Growing Crafty Kids

As everyone who knows me, I am one crafty obsessed Mama with 2 children - Lucas (nearly) 9 yrs and Mollie 7 years. The kids have see me craft all their life. If I am not sewing, I am knitting, if I am not dyeing I am toymaking….and how has this impacted on the kids??

Mollie is one crafty girl. She role models A LOT of what I do. She sews pressies without being asked, she knits in front of the telly, she dyes her own fabric and gets very excited at a parcel of craftness arriving at the gate.
She thinks handmade first..everytime! I wrote a post on the Crafty Mama forum about this a couple months ago. She knows the value of making special individual gifts.

Now my boy…well he is a kinda legoing, slot cars, race around the house on his scooter kinda boy. He loves seeing what we create and has a lovely smile when he comments positively on the creation. He asks for Mama made shirts and shorts every time and gets particularly excited when I pull out the yarn winder - see, it is mechanical. He makes handmade cards for presents but mainly leaves the craftiness to Mollie and Me.
But boy, you should see what he can create with some Lego blocks and an engine!

When they were little, we always had an art and craft table and cupboard . In this cupboard there was paper (all kinds), Lyra pencils and crayons, watercolour paints and brushes, canvases, glitter, pop sticks, exercise books, beeswax crayons, sticky tape, scissors etc etc etc. It was one full cupboard and it was well used. We also had a portable wooden easel for outside craft.
Yes it used to get messy but the kids were always busy.

We are really a crafty family. The Dad of the house builds, maintains and services just about everything. We have Dad made book cases, wooden flyscreens, extension (really, I should written that one first J) sheds, gardens, tables and his current hobby model trains…which Mollie and I are keen to get into some scene building. The kids have seen nothing else so they think ‘Do It Yourself’ is normal.

I am not sure what will happen when they get to teenagers and young adults but I think if you encourage, support and embrace ‘being creative’ it has to be a positive influence on a child's life!
(particularly with so many TV and gaming stuff available for children now a days)

That is our crafty family in a nutshell….join in, tell us how your family embrace craftiness and creativity!!

x Lissylou

August Giveaway Winner

Oops, sorry for my lateness but I have finally drawn a winner.

Congratulations Tas, thanks everyone for entering.

BLOG GIVE-AWAY!!

The lovely Peta from One Little Stitch has kindly offered up this months  Crafty Mamas Group Give-away prize..and it is stunning!! ( so don't enter...I need to win this!! ). Thankyou so much Peta!

Here's what Peta says...

" I have made a Citron shawlette from Knitty.  The Yarn is The Yarn Cafe/Evoke Handyed Yarns Caress Cobweb Lace (merino/cashmere/silk) in the Merlot colourway.

The shawlette measures approx 100cm across the top and is 50cm high in the middle, I’ve added two extra repeats to the pattern to make it a bit bigger.

Umm can’t really think of anything else to tell you except whoever gets this will have to handwash and block it (instructions here)." 

How gorgeous! Ok, leave us a comment...Peta will draw a winner via Random.org on the last day on the month so... August 31st!

June Giveaway Winner

Wow time flies doesnt it! I know Im a little late with this but the winner of Cathy's wonderful creation is Yvy! Well done!!!

Stay tuned for this months giveaway :)

June CM Blog Giveaway

Well this month we have Cathy returning to donate to us another of her wonderful creations. Thanks so much Cathy!

Cathy has generously supplied us with this super cute and definitely warm pinny. Its a size two and has a box pleat in the front and covered buttons on the shoulders. The bodice lined with flannelet and made with baby corduroy. So soft and snugly for this cold weather we are having!

So you know the drill - leave a comment and I will draw a winner at the beginning of next month.

You have to be in it to win it! And a huge thanks again to Cathy!

May CM Blog Giveaway Winner

Well done to Kylie for winning the May giveaway which was so kindly donated by Julie.

Big congratulations and stay tuned for Junes giveaway!

May CM Blog Giveaway

Sorry for the slow start on this giveaway readers but its been a hectic month!

This month we have a really fantastic prize and one I would absolutley love to win.




Julie (gypsyj) has donated a set of 250ml Sun Print Dyes. These are the dyes that Julie uses to create her wonderful printed fabrics that we all salivate over!



They come with an instruction sheet and Julie has some more instructions on her website at www.rainbows-end-studios.com.

So thank you to Julie for her lovely donation and leave a comment - winner drawn at the beginning of June.

April CM Blog Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Krissy for winning the wonderful April giveaway donated by Lissy!

Thanks everyone for entering and stay tuned for Mays great giveaway!

