Garage Sales......

Hi everyone,

how many of you went to a garage sale on the weekend?  Admittedly I have to say no, but remember I mentioned one a while back......well here are some pics of my purchases.......

......aren't these amazing  !!!!  :)     Sorry about the blurriness!!

The mixer as you can see, is complete with bowl, and juicer which actually comes off.  The teapot I bought to display with my tea cosies ,  and the inside of the Cook's  Measure,  are measured in pounds and ounces!!

I was really thrilled with my purchases.  It was actually the first time I had bought anything like this.  The garage sale was around the time I received the tins , which as you know I haven't finished showing all of them to you yet, but I wanted to use the mixer etc, as back drops for my crafts, and  knew you would want to know the history of them too......lol...

Well, hopefully you have enjoyed this post, and your own garage purchases as much as I enjoy mine.

Happy crafting,  Jenny

  

Town Bags

Hi everyone,

I hope you have all had a good weekend.

I have recently been making some more Town Bags .  These are handy for when you go visiting, your knitting, taking a book, etc.   The handles are suitable for handbag and shoulder bag.  They are approx. 13 inches wide by approx. 12 inches high.  The height of the bag is approx. 22 inches from the arch of handle to base of bag.

$20.00 each plus postage & handling

To view more Town Bags, click  here

Before I go, for anyone interested, I have updated my Nutrimetics page. 

 Enjoy the rest of your week, and Happy crafting,  Jenny

Monday.......

Monday, washday...........

Tuesday, ironing.........

......hard to imagine using these........

.....the picture above, is a rubbing I tried to do, to show you what was  on the iron.......


                                       No. 6
                              I & J SIDDONS
                          WEST BROMWICH


.......the iron was given to me by a lovely friend recently, and I couldn't wait to use it in my blog :)  Okay, continuing on from Tuesday.....

Wednesday, PEG  BAGS ....


......lol...I know that isn't how the rhyme goes, but I couldn't resist it for my post, as I finished making them on Wednesday.....lol... :)

Yes, here at last are my Peg Bags!  

These are weather friendly, as the rain can drain right through, and the windy weather can help dry the pegs.

I have been making them for a number of years now, and they sell for  $9.50 each (plus postage & handling) .


I hope you enjoyed this post.  Hard to imagine ironing back then.....and they call them 'the good old days' :)    It would have been good in Winter, but terrible in Summer!   (The washboard in the pics., is actually a magnetic notice board I sell in the shop).


Happy crafting,  Jenny

Leftovers.......

Hi everyone,

I hope you have had a lovely day.  How are you all going with your scraps ?  No doubt you will have some odd shaped and sized leftovers........what are you going to do with them......

........as you can see, I have quite a collection of leftovers.......and yes, I do keep a lot of them.......

.........I often do what is sometimes called  Chain Sewing .........

.....but don't you hate the odd bits of thread that are left from sewing........

                                    

.........this is where the leftovers come in handy....................

........now when you cut the threads close to your work, the 'tails' are on your leftover pieces of fabric..........

 

.......which you can use numerous times before you throw it out..................

................and be left with neat ends on your seams!!!    

 Admittedly this craft tip really  comes into its element on longer seams, but I mainly wanted to show you the end results for your seams, and those leftovers....lol....   as to the colour thread I have used, I wanted you to be able to see the seam........

........now you can throw out the oddments from the leftovers.......or should that be leftovers from the leftovers? :)

I hope someone finds this useful :)     Happy crafting,  Jenny

Thank you......

Hello, everyone.....

a very big thank you for all of the comments I received about my Scraps  post!  I couldn't believe it!  I think it is the highest number of comments I have received for one post :)

At first I thought you may have had me confused with someone else......I'm not that familiar with the word 'organized'...lol.....     Given that many of you thought it was a great idea, I will try to add other tips from time to time.  They may seem basic to some people, but sometimes I find it is the simple things that work best.

As to the comments I received, I'm off to send you my thanks :)

Happy crafting,  Jenny

Scraps.....

Hi everyone,

I hope you have all had a lovely time crafting.  As I mentioned in my last post, I have been busy cutting out current projects.   This often leads to oddments of smaller pieces of fabric ending up in bundles until I can get back to them.

