*Made with Love

It's school holiday time at the moment, so two of my nephews have had a few days in the country with Nan (my mum).

She's been texting photos of all of their baking exploits..... they've made homemade cakes and homemade bread.

They came home yesterday and this is the little surprise that I found waiting for me on my kitchen bench.

*I'm quite sure that my mum would have nudginly suggested he write the 'made with love' on the label, but it's pretty darn cute anyway!

Featured Hottie Number 35

Today I have a supercute little bookworm hottie by Kylie from A Little Red Dress.

The design is based on the spines of books, and she's included printed text from some of her favourites.
I had to look at this one up close at the exhibition, just so I could read it!

Ingenious! Thankyou Kylie....

The homepage of The Hottie Challenge - lots more in the Hottie Flickr Group and the Hottie Exhibition Group

Featured Hottie Number 34

Today's lovely featured hottie is by Emma from The Handmade Amoeba.

Her hottie is titled 'Preloved...Still Loved'.

Handed down the generations;
patched;
cuddled;
stained;
worn;
but very much PreLoved...
... Still Loved!

Pop on over to read about how she constructed it. Sounds like so much fun!

Thankyou Emma

The homepage of The Hottie Challenge - lots more in the Hottie Flickr Group and the Hottie Exhibition Group

Starting Afresh

Gosh the last month has just flown by....

It's been so busy between working, appointments, keeping up with the day to day, making sure Mr Limpy Houdini dog is fed, the hotties, and the testing.

Don't get me wrong. I love being busy. I thrive on being busy. But, sometimes it's nice to stop and smell the roses. Even if it's only for a day.

So today is the day. I'm getting a haircut (haven't had one for months), and then I might even come home and sew.  I haven't switched my sewing machine on since the 30th of June. That's eleven whole days. Holy Guacamole UNBELIEVABLE around these parts..... oh and of course, there's that article that's due on Friday which I haven't even begun to write............ but first, I sew.

Featured Hottie Number 33

I thought I'd give you all a bit of sparkle and bling to brighten up a Sunday afternoon by featuring this beautiful piece of Hottie art by Linda at Two Pink Possums.

It's great to see such completely different methods used to make a hottie.

Linda's daughter Bel decided to join in the fun too, and made this lovely hottie featuring a character that she designed herself, and then created using felt.

How wonderful to see the crafty genes carrying on into the next generation!

Thankyou crafty girls!

The homepage of The Hottie Challenge - lots more in the Hottie Flickr Group and the Hottie Exhibition Group

Time for a Thankyou

I'm interrupting the Hottie transmissions thismorning for a couple of overdue thankyous!

When I opened up the hottie package from Ady last month, there was also a lovely little surprise package waiting for me.

Ady had quite obviously read my mind! I'm still wandering around with my keys attached to the wrist strap that I bought at the Design Market in July 2008. After three years of everyday use, I guess you can imagine what it looks like? Manky!

But look how pretty this new one is!

I'm going to put the coaster to very good use too........ right next to my sewing machine (I always have a cup of tea next to the machine).

Thankyou so much Ady!

I have one more thankyou for today too.

A little while back I appliqued a little tee for Lauren's bubba's 1st birthday party.

Look at the beautiful Convertible Kimono Cord Necklace that Lauren sent to me as a thankyou. Absolutely gorgeous!

Featured Hottie Number 32

I completely love this hottie by Kylie from Mealy And I for it's ingenuity.

Op shopped and felted vest to completely functional hottie. What a brilliant idea!

....and of course it's perfect for snuggling too.

The homepage of The Hottie Challenge - lots more in the Hottie Flickr Group and the Hottie Exhibition Group

Featured Hottie Number 31

There's a little bit of sunshine peaking through thismorning, making it perfect for showing off these beautiful Australian  native flowers by Cyndy from Wombats Picnic.

The embroidery detail on this Hottie is exquisite. It's a skill that I do not posess, so once again, I'm in awe of the crafty talent!

Thankyou Cyndy!

The homepage of The Hottie Challenge - lots more in the Hottie Flickr Group and the Hottie Exhibition Group

Featured Hottie Number 30

Whoops! I unintentionally went a little MIA today..... but I was too tired to blog.

After scoffing a bowl full of ice-cream covered in three tablespoons of milo, I have my second wind, and blogging mojo back, so I couldn't resist returning to the hottie grand tour.

This super cute little robot was created by Carmel at Solomon Sewing.

Not only does it have an amazing applique, but just check out that swirly free motion quilting. I'd love to be able to do that so neatly.

Colourful pin stripes and starry binding to finish off. What's not to love!

The homepage of The Hottie Challenge - lots more in the Hottie Flickr Group and the Hottie Exhibition Group

Featured Hottie Number 29

I was completely amazed when Tracey from Mistea Crafts bought her beautiful hottie along to NCB.

This has all been crocheted with a really really small ply yarn. I've tried to crochet on numerous occassions and failed miserably, so I'm always fascinated seeing things like this.

I can only imagine how many hours this would have taken.... I wonder if Tracey would be interested in whipping me up a crocheted tunic dress?

The homepage of The Hottie Challenge - lots more in the Hottie Flickr Group and the Hottie Exhibition Group

Featured Hottie Number 28

Check out this super-cute hottie by Ro from Fuzziteddybear!

Ro only found out about the challenge near the end, but she whipped up this amazing creation in uber-quick time.

Awww and look just how adorable they are from the back too.... with their little mittens and shoes.

Ro, this is magnificent!