April CM Blog Giveaway

Hi everyone,

I hope you have had a wonderful and relaxed Easter and are enjoying the school holidays.

Its that time again to announce this months giveaway and I would really like to thank Lissy for her wonderful prize donated for this month.

Introducing Marina the Mermaid. She is made from cotton tricot skin and filled with wool fleece. Her clothes are made from hand dyed velour and hair hand dyed wool yarn. Silk ribbons and wool felt finish off her decorations.

Her mermaid clothes are removable and Lissy will also add a second set of clothes for a quick change.

Isnt she adorable!!!



So please leave a comment and I will draw the winner at the beginning of next month!

Good luck!

March CM Blog Giveaway Winner

Congratulations goes to Carolyn! Well done!!!

Stay tuned for the April giveaway.

have a wonderful and safe Easter xxx

Congo Congo Congo!

Well today marks the opening of the Crafty Mamas Market Place congo cart!

A number of the locals at Crafty Mamas have opened stores to sell to you the best that hand made has to offer.

So if you want a bargain head on over and check us all out....here!

March CM Blog Giveaway

Thank you so much to Nat for this wonderful giveaway!

For the March give-away, MoederKip (which can be found also at www.moederkip.com.au) is offering an outfit from our new playclothes range


The winner can pick either:


*Raglan sleeve dress with co-ordinating leggings; or


*Contrast-cuff play pants with co-ordinating t-shirt


This colourful, comfortable, and durable range is designed with playtime in mind


Available in a range of colours (and with sizes from 2-5), all items are made from high quality cotton-elastane featuring:
* Fabric UPF rating of 50+, offering very high sun protection;
* The addition of elastane means that the garment will not only stretch in every direction (because kids don’t only move one way!), but it will also bounce back into;
* shape (no sagging or bagging!).
* Soft yet strong





So leave a comment and at the end of the month of of you lucky people will be the winner:)

Getting To Know You ... A CM In Profile

Wow where did February go! Well to start March heres another profile...


Getting To Know You ...Sandy...



1. What is your name and what do we call you at Crafty Mamas?

Sandy and Sandy - Whenever people forget my name I tell them to think of the beach.

2. How long have you been around Crafty Mamas and how did you find us?

I think I’ve been here for a couple of years now. I found CM through another forum- Simple Savings.


3. What makes you a Crafty Mama – ie what is your activity(s) of choice?

Have you got all day? I think I’ve tried just about everything in the crafting world! A Jill of all craft but mastering only one right now, and that’s felting. I had dabbled for a few years but have just recently gotten serious about it.

4. Some people collect fabrics, others patterns…what’s you addiction in the crafting sense.

Fibre, mmmm, fibre….

5. What’s your creative space like?

I’m lucky enough to have a room all to myself. It’s usually pretty tidy, sometimes…

6. What’s your favourite crafty tool ?..ie your machines and why?

I would have to say, right now it’s bubblewrap lol. Needed for agitating the fibres to felt together. Also felting needles, which is what I used to create both Turtle and Bunbun in the picture. I also have a nice janome 6600p sewing machine and an overlocker that I’m ashamed to say gets used so rarely, I couldn’t even tell you the brand.

7. Tell us about the most dedicated act of crafting you have performed ie sewed all night, drove 2 days for a craft show…something bordering on silly!

Sorry, can’t think of anything.

8. Do you have a blog/website/business/etsy you would like to plug?

I’ve just started a new blog that will showcase my creations, whether they be for sale or just for fun/gifts- www.hobgoblinhouse.blogspot.com . Please bear with me, it’s only newborn

9. If you were stuck on a desert island and had the choice of three things to take what would you take (doesn’t have to be crafty)?

An endless supply of books, a fishing line and a hammock.

10. OK – some one word answers to wrap up:

• Diamonds or Pearls? Pearls
• Coffee or tea? Coffee
• Sweet or savoury? Savoury
• Night owl or early bird? Early bird
• Left or right handed? Lefty

February Blog Giveaway Winner

Congratulations goes to...

Mary!

Congratulations and I just know you are going to love love love this skirt!

Stay tuned for the March giveaway!

Getting To Know You ... A CM In Profile

Sorry for the break between profiles - but getting back into the school and life routine has been busy!!!

Getting To Know You - Mandy




1. What is your name and what do we call you at Crafty Mamas?

Amanda, I’m known at Crafty Mamas as Mandy or Mum of Eight.


2. How long have you been around Crafty Mama and how did you find us?

I joined up in 2008, but it took me a while to pluck up the courage to join in. But I can be found here most days. I found Crafty Mamas after searching the internet for something I needed for my sewing room.


