Monday, November 28, 2011

Blessed

So a little while ago, the hubby walks in with the mail... now for those of you who have been reading along for a while, you will know I LOVE MAIL!!! (Well, except for bills and such, that is!)
He had with him a parcel... even better!!! :)
Ooooh, really? The parcel is for me? :D
Wanna see?


Don't you just love packages tied up with string?

Inside the first thing I set eyes on was one of the beautiful cards that Miss Rockmelon makes (she has loads of cool stuff. If you have never been to her site, go check it out). This has to be my favourite one so far.


One day I'd love to travel to France. Not just for Paris - mind you. I want to explore the provinces, and try to get a real feel for the place. I did six months of French in Uni... but that was about 10 years ago, and sadly I have forgotten much of what I learnt! 

I also have a penchant for maps (I just bought myself some from the oppy the other day)... check out this cool envelope.


But wait, there's more...




And then I spotted it... the coolest personalised card! :)
The sheer effort put into it amazes me, and I feel truly blessed to have such a friend that would make me something like this. I have a plan for it... but it might be a little while before you see it again. Check out the green "E". This is the very same fabric that I used to make a reversible Diana Hobo bag for my sister last Christmas.


And on the back...?


Another personal little touch.

How have you been blessed this week?

Monday, November 21, 2011

Baby Hexagon Jacket

I've been meaning to share this with you for about two months now! So sorry for the delay. I know that things seem to be quiet around Seaweed & Raine, but things on the home front have been busy, busy, busy (more on that some other time perhaps).


You might remember this Bendigo Cotton yarn that I found some time ago? Well the last time you saw it it looked like this...


I have finally uploaded the photos so I can show you how it turned out. I'm pretty chuffed with it really. My first hooky baby garment that isn't a pair of booties!!! YAY! It isn't perfect (I know where the mistakes are), but if you aren't looking for them you would pretty much miss them entirely. This pattern was so easy to do - once I figured out what the creator was REALLY saying in a couple of places (that would be me still being a novice-self-taught crochet-er). It's so repetitive, I watched several episodes of Grand designs while making it (which might be possibly why there are a couple of mistakes... I wasn't counting carefully enough! LOL).
So are you ready?
You are?
Fab! Let's get to it then! :)



And a close up of the buttons... Which is why it was October instead of the beginning of September when I finally finished it! I took me forever to find buttons that I liked to go with it.


I'd love to say I Ravelled it here... but I never did update the deets. Gifted to a cute little nephew.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Farm Birthday

The whole idea for a Farm Birthday for Little Clam started when Jellyfish and I were looking through one of my cake books for birthday cakes for HIS birthday. JF randomly pipes up and says "I think you should make a Barn cake for ...". There were no pictures of a barn in the books we were looking at - it was just random - off the cuff... but I loved the idea! :)

I used the party invites to kick off the theme. I know in the past I have just emailed a lot of the party invites, but I really love receiving mail in the post, and I just think it makes it that much more special.


As always I was far too busy enjoying the party to get many photos, but here are a few for you.



The cake is made from 2 x 20cm square cakes that hubby trimmed to add to the top layer, and 1 x loaf pan. I made the windows and doors out of piped white chocolate (lets just say that my hands were none too steady at the hour of the night I was making them!). The roof is just ice cream wafers, cut to size, and the characters are per favour of the kids' duplo set. :)

When it came to party favours, I wanted something that was way more than just lollies. I searched many times till I found these milk pails in colours that the birthday boy chose. And there were JUST enough of them for the day!


You can see poking out the top one of the straws that I made for the party (tutorial here).
I filled them with plastic animals, Pascal Milk Bottle lollies, little fuzzy chicks, the duck crayons that we made the week before the party (posted here) and fruit scented highlighters.



The Thank You tags were sourced from Anneliese here.

The menu was based around brunch (thanks for the idea Anneliese!), which lent itself readily to the whole farm theme I thought.

