Home & Away

26.01.15

Unlike previous summers, we spent most of ours at home. We usually spend the summer in a bit of a mad rush between families and friends, never really feeling like we have had a break. So with this in mind we thought we would stick around, spending our days in a balance of renovations and swimming in the river.

We headed north to visit my parents in the new year, it’s quieter and feels more like home at that time of year. It never really feels like summer until I am swimming in the Northland waters.

And now to get back to ‘normal’ and get stuck into 2015!!

Until next time, BlackbirdBLOG signature

YES PLEASE | the new year

19.01.15

yespleaseJAN2015

The start of the new year. In unison with my resolutions, here is what I am wishing for.

FOR THE LEAN HOME | For everything that you never know where to put, from Blackbird Pop Up.

FOR THE PEAK WALK | If a gal is going to work out she may as well look cute while doing it, Thanks Stella McCartney, from Adidas.

FOR THE LEAN CLOSET | I am in desperate need on a new handbag, I think the Mr Caiman is just the one, from Deadly Ponies.

FOR THE ORGANISATION | Lists and more lists are much more fun with a pretty pen, from Father Rabbit.

FOR THE SEWING ROOM | For all the bits & bobs and other sewing needs, from Everyday Needs.

FOR THE BOOK CLUB | To learn from, from Paper Plane.

Until next time, BlackbirdBLOG signature

MAKE IT | pot holder

11.01.15

blackbirdblogPOTHOLDER

Nothing beats a simple afternoon project to kick off the year right. And I decided to start the year with new pot holders. I used this super simple tutorial from The Purl Bee, with a slight variation at the end.

You will need :

Cotton Fabric – Enough for two rectangles of 20cm wide by 33cm tall, per holder, I chose an indigo plain and stripe from The Fabric Store

Insul-lite – Enough for two rectangles of 20cm wide by 33cm tall, per holder, from Spotlight

Wool wadding – Enough for two rectangles of 20cm wide by 33cm tall, per holder, from Spotlight

Cotton Twill – Enough for 15cm length, per holder, from my local emporium

Needle and thread.

First off, orient the cotton rectangle so that the long sides are vertical, the short sides are horizontal and the right side is facing up. Next fold the twill tape in half so that the two raw ends meet and there is a half twist in the tape, as shown above. Place the raw ends of the twill tape at the center of the top short side of the cotton rectangle. Place the wool rectangle, wrong side up, on top of the cotton rectangle, making sure that the twill tape stays in place. Then place the lining on top of these layers and pin all three layers together along all four edges. Using your machine’s walking foot and a 1cm seam allowance, sew all the layers together along both long sides and the top short side (including the twill tape), leaving the bottom short edge unsewn.

Turn the hot pad right sides out. The cotton will be on one side, the lining will be in the center, and the wool will be on the other side. Pin the bottom with the raw edges facing inward, and hand or machine sew the bottom closed. Then mark out where you want your stitching to be, I decided to machine sew mine in an X.

And you’re done!

Happy making!

Until next time, BlackbirdBLOG signature

The New Year

05.01.15

newyear

There is something about a new year to help shift perspectives and to create promise. The whole year stretching ahead of you all clean and fresh. And this year I feel it even more.

I am a goal setter and a list maker, and I thought I would share a few of my resolutions as such for 2015 with you.

Sew | I want to sew more, possibly take a night course in pattern making.

Read | I miss reading, and I find myself spending time in front of the tv instead of reading, this year I am aiming to read more, book club anyone?

Walk | My aim is to walk Te Mata peak twice a week, I find the hilltop gives me a perspective unlike any other place.

Lean Living | I want to continue my quest on a lean closet and home.

What are your goals or dreams for this coming year?

Until next time, BlackbirdBLOG signature