Creating at Home

mac·ra·mé

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy @ Creating at Home) — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 00:57:00 +0000

OLFA Designer Spotlight!

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy @ Creating at Home) — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 20:50:00 +0000

Hello!

It's been so fun becoming involved in the creative community on Instagram over the past 185 weeks - yes I scrolled to the bottom of my feed to check how long I've been there! Instagram is a really great way to get to know like minded crafty people, learn new techniques and try fun new products. Recently, after responding to a post about a previous Olfa Designer Spotlight on Instagram, I was given the opportunity to design a pattern for Olfa and in exchange they sent me a variety of lovely rotary cutters, snazzy rulers and awesome cutting mats!

I chose to design this adorable mini quilt (#hellominiquilt on Instagram!). It's a combination of simple, scrappy patchwork and easy machine applique! What could be more fun than that? Please click the image below to read my Designer Spotlight on the Olfa website and click through to my free pattern. Enjoy!! And, if you make this, please tag me on Instagram so I can see. I'd love to take a peek at your creations!

Thank you, Robin, at Olfa for the opportunity! It's been a lot of fun working with you on this project.

Brother NQ3500D Review!

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy @ Creating at Home) — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 21:46:00 +0000

Hello!

Over the past little while we've had a new addition to our sewing room!

Brother Canada has kindly asked my my daughters and I to try out their new NQ3500D Fashionista - Sewing, Quilting, Embroidery machine.

How could we say no to that?!

It was perfect timing, too. I had just given away Laura's & Rachel's old Pfaff sewing machines, so they were pretty excited when this beauty arrived on our door step.

Like the Brother DreamWeaver that I love and use all the time, this new machine is a licensed Disney embroidery machine. It's also computerized and has many of the awesome features that the DreamWeaver has, including my favorites; automatic thread cutter and needle threader!

If you click on my instagram feed above, you can see many of the projects the girls and I have been working on using this fantastic machine. All 3 of us are really getting into the quilty swaps on instagram and having so much fun with them! Laura made a paper pieced open wide zipper pouch where the main element was an intricate flag. She's also working on a "Nerd" quilt and has made a paper pieced Star Trek block with it. I've made a top secret mini quilt that I can show you in August! It's a very cute applique quilt. I love the blanket stitch on the NQ3500D. It's just right for machine applique. Rachel's also having fun with paper piecing. She's working on blocks for a Dr. Who quilt.

With the 35 Disney embroidery options, we're going to make some cute baby things for my little nephew. I'm thinking onesies, fabric books, picnic blanket.

One thing I love about all Brother sewing machines, including this one, is you can just take it out of the box and immediately start using it. Everything is so straightforward and easy to use. There are no problems with tension or anything. It stitches perfectly smoothly every time.

Have you tried a Brother sewing machine yet?

Introducing... Knitting Kits

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy @ Creating at Home) — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 19:21:00 +0000

Hello,

I'm so happy to introduce to you a product in my etsy shop that has been in the works for awhile! I've sourced out just the right good quality knitting needles and other tools and supplies to make up these kits. You can customize it on etsy by choosing one of 4 hat patterns (designed by me, modeled by my daughter, Rachel and photographed by my daughter, Laura) and can choose your yarn color. These kits are ideal for the beginning knitter or an experienced knitter who wants a nice kit containing everything you need to whip up quick hats on the go! The patterns are clear, concise and easy for knitters of any level to understand. The kits make a great gift!

Buy on Etsy!

4 Hat Patterns to Choose From

Thank you so much for following my blog and supporting my shop! Also, I should let you know that I've reduced the prices of ALL of my pdf patterns (quilts and hats) to $4.50 CAD (which is a lot less in USD right now) on etsy. You can also find me on instagram everyday: @creatingathome. See you there!

Everyone Needs a Hat!

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy @ Creating at Home) — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 22:46:00 +0000

Hello!

We were so fortunate to get a beautiful snow fall on the weekend. My lovely daughters were able to do a photo shoot for my hat patterns! (one behind the camera and one in front of it) :)

So far I've updated my Etsy listings with the new hat pics, and will work on Craftsy and Ravelry next. Click through to Etsy if you'd like to see more of the pics. They all turned out so beautifully. Thanks for looking! And, thanks for supporting my little shop.

