Sweet Fabric [Search results for buy handmade] 

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Thinking lots about Christmas & giving & sharing & eating & drinking & making & appreciating...

I'm trying really hard to give handmade this year & I thought this might be a good way to spread a bit of Christmas Spirit around.

The Winner Takes it all!

Vintage Father Christmas pillowcase filled with great holiday gift ideas all handmade by me from mostly thrifted/recycled materials. I think that this would cross a LOT of people off your nice list this Holiday Season. You could win the lot! I'm happy to post anywhere! You can view this image with notes on Flickr.

I like to be organised...

Here's a list of places I've been & things I've seen to help me prepare for the upcoming holidays.

COPY FROM HERE:

Still feeling totally inspired by the handmade issue of mankind mag from my favourite design blog.
Q What is the blog author's first name? ANSWER:
use the first letter - LETTER:

We like to keep lunch casual, I've found some fabulous BBQ recipes for the big day.
Q What type of meat is pictured on the rotisserie? ANSWER:
use the first letter - LETTER:

Getting some great ideas for upcycling (my favourite craft) & enjoying the revamp over at this fabulous craft website.
Q They list everyone's favourite Portland based author mama as one of their inspirational sites. Which Portland based author mama is she? ANSWER:
use the second letter of her last name - LETTER:

Looking forward to being able to buy handmade at the shopping shindig with the craft book Queen.
Q What type of car is pictured? ANSWER:
use the first letter - LETTER:

All these letters unscramble to reveal:
WHAT? is all you need.

STOP COPYING

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and this is one I'm a bit obsessed with. I just can't stop looking at it. Now I've got to find the perfect frame.

I went on a clicketty trip from Design for Mankind & landed in Matte Stephens etsy shop. There was no way I could click on without this gorgeous print.

I've been buying straight from the maker/artist/crafter lately & Pip is right buy handmade - it's better. I feel really good about my purchases & you always get a lovely little hand written note on the receipt - what's not to love about that?

If you would like to read more about Matte this interview is fabulous & just check out Matte's ranch. I'm his new number 1 fan.

I fashioned this laptop stand out of bits & pieces I had lying around at home. The only things I had to buy for this project were two small hinges.

It's craft born out of necessity.

When we moved I cut an old table in half lengthways to make a slimline desk. Unfortunately my laptop & keyboard didn't fit properly on the desk so I was typing & reading at a really awkward (& uncomfortable) angle.

My brother has one of those store bought laptop stands so I rang him to find out where to buy one & went to the shop. I was horrified that this little piece of plastic was going to set me back around $80! In addition the sales person was extremely unhelpful so I huffed out of the shop determined to make one for myself.

I think practical things might as well also be beautiful. I've done a bit of embroidery to pretty things up & because I was unsure if my HAC would stand up to holding the laptop I didn't want my efforts to be in vain...

it's also a cookbook stand. Featuring the fabulous Minus the Boombah cookbook as recommended by Aunty Cookie.

checking it twice.

I had to check twice because I was a bit surprised about how many people I had on my nice list. Surely some of these folk must have been naughty.

We have a "no gift" rule with the adults in our family (we all give a donation to the charity of our choice instead). That cuts out a few but I'm still sitting at 2 pages!

I was feeling a bit like I was stuck on an express train to Christmas & I wasn't going to be ready when we reached the station. I've now completed my Christmas List & I think I can now sit back & enjoy the ride.

I've still got a few bits to make, a few bits to finish off & a few bits to buy. I am hoping to be able to finish off the purchasing at this shopping night. I'm feeling confident that I am on track for my handmade Christmas & feeling pretty good about it!

There has been a bit of layering happening on my desk this week. All the stuff from last week is still there but there have been a few additions.

Grey wool for a new softie project.
Inspiration 3 which I printed this morning & read while I ate my toast. Erin has done a terrific job.
This gorgeous Yellena print which arrived in the mail this week is resting up against the pile of craft books from last week. She is currently at Poppytalk Handmade with lots of lovely prints to buy. This is my favourite.
The packaging from my most recent online purchase. They know a thing or two about presentation - let me tell you!

If you are new to On my desk...let me know so I can stop by.

Square by Jess

Did you know that Flip is coming to Australia? It's going to be available in time for Christmas.

I'm one of the lucky folk who gets to trial the new Mino HD Flips. The camera arrived yesterday & so I decided to make a little Quilt Project video for you.

I have a gadget geek brother who owns an earlier model of the Flip which I've used a bit...you can see those efforts here.

Obviously the quality is far superior using the new flip & the addition of a tripod jack is fabulous as is the mobile phone size. It's smaller than an iPhone & just as easy to use.

The most appealing thing for me is the fact that our videos can easily be stored (if I can do it anyone can) in the same place as our images rather than hanging around on teeny tiny digital tapes which neither myself or The Date know how to manage on the computer.

I guess the main questions are...
Would you buy it? Yes...built in USB (for quick & easy camera to pc transfer), built in battery, super easy to use. Tick, tick, tick.
How much is it? Look here.

So you'll probably see a bit more video around this space in the next little while if I can get over the fingernails-on-blackboard-cringe when I have to listen to my own voice.

The most exciting video news in ages is that Handmade Nation will be released on DVD November 3. This movie made me proud to be a maker of things. If you haven't seen it (or even if you have) signup to receive an email alert to let you know it's available.

Most of my creating this week has been in my head. I've been running & thinking & running & thinking & planning.

I've got heaps of beginnings in the space today as well as the aftermath of somethings I've finished.

Beginnings:
Belt to go with this fabric to make a bag.
Music box with a couple of "maybe" fabric choices one from Justine & one Opped.
Vintage fabric purchases on from here & one for Handmade Help.

Finishings:
Names for embroidery - one which has been gifted & the other a collaborative effort.
Scraps from the final touches on the bag for Art Fights Fire...what a night.

Sundry:
A mug that slipped throught the Op Shop ban because I knew she'd kill me if I didn't buy it (50c).
Circle cutter.
A caramello easter egg wrapper
Screw driver fittings for the Baby Bosch
A "business"/calling card

Pop in and add your link if you're playing this week.