happy birthday to you!

I've made some birthday presents. They make happy and personal gifts and I enjoy making them with someone special in mind!

My niece wanted a green bag fore her marbles with flowers. This is why I have a big stash (LOL)

 

I also made her a pencil rol with 26 (!) pencils. I should remember I only make these for really sweet nieces, because it's more work than I think every time! I do love the result with the happy matruska's.

 



 

And another one for a birthday party my son went to today, filled with marbles it is a great gift I think! Anything that encourages kids to play outside is really!

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goody - bags

I have made some drawstring bags for the hollidays! Some for the boys, for their drawing materials. One for me, to keep my sunglasses, ereader and phone sand free on the beach. And one as a gift.
It's basically this tutorial I once made (though in ducth).

 See you soon!

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baby,it's not so cold outside

I would have loved some cold and snow, but it's not coming yet. Actually I closed the shades to be able to see my screen well. Well I guess there's always something to complain about.
I've been planning the garden for my new home, in my head and with some drawing. It should be green (with white and blue flowers, maybe some pink), but with enough terass, I would like a new vegetable garden, a special children's spot with a swing, I would not like to be on my knees every day to pull out weeds, it should be modern, but still cozy, etc. I hope to combine it in a design that I can actually realize moneywise... But first there is a dream, than there is a plan. And if the plan has several steps, so be it.

I can finally show you the Christmas presents that did make it of the list. Do you make way to long making lists for Christmas? Maybe we should start in January this year LOL.

I made my middle sister a sleeve for her new iPhone. She picked it out on pinterest herself. You can find the tutorial here. It's really easy going, and delivers a nice result (I think). I've used some of my new bees and some neon fabric!

I made my youngest sister; who is somehow attached to the Eifel tower and Paris, some potholders with some especially ordered Paris fabric.

And I made my sister in law a reversible tissuebox cover made with this great tutorial. Even the bias tape worked with me.

I made my boys some pillows for their new rooms that they were very happy with. Forgot to take a picture, so I will show them next time!Pin It

so long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye

My big boy is getting even bigger, he's leaving kindergarten or pre-school to really start school in what we call groep 3. My son was born in the end of October, so he spent almost three years with his lovely teacher.
We gave her something with all the kids leaving her classroom, but I had to leave a reminder my self. To say thank you to someone who has had such a big role in the education and general upbringing of your child can even get a little emotional. And there is no gift big enough to represent that. I have made her things in the past for her birthdays etc. And I have made some things for the classroom. So I was really out of ideas to make something for her. So I made her a pincushion, to encourage her to do a little sewing herself! I made it in light and sunny colors, because she is a light and sunny person. I used the practice block from the lucky stars bomb of don't call met Betsy. It is paperpieced and than quilted on some left over batting. I filled it with small pieces of leftover batting, I love being frugal like that! I hope she appreciates the gesture and my son won't miss her too much.

 I already added some pins and needles, so she is all set up to start!

And since we are in the saying goodbye mode, I also said goodbye to the fly away quilt I made with the care circle of do good stitches. I found a good cause near to me in a temporary children's home made possible by the salvation army. Kids can get placed out of their homes for some time for different reasons. After some time here they can go back home sometimes, or go to a more permanent place for them. One of the little ones now has a blanket to take with him on this road ahead to give him comfort. I really hope things work out well for him. Going there really made me realize how lucky we are and how we sometimes take that to much for granted. I plan to make all my do good stitches blankets for a child in transit in this home. Maybe when my little ones are bigger I can help out in other ways to, but that far ahead is difficult planning.

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monkey see monkey do

In my blogging career I have roamed the internet and found lots and lots of wonderful ideas. Some of them have been on my list (see free tutorial page) for a looooong time. Like this little monkey. You can find the tutorial here on craft passion.

When I make something, people say, wow you are so gifted to be able to make those things. And I always say, I make what I see, I am inspired by so many of you in the virtual world, I'm just a monkey (monkey see, monkey do). That's what I thought of while making the monkey. But I realized, of course you always add a touch of yourself. Like a crooked mouth on this one (lol) and a cross stitch belly button, etc.

