Kim Crafts!

Re-Organisation

2012-10-03T06:59:00.002-07:00

Blimey.

I have just reorganised the smaller 1/3 of my 3-berth craft wardrobe (I reorganised the larger side a few months ago).

I've just redone all my beads into test tubes sand 3 large boxes ended up condensing into 2.

I'm hoping that not having them in small parts storage will mean they don't mix any more. I hope one day I'll be able to suspend my test tubes on a wall with these clip rails

(http://www.ufhtradedirect.co.uk/pipe-fixings-and-insulation/391-self-adhesive-clip-rail-1-metre.html)

But for now... I'm just reorganising it so that S won't go crazy when we move! I've been doing quite a few crafts lately so maybe a round-up soon. Its mainly wedding stuff so don't forget to check out the wedding blog.

Other Crafting

2012-07-18T10:18:00.001-07:00

I've started to drift into the habit of updating my blogs with several posts in one go. I backdate the posts to the time when I actually did something/ completed something/ made something. I hope this doesn't confuse anyone!

I'd also like to say that as well as this crafts blog I also two other craft related blogs ongoing:

My wedding blog - It details what I'm making/sewing/doing for my handmade wedding. It may have posts that readers of this blog might like to read.
The address is http://thehomemadewedding.blogspot.com

I'm also writing a blog as a 'learning log' in a Textiles course I'm doing with the Open College of the Arts. It contains lots of pictures, musings, sketches, arts stuff and of course sewing.
The address is http://kimstextiles.blogspot.co.uk/

This is why I collect 'treasure'

2012-07-17T12:14:00.003-07:00

I, like many crafters, collect things. Buttons, scraps, beads etc etc. So when my little sister said she was going to buy some sort of belt for the Summer Ball I asked what sort of thing she was thinking and we collaborated to create a belt buckle design for her.

First I sewed a layer of net to both sides of a felt shape using just running stitch and whip stitch.

Then I sewed on bugle and seed beads (individually was easiest!) And satin stitched the ends with metallic thread.

Then came various buttons to fill in the remaining space

On the back I surrounded corsetry steel with more net and then used that net to sew it to the back. I added two buckles so that it can be put onto a belt.

Et voila! A belt that is inspired by and matches my sisters handbag. Money spent: £0.00.

...She'll probably kill me for putting this in but this is the only picture at the ball that shows the belt! This is past the midnight marker so not so flattering!

My Wedding Present

2012-07-01T11:55:00.000-07:00

My handsome fiancé bought me this as his early wedding present to me.

Why is it early? Because I'm going to make out bridal party gifts and our wedding rings using it!

But in the meantime I've been melting glass bottles (they make nice platters).

Skutt Firebox 14 Kiln

Aprons for Linh's Salon

2012-06-27T11:43:00.000-07:00

I made 4 plain green aprons with checker neck and waist ties for my friend Linh and her nail salon - www.linhsalons.com

This is the last apron I made - for Linh herself so she gets a sweetheart neckline and black lace frill! I originally had pale green ties but she decided she wanted to match the other aprons more! All the edges are finished with more checks and each has a check edged pocket. I also embroidered 'Linh's Salon' on each using the alphabet function on my sewing machine.

The fabric is a breathable waterproof fabric that is ideal for a nail bar - It'll withstand acetone and can even put up with going through the washing machine!

New video tutorial - Lace Candle Holders

2012-05-05T14:51:00.000-07:00

Beautiful candle holders made from lace dipped in a cornstarch mixture - very easy to do!

Other things I've been doing...

2012-05-04T13:17:00.003-07:00

Bad picture I know - but I made this tree centre piece with dry oasis, a hot glue gun and baubles with the tops cut off.

I also re-covered my ironing board with new ironing board underlining

I made these two cushion covers (slight artistic modifications from my youTube upcycled jacket cushion covers video)

More recently, I also have worked on overhauling the upstairs space in my friends salon. She wanted two cubicles in this area to be able to use for beauty treatments.

