High postage fail

In an attempt to make as many handmade gifts as possible this Christmas, my first creation is a wheat and lavender heat pack for my Mum.

Based on this pattern, I've used denim and fabric scraps to make the cover, which closes with velcro. Inside I have used calico material for the lavender and wheat pillow. All fabric used, including calico, is from my op shop stash. I used thrifted lace and a recycled birthday card to write a message.


Heat packs are microwaved for approximately 2 minutes, they small divine and feel great on the back of shoulders.

Unfortunately, what I probably should have considered, is sending such a weight to the UK; $40! Ouch.

Giraffe Rattle

I saw these giraffe rattles on pinterest, which inspired me to make one for a friends new baby boy. I didn't have a pattern but it isn't a difficult shape to copy.

I used leftover fabric from my tablecloth dress, craft ribbon, a jingle bell, and a mixture of fabric scraps and poly fill.




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Freecycled Jam

Freecycle is worth registering to if you have not done so already. The Freecycle Network is a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills.

I am relatively new to freecycle, but have already found new homes for outdoor stools, an outdoor kiddy gym that we were no longer using, and a bag of clothes that I no longer wear.

Just about anything you can think of will be given away on freecycle. It is like a big swap shop, and I am all for it.

I have picked up a bag full of childrens clothes for my son, as well as a bag of dinosaurs from another freecycler.

But yesterday I noticed an interesting message; a freecycler giving away home made plum jam!

"I have just turned 10kg of mimi plums into jam and I have way to much for personal consumption, so i was wondering if anyone would like some?"

I thought this was a really kind thing to do, so I went around to her house today and picked up three jars, and I have to say, it is beautiful!


Not all three jars are for my consumption, I am giving away two as gifts for my parents, and my mother in law. To make them look a bit pretty, I simply cut two squares of scrap fabric with pinking shears, and put an elastic band on the top:


Years before the internet, one would simply knock on the door of our neighbour to offer such things, but these days we have all become quite reserved. I think freecycle re-introduces that community generosity we once had.. so I would encourage you to give freecycle a try, you might find some treasures, and meet some lovely kind people too.

Electrical wire hiding tubes!

I'm a bit fed up of messy electrical wires hanging around at the back of the TV, with the DVD, Playstation and digital TV top box... wires are everywhere.

I wrapped some christmas presents yesterday from last years wrapping paper, and had the tube leftover - what to do with it? I cut the long tube into smaller tubes, and machine stitched fabric scraps to the tubes to make them look a bit more attractive. And there we go, some pretty covers for electrical wires.









My pretty tubes are not perfect, because they don't fit all of the wires in one place, but it does look remarkably better than it did before.