New: The Basic 4 Knit Hat Patterns!

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy @ Creating at Home) — Sun, 14 Dec 2014 03:28:00 +0000

Hello!

I've updated my Etsy shop with 4 brand new hat knitting patterns! They're an instant download PDF, so you can start knitting right away. They're great for beginning knitters; nice easy patterns that enable you to whip up a quick last minute Christmas present or three. :) Enjoy!!

You can also find my knitwear designs in my Ravelry shop and on Craftsy.!

Handmade Christmas Patterns and Tutorials

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy @ Creating at Home) — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 16:41:00 +0000

Now that Halloween (and Thanksgiving in Canada!) are over, it's time to really start thinking about and planning for Christmas, especially if you're like me and want to give handmade gifts!! Please share below as many Christmas patterns/tutorials as you'd like, or post in the comments with a link to your Handmade Christmas board on Pinterest!

I'll start by sharing my tutorial for a potholder ($4.50 on Etsy), otherwise known as Hexi Trivet! In this tutorial, you'll learn how to do foundation piecing and how to bind a hexagon shaped quilt.

Join my Hexi Trivet Swap on instagram (@creatingathome)!
I'll post the details later today.

Salted Caramel Shortbread

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy @ Creating at Home) — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 16:22:00 +0000

Salted Caramel Shortbread

Bottom Layer:
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups flour
1 cup icing sugar

Middle Layer:
1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
4 tbsp corn syrup
1 can sweetened condensed milk

Top Layer:
1 1/4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
3 tbsp whipping cream

Course sea salt

Preheat oven to 350° F (175° C).

In a bowl, mix together 1 cup butter, 1 cup icing sugar and 2 cups flour until evenly crumbly. Use a pastry blender. Line a jelly roll pan with parchment paper to aid in removing the squares from the pan later. Press mixture into the pan. Bake for 15 - 20 minutes.

In a medium heavy bottomed saucepan, combine 1 cup butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 4 tbsp corn syrup and 1 can sweetened condensed milk. Bring to a boil. Continue to boil for 5 minutes over low heat. Don't take your eyes off it! Remove from heat and beat vigorously with a wooden spoon for about 3 minutes. Pour over baked crust (warm or cool). Cool until it begins to firm.

Melt chocolate with whipping cream and pour over caramel layer. Sprinkle sparingly with course sea salt. Cut into squares once cooled and set. Enjoy!!

$5 Pattern Sale!!

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy @ Creating at Home) — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 21:08:00 +0000

Hello!

Now that it's getting to be fall-ish weather for most of us, I'm wondering if you're spending more time in the sewing room? Yesterday I was out there for the first time in awhile quilting a quilt for my aunt. She made a cute, bright and colorful quilt top and backed it with soft, cozy flannel. I quilted a spiral design starting in the center and working out. I find I'm posting over on instagram daily (more than once a day, as much as my kids think that's weird/overkill - they can always unfollow me. lol). You can find pics of yesterday's quilt here. My username is creatingathome, if you'd like to look me up. :)

After taking a few weeks off in the busy summer, I'm happy to be back playing around with my Brother DreamWeaver sewing machine again. One thing I really want to experiment more with is the embroidery feature. I really really want to make monogrammed pillows for my house and personalized baby goodies for my new baby niece/nephew who's on the way! (So exciting!!)

... And, speaking of Brother Canada, my daughters and I will be working with them again this fall. We will be participating in the launch of some upcoming sewing machines, including reviewing the top of the line Dream Machine!! I have no idea how they could improve upon the DreamWeaver, because I still see it as sewing and quilting perfection, but I am really interested and eager to find out.

Once the new machines arrive, I'll be posting constant updates on Instagram, of course, and also some more helpful and in depth stuff here on the blog.

I hope you're enjoying the end of summer as much as I am. Talk to you soon. Oh, by the way, my 2 quilt patterns are now on sale for $5 each over on Craftsy!! Take a look.

