Jenny, Author at Everything's Famtastic

August 31, 2023September 1, 2023

Sewing: how to get creative & learn lessons for life

Since I embarked on my sewing journey a few years back, my life has been enriched by my newfound creative outlet and plenty of “Look at this, I made it myself! I’m so proud!” moments.

What began with much uncertainty and bundles of nerves has grown into a much-loved hobby that continues to teach me lessons away from the sewing machine and wobbling piles of fabric.

People start sewing for all number of reasons: financial necessity, social connections, self-expression and more.

For me, it was wanting a creative outlet, to meet like-minded people and to discover whether I was able to make clothes for my children that set them apart from all the store-bought clothes everyone else seemed to be wearing.

As I reflect on my sewing progress, I can see that I have learned much more than *how to thread a needle*. I’ve also gained qualities that help me personally and while managing a busy family household.

In this blog post, I’m sharing with you my top 5 lessons learned via my sewing adventures.

August 17, 2023September 10, 2024

Clever & creative ideas to easily reuse your old towels

As a busy mother of 3 kids, there are times when I look around our family home and am shocked by the amount of stuff we have. Piles and piles of books, clothes splayed out on the kids’ bedroom floors, overflowing, disorganised cupboards… urgh.

That’s when I get all ranty and demand we start clearing out and organising some of our possessions.

But when I say “clearing out” I don’t mean throwing out. To our family, it means finding new life or new homes for our unwanted things.

As someone who loves sewing, I tend to squirrel away bits and pieces of unwanted textiles during our “clearing out” phases that I can upcycle sometime, somehow. (That’s one of the advantages of being able to sew, right?)

So, while “clearing out” recently I discovered that my collection of rescued old ratty towels was larger than I remembered it being 🙈. I decided I needed to find myself some DIY projects to make a couple of useful things out of them.

Which lead to me scouring the internet for ideas for myself. And then of course I had to share some of my favourite finds with you here!

And since I am all about simple sewing projects that are low-stress and no fuss, I’m know you’ll find something perfect for you and your old towels, no matter how advanced (or not) your sewing skills are!

Take a look for yourself and give your old towels a new lease on life with these fun upcycling sewing projects!

August 3, 2023August 18, 2023

Upcycling sewing project: How to turn your old towels into drawstring bags!

I don’t know about you, but I often find myself at the sewing machine when my kids need something. Sure, of course I enjoy sewing simply for the fun of it or because I discovered some amazing fabric I couldn’t bear to leave behind at the fabric store and I wanted something just for ME.

But there are frequent times when necessity really is the push behind creating a sewing pattern.

Like recently, when my kids were packing to go away camping and we realised that they each needed a bag to stuff in their plates, bowls, mugs, cutlery and tea towels. Something that could get banged around and dirty, but keep the contents inside clean, could fit in a suitcase with all their other gear, and still be suitable to go through the washing machine at the end of their outdoor adventure.

And that is where my idea for sewing drawstring bags came from.

I had been saving a stack of old, thinning, fraying bathroom towels for a handy upcycling project and a drawstring bag was perfect!

This sewing project will only take you about ½ an hour requires nothing but sewing straight lines! Which makes it perfect for all levels of sewing fans, even nervous newbies!

(If you’re on the lookout for more simple sewing fun, take a look at my other straight lines sewing projects .

Ready to put your old towels to good use too? Environmentally-friendly AND easy? Yes please! I have got the perfect, easy-to-follow sewing tutorial for you!

July 20, 2023April 10, 2024

How to sew a pocket tissue holder in 15 minutes!

Do you have the feeling that life just seems to be getting busier? Like, who’s got time to remember to pack every single thing for the family when leaving the house, let alone for yourself?!? And never mind not having a lot of time for your own hobbies (for me, that’s sewing!) like you used to…

I get it! As a permanent ~~servant~~ mum of 3 kids, I am constantly looking for ways to streamline and simplify our family needs, so when it’s time to do anything at home, on the go, or on holidays I know what we need, that it’s going to be practical and that we can find it easily.

Do you know what every family needs every single day? Tissues!

Do you know a cute way to always have tissues at the ready and not in the black hole of your car or handbag? A sturdy, compact, fabric tissue holder!

Get ready to be amazed by how easy and quick it is to sew your own pocket-sized tissue holder! Even if you’re new to sewing, this project is perfect for building your confidence and you won’t need any fancy equipment.

June 8, 2023April 28, 2024

Summertime Survival: 15 Hilarious Memes Every Parent Can Relate To

Ah, summer break—that glorious time of year filled with endless possibilities, when school is out, and the kids are home for a couple of months. As mums, we eagerly anticipate the arrival of this sunny season, envisioning lazy days, trips to the beach, family vacations, and plenty of quality time with our little ones.

But let’s be real for a moment: parenting during summer break isn’t always the picture-perfect experience we dream of it being.

While summer brings plenty of fun and unforgettable moments, it also presents unique *ahem* challenges for parents. From managing the kids’ boundless energy (and appetites!) to finding ways to keep them entertained and ensuring they stay safe in the water and under the burning sun, summer parenting requires a whole new level of creativity and resourcefulness.

