Handmade Challenge - November Update - Panic

Ahhhaaahhhhhhhhahhhhh PANIC!

I still have 4 things left on my Handmade Challenge List, two items part done (not even half done) and another two not even yet attempted... Oh no, oh no...

I'm making the Three Bear's House for my little fabric dolls house. I had these gorgeous Goldilocks and the Three Bears peg dolls made by the very talented Sarah from Bear & Co. So now I am attempting to create a house worthy of them.

They are so sweet!

Based on a storybook from when I was young

Part of a bolero

The bolero is possibly 1/3 complete, probably even less than that.

I have been trying to find a piece of felt large enough to make the Christmas tree skirt with no luck.

I do have a large sheet to cut up to make the card table tent. Does it count if I just put the sheet over the table and call it a tent? Perhaps I can sew something to it that looks like a window...

If I can pull this off, it'll be some kind of Christmas miracle.

Is anyone doing any better on their challenge list?

Ice Cream Party, Easy as Thank You Tags!

As I am writing this post, it's hardly ice-cream weather. We've had some small glimpses of spring, but it's not sunshine and swimwear just yet (thank heavens says my winter body!)

It is less than a month until my little little man turns three, and he has decided he wants an Ice-Cream Party. Fingers crossed the weather comes to the party!

I am pretty excited at his request actually. He had previously asked for a Thomas cake, which was to include pretty much the entire cast of Thomas and Friends. An ice cream party provides the opportunity for a lot more creativity, possibility and I think fun!

When he made this request, I just happened to have my little bundle of goodies from The Make Good Co. in front of me and was hit by a brain wave. So I have decided to share with you my first little DIY in a while. 


Easy Ice Cream Thank You Tags

Oooh I love stationery

What You Need;

Felt Tip Pens - One Black, One Red
Large Kraft Gift Tags
Alphabet Stamps + a black ink pad (or your message can be handwritten)
Pastel Heart Stickers - your choice of colour for the ice-cream
Mini Bunting Stickers
Mini Polka Dot Stickers - bright pink for the cherry or a red felt tip pen

It's seriously very simple! 

1. Get your gift tags.

2. Put down a heart sticker close to the top in the centre as shown (leave room for a cherry). Then place a mini bunting sticker over the top where the sides of the heart just meet with the corners of the triangle.

See, not rocket science...

3. If you have some bright pink dot stickers, put one down above the heart in the centre for a cherry. Draw around the circle and make a stalk with the black pen. If you don't have a dot sticker, simply colour the circle in red as I have.

Yummy!!

4. Lastly go to town with your little stamps and stamp out your message or handwrite it. Such fun!

You can get all of the things you need to make these from The Make Good Co. They ship worldwide and have an amazing range of stickers, tags, bags and even yarns for all your crafty needs. 


This is not a paid post, however I am currently a brand ambassador for The Make Good Company who have kindly provided the products I've used for this DIY.

Has preparing for a party, ever led you to come up with a crafty handmade solution?

Jumping JollyBeans!

Last week, I had the good fortune to receive a message from the lovely Shea of JollyBeans, who offered to send me one of her handmade wooden cameras to put a smile back on our faces after our recent misfortune of being burgled.

Low and behold, in the post arrived a packaging containing not just one, but three gorgeous, handmade, wooden cameras. My three have been absolutely delighted with their new found hobby!

Sophie with her Watermelon Camera

Take a look at Shea's marvellous creations and read all about her handmade adventure below;


How & when did Jollybeans come about?

Established in 2014 making reversible sun hats, the idea came when I wasn't finding anything suitable for my newborn Jack, from there it was late night breastfeeding sessions and flicking through Pinterest on how to evolve my handmade buisness. My husband is a cabinet maker and we both have a love for anything made of timber. So my journey of hand crafted toys began.


Is Jollybeans your day job? Or a hobby business?

WAHM for sure, JollyBeans always had started out as a day time hobby whilst out baby slept but now it has turned into my job. I'm a girl boss for life!

JollyBeans Jump Rope

Where do you work from?

I've gone from sewing in the lounge room to transforming our sunroom to my own creative space. Sun filled and looking out to a relaxing backyard is the perfect place for JollyBeans. Packing usually takes over the dining table during restocks lol

What do you love most about what you do?

There's a number of things I love about what JollyBeans means for me, feedback the good (and bad) helps a lot in my business, it allows me to create high quality items. Customers and my loyal stockists have all been so wonderful to me and giving the brand a chance.

The hand-made community, the ladies and gents I've "met" so far through having an online/social media business have really encouraged and supported me since I started on this journey to all I owe a really big thank you. 

Posting items away to their new homes and awaiting nervously for appreciated feedback and being tagged in joyful photos! 

Say Broccoli!

What is your favourite item?

Say Broccoli camera's.
The time I devote to each one and knowing "say broccoli" is our families phrase when having photos taken, that really brings it home for me. The colours pop and I love matching our skipping ropes to these too.


What does the future hold for Jollybeans?

Possibilities are always endless when we set our minds to achieve great things. At the moment we (my husband and I) are going to create a few decor and storage pieces together. Keeping on trend with our love and passion woodworking so that's something I'm really excited to be doing with him.
We've also teamed up with some beautiful stores to begin collaborating, it's hush hush for now but really cool! 


I look forward to the launch.

You can keep up to date with JollyBeans on Instagram, check them out in stores and shop direct 24/7 online!

Does your child / children have a favourite handmade toy?

Easter Bunny Egg Cosies

It's Easter this week! Well one Easter. Being a half Greek family, we celebrate Easter twice if Greek Easter happens to be on a different date. I managed to be organised enough this year to have made a few Easter Bunny Egg Cosies for 1st Easter, and even knocked off Item #4 on my Handmade Challenge list!