At the end of this cutting out session, I decided to sort out those oddments.........or most of them.......lol.......I placed a ruler on the table in front of me, and roughly measured each piece, and placed them into separate piles.......

.......then placed the different sizes into different bags.........                   

Now when I do a project that needs small pieces, I can start on these fabrics before I cut into larger pieces  :)  Yes, I do still use the old-fashioned inch measurements from time to time......lol....

Happy crafting,  Jenny

Started stitching......

Hi everyone,

I  hope you have had a lovely weekend.

Remember this doily from my tins post?  It had already been started, but unfortunately it had some holes in it.   I decided to use it as a tester for my stitches.

The doily above was actually a part of a  'duchess set' ......I can't recall the other name for the sets, but the three pieces were traditionally used on a dressing table.  This one was the centre piece.......

.....and the two designs below were for either side of the centre piece.

After some practice on the large piece, I decided to make a start on this one.  I'm using red thread, and stem stitch........

As you can see, not quite there, but nearly finished the first one.  The other word I was trying to think of.....cheval set...!!!

Happy crafting,  Jenny

Smiley Post :)

Hi everyone,

I hope you have all had a good week.  The weather has been a little chilly here in the mornings, but lovely outside.  Towards the end of next week, it's the local show, so naturally, rain is on the horizon.....lol...:)  Don't get me wrong, I love rain.....but I much prefer it at night, leaving us with lovely days to enjoy the sunshine...ahhhh, if only....lol...:)

This post is very much a big :) smiley :) post, from start to finish, so please, keep this in mind as you continue reading......

.....don't you just :) 'hate' :) some people.....lol.....!!!   Recently, I had a visit from a couple of ladies who were back again for a few weeks holiday, and they called in to say hi, and check which craft shops I recommend.  I mentioned the ones I was aware of between Bundaberg and Maryborough, including a new one which has opened in Childers. Because of my shop, I don't get into town very often, and to date, have not seen the Childers shop, however I know the lady who is working there, assisting the owner.

Now, keep in mind the two holiday makers would say hi every day when they went past my shop......on one particular day, they said hi, but I sensed something was going on, so before they could say another word, I said you have been to Childers, haven't you!!!!  Of course, the reply was yes......I haven't spoken to them since....lol....!!!  No, that's not true.  The ladies told me they met the owner, and they loved the chat, and the  range of fabrics and craft patterns available.

The shop itself, is called 'Patchwork Avenue' , and is located in what is locally known as The Old Butcher Shop.  Margaret, the owner, is also the owner of 'Patchwork Paradise'  in Rockhamptom, so anyone familiar with this shop, will know what to expect.  To date, I haven't heard of it having a website, but remember, setting up a business takes time, and lots of things have to wait in line to be organized.......I have had my shop open over 9 years, and have had a blog for only 6 months....lol...!!   I wish Margaret well in her new business.  Okay....I can stop the :) smiley :) business, now....lol.....no...ooo......, I didn't say that through gritting teeth!!!!!  :)

What have I been up to this week?  I have been cutting out town bags, and Tea cosies .

This picture shows my tea pot collection, which I use in the tea cosies for display......

The tea cosies will fit a 4-6 cup tea pot, and also have a base of the same fabric, and are padded.  They are also listed on my online shop .

Well, I think that is enough for now.  I'll be back again soon.  Remember, if you happen to get to Childers, calll in to 'Patchwork Avenue' , and say hi.  Happy crafting, Jenny

Back to the tins......

Hi everyone,

I hope your week is off to a good start.  Remember the tins I received recently full of doilies?

I haven't forgotten them, so here are some more pictures for you.

Okay, onto the next tin....

The side of this ship tin also has the compass points around the side of the base.

Even more doilies were in this tin, along with a cardboard thread holder complete with threads.  This was probably handy for leftover threads, or for threads on a particular project.

Don't forget....two tins to go, plus the garage sale finds!  ;)

Happy crafting,  Jenny

Aaaah, bliss.....!!!!

No..ooo, ... not a spa.......or a massage..!!!...........a new cutting blade........ye......ah  :))))  and a new cutting board too.........lol.....!!!

Isn't it  'heavenly'  when you use a new blade?  You wonder why you didn't get a new one sooner.....shops out of stock, or not getting to town doesn't help.....but I've got one at last  :)     Fortunately I also have a 'silver pencil' which is really handy to rule and mark lines on dark fabric, then cut the old fashioned way!