And patience. Lots and lots of patience. 😅

We all know that laughter is the best medicine, and what better way to stay sane in the chaos of summer parenting than through laugh-out-loud memes?

Whether you’re a seasoned parent or a newbie navigating your first summer break with the kids you’ll surely get a kick out of these 15 hilarious, summertime parenting memes.

If you’re also after some practical tips for getting ready for travel with the kids or simply some fun, easy ways to keep them entertained this summer, I’ve got you covered too!

Let the laughter (and packing!) begin!

May 25, 2023May 24, 2023

Unlocking Sewing Success: Why Tracking your Sewing Projects is so Valuable

Does the phrase “Dear Diary…” bring back any teen memories for you? Those youthful moments of recording your wishes, worries, dreams, and memorable experiences? 🥰

Keeping a journal isn’t just for teenagers anymore and there isn’t only one right way to write out your plans, gratitude and hopes.

Just search around online and be prepared to be overwhelmed. 😳 You’ll find all sorts of ideas from bullet journals, gratitude journals, dream diaries, travel diaries and more.

But what does this have to do with sewing? 🤔

Do you ever find yourself knee-deep in a whirlwind of exciting projects and ideas, always buzzing with inspiration and itching to create something awesome?

Well, my creative friend, I have a little secret that can help you make the most out of your creative journey: keeping a sewing journal.

May 11, 2023May 9, 2023

Fun Spring Projects to Make: Simple Sewing Tutorials Round-Up

It’s an undeniable fact: Spring is the best season of the year!

Nothing says warmer weather and sunshine like bright colours, a garden full of flowers, bees humming, pottering around in the garden, the taste of strawberries **drool**, Spring cleaning and some refreshing updates of home décor.

After cleaning through my own fabric ~~mountain~~ stash, I decided to go researching for some fun Spring sewing patterns to put to use some of the fabric bits and pieces that have been saved with good intentions (and long forgotten).

In this blog post you’ll see some of the favourite ideas I’ve collected as a great way of adding some colour and whimsy to your home and make sweet gift ideas for others too!

These sewing tutorials are a mix of fun décor and useful projects and all can be created fairly easily. No need to spend days labouring over these cute Spring sewing projects!

Check out the tutorials to see for yourself how simple and sweet these Spring sewing projects are!

April 27, 2023April 26, 2023

5 Wonderful Ways to Make Your Own Fabulous Flowers

When the warmth of Spring finally arrives, the burst of colours from flowers in the garden outside are always a welcome sight! Shaking off the grey of winter, who doesn’t like to decorate the inside of the house with some fresh bright colours too. And what better way with flowers?!?

Flowers are a beautiful addition to any home. However, fresh flowers can be costly and don’t last very long. Luckily, paper and fabric flowers can provide a budget-friendly and long-lasting alternative.

In this blog post, I’ll share with you 5 unique ways to get crafty (on your own or with the kids) to create bouquets of beautiful blooms that you won’t need to remember to water!

All of these tutorials are easy to follow, totally budget-friendly, and require just a handful of simple supplies (scissors and a hot glue gun, anyone?!?).

AND you DON’T have to be the craftiest person on the block to be able to create these fabulous flowers! They’re THAT easy!

See for yourself!

April 13, 2023April 26, 2023

Irresistible Young Adult Fiction that Teens Love to Read

It’s never been a secret here that all 3 of my kids LOVE reading. And as they get older, so does their taste in books. Given that we now have a teen and 2 tweens in the house, Young Adult fiction novels make up the largest part of the pile of books that get lugged home after a family visit to the library.

When I say that my kids love reading, what I mean is, if they aren’t eating a family meal or physically out of the house, they are at home perched somewhere comfortable with a pillow and a book.

And if there has ever been an excuse for kids to celebrate a love of reading, then World Book Day on April 23rd is a pretty darn good one!

Over the past couple of years, each of my 3 children have put together their own personally recommended lists of book series for different ages of fellow bookworms here on my blog. (You can find the links to them all at the bottom of this blog post 👇).

But in this blog post, my Miss 14 wanted to share her picks for YA fiction. With a mix of fantasy and relationships, mystery and manga, your teen will be sure to discover a new book here to get lost in!

March 30, 2023March 29, 2023

Easy Easter Sewing Projects to Brighten Your Home This Spring

What better time to pull out the sewing machine to create some colourful happy vibes around your family home than Easter! And my, are there a LOT of Easter sewing projects out there to choose from!

For us Northern Hemisphere types, Easter also means Spring has started! Which means even more reason to create some bright and fun colours to surround ourselves with and shake off the grey of another long winter!

I’m not actually even from the north side of the planet (I am Australian💪), so I’m always on the lookout for every new glimpse of colour and sunlight after the German winter.

So, I’ve done some research to narrow down your Easter sewing ~~overwhelm~~ choices to put together this brilliant blog post filled with 10 fabulous Easter sewing projects to make. Whether you’re a sewing beginner or an expert quilter, you’ll find some sewing gems in here!