Paisley St Claire

My iPad Case

Ever since I got my iPad I've been worried about it getting damaged. So, today I made this iPad case using a beautiful pale grey leather and trimmed with white nappa leather, millinery ribbon and a vintage military button. I lined the case with super soft 100% cotton blanketing. Now its ready to go anywhere.

Also, if you're looking for apps, my absolute favourite iPad app is ShopStyle. This very sleek and chic FREE app allows you to browse and search for designer clothes, shoes and handbags, create a list of favourites and buy at the touch of a finger. Check out the ShopStyle website here.

Three Blue Bees

These crocheted beads are not only adorable but eco-friendly too. Based in Istanbul, Three Blue Bee's crochet beads are made by covering wooden beads with 100% bamboo yarn, which is softer than cotton. Such pretty colours too - I absolutely love those pink/yellow ones in the first picture. Shop here.

Sweet Escape Craft Opens!

I'm very pleased to announce the opening of my new venture - Sweet Escape Craft! I decided a little while ago that while I love all the bits and pieces I have in my studio, there is just no possible way I can use it all (I'm kind of a buy first, work out what to make with it later, person). And then I felt a bit sad that there were all these beautiful supplies that weren't going to get used. So, here they are - filling my new etsy shop, Sweet Escape Craft. 

So far I have added purse frames and bag handles, diy bangle and headband pieces, some unusual beads and the loveliest trims. In the future I'll be adding fabric and more vintage haberdashery. I'll also be selling patterns of some of my Jaime Beattie bags and patterns and kits for my soft toys.

To celebrate the opening of my new craft supply store, all orders until the end of May 2010 will receive a little sampler gift pack, containing vintage buttons, trims and other little bits and pieces. Shop here.

Cute sewing patterns

Feel like making something cute? These patterns for children's clothes and slippers are super cute! Check out Sewing With Me's etsy store for more.

Easter DIY

So its about 2 weeks until Easter and if you're going to do any crafty Easter DIY then its time to get cracking.

Here is my top pick for Easter craft (from top): Silk dyed easter egg kit available here, Rabbit pattern available here, Printable Easter collection including inviations, cards, tags and cupcake toppers available here, Wooden easter egg kit available here, Jelly bean bunny knitting kit available here, not strictly DIY but you'd have to make your own (or buy) cupcakes to put them on - Easter egg cake toppers available here.

Have a great weekend!

Cicada Studio

This fabric by Cicada Studio would make perfect cushions for the sofas in my 'one day I'll redecorate my house' lounge room. If you're not crafty, you can buy ready made cushions from their store. Visit the Cicada Studio website for more details. In the meantime, I'm bookmarking their website in my Renovation Folder. One day...

Rob Ryan for Clothkits

I've long been a fan of Clothkits, the UK company making sewing your own clothes super cute and a piece of cake. And seriously, who doesn't love Rob Ryan's amazing paper cut pictures? Well, combine them both and you have the makings of a really fabulous handmade bag or cushion. Shop here.

Free Olliegraphic Christmas Card

I have long been a fan of Olliegraphic's super cute, retro-styled customised stationery, so I was really excited when I saw that they are offering a FREE Christmas card to download and print. There are 3 styles to choose from - very generous! Visit their etsy shop here to see all the cuteness and find your free card.

Sweetie Petites

I'm not quite sure why I seem to be fixated on dolls lately - may be its that Christmas is coming and I'm keeping an eye out for little girl presents. But, Oh! how cute are these doll kits? They are from The Red Thread and at only AUD$20 plus postage I think they would make a perfect gift for little girls. The sewing would be really easy so the kit would even be a great gift for older girls who are learning to sew. Cute, cute, cute. Available here.

By the way, The Red Thread will be at Mathilda's Market in Sydney this weekend.

Today I'm loving...

Today I'm loving... these pretty dolls by Nooshka. So adorable in every way!

Japanese Craft Books

One last thing, I know there are a lot of you out there who love Japanese craft books. Sure, we can't really understand the instructions, but the photos are pure inspiration and the diagrams in the back give you a pretty good idea of what to do. I only had a very small amount of time to grab some new books to add to my collection. I managed to restrain myself to just these 6 books:

  

The Butter Flying

I'm so glad Sylvie from The Butter Flying emailed me about her beautiful creations. They are so pretty and serene and her use of colour is delightful. She makes everything by hand using paper, beads and found objects. Very inspiring. Check out The Butter Flying etsy store and blog.

Sukie Iron-ons

These look like fun! British design studio, Sukie have created this great booklet which contains 30 pages of full colour iron-on transfers. Imagine what you could funkify with this - bags, t-shirts, kids' singlets, dresses, aprons... endless possibilities.

