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Make a handy fabric grocery bag by using a plastic one as a template.

Check out the how-to on Supa Fine >>

All the things that kids (and most adults) love, Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey, Treats for Kids by Jill O'Connor is filled with recipes to get your taste buds tingling.

With 30 tasty dishes to choose from, there's a treat for breakfast, after lunch treats, desserts and midnight snacks. Cook up some Banana Split Pancakes, Peanut Butter-Pretzel Bonbons, Ghostly Meringues and Wicked Good Chocolate Peanut Butter Pudding Cups.

Perfect to cook with your kids or with your fun-loving friends, it's time to "stop dreaming of plain ol' cupcakes and start getting deliciously sticky!".

You can pick up a copy of the book now from Chronicle Books >>

These double chocolate cupcakes are made with ricotta, bourbon and orange zest.

Check out the recipe from Orangette >>

I was sent an Innov-is 900 sewing & embroidery machine from Brother to take on a test drive and I was really impressed with the results. A massive upgrade to my 1960's Singer, this computerised sewing machine offers professional stitching made easy, along with an attachable embroidery unit.

The Basics

The machine is sleek and compact with a helpful LED to light up your work and an easy-to-use touchscreen for selecting your stitches, choosing embroidery patterns and setting up the machine. Threading up the machine and filling the bobbin is so simple (something that was a nightmare on my previous machine), with cleverly situated thread cutters, and a lever to thread the needle for you - so there's no time wasted fiddling around trying to slip thread through the eye of a needle.

Sewing

With dozens of stitches to choose from, as well as a feature to design your own via the touchscreen, this machine can tackle virtually any sewing project. The use of a foot peddle is optional, so you can start sewing with just a touch of the button. It'll even do all the back-stitching and cutting of the thread for you, which gives your sewing a tidy finish with no loose threads!

The machine comes with a wide range of feet and attachments including, allowing you to sew in zippers, attach buttons, make button holes, set eyelets, sew appliqueing stitches, decorative edges and do blind hemming to name just a few. There's even an optional side cutter, so you can overlock and give your projects a professional finish. One of the best extras included with this machine is an attachable sewing table, which slides on to the machine and gives you extra room to sew.

Embroidery

With an attachable embroidery unit, you can transform the machine in to a powerful embroidery machine in a few easy steps. This model comes with dozens of inbuilt designs, allowing you to stitch monogram initials, words with a range of fonts, decorative borders and a range of other designs including butterflies, animals, crowns, flowers and many more. The machine allows you to change thread colour on the designs quickly and with additional software (such as PED) you can design your own patterns - so if you've ever wanted to sew your name on everything you own, this is the machine for you!

This may all sound way to complex for us average crafters but when you get your hands on the machine, it's really instinctive and easy to use. There's even an in-built help on the touchscreen, with animated tutorials to sort you out when you get stuck.

Instinctive, sleek and powerful. The Innov-is 900 has completely modernised the way I sew, making projects faster, easier and more professionally finished. Now my sewing project possibilities seem limitless, I can't wait to get started!

You can find out more about this machine at Brother >>

Craft Finds »

These save bookmarks are so geeky cute. Just print them out and you'll never lose your place.

Check out the print-out at Stilsucht >>

Books »

Featuring vintage knitting and crochet patterns from 1920 - 1949, A Stitch In Time by Jane Waller & Susan Crawford is filled with reto-knit fashions while will look just as chic on today's fashionistas as they did back in their day.

Approaching a hundred designs, the book includes patterns for a wide range of garments from swimwear and lingerie, to cardigans and evening wear. Knit and pearl some one piece slimline undies, a frilly cardigan To Greet The New Season, a shocking red Sun-Ray Ribbing sweater, comfy easy Winter Woolies undergarments, and even some cute crocket belts & clutch accessories.

Promising vintage knitting for the twenty first century girl, this book will teach you how to knit old fashion glamour for your modern day wardrobe.

You can pick up a copy of the book from Knit On The Net now >>

News »

Love it or hate it, these marmite cupcakes are very unique!

Check out the recipe from Marmite Lover >>

Turn bottle caps in to cute retro clock-style magnets.

Check out the how-to on How About Orange >>

Books »

Candles add the finishing touches to any home and create a relaxing atmosphere, no matter where the location. Now you can create your own with the help of Elaine Stavert and melt a candle for every occasion.

Including all the basics along with detailed information on ingredients and herbs as well as a guide to colour therapy, you can tailor candles to meet your specific needs. Make a Green Tea cup candles, an extravagant Sundae Best ice cream-shaped candle, Dine With Me candle sticks, candles in the sand and many more.

With 30 unique recipes, you can make a candle for every room of the house.

You can pick up a copy of the book now from GMC Publications >>

Recipe Finds »

Bake yourself some sangria pie for an authentic and boozy Spanish treat.

Check out the recipe from Junie Moon >>

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