May Favourites

May has been a long month, I have had a lot going on and it has been the little things that have made such a difference. If months have colours, for me the colour of May has by far been mint, literally can't get enough of it, as you will see in my selection of favourites.

You all know by now that I am an Essie fan-girl but I may have a new favourite.  I found this range called 'Lottie London' in my local Superdrug recently and I am in love with their collection of nail polish.  My favourite by far is the shade Stay Cool, a beautiful grey lilac, closely followed by Retweet and Spring break. I feel a few more purchases coming on...

This pen holder thingy from Tiger just makes me so happy, it seems a little silly and pointless, but I think that's why I like it so much. And it's minty green/blue colour pop on my desk doesn't hurt either. On a more serious note, my YouTube subscriptions list has become crammed full of vids about planners recently, particularly the lovely Strange and Charmed's Alexis. She makes great planning videos and has some amazing tips and advice for business and productivity too.  She Also has a kick ass Blog, head over and show her some love, tell her I sent you <3

I am still enjoying my Messy box subscription that I reviewed at the beginning of the month and this time I added some extra bits to my delivery in the way of some ink pads and these Messy Pens. I love them and can't stop writing everything with them. My favourite is the 'fine' one, which is about 0.8 if you buy regular fine liners, but it is so much better, the nib is slightly soft and the ink flows so nicely. Well worth having them shipped.

My Stationery obsession continues, I seem to be building quite a collection of cute sellotape dispensers all of a sudden. I love them! These are all by Scotch who make my all time favourite double sided tape too so it must be a sign. Check out my favourite glues and tapes in my post from last year. I even bought a blue version of the pink one for H because I just couldn't resist.

Do you have a stationery obsession? Link me up to your favourite items in the comments. Do you follow any planner addicts online? Tell me your favourites, I can't get enough.

Sammy xxx


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Sewing Tips: Bias Binding

At Sew Crafty I get asked a lot about bias binding, like how to use it and what it's for, which is understandable, if you have never been taught about it, it may seem like a bit of a mystery. I love how it can take a project from okay through to polished and it really isn't as complicated as it may appear. So I thought for this month's sewing tips post I would write a definitive post including everything you ever wanted to know about Bias Binding.

Make it: Fox and Bunny Chopsticks with Tiger

As Sammy mentioned last week, we took a dive into what Tiger had to offer a couple of weeks ago and I found these training chopsticks which I thought would look great with a little additional fun to them.  As these training chopsticks would probably be used for children (although any age need a helping hand with chopsticks sometimes - am I right?!), I thought that making the ends a little more fun with some animal faces would be a good idea.

You will need: Training Chopsticks (mine were from Tiger), Acrylic Paint, paintbrush, black and coloured pens, paint palette (or plate like me) and water pot.  You may want to varnish these aswell, but acrylic should hold up well to washing - just maybe not the dishwasher.

So first you need to decide on your characters, I went with a bunny rabbit and fox as I felt that the pointed ends lent themselves to these animals.  I did a little sketch first so that I had an idea first, but you many want to just go for it.

I gave the ends of the chopsticks a base coat of the colour I wanted and then gave it another coat to make it a nice solid colour.  For the bunny it was white and for the Fox I went with a brown and orange mix.  I did both sides of the chopsticks but you could always just do one side if you preferred.

I added in a few of the features with the paint, pink ears for the bunny and a bit more orange for the fox ears, then left them to dry.  I used my water pot to stand them up to dry, so that one side didn't get smudged.

Then, to add detail, I used a black pen to do the eyes of the fox and outline detail on both the fox and bunny ears.

Then voila, all done.  A really simple customisation of some training chopsticks, just to make them a little more fun for your dinner.

Which animals would you make, or would you make them with patterns on or something completely different?  Let us know in the comments below.

H, xxx

This Post is in collaboration with Tiger

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Make it: Colour Pop Headphones with Tiger

Last time H and I popped into London we headed to what is becoming our go-to place for DIY friendly home-wares, Tiger.  We picked up loads of fun bits and bobs, one of the things I got was some white headphones. I loved them white but I wanted to give them a bit of a make over. I have seen so many really cool decorated ones around lately and I thought these would make a great base for a little colour pop.

To make these colour pop headphones you will need: a scrap of colourful jersey fabric, a pair of white headphones from Tiger. Scissors, needle and thread, double sided tape, a thin flat ended tool (a flat head screwdriver would work)

Step1. Start by removing the ear pad from the earphone head and removing it from the headband.
Step 2. Find a good piece of your fabric where you like the pattern and draw around the earphone leaving about 2.5cm seam allowance.
Step 3. Cut out your circle of jersey.
Step 4. Take some double sided tape and stick it around the edge of the earphone. Using the tool or screwdriver start to poke the edge of the jersey in the gap between the outside and inside of the earphone.
Step 5. Once you have tucked the raw edges in all the way around, pop it back in the headband and replace the ear pad.
Step 6. Repeat on the other earphone.

