Yesterday was my birthday and I made myself a bag!
It used to be a skirt! It took me a while to get my head around how to sew the bottom as it was a flared skirt and I wanted some nice gathering. Also since I’m a beginner sewer too.
I’m really thrilled with the result and I love the liberty print lining. It’s a very soft feminine style bag.
I’ve really caught the sewing bug so stayed tuned for more creations.
Does anyone else suffer from the dreaded winter blues? Lately I have been slouching around doing pretty much nothing at all. It’s actually been getting me down a lot, hence why no posts – I didn’t want to spread the depression!
But it seems perhaps I have overcome it, at least I am praying that I have. The last week or so has seen me do a few crafty projects and I feel a little perkier too. Bring on the sun I say 
I have one large achievement to share – I sewed myself a skirt!!!! This is majorly huge business for me and if you’ve been following my blog for a while you would have heard me lament about not being able to take that first sewing step. I had cut the material out with my friend Rosie before I left Shepparton and Mum gave me a gentle nudge and guiding hand and I finished it under her supervision. I was so excited to finally have done it. And you know what? It wasn’t as scary as I had thought it would be. I truly enjoyed making it and I hope to start another sewing project soon. But without further ado here it is…
It’s bright and fun and I love the pattern and mini corduroy. It would be great made in cotton for summer too and maybe one in that crinkly material…seersucker I think? I am quite happy with the results, not bad for a first time, what do you think? Oh and I don’t know how James did it but I really like the grainy photo effect!
I’d really like to attempt this blouse by angry chicken. I must look up the pattern to see if it’s available in Australia. It looks pretty simple, no buttons or zips, perfect for me!
I’ll be back soon with some papercraft projects to share too.
Happy Days
Kris
Hello dear friends
I thought I’d better do a little update in case you were wondering where the heck I disapeared to hee hee! I’ve mostly just been buzzing around doing a bit of this and a bit of that but with nothing really major to report at this point!
I did make my own cordial which was the best tasting cordial second only to this lovely tipple. 
And it was so easy that I have vowed to never buy shop cordial again! I’m going to try and imitate the mint julep because the taste is just amazing. I got the recipe from recipezaar and just halved it as one commenter suggested.
Isn’t it the most divine colour? And talk about fresh – you could almost drink it straight! Apart from buying the tartaric and citric acids (easy to find in the baking section of supermarket) you may well have all you need already at home. Do try this if you’re a cordial drinker, you won’t be disapointed. Next on the to-do list will be a berry cordial, yummo! If anyone else has been making their own cordials I’d love to hear about it – leave a comment below!
In the foodie arena I also made Swiss Bircher Muesli which turns out to be one of the best breakkie’s ever. So zingy and fresh; I’m eating it almost every morning now. Is anyone else a fan of the bircher? And my daily fruit intake has gone from zero to 2+ which is surely commendable? Woo hoo for a healthy life style. Now if I can just keep up the dvd workouts I’ll be happy lol.
Craft wise things have been a little slower. I did purchase two sewing project kits; a little monkey softie and a cushion thingie. They are complete kits though with fabric, cotton, instructions etc so I should be able to manage them ok. And they came in the most adorable little cases – don’t you think?
I finally got to make and teach this workshop by Naomi Elliot. Love these cards so much especially as they are easy as pie to whip up. They use the distress inks and ink blending tool.
I’ve been working on a few workshop submissions but haven’t really had enough time to sit down and really get stuck into them. Also my blog war challenges have fallen by the wayside – will try to rectify this shortly. Here’s a couple of things I’ve squeezed in lately.
I have been enjoying training and spending time creating with my new recruit Lynda. It’s so much fun to have someone to play with. We are going to start a regular get together with my upline Deanne to make up more workshop samples. Crafting is great when you can combine it with a coffee and a chat!
I had a good clean of the house on the weekend, sort of a lead up to the big SPRING CLEAN that needs to be done. And James has headed back into the garden now we have a brand spanking new whipper snipper, so the yard is starting to look normal once again. The nicer weather really helps spur you on especially seeing all the spring blossoms. Have you been out in the garden lately? What have you been planting, flowers, veggies? I’d love to know.
So that’s a fair round up what I’ve been doing instead of blogging he hee! I will endeavor to not leave it so long between posts this time.
