Another one bites the dust!

He came, he drank his Scotch, ate his cupcake

and left presents - how does he manage it?

Little P hopes every year that he doesn't get

pulled over and breathalysed, but I just tell her that

with Rudolf at the helm, he 's okay to drive the sleigh!

Hope you had a good time, spent with

the one's you love the most!

Making stuff and the like

A very rewarding little project, with stamps gifted to Little P and a roll of

plain paper, you can make as little or as much as you need.

Hand made wrapping paper has such a great feel and look.

Chrimbo looking like a low key event this year

plan on doing some serious eating .... drinking,

(champagne cocktails for me!) and lolling about.

Let's hope yours is a good one.

Remember rule Number 3. Don't panic!

Op Shop Luck!

The Goddess of Tapestry must have been smiling on me today!

I popped into my local oppy, looking for vintage Christmas bling,

and saw this gorgeous tapestry, looks like early 70's, beautiful work-girl-ship!

Now living in my colourful, but somewhat messy home.

Out with a bang!

The school year ended with a talent quest ... and much to my surprisement Little P

took out the comedy/drama category!

She did 'All My Great Excuses' a funny poem/play by Ken Nesbitt.

I try not to underestimate her, but I was quite shocked at her delivery and confidence,

when she practised at home, she ran through it really quickly and it was lost.

But on stage, and in front of the whole school ... she was ...

brave and true!

I almost cried, it really was

one of those 'Mum Moments' that you read about

in those wanky kid's magazines - and I didn't know

she had won till after school,

a friend asked her who won the talent quest,

and she pulled the certificate from her bag and said

'Oh I did!'

Kids are often 'boxed' at school

and their learning can be limited, restricted almost

to the confides of the class room, they are summed up

all too easily, and placed in a hierarchical system within

the classroom/playground. They love nothing more

than following the leader ... and more often than not

the leaders are not always honest ... just like in the real world.

The school year for me (Year 1 for Little P)

was a bit of a bumpy ride,

her resilience has greatly impressed me, and I'm proud of

the way she does her own thing, and her honesty.

Above all her honesty!

re cycle

Fantastic use of old bicycles, I'd love this in the front garden!

Oh Christmas Tree

Slowly getting into the festive spirit,

Big D is making chutney as well as pineapple and mango jam

for gifting this year, Little P and I making decies and wrapping paper ....

The house smells Christmassy, and looks Christmassy ... I'm just feeling a bit

bah-humbugish .... won't last, I've got one more week.

Hand made bling

After scouting around my craft room, looking for bits and bobs

to make things for the tree this year, I found a crotchet little thing with a round

hoop, sewed on some shiny flowers, and huzzah, hand made oddity.

The blue one is made from a napkin ring, covered in vintage raw silk and then bejewelled.

Still working on this wreath .. needs more, can't be all minimal at Christmas time.

I've used a plastic plate for this, cut the centre out, wrapped it in thick silky trim,

wrapped some shiny, almost bridal type bling around it (I have no idea how this trim

came to be in possession, most likely a job-lot at the Oppy). Think I'll hang some baubles from the bottom of this, and then hang it on the front door.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again,

Don't hold back on your tree,

go wild - put anything on there - no poncey colour schemes okay?!!

Getting all Nanna-ish

I found a full set of these place mats at the Op shop, gorgeous, hand stitched, made to last!

As Christmas fast approaches my mind turns to sweat shops again.

Whilst I'm not going to make the full hand made pledge this year

I am going to be mindful of landfill (and where/how it's made).

I think we all need to think about it at least, specially

at this time of year. We really do live in a lucky country,

but I'd like my child to be more aware of the world

around her, I'd like her to appreciate that clean,

running water is a luxury, not a right.

I'd like her to appreciate that not all kids

get bucket loads of toys and stuff at Christmas.

(Hell, I'd like a lot of adults to appreciate this).

It's just so easy to get caught up in all the retail madness.

Our lives won't be any less worthwhile if we don't

have the latest swing tags!

