{Guest Blogger from PLAID : Pinwheel Tutorial}

Here is a wonderful guest post from the very creative Kerryn from the newly published "Plaid" blog. Her blog is new so pop over to it and have a browse at her very crafty ideas and cute kids too ;) She wrote a fresh never-before-seen tutorial written for you and I have been very excited to share it with you! Here it is:

Thanks Lauren for having me here today at your fantastic blog!

I have been reminded recently of how beautiful and sweet pinwheels are. So, I decided to make a few and see what could be done with them. After seeing how easy they are to make I have decided that they will be the theme for my daughter's birthday party in October.

So, let's get to it...

To make a pinwheel you need the following supplies...
- scrap fabric
- fusible webbing
- iron
- fabric scissors
- hot glue gun or other glue
- bamboo skewer

If you’d like to put your pinwheel onto a card then you’ll also need...

- Card stock

- Stamps, ink, glue, buttons etc

1. Grab your fabric scraps and fusible webbing cut out 5cm squares of all

2. Fuse the webbing onto the wrong side of one of the fabrics, wait for it to cool, peel off the paper backing and fuse it to the wrong side of the second fabric. Trim away any frayed edges and you will be left with this...

3. Cut 4 slits in the square starting from each point on the square. This doesn't have to be too exact, just make sure there is a section in the centre of the square in-tact.

4. Trim away a small section of the corners. This will make sure the centre of your pinwheel is neat.

5. Get your glue gun and place a dot of glue in the centre. Take one of the trimmed corners and glue to the centre of the square. Repeat this for all 4 trimmed corners using a dab of glue each time.

6. Cut off a section of the bamboo skewer and glue it to the back of the pinwheel. You can finish the pinwheel off with a cute button.

7. Now get some matching cardstock out and embelish / cut / stamp away until your happy, then glue the pinwheel on. I have used tombow craft glue to attach the pinwheel.

Ta Da!!! One very cute pinwheel card...

Now go forth and make pinwheels :)

Thanks again Lauren for having me here today!

Your welcome Kerryn. Thanks for sharing that gorgeus pinwheel tutorial! I am definintley going to try some soon ;)

{IN THE LIME LIGHT} And the winner is.....

And the winner.......





.......of our voucher to spend at Invitations 2 Impress is......

***DRUM ROLL PLEASE***

RHIANNON!!!!!

Congratlations to you and I will contact you with the details of collecting your prize :)

Stay tuned for the 15th of Feburary when our next Local Artisan will be announced (loving the variety this feature is offering you all, I hope you are too).

Enjoy;
Lauren x

2010 in review ::: My Top 24 posts of the year

Well, First post for the New Year. I thought I would select my top posts from the year gone by and share them here. It was hard to narrow down over 150 posts. I have done my top 10 recipes and then another 14 favourite posts. I tried to do a 'top 10' and even a 'top 20' but struggled to stick to it, so here are my favouite finds for the year. I hope you enjoy :)


Top 5 Sweet Recipes
Raspberry Rosewater Icecream
Brownies to die for
5 minute Mug Cake
Banana Bread
Bailey's Fudge

Top 5 Savoury Recipes
Spinach & Ricotta Cannelloni
Thai Fish Cakes
Homemade Baked Beans
Fish Parcels
Homemade Bourbon and Chilli Sauce

Top Food Facts Information
Elements 4 Health

Top Online stores
Made it
Boys Germs

Top Handmade Find for 2010
Pollini Designs

Top Kids Craft Idea
Paper City

Top Kids Educational Tool
Learning with Buttons

Favoutite "'mummy' craft
Newborn Bunny wrap gift set

Top Outdoor Decorating post
Inspiration that takes my breath away

Top Interior Decorating Post
Using your kids art to decorate with style

Top 'Party' post
Amy Atlas perfection

Top Music Find
Andrew Belle

Top Parenting posts
Bugs, hills and sitting still : developing masculinity in a femine world
Fighting OVERindulgence in your kids @Christmas time

Top Homemade Gift idea:
Homemade Tea Bags

There is a new feature coming to homemade soon, so stay tuned for more info, and I look forward to posting lots more delicious recipies, fun crafty ideas and inspirational finds in 2011.

