Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Blue & White

I decided while out shopping the other day to give myself a little treat (naughty tasty treats are out for me right now, so I felt the need to spoil myself in some other way). I was walking past one of my fave shops, which just happened to have a sale on. After browsing for a few moments, my eyes lighted on this...


It wasn't on sale. But I only had to inhale the aroma, to know that this WAS indeed coming home with me. And so, it did.


Fast forward a few days. On a little thrifting trip with my Mum , I uncovered this in a basket of lace, trims and elastic. I just loved the flushes of colour on this thread, from white to blue and back again. This light blue is so getting me in the mood for summer. Yes, summer is slowly on it's way here Down Under.


This morning, my eyes caught another little pile of blue. I thought it looked kinda pretty. That's from last nights cutting out. I have a little more to cut, and then hopefully this afternoon/tonight I can start sewing! Yippeeeee. It's been too long since I sat at my machine. I just hope I haven't forgotten whatever I learnt at the end of last year!!!

Monday, August 29, 2011

Brown and White

I got the most delightful surprise in the mail from Tanya on Friday. She is one of the gorgeous girls that is participating in my Sunshine in the Mail  Swap, and also the fab creator of the graphics that I used for some Christmas treats last year (Yes, I will undoubtedly be using them again!!!).

The Packaging


Note cards and envelopes with a sweet gift tag.


Please note, that Tanya is NOT my swap partner - she is just a lovely person. Yep just one of those treasures that you feel privileged to know. If I'm not mistaken, the print on the gift tag, card and envelopes are from a stamp that she carved herself. She is one creative chick! :) If you've not stopped by her blog before, I suggest that you do - and tell her that I said hi! :)

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Date Caramel Coconut Cake.

Today we had a surprise birthday party for my Mother in Law. She is a treasure, so when my SIL asked me to make a cake, I quickly put my thinking cap on. After making a short list of cakes, I called in reinforcements (aka the man of the house).

This is what we came up with.


A gorgeous friend shared the recipe with me a while ago (Thanks Ruth!), but this is the first time that I have made it!!! I am really quite pleased with how it turned out. It was totally delish!

Hope you have all had a great weekend!

S&R xxx


Partying here and here.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Letting Paint Flow

This week has seen me working with paint and some of my card stock. It's happened in bit and pieces over a few days. A snatch here while the kids are sleeping, a quick swirl after I dropped the veggies in the pot and a bit of cutting and gluing after the kids were in bed one night and the man of the house was otherwise occupied. I'm all done now. But it has fanned a spark that makes me want to pull out the paints a whole lot more - for me. It's been too long since I have done any serious painting.


Anyway, someone I know has a birthday coming up, so here is what she will be getting atop her pressie. A simple note card, but I love it. I may add a little text in black ink in the centre down near the bottom yet. What do you think? Should I leave it as is? Or add some writing?

This afternoon there was a wee bit of stitchery going on. I was playing with this...


It's a little sneak peek. And I will tell you more about it next week - with some more photos.
Well, I am aiming to have an early night tonight. Too many of my nights for the past week or so have been 11:30pm or later. And the kids haven't exactly been sleeping in. So I'll say "Bonne Nuit" and come back for some creative inspiration tomorrow.

Linking up with some of the unreal places in the side bar!

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Blog Award

What a way to start the day! The lovely Sam from Knitting Adventures just awarded me the versatile blogger award. I am buzzing. I have always wondered where the awards others get come from, and now that I have one, I know. Thanks Sam! :) I am still amazed someone chose me for an award...



Here’s how the award works:

After accepting the Versatile Blogger Award, the blogger must:

1. Thank the person who gave the award and link back to them in your post.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass this award along to 15 recently discovered blogs.

Seven Things about Me 
1. I am a mum to two gorgeous toddlers - both boys.
2. I married my best friend 8 years after meeting him - we are coming up to our 10th wedding anniversary this December.
3. I have 3 favourite colours: Orange, Bright green and Yellow.
4. I was raised on a rural property and now call Sydney home.
5. I L-O-V-E pineapples and palm trees.
6. I'd like to live on a tropical island some day (memories of Vanuatu when I was 6 spring to mind).
7. I love lightning and thunderstorms - especially in Summer.