3. What makes you a Crafty Mama – ie what is your activity(s) of choice?

I love to make clothes so sewing is my craft of choice although I have done a bit of quilting and I will try anything once. My favourite thing so far is the wedding dress I made for a friend.



4. Some people collect fabrics, others patterns…what’s you addiction in the crafting sense.

I’m glad you’re not asking my Hubby this question.. I have patterns, fabric and lots of sewing gadgets. So you could say I collect it all.

5. What’s your creative space like?

My sewing corner is organised chaos. My husband and kids fixed up a corner in his work shed so that I could have somewhere of my own to create, but it has slowly spread from there to the house also. So I’m all over the place now.


6. What’s your favourite crafty tool ?..ie your machines and why?

This is a really hard question my machines I think are my favourite tools in my sewing room as they allow me to try lots of different things. With my machines I can do pretty much anything.


7. Tell us about the most dedicated act of crafting you have performed ie sewed all night, drove 2 days for a craft show…something bordering on silly!

Just recently I spent all day until about 1.30 in the morning sewing school bags for my kids, and when I was eight months pregnant with my last baby I travelled to Canberra with a group of Craft crazy women on a bus to spend the day walking around the Craft and Quilting Show, loved it. Wore me out for a few days.


8. Do you have a blog/website/business/etsy/madeit you would like to plug?

I have a store on madeit, www.madeit.com.au/madebymandy


9. If you were stuck on a desert island and had the choice of three things to take what would you take (doesn’t have to be crafty)?

Mp3 player full of music and books, chocolate and family


10. OK – some one word answers to wrap up:

•Diamonds or Pearls? Pearls
•Coffee or tea? Neither 
•Sweet or savoury? Sweet
•Night owl or early bird? Both
•Left or right handed? Right

February CM Blog Giveaway

Ok...did I just type February...oh my !!

Ok this months a keeper! Up for grabs this month.....



The Redondo - hamdmade and dyed by Sara from willow & moo.

The skirt is made from Studio Tantrum's Redondo pattern. The skirt is cotton poplin which has been dyed with fiber reactive dyes. The colors will not fade or wash out.

The skirt has purple waistband.

The skirt is lovingly constructed in my smoke-free and pet-free home. All seams are serged and topstitched, and the skirt is finished with a rolled hem in orange thread.

It is a size 86/92 (size 1/2.

To be in the draw for this amazing piece of craftsmamaship then leave a comment and I will draw the super pucky winner at the end of the month.

You know you want it.......:)

Getting to Know You..A CM in Profile

The Craftiest Mama of them all...

Getting to Know You - Lisa



1. What is your name and what do we call you at Crafty Mamas?

Lisa or Lisa the Crafty, previously known as Cinna and still am to many!


2. How long have you been around Crafty Mama and how did you find us?

I founded the Crafty Mamas forum almost 5 years ago now! I knew there were others out there like me..I was right!


3. What makes you a Crafty Mama – ie what is your activity(s) of choice?

I will give anything a whirl. I once had a friend request I stop saying to her “ you could make/do that yourself!” - so I am kind of annoying that way. Crafts I currently do- sewing, knitting, crochet, cooking, dyeing, stenciling. There are HEAPS more I would love to try! Soapmaking, cheesemaking, spinning, resin jewelery.etc....


4. Some people collect fabrics, others patterns…what’s your addiction in the crafting sense.

Euro patterns, fabrics and trims, and vintage patterns and books.

5. What’s your creative space like?

Absolute chaos. But I can generally find stuff!

6. What’s your favourite crafty tool ?..ie your machines and why?

My BERNINA Aurora 430 machine., it’s like a 4wd sewing machine and has not let me down yet.


7. Tell us about the most dedicated act of crafting you have performed ie sewed all night, drove 2 days for a craft show…something bordering on silly!

With a brand new baby ( 4 day old) and recovering from a c section I was determined to make one of my sons a proper elf costume for the school play. I did it, with bells on, and even made him little elf boots. He was so cute!


8. Do you have a blog/website/business/etsy you would like to plug?

www.craftymamas.com.au Where the coolest and craftiest mamas hang.

9. If you were stuck on a desert island and had the choice of three things to take what would you take (doesn’t have to be crafty)?

Chocolate, coffee, a book!


10. OK – some one word answers to wrap up:

• Diamonds or Pearls? Diamonds, baby, can’t wash dishes in pearls.
• Coffee or tea? Coffee, unless pregnant, then it’s tea all the way.
• Sweet or savoury? Both!
• Night owl or early bird? Both!
• Left or right handed? Lefty

Back to School Baking

Ahh its that time of year again where the kids go back to school and life returns to a somewhat more routined state.

