Look what I've made for my home! Round bottomed fabric storage basket!

Last night I decided to make this round bottomed fabric storage basket for the living room. The pattern, found via Film in the Fridge,  was very easy to follow and I don't think I will stop at one! My basket looks a bit overstuffed as I had so much yarn and the yarn balls are fairly big but it is much better then a huge plastic bag I used to store my yarn in before. 

To avoid ironing on the interfacing, I used a heavyweight linen by Heather Ross and made the circle in the lining from stiff canvas fabric I had laying around for ages. I like the brown and green and it matches our couch perfectly. Not to mention how great it feels to make something nice for my home. 

Loving the creative start of my holidays! 

Have a lovely Friday! 

My favourite sewing/crafting tools in Plushka's sewing box

A few years ago I was into every craft known to man and bought all sort of tools for each craft I wanted to try. I still have needle felting tools somewhere, stamp carving cutting  tools and you might even find screen for fabric printing somewhere... 

However, there are only a few tools that I actually use almost everyday and will never ever regret buying. 

Bias tape maker: one of my best purchases from ages ago. Bias tape making became so much more enjoyable and easier once I had it in my sewing box. 

Circle templates: I find circle is the hardest shape for me to draw so if I need the exact shape, I use this templates. There are 10 of them in a pack in different sizes and, from memory, they were about $22. I also have triangle templates but i haven't used them yet. 

Pinking shears or zig-zag scissors as I call them: great for creating decorative edges on an appliqué, fabric flowers or prevent fabric from fraying. Not used as often here but better have them as they were very helpful on a few occasions. 

*Edited, tip: To keep pinking shears sharp (any scissors really), cut through a folded piece of aluminium foil or coarse sandpaper.

Chopstick: Yes, you read it right! When you stuff toys, chopstick is a great tool. It is easier to get stuffing evenly throughout the toy, especially when it's a large one. 

Do you have a sewing/quilting/crafting tool that you will never regret purchasing? 

My creative space...

If I would have to choose a creative highlight of this week, I would definitely pick the iPad sleeve order! The linen and flowery fabric combo was inspired by my heat pack with fox embroidery. I had this fabric in two colours so my lovely customer suggested the apple embroidery for the second sleeve. I was going to have linen as a "main" fabric but I am so glad that Michelle requested the linen fabric to be only a "frame" for the embroidery. It looks so much better! What do you think?

I enjoyed so much making these ipad sleeves that I made one for myself in red.

Today, I am finishing doilies and toy orders. These doily-coasters are my evening craft so the progress is slow. 
It is always fun matching fabrics to the yarn and this light blue one is my favourite so far...

More creative spaces HERE.

Have a wonderful creative Thursday! 

My creative space...mini&maxi heat packs

Just before I left for my holiday, my last custom order was a set of two mini heat & cold packs. I loved that the size is small so  kids can easily hold it to the scratched knee or a bump on a head....with colourful flannelette removable cover that makes is easy to wash too!

To make them fun and colourful, I used a few different prints, mixing and matching all the fabrics that I could find  in my stash. There were a few of them indeed.

During one of my shopping trips back home, my mum spotted this cute flannel with cats and dogs in jigsaw puzzles. I immediately saw it in a mini size heat packs. How cute is that grumpy cat!?

The other order that I really enjoyed making is this adult size heat pack with a cross-stitched fox. I designed this embroidery a while back in April, cross-stitched a few foxes on my holiday and couldn't think of a better way to use one of them! I've got a few other projects for those embroideries in mind...

That's why Plushka loves customer orders, they are a fun and very inspiring! 
More creative spaces HERE.

Have a creative Thursday! 


P.S. Don't forget to enter my first sponsored Giveaway. 

Handmade Wardrobe Tuesday

Last week, my crafty friend and I, made 2 matching skirts! We loved this fabric so much while making dresses for my shop that we kept a few meters for ourselves. I've picked the red one and Yana is making one in pink. 

I must say, I didn't know how to go about making the skirt, especially when we needed to insert those snap clips so I relied on Yana as she sews much more then I do. 

I am looking forward wearing the skirt this winter!

Have you sewn something for your wardrobe or as a gift? 

I would love to see what you made! Leave the link to your post below so I can stop by:) - you can join in any time during the week. 

Monday inspiration: sewing machine cover

I've been looking for a perfect sewing machine cover for long long time, too long! Like with my other projects, I jump from one idea to another. Quickly moving on and leaving behind unfinished projects is pretty much a regular occurrence. After looking at all these wonderful sewing machine covers, I am now deciding between full cover like this one....