-Cindy

Buy on Craftsy for $5

Firmoo Glasses Review

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy @ Creating at Home) — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 14:28:00 +0000

Firmoo.ca, an online glasses company, recently asked me if I'd like a free pair of stylish prescription glasses in exchange for a blog post. Sure, why not!

I've had the glasses a little over a week now and couldn't be happier with them. They are comfortable, fit perfectly and the prescription and coatings are just right.

Firmoo is based in China, so the glasses are made there and shipped from there. They still arrived within two weeks of placing the order and came by UPS.

I would definitely order Firmoo glasses again. The prices and quality are excellent.

Primrose Satchel with a Mockingjay

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy @ Creating at Home) — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 21:27:00 +0000

Hello,

Aren't you glad it's the weekend? We woke up to snow here today. Thankfully it's not sticking to the road. It looks pretty coming down and covering the trees.

I spent the morning in the studio whipping up this cute bag for a friend of my daughter's. She's having a Hunger Games themed party! So, I think this bag should be a big hit.

I used my Primrose Satchel pattern, which is a free messenger bag PDF that I posted a few weeks ago. Then for the embroidery, I downloaded a free machine embroidery mockingjay pattern from Apex Embroidery. For this bag, I didn't use any interfacing. In the strap there is some quilt batting.

Have you tried my pattern yet? I want to see your bag!! :)

Recipe Box: Beef and Bean Burritos

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy @ Creating at Home) — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 18:51:00 +0000

Here's a quick and delicious weeknight dinner that you and your teens can make together.

Beef and Bean Burritos

Filling

1 lb lean ground beef

1 can refried beans

1 diced orange pepper

4 tbsp taco seasoning

1 cup water

3/4 cup sour cream

1 can rotel

Brown ground beef in large frying pan. Add orange pepper and cook until slightly soft. Add taco seasoning and water. Cook until water is gone. Add the rest of the filling ingredients and heat through.

6 flour tortillas

3/4 cup grated cheddar cheese

1 diced tomato

3 sliced green onions

Assemble burritos by placing a generous scoop of filling on a flour tortilla. Sprinkle with grated cheese. Roll up. Sprinkle top with cheese. Bake at 350° until cheese is bubbly. Serve with fresh diced tomato, green onions and guacamole.

Guacamole

3 ripe avocados

1 clove minced garlic

Juice of 1 lime

1/2 cup sour cream

Salt to taste

Mash all ingredients together with a fork. Serve immediately or keep tightly wrapped with plastic wrap. I mush it right against the guacamole to prevent browning.

Valentine's Day Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy @ Creating at Home) — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 17:26:00 +0000

Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies
Secret Ingredient: Sour Cream

Sour Cream Sugar Cookies
1-1/2 cups sugar (I keep my used vanilla beans in my sugar jar for extra vanilla-y cookies)
1 cup butter
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla extract (or vanilla scraped from one vanilla bean)
1 cup sour cream
4-1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

1. Cream together sugar and butter. Add egg, vanilla, and sour cream. Add dry ingredients. Mix well, but only until flour is incorporated.
2. Refrigerate and shape.
3. Place on lightly greased baking sheet. Bake at 425° for 5 minutes (or longer if they're a bit thicker... just watch the first batch and then adjust the cooking time accordingly).

Martha Stewart's Royal Icing
Makes 2 1/3 cups

3 1/2 cups icing sugar
5 tablespoons meringue powder, or 2 large egg whites
water

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine sugar and meringue powder. Mixing on low speed, add a scant 1/2 cup water. For a thinner consistency, usually used for flooding, add more water. A thicker consistency is generally used for outlining and adding details. Mix until icing holds a ribbon-like trail on the surface of the mixture for 5 seconds when you raise the paddle.

Full credit for baking and decorating these cookies goes to my youngest daughter!! I just made the dough this time. She's such an awesome pastry chef already.

First blogged here in 2007.
Original recipe sources:
Sour Cream Sugar Cookies (can no longer find the recipe on her blog, but that's where I got it)
Martha Stewart Royal Icing

Technique Tuesday :: 10/10 Brother DreamWeaver Sewing Tutorials!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy @ Creating at Home) — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 04:16:00 +0000

Hooray!! The V-Series DreamWeaver™ XE Innov-is VM6200D that I received from Brother Canada last April is officially here to stay now that I've completed tutorial number 10! Hooray!! (Did I say that already?)

