Tutorial: La Tempête’s Hessian Heart Garland

Hi there! I have been wanting to make something simple to decorate for Valentine's Day without being too over the top. I've also been seeing a lot of people making all sorts of things out of hessian/burlap; pillows, art etc. I also had some hessian my MIL spotted on sale at our local craft store. TA DA! An idea was born.

I wanted a simple, modern and unfussy look. I hope you like my Hessian Heart Garland! It's REALLY easy to make. I've included a tutorial below just in case anyone would like to make their own.

The picture above is a bit  blurry and bluish, what is up with that, camera?!?! In the tute you can see the hearts are a bit pinker and see more detail on the hessian. This project cost me nothing as I used things from my stash. If I were to estimate, it would be under $10.

La Tempête's Hessian Heart Garland Tutorial

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Oh, the excitement

I was super excited to open my blog reader yesterday to see this:

My first tutorial was shared on Craft Gossip! Wow! Thank you to whomever suggested me :) You guys are awesome! I love Craft Gossip, it's one of my 'must open' items on my reader. So inspirational.

My first tutorial - La Tempete's Trimmed Tea Towels

UPDATE: Sorry if you tried to download earlier and couldn't. Scribd helpfully changed the privacy setting for me, but this has been rectified now. Apologies!

Here is my first tutorial for my Trimmed Tea Towels that I posted about a while ago. Hope you like it! I'm new to this, so hopefully it is easy to read etc. Please be kind! This is a really easy project that even a beginner sewer can handle.

All you need are towels, scrap fabrics, and trim. Whatever you have on hand is just fine. Anyone that can already sew will find these super duper easy. If you are just learning, it's a good project as it is just straight sewing and does not take long.

Beginner sewers take note: ironing/pressing is not fun (for me). However, it helps the end product look great.

You can view below or download. Let me see if you make some from the tutorial, I'd love to post pictures and links to your blog! More tutorials coming soon.

La Tempete's Trimmed Tea Towels


For personal use only. (c) 2010 Tempest Ahoy

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Blogged at Craft Gossip!!!

Gardening on my mind

I have been neglecting the garden somewhat recently. Christmas/New Year is such a busy time.

Oh yes, I have been watering, but it is so darn hot here, they really need some tender loving care. Yesterday evening I watered, and watered, and watered. Afterwards I decided to transplant a few seedlings that I had been given for Christmas (thank you again!). The giver was very generous and there were absolutely heaps of seedlings in the pots. I thought I would plant them out and hopefully give most of them a fighting chance to feed us!

I could not believe it but some of the soil not so far down was bone dry still! So out came the hose again. My poor little plants. For the past couple of weeks I have been running around with beach umbrellas; putting them over sunburnt plants and chasing them across the yard as they blow away. What a sight for the neighbours! Haha.

They seem to be recovering from the heat now, little flowers on my tomatoes again and some little cherry ones have formed. I have a little, tiny green capsicum and some more little flowers. The zucchini is bushy but have not seen any more fruit just yet.

Will be out later watering and taking pictures for you all!

It's so hot, I am jealous of the lovely snowy pics I keep seeing from you Northern Hemisphere bloggers. Now to sit in front of the a/c and pretend that the weather outside is frightful, and the fire so delightful....

The Blog Frog

I found this new tool - The Blog Frog - on another blog. I can't remember which one now! I promise I will find out and post later.

The widget has only just been added so is blank so far! Feel free to add your link, I would LOVE to see your blog. I am a blog addict. You should see my reader - YIKES.

The Blog Frog strikes me as a great way to be more connected to the blogging community. Go and check it out! I love the idea of people being able to share their link as well.

More towels!

Lots more tea towels to embellish!

I'm looking forward to choosing the fabrics for each one. I love these projects that are quick to finish and fun to make. The fact that they don't take much fabric is a bonus. Great for using up gorgeous scraps.

I've got another project in the works, but I. Keep.Forgetting. To. Buy. VARNISH! It's essential for the project and it's driving me nuts! I must have been to the craft and hardware stores 6 times since I started it, but still forget every time!!! Gah!

Today's project

EDIT: Tutorial added!

I had so much fun embellishing these tea/dish towels today. So much fun, in fact, I've got some more to make as a gift tomorrow. Simple but so effective, I love how these very reasonably priced towels are so easy to change from drab to fab; in very little time.

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Sewing Machine Cleaning

I hate that fuzz and lint that is so keen to collect in my sewing machine. It seems like it just can't wait to get back there just after it has been cleaned. A while back, I got in there with an unneeded makeup brush and got as much out as possible. Of course there were the few stragglers I could not reach.

The guy at my local sewing machine dealership told me that the stuff is dangerous, it can clog up your machine and make the cogs etc inside get stuck. It can even catch fire. So I really don't like it.