Scrambled Eggs
Homemade Muesli (Granola to all my US friends. Recipe from Nov 2010 Martha Stewart Living magazine   - which I doctored a little.)
Pancakes with either Homemade berry compote or Maple Syrup with cream
A selection of toasts, spreads, and cereals
Fresh Breakfast Juice


And for the kids we had milk in little glass bottles. These were juice bottles that I removed the labels from, and added Moo "juice" labels (found here). Note to self... set up table and get photos of everything BEFORE the kids sit down! lol
Farm Girl

I used a vintage sheet with farm pictures on it for the table cloth on the main table (It was mine when I was about 6), and a light blue one on the kids table - which is what Little Clam chose. Apologies for not getting a photo of the actual table!!! ( I had to get the sheet out of the cupboard to take this one).


The men were good enough to give wheelbarrow rides to all the little peeps, and in between turns the rest played on the swings, bikes and sandpit. I had some games ready to go... but didn't end up using them - woops (pin the nose on the pig, pass the parcel, etc.). We finished off with everyone sitting down and watching Little Clam open his presents, which had been stored in a drum at the beginning of the party.


All in all, it was pretty stress free - just the way you want it for a 2-year-olds party.  :)

Check out where other peeps are being creative...

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Straw Topper Tutorial

Well I guess it isn't really rocket science as to how you would put one together - but I believe I will share it with you anyway! :) (Even though I didn't get a good photo of the finished products - thought I had taken one... perhaps it got deleted). I wanted to make straw toppers to go with the milk bottles that I will show you later this week, so keeping with the farm theme, and using some of the same print of stickers that I used for the invitations I gathered my materials.

To fit the stickers, I cut rectangles of cardboard 7cm x 4.5cm, and then folded it in half. I stuck the  stickers in the centre of each side, trying to make sure that the top of each sticker matched where the top was on the other side.


I cut some of the excess off from around each sticker to make them more shapely.  Here they are before I stuck them onto the straws. I used two different types to glue to assemble it all. Lampshade glue down either side of the inside of the card stock, and non-toxic glue stick to glue it onto the straw surface. (I didn't want to take any chances with the chemicals transferring to the straw!)


Wrap them around the straw so that the edges match, and press together till the glue holds.
Viola! Straw toppers.


For this set I just used regular stiff card stock - but if I were doing it again I think I would try for something that has a coating on it and so will make it a little bit more drink proof.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Making molded crayons.

So on Thursday I showed you a little bit of what I had been up to during the week. Now I'm here to show you the whole lot.

We decided that for Little Clam's birthday this year we would do a farm theme (or rather his bigger brother thought it would be cool, and since he loves making animals noises, I thought "Why not?") so after looking online for farm animal molds we found this duck mold.


I bought some crayons from Kmart (hindsight says I probably should have bought really good quality ones), brought them home and Jellyfish and the hubby helped peel them. We chopped them up and the boys helped add them to the molds.


We first tried putting them in the microwave - but although they got hot and started to soften, they didn't seem to be melting, so we put some foil on a tray and put the mold in the oven. They melted quite quickly, but seeing the finished result, the pigment settled faster than the wax. After talking to a few lovely people in the blog world, I have discovered that they seem to work better when you melt them in a tin in a water bath on the stove and then pour them into the molds. Maybe I'll try again... the boys have lots of crayon stubs around and I have another pack of crayons! ;)


So there you have it, some duck crayons for Little Clam's farm party.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Crayons

Well, my creative space has looked a little like this since last week...


Enter some chopped crayons and silicon molds.


And the product is finished, but I'm not sure that I should show you just yet. Maybe on the weekend :)
I will say if I were doing it all again, I think I would try cooking spray on the molds first, as I think I might have totally trashed the mold. :(

 Linking up here.

Monday, October 31, 2011

Ahh Manly - I have missed you!

I thought I'd share a little bit of how I celebrated my birthday with you. A friend of ours was staying with us for my actual birthday, so he shouted us Indian so I didn't have to cook or clean for dinner (So generous of him!!!). Thanks J! We combined it with a little Patritti Canada Muscat...mmm. This is how mine was in the glass after pouring - no kidding!!!


