Little Baking Bags

Just thought that I would show you some of the things that I have been working on recently. 

A few weeks back we were invited to a double birthday celebration, so as I am on a never-ending quest to find good birthday presents that don't cost me sqillions of pounds, I tried a different present idea. After making some little personalised drawstring bags, I purchased some child sized spoons and rolling pins from the hardware store, and a lovely cookie cutter each to co-ordinate with the bag. I hope they liked them! Strikes me that you could do this for any hobby - drawing - crafts - cooking - petcare and buy a few inexpensive fun items to put in a similar useful bag. These had a felt initial stitched on by machine but if you aren't very confident with machining around curves you could hand stitch these on easily. 

Product Review: Feed those Cheeky Monkeys With Walkers Hoops and Crosses

This weekend we were sent a some new crisps from Walkers to try. Hooray! If we have one guilty pleasure in our lunch boxes, then it has to be crisps. I get in a rut sooo quickly with packed lunches, trying to find foods that are 1) healthy 2) indestructable (is it only my kids who are so rough on their lunch boxes?) 3) contain no nuts. Basically, it's sandwiches all the way, yawn.

I generally find the new generation of baked crisps and other 'healthier' kids snacks a better option than normal crisps. Walkers Hoops and Crosses are baked,  have 85 calories per bag and are made from wholegrain with no artificial colours or preservatives, so clearly aiming for that healthier lunchbox demographic.

So, what did we think of these new Hoops and Crosses? Firstly, as ours came with a lovely monkey toy, they were instantly popular. But unfortunately I think the monkey was a reviewers perk!

My three year old enjoyed them on our picnic lunch today. She loves anything that can be worn as a ring, so at least half the crisps in the packet were 'my best'. The crosses also disappeared pretty quickly into her tummy though.... The crisps come in three flavours, we were sent the Roast Beef ones, but you can also get Salt and Vinegar or Prawn Cocktail.

I tasted them too, and I thought the flavour was pleasant. The choice of flavour and texture very much puts them, in my opinion, in the food for the kids section of my pantry, but that's the idea eh? I guess if they were designed to go with a nice glass of white they would not have been sent with a monkey toy!

My older daughter is more likely to get these in her lunch box then the younger one, but I probably will buy this product again when I am buying crisps for family packed lunches and picnics. Apparently you can also play Tic Tac Toe with them, but will they stick around that long?

Update: My eldest has now returned home and announced that they were delicious. You heard it here first folks!

We received the monkey toy, crisps and actual money payment for undertaking this review. Opinions are my own, additional facts supplied by Walkers Crisps.  

Spring FINALLY arrives (oh no it's #picsmykidstook)

Spent Sunday at glorious Exbury Gardens, and as I am now full of sunshine and flowers, I thought that I would share with you these actually decent photos my 7 year old took. Some of her pics are actually in focus these days... Progress. I shall have to put up with the constant sound of her shutter whirring and requests to download!!

Make It! Twitter Cushion Tutorial

Hi, yesterday I posted a picture of a cushion that I made, and thought that you might like to know how I did it. It is quite an easy one, and not hard to get a really smart result.

You will need:

A piece of base fabric, such as calico, which should the same width as your cushion pad and length should be the height of your cushion x2 plus 20cm. 
Four pieces of bias binding or wide ribbon each the width of your fabric
A simple motif (Very easy to find in Google or indeed in an embroidery book - or you could just trace around a shape you liked)
A piece of lightweight interfacing. Fusible is easier, but I give the method for non-fusible because that is what I had.
Scraps of fabric, similar weights.


What to do:

First prepare your cushion cover. Press each short end towards the RIGHT side, pin on your ribbon or bias tape and top stitch this at top and bottom.

Now lay the fabric over your cushion pad to determine where the centre is. This is where the front of your cushion will be. I also added bias tape at the top and bottom of my cushion front, which I added by simply pinning straight and topstitching on.

 Prepare your motif: Using a fabric pencil or similar, place the interfacing over your motif outline and trace. Then cut it out.

Prepare your patchwork: I have suggested doing this after the motif because it helps to know exactly what shape and size you need when planning your patchwork piece. I cut my scraps into roughly square or rectangular pieces, sewed them together on the machine, pressing regularly, until I had something the right size. Not very scientific!

