The weekend production line

Here's a quick look at what I've been doing this weekend. I saw a post about an adorable Tea Cup Notebook Cover in Punk Projects and had to make one for myself. Instead of making the notepad and sewing it into the cover I made one where you can change the pad when needed. I'm loving this cute and fast project and might be making a couple more!

I also finished one WIP, the pouffe. I left it a bit soft and it's perfect for Finn to play on. It's been used as a pillow, slide and trampoline so far - oh and a napkin... The last project is not quite finished yet and needs a bit more quilting but it will be a blanket for Finn. I bought the materials ages ago, hence the girly colors. The little man doesn't mind it though, he loves to look at the pictures, give kisses to the owls and smell the flowers <3 I will try and finish it tonight, so we can play with it tomorrow.

Tilda bear

I made this lovely little bear for our niece for her third birthday. I spotted it in Mollie Makes magazine issue 33 and thought it would be perfect. Especially after reading an article about The Art of Giving in the same mag.

"True gifts aren't the easily acquired consumables exchanged back and forth through obligation that we've come to expect. Rather, giving in its purest sense has to embody something of the giver - even a sacrifice - to be considered valuable."

I like this idea and I love to give gifts that I have made myself. Hopefully the little birthday girl loves her new Tilda bear!

Needle book

I have started embroidering a bit more and acquired a few more needles. Therefore I needed a storing solution for all my needles, the pin cushion just wouldn't suffice anymore. I had seen a similar little book for needles somewhere in a blog or magazine and decided to give it a try. 

I'm very happy with how this little book turned out and I think I might have to make one for Popeye as well. That won't have needles inside it though but some nice appliquéd pictures.

Christmas pouches - Joulupussukoita

I went through my fabric stash the other day and found different christmas fabrics from a few years back. I decided to set up a conveyor belt type of production line and turn these fabrics into cute little pouches. The first batch consists of six pouches of two sizes.

Tässä yksi päivä kävin läpi kangasvarastoani ja löysin sieltä erilaisia jouluisia kankaita muutaman vuoden takaa. Päätin tehdä niistä liukuhihnatyönä pikkuisia pussukoita ja niitä syntyikin yhteensä kuusi kappaletta ja kahta eri kokoa.

These pouches are brilliant to use where ever! I use them both to keep similar items together in my handbag and to store items at home. In my handbag they might contain make-up, jewellery, snacks for the little man and sometimes I use the pouch itself as a "handbag" since my phone, keys and money fit well into one. At home I use these pouches to store mainly items related to craft; buttons, thread, bobbins, crochet hooks and similar small items stay neatly arranged in the beautiful little pouches.

Nämä pussukat on loistavia vaikka minkälaiseen käyttöön! Itse käytän niitä sekä käsilaukussa erilaisten pientavaroiden yhdessäpitamiseen sekä kotona tavaroiden säilytykseen. Käsilaukusta näiden sisältä löytyy muun muassa meikkejä, koruja, pikkuherran välipalakeksejä ja joskus käytän itse pussukkaa "käsilaukkuna" ja kannan mukana puhelimen, avaimet ja rahaa. Kotona pussukat on käytössä pääasiassa ompelutarvikkeiden säilömisessä; napit, ompelulankarullat, ompelukoneen puolat, virkkuukoukut ynnä muut pikkuiset tavarat pysyy hyvin tallessa omissa kauniissa pussukoissaan. 

There is a problem with these pouches, similar to handbags, you can never have too many ;) I'm lucky they don't take long to make and beautiful fabrics are aplenty in my stash and the shops! I think these might find their way into Santa's sack...

Näiden kanssa on vähän sama ongelma kuin laukkujenkin, niitä ei koskaan voi olla liikaa ;) Onneksi pussukoita on mukava ja nopea tehdä ja kauniita kankaita on varastot ja kaupat pullollaan! Luulen, että nämä saattavat löytää tiensä joulupukin säkkiin...

Penguins in +30°C!

It was a warm day again today, the temperature rose to well over 30 degrees. We stayed home, away from the midday heat, most of the day which allowed me to finish my third little penguin. These small cuties seem to be happy inspite of  the temperature! I made the two penguins with more subtle colors earlier. I could not resist the urge to start sewing once I saw them in Scandihome and made two at once. The more colorful fellow was made after I got a request from a friend and will move to his new home tonight. Instructions to make your own penguin can be found here.

Tänään oli taas lämmin päivä ja lämpötila nousi reilusti yli 30 asteeseen. Me pysyttelimme suurimman osan keskipäivän kuumimmasta ajasta sisällä, minkä ansiosta sainkin koottua kolmannen pikku-pingviinin valmiiksi. Nämä pienet veijarit näyttävät olevan ihan tyytyväisiä lämpötilasta huolimatta! Kaksi hillitymmän väristä kaveria, Pentti ja Petteri, valmistuivat jo aiemmin. En voinut vastustaa kiusausta nähtyäni nämä Scandihomen Marian blogissa, vaan ryhdyin heti toimeen ja tein kaksi kerralla. Tämä värikkäämpi kaveri on tehty tilaustyönä ja muuttaa uuden omistajansa luo tänä iltana. Pingviinien helppo ja hyvä ohje löytyy täältä.