Then on the Sunday we met my niece (who baked the most decadent Red Velvet cupcakes for me - they were sublime!!!) at Manly for a bit of an outing. First we hit up the Markets - which seemed a bit smaller than the last time we were there :(
We had a lunch at a restaurant not too far from the beach (think big juicy Barramundi fillet with salad and chips), and then went for a walk along the promenade towards Shelly Beach where we found some humour...


Let the kids play on a cool sculpture...


And admired some people who were paddle boarding around this boat (Made me think of you Jana!).


I found a cool poster in a coffee shop window... only later did I discover it was in reference to the All Blacks trouncing the Wallabies! lol

Long Black, Short Black, All Black.

There was a really cool building along the waterfront where some guy parked this bike... I HAD to share it with you!!! :)


We also stopped for our first taste of Ben & Jerry's on the way back ... there were a WHOLE lot of rich flavours that were a bit to heavy for such a hot day, but I have to say the boys and I loved "Chunky Monkey" flavour!!! :)


The boys wanted to have a swim, and then we were off home! They were in the car about 10 minutes before they fell asleep. I call that a successful outing! :)

Hope you have all been getting in some good R&R time on the weekends!

S xxx

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Farm Birthday Invitations

Little Clam is having a birthday very soon, and I wanted to show you what I did to get the ball rolling. He is at that stage where he loves making animal noises (even though he can say their names) - his favourite being snorting like a pig!!!

I considered making my own graphics, or finding some on the internet, till I found these stickers - which worked just as well, and was much quicker since I had a short space of time to get it all together and into the post. I don't know about you, but I think invitations that you receive in the post are just so much better than an email. Something more personal about it all. (I confess, I both hand delivered some of Jellyfish's invites and scanned and emailed some).


I chose a concertina style strip for the invites, measuring 38cm x 12.5cm (each panel measures 9.5 x 12.5cm). I decided the order of the animals (the last one needing to be the cow, as the cow says "Moo" and it needed to rhyme with two) so it ended up saying "Baa, Quack, Neigh, Moo, Look who's turning two", and stuck them on. Next was typing up the details, printing them, guillotining them and gluing them on. I'd considered wrapping a ribbon around them and tying it in a bow, but thinking of posting it meant that the bow would be too bulky, so I opted for matching stickers to seal the ribbon strips.


Last off was brown paper envelopes -  no farm theme is complete without the simplicity of brown paper, and I just love brown paper envelopes!!! :) These were sealed with piggy stickers, or some other farm animal and then the boys and I took a little walk to the post box! All done! :)


I got the inspiration for the verse on the card here. ;)

Check the party links on the side bar to see where I'm playing!!! :)

S xxx

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

A Cool Change

Cooler weather has hit Sydney again. Makes me want my thick feather doona, the heater, and a cup of hot dandelion coffee, aka dandelion tea ('cause it's sweet without me having to add sugar!!!)


Enjoy your day!


S xxx

Monday, October 24, 2011

Week of Birthdays... WINNERS!

Well the air has cooled here enough for me to finally sit at my computer for more than 20 seconds! Phew! Summer was trying it's hardest to move Spring along today - thankfully tomorrow will be much cooler (and I plan on getting some baking done!).

SO..... to announce the winners from the Week of birthdays...


The winner of the handmade necklace is...



# 6 Jana!

Congratulations Jana! I will be getting it in to post to you this week! :)

And the winner of the Vintage Golden Books is...


# 12 Sascedar

Congratulations! If you can email me your deets I will get your books into the post too! :)

Thanks again everyone who took part, and to my followers - you are the best! :)
It's great to know that I'm not babbling to myself all the time. I really appreciate your comments and feed back on things.

More birthday related things to share with you later this week...

S xxx

Thursday, October 20, 2011

My creative space - dappled day

My creative space today hasn't really been filled with a lot of creating (not unless you count a few loads of washing and playing with the boys :)... they are creative little beans).

