a strange giveaway

 

Strange for me anyway as we don't do Halloween at my place.

 

Strange that quite a few months ago an American magazine

asked if I would be interested in doing a Halloween project for them.

Of course I said yes and bought a few bits and pieces

and started planning a project for them.

 

As some of you know I became very sick and all work

was put on hold.

 

Anyway although all of this post is a bit strange you might be

 happy to know that as I can't really use this fabric

I'm giving it away!

 

Because this is already such a strange post I need to tell

you that the giveaway is open to Australians only

and as Australians we aren't as into Halloween as other places

this is extra strange!

 

If you would like to spread the word about this strange giveaway

go for it and give yourself an extra entry.

 

Just leave a comment here and say BOO!

 

I'll draw the winner on Thursday night , Halloween .

 

BOO!

 

 

we all fall down

 

My favourite part of Christmas is the decorating.

 

These old, old Christmas trees of mine have seen better days.

Each year I drag them out and each year when they're not falling

over they just look very uninspiring.

I have had these daggy trees since I was a tiny thing

so I couldn't really get rid of them and I could have

sprayed them but then they wouldn't be the same.

 

I just gave them a very good dust and popped them into

some jars I had and poured some rock salt in the base.

This has kept them the same and stopped them falling over

but now they look really pretty sitting on a mirror.

 

I can't wait till I can start decorating for real!

When do you start?

if I can do it you sure can!

 

I have wanted to make my own labels for such a long time.

This week I was finally able to do it.

 

There are quite a few tutorials around so I thought

if I put a few together here it might be

helpful in case you wanted to try making some too.

 

Patchwork Pottery

Bug and Bird

Fresh Vintage

 

I have only listed ones using twill tape and t shirt

transfer paper because this is what I used but there

are lots of others out there using ribbon and freezer paper.

 

Just ask Mr Google he'll show you the way.

 

Now I'm off to make something to sew them onto.

 

bling bling

 

I do love a bit of sparkle , I really do.

None of it is expensive so I can get a pretty

necklace every now and then.

 

The problem is they get all tangled up and

I'm just not a patient person to spend ages untangling them.

 

So I covered a wooden coat hanger in washi tape

and then I screwed some little hooks in.

 

Now I can hang some from the mirror without them

getting all twisted together.

 

Do you love some bling too?

coffee? yes please

 

I was approached recently by Griffiths coffee to do a post for them.

They know me well , I love my coffee!

 

Coffee is big business and growing rapidly.

Unfortunately as it grows the small farmers are mistreated

and often robbed of their meagre earnings.

 

This is where Fairtrade comes in.

 

Under the Fairtrade system producers are paid a minimum price and

the co ops receiving an extra amount to further their communities development.

If the market price rises the Fairtrade price rises too.

Visit the Oxfam site for more info.

 

Why else would I promote a coffee business on a craft blog?

It's an Australian company and has been since 1879

so I think they must be doing something right.

 

My decaffeinated coffee arrived and I couldn't wait to have a cup.

 

Decaffeinated by mountain water ~ tick.

Organic ~ tick.

Ethically grown ~ tick.

Fairtrade ~ tick.

Australian company ~ tick.

 

This all won't mean much if the coffee doesn't taste good

but the coffee was just delicious!

 

Yes Griffiths did give me a tin of the coffee to try but

they asked for total honesty and I have to say I won't be drinking

any other coffee from now on .

 

(Griffiths have called it Just Fair Coffee but maybe they should have called it Just Great)