Craft Schmaft

NEAT name... EVEN Neater designs by Claire Waring..

We all know the 'sock monkey' well, but incredibly talented fellow Aussie Claire Waring has taken sock softies to a new level and designed her own beautifully presented and packaged patterns and kits, each as adorable as the next! How cool is "Woof Woof" above made from a pair of plaid brown mens socks and coordinating designer fabric OR

"Mini Owl"

"Mummy Owl"

"Owl Mobile" (What a Hoot!)

and my favourite due to my youngest daughter being an absolute giraffe freak (maybe I can finally put away her giraffe security toy) - G-RAF!

Available for purchase here as kits including absolutely everything required to make these cuties (even the stuffing, needle & thread!) or as patterns for you to make your own sock and fabric choices. These would make a fabulous Xmas gift idea for the avid crafter or a gorgeous handmade children's or newborn gift certain to be treasured for years to come...

WARNING: Very addictive.. Once you start.. You won't want to stop!

Creative Customer September Competition Winner

Congratulations to Andi our gallery winner for September! Andi has used the gorgeous range of Echino fabrics to make these fabulous bags.

A special mention to our youngest gallery entrant Jemima who is  11 years old and handmade a lovely doll. Well done Jemima and I will be sending a surprise parcel to you shortly in the mail.

I would also like to wish one of our talented customers Jennifer all the very best with her new business making beautiful bags and reversible wrap skirts photographed above and below. Jennifer's business is called 'Bella Regazza' which in Italian means beautiful girl. Jennifer loves using unique and quirky fabrics such as Echino! View more of Jennifer's handmade items in our gallery and let me know if you would like me to pass on Jennifer's details if you are interested in having a fabulous bag or skirt custom made.

I will be posting our October creative customer entries in the gallery soon. Visit our gallery for further details on how to enter this competition and please note that we will be announcing both October and November gallery winners this time around in December with a special $40 Kelani Gift Voucher for the winning entries.

New Echino Patterns & Trims

Beautiful NEW Echino lace-look 100% cotton trims now available in store to compliment Echino fabric collections. Trims are sold on a card in a 2mtrs continuous length. Use as an additional feature for all your Echino sewing and craft projects.

Fabulous NEW stylish Echino bag patterns! Recommended for customers who enjoy and are confident sewing from Japanese patterns as sewing patterns are not printed in English. Included in these patterns are paper pattern pieces and diagrams to follow.

Too Cool For School!

Hot off the press are these adorable craft panels by Australian textile designer Shannon Lamden aka Aunty Cookie. Who said learning can't be fun! Limited edition, fun and funky alphacookie craft panels are an extension of Shannon's creativity using her adorable and quirky 'cookies' characters!

Creative opportunities for this unique panel are endless! Frame and hang or make a cushion like Shannon's above, use as a feature panel in a funky quilt, aprons, bags, pin boards, library bags, applique tees, clothing etc etc....

Available in black, fire engine red and our Kelani Exclusive Raspberry almost hot pink shown below. I decided on this exclusive colourway for those who have girls like me who no matter how hard you try just keep going back to pink!

NEW Audrey & Maude Sewing Patterns

We are now stocking a lovely collection of sewing patterns from Audrey and Maude designed by two lovely Melbournians Cathy and Louise. There are some adorable softies that would make the perfect one-of-a-kind handmade gift for a newborn, simply personalise with your own unique choice of fabrics. The stunning apron pattern above, along with a bunting/cushion pattern, and quilts are also available. These patterns are perfect for a beginner sewer with easy to follow directions. For more inspiration from these gorgeous Melbourne designers visit here.

Lodge Chic!

'Deer Valley' is a fabulous new eclectic modern fabric collection by Joel Dewberry in gorgeous colour palettes of Azure, Tarragon and Persimmon.

A skirt made from Antler Damask would be a gorgeous addition to your summer/spring wardrobe while the Rustic Dots I think are a perfect choice for cushions. Small and large scale designs and colours coordinate extremely well and would also make an amazing contemporary modern quilt.

Creative Customer August Competition Winner

As always their were so many fantastic entries in this months creative customer competition! Be sure to have a look at our customers amazing talents showcased in our handmade inspiration gallery.

Congrats to Rebekah who made this fabulous and funky laptop bag using a combination of Amy Butler, Kokka Yugyoku Floral Purple and Kokka Croquant Brown Stripe fabrics.

I chose Rebekah's laptop bag this month as I loved how she pulled off such an amazing and eye-catching bag using three very different fabrics that came together so well! Notice how the croquant stripe is the same tone as in the outline of Amy Butler's design and also came together well with the white within both of these fabrics and the Yugyoku floral also picked up and complimented a couple of colour's in the Amy Butler fabric while at the same time introducing new colours to the mix contributing to the funkiness of this bag. The basic stripe also broke up and worked really well with the two patterned fabrics. Great eye Rebekah and what an inspiration! Rebekah has been inspired by Amy Butler patterns but also managed to put this bag together based on things she has seen over the years. I also love the chair the bag is hanging from.... where can I get myself one of these?

Thanks to all customers who were a part of our competition last month and I look forward to receiving this month's entries of customer creativeness! Further details on entering are available here.