So why not recycle last years cards into this years swing tags?

No one will think you're cheap,

They'll think you're really clever!

Right. Off my soap box.

I love this time of year for blogging,

I especially like to trawl through all my favourite blogs

to see what all the crafty types are making!

I've a few little hand made oddities for the tree.

I'll post some pics soon.

Oppy and stuff.

Found this print at the Oppy, dead cute it is!

Spotted this knit-up in a tree in Rozelle. I particularly like the

paper hearts hanging from it. The world needs more love.

More love and more hand made stuff!

A couple from Halloween

Little P as psycho nurse, and our neighbour as a demonic dolly.

Thanks Ikea!

Some gorgeous textiles at Ikea - as always.

Had to update Little P's curtains, so I honoured the Japanese

style and made 3 panels.

Now honestly, if you have a choice, why would you live with blinds?

I haven't been inspired much lately as far as new textiles go,

but I really do need to get back to Ikea

and do a bit of a stock-pile!

spring in the city.

I don't think there's a prettier sight in the garden than

sweet peas growing!

These grew from seeds, and are so tall now.

I love the delicate, white flowers that form,

and then become a pea pod almost over night. I'm very much enjoying the garden at the moment.

It's the perfect time of year, we are all in need of a bit of rejuvenation!

It won't be long now before we have some

fat, ripe 'beetroop' (as Little P says) and tomatoes ready to eat.

I know it's a cliche, but things really do taste

better straight out of the ground, and it's so much

easier than going to the supermarket!

Rural retreat!

Big D and Little P designed a cubby house over the break.

It was so much fun watching them (well Big D) build it.

She's 'doing it up' now.

Stay tuned for some old style gingham curtains!

Time to sketch ...

Meet the 'Triangle Family'.

One of the best things about School Hols is

having lots of time up your sleeve in which to draw.

Little P has a series of characters she's working on,

in her sketch book. Her talent blows me away,

there is so much frivolity in her drawings.

I love the cradle in the above drawing,

with the 3 love hearts, 'it's for the baby triangle' and the moustache

on Mr Triangle.

Spring Break

Today is the last day of Term 3,

Little P and I plan on hanging out in our PJ's,

making lots of stuff together, as well as making each other laugh lots!

I haven't planned a lot of extra activities this break,

we need to recharge the old batteries.

It's very tiring this school lark!

1 thing on the 'to do list' is 'Despicable Me'.

I'll keep you posted along the way.

Library Bag

A birthday pressie for a friend of Little P's.

Every cloud's got a ...

This bizarre cloud was over the school on Friday.

It looks like a giant tsunami is about to engulf the school.

Bit of this ... bit of that

Our orchids have finally started flowering - it's a long wait, but so very worthwhile.

Little P watching the elephant show at Taronga Zoo with one of her cousins. My brother has 3 boys, and they are down our way visiting the snow, we got to catch up for a couple of days. Little P loves that boy energy! A 3 tier skirt for Little P. A labour of love this one. Wanted to make something that goes with everything. I do love working with prints, but it's great to have something that matches all her printed tops. This one goes with everything, and is quite long, which as they say on Gok, is 'bang on trend'! Looking forward to making some more things for the warmer months ahead. My mojo is returning, in dribs and drabs ....

Finally ...

My Niece's Birthday approaches, and with that, my mojo has returned!

I had to remind myself how to make this skirt (tsk, tsk).

A favourite piece of vintage cotton, love red and blue together. Gorgeous sunny days here ... roll on Spring Time!

Lost: 1 mojo.

Boating at Coatham.

A photo from the 70's taken from this website all about Redcar

I'm from Redcar, and this was a favourite pass time back in the day,

this pond doesn't have boats anymore, because of OH&S issues!

They do still have donkey rides on the beach though!!

I wish I had some finished work to show off, but alas my mojo

has gone awol, I haven't touched a piece of fabric for ages.

I go in to my lady-cave, glance at the fabric, choose some,

and then walk back out, tedious.

I feel the need, just can't seem to find inspiration.

