Migration Time

Yes!!! I'm migrating over to my new and improved blog PhoebeCrafts - you will still be able to use this blog for tutorials but as of next year I will only be posting to my new blog: http://phoebecrafts.blogspot.co.uk/

The new blog will hopefully give you a better insight into my creative process and again I will be posting tutorials along with my favourite posts/tutorials from other creative bloggers each month.

See you over on PhoebeCrafts :)

TLZ

New Instagram Account

The Lilac Zebra now has an official Instagram account for you lucky people to follow.
Be sure to check it out to find weekly posts of the newest products (or fabrics I'm using) or photos of craft fairs that I've attended.

 

Just search for:  thelilaczebra

 

Alternatively, you could click the instagram icon below to find TLZ straight away

 

Oooo, new packaging !

Looky, looky at this new packaging I've got.

 

 

 

Okay some of it isn't new but I have some cute little bags with handles!!!

(Correction - 5 cute little bags with handles)

I should probably order in bulk next time rather than buy them at the last minute... 

 

See you at the fair!!!

 

TLZ

Christmas is coming!

 

 

I've finally found the photo of my stall from the Bedfont Library Fair :

 

 

Also, the fair on the 30th of November:

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the Facebook page for this particular craft fair.

See my Events page for further details!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TLZ

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Christmas Craft Fairs

So, the library fair was a big success and I have more Christmas fairs booked now- which is good news, including one on the 30th of November in Ashford called The Original Juicy Lucy Craft Fair. Details for this fair are on the way!!

TLZ

Christmas Craft Fair - November 2014

See the 'Events' page for more details.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the first fair I will be at in 2014. If you know someone who loves handmade gifts then tell them about the craft fair and I will be at more local fairs in the lead up to Christmas.


TLZ


Post Christmas - Pre 2014 Crafting

Hello, first of all I apologise for not filling everyone in on the other previous Christmas Craft Fair details, nevertheless I saw a lot of familiar faces and lots of sales were made:)

I have also been trying to increase the range of products that I sell at my stall.

I now sell iPod cord holders, zip across bags, zip across padded pouches, fried egg pincushions and felt zip across pouches. Oh, and I still sell purses and fully-lined drawstring bags...

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Craft Fair

See the 'Events' page for more details...

 

 



 

 

Hopefully I'll be doing more Christmas fairs soon...

 

 

TLZ

Success !

Yay!!! After receiving two A grades in my English GCSE and being so over the moon with my results, I had almost forgotten that the end of the summer holidays is near *gasping sound* and I should probably start organising my equipment ( and other school-ish things) for next year.

In other words, I need a school bag to carry all of my unnecessarily heavy books and folders.

Just like shopping for school shoes at the very end of the holidays in shops packed with moaning kids not wanting to try on anything because they 'never want to set foot in that prison of a school ever again' , I don't like buying school bags at the last minute. Shopping should be fun, not stressful and tedious.

Right, enough of me going on and on about the dreaded subject of school shopping.

This is my vision:

 



 

So in my picture I've used the same measurements as the bag in the Craftseller magazine Issue 21: 40cm x 8cm x 30cm (L x W x H)

The bag will have an inner zip pocket which measures 6 inches, two rectangular rings to attach the strap to the bag, an adjustable ring to adjust the length of the strap and four pieces of Velcro to fold the flap onto the bag.

 

I have collected most of the 'ingredients' needed to make this bag, with the exception of the interfacing and the rectangular rings.

 

 

I have a ready made strap from my previous school bag (I loved that bag...) and some pretty city fabric by 'patty young for Michael Miller'. I'll use that fabric for the flap and the inside pockets.

I also have some thick grey cotton. Heavy-weight cotton - I guess - I'm not very good with the technical terms.

 

 

Hmmm...I bet you didn't think I took that picture with my nose ( maybe...probably...)

 

 

Anyway, confession time...I don't know how to make this bag. I mean it seems kind of straight- forward to make but I keep getting confused about how to construct it, also I've never sewn an inner zip pocket! Sure, I've sewn a countless amount of zips before, just never a pocket zip.

I found a great tutorial for that though over at Pretty Prudent.

 

I should get on alright with this project but just in case, feel free to post a comment including a link with an easy to understand tutorial for a messenger bag. ( I have looked for some tutorials, and they are all very good, but I need a tutorial that shows me how to add all of the features I have thought of for this bag.)

 

Thanks guys

 

Happy Crafting xxx

 

TLZ

 

 

 

 

London Baby !

So, in celebration of the birth of the Royal Baby, I have been creating London themed gifts for the home and for babies.

 

 

Presenting the Baby Cot Quilt and the Patchwork Baby Bib:

(And also a London purse and a set of four Patchwork Placemats)

 

 

 

The inspiration for the bib came from a blog called Sew She Sews, and if you are interested in making one for you or a friend, just hop on over to this clear and easy to follow tutorial.

 

 

 

Yesterday I gave this one as a gift to my cousin Archie.

Today I will give another one to my other cousin Sienna.

This one...

 

Remember to 'pin' these gift ideas onto Pinterest if you like the look of them.

 

Happy Crafting :D

 

TLZ

 

 

Pretty Patchwork Pouch

I found a really good tutorial over at Make It Perfect and thought I'd try making this patchwork pouch.

The buttons are cute too. . .

Bedfont Library Craft Fair

Yay !!! Thank you to the people who purchased my purses.

For my first craft fair, I guess I did pretty well...

The Lilac Zebra and Ann's Appliqué Allsorts

Owls......

I got the idea for this cute stuffed owl from Efermera Ink

This little owl is my new pin cushion!

Here is the link for the blog page:

http://efemera-ink.blogspot.co.uk/2010/06/wise.html

Pleated Purse Tutorial

Look at this cool idea I found on Skip To My Lou

http://www.skiptomylou.org/2010/04/27/pleated-pouch-tutorial/

If you've seen my lined zippered purse tutorial and you want a bit more of a challenge then go to Skip To My Lou and try making this 'pleated purse'

Happy Crafting

Phoebe :)

Stuffed Elephant Toy

Good news guys, I have got the printable tutorial for the Stuffed Elephant Toy up on my blog, just go to the 'Tutorials' page and click on the link and you should hopefully be able to print it out :)

Decopatch Dinosaur

So, lets just forget about my failed attempt of uploading the 'Stuffed Elephant Toy' tutorial I created, I'm sure that with a little perseverance I can get that tute up and running.

You could just admire the picture of it, like I'm doing right now !

Lets move onto something slightly different, like the Decopatch Dinosaur that I decorated.
If you want to know more about Decopatch then go over to http://www.thedecopatchplace.co.uk/what-is-decopatch.

Hello...

Welcome to The Lilac Zebra.

My name is Phoebe and this is my blog...

On this blog you will find a variety of sewing project ideas to suit your sewing needs, tutorials for some projects, and you can take a look at some of the things that I have made.
As well as sewing you can take a look at the other crafts I have tried, like Decopatch, drawing, making Scoubidous (the simpler versions!) and I have just recently had a go at knitting, so we'll see how that turns out later :)

Feel free to ask me any questions about my website or hobbies, share your own ideas with me and comment on any projects that I have posted.

I will try my best to post project ideas and tutorials as often as possible...

Happy Crafting,

Phoebe   x
(a.k.a  The Lilac Zebra)