L is for Logo

Here's a sneak peek at my new logo...website re-vamp coming soon...

♥ Dani

K is for Knitting

Ok, I admit it. I've started yet another blanket. But I have recently discovered that I am not the only compulsive blanket starter. My friend Heidi is also working on multiple crochet blanket creations. Perhaps if we put all our half-finished blanket projects together we'd have one big (potentially ugly) patchwork blanket.

The current project is inspired by this Purl Bee classic. The banana bread & coffee are my own creations ;)

Anything on your needles at the moment?

♥ Dani

J is for Jersey

On my search for infinity scarf projects, I became inspired by the dozens of DIY upcycle t-shirt projects I came across. Jersey is such a versatile fabric...and cheap too. Here are a few of my new-found jersey-related craft bucket list items:

Sweet little necklace by Melissa Esplin

Super-easy DIY headband courtesy over at Creativity Exchange

I love the colours in this DIY weaved sweatshirt by The Forge

And something beautiful for the home of course...a rug designed by Emma Jeffrey

Happy snipping :)

♥ Dani
All images in the post are attributed to the websites & blogs they are linked to.

I is for Infinity Scarf

A must have accessory this winter, an infinity scarf is just about the easiest DIY project ever. No experience, no creativity & not even a sewing machine required!

Here are a few ideas to get you thinking...

First off, we're talking eeeeasy-peeeasy - you've probably already got everything you need for this:

by Mama Pea Pod

Looking good with ombre...

by A Bit of Sunshine

Or for those who are feeling adventurous - add a little fabric paint:

by Sugar & Cloth

There must be an old t-shirt at the bottom of your drawer...go on, google 'upcycle t-shirt scarf', I dare you!

♥ Dani

H is for Heat Pack

These cool mornings & shorter days herald the inevitable arrival of winter. I'm not a big fan of the old man, myself. I guess you could say I've never really warmed to him! Ha ha :D Seriously, for 3-4 months of the year I just cannot seem to shake the chill from my bones, no matter how many layers I am wearing!

You're probably wondering what I am complaining about - it doesn't snow here, it rarely even drops below zero, it's 'The Sunshine State', it can't be that bad can it? Well, yes. You see, it seems someone forgot to tell the architects & builders of this fine city & it's abodes that it is not 30+ degrees all year round. 

We live in a Queenslander which, if you don't know, is a style of house designed & built in the late 19th & early 20th centuries to temper the hot Queensland climate. Think wide verandahs, plenty of windows (or louvres), built high up off the ground on stumps...all to maximise the flow of the breeze. Which, I admit, is lovely in summer...but in winter, a breeze is the last thing you want blowing up your back or up through your floorboards.

Luckily, I have a cheap & easy crafty project that will get you through the long cold nights - a DIY heat pack.

Mmmm...toasty!

Here's what you will need:

• Cotton fabric
• Thread to match
• Sewing machine
• Scissors
• Raw rice (roughly 2.5 – 3 cups)
• Essential Oil (if desired)

Step One:
Cut two pieces of fabric - mine is roughly 40cm x 18cm. Pin & sew with right sides together, leaving a small opening on one side for turning in the right way.

Step Two:

Cut away any excess material at the corners & turn in the right way, pushing the corners with a pencil or crochet hook. Iron flat.

Step Three:
Divide your bag into three equal segments length ways & mark with lines that fall short of each edge by roughly 2cm. Sew along these lines to create three segments in your bag. You can also top-stitch around the edges if you like, but be sure to leave the hole open to put your rice in. I prefer to leave the edges & make a washable cover for my bag - using fabric with the same dimensions & an envelope-back style pillow case closure.

Three segments

Step Four:
Add essential oil of choice (if desired) to your rice & then using a funnel, slowly pour the rice in through the small hole you've left in your seam, pushing the rice through the  small channels so all three segments are filled equally.

Envelope back

Step Five:
Fold the edges of your hole & top-stitch closed. Wah-lah - your very own heat pack for winter! Pop in the microwave for up to 2 minutes - but be cautious when removing, it may be very hot.

Does it get seriously cold where you are? How do you stave off the harshness of winter? 

♥ Dani

G is for Glue ♥'s Glitter

Today's post is dedicated to the Lois & Clark of the DIY world: glue & glitter (or as I like to refer to them - 'glue-ter'). Even if the human race had never existed to invent them, I firmly believe that this natural coupling would have found a way to exist & be together. Here are a few of my favourite DIY 'glue-ter' projects:

A sparkly collar from Henry Happenned.

 A shimmer of gold by The Nester - perfect for a wedding, baby shower or little girl's birthday.

 Add a little glow to your room with some gorgeous vases a la The Sweetest Occasion.

Or go all out like A Sutble Revelry & paint your house with it!

And we can't forget something shiny for the bubs.

