Advent blog-a-long day 24

Merry Christmas everyone!

I hope you all have a very happy and safe Christmas.

Advent blog-a-long day 23

My poor baby doesn't like storms. And she doesn't like being photographed in them either!

And on a completely unrelated topic, Happy Birthday Mr Vintage! Love you heaps, hope you're enjoying your day!

Advent blog-a-long day... what are we up to now?

Seems that once again I dropped the ball there on the advent blog-a-long. Only 3 more sleeps to go now!


I participated in the ornament swap that was organised by Daisy Quilts but as my first ornament got lost in the mail, I only just received my ornament from the lovely Roz. She was so worried that I wasn't going to have my package before Christmas that she got stuck in and made me another one, and this time Aussie Post came through! Roz went to such trouble and packed in extra goodies (naughty girl!!) but I am very grateful, thank you so much Roz!

Here is my gorgeous ornament on the tree, next to the beautiful owl ornament bought from this fabulous etsy seller.


And because you asked so nicely Teresa, here is the dinosaur.

And here is Max just clarifying that this is indeed not yet another animal that we've brought into his house!


Note for future reference, when you read on the pattern envelope that you require over 500 grams of stuffing for a project, take note, this probably means that it's big! 26 inches long and 9 inches high as a matter of fact! I hope my cousins little boy doesn't run screaming from the room when he sees this monstrosity! Ah, live and learn people, live and learn.

Advent blog-a-long day 19

Well, the Kinder Girls were a real hit!

Advent blog-a-long day 18

Ahhh, Christmas.

Advent blog-a-long day 17 Purchases and Prizes

We're heading for the home stretch now! Is anyone else starting to freak out that all the things you had wanted to get done are slowly appearing as though they will not eventuate?

Anyhoo, this year Mr Vintage came up with the grand plan that we would buy our own gifts (secretly), wrap them, put them under the tree and then on Christmas day there will still be some element of surprise, but we get what we really want. I thought it was ingenious. So apart from the ice-cream maker (yay!!) I thought I would get myself some lovely handmade goodies. Handmade Heaven was the port of call.


Gorgeous kimono pendant from Melanie at Kimono Reincarnate. It took me forever to choose, they are all so beautiful.


And this fabulous button bracelet from Kellie Christie. Love the colour!


I popped in next door to the cupcake parlour and they had these cute little handmade goodie bags. When I saw the M, I couldn't resist. This is perfect size for the ipod Mr Vintage relented and bought our Miss 12 (aka Miss M). Too cute!


I've also been very lucky lately and won myself some giveaways. First was this super cute little pattern from Clare. Hopefully I can get some time to make some of these in Christmas fabrics, they will be sooo cute!


I also won a giveaway at Ravenhill. This little pack arrived in light speed time from Norway. I absolutely love all these fabrics, they will be petted for awhile I think before I decide what to use them for. Thank you ladies!

Advent blog-a-long day 16

Two Kinder girls ready to be gifted to my nieces.

I ♥ Kinder Girls!

Advent blog-a-long day 15

Meet Dresden. He's my favourite bear ever. He's going to be very hard to part with. Hopefully he sells quickly, or I might change my mind.

Advent blog-a-long day 13

It's amazing how much can be achieved when you lose your phoneline (and internet) for a day isn't it!

Advent blog-a-long day 11

Too. Hot. To. Blog.

my creative space...and advent day 10

Oops! Missed a day of the advent blog-a-long. Oh well!

Today is all about the Christmas baking. I'm baking mini Gingerbreadmen for all of Miss 12's past teachers. Tomorrow is her last day of primary school and I wanted to make a little thank you gift for all involved in the wonderful years she has had at her school. Must be the teachers daughter coming out in me.

Merry Christmas to all the creative spacers, see you next year!

Advent blog-a-long day 8

Two lanes of traffic. One headed to my intended destination, heavily conjested, the other headed past the op shop, smooth sailing. Which lane do you think I took?

Two skirts. $4 each. One of them a Jag.