Measurements....?   ALWAYS check what you are using to measure, against each other, as not all are the same.....

Years ago, I did a sewing course using stretch fabric.  The ladies teaching, also owned the fabric shop.   One day, one of them cut some material, and when the other went to use it, said it was short of the measurement.   When measured by both ladies, they had different measurements.......their tape measures had stretched with use.....lol..!!!

What is the picture above of?  It is a cardboard drafting board.  It folds out 'concertina' style with grid measurements up to 100cm by 166cm.  They are fantastic!!   I had one years ago which eventually fell to pieces along the folds, and after a lot of searching managed to get another one.

It has a number of pattern lines on it for angles, circles, etc. , and to use it, lay your fabric and pattern on top, then 'stab' the pins into the board, then cut your fabric!  You can draw around the pattern first if you prefer.

Well, enough for now.  I hope your day 'measures up' to your plans  :)

Happy crafting,  Jenny

Grab My Button.....

Hi everyone,

YES!!!   I have finally managed to make a button for anyone wanting to add a link to my blog from theirs.  Many thanks to Keren and her help.

UPDATE:  17TH October, 2010.......After much practice, I have

changed my button to the one you see below.....

In order to save my button on your blog,

right click the image and save it to your computer,

...Click add a gadget then the add a 

picture option for your blog....

Save my picture.....

then add my link.......

http://jennyscraftplace.blogspot.com

then save, and it should work :)

Any errors I have made are of my own doing.....not  Keren's!!....lol....

Happy crafting,  Jenny

Craft Fair

Hi everyone,

ye.....es I remembered the camera tonight....lol...!!!

It was a good weekend and worth the chaos of unpacking yesterday morning :)  There was quite a crowd of people through the doors over the two day period.  We got there at 6am to help set up tables, then unpack our craftwork before the doors opened at 9.30am.

I make the fabric bootees, and my mother enjoys knitting.  I can knit, but don't realise I have dropped a stitch 'til about 20 rows later, then have to wait for Mum to visit, and fix my mistake....lol....   I  much  prefer crocheting.....only one stitch, and you can't lose it!!!!......lol.......my mother prefers it when I crochet too....lol....!!!

I also had some of  my sister Robyn's   craftwork with us, but I'll leave photos of her prim craft for her to mention on her blog.

'Scuse the 'background' here......everyone was in the process of
setting up :)

 The organizers aim for  variety of craftwork, more so than quantity.  There was over 20 sites which allowed for quite a variety.......painting, folk art, jewellery, leadlight, bunka embroidery, cake decorating, scrapbooking, quilting, woodworking, etc.    I'm sure I've forgotten something, but you get the idea.

  It is always hard to know what to take, and what to leave home.......more of this, less of that.....!  It is handy being able to take more the next day, but the 'fun' part is then packing up....lol....!

I already have calendar dates for the next ones.  I will be mentioning these under my Craft Calendar label soon.

I hope you have enjoyed this post, and have an enjoyable week.   Happy crafting,  Jenny

Hi everyone,

 I've set the shop again after the Craft Fair, but unfortunately haven't  got the camera with me!

I still can't believe how relaxed I've been about having to set up again.  Usually, I go into the shop about 5am or 6 am to have it ready before I open after a craft fair.........this morning I got up at 6.30, and to work just before 8!  It only took a couple of hours.....I tend to try and start with the tables empty, and work my way through the shop, having the bulk of it ready for the public when I open at 9am........I still opened at 9am........just don't go past the counter...!!!....I have to admit, a bit of a tidy up still needed there, but I figured that could wait 'til tomorrow :)

Given that it was a long weekend in Australia, the day had that 'Sunday' feel about it, and a few people were doing the afternoon drive bit, although we did have a surprisingly heavy shower late in the afternoon.

Well apologies, but I will add the photos to my next post.

Happy crafting,  Jenny

Hi everyone,

I'm home from the craft fair, exhausted, happy,  and yet to unpack.   I'm off to check my mail, etc., and set the shop up again tomorrow....oh what fun......lol....!!!   I'll tell you more in the next few days.

Happy crafting,  Jenny