One of the ways in which we are getting prepared here (Jack starts Pre Primary on Monday) is with some cooking for his lunch box.

I waded through my cookbooks and found these three to start with:

Lunch Box Muffins - Mac 'n' Cheese Flavour
This recipe comes from The Sneaky Chef To The rescue by Missy Chase Lapine.



4 large eggs
1 cup of Orange Puree (this consists of sweet potatoe and carrots)
2 cups cooked macaronni
2 cups grated low fat cheese
salt and pepper to taste.

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and line a muffin tin with paper liners. Lightly spray the liners.

In a mixing bowl whisk the eggs and puree. Mix in the macaroni and 1 1/2 cups of cheese. Divide the mixture evenly amongst the muffin cups. Top each with a sprinkle of the reserved cheese. bake in the oven for about 20 minutes until the cheese is lightly browned and bubbly.

Each one of these contains 155 calories.

***********************************************************************
Yellow Cake
This recipe is from Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld



1 x 500gm packet mix of plain cake
1 cup of puree pumpkin
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons of veg oil
2 large eggs
1 large egg white
170g of non fat vanilla yoghurt

Preheat the overn to 180 degrees. Coat a cake tin with oil and lightly flour.

In a large mixing bowl combine the cake mix, pumpkin, eggs and egg white, and yoghurt. Mix for 1-2 minutes.

Pour the batter into cake pan and bake for about 20 minutes or until the skewer comes out clean.

I cooked this in my slab pan and turned it out a little early! It broke a little!

**********************************************************************
Choc Chip Cookies
This recipe is from Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld



1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
3/4 cup of marg
2 large egg whites
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 can chickpeas drained and rinsed
2 cups choc chips
3/4 chopped walnuts (optional)
3/4 cup sultanas (optional)
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup oats
1 teaspoon baking sod
1/4 teaspoon salt.

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.

In a large mixing bowl or food processor beat the sugar and marg. Add in the egg whites and vanilla. Add the chickpeas and choc chips. Add the flour, oats, baking soda and salt - mixing on a low speed until a dough forms.

Drip the dough by the tablespoonful onto the tray spacing the cookies about 2 inches apart. Press gently with a fork and bake till golden brown - about 11-13 minutes.

Transfer to rack to cool.

Store in an airtight container for up to three days.

Note: I used wholemeal flour instead of white flour in this recipe.


The common theme is that they all conatin pureed veg - the cookies even have chick peas in them!

Do you have a fav recipe you whip up for the lunch boxes.....share it with us!

Getting to Know You..A CM in Profile

Here is our first CM In Profile for the year.

Getting to Know You - Sara



1. What is your name (first only is fine if you prefer) and what do we call you at Crafty Mamas?
Sara

2. How long have you been around Crafty Mama and how did you find us?

I joined the forum in May 2007 and starting posting at the end of July 2007. I found Crafty Mamas because I subscribed to Ottobre through Lisa, head Crafty Mama.

3.What makes you a Crafty Mama - ie what is your activity(s) of choice?

I have two main activities, sewing and dyeing. I do other little handcrafts here and there which is a by-product of being a parent of Steiner-educated children.

4. Some people collect fabrics, others patterns - what's you addiction in the crafting sense.

I have two addictions. Farbenmix patterns and European fabric. Farbenmix and Ottobre were the first patterns that gave me great results from my sewing. Ottobre is awesome, but I am not able to use their patterns for items that I make for sale. I love the way Sabine and the Farbenmix team support the home sewist. I have an accordion file full of Farbenmix patterns. I don't own every single one, but I have a very healthy collection, and I am eagerly awaiting Nancy's book in February.

I love the Euro fabrics from Hilco and Stenzo. The designs, the colours, the quality just make me happy, and I feel like I can't make anything horrible when I sew with them. I also prefer the European poplins over the American quilting fabrics because they wrinkle less in the laundry. I hate to iron.

5. What's your creative space like?

Chaotic! We are undergoing a home renovation at the moment. I am still managing to sew some small projects here and there. My sewing cabinet is in the living room, and my cutting table is out in the new room. Some of my supplies are in my bedroom as is some fabric. And then there is the fabric in the shed and the rolls of fabric in the kids' room. When that dust settles (hopefully by mid February!!!), I will have a nook in the back room. It's near the back doors, so it will be easy for me to keep an eye on the kids. I will have my cutting table and sewing cabinet in that space, but will probably be storing my fabric in the study, so that it's not out in the open in our open plan living space.

