Echino pinny dress

I have such a huge stash of  fabric, it's actually pretty ridiculous as I'll never get time to use it all, but you know what it's like when you see it and have to have it.  Echino fabric is one of my faves so I thought I'd better use some and made this little size 2 pinny dress.  I hadn't done any sewing int he school hols so now I've made this one I feel inspired to make more.  I also bought some gorgeous fabric from Holland and the the next one will be made using that. 

I love this!

Here is a gorgeous quilt made by my friend Jacqui - she is so clever and although she works just about full time she still manages to create some really original and interesting things.  this quilt is made from vintage sheets, which makes it even more special... love it!

Happy New Year

Well things have been pretty quiet on the creative side here in the school holidays, but I've been able to clean out my office and workroom and get ready for the coming year.  I will be going completely online once I get more stock online and out of the Pod Collective shop.  It's been a fun time being in the Pod Collective shop but I'm going to focus on working from home and concentrating on finishing my study.

I have recently opened a shop on http://www.ethikl.com.au/rubylimedesign/ so with this and my made it shop http://www.madeit.com.au/storecatalog.asp?userid=20196 I will be busy enough looking after both of these.  Although I will be busy with uni and study this year, I am hoping to still have time to make a few things to put on my site.  I will concentrate on using some of the gorgeous fabrics I have in stock, making some more little girls' dresses and some more shorts for boys too, as I have lots of great fabrics for boys.  I am looking forward to creating some interesting and unique pieces by upcycling for my Ethikl store and using some of my clothes I no longer wear to do this. 

I can't say how fortunate I feel that I am in one of the few areas not devastated by floods.  I can't imagine how the people in those areas must be feeling or going through.  Watching it makes me feel sick so how must it be to be living it.  I am hoping to get involved by donating some of my stock to raise funds for the affected people.  

 Fair Trade Bags in my Ethikl Store made by villagers in North Western India

 Glass tile pendants - only $12.95

Some of my newest fabric purchases!

As I haven't been making much lately I've put on a few pics of things I've recently put in my online shops and some fabric I'll be using soon. 

New Echino Fabric

I am loving one of the latest Echino fabrics, here are a few things I've been making with it. 

Rice Paper Rolls

After watching a seafood cooking demo by Sally Jenyns yesterday I am wanting seafood even more!!!  So today I bought some tiger prawns and made these rice paper rolls.  Usually they have cooked vermicilli rice noodles in them but I left these out.  So this is how I made them today... 

 In this bowl is finely sliced red onion, sliced baby cucumbers, red capsicum, garlic chives, coriander and basil leaves and some torn oakleaf lettuce leaves.

1/2 kilo cooked tiger prawns

Peel the prawns and have some soft lettuce leaves torn in half ready to go

Also you will need these

Pour just boiled water into a dish big enough to fit the rice paper sheets.  Using tongs, immerse the sheet in water for a few seconds until soft, but not falling apart.  Remove carefully and put on a chopping board.

place a couple of big lettuce leaves on the rice paper, a small handful of salad mix and 2-3 prawns

fold the sides in first then carefully roll up the rice paper to make a package, make sure the ends are tucked in so it doesn't all fall out.

 

Put on a plate and pour some dipping sauce into a small bowl.  Enjoy

and.. put some in a lunchbox for hubby to take to work.

Yum, I love these and much healthier and tastier than the deep fried spring rolls!! 

Mini Cupcake soap - Lemon Icing - by FIGGandhoney on madeit

Mini Cupcake soap - Lemon Icing - by FIGGandhoney on madeit

Yummmm! This is the sort of cupcake I like, looks and smells great, but won't need to be worked off!

Hairclips and Bobby Pins

I am loving these gorgeous wood buttons and making some hairclips and bobby pins with them.  They are only $3.95 each in my madeit store. 

Fabric collage cards

I'm enjoying making cards at the moment, hoping to get a few in the shop as I've run out... these ones are made with fabric and I've added some ric rac and buttons.  I like making this style of cards as it's nice to have something a bit different, mass produced cards get a bit boring, there are some I love, but I like making cards for any occassion I need one for..

Handmade Cards

I love this natural daisy paper which my friend Jacqui sent me over 2 years ago!!  I finally made these cards last night.  The cards are made from natural rice paper - a Japanese cardstock I get from a lady in Perth who has the most amazing papers and cards.

I found the paper for these cards while I was in Newcastle, I love the colours and the design

Button bobby pins

I love these buttons!  Today I made these button bobby pins while I was in the Arty Chic shop.   I'm going to keep these for my madeit shop and will be putting them on there soon. 

Linen purse with owls

I made this linen purse yesterday with an applique patch of Saffron Craig 'owls in a row' fabric on polka dots, and the lining is Echino fabric.  It didn't last long on madeit - I love this linen, will be making more things with it very soon..

and then I got an order for another one of these so I made this one.. I like the embroidery stitch around the border..

Rainforest Mandala drawing

 

This is a drawing I did in watercolour pencil, I actually did this in 2005, but wanted to show someone, so here it is!  I have it framed in a gold frame in my bathroom.

Owls and beads

I made these beaded lanyards today too - I love these owls.  These lanyards are about 90cm long and you just twist it over itself wherever you like.  They look great with lots of different outfits with all the colours and they have all sorts of beads, Japanese Tensha beads, crystals, indian beads, natural wood and seeds, hand blown glass - so many types....