The homepage of The Hottie Challenge - lots more in the Hottie Flickr Group and the Hottie Exhibition Group

Featured Hottie Number 27

Oooh look at that gorgeous chenille! This lovely soft and snuggly hottie is by Selina from Selina's Vintage.

She put a pink and red flower on it... just for me!

Definitely warm and snuggly.

Thankyou Selina.... and good luck with the house move.

The homepage of The Hottie Challenge - lots more in the Hottie Flickr Group and the Hottie Exhibition Group

Featured Hottie Number 26

It's a triple treat morning today as I feature the three lovely hotties from Lisa, her Princess, and her Monkey....

I was fawning over the fabrics on the top two when they arrived, as they'd be divine for skirts! Why does my brain always automatically revert to skirts at the moment?

I adore the fact that they're all so different from each other. I don't know how Lisa managed to get them all made with a new bubba too.

Just gorgeous!

The homepage of The Hottie Challenge - lots more in the Hottie Flickr Group and the Hottie Exhibition Group

Featured Hottie Number 25

I think we all need something to warm the cockles when it's absolutely freezing like today in Melbourne.

Julianne from Sister Outlaws made this beautiful Heart Warming Hottie....

You must pop on over to her post to read the story behind the creative process, and the meaning of the labels. It really is a heart warming story.

Those cockles make me smile every time!

The homepage of The Hottie Challenge - lots more in the Hottie Flickr Group and the Hottie Exhibition Group

Featured Hottie Number 24

Today instead of one featured Hottie, I have two!

Anna from Shiny Happy Art joined in the challenge and received her pattern and cardboard hanger at the beginning, and then managed to lose it (which I'm sure that we all did at some stage during the month).

Fearing it was lost forever, she bought another kit..... and then, of course, promptly found the first one.

So she decided to run with it, and create two completely unique and gorgeous entries.

PS - Anna..... remember how you were trying to work out how to create George Clooney to take to bed? Well great minds really do think alike....

The homepage of The Hottie Challenge - lots more in the Hottie Flickr Group and the Hottie Exhibition Group

Featured Hottie Number 23

Another truly beautiful hottie!

This one is by Ingrid from Lottielulu. Ingrid's blog is one of the first craft blogs that I ever started reading all those years ago.... way before CurlyPops was even imagined in my mind!

 Everyone know that I love a good crocheted doily or tablecloth, so this is totally up my alley....

But the front is the bit that I love the most - the way that Ingrid has placed the crochet so that the pattern travels. Superb!

The homepage of The Hottie Challenge - lots more in the Hottie Flickr Group and the Hottie Exhibition Group

Featured Hottie Number 22

This week is going to be all about the Hotties

I think I'm still spinning out thinking about just how fabulous they are. I would love to have Magdalena's super cool hottie on my wall.... just so I could be reminded every day that I'm such a hottie (hee hee)!

There are some more very cool macro type photos in Magdalena's blog post

I think this is the perfect one to begin a Monday morning with a smile!!

PS - I've created a new Flickr group for photos from the exhibition. If you did happen to take photos, I would love it if you'd like to share them!


Some more Hottie Opening posts:

Beky from Pivotal Xpressions
Meg from Two Hoots

Featured Hottie Number 21

This gorgeous hottie from Margaret at Konstant Kaos really reminds me of Melbourne.

The dark grey (always the colour of choice here in Melbourne - and one which I'm quite partial to) really makes the beautiful autumn leaves pop.

Margaret has even taken those autumn leaves further into the design field.... can't wait to see what happens next!

The homepage of The Hottie Challenge - lots more in the Hottie Flickr Group and the Hottie Exhibition Group

The Great Hottie Challenge Exhibition Opening

Oh what a night!

The Hottie Challenge Exhibition opening at Open Drawer was a smashing success - the gallery was full, everyone had a great time, there were lots of red dots, and lots of donations for the favourite hotties..... all in support of The Margaret Pratt Foundation.

I quickly snapped these photos when I arrived (so they're a little bit blurry), and I've missed an entire section - sorry! I'm sure there'll be lots more photos around the blogs, so I'll be sure to add the links so that everyone can see all the lovely snapshots.

I loved the way that the hotties were hung at different levels.....

....and grouped together in similar themes, colours, or stories.

Each and every hottie is just SO different and amazing and beautiful.

When it came time to make my speech, I decided to leave my pre-prepared notes in my bag, and just speak from my heart.

I really hope that I remembered to thank everybody - Prue and Robyn at Open Drawer for organising this amazing event, each and every lovely person who made a hottie, made a donation, and came along lastnight.

At one stage of the evening, both rooms of the gallery were absolutely full!

I also need to thank my sister Rach for bringing over beautiful flowers beforehand, and to Cathy and Caroline for bringing along beautiful flowers lastnight. I need to have a party at home now to show everyone the flower arrangements!

The exhibition runs until July 24th, and I think it would make a lovely school holiday outing. All of the little people that came along with their parents lastnight had fun picking their favourite hotties.

I still need to organise at least two more trips - I'd love to take my mum and my aunties for a visit, and I also need to take my sisters and some girlfriends.

I highly recommend the cute little cafe two door up for coffee and cake.

The total count lastnight was 113 Hotties on the walls, but there are still a few more coming in. They came from Victoria, Tassie, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, New Zealand and even the UK!

I'm so proud of the way that crafters are always so generous.... it certainly warms the cockles.

You girls ROCK!


Links:
Miss G - Indefinite Space
Find Make Do