Charlie's New Doggie Harness

I love the Internet. There are so many lovely people and wonderful resources who share their knowledge, experience and creativity freely. When I need some inspiration or a a method to do something, I often begin with a search of the web. Just recently I discovered a great new blog: Dog Under My Desk by Erin Erickson. We have common loves of dogs and sewing. She has some awesome patterns and free tutorials on her site. Not just dog stuff, but all really, really well made and simple to follow. Even the instructions on her free tutorials are superior to some commercial patterns that I have bought. If you're wondering, no I don't even know Erin, but she rocks! Anyhow, as soon as I saw her wonderful dog harness tutorial I knew that Charlie absolutely needed one. I could not sleep that night until I had finished this project. In the morning it was into the tub for my girl as she had modelling work to do, she is a great model, but not really looking her best in this shot.

Isn't the fabric cool? I need to thank Jennifer Jangles for that! If you are my regular reader, you will remember that I won a swag of beautiful fabrics from Jennifer, it was wonderful but I just couldn't use it. It was too beautiful. It just sat in the cupboard, all ribboned up and brought out to be admired by friends only. Anyhow, as soon as I went through my fabric stash to decide on a fabric nice enough for a harness for Charlie I knew this was a project that I had been waiting for, it is absolutely beautiful! I took the finished harness in to the local haberdashery, where I bought the 'D clip' and the owner admired my handiwork and proclaimed that it looked wonderfully professional.

So, thanks from Charlie and me to Erin and Jennifer. You are both talented, inspiring and generous. I hope the love comes back to you both

I have no idea why this post looks so bad with no spacing, but I cannot fix it! Ugh, sorry it is so hard to read.

Like A Well Oiled Machine!

No, you're not seeing double - another sweet bamboo handled bag has rolled of the production line. So cute. I am having to resist the very strong urge to sew some lime green pants to go with it. I would love the look silly, but fear that others may simply think I look silly!

I really should get over my addiction to using super-processed Instagram images. As much as I love Instagram, I don't thing they have the right 'look' for my blog..

With holidays drawing to an end, I am hoping to do one last sewing splash out. I have one green top that I would like to sew and one piece of fabric from my recent Spotlight shopping splash out that MUST be completed. Wish me luck!

On A Crafting Roll

I am still on holidays and have immensely enjoyed completely relaxing this holiday. I have done a bit of sewing but no craft other than sewing.

Last night I stayed up and completed my 'neutral bag' with some hand stitching. If you know me, you know my aversion to both hemming and hand sewing so this is a big deal. I really love the finished product and I'm itching to move on with my next project. I altered the pattern as the original was enormous! I also added an interior pocket. When making this bag, I was reminded of a favourite peeve.. Patterns are not inexpensive and I think you are expecting a quality product when you part with your cash. Fortunately I am an experienced sewer so can use my imitative but any beginner would not have a chance of pulling off a quality product using the pattern that I used. They never include finishing off such as overstitching, pressing or even simple edge finishing. Don't even get me started on the way they somehow haphazardly mix in metric and imperial measurements. Agh!!

Never mind, here is what you're waiting for. Ta da!

Back on the Horse

Another year, another attempt to keep to stay a bit more up-to-date with my neglected blog. I have lately been thinking about the convenience of keeping my blog updated, so I'll have a go. I seem to have so much to write about, it is all a bit overwhelming. So just for today, I'll write about my latest fabric buying spree. Why not, it is as good a place to start as anywhere.

I am going through a bit of a craft rejuvenation at the moment. Firstly I made my friend, 'T' a lovely bento bag exactly the same as I made for myself a while back. I love that bag and get a lot of use out of it and thought it would be right up here ally too. I was right and she loved it.

Then a friend sent me a picture of a really nice wooden handles bag that the made from twill - white background with retro green apples. So, so nice.. Of course that was on my mind when I went to Spotlight last weekend. I was really pleased that my visit to Spotlight coincided with their 30% off fabric sale! I like to use furnishing fabric to make bags, and you know how much I like bags. I had a great time searching all the great fabrics and eventually settled on a retro green print with matching plain green for lining and the rim to make a bento bag; a crisp hot pink and white print to make a shopping bag and a natural print of brown, bone and metallic silver that I plan to make a handbag with wooden handles. After I thought I had finished all my fabric shopping, I was excited to find the elusive green apple fabric, so I will soon have my own green apple bag! Cool..

I have already made the retro green bento bag and it is on its way to my friend who made the green apple handbag. I think she would enjoy using the little bento bag to put her lunch in.

I have been planning the wooden handled bag from the neutral fabric, will work on that again tomorrow.

Since I was too slack to do a Christmas update, I'll take this opportunity to share a photo of the wold's cutest dog waiting for Santa. Enjoy.

Okay, so until next next time, take care and keep on crafting. I plan a new update soon and I'll share some other interests I have picked up since my last post. You may be surprised about my latest addictions - iPhone Apps are only one of those addictions..

Let's Add Some Colour

Love the blue: I especially like the instructions for cleaning the toilet seat.

If you know me, you'll know that I like a good splash of colour. I really enjoy bright, clear colours. During my trip to Japan I made sure I took photos of some cool and cute things to include in some mosaics. I love making mosaics and now use them as wallpaper on my iPhone. Love, love, love that one. I use Big Huge Labs' mosaic maker, which is really easy, especially if you have your photos on Flickr already.

Some nice red images her, but the exhausted rickshaw driver is my favourite.

Photographer in green jumper is my favourite.

Hard to choose a favourite yellow, but emergency toilet instructions gets my vote.

I hope you enjoyed my splash of colour, stay tuned with and update of my local art show entries.

Back From Japan

I have been home for a few days from a few weeks in Japan. Wow, this was an amazing holiday and I enjoyed the country even more than I expected. The people were very friendly and helpful, the scenery was stunning, the environment - even is the huge city of Tokyo - was clean and rubbish free. Probably one of the nicest things was the feeling of safety, it was wonderful to never feel in danger or have any pickpocketing etc.

We spent time in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. All cities were wonderful, yet different. We also took a day trip to Hakone to view Mt Fuji, which was probably one of the trip's highlights. We did everything from shopping, visiting museums, riding the rail system to singing Karaoke!

I have come home with lots of crafting ideas, mostly based around bag making. While over there I was lucky enough to visit some wonderful craft stores, selling some wonderful things that we just don't get here in Australia.

When planning the visit, I found the internet such useful resource, as you cam imagine. I printed out directions to our hotel from the railway, Google map directions for all accommodation from the nearest station (very useful this one!), and some really useful information on finding craft shops etc.

Thank You Jennifer Jangles!

Jennifer Jangles Fabric
Originally uploaded by Cheeky Mango

My patient waiting has paid off, with the fantastic load of brightly coloured fabric arriving on my doorstep. As I previously posted about, I was lucky enough to chosen as the winner of Jennifer Jangles awesome, huge giveaway. Also included in the prize were 3 matching buttons. The hardest thing is to now decide what to make with all this lovely fabric - it is all so nice that I don't even want to take the ribbon off it!

Watch this space, I am sure to get over that all soon and have a finished product photo to post!

Once again, thanks Jennifer for the wonderful prize! I totally love your work..