Shine on crafty peeps!

♥ Dani
All images in the post are attributed to the websites & blogs they are linked to.

F is for Fabric Paint

Fabric paint is my best friend. I love that I can create my own fabric designs because I find it really difficult to source unique designs that don't cost the earth.

If you're one of my Facebook followers, then you've been witness to the penchant I have developed for creating cute little one-off tees for little B. Here's a recap:

Free printable by Oana Befort

And here's a sneak preview of one I'm working on this afternoon...

Happy designing!

♥ Dani

E is for Easy

I've taken the easy way out today. It's been a big week.

Image by esotericquotes.com

Happy Friday!

♥ Dani

D is for Doily

It's no secret that one of my favourite revivals in the world of craft is crochet. Today I thought it was about time I paid homage to one of the great crochet creations of all time - the doily!

Here are a few of my favourite doily-inspired DIY projects:

Monogrammed canvas bag by Ashley Ann @ Under the Sycamore

...or this unique table runner, also by Ashley Ann.

Gorgeous candle holder by Spirello

Cushion cover by Cluck Cluck Sew

Stiffen doilies for curtains or wall hangings a la Martha Stewart

Or dress up your walls, like the pretty bee

Speaking of dressing up - look at this absolutely gorgeous doily wedding dress! Love! (I can see you in this, Brooke Arnold!)

Do you have a favourite doily project or pattern you'd like to share?
♥ Dani
Note: all pictures featured are attributed to the blogs they are linked to

The Lucky Eleven [Liebster Award]

  

Sharing the blogger love!

What a lovely surprise to find a message from Jen over at Jam Made Studio letting me know she had nominated my little corner of the interweb for the Liebster Award!

Liebster. [German] adj. dearest, v. to cherish

The award was created to show appreciation to fellow bloggers for their valuable contributions to the blogosphere. It is also a fabulous way of getting to know a bit more about the faces behind those awesome blogs you admire in your quiet moments.

How it works:

One:          Post 11 things about yourself.

Two:          Answer the 11 questions given to you by your nominator.

Three:       Nominate 11 bloggers with less than 200 followers & set 11 new questions for them to answer.

Four:         Stop by their blog & let them know they've been nominated.

Five:          No tag backs!

Step One: 11 things about mwa.

1. I have performed at the Sydney Entertainment Centre.
2. I am addicted to stationery & ephemera...just thinking about Zetta Florence makes me go mental.
3. I've always wanted my very own badge-making machine.
4. For my birthday this year I am getting an armchair to put in my new reading nook.
5. When I was 13 my brother gave me Michael Jackson's book 'Moonwalk' for Christmas but I had discovered it weeks before in his sock drawer & already finished reading it.
6. When I was little my favourite song was 'Lady in Red'.
7. I always make sure the last mouthful of my meal is the perfect tasting ratio of all the foods available on the plate (sounds a bit OCD doesn't it?)
8. I eat with my fork in my right hand & my knife in my left. 
9. I am a natural blonde but I dyed my hair bright red for 10 years (oh, how I miss it so!).
10. I'm afraid of the dark.
11. When I was 7 I was climbing on some old car ramps & fell & took a little chunk of skin out of my leg which my dog, Bonnie, gladly ate. Ewwww!

Step Two: My answers to Jen’s questions.

1. Name a place you have visited or would love to visit that is a great inspiration to you.

Jyekundo, Tibet. My husband & I lived in one of the local Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in 2007. The people, the landscape & the experiences we had were truly magical & it was such a special time for us individually & as a couple. Unfortunately the monastery was destroyed in an earthquake on April 14, 2010. We know that many of the people we knew & lived with were killed (death toll was over 2,000) but are not really sure who. Although bittersweet, I would love to revisit the places & people we grew so fond of to see how both they & we have changed. A solemn reminder of impermanence.

2. Finish this sentence: I create because... 

...I have a full-blown fabric addiction & if I don't chip away at my stash there is a very real danger it could cave in on top of me.

3. Tell us something interesting about where you live.

Camp Hill was the site of the US Army base during the WWII. My husband's Dad grew up in the area & used to get gum off the GI's & they taught him how to play baseball. Not all that long ago really but such different times!

4. What are you reading right now?

'The Other Hand' by Chris Cleave. I picked it up on holidays at a second-hand book store without really knowing anything about it (the dust jacket provides no real clue) but I'm glad I did - it's fabulous! It is so lovely to be reading again. The bibliophile in me savours the thought that there is a good book waiting for me at the end of each day.

5. Finish this sentence: I couldn't live without...

...my fabulous Newman boys a.k.a Hub & Bub. They light up my world & make my heart swoon.

Pic by onewed.com

6. What do you like to do for laughs?

Hang out with my hubby. He is the funniest person I know & we laugh a lot together. I love the way he sees the world. He's starting a podcast soon & I can't wait to tune in!

