Monday, June 29, 2015

my new home


Yes it's been a while but you are welcome to come
in and see my new home.
Although it is over 100 years old it is in great condition
and it is just perfect for me.


There are no new, modern doors in this house.


The crooked walls are the perfect place for
 displaying vintage pieces.


There are weird little nooks and ledges everywhere.


An orange tree is almost ready to be stripped of her fruit.



The kitchen is tiny but so very cozy.


The front gate welcomes me home with all its character.


It also appears that the cat is settling in too.

Love my new home and can't wait to show you more!

PS. I can't find my camera again so these are photos from my instagram
account. I will find my camera soon but in the meantime 
follow along on instagram for more photos of my dream home.

PPS Thanks for sticking around I know it's been a long time 
since I've posted here xxx


Tuesday, March 24, 2015

creative challenge link up


Hi and welcome to the Creative Challenge Link Party.

I have been very distracted lately and didn't get 
around to reminding the challengers
that the link was going up up today
so I do apologise and hope that their
heads are a lot more level than mine at the moment
and they remember that today is the day!

The next Creative Challenge won't be until May
so I look forward to more joining in then .

PS My bigcartel shop still has a few patterns for 1/2 price
read here for what is going on.


Saturday, March 21, 2015

closing down sale


Things have changed for me over the last couple 
of years and I have changed too.

After much thought I have decided to close my pattern business.

My circumstances have changed and I will soon be 
moving to a much smaller home
so I thought this was as good time as 
any to make some life changes.


All of my remaining patterns in my bigcartel shop
will be half price until sold out.
I won't be reprinting any.
I will only be posting within Australia.



I have some new ideas for my shop that I hope to
get going once I settle into my new place.
Something I hope that will bring a little sparkle 
back into my life and hopefully into yours.

My blog will stay as is as I still need to craft
even if I do have to put on a brave front.

Thanks to all who have supported me and sold
or made my designs it has been so much fun.

Thank you xxx

Monday, March 16, 2015

tim tam rocky road (you're welcome)


You'll love this!
Tim tam rocky road is delicious 
even if I do say so myself.
It's not a very cheap recipe but it makes a lot
and because it's so rich you really can't eat that 
much of it anyway but you could try.

You will need ~
2 x 375g pkts of Choc Melts
1 pkt of raspberry tim tams roughly chopped
3 x 55g Turkish Delight
1 cup chopped pistachios
1 cup shredded coconut lightly toasted
1 pkt mini marshmallows

Melt the choc melts in a large bowl over
a saucepan of simmering water.
Let it cool slightly before throwing all the 
other ingredients in and mix well.
Spread into a greased and lined 18 cm x 28 cm slice pan.
You can make a thinner version by using two tins
and dividing the mix in half . 
I prefer the smaller pieces but that's just me.
Refrigerate until firm.



Enjoy!

Thursday, March 12, 2015

easter crafts


With Easter speeding towards us I thought 
I would round up a few of my Easter craft projects
here so you can get a head start on that bunny.

Fabric Carrots tutorial here.


Crepe paper carrots filled with popcorn here.


Beautiful and easy fabric daffodils here.


Shabby placemats and coasters here.


Some quick and easy craft for the kids here.

I'll be looking for more great Easter craft on
Pinterest in the next few days and I'll share
some more links here.

See you again soon!

Sunday, March 8, 2015

really, really easy comb cover tutorial


Do you scrabble around in the bottom
of your bag for your comb
and when you eventually find it it has all sorts
gunk over it?

Or is that just me?

Anyway I've been meaning to make a cover
for ages so I thought you might like to make one too.

First cut out one strip of fabric 20" long x 3" wide.
The size depends on the comb you will be using 
just be sure not to make it too snug because 
it would be a pain to be able to finally find your comb
and then not be able to get it out of the cover.


Trim corners.
Once you have turned it right side out and pressed it
fold it in half and press it again.
Now just stitch down the two long sides.
That's it!


Just pop your comb in and it will be so much easier (and cleaner)
to find in the bottom of your handbag.

These don't take a lot of fabric so they would be great for
Mother's Day stalls wrapped in celophane with a pretty comb.

or just for you!

Don't forget the Creative Challenge sign ups close today.



Thursday, March 5, 2015

chickpea and vegetable curry

 
Sometimes you need something that is not only quick
but nourishing too without having to run back
and forth to the supermarket.
 
Did I mention easy?
I love easy ~ I'm all about easy.
 
I make this curry from stuff I already have in the cupboard
and any left over vegies in the fridge.
 
Fry some onion, garlic and capsicum.
Add some curry powder or garam masala.
For this one I threw in some cumin and coriander
mainly because I love the smell.
 
Add 2 cans chopped tomatoes and a can of chickpeas.
Now go to the bottom of your fridge and chop up all
 the vegetables that need to go,
broccoli, pumpkin, carrot, potato anything!
If you are in a big hurry you can steam the vegies first
or just throw them in with the tomatoes and cook all together.
Pop the lid of your saucepan on and heat the lot
on low, just check the liquids by adding more water
or stock if you need it.
 
Serve with rice and a dollop of natural yoghurt or light sour cream.
This is delicious and you can freeze it too.
Enjoy!

 
Don't forget the signups for the Creative Challenge
close on Sunday, come and join in!

Sunday, March 1, 2015

creative challenge sign up no 2


Are you up for a creative challenge?
Well you have come to the right place.

