Tablecloth Love

Do you remember that I mentioned that I bought myself a couple of lovely vintage tablecloths last weekend?

Well, I had a little mini panic attack thismorning when I realised that I couldn't find them!

But disaster averted. Suprisingly, they were exactly where I'd dumped them when I unpacked the car.

Now to decide just what to do with them (they're far too pretty for spilling food on)!

My Creative Space

The floor was mopped just prior to this layout luckily

There's not much happening on the creative front this week.

My sister has to go into hospital for a little while, so I'm looking after my eldest nephew for the rest of the week (here's hoping that I don't forget to pack his lunch).

With the recent change in the weather, it's actually been cool enough to sit in front of the ironing press to interface all of these t-shirts.

It took a while to work on the layout as I've ended up with two different sized squares due to the fluctutation in sizes of the original tees.

I'm using the blank backs of the tees to fill up the empty spaces (they're the large unironed pieces that I've plonked on the floor just to work out the layout at this stage).  I'm going to have to add fabric around the sides of all of the smaller blocks to enlarge them and to keep everything even.

I'm feeling that there's a very good reason why I'm not a quilter!

The brand spanking new home of My Creative Space

Very Belated

A christmas gift for the little miss using one of my fabric samples.... finally gifted on Sunday.

A sweet padded pouch to fit her Nintendo DSi using a 115mm flex frame.

Better late than never hey?

Obsessed

I have red ones
I have grey ones

.....and now I also have purple ones (with thanks to my BIL who bought them for me)

PS - I'm need to make some room in the shop for new fabric designs that are on their way. Every purchase receives a free mystery gift until the end of the month - valid in my Big Cartel Shop or my Made It Shop!

Oh What a Night - Part Two

After the excitement of the exhibition opening, we headed off to one of the local pubs in Ballarat for dinner.

It was a really hot and balmy Friday night, so the pub was quite packed inside and out.... and then the heavens opened.

Not long after the storm and torrential rain hit, the downlights went out, and water started pouring through them onto tables, and the kitchen was flooded. Thank goodness we still managed to get our dinner (because of course, we were just thinking about food)!

Then my sister received an emergency SMS from the SES to expect flash flooding in Clunes.... which unfortunately was our cue to leave and get back home before any of the roads were cut off.

The creek which keeps flooding runs along where those new trees have been planted

So after driving at snails pace through the storm, we were about five kilometres from home, and the rain suddenly stopped.

We decided to sit on the verandah, drink hot milo, listen to the radio, and wait and watch the creek.

Around midnight, the CFA went into action delivering sand, checking water levels and doorknocking the low lying houses and business owners from the main street, warning them of an impending flood (which would have been the third one in 6 months). There were house lights on, torches in backyards, and a few cars being loaded with posessions.

At 1 AM we decided to give up on Operation Creek Watch and go to bed.

The water must have peaked some time early in the morning, because thankfully the creek didn't break the banks this time, and water levels slowly subsided throughout Sunday.

To celebrate the Non-flood event, we headed off down the main street for some brekkie.

I thought it was very cute that this little doggie had his very own rather nice retro couch out the front.

I had yummy sour dough toast with quince paste and raspberry jam.

We headed off down the main street for a little spot of shopping. There's a lovely shop in the old State Bank Building which has a mix of vintage and new goodies. I found myself a couple of lovely vintage tablecloths.

They also have a great photo board with pics from when the Ned Kelly film was shot there a few years ago (including photos of Heath Ledger). It was really interesting to see.

Unfortunately a couple of the second hand shops weren't open, but that just means I'll have to get back there soon for another shopping trip!

Oh What a Night - Part One

Opening Night finally arrived!

It was so exciting to look inside the window and see beautiful things from some of my fave crafty peeps and then wander inside and see some of my very own handcrafted goodies for sale....

.... like one of my Owlie Pouches just hanging around waiting to go to a new home.

But then, it was soooo much more exciting to walk upstairs and see some of my sculptural works displayed in a gallery space for the very first time.

