Creating...Tasmina Snuggle Devil 2

With a big sigh of relief...yesterday I finished Tasmina Snuggle Devil 2. There were no major dramas & no swearing (that I remember) *phew*. I am extremely happy with the results & hopefully she will be off to her new home next week.
I had planned to make her out of vintage fabric but didn't have any predominately black material of a suitable thickness. The fabric used is an Ikea one that I bought 5 years ago to make cushions, which have now been re purposed (obviously!). I think the pattern has an indigenous art look to it so really suits my Aussie critter theme of the moment.
With regards to my sewing this year my plan is to use as much of my stash as possible & only buy essentials (hopefully on special or other peoples cast-offs) like threads, elastic etc...but...I would love a decent needle threader & a bias binding maker like the ones seen in American craft books...very nifty! My stash is a combination of vintage & more modern bits & pieces. Some were clothes that my Mum & her Mum (Mumma) made or bought that I just love the fabric of...a lot is from op shops & of course lots that I've bought from sewing shops over the last 20 odd years to make clothes & soft furnishings with & have remanents of. I have old buttons, bits of lace & ribbons & ancient ric-rack (a lot of the rick-rac seems to have grown very weak unfortunately). Anyway...that is the grand plan which I actually find exciting & inspiring, plus I borrowed a heap of craft books from the library to learn some new skills & of course ogle other peoples ideas!
Back to Tasmina 2 who has been waiting patiently on the side-lines to have her picture posted...

Tasmina 2...front view

Tasmina 2...back view

Ready for my close-up!!

Creating...Unfinished Australiana

I started this Australian bird/animal interactive wall hanging four years ago & while all the components are made & sewn on to the background the backing has been used for another project so I need to buy another big piece of felt & sew it together. Note to self...FINISH WALL HANGING SOON!

Tree with kookaburra, cockatoo & koala.

Cockatoo in wattle tree on actual
wall hanging background.

Billabong with water lillies & resident crocodile &
platypus.

Rock wallaby on its rock.

And last but not least...an echidna hiding in an old stump.


I thought that unstuffed my little critters would make make great finger puppets too!

Creating...recycled material

With Mousie back at school & the rain bucketing down outside (lots of flooding going on in SE Qld & Northern NSW like last Jan!) I've cleared off my work table & uncovered the sewing machine again ( I did sew cushions at the beginning of the month but mysteriously things from other parts of the house seem to migrate to & breed in my creative space ;-(  )
Mousie needed a painting shirt/apron for school so instead of ripping the sleeves off an old shirt I decided to recycle some items from the op-shop to make a swish double-sided apron. I had a long cotton skirt I bought just for the material & some groovy looking pillow cases (where do all the matching sheets disappear to??) that I really love the colours & pattern of...

I based the pattern on Mousies vintage  'cooking at home apron' (op-shop $1)...

I'm really pleased with the results & am thinking about making a longer version with some pockets across the front for me, without the name tag...lol! I still have plenty of both materials (fabrics)...mmmm, I shall add it to the 'to-do' list :-)
xxx

Front with glimpse of back...

Back with a glimpse of the front...

Oh dear! Nearly forgot to actually post the final pics...hahahaha...Miss Mousie said she is going to wear the plain side outside so everyone can see how I embroidered her name...Isn't she sweet! x

Creating...Puppets

Puppets are a lot of fun to make & most kids I find still love them...big kids too lol!
I like to make finger & hand puppets, both being great for long periods of travel or waiting as they don't need much room...just a little imagination ;-)

Fingerpuppets...2 wolves, 3 pigs & Red-riding hood.

"Once upon a time"...The update set that includes
a Granny & friendlier looking wolves as these
where ordered by a friend for his nearly 2 yr old
niece...yes a sale!

This bag went with the "Once upon a time"
puppets.

"Princess Besties" fingerpuppet set + castle storage bag.

Monster handpuppets & carry bag...
(I made these for our nephew Jeremy who was
fighting liver cancer & had 3 years of nearly constant
hospital time. Unfortunately he passed away a few
months ago aged 6. A very brave fight...RIP)

Batman...nananananana...batman handpuppet.

And of course, you can't have a Batman
without a Robin (handpuppet).

Creating...Girls felt bags

I thought it was about time I created a catalogue of what makes up me & NinaV Creations. What I like to make, collect, cook, read & do etc etc...
I shall start with the things I make...

Girls Felt Bags...

Square bag/basket, lined with recycled cardboard to keep it stiff.

Monogrammed sweetheart shoulder bag.

Button-up monogrammed shoulder bag.



Monogrammed purse.



Inside of purse.



Purple daisy bag with contrasting orange lining

Pink rainbow pony bag

Monogrammed heart bag

Monogrammed gift bags.

A pledge to make one item a month

Today I joined the pledge list of Annie over at  http://thefeltfairyuk.blogspot.com to make one handmade item a month for 2012. I also joined the flickr group showcasing all the wonderful handmade items. So that was two firsts for me as a newbie blogger...hooray for me! ;-)

I now have my own flickr stream...well it's only a puddle so far...I shall add more photos in the next few days... http://www.flickr.com/photos/ninavcreations/  These are my NinaV cushions that have become my January handmade...
1. I made these 40cm square, zippered cushions for my eldest daughter from new cotton print that reminds me of abstract Aussie flora.
2. These are the same size & made from material sourced from our local Lifeline op-shop, they are now at their new home with my son & his new wife.
3. The same size again, but recycled from a skirt my Mum made in about 1970. I'm keeping this & going to make some more, including some patchwork ones to use all this lovely material (there was also a matching jacket).
Neens xxx