Face Washer Easter Bunnies

Well here is my first tutorial, and it's for a project that has a special place in my heart. My mum is a school teacher and she's always picking up or designing cute little projects like this.

These Face Washer Easter Bunnies are great for kids to make as presents or as gifts for friends who may not necessarily want or need too much chocolate!

For each bunny you wish to make you will need a face washer (any colour you want, slightly bigger washers are better), a rubber band or hair elastic, embroidery cotton and needle and any trims you wish to use (pom pom for tail, ribbons etc).

Step 1: Take your face washer, place it on the diagonal and roll it up into a sausage.

Step 2: Fold the sausage in half, the 'u' part will form the bunny's bottom and the loose ends will form the ears.

Step 3: Fold the 'ears' back over themselves towards the 'u'. This part will form the head. Tightly wind the rubber band/ elastic around the washer to secure the head and ears.

Step 4: Embroider eyes, nose, whiskers on the face and attach tail. This is optional, I have been known to give the bunnies away with no sewing on them, the shape is usually enough. You can also wind ribbon around to cover the elastic if desired.

Step 5: Rest an egg or other gift (nice soap, cosmetics, other chocolates, whatever you like) in the body of your bunny.

And there you have it, a novel and easy to make gift suitable for kids and adults! You could even make a Fat Quarter Bunny for a sewing friend!

the Sunday Stash

This week's Sunday Stash comes courtesy of Japan again. I treated myself to a little parcel from an Etsy store called Cottonblue. Specialising in Japanese fabric and trims.

Firstly I chose these two cute babushka/ matroyska doll fabrics, the left one being in a linen blend.




Then I selected these cute ribbons which I thought would make lovely trims for some kids clothes, especially the dogs as Little Guy is crazy about dogs at the moment.




And the final fabric which is also a blend, has a lovely texture, will make a really gorgeous cushion.

the Sunday Stash

Today's sunday stash comes courtesy of my brother who has just returned from a holiday in Japan. I asked him if he would bring me back some fabric, never expecting that he would. And by his own admission he had no intention of finding fabric except that on his last day he stumbled upon a fabric store and couldn't think of an excuse not to go in. The funniest part being that he had no idea how much to buy so he bought 2 metres and asked me if that was enough!

Fabric Frenzy and Holidays

Well Little Guy and I went on holidays this week. We left Husband Guy at home because he was very busy with work and we went to stay with my parents. They rented a house in Brooms Head which is in Northern New South Wales - it's a tiny town by the beach - where the bush meets the beach. If you look in one direction you have the beach and in the other direction the kangaroos and the local wild brumby wandering through your back yard. Unfortunatley I discovered that even with Nanny and Grandad's help, holidaying with a 1 year old on your own is not much of a holiday!

Anyway I've had a couple of weeks of Fabric Frenzy - that is I've purchased a huge amount of fabric in 2 weeks without even really trying. But I can't wait to save it all up for the Sunday stash so I've gotta share some now. The nearest town to Brooms Head is Maclean which is home to 2 fabric shops - Crafty Angels which is all about fabric and Sew Excited which is fabric, scrapbooking and all manner of craft supplies.

From Crafty Angels I picked up:
Some reds - I think my next quilt will be in reds. I love the top left one because it's kind of textured, the right one because it reminds me of a Monet painting and the bottom one cause I'm going through a bit of an asian fascination.

Also these two (not to be used together obviously!) The red one will probably form part of some cushion covers for my lounge room and the floral because it reminded me of Amy Butler's work.

And from the lovely Nel at Sew Excited:

This one is going to be part of the border for my English paper piecing quilt.

These lovely greens will be something for my Mum who loves green. Either some cushions for her bedroom or something else.

And finally from Nel, this lovely one. I have some fabric that looks like pebbles that I'm thinking will complement this.


And finally as a pure fluke we found an odds and ends shop in Yamba which was closing down and picked up these two cuties for $5 per metre.

My Peppermint did arrive

Just in case you were starting to get worried..... my Peppermint did arrive. She actually arrived a few weeks ago but I haven't had the time to post etc etc. I'm a mean mum and I'm not letting Little Guy play with her, I've decided that since she is a Melly and Me original that she's of the look but don't touch variety.

So once again thank you to Rosie and Melly for choosing my name and for making me my own special Peppermint. Here is a photo of her hanging out on my sewing table.

the Sunday Stash

Today's sunday stash is dedicated to my three Fat Quarter swap partners from the USA. I received all three of my international parcels this week which was very exciting.

Firstly from Ellen in Willimaston I received a lovely parcel of a fat quarter, a home made pincusion and some ribbons and trims. You can read Ellen's blog Nouveau Stitch here. Thank you so much Ellen your parcel was so generous!
On the same day (the postie thought I was really popular!) I received this bright and happy purple fabric from Kaye from Seymour. I love the bright colour and the fact that this fabric looks like it's Tie-Died. It reminds me of my teenage years when we were into all things Retro! Thanks Kaye.


And then on Friday my final package arrived - a gorgeous piece of Amy Butler fabric from Annemarie (sorry Annemarie I can't remember where you are from ). How did you know Amy Butler was my fave designer?? Anyway I've not seen the Charm line in any Australian shops which made this parcel even more exciting! Thank you Annemarie.

the Sunday Stash

I've really enjoyed the last month following Sew Mama Sew's Fat Quarter February. I joined in their fat quarter swap and happily mailed off 4 fat quarters of a lovely creamy fabric covered in rich red poppies. I had one swap partner from Victoria and 3 from the USA.

So thank you to Rachal from Victoria whose lovely fabric was the first to arrive. I can't wait to see what the girls from the States send!