RSPCA Cupcake Day

Did you know that today is Cupcake Day for the RSPCA? That's right, people all over Australia have been baking cupcakes to sell in their workplaces, schools and social groups to raise funds for the excellent work done by the RSPCA to protect and help animals. And yes, I've been baking.



Although I might not be able to share these yummy treats with you, it would be wonderful if you are able to help me reach my fundraising goal by donating here.

The wonderful Tia from NotWeeds, who already made a donation herself, offered to donate $2 from every sale over the next three days. Is she a gem, or what? Tia makes herbal teas and blends to aid health and wellness. Visit her store here.


(incidentally, Tia also uses Stitchybritt tea and mug cozies - as you can see pictured here)

So I am going to follow Tia's lead and do the same. For all sales (whether through Etsy or MadeIt)for the next three days will see a $2 donation to the RSPCA. Let's support the great work of the RSPCA and the handmade movement at the same time.

Super Easy Tips - tip #1 Soapy Bag

I've decided to start a series of 'Super Easy Tips' posts for the readers who love easy, quick things to make that are also useful. That's everyone, right?

Sometimes it's just a really simple thing, that you never thought of before, that is used over and over again.

Today's Super Easy Tip: a Soapy Bag

I don't know about you, but in our household we always end up with a bunch of small, leftover soapy bits that are impossible to wash yourself with. Until recently we were throwing these out - what a waste! So I decided to make a little soapy bag that can hold all the leftover soapy bits and that you can still use to wash yourself. Yay! This will take you all of 15 mins to make.



First, cut yourself a rectangular bit of fabric, about 20cm x 15cm. Choose a light, natural fabric - a piece of cotton will do fine. I overlocked the ends to avoid fraying, but this was probably being over-cautious.



Then, fold your fabric so that the two short ends meet, and the fabric is right-sides-together. Stitch the two side seams. You want to make a little drawstring bag, so fold the top hem over and stitch it down, leaving a gap of about 2cm so that you can thread your string. Then just attach your string (or ribbon, or whatever you've got) to a safety pin to thread it through the tunnel and tie together. And there you have it! A soapy bag.




Now you can put your leftover little soapy bits inside, and once you have a few in there it is easy to use the bag to wash with - the soapy suds come through the fabric and you haven't wasted all that leftover soap.

Hang it in your shower for easy use.



*please don't judge the cleanliness of my shower. Ok, so maybe I spend more time stitchin' than cleaning. Don't you?*

Drumroll please

And the winner of the two cute huggable peanut pigs is...



Entry Number 7! That's you Roxanne @ MentalMulch! Congratulations! I will be in touch shortly to get your postage details.

Thanks to everyone who entered. I promise I won't wait 18 months to have my next giveaway : )

Rock'n'roll baby

Have you entered the Stitchybritt giveaway yet? No? Well, what are you waiting for? There are two very cute, hug-able, squish-able pink piggies to be won! Hop on over here to enter (it's very easy, I promise).

Meanwhile, it's been crochet central round these parts. Why? Because two lovely friends of mine are about to become three - that's right, they are having a little baby boy, who has already been named "Jack".



When Jack's dad told me that news that there would be a baby on the way, I was so excited, I soon sent him a text message saying "I'd better start knitting!". The response I got was "skulls and switchblades, please". You see, Jack's parents are pretty rock'n'roll, and are not the types to dress their pride and joy in pastel colours. No, this is a rock'n'roll baby! So a crocheted skull blanket it shall be!



I used this knitting pattern from an old issue of Knit1 Magazine for the skull, and bought some organic Aussie wool from A Coffee and a Yarn (King St, Newtown). I wasn't sure how a knit pattern would work out crocheted - but turns out it's ok!



The main block of the blanket is done, now I just need to think about the lining, border and finishing. Don't even think about coming along early little Jack, aunty Stitchybritt ain't done yet!

A Piggy Giveaway!

A couple of days ago I was thinking about having a bit of a celebration when the Stitchybritt blog turns one. So I went back and checked out when the blog's birthday is... and realised that it is actually 18 months old! I totally missed my own blog's birthday!

So instead of celebrating my blog's first birthday, I'm celebrating its 18 month birthday! And to celebrate, I am having my first ever giveaway. Yay!




A few of you might remember my Peanut Pigs - cute pink squishy, huggable pig softies that are oddly peanut shaped. These little guys are completely handmade by me, right down to the little knitted scarf and crocheted basket. Well I have two Peanut Pigs left and you could be the lucky winner of this piggy pair!

To be in the running to win these two Peanut Pigs, all you have to do is send me an "oink"! Either comment on this blog post or jump over to the Stitchybritt facebook page and 'like' me. Or do both for two entries! Very oinky easy : )

Entries will close at 11pm on Saturday 7 August 2010, and the winner will be announced the next day!

Good luck everyone! And thanks for celebrating with me. Now, go eat cake.

Yay for weekends

I've gotta say - I have had a great weekend. Here is a list of things that made this weekend awesome:

- I refashioned this dress
(it was a second because it had a rip in it)...

into this skirt!



- Friday night we went to Madam Fling Flongs, which I had never been to before, but is probably now my most favourite local bar

- I got my free Sydney Design Pocketbook (so many interesting events coming up!)

- I bought some organic Aussie wool from A Coffee and a Yarn (great coffee/knitting shop on King St, Newtown) and started crocheting a baby blanket for two friends who will be three friends in September

- We had Circus Sunday in the park today which involved hula hoops, friends, juggling, snacks, slacklining (like tight rope), sunshine and lots of cute pups who stopped by to visit (or steal snacks)

- I made Hommus

- Sam, being the excellent beer homebrewer that he is, won a homebrewing competition and gets to brew a beer at the Lord Nelson, Sydney's oldest licenced hotel, which is also a microbrewery. He was so excited to find out that he jumped up and down all day

- We watched more Northern Exposure, which we are quite hooked on at the moment

Hope your weekend was awesome too!

Little crocheted teacups

One thing that has been precious to me as an Etsy seller has been the ability to link up with other Etsians. I joined the Down Under Street Team (DUST) earlier this year and only wished I had done so earlier. The DUSTers are wonderful people and have been a fantastic source of information and advice for all things a craftster would want to know. I visit the forum regularly - the people there are so friendly and more than willing to help each other out.

In August this year, DUST will be having its annual conference on the Gold Coast. Unfortunately I can't attend as I have a bunch of other travel commitments around the same time, but I wanted to send something along to go in the conference bags for all the DUSTy delegates. What to make? I know - a whole bunch of tiny crocheted teacups!




If you are heading to the DUST conference, expect to see one of these little cuties in your conference bag attached to a Stitchybritt discount voucher (for DUSTers only!)



The rest of the world - you should definitely head over to the DUST site and check out the amazing talent coming from this part of the world.