mellebugandme

Win an Amy Butler Reversible/Adjustable Childrens Hat.

Bec — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 00:27:22 +0000

This gorgeous hat was very popular last year. I squirreled away the last one to be given away as a thankyou for all the support last year. Mellebug goes from strength to strength every year and this has only been achieveable through the people that have purchased my wares. I can not thankyou enough and I hope it continues.

Amy Butler Childrens Reversible/Adjustable Hat. It is made to order, size to be nominated by the winner.

X-small 42-46cm
Small – 46-51cm
Med- 50-55cm
Larg- 54-59cm

Click on this link to get you there a Rafflecopter giveaway. All you have to do is like my facebook page. This competition is only available to Australian Residents (apologies to all others, it just has to do with the cost of postage. I do international orders with prices of postage to be quoted upon based on destination).

If you would like to see the other children hats I have available this season visit my FB page or my Madeit store.

Competition closes this Wednesday 30th January 2013.

Wristlet Clutch Pattern Release

Bec — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 00:38:22 +0000

So there are a few things that I am terrible at, one is not maintaining this blog and the second would have to be ironing. Who else is not an ironer?

Anyhoo! Over the last 5 months I really have been sewing up hats for the summer season, so many I think I lost count. This would be my third season of making hats now and I am really proud of how far I have come. I also added to my list of selling and took the plunge and purchased a stack of these Measuring Tape Bangles which you can purchase at my ebay store

Now we are in 2013 and I am taking a new direction with my Mellebug makings. I have decided to focus on some pattern making whilst I return to the classroom to do some relief work. My little man is entering kindy this year so as Bob Dylan says “times they are a changing”.

So here is my first pattern, newly listed in my etsy store last night.

A cute little accessory that can be made in just a couple of hours. The pattern is easy to follow with pictures to help you along the way. You can make it out of colourful quilting cotton or luxurious silk. The pattern is only $5 AUD and you can purchase it at me etsy store.

My next project is to turn my Dinosaur Costume into a PDF pattern, so stay tuned.

Mellebug

Bec — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 04:21:51 +0000

Time to celebrate!!!

Bec — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 07:41:16 +0000

With my facebook likers reaching close to 1000 and my blog counter ticking over to 250 thousand I think its time to thank all those lovely people out there that have supported my business and enjoyed my tutorials.

I love making, creating and sharing. Its apart of me now and whatever happens in the future I can not see myself too far away from the sewing machine, knitting needle, or any other crafty project that tickles my passion.

To help celebrate my thanks to you I am offering you the chance to win a pair of these fingerless gloves I just made to photograph for the free pattern.

All you have to do is head on over to my facebook page give it a loving like and then leave a comment below. This offer is available world wide so dont be shy. The draw will take place on Sunday 5th August 7pm WST. I will announce the winner first by email and then on my facebook page.

Thankyou again from the bottom of my heart.

Bec xx

Fingerless Gloves Pattern/Tutorial

Bec — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 07:17:42 +0000

I like to knit but my skills are limited and it doesnt matter how hard I try at extending them I draw blank when I read the pattern. Give me pictures and I would work it out but put it in abbreviated long sentences and I get lost, completely. So I stick to straight lines and the occasional increase/decrease but it stops there.

Now when looking for gloves for the wee man I couldnt find anything. He says ” No worries mum, you can knit me some.” errrr… no son I cant (no such thing as cant I hear hubby in the background say). So off I go for a search. I came up with nothing for tutorials/free patterns that I could figure out, but in looking at a pic I figured I could make something similar.

These gloves are easy peasy lemon squeezy. A great pattern for any knitter starting out.

Fingerless Gloves Pattern

** Size 7 needles or 4mm

You could win the gloves made for the pattern: head here!!!

Orphan/ Apron Dress Costume Tutorial

Bec — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 04:09:37 +0000

It has certainly been the month for making costumes and I can foresee that I will be putting my hand to many more in the future. This latest costume has been made for my daughters dance performance at the end of the year (talk about being organised). After coming up with zilch tutorials I decided to make one up of my own so as always I am not a pattern maker and I try to explain things as easy as I can but if you have any queries please leave a message below and I may be able help out.

The pattern provided is for approx 6-8 year old (depending on chest size) but you can increase or decrease as needed (info in pdf file).

Sewing level: easy to moderate

Orphan/Apron Dress Costume Tutorial

Easy Mermaid Costume Tutorial

Bec — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 07:23:49 +0000

I am not generally one for leaving things to the last moment but on this occasion I was making this mermaid costume a day before the party. What saved me the most was the fact that the fabric didnt fray, no hemming required and I used an old t-shirt, a half made top. So it really only took a small amount of time to make and then glue on some embellishments.

My daughters response the next day “Awesome, Awesome, Awesome”. Thumbs up.

If I hadnt left it to the last minute I would have put together a better tutorial but it is pretty simple.

So first off the top.

Get an old shirt and unpick a 4 inch (10cm) gap right underneath the armpits on both sides. With your chosen mermaid fabric (I think mine was lycra, non-fray) cut a rectangle with a width of 10cm and the length of the tshirt plus 1/2 inch (1.5cm) for seam allowances on both sides. In the center of the rectangle I ruched it by using a gathering stitch and pulling the thread till it bunches up. Turning the shirt inside out I place the rectangle inside and pinned to where the gaps are (make sure the sparkly side is facing the right way). Sew the gaps closed. Turn right way out and then I sewed the ruched section to the shirt and glued on a fancy button.

