Blogtoberfest Finale :: Day 31

Wow. I made it. 31 days of blogging. I'm quite proud that I managed to blog every one of those days. Some days were easier than others, but I guess that's just how life is anyway isn't it? I actually think I got a lot out of this. It seems weird, to learn something about yourself just by daily blogging, but I did. I found that I really like this blogging thing. More than I thought I would. I admit, when I first started, I thought it would be a little fun, but would be a great promotional tool as well. I didn't think you would make relationships with other bloggers in that way that I feel I have. I feel part of a community. I have felt for awhile that I didn't really belong anywhere. I have been through quite a lot in my life, and have always felt older than my 34 years. It's sometimes hard to relate to other people. But here in blogland, none of that matters. Age, location, background, it's all irrelevant. Anyway, it's nice. I'll stop blathering on now and get to what you're all here to read anyway, the winner of my giveaway.

The random number generator has come up with number 21..... and that is Jan from pass the slipped stitch over. Congratulations Jan, I'll send you an email and you can send me your details for me to post your prize.

I hope that everyone enjoyed blogtoberfest as much as I did, and I hope that Cathy organises it again next year. Maybe this will keep me on track for more regular blogging in the future.

Ummm....

Do you ever get the feeling your being watched by someone?

Giveaway deadline looming

You only have until midnight tonight (Australian time) to get your entries in for my blogtoberfest giveaway! So if you haven't entered yet, you better get cracking!

Go here to enter. I'll be drawing the winner tomorrow on the last day of Blogtoberfest, so make sure to pop back in then to see if you've won. Good luck!

Day 30: Meet Stella....

The new addition to the household.

Day 29: my creative space....

This week in my creative space I actually have something creative to show everyone! Finally!


Earlier in the year I made a little quilt with my chenille scraps in the crazy log cabin block. It actually won second place in the local show in the item made from recycled materials section. Since then I have had little ideas bubbling on making other more traditional quilts using chenille, rather than just your usual squares joined together. Not all quilt blocks would work in chenille. Once I saw the stacked coin quilt I thought it would work well. I came across this tutorial that I thought would come together nicely. And this is the result. Well, just the top. What do you all think? Does it work?



Don't forget, one more day to enter my blogtoberfest giveaway, here.

Blogtoberfest day 28: Struggling for things to blog!

I have been so slack with my own crafting that I thought once again I would show off one of Miss 12's latest sock doll creations.


The Lucky Cat. This one is my favourite so far. How cute is that little face she drew on!


Don't forget to enter my blogtoberfest giveaway here. Only a couple of days to go!

Blogtoberfest day 27: Random fact about me no:4

Lately I have had a little prune obsession. Not any old prune though. must.be.sunsweet.

Oh, they are so delicious. I have to limit myself though after a few very uncomfortable days following a massive prune binge. I won't go there.



I was feeling terrible though about throwing all these super non-environmentally friendly packets away, so I have been keeping them. For some uber weirdo upcycling craft project I have in mind. It may take me a while, I'll keep you posted.


On a semi-related topic, I have also been keeping these empty V8 poppers as well for another uber weirdo upcycling craft project. Oh yes, my husband thinks I have gone mad.

Blogtoberfest day 26: Craft fair bounty

I was very, very restrained. And only came home with these.


I love these Japanese fabrics, I could have bought the entire stand. Again, I showed restraint. Aren't I good.


Don't forget my blogtoberfest giveaway here.

Blogtoberfest day 25: Sunday Stash 11

It seems Tam is back and ready to play Sunday Stash again.

Thought I'd join in with some of my more Christmassy chenille.

Blogtoberfest day 24: Cherry Biscotti

Recipe from here.

Very tasty. I added more glace cherries than the recipe called for. Just.can't.resist.

Don't forget to enter my Blogtoberfest giveaway here.

Blogtoberfest day 23

It seems I may have run out of things to say.............

Blogtoberfest day 22: my creative space

This week has seen me with more hours at work. More hours at work = less time for creating.