                                                           Source: anartnest.squarespace.com via Katia on Pinterest

....and the one with the ties. Which is probably easier and faster to make and will fit any sewing machine.... 

                                                                 Source: bedifferentactnormal.com via Katia on Pinterest

Which one would you choose? 

Handmade Wardrobe Tuesday

I am making a very slow progress on my projects for Handmade Home theme so to make it a bit more fun, I thought I'll have this theme twice a month from now on. This way there will be more time for me to get more things done.

Other 2 Tuesdays, I will be sharing the following projects with you:

 *first clothing sewing attempts 

*recycling/decorating old dresses and tops

*making accessories

 My mum used to sew for me all the time and I loved wearing something made by her. It's felt very special and I never blending with a crowd! 

Now I think I am ready to try it myself! I want to have a more unique wardrobe that reflect my personality.

Same as with Handmade Home theme, you are more then welcome to join me with your projects too.

This is what I am going to make first:

A little purse from a tie that I thrifted a while ago.

Small project to start with!

Have you sewn something for your wardrobe or as a gift? 

I would love to see what you made! Leave the link to your post below so I can stop by:)

Handmade Home Tuesday

I am delighted to say that the potholder I started last week is finished! It got to be fastest and most rewarding project I ever did for my home, even though it was hand-stitched! 

Here are a few progress shots:

What should I do next?! I think it's  time to give my old and tired ironing board a makeover! 

Have you made something for your home recently? I would love to see what you made! Leave the link to your post below so I can stop by:)

Handmade Home Tuesday

While I am working on the bed runner project, I though I need another small project to keep me happy. The thing is, I am not a very patient person and need to see a quick progress! While it looks like a  bed runner will be a long long project, I need some encouragement on the way with easy to make things. Thus, I started potholders. 

It's going to be a hexagon flower potholder that I intend to make without using my sewing machine, all by hand! So, I'll see you back here next Tuesday with the first one done (well, that's a plan anyway!). 

Have you made something for your home recently? I would love to see what you made! Leave the link to your post below so I can stop by:)

Handmade Home Tuesday

To be honest, my personal projects are moving very slowly at the moment. However, I got all the fabric together for the bed runner that I am still determined to make. I changed my mind about the colours I want for the bedroom, I think, as we have green in the living room, having the same colour in the bed room will be too much green for a little unit we live in. That is why, I picked up these fabrics in orange and navy.  

Still not sure about the backing fabric. Will elephants be too much? 

I started cutting the squares out on the weekend. I am yet to find out how many I will need but I guess about 50 to start with...

Would you like to join my Handmade Home journey? Let's motivate and inspire each other!  If you would like to join me and share you personal projects,  stop by each Tuesday and leave the link to your post. 

The theme will start on Tuesday but you can post during the week. So see you next week back here with some progress....

Hope you are having a lovely day! 

A project for my home, NY "resolution"

Hold on you your chair, my lovely readers, I finally started a project for my own home! If you've been reading my blog for some time, you probably noticed that I hardly make anything for myself. Plushka takes so much of my time and I enjoy it so much that, until today, my home doesn't look like someone creative lives here. 

Wait, you might say, there must be something! Nop, besides a few things that my mum made, there is nothing that I created to decorate our home - the place where I spend most of my time, and that's the embarrassing truth.

This year, I've got an intention, not a resolution, intention to make things for my home. I read here and I quote: "Resolutions are hard on a person, they set us up for feeling like failures when life gets complicated or our goals shift. Intentions however can be fluid and transform with us as we move forward. They are reminders to hold close throughout the year as we aim ourselves towards the place we wish to go". 

Doesn't it sounds great! I am totally on board with this and made a decision - no resolutions for me this year:)

There are a few changes that I am making in my life but let's go back to the new project first....

The idea of this project started before Christmas. If you click on that link, you will see all the fabrics I was going to use for my bed runner.  I wanted to finish it then but was too busy to even think about it. Today,  I felt suddenly inspired.

I cut out squares:

Using two Ikea coffee tables, I am now trying to create some kind of a pattern. I still need to play with them a bit more, move around so I can avoid the repeats.  

I am loving the look, the only thing I am a bit worried about is  sewing different thickness fabrics together - linen and Liberty. I am going to quilt the bed runner by hand too.

Do you think it might be tricky? Do you have any tips?

  

My creative space...

Firstly, Thank you SO much for all your lovely comments on my last creative space! I really appreciate you taking time to leave one and try to visit your blogs back, even if it takes me a few weeks to do so:) 

This week in my creative space, I am put all my efforts into finishing last few orders for this months and getting some Christmas items done. Starting with some bias for the Plushka's Makery and moving to the Christmas decorations.

