52 Marvellous Makes Madness Challenge

What am I to do when I see Jenny of ELFANTZ with an interesting challenge last month of making something by re-cycling some used denim jeans? I was given a pair by a visiting missionary family, who were passing through here on deputation, to leave at a second-hand shop (it had gotten some paint on them). So I decided I would use them some how…………..

Then I saw the “Make a Bag sew along” that Kelly's blog had, which I’ve already blogged about. So I decided I would do this fun project………………..

Then a couple of days ago, I saw this challenge, the 52 Marvellous Makes Madness Challenge . The idea is to make, learn or do 52 things in a year. I got thinking about some things I would like to do. So I decided I would have a go with this challenge……………

See where I’m heading too? So many things to make and do, and not getting back to my basket blocks, which I blogged about here, and no further sewing on my Dear Jane triangles!!!!

Anyway some things I’d like to achieve with the 52 Marvellous Makes Madness Challenge in a year.

1. Use my Slow Cooker or Crockpot more – found a couple of cook books in town. 5-Ingredients Slow Cooker Recipes by Jean Paré (Company’s Coming Kitchen Workbooks), at the local Post Office and the Women’s Weekly Slow Cooker recipe book, at Coles.

Have had fun cooking the following since July 1st:-
Homestyle Beef Stew (recipe from the internet)
Italian Beef Casserole (recipe from Women’s Weekly Slow Cooker)
Pineapple Cherry Cobbler (recipe from 5-Ingredients Slow Cooker Recipes)

All yummy, might I add!!!

2. Re-cycled denim jean items – Made a Japanese Knot bag from Helen Heath's Blog, that I’ve wanted to make for a while, and the Gathered Clutch. DONE July 4th and 5th

3. Make a Bag Sew Along – 3 accessories made – the tote, toiletries pouch and mini make-up roll.

4. Practice machine quilting – I made a table runner last year, using some cupcake fabrics I bought. I made it all, even sandwiched it, but stalled at the quilting. I had intended to machine quilt it all along, but was too scared to start or try…..so today, I thought “That’s it! I’m doing it no matter what!!” I want it finished and on the table I designed it to be used for. STARTED quilting July 5th

5. More Crazy Quilting (CQ) blocks and projects

6. Learn Ribbon Embroidery to use in CQ

7. Get a part-time job – after being out of the work-force for 7 years.

8. Complete the Dear Jane Triangles

9. Get up-to-date with the Basket blocks

10. Finish crocheting an Irish Rose lap blanket

I have a year to think of others things I want to make, learn or do for the 52 Marvellous Makes Madness in a year challenge, however, I’ve made or started 9 items in the last few days.

Nima's Hat Pincushion

Nima has this cute crocheted hat pincushion pattern on her site. She is encouraging any of us that are willing, to make one and then post a picture of our complete hat pincushion. It is very quick, cute and pretty.

I actually added one more row:- sc, 2 ch, miss one sc, sc into next sc, all the way around to give a little frill. I was thinking of making a "ribbon" of chains in a finer pink thread to weave in out of the frill, but with the thread colours I have, it would be better if my hat was pure white, rather than the cream in this photo.

Here is mine:

Gift Mail

I discovered this wonderful Free Craft pattern site, where she links to tutorials and patterns….. I discovered on her personal blog, she loves owls!!! Her name? Khris . I decided to make Khris a crocheted owl night mask end of last year.

Well a lovely surprise arrived in the mail, back in February, for me!!!

Gorgeous owl paper hiding the gift within

Fabric covered note book (now in my hand-bag) and beautiful pastel fat quarters.

All just perfect.

Handmade "Christmas"

In a previous post last year, I showed some of the handmade Christmas gifts I've done.


Using the same thought again for 2009, we had to make or give to each other something we had.

I chose to do some more "amigurumi" which is a Japanese art form of knitting or crocheting stuffed animals. I made my daughter the Elephant for Christmas, and the Monkey for her birthday, two days after Christmas.









I also made for my daughter and son, a tin of biscuits, re-using some tins they had. Then my husband got some homemade turkish delight.

Amy Karol: "Bend-the-rules Sewing"

A while back I saw someone mention on their blog about the book “Bend-the-rules Sewing” by Amy Karol. She has a blog as well. What was said, the project made and shown, got me interested. So I got a hold of the book.

I mentioned my daughter knitting in my previous blog, so from Amy’s book I made two of the “Charming Handbag” - one for my daughter’s knitting and one for me (mine has the crocheted heart on it)!! I made it from a fine corduroy.










After that I made the “Artsy Clutch”, “Pleated Beauty Bag” and the “No Cash Wallet” (Why that name? it’s to carry loyalty cards, credit cards and so forth). I made them as a set.








The front panel for the “Pleated Beauty Bag” I used a design from Cinderberrystitches. I also used an element from this stitchery design for the “No Cash Wallet".


I really enjoyed making them.

Knitting and Crocheting

I had a pleasant surprise nearly a month ago when my daughter came off the school bus carrying some knitting in her hands. Her Year 5 class, in Technology and Enterprise, were being taught how to knit. They are making squares for a blanket to donate towards the terrible Victorian Bushfires we had earlier this year.

Here’s an interesting blog to read about Snuggle Quilts and their story on quilts for the bushfire victims. There has been an amazing “giving spirit” from people all over Australia and around the world for quilts and also in the knitting arena. It’s been lovely to read of the response of adults and children on receiving a quilt. The expression of deep thankfulness, how they feel they haven’t been forgotten, and that someone they don’t know, cares for them.

I’ve been going to the school and helping with crocheting, in black, around the squares and have stated to join the squares together. I should say “squares” loosely, as the kids do some amazing “increasing designs” as there are some funny shapes!!!

My daughter has decided she wants to make squares for a blanket for herself, so yarn has been bought and the squares have started. She’s had two squares given to her from her 95 year old great-grandmother (my Nanna), two from her Nanna (my Mum), a few from me. We will also get a couple from my hubby’s mum. So there will be a few “generations” represented in this knitted blanket.


I finished this week, my first pair of knitted socks!! The pattern is from this DIY Net Work program. I now want to venture into getting the thinner yarn known as “fingering yarn” in the US and the small needles then make some socks they will fit me well. My daughter has requested some socks for herself!!

Last month I crocheted this “Perfect Purse” as it was called from Lion Brand. It now carries all my crocheting hooks.


It was really funny that first weekend my daughter came home with her knitting. I had my brother over to a meal, which we followed up with watching a DVD, on Egyptian History. There was my daughter knitting away sitting next to her uncle, while I was in the other chair crocheting the "perfect purse". I had a good chuckle to myself.