Actually, that doesn't meant that I've not been having a good time - quite the contrary in fact. The hubs and boys and I ate our lunch on the picnic rug today, in the shade of  a tree. The air was balmy and scented with the fresh smells of a late spring garden, grass, what is left of the jasmine and other blooms.

Spin forward about an hour.

The boys were both in their freshly made up beds taking a nap, the washing was flapping in the breeze, and the picnic rug was where I left it. So what did I do??? Well, my latest issue of Real Living magazine, pillow, something minty and sweet and I took a little jaunt outside to soak up the scents and dappled sunshine. Ahhh bliss. I could have taken photos to share with you - but, well, I was just enjoying it FAR too much!

I will show you what arrived in the mail though... My final bunting piece from The Bunting Swap.


Back of bunt

This is first swap organised by someone else that I have taken part in, and the the bunting was from Rach herself. :) Kinda goes with what I was working on yesterday... the pendant isn't finished yet. It's for a super spunky friend. I should probably read up on good techniques since what I was thinking didn't correlate with what I got. Close-ish, but not quite. Maybe next time.

If you missed my two Giveaways, try here and here.

All the other creative wonders are playing here today.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

A Week of Birthdays... #2 Giveaway

Hi everyone!
As promised I am back with another giveaway. I decided to split the items up this time because not everyone is going to love each thing that is on offer. Different things appeal to different people. I get that.

I have been blessed with a few cool vintage finds over time. This is one of them.

It's not up for grabs! :)

I have a collection of my own Little Golden Books that I had as a child and since having children of my own I have become a happy browser in thrift stores, looking for cool titles with great storylines and pictures that we don't yet have in our collection. Some days I find nothing. Others are gold.

Today I want to give an opportunity to you - my lovely readers - to get a few for yourself if you are that way inclined. Here they are in all their aged glory...

Seaweed & Raine 
Vintage Golden Book Giveaway!




To enter you must be a follower. Because this is my way of saying "Thank you!"
for sticking with me on this journey.

There are 3 way to enter.


1. Leave a comment telling me what your favourite Little Golden Book is.

2. Leave a comment telling me what you read in your spare time.

3. Blog about this giveaway, and then come back and leave a comment 
letting me know that you have.

Entries close Friday October 21.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Bamboo Firsts.

I've been wanting you show you this for more than a week... the first thing I have ever made with Bamboo yarn.



The yarn felt fabulous in my hands - soft, smooth. I did find that it was very easy to split with the hook though if I wasn't paying attention. This one goes into the gift pile for a very special lady. The yarn was Moda Vera Bamboo Cotton in mint. I used this pattern.

Well I'm off to find my pillow now, it's been a big day, lots of sun, some surf, good food & great company.
Good night! :)

S xxx

P.S. If you missed my giveaway, click here. Come back later this week for more giveaways! :)
See you then!!!

Don't forget to check the sidebar to see where I'm having some fun.

Friday, October 14, 2011

A Week of Birthdays...

It started on Wednesday. That was when the first birthday present arrived in the mail.
Here it is.


I love birthday's. I'm not bothered by being another year older. Age is all relative anyway.
So now the cards and such have started flowing in. And to quote my step dad "I think birthdays should be for a whole week... that's how long it takes for all the cards to get to you anyway!".

So in honour of the week of birthdays, I thought I'd share some birthday love with you. (Please excuse the crummy lighting in the photo... it's late at night.) I was going to do this earlier in the week - but I just lost my blogging mojo! If you find it, drop me a line an we'll organise a way for me to get it back!!!

You, my readers, make my day. 
The sweet comments you leave. The encouragement that you give.
So here is something for you.

Seaweed&Raine 
Handmade Necklace Giveaway


Metal case not included.


There are 3 way to enter.

Please note, this giveaway is only open to my followers. Because it's my way of saying "Thank you!"

1. Leave a comment telling me what you love to do for your birthday.

2. Leave a comment telling me what your favourite piece of jewelry is.

3. Blog about this giveaway, and then come back and leave a comment 
letting me know that you have.

Entries close Friday October 21.

All the best, and I look forward to your thoughts!
S xxx