Friday 30 November 2012
Marbling - satisfaction guaranteed
Marbling, it's such an old school technique that most of us would have had a go at in primary school. The random and unique nature of each piece adds to the satisfaction, some of the outcomes remind me of ordinance survey maps.
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Monday 26 November 2012
#Monday Moodboard - Haberdashery
I used to love looking through my Nan's button tins and always loved it when we were allowed to play with the sequins at primary school. My children are the same, why is it we are like magpies around small tins of beads, bags of wool and scraps of fabric? There is something magical about the colours, textures and feel of haberdashery items that makes me covet them like treasure, which of course they are! I hope you have a fantastic week whatever you are up to.
Love Lou xxx
Sunday 25 November 2012
Geocaching...whats that all about?
My blog has focused on the MAKE and SEW but not much DO, in light of this I thought I'd share with you a great pursuit that is fun to do either on your own or with friends and family. It's a treasure hunt activity called Geocaching.
I first discovered Geocaching through a colleague at work and was immediately fascinated. My first cache was hidden behind the noticeboard of a church I drive past every day, it was a small film canister that contained a log book that I had to sign/date and then log on the Geocaching website (this can be done through the website or app if you decide to buy it). Since then I have found 13 caches most have been small boxes that contain little treasures such as key rings, erasers, glitter pens, small toys etc, my children absolutely love it. It's worldwide, my brother lives in Canberra Australia and he has loads hidden near him. If you have a rainy day on holiday, wrap the kids up warm and go Geocaching for free.
Here are the basics:
- Geocaching is an outdoor treasure hunt that is WORLDWIDE.
- Once you've bought the app it's free (the app is a one off fee of £6.99).
- Players try to find hidden containers called caches, these can be various shapes and sizes and contain different things...more about cache types can be found on the website.
- You will need either a smart phone or GPS device to join in.
- You log your efforts and follow other Geocachers.
- Non Geocachers are called Muggles. When trying to find a cache keep a look out for Muggles, try to be a surreptitious as possible in order to keep the cache from being discovered.
- You can also create your own caches, they must be hidden in an interesting location that makes the effort to find it worth while, a place of historical interest, a wonderful view or near a good pub!
- Some caches are individual finds, others link together and are part of a bigger treasure hunt.
- When you find a chache with treasure, if you take something you must replace it with another item that is worth the same or more than what you have taken. Treasure can vary, some is valuable.
- Some caches contain trackables that have a quest attached to them such as to get from Lands End to John O'Groats, to visit evry city in Europe or to travel around the world.
- Geocaching promotes a cleaner environment, if you see rubbish on your quest pick it up and put in it the bin!
For a full guide to the game click on the link below.
Saturday 24 November 2012
#Quick Crafty Makes 2 - Glitter Pin Wheels
I had never made a pin wheel before, I thought they would be super tricky to make, how wrong was I? They are so easy and can be made from any robust card or paper. I decided to have a go at making single pin wheels to place on a Christmas tree or on the mantle piece, this then led to a pin wheel garland. If you're a pin wheel virgin give it a go, follow my step by step instructions below.
You will need:
some robust card
some PVA glue
scissors
glitter
a pencil
a ruler
some buttons
a needle and thread
embroidery thread
Step 1: cut your card into a square and mark a cross on the back from corner to corner.
Step 2: On the front of the card create your own decorative design using the glue and glitter and leave to dry
Step 3: Once dry turn the card over to reveal the cross and cut 3/4 of the way down from the corners to the middle.
Step 4: Thread your needle and double up the thread, knot at the end. Push the needle up through the centre of the cross.
Step 5: Fold each alternate point to the centre of the square sewing through each one in turn.
Step 6: Once each point is secure sew a button in place and tie off at the back, use some sticky tape to secure if required. And there you have it, one finished pin wheel.
The above pin wheels are not designed to rotate, to do this you will need some dowel rod (or similar) and a pin. Click on the link to see a good tutorial on how to do this.
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Friday 23 November 2012
Very Inspiring Blogger Award Nomination
Make Do Sew has been nominated for the ‘Very Inspiring Blogger’ award by fellow blogger Poppy Fox At Home, thank you so much it's made my day!
This award helps to link fellow bloggers, what a great way to build the blogging community. I did a little bit of detective work and 'link clicked' back through the nominations to find that this award is a way to give someone you admire a 'pat on the back'. The blogs I found were all over the world, America, Canada, UK and Australia. Some people have posted the above logo on their blog as a badge of honour, what a great thing to do. Share the love a bit more, go on....
There are some basic rules/responsibilities that come
with this nomination so keep these in mind when nominating.
Rules of Participation:
1. Display the award logo on your
blog.
2. Link back to the person who nominated
you.
3. State 7 things about yourself.
4. Nominate 15 other bloggers for this award and link to
them.
5. Notify those bloggers of the nomination and the
award’s requirements.
Here's 7 Things about
myself:
1. I teach fashion at my local college and started my blog so I could keep up to date with my students knowledge on blogging and social networking, a happy accident you might say. (Now I know a little bit more than them, well some of them anyway!)
2. I'm a closet geek and love a bit of twitching (bird watching), Geocaching, Star Wars, books about history/facts and find quantum physics and astronomy fascinating even though I don't really understand what it's all about.
