Stop Motion

         I've always loved stop-motion animation. Everything Bass and Rankin did, I adored! And don't even get me started on Tim Burton. I've watched The Nightmare Before Christmas and the Corpse Bride way too many times to count. Imagine my happiness when I saw there was a lovely little app for the iPhone I could download, Stop Motion Studio. My two new loves have come clashing together into a one minute ten second video on YouTube. Babushka ~ the making of a felt Matryoshka doll.

           My son was also pretty interested in the app and wanted to make a movie of his own. Trying to get him to nail down a plot was a challenge. He wanted his story WAY more elaborate but we finally got it down to rescuing pink lizard from a volcano via rocket-ship.

Good times were had by all!!

The Swallow ~ into my Mother's footsteps

            I remember my mom staying up to all hours of the night working her smocking plates when I was a kid. The majority of our family vacations were centred around a smocking conference where she would be teaching. Her hand work is beautiful and tidy and my kids are so lucky to have her sew for them.  I recently came across a group of her plates online which made me really happy. If you want to check them out here's the link.  Ann Smith Smocking Plates

I didn't inherit my mom's patience or meticulousness so hand work was more or less something I avoided until recently. I've become a bit obsessed with the making of embroidered ornaments. I like figuring out how to put things together and with some constructive criticism from Mom (my first lazy daisies were WAY too big) I've packaged up my first pattern.  I felt like I was kind of following in my Mom's footsteps by putting together sewing instructions.

I love Swallow tattoos and everything they represent so that was the inspiration for this ornament.  It took three or four tries before I ended up with a complete piece I actually liked and many hours of practising stitches with YouTube videos.  I highly recommend HandiWorks Basic Stitches videos if you need to learn or a brush-up on your stitches.

It took me quite a bit to remember how to do the blanket stitch so I watched the videos over and over.   Here's the link HandiWorks

I know things like smocking and embroidery can be intimidating but trust me, if I can do it then you can do it too!

The Swallow is now available for Instant Download in my Etsy Store.

www.elliottsplayground.etsy.com

Make For Good

I am so happy to be involved in the Make For Good campaign this year. 

Etsy Australia is partnering with Plan International to raise funds for an economic development program for young women in Sri Lanka.

"Across Sri Lanka, girls and young women face multiple challenges in securing decent work due to gender inequality and gender based discrimination. Women often have to work in unstable employment with no access to social protection for low pay. Vocational skills are not considered a priority for girls in the North and Eastern provinces which were among the worst affected populations during the country’s civil war. As a result, there are very limited options for young women outside of marriage.

Plan International Australia’s Because I Am A Girl program in the area is focused on improving the economic wellbeing of young women and girls by providing decent employment opportunities and sustainable livelihoods. It’s all about identifying work opportunities in the region and providing youth the training and pathways to job opportunities or self employment and, ultimately, brighter futures.

This year, the program aims to provide skills training for 360 young women in Sri Lanka, as well as entrepreneurship training and seed funding for business start-ups for 100 young women. The effect this will have on the lives of these women is immeasurable, and will create a lasting change not only in their lives, but in their communities."

The theme this year is "Creating Brighter Futures". I have created a special line of plush, felt ornaments using the sun and moon as inspiration.

I've also listed a special value pack of wonderful My First Words ~ Early Learning Tools.

30% of the sales of the products will be donated to the Make For Good campaign.

www.elliottsplayground.etsy.com

If felt ornaments or early learning tools aren't your thing there are loads of other beautiful Australian and New Zealand made items on sale.

Here are some of the editor's picks.

etsy.me/makeforgood

Thanks so much for your support!!

It all started with a hat

I got it in my head I wanted to make LoveBug an elf/woodland bonnet for the Winter Solstice bonfire at the Collingwod Children's farm.  My mom pitched in and added some adorable little embroidery stitches which made the hat SO much cuter!!

In the past, when I have tried to do fiddly hand work it has been nothing short of a disaster. Mom tried to teach me to smock, fail. I had to ventilate a moustache in college. My teacher scowled when I turned it in.  Her scowl was worse when I showed her my beading project. If you want a crazy mask then I'm your girl! Drape a swoopy, crazy bustled skirt, no problem. Sew some delicate piece of beauty then I'm out. I asked my teacher once of stitches could be used on a particular project for decorative purposes. Her response, "Stitches yes. YOUR stitches, no."

So with some trepidation I asked my Mom to show me the blanket and lazy daisy stitch she used on Love Bug's bonnet and a new obsession was born!

I had a hard time remembering how to do the blanket stitch but with the help of many great YouTube videos I've got it down now.  The Christmas ornaments are multiplying and now for sale on Etsy.

www.elliottsplayground.etsy.com

Here's the link to the YouTube HandiWorks channel.  Great instructions for lots of stitches!!