This Pinwheel Doll Quilt tutorial is number 10 in a series of 10 that I've been working on for the past 10 months for Brother Canada!! They have so generously provided me with an amazing Brother DreamWeaver sewing/embroidery machine combo. You can find all the tutorials below. Just click each link to download the PDF.

Click here to download
Pinwheel Doll Quilt PDF

You can also find me on Etsy to purchase my other patterns or place an order for a custom made quilt or bag!

Thanks so much for following along this fun and interesting journey since last April. I hope you've learned something and have been inspired to try some new projects. If you're considering purchasing a new machine, I cannot recommend a Brother highly enough. I've had no problems at all with my machine. It's been a dream to work with since day 1. I've also had the pleasure of being a part of a yahoogroup for Brother DreamWeaver owners and the members of the group are extremely happy with their machines as well! The only "complaint" I've noticed recently is some were wishing it came with the PE-Design Software. It is available for purchase, though. There's also a free trial so you can test it out to see if it's something you'd enjoy. I played around with the trial and found it easy to navigate and really cool. It gives you so many options for designing your own totally unique machine embroidery patterns.

Next up: I'm hoping to get new Simplicity Brother sewing machines for my girls. We've recently renovated my previous hair salon (before that it was the garage!! Who needs a garage anyway, right?) into such a cute sewing studio for my girls (and their friends) and I. My youngest is starting sewing class at school now, so it'll be really nice for her to have somewhere at home to work on her projects, too!

Thank you, Brother Canada! And, thank you to my friend, Madelyn, who encouraged me every step of the way!

Featured on SewCanShe.com's Friday Spotlight

Technique Tuesday :: 9/10 Brother DreamWeaver Sewing Tutorials!!

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy @ Creating at Home) — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 22:37:00 +0000

This tutorial is number 9 in a series of 10 that I am working on for Brother Canada!! They have so generously provided me with an amazing Brother DreamWeaver sewing/embroidery machine combo. You can find all the tutorials below. Just click each link to download the PDF.

Machine Embroidery Quiltingon a cute little Mug Rug!
Plus, a tip for quickly piecing accurate hourglass blocks.

Click here to Download PDF

Perfect Half Square Triangles
Pretty Perfect Pinwheels
Quilting Chevrons
Flawless Machine Binding
Handmade Ruffle Curtains
Primrose Satchel
Super Simple Quilted Table Runner
Designing Unique Quilt Stitches
Machine Embroidery Quilting
Pinwheel Doll Quilt Pattern (coming soon!)

Technique Tuesday :: 8/10 Brother DreamWeaver Sewing Tutorials

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy @ Creating at Home) — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 20:58:00 +0000

This tutorial is number 8 in a series of 10 that I am working on for Brother Canada. They have so generously provided me with an amazing Brother DreamWeaver sewing/embroidery machine combo. You can find all the tutorials below. Just click each link to download the PDF.

Designing Unique Quilt Stitches

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD PDF

Perfect Half Square Triangles
Pretty Perfect Pinwheels
Quilting Chevrons
Flawless Machine Binding
Handmade Ruffle Curtains
Primrose Satchel
Super Simple Quilted Table Runner
Designing Unique Quilt Stitches
Machine Embroidery Quilting (coming soon!)
Pinwheel Doll Quilt Pattern (coming soon!)

Etsy Shop Updates

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy @ Creating at Home) — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 18:23:00 +0000

Hello!

Have you visited my Etsy shop lately? I have 2 lovely modern quilt PDF patterns listed, plus would love to take on some orders for custom made-to-order quilts!

I'm also looking for a couple of quilters (who are active on social media) who may be interested in reviewing my latest pattern. It's the Ombré Baby Dot one. If that looks like something that would be right up your alley, please email me: creatingathome@shaw.ca. There's no compensation for doing the review, other than you get the pattern for free and the joy of making a gorgeous baby quilt.

