Sunday, December 19, 2010

Flower Sugar Fabric

I have so much that I want to show you, but alas this has to be quick as I need to get back to the sewing machine (sewing Christmas presents has turned me into a bit of a monster!). While I'm onto the sewing thing, I have to share these delish fabrics with you...


Enough said. What are you waiting for??? Get over there and have a look!
retromummy

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Stamped Wrapping Paper

I promised you a little look when we finally had some wrapping paper. 

Set up



Impromptu art smock


The finished stamps



Jellyfish's first attempt at stamping




Some more designs



The crinkles in the paper in the last few pics were per favour of Jellyfish, who thought it would be fun to play with the paper while Mummy was changing Little Clam's pants. :{ (Just gives it more of a "handmade" look, now doesn't it!)

 I just used acrylic paint and since I didn't have any sponge to put it on, I just used a piece of the foam sheeting that we cut the stamps out of to put the paint on, and a big roll of brown paper from Art Riot.


Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Take up the challenge...

So today I got a challenge from Jenn.

"...post challenge...if you choose to accept it...go to your camera, pick it up and then walk 50 paces from wherever your camera is...in any direction. When you get to 50 paces, stop. Wherever you are (provided it isn't in the middle of a road, or somewhere else dangerous...take a photo, "artsy" or otherwise and upload it as a post with or without commentary."

I walked to the top of the driveway - 29 steps - and turned right. This is what I found...


Shell Ginger leaf



 Plucky little ant


Back to the centre of the driveway, and turn left... 
(becuase I couldn't make up my mind which way to go!)

A random rusty thumbtack in a tree.

And while I am talking about out and about, I thought I would show you what I  found on Sunday while I was sweeping out the front  - this little lady was on the lounge room windowsill...
(Photos courtesy of Mr. Kelp)



If you would like to participate in the 50 paces photo challenge, leave a link to your blog post in the comments :) I can't wait to see what the rest of you come up with!

Monday, December 13, 2010

Conquering the Machine!

Any of you who have been following along for some time now will know that I have a phobia about sewing machines. And that I want to conquer this phobia. The scariness of it all partly stems from using my mum's sewing machine in primary school, having the cotton knot up around the bobbin, and being told not to do any sewing "for a while...". Twenty one years later, and here I am in trepidation of the beast. Problem is, I love fabric. Lots and lots of lovely fabric. I would be happy rolling around in great swathes of yummy colours and textures! :)

Well... I have news!


First I sewed not only on the sewing machine - but the over locker too! AND I sewed in my very first zip. The finished product is not perfect... but, I think it's cool, and I am feeling very pleased with myself. :) I also managed to sew a mostly straight line or two.  I'd show you more, but I am gifting it for Christmas, and I don't want the person to see too much.

And the WINNER is...

Thank you for all your great suggestions! I now understand why people do the random.org thing... it can be really hard choosing who the winner is. Actually, I wished I had made lots of cards so that I could send some to everyone who was interested!

To choose the suggestion I liked the best, I copied just the parts of your comments that contained the suggestions for future projects onto a separate document (minus your names), and started picking out the bits I liked.

And the winner of the vintage Imperial wallpaper note cards is...
Jenn of JennySunshine, Online who said
"I love all of your posts, I can't pick just one! You are so incredibly creative!!!! Challenge - mix two mediums. For i.e. Do something knit as well as crochet in the same project, or combine paint and cross stitch, clay and yarn...something like that. Also, make it "Seaweed and Raine" themed...like blue and green or under the sea, etc. I also second the sewing machine challenge!"

Thanks Jenn, Make sure you leave a comment with your current details so I can get the note cards to you. :)


Thanks again to everyone who joined in, and took the time to leave a comment. I love you input!!! :)

Sunday, December 12, 2010

SAN Fireworks 2010

Well tonight was the Sydney Adventist Hospital's Carols and fireworks. Both of my babies slept right through the whole thing - which was pretty amazing! I tried to figure out the settings for fireworks on my camera - but it was dark - that should teach me to be better prepared in future (... think I might say that next time as well?). The shots were either too early, or too late, which is a bummer. I did take some video - so the fireworks weren't totally wasted :)
Enjoy!





I think I enjoyed this years lot better than the one previous... I know lots of people say that, but looking back on some of last year's photos (which were very nice, don't get me wrong!), I just really like the colour and shape combinations this year.

Also tonight, I sewed my very first zipper in - which was a tremulous moment for me! I will show  you more when I get the project finished :)

Oh, and thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway... I will blog on that later with a winner. You have been very patient with me.
Good night!