So this week I'll show you what I have been obsessing about for about a month now. I have been searching ebay both morning and night for a dressmakers dummy. I thought of trying out what Gina at clutterpunk had done to make herself a dressmakers dummy, but my weight fluctuates quite a bit, so it's really not something that would work for me. Oh well, if I keep looking I'm bound to find one I can afford...right??

More creative types over here.

And don't forget to enter my blogtoberfest giveaway here.

Blogtoberfest day 21: More op shop goodies

I had a very successful day op shopping yesterday, and we only hit 2 stores!

I managed to pick up fabric, patterns, knick knacks, baby socks for Miss 12 and her sock doll obsession, zips and cups and saucers.


See that fabric there. 3.6 metres of fabulous wool fabric. It has these stripes of alternating colours down the length of the fabric, it's just divine. I see lots and lots of softies with that stuff. How much? you ask, would you believe $7.00. Yes, $7.00.


And these absolutely-couldn't-live-without-these cups and saucers from the Staffordshire pottery......$6.00 for the set of 6. I nearly fainted. I couldn't buy them fast enough. Now I just have to manage to sneak them into the house without Mr Vintage seeing them....


Don't forget to enter my giveaway here.

Blogtoberfest day 20: Nutella scrolls

Recipe found here.

I omitted the hazelnuts and sultanas ( I didn't have any on hand). They taste yummy and are great to freeze individually and pack in the school lunch's.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway here.

Blogtoberfest day 19: Must be time for a giveaway!

Well I've survived this far into Blogtoberfest, so I thought what better way to celebrate than with a giveaway!


Up for grabs I have a little denim and selvedge needlecase, handmade by me. There are 3 vintage sheet fat quarters, 1 vintage hobnail chenille fat quarter and a handful of some very pretty vintage buttons.


All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post. That's it. No complicated rules, and it's open to anyone, anywhere. Just make sure you leave some way for me to contact you if you win. I'll leave it open until the 30th of October and announce the winner on the last day of Blogtoberfest.


Good luck!

Etsy shop update

For any of my readers who might be interested, I have listed a few baby quilts in my etsy shop. I have listed them at great prices. I really couldn't believe no one bought my favourite little quilt at Handmade Heaven, this pink and grey one, I just love that colour combination. Oh well, maybe someone will buy it now!

Blogtoberfest day 18: Sunday stash

Recent additions to the vintage fabric stash.

Blogtoberfest day 17: Handmade Heaven Wishlist

I love to check out other crafty peoples handiwork, and yesterday was no exception. After dropping off Daisy, I had good look at everything gracing the shelves at Handmade Heaven this month.



Who could go past a CurlyPops brooch?! They are so beautiful (Mum, I would like the purple one please, hehe) Or even a CurlyPops bag.



Vintage Visions has some gorgeous jewellry, I don't know how she does it so cheap!


The crochet dishcloths are fabulous too. Made by Liesa's Grandmother.



And I'm sorry but I forgot to get the name of this seller. She has the cutest little bird and owl things in her space, very cute.


There are heaps more sellers at Handmade Heaven, some new, some old, but you're usually guaranteed to see something there that you didn't see last time. If you're ever in Ipswich Queensland, you must check it out.

Blogtoberfest day 16: Daisy

So the bunny did get finished. I have named her Daisy. She really reminds me of springtime, her colours and fabric textures. I love how she turned out.

I have changed things around at Handmade Heaven for Summer. I have taken the quilts home and the bunnies and bears and the Christmas stockings will take up other spots in the shop.



For my readers in the Northern hemisphere, you might want to pop back in next week sometime. I hope to have the chenille baby quilts that didn't sell in the shop up in my etsy store over the weekend, at a great price too!

There are so many goodies at Handmade Heaven that I have my eye on (wink wink, Mother), I think I'll dedicate a whole post to them tomorrow. Have to try and drag out this Blogtober thing you know!

Blogtoberfest day 15: my creative space...

Oh, there are so many things I should be doing. Why do I go to the library at these times? Am I crazy?! Instead of doing those things I should be doing (like the pile of chenille in the right side of the picture there, that should in fact be a bunny. A bunny, mind you, that should be going to Handmade Heaven tomorrow.) I have been lounging around in my free time from the day job this week reading craft books and Sookie Stackhouse novels. (tragic, I know!)