Yes, the op shop gods were calling me my friends. And I listened.

Advent blog-a-long day 7

"Zing", all finished and ready to head off express post to Pip for Softies for Mirabel. I hope someone loves him!

Advent blog-a-long day 6 - Recent etsy purchases

I've been doing a bit of my Christmas shopping on etsy this year. You know, those little stocking filler gifts you get people.


First up are these little washcloths from here. Very well made, highly recommend her. Teamed with some gourmet soaps, these will be a real treat!


Then there is this little owl bookmark that is sooo sweet! Bought from one of my followers, also highly recommended. Miss 12 and I have been into all things owl for quite a while now, this will be perfect for her.


I've got this little owl ornament heading my way, I can't wait! Bought from this etsy seller.


I have had this print from One Red Robin on my favourites list for ages and finally succumbed. Also couldn't resist the fabric piece, this I think will go on a canvas. These ones are all mine. Nothing like getting yourself some gorgeous Christmas presents!

Advent blog-a-long day 5

Quirky traditions. Do you have any? Earlier this year I had been craving this topping that my Grandfather used to put on pikelets, and I couldn't for the life of me figure out what this stuff was. The best I could do to describe it was "it's like a golden-syrupy-buttery-stuff". I finally asked my Mum what this stuff was, and she informed me it was indeed a golden-syrupy-buttery-stuff. My Grandfather would mix his Golden Syrup and butter together to form a paste and would smear it all over his pikelets.



And so a new tradition was formed in my household. Every time I make pikelets (which is quite often!) we now have golden-syrupy-buttery-stuff. I love that even though my daughter never got the chance to meet this most wonderful man, she knows a little quirky something about him. Oh, and he also liked cheese and jam sandwiches. Not quite going there.

Advent blog-a-long day 5

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Advent blog-a-long day 4

I have never really thought of having an advent calendar before, but this year I have seen so many around, maybe I need to make one for next year. Having a Grinchy 12 year old in the house has made getting in the Christmas spirit a little harder of late.

I have found a few great ideas for advent calendars online and thought I'd share some with you.


This blog has a great list of things you could put into your calendar each day for things to do together. And I love how it's all displayed.



I love this one, found here. There is a great tutorial and even free PDF printouts for the numbers. The vintage spools look fabulous.



This one, found here, is very effective and something you could do with your little kids using everyday objects that you would have lying around. Gotta love the thrifty Christmas!

So go forth and Google my friends, there are many more advent calendars out there to try out, or just make it up as you go along I guess!

my creative space...and advent day 3

After the success of finishing Marshmallow I have found my sewjo once again.

Whipped up my Softie for Mirabel, using Jhoanna's fabulous pattern in the Mikes book, just have to finish the stuffing and Zing is ready to go.

I've got all my planned pressies on the go for the littlies in my life. Can't wait to make that dino softie in chenille, he should be cute!

Got little stocking fillers in mind for some of the bigger people in my life.

This weekend is all freed up to get cracking with all this. I think the pressure I put on myself with the Advent blog-a-long was a good idea to bring back the sewjo.

Check out the creative spaces here.

Day 2 - Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!

Meet Marshmallow. Or Marsha, for short.




The other Elephants know she is different, but they still love her all the same.

Elephants are nice like that.

2009 Advent blog-a-long - day 1

I have been a very slack blogger lately now haven't I? My poor followers must be bored out of their brain! So I decided to join in with Car in her 2009 Advent blog-a-long. Blogging the 24 days leading up to Christmas. I have many things that I still haven't finished for Christmas, so technically I should have plenty to blog. Or, you could witness first hand how Selina's 2009 Christmas went to hell in a handbasket, either way, should be fun!


I recently won a little impromptu giveaway over at Car's blog, and she sent me a lovely little Christmas stocking. It is seriously super cute. She also sent me some little pieces of chenille that she thought I might like. I wonder how she knew I love chenille?! (hehe!!) Go and check out her blog, and join in with the advent festivities, we'd love to have you along for the ride!