Yay! We made it! And I didn't miss a day! Though I am sure some of you tuned out quite some time ago. Don't worry, I understand, I have blathered on a bit now haven't I?
I thought for the last day of Blogtoberfest I would hold an impromptu giveaway. Every comment made throughout the month was put into the draw and the random number generator thingy helped me pick a winner. And according to my calculations the winner was.... Fiona from BubzRugs.
And the prize? Well I thought that now October is over we are on the homeward stretch to Christmas, and at work we have just put out all the gorgeous decorations for sale this year, a few little pretty decorations would make for a nice giveaway. Hope you like them Fiona! (They really do look better in real life! The weather here today is atrocious for trying to take photos!)
Thank you everyone for keeping the morale up around here for the month, I have really needed it! Especially the last week or so, life has been crazy that's for sure!
I hadn't planned on blogging twice today, but I just had to share my latest flea market find this week, it just couldn't wait!
A couple of weeks ago I went to one of my local oppies and spotted this fabulous cookie jar. I fell in love, but not in love with the price tag. I took a photo of it on my phone, and left it there. I thought often about it, but resisted the urge to go back and get it, I thought $15 was just a little too much to pay. I vowed however, that if the next time I went there (for legitimate reasons!) it was still there, it would come home with me. Well, yesterday I needed to get a jacket to destroy to wear to the party last night, and off I went. Obviously, it was still there, just waiting for me, so I could not in all good conscientiousness leave it behind now could I?
Braaainssssssssss............
That 80's party I mentioned a couple of weeks ago is on tonight. And it turns out it's not only an 80's party, it's an 80's "Thriller" party. I'm not really sure what that means, should make for an interesting night though!
So I've made my scrunchie to match my outfit (sort of), not the best scrunchie I've ever made, but good for one made in 5 minutes! Did I ever tell you that scrunchies were the first thing I ever made for sale.....when I was 12! Anyway, I'll see you all tomorrow with pictures from tonight!
Monty on his leash. Hmmm, doesn't he look happy.
Oh yes, really struggling for blogtoberfest fodder now!
Really struggling now as we head into the home stretch of Blogtoberfest! Today I am totally stumped, so I'm just going to share my new friends success in making it into the local paper after only being in this state for about 2 months! How awesome does Jennie look with her dolls! Congratulations Jennie, I wish you all the continued success in the world!
And just like that we have a vegie garden. Funny how it took us leaving acreage and returning to suburbia to make us get in the vegie growing spirit. I think this spot, right near the back door and my clothesline is perfect. I won't be able to forget it's there when I wash nearly every day! Hopefully we'll be harvesting in no time!
Nothing else to see here today, move along, move along.
Did you know that there is going to be a suitcase rummage in Ipswich tomorrow??
Did you also know that Jennie is going to be there? With her gorgeous dolls and koalas and other bits and pieces! Pop along along and say hi, make her feel welcome to our great state!
I love it when you put the call out to the op shop Gods and they respond. Only just this morning before heading out to a few oppies I put that call out, asking for something Scandinavian of some kind tablecloth or tea towel in colours of blue red and white, to match a piece of vintage braid I've had for ages. I was thinking of a cushion or something small and sweet. I couldn't believe my luck when I saw this little suppercloth. Absolutely everything I was looking for. Thank you op shop Gods!
Tuesday's Treasures.
Last year I blogged in Tuesday's Treasures about my comport collection and thought today I would post about my most recent acquisition given to me by my Mum. I love this one with it's beautiful detailing and edging. Just gorgeous, thanks Mum!
Joining in today with the Blogtoberfest host herself for a selfie Sunday post.
A work friend of mine is having an 80's theme party in a couple of weeks and today while mucking about with my hair for the party, a la 80's, I thought it would make a great shot for today's post. Side ponytail, teased up fringe. Ahhh, the 80's.
And because most photos of me from that decade (and in fact this decade) looked like this one, I thought I would include it too.
I'd love to see your self portrait too!
When revealing my secret op shop locations to Jennie yesterday, it got me thinking about one of my all time favourite (and best bargain) buys from one of my favourite little op shops. It's one those op shops that is like a little cavern of treasures waiting to be discovered around every twist and turn. Full to the brim, but very organised, and very friendly staff. And the prices! Oh the prices! On one trip there I picked up this set of six Staffordshire Potteries coffee cups and saucers for only $6. Can you believe it! That aqua and purple together is just divine. Do you have an all time favourite op shop you could spend days wandering in?
I had every intention of spending this afternoon making pancakes and getting my craft on, but a distraction of the nicest kind interrupted those plans. Don't worry Jennie, it was well worth the sacrifice! Thank you for today, you are awesome!
Yeh, yeh. I know. You're all sick of the pancakes already. But I do have a challenge to uphold you know. But I promise this will be the last blatantly obvious pancake reference. From now on I'm going to try to go a little Seinfeld-esque in my pancake photos and references. Hopefully I can pull that off!
Anyway, pancakes. I was asked yesterday for the recipe I have been using, so I thought I'd post it. Found here.
Little Dutch Pancakes.
2 cups of self raising flour
2 tablespoons castor sugar
pinch of salt
1 cup of milk
1/2 cup of water
3 eggs
maple syrup and icing sugar to serve
Combine flour sugar and salt in a large bowl. Add milk and water and mix with an electric mixer until smooth. Add eggs and mix until combined and smooth. Heat pan and lightly grease indentations. Add mixture until holes are full, cook for a few minutes (until bubbles appear on surface) then turn over. Continue to cook for a further minute or so, they will puff up slightly when cooked. Remove from pan and sprinkle with icing sugar and drizzle with maple syrup. This batch makes almost 80 little pancakes in my maker. I've also been putting the mixture into a squeezy bottle for easier distribution in the pan. Also great for keeping the left over mixture in the fridge for next time!
Nothing else to see here. Move along.
For quite some time now I have been feeling decidedly un-creative. My love and passion for vintage chenille just didn't feel the same anymore. When we moved house 3 months ago and I had to pack all that chenille up, it felt as though it was weighing me down, I felt burdened by it. Something you are passionate about should never feel like a burden. I thought that if I sold off a fair chunk of it that it wouldn't all feel so oppressing. But that didn't really work either. I even briefly toyed with the idea of selling the lot. I have a custom order sitting here for quilt, pillowcases and euro pillowcases and I have known about it since before the move. Yes, over 3 months ago (let me tell you, this is the most patient client ever). I have made excuse after excuse to procrastinate on this thing as I just wasn't feeling the love anymore. When all my excuses had been used up, I knew I had to get started.
So, I started slowly. I thought I'd put together the pillowcases first and just chug along from there, all the time thinking, this is it, this will be the last chenille quilt I ever make. I finished the first euro pillowcase and sat back and looked at it. And the love came back. Just like that. How could I ever even think it had left! So I'll finish this order off, and it won't be my last. There may not be one for awhile, but at least I know, my chenille love is still there, it was just hibernating.
I didn't make that smaller cushion, it is pretty though isn't it?
