Op Shop Finds

I picked up some goodies from the op shop this week. Firstly, this lovely whale and anchor fabric, $2, from Vinnie's.


I've made something out of it already, a drawstring toy bag for my little boy:




From the same op shop I picked up a sandwich shape maker for $3. We had one of these when I was a kid myself, I remember my Mum making cool shape party sandwiches.


I tried it out today, with Vegemite and philly cheese. How cute are they..



And something I picked up today, yes today .. SUNDAY!! A new Family Life op shop in my little town opens on a Sunday *cheer*... a frog shower curtain $3, and a cute little note pad for $1 which is already in use for shopping lists, thoughts, and stuff I don't want to forget

Now, I do not need a shower curtain, but I thought I could make use of it in other crafty ways.. watch this space..

I am joining in with Sophie's Flea Market finds this week

And Apron Thrift Girl's Thrift Share Monday

Shirt cushion cover

I received a book voucher last Christmas, and ordered a sewing project book called Sew La Tea Do by renowned craft blogger Pip Lincolne

The book is filled with many wonderful sewing projects, including a men's shirt front cushion cover tutorial, which I thought I'd try out myself.

Mr gave me one of his unwanted worn work shirts, which I used for this project.

I used one of my nautical op-shop fabric cushion covers that I made last year, unpicked the 'opening' side and removed it to give a smarter shirt front as follows:


What's really clever about shirt front cushion covers, is the fact you don't have to create an opening for the cushion to go in, you simply unbutton the shirt front, slip in your cushion, and button back up again.


For extra cheesy-ness, I included the front shirt pocket, which can be used to hold the remote control..haha!

Travel toothbrush holder

My family and I are off on a short holiday tomorrow, so while the little man napped today, I packed, and made us a travel toothbrush and toothpaste holder! You see, we never have anywhere suitable to store our toothbrushes when we travel, and it annoys me!

Made from trouser leg fabric, leftover from a recent pants-to-shorts refashion, thrift-ed elastic, and a small piece of waterproof clear plastic tablecloth (which I use to make food wraps) for the inside to protect fabric against wet toothbrushes.

Before - trouser leg

After - toothbrush holder!

The flap folds down, I wrap it in half, and it holds neatly in place with elastic

* Hooray for toothbrush holders *

Laptop Jacket

My little net-book died, which gives me sad face. So I got myself a new laptop, it is a Compaq, and it gives me happy face!

I decided to make Compaq a little protective jacket using denim, green striped fabric, and quilt lining for extra padding. As usual, all materials have been purchased on the thrift. Mum gave me a whole bunch of denim fabric.



I used a magnetic clasp closure (which is the only item on the case which was bought new), and to make the jacket nice and snug, I stitched two black elastic hair ties either side of the top flap, with two buttons to hoop them through at the back. I am able to keep Compaq inside its new jacket whilst it is on charge as the cable fits through the side flap at the top.



These two hair ties close around the buttons at the back so Compaq is all cosy and protected :)

A recycled fascinator

I've been working on an outfit to enter into a competition. I will reveal the rest of the outfit at a later date, but first of all wanted to show my hair piece/fascinator.



I have made this hair piece out of things from around (and outside) the house: a shoulder pad, mens necktie fabric, tissue pattern paper, a yellow napkin, Christmas cracker decorations, foliage from the back yard, and a magpie feather, some eco-fi Kunin felt backing, and hair clips.

Bear in mind, this is not for every day wear!

Bag with removable brooch

A gift for my friends birthday...

I used the same pattern (Made by Rae) as the previous clutch bag I made, which was auctioned for Queensland's Premier Flood Relief Appeal (end auction $33). Although this time I used two alternative pieces of fabric, including a floral print for the band accross the top. I also included a wrist band and flower brooch which can be removed.


All materials are used from my fabric stash, and the black interior jersey material was actually a t-shirt in a former life. The only new item I had to purchase to complete this bag, was the magnetic closure clasp.



The flower is a removable brooch, which I created using an old vintage tissue pattern I purchased from Mornington's Outlook Environmental Recycle Market.



Inspiration to create the brooch came from Miss P..., she blogged about EAB designs vintage pattern tissue flowers. I followed instructions by cutting two long strips of pattern tissue paper using pinking shears for a zig-zag edge finish, gathered using a basting stitch all the way through, and used the same floral fabric as the band on the bag for the brooch center. The little beads and ribbon were given to me by Mum; previously decorations from a christmas cracker (Mum is great at keeping craft stuff like this for me!) I cut a circle of felt, and used a safety pin for the back:

Because the brooch is made with paper, it would not be good to get wet, therefore I thought it would be best that I allowed it to be removed, and that way, it could also be worn as a brooch on items of clothing too:




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Music Coasters Complete

My upcycled music coasters project is now complete...

Before

$3 thrifted coasters from the op shop


$1.50 music sheet from the op shop


After



In Box

(Shadows of self taking photo; fail!)

Top of Box

More shadow fail!

These music coasters have been made as a gift for a relative. Possibilities are endless with these upcycled coasters, my Dad thought about using personal printed photographs which is a good idea, I thought maybe a vintage bird book with images of pretty birds would also look nice. Maybe some comic book coasters! Does anyone else have ideas of what I could do?

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