Assembling the motif: Now lay the interfacing shape onto the wrong side of your patchwork. If you have fusible interfacing you can press now. If not, use pins. Cut around the shape leaving whatever seam allowance you feel comfortable with.  Clip all the curves. This is very important!

Get out your needle and thread and baste around the shape, turning in your edges neatly as you stitch them under. Satisfying. Don't be too finikity about the stitches. Feel free to use whatever super funky clashing colour you have. It's easier to take out that way!

Assembling the cushion: Pin the motif where you like on the cushion front. I chose dead centre but that's just me. I then machine stitched the motif on, and then (using a stitch ripper) removed the basting thread. I chose a pretty ordinary stitch for this one, but I did briefly consider a proper blanket stitch. The stitch you chose will change the character of the cushion, and I do like a nice hand done applique. But I was trying to be speedy!

Now, last but not least, fold the cushion right sides facing, with the centre front flat and the two pieces top and bottom overlapping. This makes the envelope your cushion cover will be. Fasten and stitch along the side edges. When you turn it out you should have a nice cushion cover. Stuff your pad inside. Does it look like this?

 

Pinterest Challenge - Twitter Cushion

Cushion making is something that I love doing but in general I don't. This is mainly because there are several ladies in my local area who have stalls making almost exclusively cushion related items and as I am in competition with them at craft fairs, I find making different stuff increases the interest in my stall. Machievellian? Or just ignoring a market? I do find that there's a limit to the amount of cushions and stuffed lavender hearts people will buy, and I have always had this terrible urge to swim against the tide...... However, this might be a wrong-headed approach as my bunting and owls (quote circa 2009: I will NEVER make bunting or owls) have been the most financially successful products I produce so there's a lesson in market forces for you!

Recently I was asked very nicely if I would do a children's craft party for a friend. Normally an instant nope, but I know the girl is super into sewing, and at 11 more than capable of using a sewing machine and keen to improve her skills. Apparently her friends also have some sewing smarts, so I was OK with providing some materials and know-how. It might be fun, and I do have a primary school teaching background so am not afraid of a small group of happy girls! They want to do cushions, I'll give them some applique tips, provide materials and templates, and encourage them to design their own. 

To get my creative juices flowing, I made a Pinterest board and thought it might be a good idea to make myself a cushion to get restarted on the old cushion making. 

So I am entering this little beauty into the Pinaddicts Challenge this month because it is a pinterest inspired piece. If you tune in tomorrow I hopefully will be posting a bit more on how I made it because it was a nice EASY project and good for scrap usage too, which we always like here at scrooge central. I have called it my Twitter cushion because after I made it I realised how good it would be as the prize in a giveaway I was planning to run on Twitter. So I'm afraid this cushion already has a new home. It's gone to Amy's Button Box who was the lucky winner of my 700 followers prize draw. Sorry!

Sewing a summer wardrobe

Every year I get this idea that I will make myself and the children lots of beautiful garments, and every year I just make NONE because I buy them at the supermarket instead (Mum, don't tut).

However, this year I have been watching The Great British Sewing Bee which if you haven't watched I would recommend to you highly. It has given me quite a bit of zeal for making clothes again, which I had lost recently. The link above is to the BBC iPlayer website, so you can watch the episodes so far RIGHT NOW if you UK based. Do it....

Anyway, I have in mind the following projects:

A) Making an A-Line Skirt - I have one I love, so I would like to try and copy it by drafting my own pattern. Eeek. I can do this.

B) Making some dresses for myself - finishing a 1960s one I started ages ago (it's actually a maternity pattern but that should just translate as comfy - *hopes*), and a lovely simple stretchy Casual Lady from Go To Patterns. Actually that will be a challenge as I don't as a rule use knits.

C) Embellishing some t-shirts for the girls - apparently we wants one with a rocket on, but girly. Obviously such a thing is not in the shops. Also I am a bit obsessed with Mini Boden but I can't afford to splurge all the time on their lovely t-shirtings.

D) Beach dresses. I have another Go To Pattern for kids jersey dresses, and I will make some. Maybe not this summer, as this list is now loooong. My eldest is constantly growing though so she *might* get one.

Hundred Acre Woods

What could be better than a playground in the woods? A playground with teepees, huts, treehouses and a massive sandpit? Where a kiosk sells warming coffee for accompanying adults? Best. Day. Ever