#wipslinky – CraftyGuider

Simplicity 2828 – WIP Finish

2 years ago (or was it 3?) when Craftyguider was still starting up, I made a duffel bag for eldest Craftyguidelet’s PE kit at school. One of the mums at school saw it and asked if I could make one for her daughter. She wanted something in a dark fabric that would be quite hard wearing, so off I popped to the local habby and found this.
I love this navy corduroy with the embroidered flowers on it. I bought some for the bag and got a bit extra to make a dress for youngest Craftyguidelet.
I was taken by Simplicity 2828. I don’t think I’ll be making the fluffy hat somehow, but the pinafore was spot on. The Project Runway patterns enable you to pick different design elements to personalise your own creation. I didn’t want any of the ruffles or bows so I just did the basic square neckline dress. Earlier this year I got on and cut out all the pieces for an age 5 girl so that youngest Craftyguidelet could grow into it. She is now 5 and a half and tall for her age so perhaps she won’t have that long in it. My fault for stalling all this time! Note to self: don’t trace patterns or cut fabric until you are ready to make the whole dress!
Et voila! I love how it has turned out, and luckily little Craftyguidelet loves it too. It even goes over her plaster cast at the moment which is a big plus.
She was so pleased with it that she brought me a mini curlywurly from the chocolate drawer. What? You don’t have a chocolate drawer in your house? You are missing out!

So about 3 years after I planned to start the dress, it is now finished. Have you got any long term WIPs in your basket?

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I’ve been lucky to have been able to get a move on with quite a few crafty projects to tick off my WIP list. Last month’s #WIPslinky post was a bit up and down with success in clearing my archive, so I set myself a realistic task list for this month.

I have started my Christmas cards. I am about halfway through making them and really enjoying thinking up different designs. I am also enjoying using up the different elements that I have collected over previous years. Perhaps I will be able to store all my Christmas crafty bits in just one box this year!

I have also managed to get lots of fabulous new products made and listed on Craftyguider.

These frame purses were featured in a previous post and are now on the website. This polka dot one is my favourite.

I’ve made five kilt pin charm brooches with themes of sewing, gardening, owls, party girl and this knitting one.

I’ve also added some more rings to the Rings and Things category, including these two fabric covered button ones:

And I’ve been sewing Christmas decorations too.

These stockings are made of soft fleece with a furry cuff. I’ve made several different versions including these ones.

I’ve also been making Christmas tree decorations for the website this year. The pine cones are made with pins and folded fabric, and the cute Christmas trees use some funky Christmas fabric.

One of my biggest sellers last year was Christmas fabric bunting so I’ve got four colour combinations listed including this one.

Quite a successful month! Just as well as I have a craft fair to go to on 17th November in Puckeridge, and there are bills to be paid at Guides (where all the profit goes).

Next month I think I’ll focus on getting the Craftyguidelets’ WIP list started. They use the dining room as their craft room and I need to reclaim it in time for Christmas. They need to make Christmas cards for friends and teachers, there is a half finished hama bead ballerina that needs completing and ironing before it gets knocked on the floor (again!), and there are numerous projects and kits that they have started and never finished.

What do you need to get finished before Christmas?

Linking to Tales From Mount Pleasant’s #WIPsLinky party. Come and join us!

Satchels and Rainbows (and Guides) #WIPslinky

Another month, another opportunity to confess my WIP busting progress at the #WIPslinky party.

I have had successes in the past. The dresses for the Craftyguidelets continue to be worn, I still love my tablet case, and I think the draughts have ceased in my friend’s hallway.

Last month I set myself the target of finishing my satchel which at the time looked like this…

Well, ta dah!

Yes. Not very impressive is it? I’ve ironed on all the interfacing, made the strap and made one tab. I did start another one but it was so fiddly being upholstery fabric, and it started fraying everywhere so I had to cut out a new one. It was also taking up so much time, it’s gone back into the project bag and back into the drawer for a bit. I haven’t given up on it forever, but I need to concentrate a bit more time on the business and getting ready for Christmas craft fairs.

My other targets from last month were to finish my frame purses…

…tick! and to carry on making a new uniform for the Rainbow mascot, Olivia. Fortunately, Girlguiding UK has started to stock large Olivia’s again so I am saved from this task. I still need to design and make a Rainbow banner for Remembrance Sunday, as well as make some new badges for our Rainbow groups like this.

At Guides, we are going to be making macrame bracelets so of course I needed to learn how to make them myself. After a bit of practice, I’ve finished a sewing machine charm one. I just need to source some different charms for the Guides that are a bit more age and interest appropriate.

And as for October’s #WIPlinky party target? I suppose I should start making my Christmas cards, as well as getting my Christmas craft fair stock ready.

Which WIPs are you attempting this month?

Linking with Tales from Mount Pleasant’s #WIPslinky party

Craftyguidelet Dresses #WIPslinky

Last month I joined the Tales from Mount Pleasant #WIPslinky party. The idea is to confess to your work in progress projects and then actually get round to making them. The link opens near the end of the month, and you have a month to finally get round to finishing those projects that you have been getting round to ‘one day’.

I shared just part of my WIP collection and chose to finish my daughters’ summer dresses. After a packed summer, they are finally finished.

It is probably the last warm day of the year but they have worn them. I also made them in the next size up so they get to wear them next year.

My 4 year old loves pink, so I chose these gorgeous fabrics from Sew La La with rose shaped buttons.

My 6 year old really suits this red colour. It looks like Kath at Sew La La has just got some more of this Gypsy Rose Red fabric so I might stop by for some more.

Being more aware of my WIPs has led me to finish more this month.

I’ve wanted to make a case for my tablet for some time, and I used some of these gorgeous fabrics to make a patchwork padded case.

I’d promised my friend that I’d make her a draught excluder. I managed to finish it in time for a visit and even managed to blog about it.

I have also cut out fabric for a collection of frame purses that have been sitting in my cupboard for months. They will either be given as presents or put on sale in my shop.

And for next month’s entry? I’ll be revisiting my quest to make all the bags in Lisa Lam’s Bag for all Reasons book and aiming to complete the ‘too cool for school satchel’.

I’m using a gorgeous Cath Kidston upholstery fabric and all the bits are cut out and stashed in a bag ready.

Along the way I really should finish making the new uniform for our Rainbow Guide mascot, Olivia, a banner for the Rainbows to use at Remembrance Sunday parade, and also transforming that pile of fabric pieces above into frame purses.

Come on everyone. Join the WIP busting crusade and post your WIPs on the linky tool and let’s cut fabric, use papers, grab that pattern or kit you’ve saved for a rainy day and do what we all love to do – CRAFT!