Cheerio
Kris
PS Kaszazz have had a new release of gorgeous products including school theme papers and stamps, plus distress embossing powder, new smooch colours and more design adhesives! Check them all out on line here (click on SEP 09) or email me to organise a new flyer sent straight to your door for just $2.00 (AUS ONLY) krismarr(at)iprimus(dot)com(dot)au
Here’s some pics of two workshops from National Training using the new products…
Yarn Yoga’s Devin posted her to do list and she’s been crossing things off as she goes and I thought to myself what a splendid idea. I’m also thinking we should all start using the word splendid again – in a posh Brittish accent of course! So with out further a-do here is my to-do::
I don’t want to make it too long and daunting so we’ll think of this as an experiment to see if I’m more accountable when my to do is there for all to see….fingers crossed.
to-doing
Kris
This weekend has been rather quiet. Not much craft going on at all. I did have my second “get to know your sewing machine” class on saturday and yay now I know how to sew button holes, pretty cool really. I also know the secrets of sewing on such things as piping, sequins, beads etc. It’s all in the feet you see!
Anyway I just wanted to quickly pop in so you know I’m still here. I will leave you with a picture of my sweet Bella taken a while ago. She has been unwell this weekend and a visit to the vet may be in order if improvements aren’t seen soon. Poor Bells. UPDATE {TUESDAY} :: She ate some dinner last night and some breakkie this morning and seems to be bit more lively, hurrah.
Kris xox
Well folks I’m off to the big smoke on Friday. Yes I am heading down to Melbourne with Sharynne and the gals for our yearly Kaszazz conference. This will be my first and lucky for me this year it’s in Melbourne so not so far to travel! It’s all very exciting, I packed my stuff tonight (so as I don’t forget anything) and I’m doing a last minute shop after work tomorrow for some jewelry to go with my dress for the presentation dinner thingy. Nothing too flash just something to jazz it up a little, probably from Diva or Equip. If I’d been more organised I’m sure I could have made something but..what can I say? I (mum actually) did re-fashion the dress – it used to be a skirt in a former life. I’ll post photo’s after but I was thinking of something like very long beads/chains/pearls. They seem to be all the rage at the moment and since the dresses neckline is straight accross I think something long would go best. Hmmm I really should have taken a photo for you. Nevermind.
I am looking forward to meeting lots of other Kaszazz peeps and seeing BRAND NEW PRODUCTS at conference!!! Yippeee. Also we get to make two brand new workshops so so awesome. Don’t worry I’ll try to take lots of pictures so I can update you when I get back. We’re staying at Quest Southbank which looks rather nice and is close to everything.
And not to detract from the conference but guess where I am going on Friday? The Stitches and Craft Show! It will also be a first for me and I’m terribly excited as now I am getting into sewing and fabrics there will be lots more appeal for me – not just the papercrafts. I have been checking out some bloggers that will be at the show like Two Cheese Please and Vintage Ric Rac and I’m crossing my fingers that I’ll be able to meet some of them in person. I won’t have a great deal of time so I’ll have to run around like a mad chook (angry chicken?) to get to everything I want to see. Gosh I’m excited. Sorry but I can’t stop using that word. You know, the craft blogging community just continues to amaze me with their wealth of knowledge and friendliness. Everyday I am finding more and more aussie craft bloggers and for me it’s just so darn (yep you guessed it) exciting.
Ok so obviously while I am away the blog shall be quiet but that doesn’t mean you can stop craftin’! I know there are more of you that need to enter the challenge competitions so hop to it as March is umm well marching on? Terrible Kris must be time for bed!
‘night all
Kris
I’m a little (ok, a lot) excited about something that will be happening very soon I hope. I won’t tell you what is just yet until I know it’s definetely going to happen, and by gosh I hope it does, eeekkk. Don’t ya love to be held in suspense? Most times it’s just annoying right? Well I promise to tell you as soon as I can – sorry!
So today was my day off and I got up to a few things…
I cancelled the waterfall album workshop due to low numbers (eg. one person!) however I am going to re schedule it in the near future. So that being done i toddled over to Sharynnes to make my sample up. And hey presto it was a lot easier that it looks – so if you’re thinking it’s too much of a challenge I say pish tosh and don’t be a scaredy cat. Honestly it’s so simple and I’ll bet once you make one you’ll be churning them out like a sausage factory because they make a great gift, especially with Christmas coming up. Photo to come (not of sausages ha ha).