7. Finish this sentence: I can't wait until someone invents a...

...robot that cooks & cleans my house (selfish, I know).

8. What do you love to cook?

Anything in the slow cooker - cut it up, throw it in, leave it a while & serve. My kind of cooking & a nice hearty meal!

9. Most fun you've ever had?

Travelling with my husband through Asia.

10. What do you look for in a friend?

Thoughtfulness, insight, good sense of humour, common interests & values, generosity, honesty & they have to be interesting.

11. Do you ever hand write letters and send them off in the ........wait for it........actual post?

Yes, to my Mum. I send little hand written notes or cards every now & then with a bunch of photos of our little boy for her to flip through a million times & carry round in her bag for Nanny-brags.

Step Three: The questions for my lovely 11.

1. Describe yourself in three words.

2. Your favourite band (yes, you have to narrow it down to one).

3. What are you passionate about?

4. Your favourite childhood memory.

5. What do you usually have for breakfast?

6. Who would play you in the movie of your life?

7. Describe your style.

8. Finish this sentence: ‘I never leave home without…’

9. Is the glass half-empty or half-full?

10. Post one of your favourite images from this year.

11. If you could meet anyone (dead or alive) who would it be & why?

Now for the lucky eleven lovelies I am nominating for the award:

1. mummavegas

2. i saw you dancing

3. franklyd.

4. Tea for Evie

5. The Red Wren

6. Gnomeangel

7. Shelbyville

8. Sew It Seams

9. dearly dee

10. things that make my heart sing

11. {tinniegirl}
12. whimsy & juno

Ok, so I bent the rules a little & nominated 12.

Some of these blogs may have more than 200 followers (sometimes it's hard to tell).

Go forth & read!

♥ Dani

C is for Clay

Clay has come a long way since the days of having to fire it in a ridiculously hot kiln for hours. Even FIMO you had to bake forever, or maybe it just seemed that way because I was eager to see the finished product. 

But now, there is air-dry modelling clay. What a brilliant idea! Available in all good craft stores,  most brands come in white & terracotta. It is really as simple as kneading the clay until it's warm & soft, building your masterpiece & then leaving it to dry.

So, I set about looking for a project for my clay & stumbled upon a gorgeous little doily-print bowl by Creature Comforts. It's actually been on my crafternoon list for quite a while now but I had to crochet the doily for it first. Now that is done, I've set aside some time this weekend to make my sweet little trinket bowl. Tune in on Sunday for a pic of my version.

Here are another two simple wonders on my favourite clay projects list:

DIY clay nursery mobile

DIY planters by Fellow Fellow over at Say Yes to Hoboken

You could also make your very own clay beads for a necklace a la Emily Green.

These would all make beautiful gifts, although I'd also be tempted to keep them for myself. Better go stock up on clay!

Do you use clay in your craft room? I'd love to see some of your creations!

♥ Dani

'B' is for Boxy Cosmetic Bag

Finally...I've made something for myself. I have been carrying around the skankiest cosmetic purse for the longest time now. I am embarrassed to say upon closer (& long overdue) inspection it was full of old cotton buds, broken eyeshadow & a mascara stick with a rogue lid which had managed to leave it's signature on the everything in the deep, dirty hole that contains my daily make-up regime. Which is kind of ironic when it's fundamental purpose is to make me look beautiful!

I spied this sweet little boxy cosmetic bag tutorial over at 'Skip to My Lou' & have had it sitting on my 'Crafternoon Ideas' board for a while now so I thought it was about time I tried it out. I decided to make a much smaller version as it only needed to hold foundation, mascara, an eyeliner pencil & lip gloss, plus I don't want it to be too bulky in my handbag.

Here is my little boxy gem of corrective goodness:

Next time I'm going to use oilcloth, like Cindy has. Speaking of which...anyone in Brisbane or Australia know where I can get reasonably priced oilcloth?

Does your cosmetic purse need a refresh?

♥ Dani

'A' is for Applique Automobile Tee

My long love affair with making unique, one-off tees for my little man continues...

This is technically an upcycle project too because I used a tee that had a rather unfortunate incident with a piece of vliesofix so I've covered up the damaged area with His Highness' favourite object - the humble automobile! Hey, that's another 'A' - let me go & add that to the post title :)

[Picture coming shorty]

Here are a few little tips I learnt along the way:

• Set your machine for a zigzag stitch with a width of approximately 1 to 1.5mm.
• Set the stitch length between 0.5 and 1mm.
• It will be much easier to position your applique correctly & with no ripples if you use a stabiliser (such as vliesofix) especially for difficult materials that easily pucker such as satin
• Ensure the outside edge of your stitch just misses the edge of your applique piece, grabbing your main piece of material
• Plan your pivot points - make small marks on the edges of your fabric where you'll need to turn corners or negotiate curves so you're aware when they're coming up
• Don't pull your fabric through the curves, it will muck up the trajectory & neatness of your stitches

Sew Like My Mom has a fabulous tutorial on how to applique curves.

