Sewing for the Man

I've had a short break for Christmas after the rush for Personalised Santa Sacks in my Etsy shop - www.BonTons.etsy.com ended just before Santa arrived.

In that time I got an order from the Man for me to sew him a pouch for his GPS that he received for Christmas.

Custom request - it needed a clip added so it could be attached to the outside of a back pack when walking and have a plastic insert so the screen wouldn't get pushed in.

Turned out nicely. He was a bit worried when I showed him similar zip pouches I had in girly fabrics. Manly and I think he even likes the little compass embroidery!

Happy Holidays

Another Christmas done and everyone happy and filled with cheer!

Sending you all good wishes and safe holidays

Let's see if I can do another entry before the new year!

Merry Christmas

School's Out

Another school year done and dusted. Time for holidays, going to the pool and trying to stay cool in this 38 degree C heat.

The girls received so many Candy canes this year, too bad one does not like them.

Our Owl gifts were the best! Kids all over said they loved them, which made me happy!

My plans to make Teacher gifts this year was over run by many Personalised Santa Sack orders, 5 Personalised towels for the weekend marathon of birthday parties, and of course the million owls we made as Christmas gifts to all our school friends!

So what did we give the lovely teachers, I love handmade internet shopping, so many lovely goodies available -

Beautiful Tea towel from FlowerPress.etsy.com

Cool Pac Man Magnets for our first male teacher from Iszle.etsy.com

Bargain

December 2009 SALE at BonTons Etsy

Buy 2 Soothing Eye Packs From BonTons.Etsy.com and get a third one free!!

Great to get thru the holiday season, stocking stuffers, or Teacher Gifts, or something to pamper yourself!

We're not Giving Candy Canes

Every year at the end of the school year the kids receive a lot of Candy Canes from their class mates. Last year we gave little felt Christmas trees ornaments complete with google eyes and smiley faces.

This year they will be giving these guys, felt like I made a million of them, but they are pretty cute! Hoot!

Teacher Gift Ideas

School is nearly over and it's that time to start thinking about what to give the teachers. Last year I made up some Tea Wallets with tea bags and baked some cookies. It was fun because the kids got to choose the fabrics they thought their teacher would like. Very soon you'll see the gifts we'll be giving our teachers this year.

Etsy Front Page

Personalised Christmas Bag 11 November 2009 Check out the Craft Cult Vault Doing a happy Dance wooohoo!

Available in my Etsy Shop BonTons.etsy.com

Fabric Gift Tag Tutorial

Fabric Gift Tag Tutorial

With the Christmas Holidays so close I decided to do a tutorial for some fantastic Fabric Gift Tags that will adorn your holiday parcels. It is a no sew tutorial, for all my friends that don't sew!

Here's what you'll need -

• Gorgeous Fabric - mine was supplied by FabricFusion.etsy.com
• Fusible Webbing (vliseofix)
• Cardstock
• Ribbon
• Rotary cutter or scissors
• Hole Punch
• Ruler
• Iron

Cut Fusible webbing to size desired, each finished tag measures 2” x 3”, so if you want to make 12 tags cut 6” x 12”

Iron Fusible webbing (vliseofix) onto wrong side of fabric. Make sure the glue side of Fusible Webbing is on the fabric or you will have a sticky mess on your iron. Cut fabric to measured fusible webbing. Peel off the paper.

Place fabric on cardstock, printed side of fabric up and iron in place.

Cut into strips 2” strips then cut into 3” rectangles

Use a hole punch to carefully make a hole for ribbon or string. You may find that the fabric gets caught a little in the hole punch, gently snip with sharp scissors. Cut the corners of one end for a real tag look.

Attach ribbon, write a lovely message on the back and attach to your parcel!

Visit Fabric Fusion blog for more details of the Free Fabric Tutorial Exchange

Free Fabric Tutorial Exchange

I was chosen! Free fabric Tutorial Exchange Fabric Fusion blog

I am very excited, earlier this week I received this gorgeous piece of fabric from Sasha at FabricFusion.etsy.com

It's called Tablecloth designed by Anna Maria Horner. It really is a stunning piece of fabric

Very soon I will be making a free tutorial using this gorgeous piece of fabric. What will it be.....

