Lately, I've been crafting little things. Embroidering small motifs on tiny cotton bags, stitching felt brooches that give new life to snippets of op-shop doilies, making drawstring project bags and sewing tea towels into tote bags.
A tote bag made from an op-shop tea towel.
(I 💗 the bold Australian flowers!)
While I've been forced to 'downsize' my crafty project plans, thanks to bursitis in my right shoulder, I am actually enjoying the quick results and satisfaction that simple, short projects can bring. Many of these little makes will be gifted come Christmas time. From my hands into another's ...
A drawstring project bag made with linen I covered in 'olive twigs'.
(Bag pattern from Melissa Wastney's book, "Sweet and Simple Handmade".
(Bag pattern from Melissa Wastney's book, "Sweet and Simple Handmade".
Tiny cotton bags with embroidered motifs.
(Motifs by Melissa Wastney & Charlotte Lyon.)
A little felt brooch became a gift for a very generous lady.
(Thank you, Maria, for your gorgeous linens!)
These little makes mean some bigger projects ... a knitted shawl, a linen dress, a larger leafy applique and a few more besides ... are waiting idly for me to get back to them. Soon, I hope!
What crafty projects, little or big, are you working on right now?
Meg
I'm currently finishing up a pair of knitted socks, it's the first time I've made them, and it's been a bit of a learning curve, but I will be making more. All your bags are lovely, I especially like the idea of using second hand tea towels to make tote bags, I have a drawer full of them.
ReplyDeleteWow! You must be really pleased to have almost finished your first pair of socks, Jan. That's an achievement! The tea towel tote took less than an hour to make and I am really happy with it. I don't think the tea towel had ever been used and so the linen is closely woven and strong. It's a gift for my Mum (who doesn't read my blog). MegXx
DeleteMeg, how lovely that you caught up with Maria. You have made some pretty things for Christmas. I hope that bursitis improves quickly.
ReplyDeleteIt was lovely to meet Maria, Chel. We actually live fairly close to one another. Such a small world really! Maria gave me some of her lovely old embroidered cloths and doilies and I have so many projects I want to make with them swirling around in my head. Such a generous lady!
DeleteI am going in to the hospital today to have an injection into this problematic shoulder. I hope it works!!
Meg
I too have a couple of little projects on the go. I’m currently sewing a pair of Waldorf dolls that will be about 9” each.
ReplyDeleteI keep looking at a dress I want to make, and have everything there for and though the pattern is super simple the project somehow seams “big” though in truth, time wise it is possibly less time consuming then a Waldorf doll. I think because we are in a season of open inspections doll making is something I can easily pop in a basket and not loose my place with it.
You little projects are just beautiful. They will make gorgeous gifts for Christmas!
Xx
Your Waldorf dolls are so gorgeous, Emma. I love projects that can be tucked into baskets too. I find, when making clothes, that I baulk at cutting out the pattern pieces given I have to clear the kitchen table for that!! Meg🙂
DeleteWonderful gifts, they are beautiful, you are clever.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Marlene. I follow patterns and on-line tutorials for crafts. Otherwise, I would never get anything finished!! Once I am confident, then I tend to make several and branch out a bit. When I made the little olive twig bag, I did the casing for the ribbon my own way. Meg
DeleteOh Meg, you make the cutest things! I love them all.
ReplyDeleteI hope your shoulder feels better soon.
I'm on a long term project to make a quilt from old shirts, so I'm still in the process of cutting shirts. At the rate I'm going, I think it will take a couple of years. Heheee
Thanks, Nil. Using old shirts for quilt patches is such resourceful thinking! Just imagine how you'll treasure that quilt when it is done! Meg🙂
DeleteOh, how beautiful!!! I'm a huge fan of embroidery. I have a cross stitch piece that my grandmother had started, but I haven't been able to work on it lately. Things are SO hectic with running my daughter to preschool, picking her up, picking my son up, picking my husband up, running errands, doctor appointments (and physical therapy, which I'm done with, thankfully!), etc. There's so little time lately to just sit and work on projects, but mid-December, my daughter will be off preschool until February, so maybe THEN I'll get to work on it. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your lovely work!!! :)
I adore embroidery too, Stephanie. Melissa Wastney's work, which you can see on her blog, tiny happy, is my absolute favourite!
DeleteWe go away for holidays in December and I always find that slower pace opens up time for crafty things. I have bought myself a sampler to work on when we are on holidays this year.
I hope that less hectic pace, come mid-December, opens up lots of time for your Grandmother's cross-stitch. How lovely to be working on something she began.
Meg 🦋
Your little makes are super sweet Meg, and a great use of your enforces down-time, not to mention al that re-using and up cycling. I've been knitting.... a bundle of mini stockings, which have now gone off to Maria to fill for charity giving ( Maria sure gets around, such a busy and generous lady 😊) and little ornaments for a swap, and making a couple of quilt blocks to contribute to a quilt for ovarian cancer. I have a long list of must -do and want-to do projects, and am looking forward to sitting and doing some handwork. I hope your shoulder is on the mend now.
ReplyDeleteYou have some lovely projects on the go, Nanette. I am sure the recipients of your knitting and quilting will really appreciate them. It was lovely to meet Maria, she is a very generous and sweet lady. I have had an injection into my shoulder earlier today. I have to wait now to see if it helps. Fingers crossed! Meg 🙂
DeleteWhat gorgeous project ideas. I love the tea towel tote you made, such a clever idea for a tea towel. I'm currently sewing plenty of shopping totes for teacher Christmas gifts which I make for them every year. My sister had an injection for her bursitis a couple of weeks ago and it's so much better now so good luck with your procedure. xx Susan
ReplyDeleteShopping totes for teacher gifts are a great idea! I might whip up a few more up! I found a tutorial for how to make them online. So quick, easy and inexpensive! Thank you for your well wishes. I had the injection done yesterday so I hope the outcome is positive as it has been for your sister. Meg🙂
ReplyDeleteThose are all so sweet Meg, love how the teatowel tote turned out. I seem to do a lot of boomerang bag sewing, but have just downsized (for once) a lovely raw silk top I found in a op shop for $5. My next project is sorting my store room where all my projects are so that I can get into it 😄.
ReplyDeleteA raw silk top for $5 sound quite the bargain, Anne. I am always on the look out for tops at op-shops, particularly those that will be cool to wear over our Summer. I am really happy with how the tea towel bag turned out. Very simple, no waste of the fabric, took less than an hour and I think my mum (who doesn't read my blog so won't see what's in her xmas parcel) will like it. Meg:)
DeleteGorgeous makes Meg - I love that tea towel tote bag. I just packed up all my craft and sewing stuff in preparation for the move (although kept a few things out to make some stuff for the trip once the dust settles on packing).
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Laura
Thanks, Laura. I hope you'll share what you make for your exciting trip. Always good to have a few little projects on the go! Meg:)
DeleteYou are on a roll with your crafts...love the repurposed tea towel bag.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kathy. I have made quite a few small things lately, I am catching up so I have handmade things to give for xmas. Meg:)
DeleteOh, I should be working on a particular project, for a Christmas gift! If I don't hurry along, Christmas will beat me to the finish line. I hope your shoulder gets better soon, Meg. Lovely crafting projects. I can remember buying tea towels like that, back in the 80's, lol.
ReplyDelete