Do you love applique too? Care to share your favourite applique projects, objects or links to templates?

♥ Dani

countdown to the A to Z blogging challenge...

It seems I may very well be completely mad. I've gone & signed myself up for the April A to Z blogging challenge again this year & right now I'm thinking that 'challenge' doesn't quite capture the enormity of the task ahead. Considering I've barely had time to post in the last 2 months, I'm now committing to blogging time everyday for most of April on a topic/s yet to be determined. *sigh* Luckily I just withdrew from Uni this semester - at least I've got my priorities right ;) 

My initial thoughts are to blog about a different craft form each day, maybe even try a few projects along the way if I can fit them in. So, if you can think of crafty things that begin with G, H, J, N, R, V & X, I'm taking requests! ie. there are more than a few gaps in the plan & I'd really appreciate your ideas...

Are you taking the challenge too? What are you blogging about?

Wish me luck, I'm going to need it!

♥ Dani

Where on earth have I been?

The last 6 weeks have passed in a flash! I've been drowning in a sea of horrendous work hours, visitors, social outings & a seemingly constant sick bubba. I haven't had a huge amount of time for being creative or crafty (although there is one secret little side-project I've been working on...all will be revealed shortly).

But there is a light at the end of the tunnel & reason to be hopeful that one day I will return to some semblance of 'normality'. Firstly, I've just had a sneak peak at my new logo & it is looking fabulous & giving me lots of much-needed energy for the year ahead. I am also looking forward to my Mum arriving in a few weeks. I love spending time with her – she’s also the best house guest & it will allow me some much-needed me-time while she soaks up the wonder that is her grandson!

So, I am currently working on some prizes I will be donating for a charity event in mid-May: Cocktails,Canapes & Cabaret promises to be a night full of fun & frivolity. It’s being organised by my friend Rhiannon (who is fun & frivolous herself) to raise money for her sister Amara who is in very poor health & needs specialist care. A very worthy cause; tickets are still available if you’re free that night. And you could win a :waitingforbanjo: pack!

Anyhoo...just wanted to pop in & let you know I’m still here…& that I have managed to do a few crafty things down in the deep dark hole where I spent February & most of March, I swear – there is photographic evidence somewhere. What has been igniting your creative fire of late?

Dani ♥

#52Lists: My favourite flowers...

free valentine's printable

Happy Valentine's Day! Here is a sweet little love-filled printable for you to print and share with those crafty peeps you know who have a not-so-secret love affair with their sewing machine.

Download the PDF here.

♥ Dani

#52lists: Things I do everyday...

Cuddle my little boy
Change nappies!
Drink coffee
Read the news online
Text Mum
Kiss & chat with hubs
Surf crafty websites
Yearn for more sleep
Learn new things
Take photos
Go to the park
Drive my car
Wear jewellery
Shopping (feels like I go to the supermarket every day!)
Tweet (well, most days)

I must admit, most of these 'tasks' I love doing (apart from the yearning & the shopping...yes, even the nappies are ok!). What do you like or maybe not like so much about the things you do everyday?
♥ Dani

Happy Blogiversary!

Image by Favecrafts

Happy 1st birthday blog, you sweet sweet morsel of crafty goodness! 

Yes, one year ago today I wrote my very first post here at waiting for banjo (now .com!). On that day I made a promise to myself that if I was still blogging & crafting with such vigour in a year's time (which hinged greatly on me being able to find the time having a 5 month old bub) then I would take the next step toward the home-based craft business I've dreamed of since my Muzz (Grandma) taught me to sew ahem-something years ago. I pledged to get a bit (well, a lot) more entrepreneurial about my craft. Register my business & domain name. Ridgy-didge logo & design. Identify my branding & values. Write a proper business plan. Market research. Develop my product range. Build relationships with local retailers. And ultimately, open my online store.

While most of that is still in the pipeline, right now I'm celebrating the small things:
Sticking at it.
Finding the time for myself & the things I love doing.
Connecting with other bloggers.
Being creative. 
Making stuff.

Thank you for stopping by & reading, I love to see your comments & emails coming through. Cheers to another year of waiting for banjo - even though technically he's already here! ;)

♥ Dani

#52Lists: My favourite snacks...

Yet again, too many to mention so here are just a few...

04. My favourite snacks

yoghurt (gotta be from The Greek Yoghurt Company)
avo & pepper on vita-weat
turkish delight
scotch finger biscuits
cheezels
jatz & french onion dip
flatbread & hummus
marinated olives
♥ Dani