Step 7. Cut a length of jersey long enough to cover the band over the head.

Step 8. Fold the jersey over the band and hand stitch it in place, turning the edges in as you go.
Step 9. You can leave the sewn edge to the side or twist it to the centre.
Step 10. Enjoy your new headphones.

I am so in love with these beauties! The thing I love is that the possibilities are endless. You can use any jersey fabric, you could even use an old band t-shirt and if you change you mind after a while just remove your first go and start again. 

Do you have a Tiger store near you? H is lucky enough to have one near her in Woking. I am hoping Maidenhead might be next on their list, that might be wishful thinking. I am loving visiting when I am in London though. Have you picked up any must haves from their spring collection? What DIY's are you up to this bank holiday? Let us know as always in the comments below.

Have a lovely weekend
Sammy xxx


This post is a collaboration with Tiger Stores UK.


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Let's Meet: Oh Squirrel

This month we had a little chat with Katie from Oh Squirrel.  After admiring her work for ages we eventually plucked up the courage to ask her if she would be interviewed by us and she said yes!  In between Renegade and Craftacular and making many many sashes for the Wedding season of course!

So let's have a look at what she has to say and look at all the gorgeous things she has to offer of course too!

Love it: Craftacular Haul

Yesterday was Bust Magazine's Craftacular day and what a lovely day for going to spend the afternoon looking at more pretty things!  Of course we went to see some of our friendly faces and met some lovely new designers too, which is always good, although maybe not for the bank balance!  I am now on a spending ban before our holiday next month.

Top Ten Sewing Machine Feet

I am aware that there are in fact twelve feet in the picture above and even worse there are actually more than ten feet mentioned in this post, I never have been able to stick to a budget! I have been asked alot recently after introducing the Teflon foot in our Pastel and Neon clutch bag tutorial about sewing machine feet. There are lots of different kinds of presser feet depending on what you need to do and which machine you have. I thought today I would just run you through my ten...sorry twelve most used machine feet.

I have three machines, a Janome 525s a Babylock 1600 and a mint green John Lewis mini and I am lucky enough that they all take standard low shank snap on feet. I have used contrasting threads to make it easier for you to see what each foot is capable of. 

Zig Zag foot

The zigzag is the most versatile of all the feet that come with your machine. This is the foot that you cannot live without. With the ability to stitch almost any stitch through the oval opening, you would be lost without this little one.

Zipper foot

For sewing zips into anything a zipper foot is essential. Depending on your machine, your foot or your needle will shift from side to side to be able to get up close to the zip coil without the foot veering off the edge of the zip and without damaging the coil, so that you can attach your zips with neat straight stitches.

Concealed zip foot

You don't need a concealed zip foot to insert a concealed zip but it is jolly useful if you do. The foot helps to roll the coil of the zip away whilst you stitch so you can get as close to the edge as possible to make a neat closure with no stitching showing on the outside of the project. 

Teflon foot/ Walking foot

These two for me count as one foot, as they are both designed to aid in moving sticky, slippery or bulky fabrics through your machine. The Teflon foot is recommended for fabrics like PVC and leatherette where the surface has a tendency to stick to the underside of a metal foot. The walking foot can also help with this issue, but it can also be used for sewing bulky fabrics and slippery fabrics like Minky fleece which tend to shift when sewing with a regular foot. In the photo above you can see the results sewing on Minky fabric with the walking foot on the left and with a regular foot on the right. So much better with the walking foot I think you will agree. 

Blind Hem Foot

The amazing invisible hem that you can achieve from this foot and its corresponding stitch is brilliant. Sometimes practice is required to truly appreciate what a wonder this foot can be, but once mastered it is a skill you won't forget. 

Embroidery/darning foot

If you have a need to be free with your stitching, an embroidery or darning foot will be your best friend. Once you lower the feed dogs (the little rough teeth that move the fabric through with your other feet) the bouncy foot will hold the fabric whilst the stitch is being made but will jump up so you can move the fabric in any direction you wish. Great for creating stitched art, appliqué and free motion quilting. 

Gathering foot.

Again a rather specific use and a little temperamental but good fun if you are in the mood to play around a little. This foot will stitch and as the name suggests, gather your fabric as it goes. I find that it does better with light weight fabrics and small amounts, but it is a time saver when sewing long lengths of trimmings. 

Piping foot

You can get different sizes of foot depending on the size of your piping, but basically the groove in the bottom is designed to hold the cord in place whilst you stitch the casing or cover in place. You can also use it when sewing the covered piping between two layers of fabric. Like the zip foot with zips, it is designed to get the stitch as close to the piping as it can, so as  little of the stitching is visible on the finished product. 

