Day 1 of Blogtoberfest!

While I was pretending to be my husband's assistant yesterday afternoon I was doing a little blog surfing and I gave tinniegirl a visit, just in time to find out that Blogtoberfest was about to start. Last year I discovered it half way through the month and was quite disappointed that I had missed out! I immediately signed up and now I have a whole month of daily blog posting ahead..........I'm looking forward to this challenge.

So here we are with my craft on the go!

I'm sure some people don't quite understand why I do the things I do, like take some hand stitching along with me to the pool while the kids play instead of a book or a magazine to read.

I don't think that spending time with the kids is time wasted......in fact it is the best time spent! I do think that sitting beside the pool for 3 hours eating chips and rubbish from the canteen is wasted time. I prefer to take along a bit of hand stitching and be a little productive if I can, it also stops me from visiting the yucky canteen......which is a good thing!

I do sometimes swim with the kids, but this time of year is still a bit on the cold side for me!

Ryan and Megan didn't seem to mind the cold until they got out in the fresh air.....brrrr! We all had a great time and I only got a few strange looks, looks from people who just don't quite get me........maybe they're the strange ones!

Thanks for visiting!

My Creative Space.....More goodies for the tree!

Almost every branch on my display tree has something hanging off it now, something super sweet for Christmas, or something that can be hung on something like a door knob all year round!
I love these gorgeous little linen and gingham hearts, I've done them with three different gingham ribbon colours......red, hot pink and navy! I see these colours in a lot of the new seasons fashions, they look great together so I thought I'd go with that.

These hanging ornaments are only $6 each ...... if you want some made up just let me know via email.

I had plans to take the kids to Tamworth today but my husband came home and asked if I could play the part of his assistant at work today ( Julie is on holidays ) as he has an important meeting with a client, so it looks like I'll have to put a skirt on and pretend to look busy! I wouldn't dare start messing with anything Julie has going on in the office........she is so good at what she does, very anal about having things just right! So it looks as though I'll be pretending to work hard when I'll actually be doing a bit of blog surfing!

I wonder if I could sneak some stitching in under the table? Maybe not this time!

If you want to see more creative spaces head on over to kootoyoo and say hello.

Thanks for visiting.

Time to get moving!

Apart from a load of other things going on around here at the moment it's time to move into top gear and start preparing for some Christmas markets!

The past few days I've woken with a massive headache.....it's my own fault because I'm already stressing about having enough stock and it's only September ( for a few more days anyway ). I have some lovely ideas I want to get to but I'm only going to make one thing at a time so I don't lose myself in all the mess it would create.

I've been making a few more miniature owls the past few days, I generally make six at a time and it's working really well, they are so cute I'm going to find it hard to part with them!
I've even set up my big tree in the house ( it's weighted down in a big silver bucket full of bricks ) and on this tree I'm starting to hang a few bits and pieces I've been working on ( more of that later ) ready for a huge Christmas display!

The owl population around the base of the tree is growing by the day........these little cuties are only $15 each if anyone wants one.........just shoot me an email.

I'd like to know why it is that throughout the school term I have so much trouble getting the kids out of bed and ready for school, now that it's the holidays guess what time they get up and start playing...........6am give or take 10 minutes! I guess it's a sign that daylight saving is almost here, which means all those lovely long afternoons smelling the cut grass, time for a walk after dinner and before the sun sets.........the best time of year!

Have a great day!

String Stash.

This morning a little parcel of cotton string arrived in the post.....very excited about this! I have some Christmas ideas I want to try out and I needed the string to finish things off nicely.
I'm kind of attached to my growing string stash, the huge big thing of string ( that weighs about 10kg ) I pounced on at an auction last weekend and purchased for $5......don't know what I'm going to do with that much of the big stuff but it looks good next to the smaller balls of string!

Thanks for stopping by.

Little Hoot!

Yesterday afternoon I was playing around and thinking about things on a smaller scale. What could be more cuter than a miniature owl!
Some of the details are slightly different.....to keep the costings down. I think I'm going to sell them for $15 each.

This little sweetie way too cute for words!

My work desk is a disaster and it's driving me mad, it looks like a cyclone has hit! This week I've had 4 -5 things on the go at the same time and I think it's time to just clear the crap and start fresh in the morning.

Going to try something new out of my Donna Hay book tonight........I'm not a chef so this could be interesting!