Once I get the five or so things out of the way that need to be done, I hope to make this very cool peg bag. Though, as much as I love laundry, I don't think I could bear to take that outside and put pegs in it.

Check out the more creative peeps over at Kirsty's.

Make sure to pop back in next Monday when I reveal my Blogtoberfest giveaway! Hopefully all you lovers of vintage textiles should like it!

Blogtoberfest day 14: Wishlist Wednesday

Becoming rather stuck for blogpost ideas, and we're not even half way through Blogtoberfest! Eeeek!

So I thought for those readers of mine, who may be stuck for Christmas ideas for me (yes Mother, I mean you) here are a few local items on etsy that caught my eye.

First up is this gorgeous pendant.


Found here.

Then, still on the jewelry theme, this very pretty necklace.


Found here.

And how about this tote bag. It's so sweet. I love totes like this with drawings on them.


Found here.

And last but not least, this super gorgeous handbag. It speaks for itself really.


Found here.

Blogtoberfest day 13: Random fact about me no:3

Image from here.


I LOVE lollies. A lot. I could eat them all day long, and have in fact, been known to eat them all day long, when given the chance. I go through little phases when I only eat one particular lolly for several weeks. For example, currently it's Allen's Snakes Alive. I have only been buying snakes for a few weeks. Before that it was Allen's Chico Babies. See a theme. Yes, Allen's would be my favourite brand. They are just too yummy. And how glad was I when they stopped making them with "all natural colours and flavours". Blerk to all natural colours and flavours I say.

Blogtoberfest day 12: More sock dolls

Miss 12 is still totally in love with making these sock dolls. I must say, her hand sewing skills are very much improving.


This is the latest one to join the family. She had been wanting to make a Zebra, and when we saw a pair of black and white striped socks at the local op shop for $1, she almost squealed (my girl is so not a girly girl, squealing is not something she would do!).

I'm a rather proud mumma.

Day 11: Wordless Weekend

Day 10: Wordless Weekend

Blogtoberfest day 9: Random fact about me no:2

I HATE feet. I mean I really, really hate them. They are gross, and wrong. So very, very wrong.

Blogtoberfest day 8: My creative space...

Is all about the cutting. Cutting my Softie for Mirabel, cutting Christmas present Kinder Girls and cutting out a secret something.

After all the boring errands today I hope to cut out a couple of bunnies for the shop. I thought the bears would be more popular than the bunnies, but I guess you never can tell what people are gonna like!

More creative spaces over here. And check out all the others joining in the blogtoberfestivities here.

Blogtoberfest day 7 : Redwork

With all the redwork around blogland lately, it got me thinking of the Christmas stitchery I started before last Christmas that I didn't finish.


I tracked it down, pulled it out, and hopefully it will be all finished for this Christmas. This is my first ever stitchery, see how I skillfully avoided the french knots. They scare me. Wish me luck in finishing it before Christmas!


Pattern bought from this ebay shop. Go check it out, fabulous seller.

Day 6 : Holly leaves home

Tomorrow Holly heads off on her big adventure. I've made her a little coat and scarf in case it's cold there, and a little bag to keep her and her stuff altogether. I'm gonna miss that little bossy boots. At least I know she will be loved.

Day 6 : shhhh

Shhh, super secret pattern testing happening for The Master Crafter . I am super excited.

Blogtoberfest day 5: Random fact about me no: 1

I thought to keep up the blogging momentum this month during Blogtober, that I might every now and then throw in a Random Fact about Me. Sounds good, yeh?

Anyway, a little known random fact about me is that I love laundry. I love washing, whether that be in the washing machine or even hand washing. There's something very therapeutic about hand washing. I love hanging out washing. I love the smell of fabric softener. I love wet days when I get to use my dryer and the smell of laundry wafts through the house. Weird huh?

I thought I might show you some things laundry related that I have found on etsy that I just adore.

I love this clothespin bag, it's just adorable.

Linen clothespin bag found here.

How gorgeous is this print?!


Laundry Day art print, found here.

How cute is this bracelet! I love the little shirts!!



It's Laundry Day Bracelet, found here.