3. My family and I love the simple things in life and are all pretty practical in one way or another.
4. I want a tattoo but don't have the nerve to actually do it in case I regret it.
5. I would like to start my own pattern cutting and sewing school one day and grow it in to a crafters paradise.
6. I am part of a chicken syndicate at my local allotment, one day a week I clean out the coops etc and collect the eggs. I love chickens, they are so endearing.
7. I like to read in the bath but keep falling asleep, I've been trying to finish the same book for almost a year now!
I had as much fun choosing my nominations as being nominated, I think blogging is ultimately about sharing. Blogs that appeal to me are either useful in some way, friendly and inviting, visually tantalising or well written (this is something I aspire to). When deciding who to nominate I tried to keep these things in mind:
Love Lou xx
Love Lou xx
Wednesday 21 November 2012
Etsy Festive Finds - Christmas Decorations
We love Christmas in our house, party games, good food and good company, it makes you feel all warm inside. If you're tired of the same old Christmas decorations why not have a look on Etsy, there are hundreds to choose from and prices range from a few pounds upwards. They are lovingly handmade and each one is unique. Here's a few of my favourites to whet your appetite and empty your purse!
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Monday 19 November 2012
#Monday Moodboard Morning Sun
We had some beautiful sunrises last week, lets hope this week brings the same. Gorgeous colours.
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Wednesday 14 November 2012
Glitter Chocolate Truffles Recipe
I saw this recipe in the latest issue of 'The Simple Things' magazine (issue 3), it has very few ingredients, is easy to make and tastes gorgeous. It's a perfect treat for Christmas and can even be boxed up and given as a gift. Keeping in mind the festive spirit I've added some extra sparkle to mine.
Recipe
200g dark chocolate
100ml double cream
5 tbsp coco powder
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
Method
- Chop the chocolate up in to small pieces and melt in a bain marie ensuring the bottom of your bowl is not in contact with the simmering water
- Once the chocolate has melted stir in the double cream and take off the heat once combined
- Allow to cool (put it in the fridge if need be)
- In a shallow dish sift together the coco, cinnamon and cloves
- Roll the cooled mixture into small balls and then coat in the powder mix until thoroughly coated
Tips and Additions
- You could add rum, orange oil, honeycomb pieces, chilli flakes or nuts to the mix for added texture and flavour
- You do not have to add the spices to the coco powder if not to your taste
Monday 12 November 2012
Sunday 11 November 2012
Boot Sale Bargains
It was a nice sunny day today, what better way to spend the morning than at a car boot sale, so off we went loose change at the ready. One stall had a fantastic deal, for £1 you were allowed to fill a carrier bag with anything you liked, we managed to bag a handful of toys, some retro table linens and some other great items which you can see in the photo below. A lovely tinned puzzle, a 1960's tray, a floral tapestry and a slightly battered but all present and correct game of Twister. Roll on next Sunday!
Tuesday 6 November 2012
Weekend baking Granny Stylie
I was asked to bake some cakes for a family birthday party. I do love to bake a cupcake and have learnt you can hide a multiple of sins through the use of glitter! However I was a bit drip happy with the blue food colouring and didn't realise that red food colouring makes a peach colour when added to butter icing, not the pink I was expecting. Instead of baby pink and blue cupcakes I ended up with retro Granny chic peach and turquoise cupcakes. A happy accident or not? I'll let you decide.
Monday 5 November 2012
Photography Heroes, Goals and Pointers #Blog School Homework
Photography has been part of my life for as long as I can remember, my Dad was a press photographer, that's how he met my Mum. She was a model and he was assigned to photograph her in her bikini on Southend seafront. You could say that my brothers and I came in to existence because of photography! My Dad was a predominantly a press photographer during the 1960's-1970's, he used a manual 35mm SLR Nikon camera and Ilford black and white film. After taking his photos he then processed them all in the darkroom ready to go press that same day. Here are some of his images below.
I remember stumbling across a small photography book in the Uni library, it was called 'Living Room' by Nick Waplington. It candidly documents the photographers family and their neighbours, warts and all. I was immediately drawn to this style of photography and have been in love with it ever since.
A similar photographer is Richard Billingham, he also documents his family in a very candid way unashamedly photographing the poverty and deprivation he grew up in. In his book 'Rays a Laugh' Billingham uses the cheapest film and leaves the images purposely unfocused to add a rawness to his work. His father is an alcoholic, his mother a chain smoker, his life seems chaotic and brutal but there are moments of true tenderness that shine through.
World Press Photo is an annual competition that showcases all the best press photography from around the world. Some of these images are truly inspiring and at time very upsetting and harrowing. I have chosen a few below to illustrate the power of press photography, to see the full archive click on the link.
::masked Iraqi war prisoner holding his 4 year old son::
::young jockey and horse in Mongolia::
::Maria, drug addict and sex worker::
Photography can raise a smile, make us shed a tear, bring back strong and profound memories and ultimately capture a moment in time that would otherwise fade or be forgotten.
My photography goals are to keep practicing, try to use manual mode more often and to learn some of the more key functions of my camera. I would like to set up a mini studio and to put more planning and thought into the composition of my photos.
The photographer who has most inspired me has been my Dad, it was his work that sparked a lifelong love of visual language and creativity. He is still taking photos today because he loves to.
A Final Photography pointer (from my Dad)
For craft/lifestyle blogging purposes natural daylight takes the best photograph, flash can flatten an image and occasionally look garish. If there is a lack of natural daylight and you have no choice but to use flash, place a paper tissue over the flash, this will diffuse the light and give a better result.
Lou xx
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