 Sweet penguin named Allie when to her new home. There is one more penguin to go...

Visit more creative spaces here. 

Have a creative Thursday!

Running low...

For the last few days, Plushka has been experiencing the essential supplies drought! 

Last week I run out of buttons and yesterday I realized that there is not enough stuffing for all the orders and the orange threads for the penguin's feet and beak is running low...

It all come up at the same time so off to the shop I go and this little black&white fellow will have to wait patiently for me to come back. 

Maybe I suppose to run some kind of supplies journal to prevent this from happening? My little inner manager insists that I need to be more organized! 

Have a fabulous day and may you never run out of craft supplies! 

My creative space...

In my creative space, I can be found "chained" to my chair making customer orders! I love when I receive orders and get to make variations of items in the shop or trying new color combinations. 
So far I've got a few items ticked off my list...

*pincushions. I am addicted to them! They are so enjoyable to make that, if not stopped at the right time, I can make 10 in one go:)


*Matching owls in lime and pink. I got to use this cute Love Heart Fairies by Saffron Craig print and, although it was hard to cut fabric from my precious stash, I just love the owls with it so I might make another one in pink...or, maybe, red? 

However, beside being slightly too busy this week, I did sneak a few other bits and bobs that I added to my little shop:

*Large brown penguin with Red Ridding Hood linen

*Remember this basket I wasn't sure about? I finally made it and very happy with it indeed. Thank you for all your encouraging comments, they were very helpful! 

I am also going through my unfinished buntings and getting them ready for my Facebook sale! It might take some time for Plushka to reach 1,500 likers but I am going to be ready to celebrate;) 

Visit more creative spaces here. 

Have a creative Thursday!

Wordless wednesday: hues of pink

Join Wordless Wednesdays here

My creative space...

My creative space this week, is filled with projects and excitement of the new creations on the way.....

 Although, I am finishing customer orders, I still haven't found time to make a new toy. The pattern, fabric and felt that I collected for it are patiently waiting for me. I think it easy to guess which toy I am making;) 

Yesterday, I found a perfect Liberty fabric for the last new color of crochet baskets this year - Green Apple. It's just perfect and here is another project on the list. Thank you everyone for your comments on my last basket project! I am more confident now about the colors I've picked and will make it this weekend! 

However, I did sneak in a little owl in blue just because it was already half made and only needed fabric. I picked, the most popular last year, Japanese fabric with little sailors. 

Last but not least, Dianne - the penguin was finished and posted. 

I like the new felt that I've used which turned out to be a beautiful color for a more "grown-up" penguin. She looks like a sweet lady, doesn't she?

Visit more creative spaces here. 

Have a creative Thursday!

Make or not to make?

It's great when the colors just fall together and I can move straight to deocrating a basket. However, there are moments when I have doubts. Should I use this fabric for an applique? Will it look right?

Normally it's because of a new fabric I decided to introduce, like this one by Green Olive Design. I am new to this screen printed fabric and I should say that the print and quality of linen is just lovely! 

Now, I just need to overcome my feeling of uncertainty and go for it!

Do you think this combination of pink and deep blue will work?

Project from the fabric purchased last week (the sequel)

Well, I think this is the last project from the fabric I bought last week, although I cannot promise that! They just too inspiring;)

I bought all three fabrics at the different time and only when I started going through my stash looking for the fabric to make some bias tape, I realized all three are from the Heath Collection by Alexander Henry! 

I obviously love their sketchy cross-hatch design in chocolate, coal black and soft pink. 

What is your favorite fabric collection at the moment?

Happy Friday! 

My creative space...

In my creative space, I had an idea to make little changes in my owl pincushions and make them less, how to say, not owls related.... I had scraps of the fabric and felt that my Miss Lollipop was made from....

The idea started growing and resulted in turquoise pincushion and matching crochet basket! I finally found a use for this fabric purchased in May.

Visit more creative spaces here. 

Have a creative Thursday!

Miss Lollipop

She is one of the projects from the fabric that I bought last week. This one is 'Larkspur circle' by Alexander Henry.
I wanted to call her Bubblegum but my husband said she looks more like a Lollipop in bright packaging. So be it:)

This light pink felt has been around my craftroom for some time, first in the roll and then I cut out the shapes but couldn't match any fabric to it. So frustrating! When you have containers full of gorgeous material but nothing suits, it drives me crazy! 

Anyway, finally she found a match and I cannot stop looking at her. I am sure she would love to live in the nursery and start exploring this world with a little girl who is  as cute and curious! 


Enjoy your day!