Lauren x

FEATURE ::: "Stamping with Tenille"

Well, I am a person that loves to be creative. I love it whether it is in the form of paper craft, card making, scrapbooking, sewing, cooking etc...This often means that I have so many projects I want to do.
I am not sure how long ago, but I held a Stampin' Up party and invited a few ladies around. I LOVE their stuff, and the great thing about card making is, you don't have to commit to the labour of big album projects, and can do a card at a time. I invited my cousin (in-law lol) Tenille and she took to it like a duck to water so-to-speak. I hope her husband thinks it's a good thing I unleashed this creative gene in her :P
Since then, she has just blossomed into quite the card making expert. I love the variety of her work and the difefrent techniques she uses. She has actually just signed up as a Stampin' up demonstrator too. So pop over and take a look at her work.
I can't wait till we are settled into our new place and have the move sorted, then I think I might just lock myself in the craft room for a while ;) Enjoy;
Lauren x

Spring Lovliness :)

I found a new blog - there are SOOO many wonderful ideas out there in cyberspace. Here is "Celebrate Yellow Made" (found via my fav Jack and Izzy)and there are some really cool tutorials I have added to my to-do list, these would make wonderful craft night activities (speaking of which I need to organise the next one - hmmm.....slightly sidetracked lol).

I haven't blogged about crafty projects for a little while (but have been doing plenty of projects behind the scenes). So, since we are launching into spring, lets celebrate with spring flower craftiness. SO GORGEOUS!

Check out these:

No sew flowers

Paper flower decorations

Aren't they darling! For full totorials and more photos of the projects - click on the links :)

Lauren x

Interior Design ::: Staircases

I have a little bit of interior design on the brain at the moment. Since we have been immersed in it with the building of our new house and the constant dream of acerage somewhere in our future.

Here are some images of staircases to inspire you with the beauty of architecture!

Courtesy of Digs Digs

Enjoy;
Lauren x

Homemade By Lauren Featured!!

I love sifting through crafty blogs and tonight I found out that an entry of mine has been featured on a blog that I follow. I was SOO excited....so pop on over and have a look! YAY!!!!


Lauren x

Oh My - I want!!!!

I saw this post on The Pleated Poppy. I fell in love with this post and SO want to make some little pouches to organise my handbag! GORGEOUS! Gosh, SO many crafty projects to do :)







Enjoy;
Lauren x

Crafty Crow : A Blog FULL of craft ideas

I often find myself on crafty websites and blogs either for crafts at home with my own kids or doing crafts at the weekly community groups I help with for church.
Crafty Crow is a wonderful blog that always lists awesome crafts from all over the web. It is a central place to get wonderful projects from!
Go and have a look over at the Crafty Crow

Some wonderful blogs :)

I have got to say that I have found some very interesting blogs of late and am loving how this platform allows people to share things with such a wide audience. Check out some of these wonderful blogs and get inspired with some projects and products for your world!

{click on images for the link}....

This blog is done by a dear friend of mine. She has a real knack at finding trendy things before they become trendy. Check out the green living, craftiness and lots more at 'amy jean'.

Got little ones at home???? You'll LOVE 'counting coconuts'!!!


I have used this guy before on my blog - but if you love crafty projects that are modern and simple - you'll love 'made by joel'.


This blog is wonderful and adorable - sure to inspire you. Many crafty projects gallore!!!
LOVE it!!!

Enjoy;
Lauren x

My first iPad post!!! Yay!

Well this is the first post from my iPad, which I really am liking!
It's a very rainy and cold sydney monday. I am feeling reflective as I make myself a cuppa coffee and blog from my new toy :)

So today I am wondering what you like about the blog. What do you come here to see and what do you use most??? Please post a comment with your favorite things/ posts on "Homemade by Lauren". I do this for my own reference, but also to share ideas. No sharing stuff people won't use - right?!?
Thanks lovlies x

Made By Joel - LOVE IT!!!

I came across this blog "made by joel" that is by a guy called Joel (derr) who has 2 gorgeous kids and makes lots of things for his them. I love that he sews, but his projects are simple and things I could attempt since I am on my L-Plates.
What I love about the creations he shows, are that the toys are fairly basic and let the kids imagination use them in all sorts of settings. The applications for these "kid-powered" toys are endless and want to try a few of these when I get a machine at home :)

Slotted building discs to create anything!!!

"Toy Bench" satisfies my love of simple wooden toys that can create anything and modern simplicity decorating in one!!!!

This toy zoo mat allows the kids to get out toy animals and create a world of animal fueled imagination.

These wooden cars are adorable as they all fit into the cute little tin and would provide many hours of entertainment!

I saved the best till last!!! With two boys in the house that love 'playing house' this modern house would definitley be a welcome addition to the "role play" that we do so often but without the 'tissy' pink touched synonomus with typical doll houses!!!! Must show hubby and send SUBTLE hints ;)