I liked making this one. The sewing is done very quickly but the stuffing and hand sewing does take up some time. Don't forget to do this sturdily when giving the monkey to a monkey, because I had to re-attach the arm after 5 minutes of playing with it... But he has been asking for it for a long time and now he has his new little friend! My second softie ever!

See you soon!

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Making my boys happy part two

Are your children jealous when I make something for someone else? Mine are. When I finish a gift they will say it's nice (or not, you've got to smile at their honesty in all things), but they will sum up everything you've "promised" to make for them immediately after that. My eldest has been asking for a bigger swim bag for some time, and after I finished a gift for his dad, he couldn't wait any longer. I made him another string bag pack. Loosely based on the tutorial I've used very often by Noodlehead. I've left out the zippered pocket for speed and because he never uses it for his swimming lessons.

 I used some left over faded jeans, the red and white stripes is a canvas coupon from Ikea. The cars fabric is a curtain coupon I fussy cut and fused on the jeans. His name is made with Iron on felt. I always order them here. They are good quality and really quick to send your order. The rope I bought at a dutch "dollar store" called action. Much cheaper than an any specialized store.

And to be one step ahead of my little one I made him a quick zippy robot pouch (he calls "porteneetje" in dutch) using my own zippy pouch tutorial you can find on my sidebar.

See you soon!

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Making my boys happy

Remember my fathersday post? I already showed you our fusible beads (strijkkralen) gift here. But I made him another little something. Using my quilt as you go technique I used scraps to make him a big potholder.

I usually save leftover bindings and use them in smaller projects like this one. I love recycling in that way! Sometimes I just use all my left over bindings for on big quilt. So be thrifty and don't throw them out. I even make my bindings longer than needed sometimes to be on the safe side and because I know I will use the leftovers later.

Because I made the front on some leftover batting with scraps and than added some heat resistant batting the potholder is pretty stiff and thick. On the other hand you will definitely not burn your hands with them!

The backing is some leftover Ikea fabric, they are nice and sturdy usually. And the quilting is neon orange. I have definitely developed a neon thing.

Now I'm off to make other big boys something!
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Boys being creative - fathersday

Morritz went all out for fathersday using fusible beads (strijkkralen). He made "sparkling stars" and we made a basket using fusible beads in the oven together (you can find a tutorial here). I found this "recipee" on pinterest and loved it at first sight. It's really easy to make and the possibilities are endless.....

I love his color choices and he can play with fusible beads forever. He loves to make things using examples (you can find lots of examples on pinterest!), but freestyling is fine to. So everybody run to ikea to buy a pot of fusible beads is my advise for a rainy weekend!

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Maak ook eens wat voor Pap, Mam

I Make lots of homemade gifts, but mostly for women and children. But I have made some things for Fathersday....
I made him an apron from some sturdy Ikea fabric, which he really uses! (if he does it to please me we will never know, and ignore) You can find the tutorial here. And the blogpost here.

I've also made him a sleeve for his MacBook, He thought it up and I made it. He uses this one everyday too. Blogged here.

With fathersday approaching rapidly, I'm thinking something up to make for him. Options are limited for men, but I think this shouldn't stop us to make something for the man or men we love. I went through my tutorial list for some options other fabulous lady's thought up. Do you have more to add?

• Toiletry Bag by EvaMaria

• Circle zip earbud pouch by dog under my desk

• iPad case - Sew mama Sew 

• My version of the iPad case

• My version of the ereader sleave (many more found on the web)

• For the (wannabee, or needtobe) cooks you could make oven mitts, or potholders

So what are you making for fathers day?

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Umbrella prints challenge 2013

Hi everyone! I joined the challenge to make do with a packet of trimmings from umbrella prints. I wanted to make something just for me to use in my sewing room. I was inspired by lots of tutorials, but especially this one for the needle book and this one for the little basket. It's made to catch loose threads and scraps on my sewing desk. Though I didn't follow the tutorial literally, I  adjusted sizes, added a fold over, used my new addiction to just grab a piece of batting and start quilting little pieces on it, etc.  I aim to make a big basket following the tutorial one day to! They are lovely! The winner will be announced in June. Lots of talented people will make beautiful things, so I don't think I'll win, but It's a nice challenge and I'm very glad with the result! You can see all the results and vote later on on Pinterest.