Along with these beautiful original artworks by Tinniegirl.

The thing that I love about group shows is that the artworks are so diverse. There really is something for everyone.

I fell in love with these pieces by Christine Hickson. Do you see the one on the bottom left? It's called 'Dorothy Grows Up' and it's coming home to live at my place at the end of the exhibition.

It suits me to a tee, and how could I not buy it, when it reminds me so much of my favourite shoes (which I just so happened to be wearing lastnight)

A big thankyou must go out to Steph and Marcia for being such wonderful hosts.

If you're out and about around the Ballarat area, you really must pop in for a visit.

Off to the Show

See you tomorrow!

My Creative Space

I'm off to another appointment today so I won't actually be creating anything, but I will be taking my sketchbook as I'll be there for a few hours.

In the meantime, please enjoy another sneaky peek of In Full Bloom.

I'll be packing my car when I get home, because tomorrow night is the opening of the group exhibition at Red Brick Gallery.

The home of My Creative Space

Suave - Part Three

So today was the big day - Moo Moo's 4th Birthday.

When I arrived, he was busy riding his brand new Ben 10 bike, so little Zaney helped me to carry the pressie (and my handbag).

There was a flurry of excitement to open the pressie (note to self: tissue paper is a really bad idea as it tears up into tiny little pieces that end up everywhere).

The birthday boy was far too engrossed in his new Nano Bug game to do any modelling shots for me. I'm not so sure that a fedora, vest, and boardies are a good look anyway!

Noah wanted to join in with the modelling action too.

There was a yummy barbecue dinner and bithday cake of course.

Storybook - Where's Chicken

I'd forgotten to make a birthday card, so luckily the wee girl came to the rescue yesterday. She designed all of her pieces for Moo Moo with a chicken theme - there was a chicken birthday card, a chicken jigsaw, an illustrated storybook, and a huge Pin the Beak on the Chicken game (including detachable beaks and blu-tack).

He has another birthday party on Saturday with all of his little kinder friends.... if only all our birthday parties could last for a week!

Suave - Part Two

Currently blog finished - I still need to stitch in the lining

While I was holidaying down the coast over Christmas, I managed to do a little window shopping.

I noticed that the cool surf brands like Rip Curl and Quiksilver had Fedora's for kids and adults in their current seasons offerings.

I had my nephews do a little Fedora modelling for me in the shops, and then promptly put them all back because I knew I could come home and make them instead!

The lining in my Dragster Dominoes fabric

This is the Fedora pattern by Nicole Mallalieu Design, and it's my very first attempt at making a hat. Now that I'm over my fear of hatmaking, I really should open up the Kids Hat pattern that I bought aaaaggggges ago, and make a start on those before another summer passes me by.

The Fedora pattern comes with three different sizes which is fabulously versatile for the growing boys in my family. Mr X wants one next.... to wear with his skinny jeans.

As this one is for Moo Moo,  I made the small size, with the standard sized brim. I used a lightweight black denim so that it's quite versatile for different outfits, but also just because little boys can be grubby!

For the hatband, I used some offcut from the suit jacket so that it matches his new vest.

He's going to be the suavest little four year at the playcentre party on Saturday!

Suave - Part One

Little Moo Moo is turning four this week - wowee how time flies!

He was just a little bubba when I began blogging..... his first birthday seems sooooo long ago now.

Now that he's a big boy, I thought that he needed a sophisticated and suave new outfit, and Bec had sent me a link to this supercute tutorial for a little boys vest.

When I went op shopping last week, I was also in search of a pair of mens plaid pants to transform into a vest, as per the tutorial, but instead, I actually bought a complete mens suit for $7.
So instead of following the tutorial, I made myself a half pattern from one of Moo's t-shirts (as per the tutorial), and then just winged it instead. The little sketch above shows how I laid down the pattern piece and cut out the vest. I've taken advantage of the original buttons and buttonholes, and the nice curved section at the bottom of the jacket.

