Happy Halloween and a Winner

Happy Halloween!

I've been out trick or treating with the nephews (which is code for watching them go trick or treating, and then sorting through their lolly stash and eating my bodyweight in chocolate and lollies).

 There was much excitement on the way out....

.... and a bit of dawdling on the way home

Did you know you can still buy sherbet straws? They even still taste the same! Yum.



Anyway, it's time to pick a winner.

Random.Org tells me that the winner is comment number 3

Tanya from Tanya Today

Congratulations Tanya! I'll be in touch to organise your prize.

It's the final countdown - Blogtoberfest '12

Today's the day.... we made it!

31 days of posting each and every day for Blogtoberfest.

A huge thankyou to Kat from I Saw You Dancing for picking up the reigns and filling in for Tinniegirl this year as the hostess with the mostess.

Thankyou to each and every blogger who signed up for the challenge (there were 334 of you) Yikes!

Thankyou also for the 54 giveaways (some of which are still running so quick sticks).

I'll be back later thisevening to draw the winner of my giveaway. But first, I have veeeeeeery important trick or treating to attend to with the nephews.

Making Space and Clearing Out

New Zealand Cushion Cover - only $25

There comes a time, where I need to let go and have a clear out to make some space around here.

So, there'll be lots of lovely things added to the shop at clearance prices.

Including Flex Frames... so that you can make your very own snappy purses and pouches. These are available as singles or packs of five.

And you can even buy small and large versions of my Mini Craft Panels for your pouches (or any other crafty endevour your heart desires)!

Stay tuned for more bargains!


PS - forgot to mention - there's a great tute at Crafty Ady for making pouches - there's a PDF link on the left hand sidebar over there. 

ROYGBIV

Sometimes I make things, take photos, and send them off into the world, and completely forget to blog them.

ROYGBIV is a very good example.

It was a custom order earlier this month for a Gleaners Inc customer, who was looking for a rainbow colour bunting.

Do you still remember the acronyms, sayings and songs that you learned at school to help remember things? I still use them to this very day.

But, I have to admit that I did google the rainbow colours.... just in case. You see, not only did we learn the acronym ROYGBIV, but we also learned that song:

Red and yellow and pink and green,
Purple and orange and blue,
I can sing a rainbow,
Sing a rainbow,
Sing a rainbow too

So... I wonder who is responsible for the little ditty that is factually incorrect?

And, does anyone else still have to recite this:

30 days has September, April June and November.

 All the rest have 31, excepting February alone, 

which has 28 days clear, and 29 each leap year.

 to remember how many days are in each month?

Sunday Snippets

This fabric has headed off and is destined for a very exciting and top secret mission

Happy packages have been sent off in the mail

Mr Limpy Houdini dog lived up to his name this week and went walkabout.

I went out searching for him, and by the time I got back home, he was sitting in the driveway waiting for me. 

Escapology is tiresome apparently.

Instagram / Intragam - Potato / Potata - Tomato / Tomata

 Resistance was futile...

My view at the Pop-Up Shop

It took ALL of my willpower to resist this Flicketty Splits wreath.

For everyone who has ordered a Get Maybelle to Ellen fundraising Tote Bag, they'll be in tomorrows mail!

PS - there's only 2 left!



Thankyou so much to everyone who came along to visit the Open Studio and Pop-Up Shop yesterday. It made me realise how much I miss craft markets.

Getting out there and chatting to lots of other makers and customers is a great experience.

We had so much fun that we're definitely going to do it again before Christmas, with even more makers so that you can get a fabulous crafty fix all in the one place!

It's also a great opportunity to check out the Olive Grove for anyone who hasn't already.

All set up and ready to go!

I headed in to the Olive Grove yesterday to set my goodies up in readiness for todays Open Studio.

There's a little bit of everything on offer.

Anna had a picture hook on her wall which was just at the perfect spot for my jewellery display to hang.

The Open Studio is on from 10AM-5PM. Anna will be there right throughout the day, and I'll be there from 12PM onwards. Hope to see you there!

The Polly Pratt Pop Up Shop

Only one more sleep!