That part done!!!

Next the skirt.

I just used the width of the fabric off the roll (112cm or 44inches) folded in half and the lenth of my daughters legs to her ankles plus the elastic casing (2in/5cm), sew down the open edge. Then I measured the lenth to where I want the shortest part of the skirt to sit plus 2in 5cm for the elastic casing and cut out the arc (on the folded edge) to a width to where I will place the tail fin (11in/ 29cm).

Fold over the casing at the top for the elastic and sew down, leaving a gap to insert the elastic. Measure your childs waist and take 1 inch off for the elastic measurement, insert in the skirt, check that it fits right and then sew together.

The Fin.

With the width of the bottom of the skirt draw out desired fin shape (x2) in the lyrca and 1 with either felt or fleece again no fraying. Sandwich the felt inbetween the lyrca with the good sides of the lycra facing out and pop in some ribbon as the holder (tip: if right handed put the ribbon on the right side of the tail and then the same if left handed. It has to do with how the skirt hangs when on the arm. This tip I discovered after I made it). Pin three layers together and zig zag stitch them together. Pin the fin to the skirt (watch where the ribbon goes) and sew together. I top stitched that seam so it sat flat at the back.

To finish I put a button at the top near the elastic so when they have had enough of the skirt hanging off their arm they loop it to the button (up there for thinking hey!!)

Voila!

Now using the scraps and a bit of tulle you can make a lovely head piece to go with it.

I hope this was easy enough to follow. Got any questions dont hesitate to ask.

Bec

A wonderful review on a Boo Bear

Bec — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 03:29:25 +0000

Reviews and feedback in any shape or form are an essential element to selling products online. They help the buyers choose whether the items are worth buying and it also helps the makers to make adjustments/improvements to have that quality in their work and it also gives them a sense of worth in their work. Thats right we all like a bit of credit for what we do and we also like to know that what we are creating is special.

I have been given the opportunity to have a review done by a great childrens website Kid Independent on one of my Boo Bears. Always a relief in gettin postive feedback, phew!

Head on over and take a squiz. It may also give you a little insight into what Mellebug is all about.

On another Boo Bear note I am having a MARKET NIGHT over on my FB page this Sunday 24th June 2012 7.30pm WST (Perth, Australia). I am releasing the last 8 bears (4 of each) of the season at special FB prices as there are no listing fees. I will also have other winter stock reduced to make way for the next wave of Mellebug Hats. I will be adding the bears as I make them.

A great chance to pick up a bargain.

Winter is upon us

Bec — Sat, 09 Jun 2012 09:10:14 +0000

Oh lordy hasnt it been awhile since my last post. There does not seem enough hours in the day to get everything done on my list. Once I answer emails, send out invoices, facebook and more facebook I am totally over the computer. Today I think I have spent a good three hours photographing and listing items into my madeit store. In saying this now I will be posting more here as the social networking on FB for handmade businesses is coming to an end. An end only if you dont want to pay $5 to $10 to promote your chosen posts. There has been much talk going around and I am not going to go on about it here. Pull up socks and move onto another medium to help get my Mellebugness out there.

So what has been going on in my little sewing nook. Well I can tell you it is mainly sewing, suprised, not really. As the seasons change so do my

Winter, it is here and I am feeling the chill. It is the perfect weather for my Lupin Heatpacks and most recently my newsboy hats. These are made using recylced and new fabrics.

The little fella calls this his ‘Dude’ hat. He is such a dude wearing it, love it.

Now on the lupin front. Boo Bears, Boo Bears everywhere. A little slow start to the season but this time round the boy bears have been flying out the door. This time round I decided to coordinate my fabrics more by purchasing fat quarter packs ensuring that the colours match. Before I was in turmoil guessing to which fabric matched that fabric and so on. Less stress better outcome. Here is one of the bears I have made that comes with its very own baby bear.

Super cute felt bear that takes roughly 2 hours to hand stitch together. Worth it thou as this little combo is just too cute.

Here is another Boo Bear, Sleepy Ray. Racing buddy for the boys.

To anyone new to Mellebug these cuties are Lupin Heatpacks that you pop into the microwave for a minute and they become a warm buddy to snuggle or to help soothe an upset tummy.

This season I have coordinated some of the Boo Bears with cold packs, an all round perfect gift to a child. These cold packs are a great size that fit into a childs hand, are cold enough without having to wrap up and the outside is removable, perfect for any little bloody bonk that happens a little too often in my household.

So my madeit store is stocked with loads of mellebugness some for adults and loads for the wee ones in our lives. Head on over for more of a look at what I have to offer.

The winner of Get-a-Bear!

Bec — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 11:11:40 +0000

Three bears up for grabs at ridiculously low prices over 3 weeks. All info and goings on can be see on my facebook page.

Week 1: winner for this week goes to Tankia Simon.

Tanika you can choose from any of the three and all you have to pay is the postage $7.20.

Please contact me by Wed 18th April mellebug@gmail.com