Lovely Tea Pot Print

Yay!!!! I won this lovely Tea Pot Lino Cut Print from this lovely Etsy shop rubyvictoria.etsy.com

Straight from Tasmania, Australia, they sell original linocut prints and has now expanded a little to offer you letterpress printed stationery.

Personalised Wedding stationery,party invites,baby announcements, greeting cards,business cards,item tags. Go visit her blog www.rubyvictoria.blogspot.com

Going to find a nice frame and a spot in my kitchen to hang this lovely tea pot.

I Heart to DUST Swap

I've enjoyed another round of the Etsy DUST Team Swap

My partner this month was the lovely Samara from this Etsy shop Maddo

So here are the lovely items I received, gorgeous charm bracelet with charms that I love, Butterflies, flowers and and sewing machine charms, lovely handmade card and the cutest butterfly box, that one of my girls is trying to claim, but I'm not giving it up!!

I made her one of these bags, you know I love to make them. One day I'll get around to making myself some!

To cosy or not too cozy....

I've had some beautiful appliqued Tea pot blocks sitting in my stash for a while waiting for their moment to shine.

Keep your fresh pot of Tea warm with a neat Tea Pot cosy. They have tea pots appliqued on them, perfect for those that love tea pots and tea! A limited series these Tea pot Cozies will be available from my Etsy shop http://www.BonTon.etsy.com So check them out if you Cosy!

Birthday Cake

This week marks my eldest daughters 11th birthday. Every year we have a special cake we make up ourselves. They really don't look like what she asks for but the all important thing is the taste, and well they do taste goood!

Okay, so what was the order for this year, Curious George!!! So here is what it came out like, maybe a distant relative, but word is that it's the most "AWESOME" (word of the moment) cake so far! hehe

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday to you

You look like a monkey and,

you smell like one too!!!

WeekEnd Deals

SALE TIME!!!!!!

'This weekend BonTons etsy shop will be participating in Etsy's Weekend Deals. I am offering 10% off your entire order across the weekend (25-27th). Please include the code 'WEEKEND DEALS' in the message to seller during checkout, and discount will be given as a refund through PayPal (discount off purchase price excluding postage). There's still Free Shipping within Australia!

If your thinking about some Christmas gifts now is the time. You'll find Lunch Bags, oven mitts, Custom Laptop Sleeves, Personalised bags and more go check it out Shop Now

Want more.... Some Etsy Dust Team members are participating in the WEEKEND DEALS too go here and check out some more Etsy shops

I love this Slouch Bag

So I am in love with making bags at the moment. Recently I purchased my first bag pattern from Nicole Mallalieu Design you might remember to make my own bag see here

I was so happy with the instructions and the way the bag turned out I asked the girls is this family what type of Nicole M Design bag they liked. Of course they all liked different patterns so of course purchased a few more patterns!

Here is the first of the many bags I will be making in the future! Large slouch bag, sits so nicely across the body. I surprised myself that I managed a zipper closure and an adjustable strap!

Please excuse the photo as I am not that good at photography.... You know what... I want one for myself ( I wonder if that is going to happen with all the different bags.... lol)

If you love to sew and love bags I highly recommend you go here and try Nicole Mallalieu Designs, they are awesome!

Something Blue

On Sale 10% off

All September you can get something Blue at 10% off in my Etsy Shop

All September you can get something Blue at 10% off in my Etsy Shop

Green bags!

Ever seen those green grocery shopping bags, carrying one around when she shops or runs errands. I've made one, Lime Green, and hopefully a bit cuter than Green Bags!

Christmas is just around the corner

I thought it might me too early to start thinking about adding some Personalised Santa Sacks for Christmas until I started to do my own Christmas shopping already!

My personalised Christmas Ornaments arrived for my nieces from CutNGlue. If you like them, then you should order now to beat the Rush. They are beautiful!

So people do shop early and like to be organised somewhat. Personalised Santa Sack is now available in my Etsy Shop!

Wish List Wednesday!

I really like these....

Strawberries and Cream - Resin Ring by DELiciousDesign

Fabulous RAINBOW FLOWER SUNCATCHER by UniqueDichoric

Two Fatty Birds - Wall Decal by VinylWallDesign

Wish List Wednesday!

