Monday, August 31, 2009

day 31 ~ tha last day ~ ephemera

This would be my favourite photo for the month. Not only is it a reminder that I actually got to the cinema to see Harry Potter, but Bel and I went together. We loved it.
I love ephemera. It's something I am always collecting. I like to keep all kinds of bits and pieces that would normally just get thrown away. Sometimes I keep them for mixed media or collage or sometimes just because.
Bel wanted to keep these tickets in her scrap booking supply box, so I parted with them. But I am happy to have the photo.
Thank you to Megan for A Photo A Day In August. It's been a great challenge. I missed some days. But it has made me look at things in the house with fresh eyes. So many photo opportunities just right here in the house. I don't think I took one photo outside in the end.
I just can't believe it is September tomorrow :O

Sunday, August 30, 2009

little miss naughty

day 30 ~ is Little Miss naughty.........yes you guessed it, this is in Zoe's room too, and she looks just as cheeky and cute as this

Saturday, August 29, 2009

a long knit

This project is very straight forward and easy but will be long, 2 1/2 metres long. I am making this for Bel. Can you tell what the colours are for????

My little baby Bel is going to Western Australia on the 24th of September to stay with family for 2 weeks holiday. Zoe went when she was 10 and now it's Bel's turn.

I feel very anxious and miss her already. When Zoe went I was fine until she got on the plane then I fell apart and wondered what were we thinking. But of course she had a wonderful time and was not homesick at all and I know Bel will be the same. Maybe my nerves are more shot 6 years later and I am not happy unless I am worrying about something (quoting my mum for years, then my husband).

Anyway, this scarf is to be taken to Perth apparently, so I am knitting as much as I can each day which isn't a great deal before pain sets in but I am sure it will get finished. I have done about a third so far, and it has to be very long, just because these ones are!
I have a few other little things planned to make before the trip too.

happy weekend xx
post edit: yes of course the scarf is Harry Potter's scarf for Gryffindor House

Friday, August 28, 2009

day 28 ~ kawaii

day 28 ~ some Japanese cuteness that resides in Miss 16's room

Thursday, August 27, 2009

day 27 ~ my red space

Everything is red in my space at the moment. I have made a start on my Quilt Project. I am doing my stitchery with 4 ply crochet cotton. Something I have never stitched with before but I like thick and textured stitches so thought I would use it and it is working out a treat!

day 27
I am only showing a snippet at the moment because after my week asleep with the flu, I awoke to feelings of insecurity about it all. Feeling it may not be good enough blah blah blah especially after seeing some of the others coming along.

Anyway I will keep going with it a little further to see how I feel.

Now, a few days after starting it, it doesn't seem quite as bad as when I was in a state of panic and flu haze.

I also have started another easy but loooong project which has roughly the same deadline as this one. More about that maybe tomorrow. I didn't put it here today because it's not red!!!

today is day 27 photo. Only a couple to go and I am saving my favourite for last. I took it about 2 weeks ago but am saving it as it's the my fave.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

day 26 ~ gifts

This GORGEOUS owl print was given to me by my sister. Isn't it the sweetest owl ever. I love the simplicity of this print. It reminds me of different fabrics available, especially hand printed ones. She has taken pride of place on my studio wall. (thank you Mrs N!!!xxx)
and the last Harry Potter instalment given to me by my dearest friend (hi Mrs M!!!!xxx). I need to read number 6 yet, but am so happy to have them all now. We love all things Potterish in this house, well most of us anyway..........
pop over to Megan's for more photos

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

day 25 ~ vintage happy

day 25 is a photo of the cutest little basket I have ever seen. This is the other little treasure from the op shop I bought just before coming down with the flu.
I nearly left her behind, thinking "no I don't really need it" but I just couldn't walk away.
I am sooo glad I didn't as she brings me joy and makes me smile. She is so sweet. I even thought of using her as a handbag so I could use her everyday.
She needed a very good clean and the lining was shot so I took it out. She came up well though. I would date her 1960s because the top is that plasticy stuff with a bit of a grain to it that was big in the 60s and with age it gets very brittle. Does anyone know for sure if she is from the 60s???
I love her and I hope she will be very happy with what seems to be a growing vintage sewing basket collection!

Monday, August 24, 2009

more cake!