I also did a little op shopping and came up trumps (what does trumps mean? I mean I know the saying but not the definition of the word). Check out this book I got on sewing…
How rad is that? Yeah yeah I know it’s old and all but the basics of sewing never change right? And it came with this little insert called Useful Things to Sew and the funny thing is they are still useful even though the book is 30 years old! And better yet I just found out that it was published by Readers Digest Australia so that means it’ll all be in aussie speak which will make it even easier for me to understand. Wait a minute is Redaers Digest Australian? I always thought they were American? Hmmmm. Anyway some of the “useful things” are hand bags, hooded robes, gaint floor cushions and oven gloves. And the photo’s are so funky, really retro, I love the fabric on the floor cushion…
sorry about the darkness of the photo’s, not sure what I was doing there. Oh I forgot to tell you the best thing about my new sewing book…it cost me fifty cents!!!!! Amazing right? It’s in great condition too. I also bought some home made aprons which I will post pictures of later and a black skirt to alter. I’ve been inspired by these two wickedly cool websites; Wardrobe Refashion and Craft Stylish such a wealth of information and ideas. I will never be at a loss for what to make for my personal craft challenge each month. I was actually looking for a cookbook on cookies, but hey I no complain.
Ah my report on Sebastians, yes well long story short we ended up at the Park Lakes Ginjar restaurant. It actually turned out to be a very fun night and they had a help yourself wine bar set up for $15 per person – very dangerous, but I drank in moderation folks I swear. The food was good on my part and James’, I had Tasmanina Salmon (mmm mmmm) and he had New York Style Steak. So Sebastians another day perhaps.
aiight I’m ready to snooze, play safe by the water
Kris
I know I tend to ramble a lot but is anyone actually enjoying or getting something out of reading all this stuff? It’s hard to tell because though some days I get many visitors I wonder if they took a wrong turn and ended up here by accident as no one leaves a comment. Ok so a few people have left comments but it’s mostly friends/family. Ah heck if only my friends and family read this blog well that’s enough for me to keep on sloggin I mean bloggin (same thing really). Enough pity party Kris stop blabbering.
So I was thinking before (yes sometimes I do that) and I realised that I haven’t posted any photo’s of the baby gift I made a while back. It was well received which made me proud as punch. There’s always a little part of you that worries the recipient will hate it so when it’s a hit there’s a big sigh of relief.
So here it is, a little door hanger for a wee one’s room to let people know when it’s quiet time and when they are welcome to come inside and play. An idea just struck me; I should make some for the family front door, you know when mum and bub are both asleep so visitors don’t just bang away yelling “let me in” (slight exageration). So many projects so little time. Anyhoo on this one I used various bits and bobs; paper I had stashed away for ages, some buttons that I’d bought during a Circle of Friends scrap class, the ribbons/twill is Kaszazz as are the little baby heads and such, words were printed from the computer except the “I’m sleeping” was my handwriting (cringe). I’m happy with the result though I did have a few false starts like warped paper when i embossed it after I’d stuck it on the hanger! I ended up using Mod Podge as glue and sealant. Mod Podge is great for gluing paper as it doesn’t make it buckle or go soggy. Aussie peeps – you can buy it at Spotlight too and it comes in matte or gloss; I used matte.
I didn’t have much luck with the cutesy print fabric search in oz so I’ll have to devote more time to it. Found one site but they were charging like over $20 for a metre yikes! That’s daylight robbery. I may as well get it straight from Japan it’d probably be cheaper. I’m itching to get the sewing machine out and just go crazy. But that would waste too much fabric ha. I have a friends who sews and said she’d help me while I’m on my L’s. Rosie has sewn a lot of clothes for herself and that’s what I’m keen for.
gotta dash
K
it’s like a drug really, all that creative goodness, the gorgeous paper, fabric, ribbons, buttons, and on it goes. Take a look at this site superbuzy they have Japanese fabrics and such, why is it Japanese stuff is so darn cute, it nearly kills me. The prints on the fabric are just oh I’m lost for words. I’ve only just begun sewing but I want to buy all this wicked cool material even if I haven’t a clue what to do with it. I could just stack it on a shelf and look at it.
how kitchy are these little czech dancers? and what about Alice in Wonderland…
it’s all just too much really. Now I’m going to have to do an online search for aussie fabric suppliers so I can get my mitts on some cuteness.