Thursday, December 2, 2010

Note Card Giveaway

For some time now I have been meaning to do a giveaway.
Just because I like to give gifts.
When I started blogging I wasn't really interested in
gaining followers. 
It was just for me to express what was going on for me creatively. 
Then after a little while I realised that there were people who were actually INTERESTED in what I was doing.
(Jaw dropping moment).
So in honour of the 14 who don't mind being subject to whatever is going on in my head, 
a giveaway...


Remember these vintage wall papers?
I have turned some of them into note cards.






To be eligible to be gifted with a set of 4 of these note cards, leave a comment telling which one of my posts to date you have enjoyed the most, and then make a suggestion of what you think I should tackle creatively in the future. This is not a "game of chance". I will read all your entries, and the suggestion which appeals to me the most for one of my next projects will be sent four vintage wall paper note cards. (Please realise that it might take me a while for me to get to the project!!! :) ). Comments close December 9.

I look forward to reading your suggestions! 
(No, really. I love reading your comments! It's good to know what other's are thinking.)
Happy thoughts! :)

More stamping... for Jellyfish

Just a little preparation today for Jellyfish to get stamping for Christmas.


I wondered about getting all traditional and getting him to stamp with potatoes, but decided against having a toddler with blackened hands. So here I am cutting out some foam shapes a la Belinda.


 Jellyfish wanted to try his hand at some photography too - so that is his picture of the glue... (or his Christmas tower blocks! Seriously, he was taking photos of the wood blocks, the foam and the hole punch kit... so I figure it was the glue he was looking at.) Not bad for a three year old huh?


I will show how it all turns out when the paint is dry :)
And don't forget to stop by tomorrow for something a little special!
For more creative fancies, pop over to Koo.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Dyes and Stamps

I am working on a Christmas pressie for one of my SIL's. It's a mix of hand made paper, food dye, card stock, stamps (because you might want some too!), and envelopes. I will show you the out come when it's finished.

Getting the dying apparatus set up.

The dyed paper once it is dry.

Part one of the stamping.

From L - R: 1. Blue card, 2. Rock with fossils in it, 3.brown envelopes, 4. White ink pad, 5. Red & White twine, 6. Stamps.

Part two of the stamping. I haven't managed to get this done. I'm a little annoyed as I wanted to have it completed before Jellyfish and Little Clam woke from their afternoon nap, but the brand new white ink pad won't transfer any pigment to my rubber stamps. Has anyone had this happen to them before? And do you know how to solve my dilemma?

I also took the boys on a little shopping trip this morning to one of my favourite paper shops, and then on to do a little thrifting. I will show you the booty tomorrow (when some of it gets off the line). Hope you all have a carefree, crafty evening!

S xxx

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Christmas, er... saussage?


This is what happens when you let the man of the house loose in the kitchen.
And odd mix of sausage casing, and Christmas pudding mix.


He got the idea of everyone having their own little puddings for Christmas instead of having a big one to chop up. I think they are totally cute. We did a trial run the other day, and lets just say that they were completely delicious. No actual recipe, he just got an ingredients list, and figured out the proportions that he wanted in it. (So glad that HE can do math... I am hopeless at math with cooking!)


This is the test one hanging up to cool. The pictures are a bit dodgy. Bad lighting inside as it was just on evening (and Mr. Kelp wanted to serve it up and eat it, so while I was toying with getting the little tripod, he took a snap of this and started cutting into it...).


Packaged and waiting...
I can't wait to try out the final result, after they have matured for a few weeks :)

Thursday, November 18, 2010

My Creative Space - Thanksgiving Pumpkins


Today is Thanksgiving in the US... well to be precise, it's still Wednesday there - but in about 7 1/2 hours it will be Thursday, and a few hours after that (as I understand it) Mother's all over the east coast will be getting up to start preparing their Thanksgiving Lunch/Dinner.
Earlier this year, my friend in New Hampshire sent me a package to help me do an Aussie styled Thanksgiving on the third Thursday of May... She is also the one responsible for my taking the 'Blog Journey', as she set up this blog for me in the first place.


Anyway, as a thank you to her I have made some little Thanksgiving knitting place markers and a stitch marker. Today is the day I chose to post about it. I am sending them to her new home in Bunburry WA, as she married an awesome friend of mine last month. She arrives in just over a week - and I can't wait to have her in a similar time zone!

Welcome to Aus Jenn! I hope that home here will become just as special as I know New Hampshire is to you.
Publish Post

To see more creative goodness, head on over here.

