Blogs we Love: Homemade by Jill

Today's blog of the moment was found this morning in a hazy blogging stumble through my RSS feed - but it instantly perked me up!

Homemade by Jill is full of absolutely gorgeous things that crafty blogger Jill has made for herself and her adorable kids - I'm once again trying to find a small child to dress up just so I can convince someone to sew things on my behalf!

Adorable girl's dress! Image property of Homemade by Jill

 

Love these felt doiley clips! Image property of Homemade by Jill

Jill has some fantastic fresh and quirky projects on her blog and a handy Tutorial section to find them all in - including things for kids, mums and the home. We love her use of colour and texture and a cute vintage lean - plus the occasional superhero moment!

A SUPER hero costume! Image property of Homemade by Jill

Confetti Shorts! Image property of Homemade by Jill

We'll forgive Jill for not being an Aussie - we can still show her some blog love! Head on over and check out her beautiful site - Homemade by Jill

Blogs we Love: Little Betty

We always get a little tickled when we find a blogger online who is an avid Spotlight shopper! We do spend a lot of time in the office speculating what you all out there are making with our products, so when your creations pop up online, it's a buzz for all of us!

One of our faithful devotees, Christy @ Little Betty, describes herself as an "obsessive compulsive sewer" - that's one obsession we can definately endorse!
Christy not only sews a bunch of her own clothes, she's also an avid quilter and crocheter! Plus with an eye for an op-shop bargain and a great blog to boot, she's one to watch.

Christy in her goodies made from Spotlight Fabrics

How she does it all with three kids is beyond me... what we love the most about Christy is that her style is easy, accessible, and affordable!

Some more Spotlight-sourced favourites

Keep up the great blogging Christy, we can't wait to see what you create next...

I'm a little teapot...

Last week I got a little bit over-zealous with my segues and tried to tie the London Olympics and drinking Tea together. The responses here in the office to my tenuous link (aren't they always?) were a tad mixed, but our afternoon tea time is unwaning. Top that with a visit to my Grandmother's house yesterday (happy Mother's Day!) accompianied by a tasty cuppa, and it feels like it's been tea time all week here.

Calico Re-useable Tea Bags

Our good friend Abby over at Things for Boys has whipped up these ingenious little DIY Reuseable Tea Bags - I'm definately keen to get my hands on one, as I know how painful it is having dregs floating around in your teacup! What a cute idea!

Jaybird's Teacups Quilt

Julie at Jaybird Quilts has designed this gorgeous quilt pattern - teacups! They look a little like my Keep Cup, though I'd be very careful with my cuppa around this beautiful quilt!

 

Dad's Pinterest obsession led him to find these little beauties - teabag biscuits, yum! From Here, via Here (found on Pinterest!) Arretz! The first link is in Italiand and the second in French, so you might like to get your translate on...

 And of course, it's Tea Time at your local Spotlight store! This gorgeous collection has just landed and is already attracting a lot of attention, isn't it beautiful?

Teacups & Roses

 New "Teacups & Roses" fabric, 100% Cotton, 112cm wide. $19.99/m - in store now!

So sweet!

 Download our PDF Tea Cosy & Trivet DIY pattern here.


I'm off to make a cuppa. xoxo

Blogs we Love: A Cuppa and A Catch Up

We've recently been stitching along with the gorgeous Nova at A Cuppa and A Catch Up!

Nova and her hubby migrated to Australia recently and now count Spotty as one of their favourite shops (so they should, right?). Well that works nicely because we count her as one of our favourite bloggers!

Wiksten Tank pattern in Spotlight Fabric

 

During Nova's recent Wiksten stitch-a-thon we've noticed a few of our fabrics popping up, which of course we're very excited about. Not only has Nova done a brilliant job of making her garments, but she models them very well too!

Nova in her pretty tank!

It's fabulous to see these refreshing fabric choices and some cool modern patterns to use them with. Nova also has a great selection of tutorials and patterns she has developed herself. Worth checking out!

Supercute dress in Spotlight fabric.

Keep up the great work Nova, we'll be watching closesly to see what gorgeous things you create next!


*all images in this post © Nova Flitter acuppaandacatchup.com 2009-12

Friday Stash Solvers

So we've been a little quiet here this week, mainly due to some very exciting things having torn us away from our desks. But in the midst of all the excitement, my sister called with a problem that I'm sure plagues all of you:
George or Brad?

I know not the answer.

But Sister Insider also asked me if I had any quick and quirky Stash Solvers up my sleeve to get her through the long weekend.
So here is three projects for the next three days (if you're not Victorian, and have to work on Monday, I suggest you start sewing now)!

Zippered iPhone Wallet from Things for Boys

I dropped my phone a couple of weeks ago and smashed the screen. But it would have been safe in this here little iPhone wallet!Instructions Here.

Crafty Cosies from comfortstitching

I'm a sucker for organisation! I often get totally frustrated if things aren't squared away nicely. But what better incentive to tidy up than these treats! Instructions Here.