6. What's your favourite crafty tool ?..ie your machines and why?

I love all sorts of sewing gadgets and notions that make any job easier, but I absolutely love my sewing machine. I started out with a Bernina Activa, and as I started sewing more and more, I decided that I wanted a machine with a few more features and the possibility of doing machine embroidery. I upgraded to a Bernina Aurora 440, and have never regretted it. The machine sews so sweetly and does everything that I need it to. When I originally bought the Aurora I toyed with the idea of buying the embroidery module, but decided that I should really think about whether or not I'd use it. Back in April, 2 years after I bought my machine, I decided to purchase the embroidery module and haven't looked back. It's great being able to sew anything or embellish how I want.

7. Tell us about the most dedicated act of crafting you have performed ie sewed all night, drove 2 days for a craft show - something bordering on silly!

I don't do silly things like sew all night. I am now able to recognise when I need to stop! Too many mistakes late at night! But I do have a certain intensity when I am working. It's not uncommon for me to spend 8 hours tie-dyeing stuff or making 17 pairs of leggings all at once.

The most fun act of crafting that I've done is hop on plane and fly to Melbourne to meet up with some other Crafty Mamas for a crafty weekend. It was fabulous.

8. Do you have a blog/website/business/etsy you would like to plug?

I have a blog, willowandmoo.blogspot.com, and I also have a neglected Etsy shop willowandmoo.etsy.com

I'm having a break right now because of the renovations, but I am hoping to be back at the machines and having purple hands (from my dyeing) in February. I get busy with custom orders which is why my Etsy shop gets neglected, so it's always worthwhile to ask me if you'd like something.

9. If you were stuck on a desert island and had the choice of three things to take what would you take (doesn't have to be crafty)?

Oh I hate picking just three things. And then the analytical part of me starts to kick in and I think, but if I was stuck on an island, I wouldn't really be able to choose what I was stuck with, and if I could, in reality I'd want things to aid my survival. And then I'd assume there's no electricity, so electronic gadgets wouldn't be useful. Oh stuff that rational thinking...

*my family

*my laptop

*chocolate

10. OK some one word answers to wrap up:

Diamonds or Pearls? Diamonds (can't break 'em. I'm a klutz.)

Coffee or tea? COFFEE!!!!!!

Sweet or savoury? Sweet

Night owl or early bird? Night owl (would someone please let me children know to sleep in a bit more!)
Left or right handed? Right

What Ya Sewing!

I have come back from holidays raring to get into the workspace and fire up the machines. But what do I do first!!!! I have so many things swimming around in my head I dont know where to start...I am going to have to sit down and make a list I think.

Are you the same? Have you come into the new year all excited but dont know where to start.

I know that Carolyn over at My Favourite is having a challenge - 12 months 12 Challenges - that seems like a good way to structure ones attack.

I know I have some things to do like my PIF challenge from last year (I still have about 6 months on that one!) and there are a few orders to fill....but this year I really want to get into some of my new Euro patterns...and knit - I really want to knit better....Peta over here at Stitch Pixie and Tikki over here at Tikki Fabric Addict are my inspirtaion for that avenue...oh and of course I want to dye some fabrics this year...I have bought the fabric...just need to buy the dye and watch the dvd...Sara over here at willow & moo and Julie-Anne at Rainbows End are the inspiration for that challenge...

Oh and on a non sewing front I want to take the family to the Gold Coast in 12 months time for our annual holiday...so I am being inspired by That British Woman Gill here with her wonderful saving idea....thanks Gill!

So where to start... I feel a list coming on...tell me what you have planned and how you're organising yourselves this year...maybe I can learn a tip or two!

Januarys CM Blog Giveaway

Happy New Year mamas and I hope 2010 is prosperous and safe and happy for you all!

Have you set your new years resolutions? Have you broken them yet!! I decided to not really set any this year - rather just decide to live healthier and happier. I think this year is going to be great.

And what a great way to start a new year - by winning our January giveaway. This month sees a return to the mama made giveaway with this months prize being an amazing bag hot of the machine from none other than the Queen of Bags - Andrea (Tas).

The pattern is the Keyka Lou City Tote bag.
The fabrics are:
Outer-Joel Dewberry "Sparrows"
-hot pink and white dot (don't know designer)
Lining- Alexander Henry "Toadstool"

And to finish it off there is a vintage button to close front outer pocket.

The hand is not included!

So - to get your hands on this amazing bag leave a comment and I will draw a winner at the end of January!

Best of luck :)