Technique Tuesday :: 7/8 Brother DreamWeaver Sewing Tutorials

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy @ Creating at Home) — Tue, 04 Feb 2014 20:19:00 +0000

Super Simple Quilted Table Runner

This week's tutorial is a quick + easy table runner. It's a great project to try if you've recently purchased a Brother DreamWeaver machine, but have never really quilted before. Maybe you're mostly into machine embroidery or sewing garments. Your wonderful new machine is excellent at quilting, too!! Why not give it a try? :)

Click here to Download PDF

This tutorial is number 7 in a series of 10 that I am working on for Brother Canada. They have so generously provided me with an amazing Brother DreamWeaver sewing/embroidery machine combo. You can find all the tutorials here:

Introducing Ombre Baby Dot Quilt! $5 SALE!!

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy @ Creating at Home) — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 17:16:00 +0000

Hello,

I'm so happy to be introducing my latest quilt pattern and custom made-to-order Ombré Baby Dot Quilt! Today only, I`m offering an introductory price of $5 USD (regular $9.50) for the instant download PDF pattern on both Etsy and Craftsy.

I have a favour to ask you... would you please pin this, tweet it, share it? I'm trying to get the word out. Thank you so much!!

Linked up at:
Pretty Bobbins
I Should Be Mopping the Floor
Craft-O-Maniac
Keeping it Simple
Serger Pepper
Skip to My Lou
C.R.A.F.T.
Sew Can Do
Creating my way to Success
The Blackberry Vine
HomeWork
Funky Polkadot Giraffe
Cornerstone Confessions
Kathe with an E
Polkadot on Parade
The DIY Dreamer
The NY Melrose Family
Savvy Southern Style
And Sew We Craft

Technique Tuesday :: 6/10 Brother DreamWeaver Sewing Tutorials

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy @ Creating at Home) — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 23:34:00 +0000

Click here to download the free PDF!

Hello!

As you know, for the past several months I've been working on 10 tutorials for Brother Canada featuring the DreamWeaver sewing machine. My sewing projects and tutorials have been a little slow lately due to a big renovation in my studio. Now that it's nearing completion, I am back at it and loving every minute of it!!

A lot of hours went into this tutorial, so I hope you find it useful/helpful! Please leave a comment to let me know if you made the bag. I would LOVE to see it. You can also catch me on instagram (@creatingathome) to show me your bag there. So, here's how the Primrose Satchel came about...

First I had agreed to write a tutorial for Brother featuring the MuVit Digital Dual Feed and, second my sister needed a new messenger bag because the one I made her a few years ago has completely worn out, which is always a good thing! I love it when the gifts I make are well used and well loved.

I designed this bag around what my sister was looking for. She asked for a dark color, not a print, a medium sized bag with a cross body strap, a closure (magnetic snap), and pockets. It is fully lined with inside pockets, plus a neat pocket on the back that would work well for an e-reader, iPad mini, or a water bottle. She didn't want it to be too flimsy, so I made a nicely structured bag by using upholstery decor fabric as well as medium weight interfacing. It's such a nice bag! I think I'll make one for myself next.

This tutorial is number 6 in a series of 10 that I am working on for Brother Canada. They have so generously
provided me with an amazing Brother DreamWeaver sewing/embroidery machine combo. You can find all the tutorials here:

Linked up here:
PatternPile.com
Sew Many Ways
Sew Can Do
Mad in Crafts
The Blackberry Vine
HomeWork
Funky Polkadot Giraffe
Cornerstone Confessions
Kathe with an E
Polkadot on Parade
The DIY Dreamer

The NY Melrose Family
Savvy Southern Style
And Sew We Craft

Knitwear and handmade interior design

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy @ Creating at Home) — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 16:26:00 +0000

Guest post by Aimee Claire.

Knitwear and handmade interior design
The economic climate has lately been so bad that it has created a new fad for those who are craft inclined. Many individuals have become interested in creating their own soft-furnishing accessories to save themselves some cash and to introduce some truly bespoke, one-of-a-kind items. It’s about individuality instead of keeping up with the neighbors, and it’s easy.

It doesn't have to be knitting. People who do what they’re good at, whether it’s quilting, sewing, sticking, or crocheting, will always produce beautiful things; the love, time and dedication taken always shines through. There are lots of simple, lovely ways to add to the home.