I hope you all have a lovely weekend planned.

Stitching on a Sunday!

I was really looking forward to a sleep-in this morning, somewhere around 6.45am would have been nice, I was woken by some person using a chainsaw at 6.05am, then minutes later I could hear the kids outside calling the chickens and the cat over to the house.........what do you think I found next? There was Ryan and Megan snuggled up in Megan's bed, Ryan had a cat and Megan had a chicken! I wish I had taken a picture of this but I was a bit cranky at the time.......yesterday we gave Megan's room a total clean, walls, blinds, bed, old toys stored away, wardrobe sorted, it was a huge job! Grrrrr!

So because I didn't get my sleep-in I decided to use some of the Yardage Design fabric I had left over from the chair revamp and make myself a zippered pouch to put in my handbag........I'll probably put some lippy or something like that in it.
I did this to the bottom so it'll stand on its own if needed.

I was surprised I got it all together without any problems...........I really don't like putting in zippers but this one went in quite nicely, much easier than the little pouches I made out of a denim skirt.

I'm off to see what the kids are up to in the kitchen..........I think I can smell some chocolate brownies in the oven. Yummo!!

Bird Brooches.

This morning while the kids were outside building another cubby house I made a few more little bird brooches, some which are going to Shop Handmade and some have just been listed in my madeit store.
These little brooches are so cute and sweet........and only $7.95.

Right now they are having a little rest in my bird nest.......while waiting to be shipped to their new home.

I'm off to do something with a few aged banana's for morning tea..........hope you are having a lovely day!

Tweet Tweet!

I just wanted to share one of the cute little bird brooches I made this morning. I only had enough time to get 10 done ready to pop in the already bursting box for Shop Handmade which is going in the post this afternoon.
I figured that the shop might get a bit busy as Floriade is about to start..... so I'm off to work on some more goodies to get in the post.

Thanks for stopping by.

Last Monday friends of ours had their third baby boy so I thought this time around I might make them something special to celebrate the occasion. I found this cute range of fabrics at my local fabric shop and I could almost picture the quilt I wanted to make instantly! Now I can't say for certain that this will work because the way I'm going to approach this is slightly unconventional.........in other words I don't have a pattern I'm just going to cut and see what happens! My vision is blocks with circles in them and within those circles are going to be safari animals......remember the only other quilt I've made was for a doll's cot, I hope I haven't bitten off more than I can chew!
I got a lovely surprise in the post on Thursday, I was expecting something totally different like card stock and when I opened the package this is what I found........

This gorgeous owl handbag came from my sister, I totally didn't expect it because I know she and her beautiful family have alot to deal with at the moment.......I think this just shows the type of person she is.........very thoughtful and always thinking of others! The bag was filled with a load of gorgeous goodies ( she knows me well ) including some fabulous brooches from the very talented Rosie from Notions......I think I'll have to step out with one of these on next week.

I spent all day yesterday at the Area PSSA Athletics Carnival with my son Ryan, I was a long day but great fun, the kids did a great job and tried their hardest and a few from our team will be heading off to Homebush, sadly Ryan's Relay Team missed out by one place so maybe we can give it another go next year.

I'm off to create a few goodies for some orders I have to post on Monday so stay warm and dry!

Spicing things up!

Yesterday I spent the afternoon trying to "spice" things up a little! It was a little bit tricky trying to judge the amount needed for each pear and by late afternoon I think I had sniffed that much spice that I simply couldn't smell it anymore.........but this morning, oh boy do they smell good!
Today I have that much work to do it's not even a little bit funny! So what does a girl do.........have a coffee and then do a spot of shopping! Perfect relief for my stressed out overloaded brain!

I bought this absolutely gorgeous dress and because I'm a little challenged in the height department I didn't think that that should be the reason for not buying something I really liked and thought would look great with a pair of knee length boots and a bit of extra layering up top! So wish me luck because I'm about to hack into a very expensive little number with a pair of scissors!

Hope it all works out!

Keeping busy!

I like it when my little sewing projects keep me busy, I love the feeling of being productive and being able to make something cute and pretty!

So today I made it my mission to create some small pears with hearts on them for a special order. These ones are so cute I think I might have to make some more for my madeit store and Shop Handmade.

I have been testing which heart colour combo works the best....... which one do you like?

