Creating my way to Success

Snickerdoodle cookies, Day 60 Use What You've Got

Ok, sorry, not the best picture -but these were so tasty I'm lucky I snapped a picture with my phone before they all disappeared!

I've been noticing the name 'Snickerdoodle' about blogland here and there for a while now, but only last week actually looked it up to see what they were and decided to try making them for myself.

I pinned the recipe shared by Lynn on MIMI MINE.

The cookies were so easy to make.

And all that sugary cinnamon smelled sooo good!

My daughter now wants to learn how to make these - so I'll be teaching her VERY soon!

Have you had Snickerdoodles before?

Am I the last person to try them?

Jill

How To Make A Roll Up Pencil Case - Use What You've Got , Day 59

A couple of years ago I made a few tutorials for my girls to follow by themselves as they learned to sew. I recently found them on my computer, and thought I'd make use of them by adding them to my free tutorials here on the blog.

This one is for a roll up pencil case

I tried to make these tutorials as simple as possible so my girls could follow them by themselves!

I even found the post and pictures from when my girls tried this one out!

Roll-up pencil cases!

They work together, taking one step at a time - and I step in to help when needed.

(I've been making up a picture based tutorial for them for each project we're doing, so they can try to follow it themselves)

My youngest got a bit distracted measuring other things - as they're just learning that in school now!

But in the end, they turned out really well!

And have been filled up already with pencils and pens!

Aren't they clever!!

Proud Mum Jill!!

You can download the free PDF tutorial here.

Jill

How To Make A Fabric Yoyo - Use What You've Got, Day 58

This one is for a fabric yoyo

You can use these for so many things,

I made some from old school uniforms and attached them to hair-ties for my girls:

Or they can be used as decorations on gift bags for example:

Or if you make enough of them, you can even make characters out of them!

I tried to make these tutorials as simple as possible so my girls could follow them by themselves!

You can download the free fabric yoyo PDF tutorial here.

A New Generation of Upcyclers! Day 56 Use What You've Got

A few weeks ago I was asked to speak to some students at a local school about sewing with upcycled materials. They have an assignment this term to sew something from upcycled materials and the teacher thought that hearing from someone who did lots of this might inspire them.

I spent a lovely lesson with the kids talking about what I do, how I got started and showing them some of the things I've made.

A couple of days ago the teacher contacted me to say the students were nearing the end of their assignment and would I like to come and see what they'd come up with.

I jumped at the chance and I have to say I was super impressed with not only the ideas they had come up with, but how well their projects were made.

They have very kindly allowed me to share some photos of their assignment projects. So here they are.

Fabulous cushions upcycled from jeans by Lynette:

They are so well made - and I love how the seams of the jeans are a feature and that there is a pocket on each pillow!

A tablecloth by Shahni:

Made from her mum's old cushion covers. The patterns and colours work so well together and I'm impressed at how well she's completed such a large project. I know how hard it is to work with such a large item when you're sewing!

A rather cool make-up holder by Kirralee:

The main part is a pillowcase - the perfect size! The pockets are patchwork from t-shirt fabric. Flowers add decoration and hide minor imperfections, and a mirror held on with velcro! Just brilliant!

And here's one more in progress..

A cute pot holder made out of old denim from jeans made by Jennifer:

I wanted to say a huge thank you to Ruth and her students for welcoming me into their classroom and for allowing me to share their projects here on my blog. I was so impressed with all of them, and hope that it has inspired them to create more fabulous upcycled things!

Upcycling in Education

I love the fact that creating something from upcycled materials is a school assignment in high school.

At age 4 or 5, schooling begins with kids making things out of recycled materials. If you've had kids at Kindergarten or Pre-School, then surely you've taken in old cereal boxes, yoghurt pots, toilet paper rolls etc for the kids to craft and create with. If only we could continue teaching our kids to 'use what they've got' throughout their schooling.

If we can educate our kids to reduce, reuse and recycle instead of just always buying new things, imagine the difference that could be made in the world with a

whole new generation of upcyclers!

Jill

How To Make A Pocket Placemat - Day 54 Use What You've Got

This one is for pocket placemats

I tried to make these tutorials as simple as possible so my girls could follow them by themselves!

You can download the free PDF tutorial here.

Jill

Green Tomato Chutney - Use What You've Got, Day 52

A few days ago, I trimmed all our tomato plants back to the new growth. This meant harvesting the last of the original crop of tomatoes, most of which were still green.

Since I'd never had so many green tomatoes before, I had to have a search around for suggestions and recipes for what to do with them. I decided on this green tomato chutney - based on a recipe I found on instructables.

I used:

500g green tomatoes

1 onion

1 tsp salt

200ml malt vinegar

50g sultanas

100g soft brown sugar

ground pepper.

First I chopped the tomatoes and onions as finely as I could.

I then mixed this with the salt and left it in a bowl overnight. This is apparently to draw out some of the liquid and to enhance the flavour.

The next day, I dissolved the sugar in the vinegar by heating them in a large pan. Then I added the sultanas, ground pepper and the drained tomato and onion mixture.

Once this was boiling, I lowered the heat and simmered it all for 2 hours, stirring occasionally. This is how it looked after that.

It was enough for 2 small jars:

I'm so pleased with how it turned out. I love the flavour in a sandwich with a little tasty cheese!

This is my first time making chutney - but I don't think it will be my last!

Have you made chutney before? Do you have any good recipes to share?

Carrot Pencil Case - a tutorial - Day 51 - Use What You've Got

One of my daughters had a birthday party to go to at the weekend so I asked what I could make as a gift for the birthday girl.

My daughter's first request was a pencil case in the shape of a guinea pig, which I really wasn't sure of, so she then suggested a carrot one! That I could do!

I used fabric and a zip from my stash and my own zipped toiletry bag tutorial:

Instead of a cylinder shape for the bottom, I found a template to make a cone. I used this free downloadable Printable Cone Template, and just enlarged it a little to make it the right size.

I also added a layer of buckram (really stiff interfacing) between the inner and outer fabric to help the carrot keep it's shape.

For the carrot top 'leaves' I used dark green felt, which I just cut into random long shapes. Then for the top circle end, I cut a slightly larger circle which I then cut in half. I placed the green leaves in the centre of the two semi-circles (fabric right sides facing) and stitched them into place.

The cone bottom is simply the cut fabric from templates stitched right sides together with the 2 straight sides together. I left the opening in the inner fabric for turning the case right sides out after stitching! Then these cone pieces are used just as the bottom cylinder of the toilet bag.

I was very pleased with how it turned out.