Thursday, September 30, 2010

Have you signed up for Blogtoberfest yet?



Well, have you? I've signed up again this year. How could I not? Last years blogtoberfest was so much fun, and kept me motivated not only to blog, but to keep up the creating so I actually had something to blog. I managed to blog every day of blogtoberfest last year, sometimes even more than once a day. This year I have actually been thinking and planning on things to do, so maybe it may even be exciting blogging!

This month I plan to have a few refashions done, and hopefully some actual garment making as well.

I plan to have at least 2 tutorials done.

I will be joining in with the regular memes like My creative space and Flea market finds.

And there will be weekly giveaways to boot!

Head over to tinniegirls blog and get all the details about blogtoberfest. Why not sign up while you're there, we'd love to have you join in the festivities!

Make sure to pop back tomorrow for Day 1. There may even be a giveaway involved.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

What did you do yesterday?


I went to the Valentino exhibit, and I am now suffering from severe couture overload. By the end of it I had run out of adjectives to describe his most impressive creations. If you have the chance, go and see it. You won't be disappointed.

The rest of the week for me is kid free (yay for horse camp!!) so my plans are to chain myself to the sewing machine. If you happen to see me around blogland, commenting and such, please send me on my way with a stern "umm, shouldn't you be sewing??!!". Thanking you in advance, Selina.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Week 6

week6

Rainy mornings and school holidays make for great excuses not to go walking. Put the big girl pants on and went anyway.

I'm hoping that these photos will start to look a little different soon!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

A win and some purchases

I was lucky enough to win the last giveaway that Kellie had for some of her new polymer clay button earrings and I thought I would go and hand pick my earrings from her stall at the last Handmade Expo on Saturday. I tell you, that market is getting better and better! Great atmosphere there on Saturday and all the stallholders were so busy. I barely had time to say hi to Kellie! These were the gorgeous earrings I decided on. They are so much prettier in real life. Thanks Kellie!


Since I lost my job last March I have really been limiting my spending, but when I saw this super cute Zombie (owl)ie from crzylady, I couldn't resist! Mr Vintage does love him some zombies so he was a late Father's day gift, to sit on his computer desk, nestled snuggly between his two monitors. Don't ask why he needs two monitors, I'm just assuming it's for his two heads.


Then Nic released these vintage ice coupon totes and I couldn't hit the add to cart button quick enough. This tote is just fabulous. Great quality, and so different. I just love it.


Have you been making any handmade purchases lately?


Monday, September 20, 2010

** Stocking Swap news flash!! **

Wow! Head over to Anita's blog to check out the fabulous package she has just received from the wonderful (and super quick!) Sarah!

Sunday, September 19, 2010

199....



I just noticed that I'm now sitting on 199 followers. Woohoo! 199 people are that interested in ME! 100 followers ago I dared someone to be my 100th. I wonder if that would work again to make it 200.......


edit: I love you guys! 201 followers ROCK!

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Stocking inspiration week 2

You may have noticed I changed the title from last week. It seems I had quite a few visitors googling "stocking love" and lets just say, they were not looking for Christmas stockings. Ewwww.

Anyway, I found some great free patterns on the web this week using felt. Either purchased felt, or felt you have made from old sweaters.

First up from the craft queen, Martha Stewart, these sweater stockings. Very simple yet quite effective I think. In fact, if you go to the Martha Stewart website there are a number of stocking patterns available.


There is also a tutorial for this easy stocking made from sweaters here.


I came across a free download from Amy Butler as well with a very sweet felt stocking with a pom pom trim. Click here for the download, the file is 3.5mb though, just in case you are watching your download limit.

I hope that gave you some stocking inspiration!


Friday, September 17, 2010

Quilts on sale at etsy



I've just listed the left over quilts I pulled out of Handmade Heaven yesterday in my etsy store. These quilts retail for $159.95 AU and sell really well. I simply do not have the room to store these quilts until next Autumn, so they are for sale at a drastically reduced price. If you happen to want one but want to purchase in Australian dollars, let me know and we can handle the transaction through Paypal. Check them out here.

My how she's grown!

Millie

My delightful little Millie. Now 8 months old. She really is a treasure.


Thursday, September 16, 2010

my creative space...


This week, apart from finishing off some custom orders, I've started cranking out the Christmas stockings in preparation for the Christmas in the Country art and craft show held in Gatton. Handmade Heaven was invited to participate this year and I'm sending along some stockings and some Christmas bears and bunnies. These are some of the stockings heading into Handmade Heaven today. I hope they sell well this year, mama needs some spending money for France!

More creative spaces here.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Spring has Sprung!

spring has sprung


Look what the locals brought home with them this morning. Aren't they the cutest?!

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

** Sale **



You've only got two more days before the quilts come home from Handmade Heaven. They're on sale now until end of trade tomorrow for 20% off normal price. There are only a few left, get them cheap while you still can! Great gift for the new Mum-to-be.

Handmade Heaven located Top of Town, Ipswich.



Giveaway winner!

quilty cushion

I'm sure you're all just quivering with anticipation (sorry for my little "Rocky Horror" reference, blame this chick here) wondering who won my little giveaway. Well, it's none other than......

Tracey Jane !!!!

Thanks everyone for entering! TJ, keep an eye out for the postie!