 Scrappy Leaves from A Cuppa and a Catch Up

These are absolutely gorgeous and with Autumn descending upon us, these are a great momento of the green summer foliage. Instructions Here


So get stitching! How are you spending your long (or not so long) weekend? Leave us a comment or let us know on Facebook.

No Sew Pro: Scrappy Shoes

Madame M spied these little beauties over at I Love To Create and we just had to share them! This is definitely something that even I could create in my craftily-challenged state.

These are a total stash solver and will enable you to wear all of your favourite fabrics at once - maybe just not outdoors in the weather we're having here!

Head over to I Love To Create to find out how you can easily whip these up yourself.

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Do you have a cute and crafty No Sew Pro idea you want to share with us? Let us know on Facebook and we could be featuring you here!

No more rain

It's Monday morning in Melbourne and it's raining. Surprise! Afer an almost-40 degree weekend, today is torrential downpour. So typical. Power lines are down, everyone's running late, I forgot to wear socks...
DISASTER.

To brighten up your morning, Ryan Gosling talking about craft.
(need I say more?)

Eugh. Swoon.

From Handmade Ryan Gosling
I know this blog is old news but gosh, he makes our morning better!

Also, Madame M directed me to this absolute gem:

She's got a nose for it.

Maddie The Coonhound! Ahhhh the world's most beautiful dog, standing on things.
It's that easy.

And then, on the W&W Facebook page this morning I discovered this:

Pretty much the coolest kids ever, right? Big ups to Spotlight customer Sarah of Sarah T Handmade for dressing her kids up this weekend. Show her some Facebook love!


Monday-itis, solved.

xoxo The Insider

Pretty Little Thing

Last week we bought you a No Sew Pro in the shape of some very cute Jumbo Motifs. Continuing on the theme of gorgeous things for tots, a Spotlight Facebook friend caught our eye today - Kelly at Pretty Little Thing!

Kelly creates beautiful children's garments with some amazing applique skills - her Monkey Tshirt had us all going gaga!

Such a creative idea for scraps from your stash... I need to find another baby to buy these for!

Why don't you share your weekend project plans with us?

Check out her Kelly's online store here

Red Hot Gingham

As you've probably noticed, I get a bit excited when people use our Spotlight fabrics for their projects and then blog about them! The buying team also get a bit hyper when fabrics cross over from one department to the other.
This week's "innapropriate fabric love" comes from Rita at Red Pepper Quilts, who has gone a bit gaga over our beautiful cotton gingham!

100% Cotton Gingham, available from Spotlight

While Shoshana assures me that gingham is strictly for her to wear and not to be shared with "sticky fingered quilters", I reckon that Rita has done an amazing job of quilting up a beauty!

Love the mix of vintage stash fabrics and bright Gingham!

No longer for tea towels, gingham is hot!

We're all about exploring new uses for traditional fabrics here - and I'm sure with all the beautiful things we have dropping in over the season even the purists will be persuaded to try something new.

Have you created a fun project out of a fabric usually reserved for something else? Tell us about it!
And don't forget to check out some more of Rita's projects at Red Pepper Quilts!

Blogs we Love: things for boys

Describing yourself as a "typical, overtired, stay at home mum" is probably the best way to get your readers onside - especially if they too are typical, overtired mums! That's exactly what Abby at things for boys is striving for.
While I'm not a Mum (in fact we have one Dad and no Mums here at W&W), I definately appreciate the hard work it is being a busy Mum and it leaves us wondering how a lovely blogger like Abby has time to create such a beautiful blog chock full of inspiring projects and yummy recipes (plus a cocktail or two).

things for boys has a great project archive, brimming with fun baby ideas, as well as bits for older kids and even projects to treat Mums themselves!

Baby Roman looking comfy in this DIY Baby Sleeping Bag

For Mum - simple embellished lace tanks

Fantastic vintage tshirt shopping bag!

Abby's projects are simple, fun, and totally practical - and best of all, she's a Spotlight customer! Show her some love and maybe make up one of these for the weekend...

Delicious Peach Sangria!

Over the weekend, why not drop us a line and tell us about your favourite "practical Mum" project? Don't forget to like us on Facebook! 

Does your Dad Sew?

My Dad has never picked up a needle in his life, I'm sure of it, although he does maintain he can stitch on a button in dire circumstances.

Similarly, our Dress Business Manager - whom we will refer to as "Dad" - has plenty to say (don't all Dads?) on the subject of sewing - but when pressed probably wouldn't know his bobbin from his buttonhole foot!

But one Dad has particularly impressed us this week - Quilt Dad!
Quilt Dad is a 36-year old married father of three from North Carolina who creates some amazing, modern quilts - hardly a daggy dad at all!

Sew awesome! Check out Quilt Dad's Blog Here

Do you know any crafty Dads? Is your old man handy on the Janome? Or perhaps your hubby / boyfriend / son / brother is a swift old stitcher?

Tell us about it! Head over to The Warped &The Weft On Facebook and let us know!

xoxo
The Insider