I haven't had a market stall for the looooongest time, so I'm very excited about tomorrows Open Studio and Pop-Up Shop.

It's in the Polly Pratt Studio which is at the rear of Olive Grove Studios - 159 Sydney Rd, Brunswick.
You just enter via the shop, and then follow the signs out to the rear.

Of course, there's also the amazing designers and makers at Olive Grove to check out too!

I've been instagramming while I've been packing (I'm addicted sorry).

I'm taking along large and small craft panels...

...and tiny craft panels

Pendant necklaces and earrings...

Cushions and cushion covers...

 
Fabric, fabric and more fabric

Bibs

....and a whole range of pouches

So hopefully there's something to suit anyone and everyone!

See you there...

PS - we won't have access to Eftpos so please bring cash to make purchases.

PPS - I'll also have a small range of You Sew Girl Patterns available. If there's something specific you're looking for, please let me know and I'll make sure to bring it along.

My Creative Space - A New Cushion (or what happens at craft camp)

.....Doesn't always stay at craft camp.

When you put a group of crafty bloggers in a room together, much hilarity ensues, and lots of silly ideas come to fruition.
 
Case in point.

Because everything is better when you put something on it. Don't blame me if you have Beyonce on the brain all day.

Oh and by the way, green chevrons are really really hard to photograph while maintaining colour accuracy!

The cushion cover and craft panel are both available in the shop, and I'll be taking them along to the Pop-Up Shop on Saturday too!

.... and from the same craft camp - the Geek Amour Hipsters Paradise Card. Brilliant!

More creative spaces

Fobbed

The Top

When Nikki put a call out last week to pattern test her latest amazing creation, I had my hand up very high in the air madly waving back and forth.

Photo Courtesy You Sew Girl

The Bottom

It was the perfect little project to keep me entertained on a Thursday night.

I didn't have a keyring that was quite large enough in the stash, so I substituted an oblong ring and small keyring.

The Inside

The inside contains this little hidden pocket that holds a USB stick....

... and can I tell you, the method for making this little opening for the USB plug is INGENIOUS (yes I am SHOUTING because it's so good).

I don't know how many times I've scratched my head trying to work out how to do things like this. I have soooooo much still to learn.

Anyway, the thing that I love about this project is that I was able to make it with a few scraps of my Spring Bouquet fabric.

Just through making different fabric choices, you can make them to suit tweens, teens, adults, anyone really, and you don't even have to wait for the pattern as it's a downloadable! Gotta love modern technology.

You Sew Girl USB Key Fob Pattern

The Happiest Place In The World

Gosh the blogosphere is an amazing place.

Despite the fact that we only ever hear negative stories about blogging in the general everyday media, I have to say that the crafty blogosphere is one of the happiest places on earth. Maybe it's even our very own adult version of Disneyland?

May I present proof....

Specimen Number One:

This surprise package of loveliness arrived in my mailbox last week from Virtually Sally. Beautiful fabrics and thread (in my fave colours), crocheted coasters (gorgeous), a little granny square notebook to carry with me so I can record all of my brilliant crafty ideas on the run, and....

..... Rusty

He quickly made himself at home on the bookshelf.

Specimen Number Two:

B-Fab bought me this amazing Bacon Cookbook. It has every recipe you can ever think of that uses bacon... even desserts.

It's Baconpalooza brilliance!

Specimen Number Three:

Iona and I met up with Carly and her friend Jo at Finders Keepers on Friday night, and she'd bought me a pressie.

You can't really tell from my photo but it's the size of a matchbox.

I can't believe that she found something so teeny and tiny and beautiful with my name on it. She also didn't know that I'm a huge fan of Sweet William.

This is now living on my special treasures shelf.

So thankyou dear blogospherians.... you always make my days happier!

Proud Moment

I spent yesterday afternoon packing fabric for the upcoming Polly Pratt Pop-Up Shop this Saturday.

As I haven't been selling at any markets, I usually only cut fabric to a specific size as orders come in from the shop.

When I stood back and looked from afar, I have to admit to having a bit of a proud moment.

Fingers crossed the shoppers like them!


PS - this is post number 2000!!!