Half way through... marking out the cubicle spaces:

After hanging the homemade curtains...

After hanging the photo mural wallpaper (the sections are on curtain panels so they can be slid away)

Psst... I also created a separate blog which has my wedding prep stuff on it... I've been a bit busier over there! No space for any prying fiancé eyes though...!

Paper apples

2012-03-14T12:57:00.000-07:00

I saw these recycled paper 3d ornaments in a few places so decided to make a few of my own!

Decide on a symetrical motif and bend in half. Cut 8 HALVES from cardboard and 8 WHOLES from recycled decorative papers.

Glue paper to two cardboard halves, repeat until all the cardboard halves are used.

You should now have 4 thick versions and 4 paper versions.

Fold the cardboard covered in paper pieces in half with the paper side inwards and place two together to make up another whole.

Glue a paper section to join the two halves.

COntinue to join the cardboard sections in the same way all the way round, the last one might be quite fiddly but will be easier if the other sections have dried and can be folded out.

Leave to dry thoroughly. Peg or leave under a book if some sections aren't sticking well.

Heres my fireplace with the recycled 3d ornaments - I have apples and a few different styles of tree!

Strawberries

2012-01-05T06:37:00.000-08:00

Lovely Fabric Strawberries

Heres the (real time) video:

(I'm going to do a sped up version too, link will be in the intro)

And link to a quick guide pdf:

Strawberries PDF

New video

2011-11-09T15:37:00.000-08:00

Corsetry basics using a dressmaker - please let me know what you think, including constructive criticism!

It started with 2 old hats...

2010-11-26T14:20:00.000-08:00

... bought from a charity shop. Ugly and unloved I unpicked the brims and crowns then sewed some polka dot fabric to the brim and reassembled with the second hats crown I reused one of the hats trim, added some other bits and bobs I had collected and voila... my first hat:

By now the creative juices are flowing and I made another hat and some fascinators including:

and:

and why stop there with the headwear? I made several tiaras including this one:

Can you see what is happening here? I ended up with a glut! Hence 'Kestrel Design Ltd' is born... more details to come ;)

Teddies

2010-10-09T11:27:00.000-07:00

I made a teddy for a pregnant lady at work (It was quite a while ago now...) and loved him so much I had to make another before I could give one away...!
The pattern was found here on Cut Out and Keep and was posted by Pauline M :)

Lemon Suprise Cupcakes

2010-08-11T11:33:00.000-07:00

I modified this recipe from various cupcake recipes on the web and a Deliah recipe for lemon curd. I thought I was being terribly original with the curd suprise idea, but then found it in a relatively recent baking book so I guess not!

Ingredients: (Makes 12 cupcakes at approx 300 cals each!)

160g Caster Sugar
175g Icing Sugar
150g Plain Flour
1/2 tsp Baking Powder
Butter 225g
3 Eggs
Lemon
Orange

Preheat oven to 180*C
Cream together 125g caster sugar and 125g butter. Add zest of half a lemon and 2 eggs. Add 150g sifted plain flour and 1/2 tsp baking powder. Divide into 12 cupcake cases and bake 7-10 mins til just golden.

For orange curd: whisk juice of 1/2 orange with 1 egg and pour over 35g sifted caster sugar and the zest of 1/2 orange. Place in a bain marie and add 25g butter in chunks. Stir til curd thickens (about 20 mins) then allow to cool.
When cupcakes have cooled, slice the top off, scoop a small amount of sponge out and replace with a dollop of orange curd. Replace the lid and allow to set slightly before icing.

For the icing:
cream 75g of butter and add 175g sifted icing sugar and 1/2 a lemons zest. Add as much lemon juice as it takes to mix the icing to a good spreading consistency.
Spread icing on each cupcake and decorate as required.

Making a Dress on a Dressform Videos (Two Parts)

2010-01-16T13:03:00.000-08:00

Art Journal Page

2009-11-15T02:10:00.000-08:00

YAY

2009-11-11T08:04:00.000-08:00

It came! Along with multiples of junk mail address to people on several different streets, my Hooked on Exchanging (Because it's Pink) package came through!!