Just in case you don't know what
the creative challenge is ~

* not a competition
* a fun way to reinvigorate your creativity
* a new way share your creation with like minded crafters
* a chance make some new friends

How it works ~
Firstly you comment on this post.
Next you must email me.
When the signups close I will then send you ~
a colour and a random picture.
From these clues you create something using whatever medium
you prefer it can be fabric, paint, glue, beads anything!

Write up a blog post but don't publish it yet.
At the completion of the challenge I will add a linky thing here.
You add your link to show what you've created.

What do you think? Are you game?

We only had two challengers last month but they were
both so outstanding you really have to see them!
Check out their creativity here.

Sign ups close next Sunday 8th of March.
Clues sent to you by Tuesday 10th of  March.
Complete your item and have a blog post ready for Tuesday 24th of March.

Ok first things first
 Leave a comment on this post.
Email me and say "I'm in !" or something like that.

Yay! Can't wait to hear from you!

Edited to add ~ I really need you to email me
that way there is no confusion about addresses.





Wednesday, February 25, 2015

easy tissue holder tutorial

 
Here's an easy tutorial for a tissue holder with a self facing trim
and these ones are lined so they aren't so flimsy.
Are you ready to make one or ten?
 







 
These are so good to have on hand as a little gift
or make a stack of them for fetes or Mother's Day stalls.

 
The longest part of making these is choosing the fabric!
 

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

these are a few of my favourite pins ~ overlocker/serger tips

 
I have an overlocker in fact I have two.
One I have had for years but haven't used in ages
and the other was a gift that is still in the box.
 
Part of my problem is finding time to set
myself up to use them.
 
The other part is fear and dread of threading
and actually using my overlocker.
 
I'm psyching myself up and checking out some
great posts on using my overlocker.
 
I'm not alone here am I?
I'm not the only one who keeps putting
off learning overlocker secrets?
 
Tell me I'm not alone.
 
Anyway I hope I'm not the only sook and
some of these posts help you too.
 
Bottom left ~
Getting started with a new serger from Create Kids Couture
Top right ~
Serger 101 from Sweet Verbena
Bottom right ~
 Using a serger from Make It and Love It.
 
What do you call it overlocker or serger?
 
 
 

Sunday, February 15, 2015

creative challenge link up

 
Welcome to the first Creative Challenge of 2015!
I may have started this one a bit early for the
start of the year as we only had two signups
but the ones that have accepted the challenge
are phenomenal!
 
I hope you can visit these and see how
creative they have been with their clues.
 
The next challenge sign up will be at the
beginning of March so I maybe you'd like to join in then.
 
 

Saturday, February 14, 2015

if you haven't got a Valentine

 
I've told you before I don't do Valentine's Day
but I do have a heart.
As a heart attack survivor I can't sing the praises
 
Every year on February 14 I make a donation.
Maybe you'd like to too.
 
See you tomorrow for The Creative Challenge.
 

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

so easily distracted

 
I was meant to be stripping the beds on my day off
but when I discovered one of the sheets
was looking a bit tatty
I stripped it instead.

 
I have visions of a lovely oval rug
and I have started a few times ~ got it wrong
and had to start again.

 
I think I'm getting there now.

 
Well I hope so.

 
The sheet was just ripped to make the lengths
and the many stray strands of cotton
were spread around the yard.
 
I then watched the birds collecting the cotton for
their nests for ages.
 
Told you I was easily distracted.
 
PS The first Creative Challenge for the year
is up on Sunday and although we only had two
challengers sign up I know these creations
will be just amazing!

Saturday, February 7, 2015

let's socialise

 
I'm not here as much as I'd like to be.
I work a lot of hours outside home and although
I still squeeze in craft every chance I get
I sometimes feel they aren't worthy of a full blog post.
 
I blab all about them all over the internet still.
 
Where you may ask?
 
Well....
 
I'm on Instagram
also on facebook
and twitter
or maybe chatting away about books on GoodReads.
I also have a profiles on linkedin and I pin madly at pinterest.
Of course I still have my lovely shop too.
 
Phew! That's a lot of socialising isn't it!
 
Speaking of socialising I have a lovely visitor
for morning tea soon, just wait till you see what she makes!
 
Also coming up is new tutorial with a small giveaway
from a great Australian business.
 
So yes as you can see if I'm not here I'm there.
Or there or there or there.
 
Where are you?
Let me know so I can find you too.
 
 
Here's another photo of Lucy
I mean really who doesn't love Lucy!
 
 
 
 
 

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

these are a few of my favourite pins ~ skirts

 
I like skirts, I really do but I don't often wear them.
My clothing board on pinterest is bulging with
lovely skirts that I'd like to try and make one day.
 
Here are just a few of my favourites ~
 
Left ~ Elastic waist skirt from A Small Snippet.
Top right ~ Striped skirt from Life is Beautiful.
Bottom right ~ Easy tulle skirt from Everyday Reading.
 
Are you a skirt girl?
 
 

Thursday, January 29, 2015

vintage sheet pillowcases

 
I have a few lovely vintage sheets and as hard
as it is sometimes to cut into them I know
I should sometimes.
 
I don't just hack into them for no reason
I like to make something special with them
like my lounge pants or my dressing gown. or even
doing up some old bookshelves.
 
 
It's been a while since I have made a pillowcase
or my medication is making me dopier than usual
but the part where you fold the pieces over to make the
flap so you don't see the pillow inside
was doing my head in!

 
I got it eventually but have left myself this little diagram
here to remind myself because I need to make
lots more pillowcases.
 
But for now I think I'll just rest on these lovely, soft ones.

 
Don't forget the sign ups for the Creative Challenge
close on this Sunday.
Read all about it here.
I'd love for you to play.