Perhaps with Spring promising to arrive soon, I will.

More later .....

Winter Colour

Orchids .... so close.

4.30pm in the garden,

winter flowers, winter colour.

Waiting with bated breath for the orchids

... they are so close, and it's been so long.

I've almost forgotten what colour they are.

They were a no show last year,

and the year before that.

But this, year, for reasons only known to them

they will honour us with flowers,

and for that, I salute them.

Botanical Gardens, Sydney.

Giant, plastic lilly, opens and closes all day!

Little P enchanted. Making the most of the last wintery days.

Spring time soon.

Melbourne ... lovely.

Tim Burton Exhibition, if you get the chance to see this I really recommend it.

Lots of colour, lots of quirk!

Some images from Hosier Lane, which I love, free, constantly changing art!

There's so much to see, all in a U-shaped lane way, vibrant and alive!

Golden Hands Winner

'Your blog said you were a DOUBLE D'.

From MonetPaisley Send me your email and I'll post your goodies!

All the captions were really funny, and thanks to everyone for playing along.

Giveaway Prize Update

Soz about the dark picture, taken at night, gotta strike while the iron's hot!

I'm going to draw giveaway on Friday 2nd July, so you still have to time for a funny caption! I'm giving away this gorgeous Chat Botte French Yarn, in a very sublime grey tone, along with some vintage tortoise shell needles, some vintage ric-rac and buttons, along with Golden Hands Double Issue.

Having this giveaway has reconfirmed that there are some very funny women in blogland!

Giveaway Time!

This image is from Golden Hands Knitting, Dressmaking & Needlecraft Guide, Double Issue Parts 1 and 2. To win this great book and some other habby stuff, which I shall bundle up, think of a caption for the above picture. Best caption will be published here on on my blog!

winter is upon us!

Time for tweed skirts and boots!

I made this skirt for Little P, pretty basic pattern, with a couple of strips from the scraps pile sewn around, this one was an experiment to see how it would look, and I'm happy with the result, but think I'd prefer it with a few more strips around the hem.

I do like winter ... at first, but am prone to bouts of whinging towards the end .... as I do in summer ... only it's probably worse in summer, definitely like the in between seasons the most!

All in hand

Just showing off my hand warmers, from my Big Sis in Melbourne, they are made from upcycled jumpers, I love them, and it's been cold enough to wear them in Sydney this week.

Will blog for comment!

A friend of mine was wondering on Facebook whether or not those of us who keep blogs write for an audience, or whether a blog is purely just an electronic diary. It got me thinking about it, because when I started this blog way back when I was totally convinced that no one would read it - and that didn't bother me, I just wanted to get my hand made stuff shown off - appreciated even, by other people who make stuff,and crazy people who trawl through op-shops, looking for, and finding loveliness. I was amazed and delighted when I got my first comment, I remember who it was, and the feeling of sheer joy (sounding like a Tim-tam ad now .... we do it all the time these days, and it's just as good now as it was back then)! But, really, does having an audience change the way we write? It must to a certain extent, cause I wanted to call this post 'Will fuck for comment' - but then I thought about the wider audience, and changed it! I do intentionally keep things light, heavy on pictures, but that was my intention from the beginning. It's been a fantastic part of my life, I get inspiration from bloggers on a daily basis, and in a way it's also been great for my self esteem. There are only so many vintage tea-towels you can hold up to your partner before the eyes start to roll, where as here I can show you - and get gratification, verification even that, yes that was $2.00 well spent. I'm also ever so grateful and appreciative when I get comments, because, for the most part, they are heartfelt, honest snippets, some one has taken the time just to say 'hey good work'. Thanks for that, here's to the electronic diary I say! Go for it Ellen, you're going to love blogging, and remember it's YOUR blog, your space, to do and say whatever you feel.

Again with the random ...

looking out the window at the Museum of Contemporary Art.

An after school science experiment, volcanoes with too much colour,

although, can you ever have too much colour?

A recent op-shop find, vintage table cloth. I like circles.