What to make?
Luckily a few designers have leapt on the home-creation bandwagon, and they've come up with some amazing ideas.

Knitted poufs for quick-knitting joy
For those who get bored easily, something that knits up quickly is best, and choosing a thick yarn, big needles, and a smallish project is the best way to go. Knitted poufs are all the rage now, and these are made using a super-super-super-chunky yarn, and a circular needle. They can be made any size; suitable for the kids or big ones for the adults, and the choice of colors is amazing.

Bedspreads can be made in all crafts
Those people with a lot of patience, but not as much confidence, could go for a knitted bedspread, to practice lots of different stitches. Make it in squares, for a fabric with a busy texture, or create sections of stitches. Quilted bedspreads can be made from either one piece of fabric, or for those who want to really work the economy, they can be patch-worked using strips of old clothing. Crocheting is also a great way to make a bedspread or a blanket – these items lend themselves to many crafts.

Curtain screen that doesn't look homemade
Similarly, for the slightly more advanced beginner, who wants to produce something a bit more professional looking, try knitting or crocheting a curtain screen for your home; square sections of a repeating pattern should work very well, and something about 4 ft. x 3 ft. should be able to carry any weight of yarn you want.

Cushions and beanbags for understated individuality
Cushions and beanbags are a great way to show off your individuality without going wild; try knitting the Stars and Stripes, or again, practice some Aran kitting, using cable needles. Cushions look lovely with cable knitting or they can be quilted instead, using scraps of fabric for a fun, crazy look; beanbags can hold very heavy yarn, and knit up very quickly.

Upholstery and furniture clothing for more advanced crafters
The most advanced interior knitters can make upholstery for chairs and stools; I’ve even seen a modular cornersofa with the corner dressed in a crocheted outfit! Clothing for lamps and tables can be designed in knitwear, actual lampshades, and even art for the walls!

Brother P-Touch Label Maker

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy @ Creating at Home) — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 04:33:00 +0000

Eden Luymes has graciously written this guest post reviewing the new Brother PTD200 Home and Office Labeler. Eden is 16 and attends the same high school as my daughter. Thanks, Eden! Sounds like you had a lot of fun with the label maker. :)

I am what some might call, a perfectionist. Everything must have a place, be organized and done so perfectly. For this reason, the Brother P-Touch Label Maker and I quickly became the best of friends. This portable, handy and remarkably easy to use machine is great for organizing, as well as personalizing your life.

The Brother P-Touch Label Maker caters to even the ‘technology un-inclined,’ with a very informative manual, complete with a list of all the possible animations one can add to their labels to personalize them. I found the manual very handy in figuring out how to use the label maker, and soon became well acquainted with the controls and options available for various labels. The fun and creative styles and sizing of font, as well as the cute and large variety of pictures and symbols available make it easy to have fun while organizing, as well as personalize everything from binders to bike helmets. Brother also sells different colours of tape, and it’s very easy to remove and replace the cartridges. I particularly liked the pink label paper.

Brother PTD200 Home and Office Labeler

With this label maker, one has lots of freedom to tailor and change each label, and give specific orders to make each label unique, such as label size, font (it even includes upside-down and vertical options), etc. There are many options to explore, and I found myself enjoying learning how to use the various capabilities of the machine. The labels themselves are of high quality, and stick very securely to many surfaces from paper to plastic and even leather. I did however find that often if one is not specific with the sizing used in his or her labels, the label maker automatically creates a larger, more ‘roomy’ label, and I often found myself cutting it down to size and wasting some of the label paper. But, once I learned how to specify the label sizes, these problems dispersed. Another handy thing about this label maker is that when the labels are dispensed at the top of the machine, there is a tab one can press that easily cuts the label paper, so one doesn't need to have a pair of scissors handy at all times.

With this label maker, I found myself labeling everything from my clarinet case to my Bible to my thermos, and each time I was very satisfied with the result. Easy to use and with very few drawbacks, this label maker is very handy and fun as well. It is safe to say that it’s on next years Christmas wish list for me!

Exciting New Machine from Brother!