Edit: I was talking to Jenn, and she tells me that the calendar is crazy this year, and that in fact, Thanksgiving is going to be on the 4th Thursday instead of the 3rd. Sorry.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

sweet broderie giveaway

Corrie from retro mummy has in her possession some very sweet fabrics, and she is offering a fat quarter of each one in the Sweet Broderie range. Pop on over to her site to have a look at the gelati coloured sweetness! :) retromummy.blogspot.com 
Personally I think you should all stay away from it 'cause I would love them to come and live at my house - but since I can't do that - see what all the fuss is about for yourself. Go on! You know you want to.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Our Mr. Happy Turns 1!


Little Clam's 1st Birthday was last week...

So I made this huge # 1 out of a large sheet of cardboard, and scrunched up squares of tissue paper, to hang above the fireplace. I also made more of these pompoms to decorate inside with - but blue ones to go with the yellow and orange this time.

 Mr. Kelp has always referred to Little Clam as Mr. Happy, so requested a Mr. Happy cake for him. We made this one from a round vanilla cake, almost an entire box of fondant icing, and some styrofoam for the hand an feet.

I made these cute bug & bee biscuits using a recipe that Mr. Kelp's grandmother gave me last Christmas. They were too cute, and rather tasty. Unfortunately for some of the guests, we forgot to put them out during lunch, but they did come out later and buzz around for a while. This picture above was about half of them.

Jelly salad  - for something a little bit different. I'm not sure if the kids or the adults liked it more! (The Jelly had grated carrot and crushed pineapple in it).

Between the pass the parcel, the treasure hunt in the back yard (where we made everyone look for Duplo blocks, which they then redeemed for a prize... chocolates for the grown ups and books of stickers for the kids), the presents, food, and then play time in the big sandpit we built last year, we had a fun but full day. Thank you to all the family who came from near and far for helping us celebrate and making it a wonderful day! :)

Monday, November 15, 2010

Sunsets & Storms

So it's been a while since I have had the time to more than glance at my computer...

After my last post, my Mum arrived to hang out for the week till Little Clam's birthday. One afternoon there was a ripper storm, followed by calm and a most beautiful sunset. Since I was busy putting the kids to bed, Mr. Kelp obliged me and took the camera for a walk. Here are a couple of shots that he came up with.



It was breathtakingly beautiful. There was a mist that was rising from the ground (that we didn't get a photo of sadly) that would sometimes eddy and swirl with the breeze, caught and back-lit by the setting sun. I was wishing at the time that I was out there running through it.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Missing You


Happy 75th birthday Dad!
Wish your ears could hear, your eyes see, and your arms still hug with the strength that God gave them.
... and I wish you could have met your grandsons.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

My Creative Space - Vintage Wallpaper

I've been playing with some colour combinations of card stock and vintage wallpaper. They aren't my usual colours that I like to go for (My style is more summery/fruity), but I figure I need to stretch myself occasionally instead of just sitting in my usual comfortable groove.



What do you think? Are there any that you like the combination of? Should I change some? Am I completely out of my mind with these ones?

For more creative spaces, drop in to Kirsty's.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Diet Donuts

Look out Krispy Kreme! These one's won't be landing on my hips any time soon!


I finished the donut for Jellyfish  on October 4 - which was a long weekend here.This is Little Clam's donut. I made the icing bigger on it (a little too big - I had to trim it because it was puckering and it just looked wrong), and instead of using dashes and french knots, I just used french knots this time as I thought they would appeal to the little guy more.


It took me a week and a half to get around to actually photographing it. Sorry. With Mr. Kelp away last week (9 days to be precise) I didn't really get anywhere near either the camera or my blog! I'm considering posting a tutorial on them... they are pretty straight forward though - you could probably do it all by yourself :) I am seriously considering making some felt fruit to give a more balanced "morning tea". One project at a time! :)

While outside enjoying my cuppa, I got distracted watching this little fella... I had to share him with you.


Enjoy your day! :)

Monday, October 25, 2010

Love and Kisses Crochet Hat


It's finished! The aida fabric styled hat crocheted for my niece. It's for her birthday which is some time away yet (Just hope she doesn't grow too big a head in the mean time!). To be honest I finished the crocheting part AGES ago, but since it needed to be put together and embroidered, it has been sitting on the UFO list (as Karen likes to call it). I finished the embroidery last night - and it wasn't until I'd done the last little kiss that I realised that I had done it on the wrong face of the beanie! Aagghh! So it is going to sit on the sidelines for a while longer till I decide if I am going to undo all the little crosses and start again.

The pattern is found here. If you are thinking of making one to gift and don't have the exact measurement of the kid, check out this size chart for some helpful tips.

Happy Monday!

S xxx

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Dream on...

I just found this today... and now I WANT one! A new pattern book by Toni Coward of Make it Perfect.
It's not available yet, sigh. I guess for the time being I will just have to add it to my wish list.

Image from http://www.tonicoward.blogspot.com/