Button hole foot/guide

As the name suggests it is there as a guide when sewing a button hole by machine. It usually has markings on it so that it is easy to judge the size you need whilst sewing (if you have a manual button hole stitch). It also holds the fabric in place all the way around the button hole area whilst stitching to get a neat even finish. 

Bias binding foot

Designed to make the dull task of sewing on bias binding a little easier. It holds the fold of the bias in place with consistency to get a straight line when sewing your binding on the straight or round a curve. You just wheel the guide in to place and sew!

Roll Hemming Foot

A simple and efficient way to get a narrow neat finishing edge is to use a roll hemmer. It is a little fiddly at first but once the technique has been mastered you will love it.  Really good for finishing edges on silk scarves and fine or sheer fabrics. 

There are a couple of things I would suggest if you are thinking of trying or buying any of these feet for your own machine. Make sure you buy the right foot for your brand of machine. Keep all your feet and accessories together in one place and keep it in a safe, clean and dry environment. If you are using a foot for the first time, or for the first time in a while practice on some scrap fabric before you sew on your final project... just in case.

If you are nervous about even approaching your machine check out our post about how to fall in love with your machine. Want to find out more about other sewing machine feet and more on how to use any of the feet specifically? You can head over to our friends at the Sewing Directory where they have more articles about all the feet I have mentioned and more.

Do you have a tool or technique that you love?  Is there something about sewing or crafts you have always wanted to know about?  Let us know, we would love to write some more posts like this.  Look out for my much requested 'Bias Binding' Top Tips special coming up next week.

Sammy xxx

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Make it: Travel Dolls House in a Suitcase

Today we have one of the cutest DIY's I think we have done, a Travel Dolls-house Suitcase. A great little project to make for your little ones to take on your travels over the holidays, or like me if you just love cute little things to put on display. 

This project was prompted by a sort out of my old toys in my Mums attic. I found my My Little Pony travelling stable and three or four Barbie doll room sets that I made from cardboard boxes when I was young.  Does anyone else remember weeks of following along with Blue Peter making dolls furniture out of things like loaf tins, yoghurt pots and sticky back plastic?? No ...  Just me? Okay, on with the make...

I started with a cardboard suitcase. I got this one from Amazon, but they are available in lots of craft stores and gift shops too.

I painted the inside white, but you could also add scrapbook papers or decoupage the inside as wall paper if you want a more colourful room for your miniatures. I wanted to keep mine quite neutral.

I used some off cuts of different textured fabrics to make the furnishings. Some cotton with the edges frayed out makes a dainty floor rug and a little cream velour cut to shape makes a cute faux throw.

A cocktail stick, bakers twine and a scrap of cotton makes a trendy 'Be kind' banner. Little scrap-booking supplies make great wall art simply blue-tacked in place.

The bed I made from cardboard, the headboard is large paper clips masking taped together and painted white to create a painted iron look. With bedding sewn from fabrics with petite prints and a little miniature teddy I bought from Etsy a few years ago the room is starting to take shape.

I used two chipboard shapes and some more large paper clips to make the chair. The mini tassel garland is made from embroidery thread and bakers twine (I'm pretty sure that is my favourite bit).

Some more of the accessories were inspired from my craft room, the succulent made from a bead and some felt, the reel of thread and heart in a jar were from some old projects. Be on the look out for small things that may work as accessories. The feature shelves were simply made from kraft card.

The last accessory I made to bring this dolls house bedroom into this millennium was a mini lap top, notebook and pencil, because lets face it, life just isn't right without a note book and pen. The laptop is simply black and silver card, the note book from paper and the pencil from a cocktail stick, painted to look like a pencil.  Place all your cute little accessories into your suitcase and there you have a little bedroom set that your little ones can take on trips to keep them occupied. (Do keep in mind the age and abilities of your little ones when choosing the size and intricacy of the accessories you make).

I hope you like this 'little' DIY, do you have a little one who might like this travelling dolls house? Or will you be making one all for yourself? You can always have a go at making some of these accessories for a non travelling dolls house too!

Sammy xxx
P.S. For anyone who is wondering, yes, I totally have a Blue Peter badge!


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Check this out: Craftacular

From Left: Necklace from Rodology, Necklace from Promises Promises and Brooches from Frilly Industries

We are having a bumper crop of activity these past few months and now it's time for the Summer Craftacular in London by Bust Magazine this weekend on Sunday 17th May.  Bust magazine is from America and so it's bringing the cool edge over to the UK.

Another outing really just means that it's more time for us to go shopping and see some of our favourite crafters and of course find some new ones along the way.

Our favourites will of course be there, from I am Acrylic and Claireabellemakes to one of our favourite magazines Mollie Makes of course.  We can't wait to sample the treats of the pop-up cafe from Drink, Shop & Do aswell, of course.

H has picked out a few of the new people she wants to find on the day.  Are you going? Who are you looking forward to seeing?

H


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