The other day I got some of that spray you use to clean computer stuff (compressed air) and used it on the inner workings of Mabel (my sewing machine). It looks like it worked pretty well. Until the next time. LOL.

Spraying works better for me, I think...5 seconds much better than all afternoon hunched over with my makeup brush.

Dearie me, another post that sounds like an infomercial hahaha. Nope, just love the stuff. Use whatever brand floats your boat. I'm pretty sure it's all just air!

Soda Stream

My man got a Soda Stream for Christmas.

One of those things I always wanted as a kid! It is so good. With the supplies you can have soft drink/soda from water in seconds.

The syrups come in regular and diet, as well as an energy drink version for those who may be so inclined.

They don't pay me. I just love it!!! You should try them out.

New Patterns

Picked these patterns up for $2 each at my local (craft store that is :)).

A good range of patterns for someone just venturing into the world of commercial patterns again, I think. I've been working off tutes and printables since I started sewing again.

There’s a boxer short pattern, men/boy slacks, cargo shorts and shirts, some toddler patterns and a good range of dresses. A nice surprise with the kids patterns was the inclusion of a backpack. YAY! I wanted a backpack pattern eventually and did not realise when I bought them it was in there too.

Wish me luck as now I have to decipher all the symbols and intructions. They seem pretty staightforward (fingers crossed).

Does anyone have any tips for other patterns useful for someone starting their pattern collection?

Jute Twine Monogram

Love these!

WIP (Work[s] in Progress)

I have been stitching/ripping again as I managed to get a somewhat appropriate stitch tension/length/whatever was wrong. I sat there with a piece of scrap and painstakingly wrote beside each line of stitching I did on it the tension, stitch length and whatever the other thing is. Finally got it!

Many plans for stitching this year. Reminds me of a blog I have just found, The Sew Weekly. The author of this blog stitches a new item every week as she wants almost an entire wardrobe sewn by herself. I wish I was that good a seamstress! I think it's a great idea. Something I will have in the back of my mind, just in case one day my skills allow me to do so!

Knock Off Wood

I've only just found this website, and now I'm a follower. I'm no carpenter, but I'm hoping I can become one or force my other half to do some of these projects! Haha.

They appear to be so straightforward, and a lot of them look just like Pottery Barn furniture. And let's face it, $30 or $50 has got to be better than $300 or $500 a piece!

I'm jealous of Ana's skills but hopefully we can use one of her great tutes one day soon. Also, her blog is great reading just for marvel value, even if you never make one piece. Now, which piece to make first, hmm.

UFOs

I have several UFOs at the moment and it's driving me crazy.

For the uninitiated, UFO = unfinished object :)

They just need tiny tweaks but a helpful toddler has reset the tension on my sewing machine, and now I have to sit down for ages and fiddle with it to get it right again. WAH. Am putting it off even those my creative self is getting very pedal happy.

So...it works...

Today I found out toothpaste works well as a silver cleaner. I give no guarantee of results. But it took all the tarnish off my tarnished silver.

Also, vodka DOES work as a cleaner. Thanks, Kirstie Alley.

Mail Sorter

So everyone's talking about the mail sorter over here.

I think it's gorgeous. I was all set to make one, or another one that hung vertically, and started wondering about which fabric ('fabric storming') and interfacing etc when I remembered I had one of these from IKEA lying unused in a bedroom.

Originally it had been been bought to organise a child's room. Ha! That never happened. So, yes, it was lying around unused.

It's not sophisicated. It is NOT a design feature. But it works for mail and my fabric is saved for a future mystery project!

By the way, for those who do not have a very attractive (!) frog hanger ready to use, TOTALLY make the mail sorter. It's great, gorgeous and the tutorial is really easy to follow. I just feel guilty making it when I have something else that totally works for the same purpose and is also big enough to throw keys, sunglasses etc in. Sob.

Free craft supplies = practically heaven

I recieved a box of freebies the other day and was so grateful and happy. The fun thing about getting free craft supplies is that it could often be stuff you wouldn't normally buy. This = play time!

There's lots of paper crafting stuff with many rub ons and embellishments; a real bonus is the gold leaf jar (full) which I could use for soooooooooo many different crafts.

I also got some Creative Memories stuff for Christmas so maybe I should be scrapbooking my heart out right about now!

So grateful to be so lucky!

Disney's Giveaway over at Ruffles and Stuff

Disney is giving away one of her unique and beautiful necklaces over at Ruffles and Stuff.

Go over and enter - it could be you.

Here is one of her creations below - *cuuuuuuuuuuuuute*. This picture is linked and hers alone. I love her site, she has a style all of her own. I have been a follower for a few months now and am always interested in her posts.

Just a quickie project

I made this quickie yoyo flower pin/brooch to match a new skirt I made in about 10 mins (possibly less).

I think it looks cute, and I got a compliment that it looked like 'a bought one', which I was pleased with :) I'm not sure about that, but it's cheery and cute. Happy Sunday.