How To: Vintage Sheet Duvet Cover

It's Spring here in Australia, and whilst I was photographing the spray painted lamp project a couple of weeks ago, I realized it was time to brighten up the bedroom with a new duvet cover.
I have a king size bed which is great (yes, I'm very lucky), but it can be hard to find bed linen to fit which doesn't cost a fortune. Even if I had the budget to spend on my favorite designer linen, many don't go up to king size anyway.
So, as usual, I thought I'd make my own from some queen size flat sheets left from my old bed. It's not complicated to make a duvet cover, the difficulty comes in dealing with the masses of fabric involved.  I've outlined the basic way to make a duvet cover in any size and a handy link to help you out with your measurements.

Read more »

How to: Make Perfect Button Holes

Ok, put your hand up if you dread sewing buttonholes. Most sewing machines have a either a manual or automatic buttonhole setting that can make your life a whole lot easier.

My old machine had a manual 4 step buttonhole, which meant I had to manually change the settings between each stage. It was simple to use, but getting a consistently sized buttonhole was difficult.

Now my new machine has an Automatic buttonhole setting which uses a special buttonhole foot to measure the size of the buttons and makes a perfect buttonhole every time. I recently made a duvet cover with a button closures (will share a How To soon), and fell in love with this little contraption.
It looks a little complicated, but once you see how it works, you'll love using it too.
I've created a video to explain how to use it.

Read more »

Thanks for the Opportunity.

This year has been quite an interesting one for me. After 'officially' declaring myself a blogger last year, I've been tweaking how this whole blogging caper sits comfortably with me and my life. Just like anything good worth doing, blogging is a journey, not a destination.
This year I made the conscious decision to blog less, but blog smarter, happier, more focused, more productively and I feel better for it.
Does it show?
On the surface it may seem less personal, less about me and my life and my thoughts, but for me, it's much more natural and comfortable and generous. I've actually never felt so connected. I love to make and do, and sharing that with you is one of my favourite of things. When you read and share and make my projects, it's just the best feeling ever! So for that I say 'Thank you!'

More and more of you are reading - Thank you!
People are noticing you are reading, noticed I'm more focused, more creative, driven, and some exciting opportunities have presented themselves.

This weekend I am speaking on a panel at the Problogger Training Day, fancy that! I've been collaborating on some awesome projects with people I really admire, and the most exciting this so far... I'm now part of the Nuffnang Talent Program.
 
Nuffnang will be handling the behind the scenes business stuff for me, which means I will have even more time to create the best content for you. I'm very excited about it all. There is also a mentoring component, where bloggers in the talent program get master classes from experts and international bloggers. So much to learn!

So I say thank you to YOU! Readers make thing happen for us bloggers, you make it all worthwhile.

I don't know where this journey will take me, but it's certainly going to be exciting.

I suggest you watch this space!

x Cinti

Image overlay by Pugly Pixel

How To: Easy Lamp Makeover & Spray Painting Tips

Do you ever wonder how or why you have objects in your home that you've never liked? I have a set of bedside lamps that I have always hated. They were my parent's, bought in the early 80's when bronze stuff was really 'hot'. I never liked them then, yet I managed to inherit them as a teenager and they have followed me to several homes. I'm cripplingly thrifty you see, and because they still worked fine, throwing them out was not an option. I thought new lamp shades would help, but it didn't, so as a last resort, out came the spray paint!
Check out the before and after, and some spray painting tips below.

Read more »

How To: Hama bead Medal Brooch --> Give yourself a Medal

Being a mum is a hard and sometimes thankless job, as awesome as my kid is, some days I feel like I deserve a medal. (She is usually pretty great, so I shouldn't really complain)
Well, I'm not one to rest on my laurels, so I decided to make a few medals of my own with some Hama beads. They are colourful, plastic fantastic ones, perfect for reminding myself that I'm pretty great at my job, when things aren't always going my way.
I think you deserve one too, so read on and make some of your own...

Read more »