I sewed the front and back pieces together, and then took it for a fitting. My original armholes were too small, so I had to increase them.

To finish off, I just added some binding to the neckline and armholes.

As I've only cut up the mens suit jacket so far, I still have an entire pair of pants that I can transform.... maybe Moo would like some matching trousers?

Ruffled

The next couple of weeks are crazy busy with events, appointments, work, and social invitations, so I'm trying to get a head start on the crafty front.

A sweet little girl is having a birthday very soon, so I had an idea in my head to make a crazy ruffle skirt.
I don't get the opportunity to make girly things very often, so I have to make the most of every girly opportunity that arises!

Amelie is not a fan of pink (which meant that fifty percent of my stash was banished), so I decided on green, red and yellow... although there is a hint of pink in the stripes on the binding.

Hope she likes it!

Frifty Friday

I hadn't been op shopping for the longest time.... it literally must have been months, so I was very excited to get out and about for a little oppy tour on Tuesday.

It seemed that everyone else had the exact same idea. The local oppies were bustling and there were line-ups at the counter each time (unheard of).

In my 'burb, we have Vinnies, the Salvos, and The Lighthouse in quite close vicinity to each other, so it was quite amusing to go from shop to shop and see the same faces. All the customers were following along and checking out all three shops.

Of course, the problem with the op shops being so busy, is that bargains were very few, and treasures were not be found.

But, I did pick up this dress for $7.50, and that was enough to make me smile!

My Creative Space

It's my first creative space of the year, after I somehow managed to miss the re-start last week.

I'm afraid that all I can show is the remnants of yesterday's crafting.

I finished my second (and final) piece for the upcoming group exhibition at Red Brick Gallery in Ballarat.

I'll be there on opening night, which is Friday 4th February, but it runs for an entire month so there's plenty of time to head to Ballarat and check it out.

Now it's the thing that I don't like about finishing a project.... putting everything away and cleaning up my mess.

The home of My Creative Space

Vintage Patchy Perfection

I've been waiting and waiting and waiting for this beautiful vintage sheeting patchwork doona cover to finally make it's way onto my bed.

It was a very lovely get well pressie that Bec made for me during my last hospital visit.  It was all freshly laundered and ironed and ready to go..... but then it sat in my smelly hospital suitcase for two weeks after I arrived home (whoops).

I popped it through the wash again this week so that it was all nice and fresh again.... but when it comes to ironing, that's where I draw the line.

Instead, it's all soft and crinkly and snuggly..... just the way I like it!

Time to Pick a Winner

Thankyou so much to everyone who entered my bloggiversary giveaway.

Here's hoping that I can find something to keep blathering on about for another three years!

Without further ado, there were 40 entries in total.... and the random number generator chose number 23

It's Lisa from The Princess and The Monkey

Congratulations Lisa - I'll be in contact so that you can choose your favourite pouch as a prize!

The Evolution of a Granny Bag

It all began with a hand sketched drawing.....

....which became a design way back in November last year.

It was digitally printed as a lovely linen cotton blend fabric sample in December (right here in Australia), and has been longingly fondled and gazed at ever since.

It's finally been transformed into a handbag, just the perfect size for me and all of my bits and bobs.

I'm hoping to be able to share the fabric printing news very shortly, but in the meantime, I have more samples on the way, and I'll hopefully have some granny square fabric available very soon!

Escaping to the Country

I packed three of my nephews into the car yesterday, and took a little drive to the country to visit my mum.

Even though it was hot in Melbourne, there was a lovely cool breeze down in the south west of the state.

Gypsy the Shetland loved all of the extra attention.... the poor old ducks, not so much!

The boys were able to collect eggs from the chooks, ducks and turkeys.

The quails had just had little babies on Friday, so there were five tiny little yellow fluff balls (and one grey one) running around the bottom of the bird aviary.

The little boys collected turkey feathers with Nana to create these fantastic headbands. I just need to add some elastic to the backs of them, and then return them.

It was such a lovely day out. I really should do it more often!