I ♥ Hello Sandwich

Hello Sandwich is a blog by Australian Ebony Bizys who is an Australian artist and graphic designer living in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo. She loves Japan, bento boxes, pantone 107.3 and metallic hologram foil, polka dots and plaid, Holbein gouache and fluro pencils. We downloaded her super cute Tokyo zine for our travels very soon and hope to visit  heaps of her recommend shops and cafes. She has just started creating some super cute crafty videos. Here's her tutorial for making some confetti bows.

Her new gift wrapping zine is coming soon! I can't wait.
If you are into super cuteness and anything Japanese I'd totally recommend subscribing to her blog.

Bearded bloke brooch

My husband is growing a mustache at the moment to see how it goes. I've made sure he's kept a bit of a beard though to prevent him going through a creepy stage. It's working quite well I think. Not totally sure if I'm convinced by it but I'm tempted to buy him this bearded bloke brooch for Christmas...

It's by Evie from Handmade Romance from Etsy. I follow her blog. It's lovely!

Craft Market Sneak Preview

So I had a very busy weekend making stuff for the market this sunday. See this post for details on the market. I don't think the photos really get the scale of the baby bunting. I'll work on getting some better photos for the future. I also made some pin cushion wrist watches. The watch face is stuck on with velcro so it you wanted to move it to the top of your sewing machine you could do that too.

What do you think? Useful?

Teddy Bears Wednesday

I thought it was appropriate to share this blog TeddyBearsWednesday with you this Wednesday. I don't actually know the name of the lovely author but she posts her teddy collections and creations with the loveliest stories about them.

This is Gordon's friend Francis.

While Gordon is an ele of the sea, Francis has great dreams for the air, he really wants to fly - just look at those arms!- but wants to do it sans vehicle.

When trying to convince him Elephants don't usually fly, he simply says " WHy should Pigs get all the fun".

Nothing will stop him in his dream. He's tried many times...

and is yet to be successful.

At which point he cheers himself up with a Peppermint Crisp.

I find the characters so endearing I want them all. Check out her blog for more colourful stories and characters like Dennis.

Dennis is a bear that moves with the seasons, although from the weather we've been having in the last few days I think he might have gotten prematurely excited about donning a singlet and putting his scarf away ( meaning I ran out of the tan silky baby alpaca yarn)

You totally want one don't you?

More robot family additions...

Here are two new editions to my robot family...

More pin cushions...

I made these awhile ago! Now have a crown, a blueberry, a blue fruit, a lemon, a blood orange, an orange and a green apple.

Next on the list are some pink and purple fruits... Want one?

More developments by me...

I love making things and I think I'm on a roll. I experimented a bit this week with more speech bubble designs and here they are.

"Let's talk about a party in the evening"

"Let's talk about something, nothing or anything"

 "Let's talk about the stars"

 "Let's talk about the stars"

At this stage I have plans to turn them into necklaces or broaches but I'm still not sure...

Easter bunny finger puppets

I found this tutorial a little late for Easter but seeing as my Mum was a bit bummed about not getting anything for Easter I decided to make her one. They are so easy and I'm tempted to make more. Here is the tutorial here at The Purl Bee. It's a gorgeous blog if you're into sewing, cratfting and knitting.

Modern embroidery inspiration

I've been really inspired by Spinthread's modern embroidered jewelery that uses traditional techniques. She was a featured seller on Etsy and that's how she came onto my radar but her work has been making its way around the blogisphere. You can check out her interview on Etsy here. Only 21 and so talented!!

triangle explosion

candela

pyramid cubes

There are more stunning creations being regularly added to her etsy shop. Isn't her work creative! I'm keen to learn some embroidery techniques to add to my craft repertoire.

Craft-d developments

So last weekend in amongst catching up with friends, grandparents and fixie bike events I spent some time trying out some new creative ideas.

I'd seen a tutorial on 100 layer cake for creating your own fabric flowers so I wanted to see how I'd go. They were very easy to make and I am thinking I'll put quite a few together to make a necklace.

I also tried making them in felt which I found much quicker to sew and the petals kept their shape brilliantly.

 I've been making felt speech bubbles with the idea to turn them into necklaces. As a series they are called "Let's talk about..." This one is called 'Let's talk about the weather'.

'Let's talk about a party'

I think my technique improved after my first attempt.

I'm not so sure about this one. 'Let's talk about fun'

Craft Nerds - Bottle top pincushions

Every month a group of women under the banner craft nerds assemble at my mums house to eat treats, drink tea, learn and practice a new craft and have a good old chat. It's one of the highlights of my month and I usually leave obsessed with a new project or skill to master.

Since last year we have learnt crochet, paper folding for packaging, old fashioned embroidery stitches, make button broaches and possibly more I've forgotten. This month Sharon showed us how to make cute little pin cushions out of felt and bottle caps.

My first attempt was a bit munted because I forgot to bring a bottle cap so free styled with cardboard at the bottom. It's a bit puckered at the back (which I won't show because I'm too embarrassed).

My next attempts were much more pleasing and I am now obsessed with creating little fruit pin cushions.  I will attempt blueberries, grapes and red apples next. Let me know if you want one. I think they'll make the perfect gift for my crafty friends.

The lemon is my favourite!

Attack at Sea! - Caroline Hwang

Attack at Sea!

 I cut you out!

and build you up

 

swim

attack!

rawrrrr!

tragedy

Happy Valentines!

Here's what I've been creating. I'm all set to make more of speech bubble accessories so watch this space.

What to do with polystyrene stars?

Awhile back I purchased some polystyrene stars (probably from an emporium) and they've been sitting in a box waiting for some glorious inspiration but sadly none has come. So a lack of space and the season are determining their fate. I'm not sure what to do with them though. Paint, glitter, sequins, fabric, paper? I was thinking of decoupage... What do you suggest?

The above photo is from a girls flikr. 

B

Let's get started...

So after creating this blog account more than a year and half ago I thought it was about time I posted something. I have been feeling very guilty about my lack of creative output over the past wee while and in an attempt to do something about I hope to document my creative attempts in order to get feedback and keep the motivation alive.

My latest creations include our decorations for work. Inspired and art semi art directed by one of our presenters for our Christmas event, a small group together to sew some brightly coloured unconventional Christmas decorations. The bottles and lights were my idea using materials we already had. Pictured is our branch over our large table in the cafe, our receptionists desk, a self in the cafe and our tall table by our workshop rooms.

Love B