I have alot to do this afternoon including wrapping up some more creations for the post, give my new Dyson a whirl ( I am so in love with this thing ) then I have to go and mop the floors because the kids made a mess while cooking chocolate crackles last night and I was way too tired to fix it properly.

Hope you are having a lovely day.

P.S. Don't forget the Pear Giveaway.....it ends on Friday!

Today.....

I made a few of these cute little owls.
I took a few pictures before I shipped them off to Shop Handmade so I could list them in my madeit store.

Out of all the little owls I've made I think this one is my favourite.

My Creative Space.

Today I'm taking things on the road. Ryan did really well at his School Athletics Carnival last Friday and is now eligible to compete at the Zone Athletics Carnival today. If yesterday is anything to go by it's going to be super cold and windy. I'm planning to get there nice and early so I can park right next to the oval where I'll be able to see everything from the comfort of my car. To keep my fingers busy between events I have packed a little basket with a few pincushions which need their base stitched on and a magazine to read.
I'll be listing a few of these in my madeit store very soon so keep an eye out for them if you're interested.

For more creative spaces head on over to kootoyoo and say hello.

What's going on!

It's been quite a busy week this week and having the kids back at school gave me the opportunity to get back into some serious sewing! I have a few more things to show when I get the chance to take a few pictures. This is just a quick shot of some of the gorgeous kids belts stacked up ready to go.
I know I've talked about this before, but my daughter will pick up anything.......and here is just two things she caught this week.......

This afternoon it was this giant caterpillar.

It kind of creeped me out but she didn't mind at all, in-fact she wanted to keep it as a pet!

Just like the little willie wag tail she caught a few days ago.......straight out of the cats mouth! She thought it was injured when she brought it inside to show me, then it flew out of her hands! It found a nice little perch up on top of my Yardage Design tea towel, I was just hoping that it didn't poop all over it!

It took a good half an hour to hunt it out an open door.

So there you go........never a dull moment!

Nearly time to Belt-Up!

Remember way back late last year when I made a few of these........
..... well I thought it was time to make a few more. And when some more fabric that I ordered last week arrives I'll add it to these pretty little numbers and start putting them all together! I'm slightly concerned that I didn't order enough D-rings but that problem shouldn't be too hard to rectify.

It feels like my whole house has been turned into a work room, boxes lined up against the wall with partially finished orders, cutting out on the table and my sewing table......well that's another story!

I totally love the whole process of making something beautiful, so as you could imagine I'm totally in my element at the moment........a bit more space and a few more hours in the day might be useful, other than those minor annoyances I LOVE LOVE LOVE what I do!

I have to go now and take the kids into swimming............Talk soon.

My Creative Space.

Last week in one of our local op shops I saw this little girls skirt with cute ruffles along the bottom for $2, I knew instantly what I could do with it!
Two totally useful and very pretty little coin purses.

I lined them with some really bright and fun fabric so when they were zipped open there would be a little surprise!

Megan claimed one the second she saw them, hers will probably be used for all sorts of things not just for coins, I can see she she'll probably stash rocks or some other little treasure she found in it!

I you want so see some more creative spaces this week head on over to kootoyoo and say hello to Kirsty.

Hope you are having a totally creative day!

The reveal.

Well here it is....the cot, the baby ( not a real one ) and the quilt!
It looks good altogether.......now I think I'll have to do something on a much bigger scale for Megan's bed. This little quilt measures 50cm x 70cm.

This cot was given to my mother when she was a little girl about Megan's age, Megan has had it for a few years now and it's usually piled to the brim with dolls and a few stuffed toys.........today that is going to change, only one baby sleeps here now!

It feels kinda cool to be able to make something special which adds to the cot, maybe one day Megan can pass onto her children.

Apart from being used for a bit of vintage storage I knew those suitcases would come in handy......they make really nice props for my photo's.

Autumn Leaves

I think that Autumn is my favourite time of year, I know it's almost over but I couldn't help but take a bit of inspiration from some of the beautifully coloured leaves scattered around our yard yesterday afternoon.
A perfect design for some journal covers. I've been trying my hardest to get them ready for the post today........not going to happen, coffee and op shopping with the girls doesn't help!

I really must stop getting distracted with new designs and op shopping for cool stuff, because I have deadlines for Handmade Living. Such an exciting project to be involved in......if you want to find out more go here.

Hope you are having a happy Monday!