Hallo allemaal! Ik doe mee met de "challenge" om iets leuks te maken van een pakketje restjes van umbrella prints. Ik wilde iets helemaal voor mij maken. Het zijn zulke leuke handgedrukte stofjes. Ik was natuurlijk geinspireerd door heel veel plaatjes en tutorials, maar vooral door deze voor het naaldenboekje en deze voor het mandje. Het mandje is bedoeld om draadjes en andere rommeltjes op te vangen als ik aan het naaien ben, een soort mini prullenbakje. Ik heb wel een vrije toepassing gedaan hoor, alle maten zijn anders, ik gebruikte weer de techniek dat je een stukje vulling pakt en daar gewoon wat stukjes opnaait en quilt, ik maakte een omslagje, etc. Ik wil de tutorial van de mand wel ook echt eens gaan volgen, ziet er superleuk uit! De winnaar van de challenge zal in juni bekend worden gemaakt, maar ik verwacht niet echt te winnen. Ik zag al zoveel leuke en mooi gemaakte dingen voorbij komen! Maar wel leuk om eens mee te doen en ik ben in elk geval heel blij met het resultaat! Je kan straks alle resultaten hier vinden op pinterest en dan kan je ook stemmen op een winnaar door het te pinnen!

Tot gauw!

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sunshine reggae - 2 little hooligans 2

Bob Marley rarely sings in my ear, I'm not a huge fan or something like that, but for some reason today he does. I think it's because the sun is shining and I'm (mentally) preparing for a short vacation in the south of france. I should be cleaning and packing, but first I'll tell you about a little finished project. I used a tutorial by 2 little hooligans. I love the name of her blog, especially since I have 2 little hooligans of my own. (2 little hooligans 2, get it? ok maybe not as funny as I thought)

The tutorial was easy to follow. I used some iron on filling instead of the terry clotch she suggests and that works fine. She calls it "organising tote bag", for me it's really a "comes in handy to organise some sewing, knitting or crochet stuff basket". What's in a name anyway. 

Bob Marley wordt bijna nooit gedraaid op de radio in mijn hoofd (hebben jullie er ook zo één? of moet ik echt naar de dokter?). Maar vandaag om de één of andere reden dus wel (Sunshine reggae). Ik denk dat het komt omdat de zon schijnt, wat kan dat schelen op een dag die niet zo soepel begint! En omdat ik me (voorlopig vooral mentaal) aan het voorbereiden ben op een korte vakantie naar zuid frankrijk. Ik zou theoretisch dan nu aan het inpakken en schoonmaken moeten zijn, omdat ik daar alleen vandaag tijd voor heb, maar ik heb mezelf beloofd dat ik daaraan begin zodra ik jullie verteld heb over een nieuw af projectje.

Ik gebruikte daarvoor een tutorial van 2 little hooligans. Wat ik een geweldige blognaam vind, niet in de laatste plaats omdat ik ook 2 kleine hooligans heb (2 little hooligans 2, is de woordgrap die ik probeerde te maken in mijn blogtitel, maar misschien moeten jullie daar niet zo hard om glimlachen als ik?).

De tutorial was duidelijk om te volgen. Ik heb alleen wat "strijk het erop" tassenvulling gebruikt in plaats van de badstof die zij daarvoor voorstelde. Zij noemt het een "organising tote bag", ik noem het een "handig mandje om naai, brei of haakspulletjes in op te ruimen of mee te nemen", maar what's in a name. Hij heeft 2 grote zijvakken aan de lange kanten en een kleiner zijvak aan de korte kant, die opgedeeld is voor pennen, haaknaalden, breinaalden, wat jij wil.

Ik gebruikte canvasachtige stof van Ikea die ik nog had liggen (lekker stevig en fleurig). Het grijze ruitje is ook gewoon stof waar ik zelf bias band van maakte. Ik had al 100 jaar een speciaal item daarvoor gekocht, maar nog nooit gebruikt). Dat was een couponnetje ook van ikea denk ik.

Ik ga er mijn hexagonnetjes in meenemen naar frankrijk denk ik! Ik maakte ook gelijk even een fotootje van de status van die hexagonnetjes, kunnen we een voor en na de vakantie foto doen, om te kijken hoeveel ik eraan heb kunnen maken!

Tot gauw!Pin It