Moonmum

Heart of leaves

Sewn yesterday: one of the many ideas scrawled in one of many notebooks. 

I like the pink and orange combo going on. So many tiny leaves made it intricate to sew but i'm really loving the effect.

A bit of digital experimenting

Have been putting some sewn designs into the computer and playing around a little... something new for me. And quite time-consuming as i'm a rank amateur in the Photoshop department. The possibilities are endless though. 

Always time for a little adventure, right?

Re-using kid's paintings

A while ago I wrote this little diy project for The Creative Collective blog... click over for full instructions. Great way to reuse some of those kid's paintings that you can't bear to throw away.

I have to confess, initially i had an issue with cutting into the Moonlets artworks. Do you think i'm heartless? Seriously though, there are so many! I have folders full of the cutest drawing and best paintings and there are always some on display on the walls and fridge. But we do so many, inbetween school and crafting at home that i've become accustomed to using them... gift wrap, cards, letters and book coverings. 

Rather than throw them into the recycling i'd rather put them to a practical use. How about you? Do you have any suggestions to add to the list? Would love to hear how you store or use them.

 

A word about the name

People always ask me why the name... quite simply, my surname is Moon and i'm a mum. Not a particularly charming or interesting explanation huh? 

It originated years ago, late one night when i was aimlessly wandering around online and found etsy for the very first time. Clearly i wanted to sign up right there and then and the username that popped into my head at the time was 'moonmum'. It's just kinda stuck since then. Occasionally i want to change it but that seems to be how people know me now. And it's kinda quirky, so i'm keeping it.

I hope that the name is in some way unconciously me alluding to my mum too, who i've written about a bit here. She's where i got my love of making and creating. I have so many memories of her at the sewing machine, knitting through my piano lessons, doing embroidery in front of the tv, among many other things. 

So that's the name.

Shipping tags made pretty for parcels

I'm time-poor and i insist on something sewn and lovely on my parcels, so these are excellent...

I tend to gather endless bits of ribbon, ric-rac, lace, binding, material, gift wrap, etc from just about everywhere. And i love when the op-shop ladies bundle up little bags full for $1! Perfect to have on hand for a little crafting. When i need some tags to go out with my parcels i sew up a batch of standard shipping tags with said pretty off-cuts. A bit of colour across the bottom leaves just enough space to write a quick 'thank you' or whatever.

Just goes to show that you should never throw out any of those pretty scraps!

Being watched

I have a lego-obsessed son. Which means that on any given day in this house, there are pieces everywhere. Battles happening across cushions and coffee tables. Ambushes in progress in the living room. Dismantled spacecraft on the dining table. A lonely lego man placed and forgotten beside the bathroom sink. Rebel armies spying on me...

I usually scoop them up and dump them back in his room. But they are funny little discoveries that i'll miss when he grows up!

Today, despite being watched by rebel troops, i'm sewing and stocking up. Mulling over and sketching some new designs. Contemplating a strategy for the year ahead. And resisting the urge to go op-shopping. 

Making...

Robot notebooks. 

Flying away

It's been years since our last overseas trip and i'm feeling restless... I find myself looking at airfares in travel agent windows when i walk past. Ignoring most of the weekend newspaper and reading only the travel section. Flicking through pretty picture books of exotic locations at the library. Not so great because i have no current passport and no funds. Although i'm working on it. 

So every time i wrap up a little Moonmum package for an international customer i'm imagining myself flying away with it, for just a quick minute. Today London :)

Scenes from a quiet house

School is back as of yesterday. The house is quiet without the Moonlets. Except for the dishwasher whirring away. And the washing machine hum through the laundry door. And the occasional meow from the cat as she wanders past (I think she's still a little insecure after her expedition). I drank a coffee from start to finish while sitting in the same spot, uninterrupted, while it was still hot.

iPod cozy and spiffy earphones

My new iPod cozy.

Like the Beethoven button? Couldn't resist.

I finally got around to a wee bit of crafting... felted an old wool jumper and used the end of one sleeve. Completely perfect because it already had a nice ribbed cuff to use as the top. And just about the perfect size, although i took the seam in a bit to make it a snug fit.

And then i got to the earphones. Yep. Much to my husband's amusement, I wrapped them (saw this on Pinterest). No more tangling! Works an absolute treat. Think i might get the kids to do theirs too, because seriously, if i have to untangle those things one more time...