Sunday 31 January 2021

Oven Mitts Makeover



Years have passed. I've had two kids. I started my own business (my experience curating this blog helped a lot with that). Seasons have come and gone. We're still in Delft. I've never stopped creating, making and mending. I just didn't make the time to blog the results. But I always wanted to because I never forgot this scrapbook blog. I wonder who is out there reading this now who knew used to read my posts a decade ago...

Mending is now in vogue. Sustainability is more important than ever these days. We're in the middle of a pandemic and I have projects to document. So I'm going to try and do that. 

Today I finished my oven mitts project. We started with a pair of yucky 8 years old (brand new probably last time I wrote a blog post, haha!) oven mitts from Ikea that have seen extensive use. I'd previously mended them and even tried to darn them. But finally the binding was failing and I had to do something drastic or toss them. 

Ok, drastic then!

I started by washing them. Then removed and discarded the old binding. I cut some stash fabric (thick cotton from Ikea) to size, a square for each side. I quilted the three layers together by hand. Finally I created some binding strips from the same Ikea fabric and sewed it on, also by hand. I used super strong Gutermann thread.

They came out so cute and a little bit rustic! I'm really pleased. Now let's use them for another decade! 














Tuesday 13 August 2013

Featured Etsy Stock Taker: Notional Notions





My name is Chelsea and I live and create in Los Olivos, California. I'm a vagabond at heart, an eccentric artist and the maker behind my Etsy shop, Notional Notions. I've been drawing and making things for as long as I can remember, but it's only recently I started channeling that work into my Etsy shop.

I've always been pretty varied with my Etsy items, because I like to make so many different things. It first started with custom made children's books, and has since evolved into pearl snap earrings, artist's books, one-of-a-kind illustrations and prints made of sketches from my travels. Although I enjoy making all of the items in my shop, I think writing and illustrating children's books is my absolute favorite. Holding a finished, hand-bound, one-of-a-kind children's book makes me so happy!

What's the Etsy Stock Take?

It was an opportunity for artisans with an Etsy shop is get more exposure that I ran on LifesJewels in 2012. I believe in buying handmade and I would like to encourage others to do so more regularly. Right now I am not posting Etsy Stock Take link ups, but who knows, maybe soon I'll bring it back. Meanwhile check out the great artisans that have shared their stories over the last months.

Are you an Etsy seller? Would you like to be featured next? Contact me and we'll set it up.


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Monday 5 August 2013

I'm back!


Oh yea, funky stuff happens around here!

So... this little blogging break turned into a whole 6 months! Wow.

I've got a swish new computer that really works and so I'm motivated to get back online.

Our new life in Delft is pretty cool. We're having a fabulous summer, warm and sunny. We have settled in (more or less, still have some curtains to hang...) and I feel like I've got a nice little routine going.

And I'm making stuff again! Hurrah.

What I hope to scrapbook onto the blog in the next weeks/months:
  • Catch up on recording what I've made recently
  • Round up of my favourite corners in my garden, season by season
  • Get the Etsy Stock Take going again
  • I've got some Etsy Stock Takers ready to go!
  • What I've been buying handmade or vintage
  • The DIY I've learnt how to do
I hope I didn't lose too many people with Google retiring it's reader. Want to keep in touch? My suggestion is to do one of the following:
  1. Put your email address in the box on the right to subscribe. Then new posts will appear in your inbox.
  2. Follow LifesJewels on bloglovin.com.
  3. Contact me and I'll give you a hand.
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