Friendly finds

You may have noticed something small, red and stripy peeking out from beside the lower left hand side of my new Billy cupboards in this post about my sewing room makeover...

Let me introduce you to my newest, and what is sure to become one of my most favourite sewing tools; it's my new (to me) sleeveboard.

I'm very lucky to have a friend who is a seasoned op shopper and to whom, not a week earlier, I had mentioned that I would really love to get a sleeveboard, because there are so many little things that it would make much easier to iron.

Nikki and Lara have taught me the merits of such small pieces of equipment (among many other things of course!), and the impact they can have on the finished quality of your sewing project.

Lo and behold if she didn't see one, in mint condition in her op shopping travels during the week!

I am in ironing heaven with this and my new super fancy steam iron as recommended by another friend.

And look at this, it is even collapsible, making it easy to store.

Do you have a simple gadget that makes sewing a breeze??

An apple a day

Keeps Mama very happily, very organised!

I know I am late in coming to the party but now that I have it I don't know how I lived without my iPhone.

Everything in one place, information at my fingertips - just how I like it.

So share the Apple love with me.

What's your favourite App?
What makes your life easier or more organised?
What do your kids enjoy?
What do you have just for fun?

My Creative Space

I make no secret of it, I love gadgets that can help make sewing and making things easier and quicker.

That way I can get more done, well in theory anyway!

These have got to be the best, simple gadget I have come across in ages.

They are for making self-covered fabric buttons with.

You know how most kits provide you with a little paper/cardboard circle template for you to trace onto fabric and cut around to make up a button, and how hard it is to make sure you have the image you want to appear positioned in the centre of the button.

Well guess no more!

Each of these templates is a different size for the different sized buttons.

All you do is position it so the image you want centred on the button is shown in the centre circle.
Then trace around the outside of the template and cut and make up your button as usual.

So if you want a small chicken button, a larger red riding hood button or red with all her friends for a huge button for a big hair tie, then you can do it all without waste and, more importantly, frustration!

Super-friendly Kerrie at Jackobindi is the only Aussie distributor of these, and she has all the other stuff you need to make up hair ties, snap clips, bookmarks, magnets, push pins, shoe clips and heaps of other stuff.

Seriously, just get yourself some, you'll be glad you did.

To check out what creative goodness others are working on head on over to Kirsty's.

She's seeing red today.

My Creative Space

Is dominated by gifts from friends that beg to be explored.

When I can find some time for me I will be testing out this fearsome looking new ruffer foot and also devouring, in detail, the latest Ottobre sent to me by a very kind lady for my birthday.

To check out what other crafty types are getting creative with this week, or to join in, pop over to Kirsty's place.