Celebrate with me with Cupcakes and Tea?

This idea was inspired by Kathy of Lizzie Jane who said it was a shame we couldn't get together for cupcakes and tea.

1 year ago today I left full time employment to concentrate on my love of making things. I have absolutely no regrets and now practically no income but I don't think I could ever go back to working in an office again. My biggest thank you has to go to my husband who has supported me (quite literally as well as emotionally) but I also want to really thank anyone who has ever left a comment on my blog or sent me a lovely e-mail. The support and encouragement has meant more to me than words can express.

I think it is a pity (and really amazing) that we (in the crafting blog-o-sphere) are so spread out across the world - and that distance prevents us from getting together on occasion for a yummy cupcake and tea. I can't imagine the amount of cooing and aahing we would do over each others work - the endless conversations about the latest 'it' craft technique - the ideas we would come up with - not to mention the support and encouragement!

So to celebrate my anniversary I am inviting you to join me for a 'Cupcakes and Tea' swap. If you would like to join in please send me an email to rachael@rachaelrabbit.com with the following information;
1. name
2. email address
3. postal address
4. website/blog details (if you have one)
5. favorite color
Sign up by June 20th, and I will send you your swap partners information by the following Monday. Your cupcake themed craft item will need to be made and sent (with your favorite type of tea) by Friday 25th July, so that gives you over a month of crafting time. Please make your cupcake goody out of anything BUT food! Here are some ideas from flickr ....
1. Felt Cupcake Ornament, 2. Holiday Swirl Cupcake Ornaments, 3. felt club: cupcake from sew darn cute, 4. felt cupcake, 5. felt cupcake birthday card/pin, 6. Glass Cupcake Earrings, 7. cupcake, 8. Handpainted CupcakePlaque, 9. Scatoline #1, 10. cupcake pins, 11. petit four pin cushion, 12. cakes, 13. Cupcake Pillow (front), 14. Chocolate, Ms. Darcy's Knitted Cupcakes, 15. Strawberry Swirl Cupcake, 16. Birthday Cupcake - knitted

Tutorial: Simple Pillowcase

When my sister was here I was telling her that I had lots of material but I had a 'creative block' - and I wasn't sure what to do with it all - or what to make next. She suggested I should be ruthless with my fabric and get rid of anything I knew I was never going to use. I haven't done that yet (I'm still in 'must not waste a scrap' mode) but today I did visit my favorite fabric store in the city to get some inspiration and once there it was hard not to be naughty.
While I was there I spotted this very happy looking lady.
I know my sister loves cows - but really - what to make with such a gaudy green? I was stumped. So I asked for help and a pillow case was suggested ... fantastic! The pillowcase will make a great accessory for my sister's cow themed "pasture bedtime" PJ's AND it can remain hidden from public life so that people are not blinded by that lime green! (The City Quilter actually had a free pattern for a pillowcase - but I must be super dumb as I didn't fully understand it - so here is my own and I don't mean to post so many 'lessons' but I wanted to share how super quick this was.)

Tutorial: Simple Pillowcase (measures 20" x 31")
All you need is - 1 piece of fabric (40 1/2" x 35 3/4") and cotton for sewing.
Use 1/4" seams.

1) Along one of the 40 1/2" edges press a 1/2" fold. Then fold over another 4" press and pin.
2) Sew long the 4" fold - I made two straight lines here. The wrong side looks like this ...
- and the right side looks like this.
But I think you could do almost anything here - add a decorative stitch, ric rac, ribbon ..... endless possibilities!
3) Fold your material in half (wrong side out - your material should now measure 31 1/4" x 20 1/4") and sew shut. Reinforce the seam with an overlock stitch.
4) Turn right side out and press.

And that is it - in less than 30 mins a pillowcase! A personalized pillowcase filled with love (if a bit lime green). But who will test it's performance?
This little man thinks it is comfy enough so off to the post office it goes. I just can't wait to make more now ... so easy ... so simple and I think (if made in a pair and in a different fabric of course) they would make a fabulous housewarming gift. I'm also thinking an applique tooth fairy themed pillowcase would be super cute for little ones too ... my sister has obviously given me far too many ideas ... the creative block might be officially over for now.

A Short (and Fluffy) Tale of Courage

What is that furry ball of fluff in the tree? It seems to be shaking with fear ....
Me: What is the matter furry one?

Fluff Ball: I am scared of the world and unsure of myself.

Me: Well the world can be a scary place sometimes but you shouldn't let that hold you back. You should be out playing in the garden rather than hiding up a tree. Why are you unsure of yourself?

Fluff Ball: I am not sure if I am a strange rabbit as I have large feet - or a teddy bear because I am so soft and cuddly - or a lion because of my soft chocolate mane.
Me: Well I don't think you are a rabbit because you don't have a big fluffy tail or big ears. And I don't think you are a teddy bear because you have a soft chocolate mane. So you must be a very fluffy and cuddly lion.