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy @ Creating at Home) — Wed, 27 Nov 2013 23:04:00 +0000

This is one for the wish list for sure! I haven't seen one of these amazing looking new machines in person yet, but from what I hear, they're great!

Brother launches first-to-market ScanNCut machine

Unparallel precision cutting and high-resolution scanning technology take

design projects to the next level

Dollard-des-Ormeaux, QC, November 25, 2013 – Brother International Corporation (Canada) Ltd., a leader in small business technology, today announced the launch of its innovative ScanNCut machine. The first of its kind in the crafting market, the revolutionary ScanNCut features a built-in 300 DPI scanner that effortlessly scans and cuts the most intricate designs onto almost any material such as paper, vinyl, fabric, tissue paper, wood veneer, leather, canvas, plastic or cellophane. The ScanNCut, which features 600 built-in designs and a 1MB memory capacity, can store custom-created designs, unleashing creativity by giving crafters the technology to create intricate quilts, embroidery appliqués, scrapbooks or cards limited only by their imagination.

“Brother is thrilled to put ScanNCut’s cutting-edge technology in the hands of quilters and embroiderers alike, so they can take their creativity to the next level,” says Dwayne Filipchuk, Director of Product Planning at Brother Canada. “The easy-to-use on-screen guide combined with rich functionality allows the crafter to scan and cut the most complex shapes quickly and accurately, giving them the freedom to create truly personalized designs.”

The lightweight and portable ScanNCut, with an 11.75” x 11.75”work area, scans any design from a photograph to a child’s drawing. All designs, scanned in full colour from 100 to 300 DPI, can be saved to the ScanNCut or onto a USB flash drive as a JPEG file, for editing or use on future projects. No need for expensive cartridges, software or computers to get elaborate designs.

Expert embroiderers, quilters and scrapbookers who have previewed the ScanNCut machine have praised its precision, speed and flexibility. Katharina Doyle, co-founder of Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine, says: “The ScanNCut is a revolutionary tool that will be perfect for the scrapbooking and paper crafting community because it’s user-friendly and extremely versatile.”

Brother’s ScanNCut is available now at authorized Brother dealers nationwide for a MSPR of $549.

Click to Download
40 Page inspirational Idea Book!

About Brother International Corporation (Canada)

Brother Canada was established in Montreal in 1960 and is part of a network of companies belonging to Brother Industries Ltd., a six billion dollar (USD) company headquartered in Nagoya, Japan that employs more than 29,000 people in 44 countries and regions. Brother markets a wide range of reliable and affordable equipment for small and medium sized businesses, home offices and the home, and is known for employing great people who deliver a superior customer experience. Recent awards include PC Mag Reader’s Choice Award for five consecutive years and the internationally recognized iF Product Design Award 2011 that recognized seven products for innovation and quality of design. Visit us at www.brother.ca.

Christmas 2013 Blog Hop

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy @ Creating at Home) — Fri, 15 Nov 2013 16:43:00 +0000

My niece, Anne, over at Unique Gifter is hosting a Christmas blog hop linky, so I thought I'd share it here as well! I've added a bunch of my favourite Christmas posts from my blog. Please add yours as well! It's about that time of year to start thinking about making/buying gifts, baking and decorating. Lots of fun!

Technique Tuesday :: 5/10 Brother DreamWeaver Sewing Tutorials

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy @ Creating at Home) — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Have you ever spotted something in a store and thought, “Hey, I could make that!”? I’m going to show you how to make knock-off Anthropologie ruffle curtains out of flat sheets using my Brother DreamWeaver sewing machine! This is a huge money saver if you happen to find the sheets on clearance. It doesn’t really matter if the sheets are 100% cotton or high thread count since you won’t be sleeping on them! Although, these curtains could just as easily be a bed spread, a throw or even a shower curtain.

Click here to download PDF Tutorial!

This tutorial is number five in a series of 10 that I am working on for Brother Canada. They have so generously provided me with an amazing Brother DreamWeaver sewing/embroidery machine combo. You can find the rest of the tutorials here:

Also, check out some other awesome tutorials at Home Stories A to Z , Bombshell Bling, Shabby Art Boutique, Twigg Studios, I Heart Naptime, The Pin Junkie.