In other news I just ate a apricot jam biscuit at my desk and the crumbs all fell into the keyboard! Oops but it was yummy, from a biscuit company operating out of Donald.
So the restaurant has been chosen for tonight’s 21st b’day dinner. We are going to Sebastians where I’ve yet to dine, apparently it is good so fingers crossed. James and I haven’t been out for dinner for ages, we used to do it a lot but I don’t know what happened. Shame really considering our high appreciation of good food. I went to the Vic for dinner Saturday night for another b’day and chose the ceasar salad, hmph you can imagine my dissapointment to find the dressing was straight out of a Kraft bottle and the egg was pre poached and refrigerated urk. Is that even safe? When the yolk is still runny? I had hoped for better even though it was $13.95, is that too much to ask? Previous meals there have been good so not sure what went wrong. Some of the girls at the table mentioned that when you don’t go out for tea much anymore your standards are very high because it’s a real special occasion. Makes sense to me. So the report on Sebastions will be in tomorrow. I just peeked at their menu – 6 types of oysters is definetely a good sign.
Yep that’s me. Well not really but I have been lazy when it comes to getting photo’s up on this blog and taking time to write in it. I’ve just booked a week and a half of work (office job) so I can spend some time getting myself organised with my scrapbooking business, finishing off the scrap studio, paperwork, creative craftyness and other such things that I have not found the time to do lately. So I swear I will organise a little photo studio and take a bunch of photos, edit and load them up for all the world to see (cringe). So now I’m counting down – only two weeks until my time off so not long to wait.
On the weekend Shae came over and we started on our Clearly Cards Christmas kit. It was very different using the acetate for the card base but we were excited by how great they look – photo to follow. Shae got most of hers made but I wanted to finish a belated baby gift. The gift got done and looked fabulous but on Sunday when I went to Broadford to see my friend I forgot it at home! So typical, nevermind, once she has received the gift I will post pic’s. I fussed over it for sooo long but I’m happy with the end result. On a side note Shae and I finally made it to Tatura Bakery to try their award wining famous Vanilla Slice and yes it was so worth it. Total yum. I was never a huge fan of vanilla slice but theirs was perfect, creamy soft custard, crisp, flaky pastry. A far cry from the slice I used to know; soggy pastry, bright yellow, hard custard, totally gross. So if you haven’t tried Tat Bakery yet and you are in the vicinity I can highly recommend it.
On Friday night I took a trip to Spotlight and spent hours fussing over fabrics, ribbons and such for my craft challenge. I nearly went crazy comparing prints, colours and prices. It’s so hard when everything you know about sewing could be written on a grain of rice! I ended up buying a gorgeous animal quilt fabric in brights and blues which I think will suit my project perfectly. Did you notice I’m not revealing much? I have a few ideas up my sleeve and I’m not sure what is going to work so until I get started on something I’m keeping mum.
So last night Australian Idol started again – is anyone else addicted to talent shows? I’m sure there’s many of us out there. I just love seeing all these cool, amazing singers and musicians we have in oz. Did you catch the chick from Nowhere Creek, she was so good, really individual. I’ll be keeping an eye on her. I think Nowhere Creek(how cool) is between Avoca and Stawell, how many Nowhere Creeks can there be right? Not sure how I’ll cope with keeping up with all my programs. Now that the Olympics is over Heroes has returned and that is my one and only must watch show, then I guess Desperate Housewives will be back too. And can anyone enlighten me on 90210? I saw an ad and it starts tonight September 8 (how’d I get that wrong?) with what looks like only one original cast member Jenny Garth aka Kelly. I have to admit that I literally grew up on Beverley Hills 90210. I loved that show. I think I even had to go to my boyfriends house to watch it cos we didn’t get that channel – that’s commitment! Might take a peek at it. So back to my dilemma – how do I balance my crafty fun with my fave tv programs? More hours in the day? I’ll think of something…
By the way DO NOT go over to Martha Stewart.com unless you have nothing to do for the rest of the day. There is sooooo much cool, yummy, clever stuff on her website, yeah sure, you’ll check it out just for a quick look then the next time you look up from your computer screen it’s dark outside, the animals/kids are screaming for their dinner and you realise you’re parched and busting to go to the toilet at the same time! Be warned!
later
Kris
PS a daggy 90′s pic….
The Cast - Beverly Hills 90210
Recent Comments