The Queen's Birthday Weekend Queenspiration!

Well. You know it isn't even really Queen Liz's birthday but, with an extra day up my sleeve (kept up there like a carefully ironed hanky) I've been doing some blog housekeeping and visiting early blog posts  - back when I was the shy retiring type. So I'm showing you some of my Queenie things again! This coronation coach which was my mum's.

And you know the rhyme, "I went to London to visit the Queen"?  When I went to London as a nineteen year old I actually did see the Queen. At fairly close quarters too.

A childhood friend, Brendan, was touring England with a special cricket team called the Victorian Crusaders. Part of their tour was to play various teams, including the Queens Guard at a private match at Windsor Castle – really just a back yard cricket match at Liz’s place. I didn’t have a clearance to attend as a guest, but, being young and rather foolish, I decided I couldn’t possibly miss out on seeing my friend Brendan actually meeting the Queen. And besides, I was in the neighbourhood!

So I headed up to Windsor Castle. After wandering around the grounds a bit, I worked out where the cricket field was and literally, like the country girl I am, I jumped the fence.........where I came face to face with a burly beefeater guard. 

After I explained to him the significance of seeing my lifelong friend meet the Queen and telling him I’d come all the way from Australia, well, he....simply let me in. I wandered across the cricket field toward the gathering of people. Brendan couldn't believe it! (I was probably waving at him like a maniac, grinning like a Cheshire cat!)   I wouldn’t say I slipped in unnoticed into the garden party as I do recall wearing rainbow striped leggings with a short black dress trimmed in fur, a big black bouffant bob and false eyelashes.

There I was! At a private bbq in the Queen’s back yard! Then suddenly, there was the Queen. I was star struck and took a couple of terrible photos. Lucky I did though because if I didn't have the photos to prove it I probably wouldn't believe this story myself.

After a while in her presence, the Queen just seemed to be a little old lady – in black patent shoes and bright blue frock. It made me homesick for my granny.

Our re-sew-cool vintage stamp brooch was the brainchild of fellow sister outlaw, Lynne. It works well with our lovely recycled jumper felt and vintage mini ric rac! So "happy Unbirthday" Queen Elizabeth.

New and Improved Mr Fox giveaway

While making a new mr.fox sample for the recent market display, I realised he was very fiddly. And really - does he have to be so tricky? Nope! So I made some slight adjustments and simplifications, changed the drawings and hey presto! Here is the new improved simpler more user friendly Mr Fox bag-tag craft kit! (here is the old mr fox for comparison)

To celebrate I am giving away 2 new and improved mr.fox bag-tag kits. Leave a comment here or over on our facebook page 
Giveaway will be announced in one week's time on Tuesday the 24th.

NEW KIT! chook egg cosy

A few years back, I had a German neighbour, Kathrin, who really went all out to celebrate Easter with decorations, mobiles, embroidered tablecloths, ornaments and crafts. Easter can be about so much more than chocolate!

So it is in this spirit that I have whipped up the re-sew-cool chook egg cosy. Like all our kits, it comes with everything you need to make a little crazy chicken egg cosy, all from recycled felt, vintage fringe trim, embroidery yarn and buttons. 

TO be honest, I am having far too much fun with these gals.

 

More creative spaces here

Introducing Mr Fox

The re-sew-cool mr. fox bag-tag kit will be making his debut at the Northcote Town Hall Winter Artisans' Market tomorrow!

He's packed with everything you need to get crafty and foxy!

Also there to entertain us tomorrow will be the hilarious looking comedy duo

 "The Signoras"

I sense a fun day ahead!!!

peacock kit

 Introducing the new re-sew-cool bag-tag kit  Mr. Peacock!

 It's jam packed with  recycled felt, buttons, ric-rac and of course a wool needle and yarn and clasp! Not to mention the fully illustrated instructions and the pattern.

Available to buy through our online shop 

peacock re-sew-cool kit

NEW BAG-TAG KIT COMING SOON!

Recycled felt peacock with tail on display.

This peacock has been dragged out the the old ideas pile and brushed off and freshened up and is making it's way into kit form. The drawings are almost done - all re-sew-cool kits come with fully illustrated instructions. I quite like the googly eye and wibbly wobbly ric rac legs! Gives him character.

Party pack cover

Finally finished? The art work for the new party pack craft kits is done - well I'll probably so a few minor tweaks...it's hard to know when to stop.

The party pack will have 6 individual
re-sew-cool brooch kits, especially designed as a simple and quick activity for a crafternoon party. The kits have EVERYTHING you need, including a needle and yarn, step by step illustrated instructions, pattern, wool felt, brooch back and button.

Two designs to choose from - daisy or rose?  The party girls can make their spring flower brooch and wear it on their party frock!

AVAILABLE VERY SOON!!!! Yay!

posted by Julianne Sister outlaw

more sneak peeks

The new re-sew-cool party pack will contain 6 individual brooch kits! Each kit has everything you need (except scissors) to make a simple flower brooch.

There are 2 designs to choose from:
Daisy....

or rose?

I have made these kits with grade 3 and 4 kids from the local primary school and, okay, except for the few disruptive boys(yes there are always a few...sigh), all the kids managed to make these very well - some even managed two in the class time.

The flower brooch is the perfect little craft activity for a Spring craft garden party and the girls can then wear the brooch on their party frock!

We've been cutting up some gorgeous Spring inspired greens,  yellows, purples, reds and pinks in readiness for packing....hmmm... yes and I do need to finish the cover artwork yet, don't I? Yikes! Better get to it!

The Lollipop Guild

I have been wanting to make a coin purse that looks like Baby Joe's head. (No, I don't know why.)Here is version 1.

But lately Baby Joe has discovered his pockets and walks around like this....

He reminds me of the Lollipop Guild Munchkins in “The Wizard of Oz” - Who are like a cross between Jimmy Cagney and Johnny Rotten.

 

So I made some Lollipop Guild face coin purses too.

 And then I remembered that Baby Joe once even had the lollipop guild hair style, with a big curl on his head!

But of course, I couldn’t just make boys.  

Here’s some girl coin purses too.

There was a little girl,

Who had a little curl,

Right in the middle of her forehead.

When she was good,

She was very very good,

And when she was bad she was horrid!

 

 

re-sew-cool kits for these will be available very soooooon... with pattern pieces for your choice of hair style...