Monday, September 13, 2010

** Exclusive blog reader offer **


I've been sorting out my overflowing pattern stash and getting a little ruthless. I hope to be listing some more patterns over the next day or two and thought I might give my blog readers a little treat for putting up with my ramblings! For a limited time (limited because I haven't worked out how long yet) I will be offering free post on all my vintage patterns in my etsy store for all my blog readers. Just purchase any patterns in my vintage pattern section, pay your total and then I will refund you the difference of your postage back through paypal. Sound good? I hope so! Offer is for all blog readers, worldwide. Just let me know in checkout that you are a reader. Thanks everyone!


At my house...




I actually did some gardening! I have very black thumbs so here's hoping that these little passionfruit stay alive long enough to give us some fruit.

Other houses here.


Week 5

week5

Week 5: You would think it should be getting easier. Today was the hardest day yet. I tried to think of any excuse I could to not go walking. Sucked it up and pushed through. I really hope I can keep this up.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Stocking love week 1

Now that the Great Stocking Swap is underway, I thought I might have a weekly stocking pattern inspiration post. Does that sound fun?

I've got a couple of knitted and crocheted stocking patterns to share today. I found this knitted ripple stocking pattern. So very sweet. I could imagine this in all sorts of colours, probably a great way to use up bits in your yarn stash too.


Pattern found here.

And these gorgeous crocheted stockings. Love them!


Pattern found here.

Feel free to share any stocking patterns you come across in your internet travels too, I would love to see them!

Oh, and if you haven't already entered my giveaway, pop over here and do so. I'll leave it open for a few more days.


Friday, September 10, 2010

**** Swap Update ****


***Swap Update***


Hi swappers! You all should have received your swap partners details last week. If you haven't got them please let me know. I asked in the email I sent out with your partners details that you quickly send a reply to let me know you got them, if you haven't done this, please do. I am one to stress out about these things! So far 6 of you are yet to confirm this for me. Thanks heaps!

Thursday, September 9, 2010

my creative space...

stocking sneak peek


I got a bit of a chance yesterday to make a start on my Christmas stocking for my stocking swap. Just a little sneak peek today. I am using the DMC precious metal threads for the first time. Thought it would add a little vintage glam to my stocking. Most of my favourite vintage chenille bedspreads from the 1950's have that silver mylar thread running through them, and I just love it. It's a bit hard to pick up in the photo, but I added one strand of the silver thread into the red and I plan on stitching other parts on my stocking with just the silver. I hope the finished stocking looks as good in reality as it all does in my head!

Other creative spaces over here.

Don't forget to enter my 356 posts giveaway, over here.


Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Flea Market finds

Bit late with my flea market finds this week.

The last couple of weeks I have managed to find some very nice vintage linens. I found this gorgeous orange sherbet vintage sheet that I am considering making a dress for myself out of. It's gorgeous and soft 50/50 poly cotton, but the good quality vintage stuff, so it feels gorgeous against your skin, and will require no ironing. I love laundry but I am not a nut, I don't do ironing!

Some gorgeous Australiana tablecloths too. And a very pretty embroidered suppercloth. Has a few stains so was only $1. Perfect for cutting. I also came across what I think is meant to be a wall hanging. The colours were just so gorgeous I couldn't leave it behind. I translated the Dutch on google translate and it says "My kitchen is my pride". So sweet!

Check out other finds here at Sophie's.

oh, and check out my 356 posts giveaway here.

Week 4

week4

Week 4: I'm a little impressed with myself that I've managed to keep this up. Shoes still shiny though.....

Friday, September 3, 2010

356 posts, must be time for a.......

quilty cushion

giveaway?? You interested? I figure you probably need a bit of a reward for reading all my ramblings. I have been meaning to have a giveaway for a bit. So in celebration of 356 posts of random musings, lets give something away.

The cushion cover from yesterdays creative space seems like a good prize. You think? If you would like a chance at winning it, leave a comment on this post. That's it. Just a "yep, I want it" will do. I'll post anywhere. Thanks for all the moral support you gorgeous ladies give me, it really means a lot.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

**** Swap Update ****


Hi Swappers! I have finally finished sending out everyones swap partners to them. Yay! If you haven't got those details, please let me know. I have asked in that email that you send out a quick reply to let me know you got those details ok. Please do that, or I will be stressing over it constantly! I'm taking this opportunity to get myself in the Christmas spirit. I normally have it come July, but this year has been a bit of a crapper of a year for me, so it's been much harder to get that "Christmassy" feeling. So swappers, enjoy!

my creative space...

perfect seams

quilting practice

quilty cushion


This week the bunnies were absolutely doing my head in! I had to step away from them for a day and feel that little buzz you get when something you've never tried before works out well. So I grabbed some bits out of my vintage sheet stash, cut some 4inch squares, put them together in a little quilt sandwich and had a little play with some free motion quilting. Why hadn't I tried this before! So quick, so easy (once you get the rhythm) Then I turned the whole thing into a cushion. I can see a couple more of these cushions in the future, then on to a whole quilt I think. Free motion quilting, great for curing the bunny fuzzies.

More creative peeps, over here.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

** Stocking inspiration and Swap update **


1. christmas.stocking.6, 2. granny square christmas stockings, 3. Christmas Stockings, 4. bunch of christmas stockings, 5. stocking advent calendar, 6. Hand-knit Christmas stocking -- blue, white and red, 7. Recycled denim stocking, 8. Green with pinks Christmas Stocking, 9. Ruffled Lace Christmas Stocking

A little Christmas Stocking inspiration for your gorgeous Spring morning!

Swappers, I am still waiting on the details from 4 of you. Once I have them from everyone I will be able to allocate your partners. Sorry to those eagerly awaiting their partners, I will be on it as soon as I can.