Available from Chronicle Books and Amazon. I also found it online in Australia at Belsize Square.

Softie Giveaway ends tonight

If you haven't entered my Softie Giveaway (I know there are a few lurkers out there) this is your last chance. Entries close at midnight tonight (my time - AEST). Just go to this post and leave your comment to enter. These are some little babushka bunnies which will be added to the Etsy shop soon.

Hope you're enjoying the weekend!

Love P  xoxo

Lion Softies

Earlier this year I made this softie lion for the Softies for Mirabel charity auction. At the time I promised my son that I would make one for him too. He has been nagging me ever since. So yesterday I finally got around to making a lion for him. Of course, to prevent any further fights I had to make one for my daughter as well.

H chose the fabric for his lion (black is his favourite colour at the moment) and C's lion is made from fabric we bought in Japan last year. As you can see, they love them.

For lots of softie inspiration, ideas, tips and tutorials check out the great blog, Softie Making.

Clothkits

Here's something nice for people who are only mildly crafty or who don't have much time to be crafty but still want to show off some skills. *I always think of Napoleon Dynamite when I say 'skills'. Its the easy yet super cute sewing kits from UK based Clothkits.

You get everything you need to make a garment, including the threads, buttons and any other bits and pieces required. And, the best part about these kits is that the garment pieces are printed right onto the fabric. So no laying out paper patterns around the wrong way or across the grain. All you have to do is follow the instructions and cut along the lines. Hence, great for the mildy crafty. The prints are so gorgeous, you'll be proud to say that you made it yourself!

Clothkits ship everywhere and they will even make the garments for you if your skills are lacking. *Gosh!

Woodland Park Folk

My favourite soft toy maker, Jhoanna of One Red Robin, has just launched her first solo show, Woodland Park Folk at Melbourne boutique, Hudson. They are just adorable little creatures. Its hard to pick a favourite but that little fawn with the red scarf is so Audrey Hepburn-like, I'd have to put her at the top of my list. Its hard to believe that Jhoanna has only been making softies for two years. Congratulations, Jhoanna!

Feeling Uninspired?

If you are ever looking for some inspiration or a crafty project to work on, check out Craft Magazine's blog for millions of fabulous projects. The blog references tutorials that craftsters have posted on their own blogs, as well as new products and ideas. The topics are really varied so I'm sure there is something there for everyone.

Clockwise from Top Left: Fiber Bracelets by Kjoo, Pillow Case Dresses, Fabric Party Garland, Sew a Summer Beach and Picnic Blanket, Fairy Tale Sybille Dress.

I'm going to try making an Adipose monster. Fans of Dr Who will know what I'm talking about. If I can't have David Tennant, I'll settle for cuddling up to an Adipose.

Oh, Betty Jo!

I've been waiting all week to share these with you. They are so delightful, I wanted to save them for Friday so that they can be enjoyed all weekend.

Betty Jo brooches and pendants are handmade from recycled vintage linoleum (lino), laminex, doilies, as well as vintage buttons and buckles. Betty Jo artist, Liz Jones' first collection, 'Lino Forest' featured adorable little animals like a squirrel, scotty dog and owl as well as an apple tree and a sweet babushka doll. The brand new collection, 'Lion Cottage' is like a trip to Granny's for tea. It includes a vintage handbag, umbrella, teapot, ice-cream cone and my absolute, all-time favourite the cuckoo clock pendant. No two of Liz's pieces are ever the same so you can always be assured of a charmingly unique creation.

You can find out more about Betty Jo via the Lino Forest blog. If you are in Melbourne you might be able to spot one of these loveable pieces at various Betty Jo stockists, if not you can buy from the Betty Jo etsy shop, Lino Forest's Corner Shop or Ambiguous Horse. I'd be quick though, I'm pretty sure they sell in the time it takes to make a cuppa.  

Love to have Luca?

My little Luca the Lion is up for auction on eBay this week. All proceeds go to The Mirabel Foundation as part of the Softies for Mirabel charity drive organised by the tireless Pip from Meet Me at Mikes. "The Mirabel Foundation was established in 1998 to assist children who have been orphaned or abandoned due to parental illicit drug use and are now in the care of extended family (kinship care). Mirabel believes that every child deserves a childhood and its mission is to break the destructive cycle of addiction."

So if you think you could give Luca a good home or you just want to contribute to a very worthy cause, please pop over to eBay and bid on Luca or one of the other Softies. There will be 6 weeks of Softies so keep checking back. There are some amazing toys going up for auction.