Cupcakes

This was my grandmother's patty cake pan, I actually have three. When she became to sick to bake, my mother used it. Now mum is disinterested in cooking and I use it.

Patty Cakes

Today I baked a double batch, for the schools cake stall. Made using 6 of my aunty's home grown eggs. But it is used regularly, the kids like to take 'junk' food for school lunches. And the last time I bought cakes I read the ingredients - I wasn't sure if they were food or a maths lesson, from the amount of numbers in them!

I am.......easily distracted.....

Yesterday I went into my sewing room. I was looking for a nice print to use as a lining.
Instead I found a totally useless scrap of this print. I have made a skirt (which no longer fits) and a bag from this fabric previously and I'm down to bitsy pieces with it.

Hand embroidery embellished print

I had seen this idea previously on a blog....embellishing a print with embroidery, and had always wanted to try it. I used one strand of DMC floss, satin stitch, lazy daisy, fly stitch and colonial knots - colonial knots are the one where you make a figure 8 around the needle, I find it easier than french knots :-).

Design wall thingy

The other thing I managed to do, was hang a strand of wire between two command hooks.....so that little bits stay out to inspire me.

Just couldn't wait.....

This is what I did with the willow pattern doily from a few weeks ago!

from tattered doily to kisslock purse

I had so much fun making it, that I made another - this time with a scrap of Saffron Craig fabric I have been hoarding for years!

A Saffron Craig Screenprint

Kitchen Canister

I found this great little canister thing, not sure i would want to store food in it, but, how awesome for stashing bits and pieces.....

wooden canister

I especially like this..at some stage it was a budgeting tool! The drawers were marked on the base with spending categories. I do it all online!



labelled with gas, water, rates & electricity

How do you manage your money?



What a learning experience!

Now I know I am talking to myself here, but remember the cut out pouches from my last post?

Finished Pouches

This is a great way to work, I've never completed so much in so little time. One thing I would do if I was going to make only pouches and bags is interface the whole yardage before putting the fabric away -  interfacing probably took the longest. I made all the dark ones assembly line fashion....which seemed to take forever, but got a lot done in a less time. The lighter ones I made one by one, which seemed to take longer but was more fun!

And it was all done in blocks of 1/2 hour in between chores.

Making me happy

After all the wet weather we have been having, call me a dag, but I think this is the nicest thing to see....clean washing, drying on the line!

Clean washing & Sunshine

My son went to a birthday party....so this is what he gave his friend, a set of lego textas and I made a Star Wars pouch to keep them in.

Star Wars Pencil Case

And finally I drove to Canberra and went to the Handmade Upmarket...........beautiful work by so many talented people....I can't hope to be as creative and as clever as the people who had stalls, but I came home inspired. So after I do the groceries tomorrow I have all this sewing prepared!

Zip Pouches cut out and ready to go

Busy month - secondhand rose

I have had a really big month. My daughter started Kindergarten....which is a huge adjustment for both of us. My son got accepted into a gifted and talented creative writing course (only one day, but I'm still really proud). We got a puppy.....or we might have already had the puppy, she just got more of a nuisance!

Rosie

You would think that with all the extra time with both kids at school I would be blogging and crafting madly, but strangely enough I have totally ran out of inspiration. I know I used to love blogging so I thought I would start posting pictures of secondhand things every Friday. Most of my belongings are secondhand so I have lots to get through. If anyone out there wants to join in, please leave a comment and I will look at your belongings too.

Yellow Elephant Planter

I wanted to buy some bright ceramic pots as this house has enough light that pot plants don't die as soon as I bring them home, but it is impossible to find ceramic pots in a bright colour around here! So I went to my favourite secondhand shop...The Everything Shop....and found this cool elephant!

New Projects

And finally in an effort to find my crafting mojo I grabbed an old 'blue willow' pattern tray cloth and a small piece of co-ordinating cotton.  The plan is to turn them into something by Thursday next week!