My partner was Carol S and she stitched me Rosebuds and Pearls Fob by the Drawn Thread. She also sent scissors, lip glosses, some great charms, a bookmark, variegated pink embroidery floss and some lovely pink linens to stitch on in the future :)

The fob is now sitting with my other prides of joy on the windowsill :)

Thank you Carol!!

Sweetie Petite Blog Win

2009-11-10T12:27:00.000-08:00

A while ago I left a comment on Lisa of theredthreads blog where she was doing a blog giveaway... and I was one of the lucky winners!!! Theres been a postal strike here in the UK and I received the package a few days ago (but I think it had been in the backlog judging by the postal date) so I hope Lisa hasn't been thinking I've been ignoring the package!

'Ginger' and her little bluebird friend were so quick and easy to make and I loved the whole set. I made a video so others thinking of buying their own sweetie petite could see the ease of the project and a the quality of the package and fabric (lovely)! Also those little notecards are so cute but I'll probably end up framing them as a set rather than using them as notes!

Binding a Quilt with Mitred Corners

2009-11-10T02:08:00.000-08:00

I posted this video a while ago and it had a huge number of views early on - turns out someone posted it on a sewing forum where several people have it as a 'favourite' but no-one told me!!!!

Binding Quilt

2009-09-27T02:23:00.000-07:00

I've started binding my blue and green quilt with some cream 70mm satin ribbon. YouTube tutorial to come :)

Mmmm Focaccia Bread

2009-09-26T02:05:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

350g Strong White Flour

Sachet Dried Yeast

Salt - both table and sea

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Rosemary

Warm Water

Sift Flour and 1/2 tsp table salt and add yeast then 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil and warm water, mix and knead dough for about ten minutes or until 'yeasty' smell and smooth ball.

Place in clean bowl with some more olive oil, coat the dough and leave in a warm place to rise for about an hour until double. Preheat oven to 190 degrees and leave a baking tray in the oven to heat up.

When dough has risen, cut into 4 and shape into slightly oval balls. Bring out the hot baking tray and melt some butter on the surface to stop the dough sticking. Place the four balls on the tray and coat with a little more olive oil, some sea salt and some (freshly cut if you can) rosemary. Put in the oven for about 15 mins until lovely and brown on the outside and sounding hollow when tapped.

I had one warm with poached eggs... then another on its own without even butter it was so yummy :)

Away for the weekend

2009-09-18T04:56:00.000-07:00

Military 'do', Goodwood revival, interview outfit. Hopefully all will be well when I'm back!

Art Journal pages

2009-09-16T07:42:00.000-07:00

I was pretty glad to use my Hardback Recycled Scraps Art Journal and see it worked fine :)

Craft Wardrobe

2009-09-14T07:35:00.000-07:00

...that DB built :)

I added these additional shelves. Of course, its full now but I haven't yet taken a picture - you can see glimpses of it in the videos I've made recently though! I've also added a few little shelves to the doors since this photo.

Embroidery

2009-09-14T07:17:00.000-07:00

I bought some hand dyed thread skeins from Sharon of Pin Tangle from her Art Fire Store. Since buying, I knew I wanted to use them for something that would eventually be on display/useable in some way. So I started an embroidered bag front with an image based on one of Alphonse Mucha's pictures: 'Woman with Poppies'

As I started I did this stitch which I love but I don't know what it is?!!! All I can come up with after looking at my (still borrowed!) copy of Batsford Encyclopedia of Embroidery Stitches is that its a sort-of-half 'Portugese border stitch'
Weave (not through fabric) beneath two foundation stitches,
Weave through the furthest one again, then repeat.

New Video - Hardback Art Journal.

2009-09-07T08:32:00.000-07:00

I MADE THIS WITH NO COST - just recycling and some glue & thread :)

Second video - I made an art journal hardcover book following another YouTuber's tutorials with some modifications - see the video for how :)