Fluffy Lion: I don't feel like a lion at all - I still feel rather scared.

At which point I ran to the sewing machine to make a present for this rather nervous lion and I told him about a young girl called Dorothy who also met a rather scared and cuddly lion and she took him to a special place where he found courage. The lion knew that he had found courage because he was given a shiny medal!

Me: Would you like this medal of courage? Perhaps it will make you feel braver? and then you can enjoy the garden rather than hiding in a tree.
Fluffy Lion: Thank you - that is so kind. Oh look at the medal - how it sits on my soft furry chest. I feel very special and very brave.
So the brave (and very furry) lion lounged in the garden (rather than hiding in a tree) letting out the odd soft and happy growl.
I vow never to use 'fun fur' again ;-) (Although he is far cuter than the pictures convey ... so never say never!)

Tutorial: Potato Printing

This post was supposed to be 'Crafting with Sister #3' but my husband came up with the better offer of kayaking on the lake - so I was left to play with potatoes by myself!

I can't remember how or when I learnt to print with potatoes ... but it is something I have loved doing since I was tiny - I've made pictures, wrapping paper, cards ... and now I am going to attempt to make bunny themed goodies with some items I have ordered from Dharma Trading (discovered via Angry Chicken).

I used to draw on the potato with a pen and then cut around the shape - the shape was never perfect so I thought I would try and make a potato stamp using cookie cutters. So grab a potato and come print with me ....

1) Find a large potato and cut it into large chunks.
2) Sort through your cookie cutters and find a small one that will fit on your potato. Push the cookie cutter well into the potato.
3) Pull the cookie cutter out and carefully cut away the potato around the shape - the cookie cutter will have made a very clean cut which will make it easier.
4) Practice your printing .... get a scrap piece of cloth, fabric paints and a flat plate (or a flat surface you can put paint on.) Experiment with different amounts of paint, colors, shapes and patterns until you perfect your potato stamping technique!
Your potatoes might dry out overnight - but the wonderful thing about using the cookie cutter for the shape is that you can remake the potato stamp to the exact size - the potatoes are also great for your compost heap! Now I'm just waiting for my package from Dharma Trading so I can get going and create something wonderful (or awful) ... I'm still battling with my frustrating fluffy lump to make that 'wonderful' too!

Crafting with my Sister

My sister is staying with me - and so far I have tortured her with some shopping and needle felting. We found out that needle felting takes some time and can be quite painful when you needle felt your fingers! Here are the results.

From little beginnings ...
... grow voodoo dolls? ...
... and very scary ears ...
... but eventually after much needle poking grew first needle felted bunny!
Do you like his carrot?
Or his fine fluffy tail?
And what did my sister make ... well she made a very cute whale - here he is swimming in the deep blue sea!

Frustrating Fluffy Fur

I have a long list of things I want to make ... endless in fact. But this week has been super frustrating for two reasons 1) I haven't seemed to have 'done' as much as I wanted and 2) Fun Fur yarn. It all seemed like such a good idea to knit a fluffy bunny - it was going to be fluffy, cute and wonderful.

But something went horribly wrong ... Fun Fur is easy to knit with - but once you have knitted - you can't see anything - and I mean anything - the fur is rather furry (erm .. perhaps I hadn't appreciated the 'fur' part in the label) and you can't count your stitches - see your seams - its just a mass of fur.
So I have no idea if one leg is longer than the other or if one arm should have been sewn higher or lower - and the nose - I can't find the little nose stitches anywhere!! I could only guess. I crocheted the soles of the feet from my favorite Debbie Bliss yarn (which I decided late last summer was just too expensive to use for bunny making - but it is SO soft and yummy.)
I tried to sew a face - but that was impossible due to the fur - then I tried to give a little 'hair cut' around the face - but the result was so terrifying I'm embarrassed and ashamed to share the face with you. It didn't help that I ran out of the fun fur for the last ear - so far he only has one .....

Regardless of all this flying fuzz - I feel there is potential in the little fur ball (below is his fluffy side profile) ... but maybe he wasn't meant to be a bunny? Perhaps he is a bear? or a doggie? or a tiger? or just a good old fashioned yeti?

Something is hiding in the garden ....

Little bunny is in the garden and she is so scared that she is hiding her eyes.
"Why are you scared little bunny?"
"There is something big and scary hiding in the bushes. I think it wants to eat me."
Can you spot the scary monster too?
Look again - the monster doesn't look very scary - he looks quite friendly.
"I'm not a monster ... I'm a Brontosaurus. I'm a herbivore so I don't eat bunnies - I only eat plants."
Phew! What a friendly dinosaur! What wonderful fluffy crests the brontosaurus has along his back ... and who knew dinosaurs were so cuddly! I think we in the Rachael Rabbit workshop will enjoy having a dinosaur of our very own that lives in the garden.