These little critters were quite easy once I got the knack, it's always a bit tricky picking up double pointed needles if you haven't used them for a little while. If you've never used DPN's and are a little afraid of them, don't be. Take a look at this little video that helped me get on the right track.

The pattern calls for worsted weight yarn. As I live in Australia, I don't have ready access to that particular size. So I delved into my 8ply stash and used 3.25mm needles. This made for a smaller cosy (not fit for a Cadbury Creme Egg I'm afraid), but thankfully Lindt make an egg that is eggsactly the right size!

Hippity Hoppity Easter's on it's way!

That's now 5 items off my challenge list! Almost halfway there. I really really should sew something next... not likely. I have a feeling we'll get to December, and there will be my sewing projects, glaring at me, unfinished, in the corner.

If you fancy a crack at an egg cosy yourself, there's plenty of time to get a couple made before the Easter Bunny comes a calling. Have you got any handmade gifts ready or in the works for Easter?

A Handmade Birthday

A couple of weeks ago I celebrated my 30-somethingth birthday. I'm not being vague about my age for reasons of vanity or mystery. My bad memory is merely a result of three children and the current focus on Sophie, hospitals and surgery.

Sophie our little trooper

Yesterday was a horrible day, we were told that there was a very high chance that they could perform the operation. We waited the entire day, and Sophie fasted for eight hours, before we were told that there wasn't a bed for her in ICU and we could take her home. We now have to wait again for another surgery date, which shouldn't be too far off.

Stupidly we felt like we'd won the lottery, took her and ran. Possibly because the first open heart surgery she had, was followed by a multitude of complications and we really aren't looking forward to seeing her go through it all again. See my husband's post about her first operation.

Earrings from Pip and the Sea

I digress, in order to celebrate my birthday, I had planned to go on a handmade shopping spree! It turns out, the majority of handmade things I pin on Pinterest or favourite on Etsy or Madeit are for the kids.

I did manage to make one handmade purchase, some extremely cute eco-resin earrings from Pip and the Sea.

My Birthday Books!

My family came to the rescue, and I was given a swag of crafty books which is sure to keep my 'to do list' in good stead. My husband also surprised me by taking me and the kids out for High Tea at the Hopetoun Tea Rooms in Melbourne. He even had to book 7 months in advance! It was fantastic, I recommend you book now!

So that was my birthday. I think I'll start making a list of handmade goodies for myself for next year. 

What handmade goodies do you love to treat yourself to?

A Very Handmade Christmas

Yes it's only just October, however if you wanted a handmade Christmas, you should have well and truly started by now!

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My Pinterest Boards are filled to the brim with exciting handmade ideas. Sadly that is not going to happen this year with my three little munchkins and the littlest with her heart condition.

One thing I will manage to do, is print off a few of these awesome gift tags by Helen Dardik. She releases a new set at the beginning of December every year. Adorable and unique and free! (apart from the paper and ink from your printer)

If, like me, you have absolutely no time, then there is always the option to buy handmade, which I of course advocate. madeit, the Australian equivalent of etsy, have started their Christmas campaign, you can sign up to receive a newsletter filled with lots of gifty ideas.

Next year, I hope to set myself a handmade challenge that others can take up too if they wish. I haven't thought out all the rules just yet, however it's all about handmade that's for sure!

As long as our little lady gets through her last surgery without any setbacks in December, I shall launch the handmade gift challenge in January 2015.

Until then, you'd better get your skates on if you're thinking about a handmade Christmas!

A Handmade Gift Needs a Handmade Card

I love to be able to give a gift I've made myself, and even accompany that with a card I've made myself. However, in this day and age, time isn't exactly available in copious amounts! So when I am unable to make something myself, I love to support someone else doing the handmade thing.

If you've gotten a gift from me, chances are it's been accompanied by a card made by the lovely Katrina at Mum & Me Handmade Designs based in Brisbane Australia.

I asked Katrina a few questions about her own Handmade Adventure;

How long ago did you start Mum and Me Handmade Designs? 

I started my business with my mum 9 years ago.  We started attending markets in Brisbane.  Some markets I even have my grandmother help and so it’s a real family affair.  I have 3 daughters ages 4, 7 and 9 and they inspire me to do what I do.

Love Handmade!

What led you to start creating cards? 

I’ve always loved cards and after having my first daughter and receiving lots of beautiful keepsake cards I decided to give it a go.  I started making cards with stamps, cardstock, papers, embellishments and each card would take me over an hour to make each one.  I did this for years before realising I love prints and fonts and so finally decided to give this style a go and it was the best decision for me.  I love love love making these cards. 

Mum & Me Handmade Designs

What is your design process?

Some of my cards are original designs and lots of others are artwork I have purchased. I love to sketch and play around with designs and layouts and to work out how I want my cards to look and what I can do to make my cards modern and stylish.

Where do you work from? 

My business started out in the dining room and I just started taking over the whole house.  I now have a separate area and work benches where most of my stock and supplies are kept.  My craft space is a little dark so I tend to still work at my dining room table!  Each Monday I start the week fresh and I make sure I reorder and stock my workspace and create a list of everything that I need to make.  I also sew so I have fabric everywhere!!!

What do you love most about what you do?

It feels right!!!  I love what I do and it brings me a lot of joy.  It has been a lot of hard work and I have made some mistakes along the way but after 9 years I am very happy where my business is at and I’m looking forward to the next few years. I love hearing from my customers and their beautiful feedback puts a smile on my face each time.

Mum and Me Handmade Designs have the perfect card for every occasion!