I wanted to share with you these 2 lots of cupcakes. Both batches were made by Bel for the RSPCA Cupcake Day.
The batch above she made and decorated with marzipan to enter the Cupcake Competition on their website. The ones below Bel made to sell at school to raise money for the RSPCA.
Unfortunately the school very disappointingly didn't really get behind her. They didn't give a reason ie health reasons, they just ended up confining it to Bel's class after avoiding the issue for a few weeks.
Despite us getting the kit from the RSPCA, posters, balloons and stickers it still was confined to just Bel's class and no advertising around the school.
day 24
Luckily a couple of other girls in the class made some too and they all sold. I am so proud of Bel organising this totally on her own and she can now send a cheque to the RSPCA for almost $50. It could of been a lot bigger if the school got behind it with Bel, but still a great effort.
Next year, however, we have urged her just to do the Competition part and maybe we will make a small donation. Did any of you join in? Did anyone have similar troubles trying to sell them through your school?
left to right are rabbit,Bel's little ratties Sushi and Fudge,our dog Ruby,kitties and a guinea pig and at the back the RSPCA logo

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Saturday, August 22, 2009

cake day 22

Day 22 is a shot of the last piece of my cake the girls made me for my birthday.
Pop over to Megan's for more Photos A Day In August. It's hard to believe we are on the home stretch of August already
xx

Friday, August 21, 2009

tupperware treats

Thank you soooo much to everyone who sent me Birthday and get well wishes. It really has made me so happy! It's made a shitty week feel so much better.
I am up but don't know if I will be staying up. The flu symptoms have passed but it has left me so incredibly fatigued and weak.
It's very frustrating when your head is telling you of all the projects you want to get done. I did manage a little drawing in bed but nothing else.

My photo for today is 3 photos again because I couldn't decide which one to put up. These are two sets of cannisters in great condition and complete. Hubby found these at Vinnies early last week. He sometimes calls in there when he is going/coming from Uni. He ALWAYS finds the most amazing treasure when he is on his own!!
I couldn't believe it when he handed these over to me!! I haven't washed them yet but they are in great nick. It is a great joy to wash things from the op shop, to lovingly bring them back to life.
I am not sure if I have room for them but I will find room no matter what. I will fill them with flour, sugar etc. Aren't they beauties.......
I had a quick trip to the City Mission the day before I ended up in bed and found a treasure too. I nearly walked away but something just made me not leave it behind. I am so happy I did bring it home. It makes me happy just looking at it. I will share that as soon as I get a photo.


I hope to be back soon xxx

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

chocolate




Day 18 is three photos. Three because I have missed a few days and chocolate because it's my birthday! Not that it feels like it. I have been asleep nearly all day with this flu - yuk. I am so over it. I have been given some gorgeous gifts though, and my girls made me a cake, so it did end up being a lovely day. Hopefully I can be out of bed ALL day tomorrow.
I have photos to take and projects to do......

Saturday, August 15, 2009

buttons

day 15 is a shot of a sheet of vintage buttons from my collection.

Friday, August 14, 2009

wonderful wool


My photo for day 14 is of some gorgeous hand dyed sock yarn I won over at Lea's place Knitting Sprouts. This is so soft, it is a merino/cashmere mix and just divine. I LOVE the colour. Thank you SO much Lea. As I am really really scared about attempting to knit socks I will lovingly put it in my stash for now. But I do feel I am getting a little braver and who knows when the courage might take hold!!! But I can definitely knit it into something else if I don't do socks, we'll see.
We have all been fighting off flu in this house. As it seems to be taking hold with me, I have taken quite a few photos today. I will upload and look at them later and may use them over the next week or so for my Photo A Day instead of uploading everyday. I just can't hack it anymore, phew.....xx

Thursday, August 13, 2009

day 13 ~ wooden spoons

Day 13 is a shot of my wooden spoons and some spatulas. I love these as the spoons include some that were used by mum for years and also some even older. They were nan's. The white spatula with the centre cut out is a vintage Tupperware spatula that belonged to nan and she would of bought this in the late 50s or early 60s.
More photos over at Megan's place

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Day 12 ~ op shopping

This very pretty quilt cover I found at the Salvos yesterday. Here it is on the clothesline. I had thought of cutting it down from a double to a single for Bel's bed. But, on hanging it out it occurred to me how it would make a wonderful quilt back. It is like this on both sides so there would be a whole side left to use for other projects too. So at the moment I am in a quandary about what to do with it.
It is beautiful though, and in great condition, it still felt starchy and new.
Pop over to Megan's for more photos

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

shabby

day 11 is a shot of the locks on a small wardrobe we have recently painted white. I will store some of my stash in it. I am in the process of scraping back parts of it to make it look old and shabby.
I am liking the shadows in this one.
xx

Monday, August 10, 2009

day ten

taken in hubby's home office
more photos over at Megan's...take a look

Sunday, August 09, 2009

Alice in Wonderland trailer


If you want to see a sneek preview of the new Alice film, click on the link below to see a leaked trailer I love it and just can't wait

http://www.thevine.com.au/entertainment/articles/new-alice-in-wonderland-trailer-leaked.aspx

day 9 ~ words


a small book with profound words......

