Archive for May, 2009

Hi there,

I just love it when readers write in to tell me about something they've made using a pattern from Canadian Living.Today, let's have a look at the shaving kit that reader Tarryl Brown made for her finacé, using the instructions from the His'n'Hers Travel Mates that appeared in the May issue. Tarryl writes:

"I love your magazine!  You always have great craft ideas, but I never take the time to try them!  I saw this pattern for a shaving kit in May 2009, and decided that it was time!  My fiancé needed a new shaving kit, and I found a piece of camoflauge canvas that worked perfectly!  I've been looking all over for a new shaving kit for him, but didn't find anything that I liked!  He loves it!  Thank you so much for the pattern!"

The shaving kit that Tarryl made.

Tarryl, I'm glad that you liked the pattern - and that your fiancé likes his new shaving kit. It looks great!

Do you have a project from the pages of Canadian Living that you’d like to share? Leave a link in the comments or send me an email, and I’ll post about it here.

Enjoy the rest of your Tuesday. Cheers!

Happy Monday!

Getting the week off to a good start, I'm pleased to announce the winners of last week's contest. Congratulations to Sherrie and Whistlepea! You've each won a copy of  Sew What! Bags by Lexie Barnes. I think you'll have a great time with this book, and, as always, I'd love to see what you make. Look for an email from me in your inbox soon.

(Thanks to everyone who submitted a question last week – I'm delighted with the range of topics you covered and looking forward to working my way through the list. I have a feeling it's going to be a learning experience for me, too! )

On to Weekly Giveaway #4...This week, I've got a treat for the crochet-fanatics in the crowd. Hooked for Life: Adventures of a Crochet Zealot by Mary Beth Temple, is sure to strike a note of recognition whether you've got a thing for granny squares and ripple blankets, or if you just love all things yarn-related.

For your chance to win this book, please tell me  something that you've learned from your crafting. It could be something little (for example, I've learned I can't cut a straight line with a pair of scissors to save myself) or something big (if I like a project enough, I'll stick with it for years). I'm curious!

For your chance to win, leave a comment on this post telling me your crafty teachable moment by Friday, May 15, at 5 p.m. I’ll answer the questions as part of the ongoing Crafty Q+A series, and (because of the long weekend) I’ll announce a winner next Tuesday morning.

Have a great week!

Hi there,

With Mother's Day  just around the corner, I thought it might be worth sharing a few crafty gift ideas for Mother's Day. If that phrase brings crooked clay ashtrays and ragged paper hearts to mind, never fear: these projects definitely do not fall in the "only a mother could love" category! The first three could go together in an afternoon (or a couple hours tonight and tomorrow); and if you don't have that much time, there are some great ideas for crafty things to buy, too.

• Reusable grocery bags are a great idea, but sometimes they're a little...well, ugly. Not this one! Buy the pattern (just $6) and then use up your fabric scraps to your heart's content. Jane Market Bag from Posie Gets Cosy.
• The weather's warming up, but a lap quilt is never a bad idea for those late spring nights on the porch swing. I like the Go-To Quilt from Katy Did.
• I strive to give gifts that are both beautiful and useful. This personalized wallpaper stationary from Design Sponge is both.
• Need some ideas for Mother's Day crafts to make with kids? The Crafty Crow has your back with a plethora of kid-friendly ideas.
• Rather go to the store? Try one of these Mother's Day gift ideas from fabulous craft resource The Purl Bee.
• Of course, who can you rely on for great ideas if not Canadian Living? Check out some of these great Mother's Day gift ideas.
• And don't forget the power of a nice meal – a easy, delicious chocolate soufflé almost always does the trick. Our Mother's Day menu is a surefire hit.
• Oh! And speaking of moms, you should check out editor Kathryn Dorrell's new Mom Blog. It's good stuff.

Have a great weekend!

p.s. “Get Crafty” launches on Monday. Be sure to sign up before then, because we’re giving away two Hoover Platinum Collection Cordless Hand Vacuums, valued at $170 each. You might never have to sweep up thread clippings or sawdust again!

p.p.s. Don’t forget to add your crafty question to Weekly Giveaway #3 for the chance to win one of two copies of Sew What! Bags by Lexie Barnes. The questions have been great so far – keep'em coming!

Hello!

Just  a quick note today, but I wanted to share this with you. I was delighted to find an email from Sheila Gehrke,  of High River, Alberta, in my inbox the other day. Sheila writes:

"I am sending you a picture of the quilt I made from the Jan/Feb 1978 issue I purchased when it was only  available on the newsstand. I had collected all the fabric and when I  retired it was my first project to do and now I am an avid quilter. I  completed it in January 2001...Quilting has become a great passion for me and I find it such a relaxation in this busy world that we are now in."

Sheila's first quilt.

Wow! Sheila, it looks fantastic! Thank you so much for sharing with us.

Do you have a project from the pages of Canadian Living that you'd like to share? Leave a link in the comments or send me an email, and I'll post it here.

Have a great day, friends.

p.s. There are only a few more days until the launch of "Get Crafty." If  you haven't already signed up, get thee to the subscriber page, because now, there are prizes! Because crafting can be a messy business, we're giving away two Hoover Platinum Collection Cordless Hand Vacuums, valued at $170 each. You might never have to sweep up thread clippings or sawdust again.

Hello, friends.