The little man was taking it easy during the day and watched some tv clearly enjoying himself and giggling away. When the day started to turn into evening we headed out for a little walk along the beach and a play in the playground. The air was still warm and a gentle wind made sure that we stayed nice and comfortable even when walking up the hills around here. Finski was happy playing in the sand and with his beach toys, although at times I think the stairs might have been the most fun. I treated myself with a rare ice cream instead of a Friday drink.

Pikkumies otti päivän rennosti ja lökötteli tyynyllä katsoen lastenohjelmia tv:stä. Ohjelma vaikutti olevan hauska hihittelystä päätellen! Illansuussa lähdimme kävelylle rantaan kuluttamaan vähän energiaa leikkipuistossa. Ilma oli vielä mahtavan lämmin ja lempeä tuuli piti huolen, että edes mäkisessä maastossa ei tullut liian kuuma. Finski oli onnessaan hiekasta ja rantaleluista, vaikka välillä tuntui, että rappuset veivät voiton. Minä hemmottelin itseäni perjantaidrinksun sijaan harvinaisella herkkujätskillä.

While walking home we got to admire a beautiful orange and pink sunset as well as a bright full moon! The moon was high up in the sky in the east and the sun was setting into the ocean in the west. A special occasion that you don't see every day.

Kotiin kävellessämme saimme ihailla kaunista oranssia ja vaaleanpunaista auringonlaskua, mutta myös kirkasta täysikuuta! Kuu möllötti idässä samalla kun aurinko laski mereen lännessä. Erikoinen sattuma, jota ei ihan joka päivä näe.

Grey & red wallet

I had an inspirational moment last night and had to stay up until midnight to make this new wallet. The outside fabric is beautiful cotton sateen and inside red cotton with matching pattern. Looks very christmassy to me!

This wallet was made following Confessions of a Fabricaholic's Wallet Tutorial. The great thing about this pattern is that it fits all your wallet essentials nicely AND you can also pop your iPhone in it and use it as a little clutch! What more do you need? :)

Pouches, pouches - big & small

Made a couple of pouches tonight as well. Two big and one small. I really like the beige one with green flowers <3

Dardi!

Made a bag with some subtle cultural hints on it. I'm quite happy how it turned out.

Brown wallet

I had to make another wallet for myself as the first one started to get a bit dirty. I should have made the critical parts from a darker fabric! This one should look good longer as the outside and tab are brown.

Tutorial.

Comeback

I'm back from holidays and the sewing machine has been lifted on to the dining table again! These are the first two pouches after the break. I had had my eye on the purple & orange fabric for some time and when I found the matching lining fabric on special as well I had to buy :)

I made two sizes; the smaller with a 15cm zip and the bigger with a18cm one. These both have either interfacing  or fleece in them to give some more structure. I also added a handle loop on the bigger one so it's basically a tiny hand bag.

Blue & white dress

I whipped up this blue & white summer dress last night. It's made of stretchy fabric which works much better with this pattern than the thicker cotton that I used in the first dress.

Neutral bag

I made another one of these modified Buttercup Bags. This time of neutral cream fabric and a cute lavender lining. The decorative tulle is remnants from my wedding dress after trimming the length.

Branding

I seem to forget to attach the StrawbsDesign labels to my products. I'm just creating more work for myself as hand sewing the labels is so much slower! However now these luggage tags have been branded. And it's bedtime for me...

Luggage tags

A few more luggage tags tonight. I tested how it would look made with two different fabrics. It turned out pretty well. I can't resist that pretty brown fabric with white flower-thingies on it!

Boxy pouch

I decided to sew something quick tonight after our home loan consultant had left and I had cooked us a beautiful dinner ;) This boxy pouch will come handy in the upcoming travels. I quite like the fabrics as well!

A new wallet

Last project for this weekend. I'm really happy with this wallet. It's got 6 slots for cards, 2 long pockets for money, receipts and papers and a zipper pocket for coins.

Tutorial here!

Clutch

This one is for the Mother of the Bride <3

Wonder Wallets

I bought the Wonder Wallet pattern by Lazy Girl Designs some weeks ago and decided to give it a go today. The pink wallet was my first and I foolishly didn't follow the instructions but used interfacing in every pocket. It wasn't good... The blue and brown one is made exactly according the instructions and is much better. I think third time will be the charm with interfacing in the third pocket. That one needs to harden up a bit!

Birdies

A frame purse with tiny little birdies. My second attempt with glueing the frame which went better. Just too bad that the frame is not quite in the middle... Oh well, I guess I just need more practice!

Sunday morning Travel Wallet

This one is for Mr Strawbs.