British TV Comedy Swap - What I Sent!

This is what I sent to Baloo:
(1) a Jupiter Mining Corp Tote Bag:

I love the sorta hessian strapping/webbing stuff I got from Needlecraft I'll definitly be getting some more of that when I'm up there next.

2) a SMEG headband (HAHAH)

You can find a tutorial to make a headband like this for yourself over at Burdastyle. I used a comic book style font to create the applique myself and handstitched the interfaced Jersey to the gorgeous polka-dot fabric using basic running stitch, easy peasy!

and this is my favourite, even though I hate the boosh:

Lovely lined zipper pouch/clutch bag/purse/make up bag/whatever with an embroidered mighty boosh quote, and the picture that it inspired in my mind!

April Fools day: Screenprinting Craft Fail!!

In the spirit of the season, let me share with you what a COMPLETE fool I was a couple of weekends ago!

...

So, I was scheming away for the British TV Comedy swap on Craftster and I thought it would be a good idea to have a go at screen printing for the first time!

I'd head from various sources that you could do it with some old tights, PVA glue and an embroidery hoop... well... You  probably can, but I fell flat on my arse. Observe...

This was to be my design, I thought, nice and simple... I was going to make a matching tote bag and purse out of fabric I'd printed with this image .... HA!

I got my equipment together, I even got an array of different types of brushes so I could apply the PVA more accurately!... anyone whose done this before will already see my 2 fatal flaws:

1. Black tights... I only wear opaque tights... and most of them are black. But of course, when it can to trace my design on my screen made of stretched tights... well.. I couldn't! they are black!
2. Cheap PVA glue. I think this was the MAJOR downfall here as I did manage to get the design sorta right... anyhow... .lets continue...

I prepared my fabric for printing, weighed it down with Tuna tins (mmm)

One last look at the screen... looks good:

I'm ready to go:

So lets try it out on some scrap fabric first... oh... oh... .OH NO...

That's not right at all.... OH MY GOD ITS GONE RIGHT THROUGH!!!

AND IT'S EVEN WORSE THAN THAT!!!

AAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH Grab the cleaning stuff GRAB ANYTHING!! If the Husbot sees this he'll go SPARE>!!!!! ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHH

(don't worry.. it all came off.... well... it all came off the dining table... the fabric still has a stain in the  middle of it even after I chucked it in the washing machine.... but I can't really complain about that science the purpose of fabric ink IS to stain fabrics....)

MORAL OF THE STORY KIDS!! use mod-podge or some other super gloopy PVA glue... well... Thats what I'm going to try next anyhow... with me luck!!!

x G

British TV Comedy Swap - What I Recieved!

My partner in this swap was Baloo. It's always a game of Russian roulette when you swap with a 'new swapper' in retrospect I think I was a pretty crap first time swapper myself. I sent my Dr Who Knitting Needle Roll... which... you know... did include a 12 inch embroidered design... which was pretty awesome... but I didn't really send anything else much... anyhow... I'm now a seasoned veteran (lol) I'm even ORGANISING a swap at the moment (I KNOW!! who died and made ME a responsible adult...)

Anyhoo, enough with this random meandering! check out the awesome stuff I received from this first time swapper on the British TV Comedy Swap!

I particularly love the baby-grows/Onesies. They completely appeal to my sense of humour an irreverence over the whole baby situation, and I DOUBLE love that I'm going to have a mam and baby matching T-shirt set!! hahaha!! AWESOME!. I wear a lot of t-shirt/jeans combos so those shirts will be well loved and the tote bag will completely be adored by all of my IT helpdesk friends (of which I have many). And the cute starbug!! that'll go in the baby's room too... when err... the baby gets a room