Making your own fabric

I was having a quick google around this morning, I think I quite fancy investigating how to make my own fabric. That way I will have tried it and the clothes or things I make would be even more unique to me.

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So Mum, if you are reading this book isnt out yet but I am thinking ........... birthday present?!

Nail Varnish

I love my pink Barry M polish, its so girly and summery it makes me smile. I just wonder why it doesn't take very long until it is chipped!!

I am tempted to do my nails before camping (if we go) because of the forecast we are holding on before we make a decision!! Therefore, if I do my nails the chances are they will be kept lovely for as long as possible!

I heart my new hoover!

We just spent the last of our wedding vouchers yesterday on a new hoover! Its amazing, the cat seems to malt everywhere so it was getting to be a pain.
This Russell Hobbs is so brilliant at getting rid of the hair I didn't think it could be that easy!! The suction on this would suit any home even without pets, its just a great compact little thing! Plus its white so its fairly cute?

I have been asked to help (do) another scrap book, for someone at works daughter. I am quite excited because this little lady is also 21 so I feel like I have a bit more potential to do it right!! Although the previous one went down very well so fingers crossed for this one! I love working with people to create personal memories, if this was my job I would be very happy!!

Now I am off to sort my student finance and take another look at this scrap book ....

Martha Stewart has so many brilliant free sewing templates and craft ideas its unreal. I get an email every day giving me a new tutorial to try out.
I love this fabric and would really like to make something similar as an easy day bag.

There is talk in our household of going camping soon! I am slightly scared because the only times i have really camped is when I was doing Duke of Edinburgh. But I am sure its the cheap break we have been looking for!

Me and my budget is hoping we can camp for less tan £50, so we shall see! I will post about it on my return! I am visiting a craft fair with my mum and sister today which I am quite excited about - i love handmade, I love inspiration and I love meeting up with my family :) so it should be a great day. My mister is off out tonight so I will be pampering myself and thinking about birthdays I have coming up, and anything else we may need for camping!

The Bead Shop - Manchester

Just before we moved into our house I brought a rather large selection of beads from this bead shop, the prices were so reasonable and even when I had ordered something that wasn't in stock they just refunded my money.

I ordered over a bank holiday when they were giving a discount too which made it all the more appealing!!!

I add these to all my necklaces just so that the recipient knows :)

Etsy Selling

As I have just finished college I am thinking about one of the biggest 'to do's' on my 25 before 25 list... 

I want to make things to sell, I think I have pretty much decided to use Etsy as opposed to Ebay for the time being. Mainly because Etsy has its own handmade loving audience. 

I have been playing around with it to decide what I actually want to sell and what my style will be. I love vintage, the way it looks and the stories behind it. 

So I thought I would share a few things I came across that inspire me/I have fallen in love with.....

fifiduvie

katieblairdesigns

There are so many cute things, I could just spend a fortune!! The best thing about buying handmade is helping out another person on their little journey. 

Carrier Bag holder tutorial

To start with, I am not a sewer that measures very often! So all lengths are approximate and really just try your own and go with it. See what you create!!

I started with a large piece of fabric and cut about 30cm from the fold - I folded the fabric in half so that I didn't have to sew up one side.

Then I pinned the top hem, I unfolded the fabric and did it in on long strip.

I added some elastic to the bottom because I thought it would give it a nice effect - I didn't hem it either, I left the end frayed just to give it a bit of an old feel.

I pinned the elastic to start with, pulling it taught as I did and found that the best way for me to do this was to just sew the first bit and then pull the elastic (40cm at most) as I put it through the machine. This was a bit of trial and error but the end product looked good.....

Once all of the little bits were done I then pinned the sides together and stitched it up to make a tube shape. Before this stage you could add any embellishment you like, I did think about felt hearts with a blanket stitch edging but I love this material so I wanted to keep it plain.

You also need to remember not to stitch the hemmed top of the tube up, this is where you will thread your ribbon to add the holder to a hook.

Thread the ribbon through with a safety pin, tie a knot and you are done!!

This is my finished piece in the kitchen, I was amazed at how many carrier bags I had squirrelled a way :)