushions in the last blog post I used some of the printed scraps to make a couple of makeup bags. These are very easy to make as they are only closed with a draw-string, so no button holes or zippers to muck around with. I might add a quick tutorial to make a simple draw-string bag at a later date, but for now here are the pics of my latest creation.

The photo's aren't the best because I took them too early this morning when it was still a little dark, hence I had the inside lights on casting a yellow tinge. And I'm too lazy to clean them up in Photoshop. :)

The larger bag is lined with a vintage shabby-chic look fabric in pale blue floral. It was a perfect accompaniment to the french print which I got from The Graphics Fairy. The pull strings would be better with some ribbon, but I only had some unbleached wool on hand last night - it was too late to rummage in the shed for supplies. I just plaited 3 strands together and threaded it through the top with a safety pin.

French Calico Cushion

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Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are sexy.

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Mothers Day is coming this Sunday so I whipped up this cute little cushion cover as a gift.

By whipped up I mean it took me all day. I don't mean figuratively either.... it literally took me ALL DAY.

But boy was it worth it!! And so is mum. :)

It is made out of unbleached calico which I printed with a very cool French image (thanks GraphicFairy). I love how the printing looks almost aged on the weave.

Mum is going to love it, I'm 100% positive. I know I do.

Coffee Sack Lampshade TUTORIAL

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There are many paths in life that people can choose to take, but it takes courage to go your own way, and make a path for others to follow.

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My daughter was lucky enough to be given some coffee sacks last week.

FOR FREE!

*Does happy dance*!!

For my first coffee-sack project I decided to turn an ugly peach bedside lamp into something more appealing. Af first I had no idea how to do this, but with a little thought I figured it out. Ezi pezi. I've created a tutorial because I'm sure there are more ugly duckling lamps out there.

I have created a great tutorial for you. It was lots of fun & I'm sure you'll love it too.

Repurposed Glass Lamp Shade - TUTORIAL

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The voices in my head may not be real, but they have some good ideas!

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I love to repurpose unused items. There is nothing worse than hoarding something "just because"... you might as well put it to use straight away!
I've had the gorgeous vintage glass lamp shade for a LONG time. I found it this morning wrapped in newspaper in the shed. Wow! Score! I forgot I had it to be really honest.
Hmmmm, I said to myself. How can I both store it (incase it comes in handy one day) but put it to use now?
Bingo. Shove a plant pot in it!!
This transformation took as little effort as picking up the plant and placing it inside. All in a hard days work.

Take one glass lamp shade...

....and one plant in a basic pot.....

Pin cushion and holder - TUTORIAL

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 Nothing great comes easy!

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I'm trying to keep myself busy whilst recovering from spinal surgery. Today I decided to make a gift for my mother (65th birthday). This pin cushion / holder was so much fun... and really easy to do. You DON'T need to drag your sewing machine out of the back cupboard for this one either. BONUS!

If I'd had some thick black elastic at home I'd have added a little wrist strap...

I've created a quick little tutorial for you.