Thanks to everyone who has been entering Weekly Giveaway #3. There are some great craft questions coming up in the contest entries – it looks like I'm going to be learning some new things, too! I chose an easy question to start off with. This one's from Emily, who writes:

"I would like to try making a baby quilt, but I don’t really know how to go about it. I have a sort of pattern from a book (the Bend The Rules sewing book by Amy Karol). My question: is it worth investing in a rotary cutter and mat set? I have a decent pair of fabric scissors but it seems like it might be easier to do piecing using the mat and rotary blade. Then again I’m a novice so it seems like a hefty investment."

Easy question, easy answer: Emily, it's worth it.

When I started quilting, about five years ago, it didn't take me long to discover that I'm useless at cutting a straight line with a pair of fabric shears. After a single very frustrating afternoon of cutting crooked squares and uneven seam allowances, a rotary cutter, acrylic ruler and mat set made its way to the top of my shopping list.

My well-loved (and much used) rotary cutter, rulers and mats.

Using a rotary cutter enables you to make quick, straight cuts with reliable results every time. The super-sharp blade is capable of cutting through multiple layers of fabric at once, which is a godsend when you're working on a quilt with dozens (or even hundreds) of pieces. The self-healing mats and acrylic rulers come in many shapes and sizes, so you can find one that works for your workspace (I like the larger mat now, but the small one was ideal when I was living in a tiny apartment without a dedicated worktable.)

I bought my original Fiskars set for about $25-$30, and over the years I've added new cutting mats and rulers as I've needed them.  OLFA is the other source for excellent cutting tools, rulers and mats for sewers/quilters, and though their prices seem slightly higher, I think it's worth it. (Consider how long you're likely to be using the tools – and how much trouble they'll save you. I use them for all my sewing now, not just quilting, and I've been doing so since 2004. That works out to only $5 a year – not bad!)

If you're worried about the expense, it is worth checking the sales at stores like Fabricland/Fabricville, which often have big seasonal discounts, even on notions. And don't discount your local quilting shop – many of them offer packages for beginning quilters.

One caveat: be careful. A rotary cutter is as sharp as a scalpel. Never, ever leave the blade open when you're not using it. Keep your rotary cutter out of reach of curious kids. And if you drop it – jump lively!

Just a few other notes...

• Have something to add to the discussion about rotary cutters and cutting mats? Please leave a comment!
• If you're looking for a good resource book, I'd recommend The Better Homes and Gardens Complete Guide to Quilting. It's an excellent resource for beginning and more experienced quilters alike.
• Don't forget to add your crafty question for the chance to win one of two copies of Sew What! Bags by Lexie Barnes.
• It's only a few more days until my e-newsletter launches. Don't forget to sign up!

See you again soon!

Good morning, friends!

If it's Monday, it must be contest day. First, the winner of Mother-Daughter Knits, by Canadian knitter, designer and author Sally Melville and her daughter Caddy Melville Ledbetter...

...congratulations, KLMusic! I'll be in touch.

This week I have a double giveaway – you could win one of two copies of Sew What! Bags by Lexie Barnes. There are tons of great ideas here. With instructions for 18 projects and endless ways to customize them, you could have a tote bag for every occasion. There are eyeglass cases, map bags, change purses, drawstring bags and messenger bags - you name it, there's a bag for it! Some of these projects would make ideal end-of-the-year gifts for teachers, too.

This contest has a little twist. For your chance to win, leave a comment on this post asking a craft question by Friday, May 8, at 5 p.m. I'll answer the questions as part of the ongoing Crafty Q+A series, and I’ll announce a winner next Monday morning.

Have a great week!

p.s. Don't forget to sign up for the e-newsletter. It launches on May 11!

Hi friends,

I'll admit it: I'd choose sun over rain any day of the week. That can make early spring a difficult time for me – and my friends! – because when the world is soggy, I can get a wee bit cranky. Then again, a wet weekend is the perfect excuse to stay inside and get crafty, and hoo boy, do I have plans for this weekend!! Here are some of the things I'd like to do:

• Print some "Get Excited and Make Things" notecards (see image above). I was so excited when I saw that poster on Flickr last weekend! It's modelled on "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster that's been making the rounds, and I love it. You can download the image to make something of your own (get some ideas here) – but please respect the Creative Commons licence, and don't sell the things you make!
• Make a fab new picnic blanket. I saw some great plasticized fabric last weekend at MacFab that would be perfect for this.
• Repurpose an Altoid tin into a sewing kit: since I started working on crafts, anyone in the office with a sewing emergency seems to end up at my desk, looking for a needle and thread. On Monday, I'll be prepared.
• Plant a terrarium. This has been on my list for a while. Last weekend I went to a church rummage sale and picked up some great antique Ball jars that would be perfect for this project. All I need now is a tiny plastic dinosaur...(get more terrarium ideas here.)
• Sew my summer tote bag. I like this one.
• Knit a swatch for these amazing socks.
• Sew up a couple snap coin purses. They're quick, easy and cute, and a wonderful way to use up fabric scraps. If you're in Toronto, you can buy the purse frames (or take the class) at The Workroom.
• Read the first issue of Uppercase Magazine. I can't wait to get my paws on it!

What crafty plans do you have for this weekend? I'd love to hear about them!

p.s. Don't forget to enter this week's giveaway and sign up for the e-newsletter.