Saturday, August 08, 2009

miniature ~ day 8

I nearly didn't make it today. I took some photos and then haven't uploaded until now. This is a sweet little miniature book my sister gave me. It has a flocked cover (yes that can be hard to say!) I will share a page or two soon, probably tomorrow

Friday, August 07, 2009

shelf ~ day seven

A shelf from my bookshelf next to the bed. As I have many days where I need to rest a lot, I have a lot stuff next to the bed. Books, art supplies and more books. This is the top shelf at the moment. It changes at times depending on what I am working on and what I am reading.
Taking A Photo A Day in August is actually quite a hard challenge. I don't know if I am up for it. We'll see. It may be A photo Most Days In August for me!!
But, because of my love for macro it really has made me look at things around the house I take for granted with fresh eyes and I am loving that. Thank you to Megan for the challenge
happy weekend xx

Thursday, August 06, 2009

my creative space - stitching


My Creative Space this week is a stitchery I have started on. I am using a gorgeous variegated Perle Cotton. I LOVE this thread. I have always used a stranded thread but now I am a convert to this. It's beautiful.
I may however, need to put this project aside for a little while to get started on my Quilt Project piece.
More creative spaces over at Kirsty's

day six


I obviously took this shot when I took day 5. I like it so much. I think he looks like a sad little child sulking. You know, when they are not really sulking but they want you to think they are so just maybe you might give them what they want after all.

Wednesday, August 05, 2009

The Quilt Project


I have signed up to be a part of Kirsty's The Quilt Project. My calico square arrived today and I can't wait to get started. I am so happy to be part of a community project and thanks so much to Kirsty for creating and organising it.
I have roughed out a few ideas for my square but haven't settled on a definite one yet. If you would like to know more about The Quilt Project please click on the link in my sidebar.

five

This little guy sits on the book shelf next to the bed. I have been Mr Bump since I was a teenager as I often seem to bump into things and I do it even more so as I get older.
more photos for A Photo A Day In August over at Megan's

Tuesday, August 04, 2009

four

day 4 of A Photo A Day in August and I have taken a shot of a bedspread I found at the op shop last week. Here it is on the clothesline. I took a few shots but like the way the shadow of the line is cast over it.
It is cotton like sheets even though it's a bedspread so it will be perfect for cutting up
thank you to Megan for hosting, see more photos here

Monday, August 03, 2009

day 3

I took this in hubby's office. I loved taking a photo of film with a digital camera
more photos over at Megan's

Sunday, August 02, 2009

generous

I have quite a few photos for A Photo A Day In August today because I have to share all the goodies that came in the mail last week from Marian. Marian and I decided to do a swap, after chatting a little through our blogs. We decided that a very long time ago, last year in fact...way back around October I think it was. I kept putting the dealine off and I was lucky Marian was busy with other swaps, had an overseas trip and was so laid back about the whole thing

We decided to make handmade items and to include some op shop vintage sweetness too. Look at the gorgeous cushion cover Marian made for me. It is so lovely and has a Wee Wonderfuls stitchery on it......
and this cute cute brooch, those hexies are only 2.5cm across, it is beautiful. Marian knew I loved them but had no patience to ever sew them

and 6 issues of Golden Hands from the early 70s. They are fantastic they have so many projects in them and lessons on embroidery, knitting, crochet and more. I want to show more photos from these over the next week or so, they are gems

beautiful owl fabric....

and, oh my... 2 swap cards I adore!.....

and this sweet poster, a Sarah Kay one. I used to love Sarah Kay while I was growing up (creator of Holly Hobbie) I think most of us did at that time, this truly is special, and so is Marian.
I have to add that Marian had ALREADY sent the op shopped vintage part of the swap to me at xmas and I was so surprised and so were my girls as Marian included presents for all of us, and there was sooo much. You will see the cute tea cosy from my last post in there too.
Thank you Marian, it has been lots of fun, and you went waaay over board with generosity, I have been blown away
xx

Saturday, August 01, 2009