Fifteen Amazing Blogs that I am passing this onto (in alphabetical order) - go check them out!
11. TEEK

Monday, August 22, 2011

Goodbuy nasty bugs

I don't know about you - but I hate it when I pull a favourite item of clothing out of the wardrobe, to find it full of holes. Last Summer we had our first infestation of nasty, clothing eating bugs. Grrr. So today when I was snipping some cuttings off the new lavender bush, I also decided to harvest some of the blooms, and put them to good use!


The first one I made I tied a long loop (to hang over the coat hanger) and then tied it around the bunch of lavender and finished with a bow.


The second I just tied it in the usual way. I also left lots of foliage on it since it also has quite a pungent smell. Gotta keep those nasties off!!!

Other things I have implemented are little drawstring bags with either cloves or cinnamon in them. Mmmm. Pulling out a sweater never smelt so good!

Linking up here today.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Refashioned Jeans

My Creative Space this week involves a little of this.


I started with some old jeans of mine that were worn through in a spot or two, and decided to make a something for Little Clam. I added some fabric from my stash (I DID let him choose, but what amazed me was that he chose the exact piece of fabric that I would have used had I NOT given him the choice first!) I traced out my pattern from this book, and started tracing it onto the fabric... still haven't finished it. Maybe tomorrow.

Linking up to more creativity.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Fabric Flower Brooch

It seems I've been away from my little piece of cyberspace for way too long. My Mum has been visiting for the past week, and even though there hasn't been any writing going on to speak of, there has been the odd spot of crafting.


Yesterday I decided to make a fabric rosette for my Mum to wear to a birthday party where everyone has been instructed to wear something purple (the birthday girl's fave colour.) I used rayon, and it was fiddly - but hey, that is what was in my stash, and I didn't have time to run to the shops since the boys were having their afternoon naps. It turned out OK I think, but if I were making another, I would use cotton. And make the strips wider. I also hand stitched it instead of using hot melt glue to stick it all together, So that would have made it a little more fiddly possibly. I added a circle of felt that I had stitched a safety pin to using hot melt glue, and it was done!


Jellyfish's hand doesn't really give you an idea of how big it was, but it was about as big as the palm of my hand - and I have pretty large hands! So, that is another thing that I wanted to try, crossed off my list! :) I think I might actually give it a go again some time, but with something a bit more substantial.

See you tomorrow for some more creative space fun! :)
S xxx


Linking up

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Art for the Boys' rooms & MCS

My Creative Space today was filled with lots of different things. It started off with an ultrasound before I was allowed to have breakfast, followed by a trip a few doors up to watch an excavator in action. Back home again the usual washing/sandpit/swings routine followed, and then the creative side kicked in! :)


Ages ago I bought some frames from the local thrift store. As soon as I saw them I knew I wanted to put artworks from the boys in them, and hang them in their rooms.





Add some colourful art (with some of my favourite colours no less - ahhh orange, yellow and bright green, how I love thee!) that the boys did all by themselves  - they even selected what colours they wanted on their own pages - and you have for some happy art!

Jellyfish's Art

Little Clam's Art

Not sure what I think of  the  framing job on Jellyfish's. I rather like the light teal circle around it - but the matte board covers it up. Should I take the matte board out of his frame?


I also got the last round of this done (don't ask me why it looks grey instead of blue)... soon I will be able to show you all, and I am just a wee bit excited about it. I'm getting to the end of the list of crochet items that I have to make before spring kicks in and I can get back to renewing my friendship with my sewing machine. I can't wait! :)

Hope you all had a wonderfully sunshiny day - it was glorious here  - 24 degrees C ( I even have the slightly pinked cheeks and nose to prove it - not bad for a winter's day)!!!

And if you need more creative inspiration, head to OCS.