I Wish!

http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2007/05/inspiration_craft_rooms.html?CMP=OTC-5JF307375954

http://extremehousewifeing.blogspot.com/2009/02/organizing-your-craft-roon.html

Sewing something new!

Sometimes you get a request to make something that you don't ordinarily make but it can sometimes turn into something pretty darn good.

I made these oven mitts using the last piece of my all time favourite butterfly fabric. I added a few layers of wadding because I don't want fingers to get burnt.

These lovely Oven Mitts are flying away to Mandy's house from Beadsme. If I don't get them in a parcel soon and in the post box I'll fall too in love with them and have to keep them for myself!

Should I make more and add them to my store?

End of Christmas in July Sale

WoW what a Buzz. The last weekend was celebrated with a Christmas in July Sale Promo with the Etsy Dust Team.

I had 25% off and Free postage with Australia. I made some sales and I made a few purchases during the event! I won't show them all....

Etsy Shop on Sale Now!

BonTons.etsy.com is Celebrating Christmas in July with a Weekend Sale

25% off store wide (not including shipping) prices already reduced.

Free shipping within Australia

On sale until 27 July 2009

Dust Team Christmas in July 2009

Christmas in July Sale for the Etsy Dust team is on this weekend. Go have a look at the Dust Team CIJ participants and start making your list!

Make a Wish

I used to love finding dandelions when I was a kid, making wishes was the best part! They still make me smile :D

iszle

studiojk

Kirsty2715

Dust Team Christmas in July 2009

Do these words conjure up an Australian Christmas for you??

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like Eskimos
(Torme & Wells, 1946)


No, not usually. Unless, of course, they refer to the Etsy Down Under Street Team (DUST) "Aussie Christmas in July" promotional weekend.

Etsy DUST members from all around Australia are coming together for one whole weekend, 12.01AM Saturday 25th July through to 11.59PM Sunday 26th July (AEST), to showcase their talents & stunningly handmade creations.

All stores participating will be offering a promotion to their customers - free worldwide shipping or % off sales; a selection of items at reduced prices or reverse auctions.

With so much variety, including jewellery, children's clothing & accessories, art, supplies, vintage items, stationery & bags, you are sure to find something to suit each & every taste.

The DUST team will also be running giveaways for the entirety of the weekend, giving you the opportunity to win some fabulous prizes from Australian sellers. Poke your nose into the Etsy Forums during the promotion for your chance to win.

I encourage you to visit the participating stores, as well as our team website - http://www.dustteam.com/ - and support the handmade revolution sweeping Australia.

Stay tuned for more details as the weekend draws nearer.

Wish List Wednesday!

For our Little Man

Dinosaurs Adhesive Fabric Wall Decal by lovemaestore

Retro Robot Plushie DIY Felt Doll PDF Pattern by GulfCoastCottagePDF

Retro robots Fabric Greeting Card by Here we go Loupy Lou

Guide Dogs!

Our family is full of dog lovers here so when the Guide Dogs Centre had an Open Day Fund Raiser we just had to go.

There were dog shows, tours of the buildings, and loads of guide dogs in training roaming the grounds with their trainers.

We had a wonderful day, with a lot of fluffy dogs being purchased with some well earned pocket money.

There was a coloring in competition, another thing we love here is coloring in! This morning I got a phone call to say that one of the girls won the prize in her age group. She was very happy about winning!

Brooches Dust Team Swap

Just thought I'd share what I received in the Dust Team Swap for June 2009!

My swap partner this month was Kalliopi from Kalliopi Handmade

This isn't the actual picture of the brooches I received, because as soon as the parcel arrived my girls whisked them away and claimed them as their own. The ones I received are very similar to this just different colors.

I made Kalliopi this Bag

I've enjoyed swapping with the Dust Team members and have signed up for the next swap already!

Personalised Bunting

How sweet is this Personalised Bunting.

I had a special request to make a Personalised Bunting. There are many Beautiful Baby Buntings available, I think I did a pretty good job of it, and they were absolutely thrilled to receive their own. What do you think?