Mini Zip Pouches

I used a linen blend fabric by Anna Graham (Around The Bend Collection) for the exterior and a cotton fabric for the lining on these front zip coin pouches. The finished size is 4.5 inch square. 

Handy for your bills, coins, keys or even a mini notepad!

"Make a Stitch" has an easy to follow tutorial for this small zip pouch here. 

Simple to make, I'm sure to be sewing more!

Mini Heart Notes

These are just a handful of the little hearts I sewed using Tilda Fabrics. Sweet Mini Note Hearts. Little pockets to enclose a personal note with a gift or 'just because' for that someone special. They measure 3.5 x 3.5 inches.

Tilda is a fabric brand founded by Norwegian designer Tone Finnange. Explore Tilda's World for more of her charming fabric design, whimsical naive characters, patterns, books and more!

I have more hearts to stuff!

Check out Tilda's Blog for more inspiration.

Visit her site here for some wonderful free patterns!

 

Origami Envelope ~ 4 Point Star

I folded these 4-Point Star Origami Envelopes using 81/4 inch Japanese Shibori Origami Papers. Quick and easy fold, very relaxing...so relaxing I made 20!

I needed something to store them in so I made an origami box using double sided scrapbook paper. I followed the tutorial on Easy Paper Origami but adjusted my paper size to 12 x 10 inches and followed the same folding technique. My finished box measures 3"W x 4"L  x 3"H.

The finished size of the folded envelope is a 3.5 inch square.

A fun little envelope to include with a note, with a gift or to send through the snail mail!

If you'd like to make the 4-Point Star Origami Envelopes there is an easy to follow tutorial on Create with I. Sasaki

 

Handmade Journals ~ Bougainvillea Petals

Made several of these sweet Mini Handmade Paper Journals and wrapped them with Chiffon Silk Ribbons.

Covers are Handmade Lokta Card Stock with pressed Bougainvillea Petals and Titepati leaves with a deckle edge. Pages are printable/writable natural Lokta Papers. Journal is bound using waxed linen thread with a 3-hole pamphlet stitch.

Measure 3.5 x 5 inches and each has 40 pages.

Makes a lovely gift!

Origami Butterfly Bookmarks

These were fun little bookmarks to create. An origami fold creates the butterfly with a tuck pocket in the back that goes right over your book page. 

For these I used 4 x 8 inch Japanese Shibori double sided origami paper. Finished size is 4"W x 3"H.

If interested in making these pretty little bookmarks check out Easy Origami and Crafts for an easy to follow tutorial.

Knit Pouches

These pouches were simple little knitting projects all done in a garter stitch. Followed a change purse pattern from a book called "Knitting Pretty" by Kris Percival. Easy to increase the number of stitches you cast on and number of knit rows for a variety of pouch sizes.

I learned to knit by supporting the right knitting needle against my waist which kept it stationary. Only recently, I learned that there are actually such things as 'knitting belts' (aka knitting sheaths) that are used to support the right needle. A method which allows knitting without fatigue. Here is a video  demonstration using a knitting belt at WoolyWoodlanders.

If you're interested in a bit of 'History of the Supported Needle Method" check out the Studio PK Home of the Principles of Knitting.

"Believe It Or Not"!

Interesting sculpture. A visit to Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum in St Augustine, Fl over 30 years ago! (still have the glasses, hold on to anything long enough and it comes back in style!)

We spent several nights in an old Victorian Bed & Breakfast and one night in an old Castle. Thank goodness it was only one night. The room was several flights up this narrow winding staircase.

 It's a lovely, quaint, historical town on the coast of Florida. Wonderful little town to tour on foot and fun to hop onto one of their trolleys. We enjoyed a horse and buggy ride complete with a  narrated history of the town. Ended an evening with an amazing dinner at the popular Columbia Restaurant.