Almost There...

Day 3 of the Clean Up, and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I have got 3 bags of stuff to take to the op shop, all the recycling part is done, now all i have to do is sort what i am keeping into categories and put them into boxes and label them. then dust and vaccuum. I need to go out and buy some plastic boxes. Looking forward to having a bit of space.

For Sale

New bricks for sale.
These are not my bricks, but a neighbours, 2500 bricks, new, has to be picked up from Mill Park Victoria, post code 3082. cost? $500. a real bargain. e-mail me for the phone number if you are interested. home renovators, brickies, D.I.Y etc.

Cleaning

No crafting yesterday, or the day before in fact for a whole week and i won't be doing any for a couple more days yet, busy cleaning. hired a carpet cleaner from the supermarket, hubby and myself went through the whole house room by room washing the carpets, all just a bit damp, hope that it has made it all look fresh, After cleaning up the book case i decided the next job was my wardrobe. so everything came out, all dumped on the bed then the sorting started. the result? 10 black garbage bags of clothes for the op shop. Some brand new with labels on, impulse buying. I don't wear skirts or tops so they were the first to go. Stuff i had from years back and don't fit all gone. The wardrobe now has just a couple of sentimental pieces, but all the rest are what i am and will be wearing, both summer and winter stuff. The bags are taken down to the op shop and it feels good.
The last cleaning out job i have is the craft/sewing stuff. this is by far the biggest job but it will be worth it! then i can get back to crafting as my reward for a job well done.
What started it all is this show, Hoarders and a comment from my daughter when we were going op shopping one day and i saw a jar of buttons and said to her, that is great! and she said, You don't need that mum, you have a lot of buttons already.
I do not want to let it all get that far and i am doing something to fix it now.

Cat of the Day

This is Big Cat. Isn't he adorable? He is posted with permission and he belongs to TinnieGirl, this is her blog. i think he has just the loveliest face, too cute!

Friday Night Sew-in

Joining the Friday Night Sew-in is a way of setting some time aside to work on those projects on your to do list. And remember - it doesn't have to be a sewing project.. maybe you have a knitting project.. or some scrapbooking.. it could be anything.

I have joined in on this, Just click on the picture to learn more, Sometimes you need a little something to keep you motivated!

Sandy's In Stitches

Sandy's In Stitches is having a 1st Year blogiversary Giveway. Just delightful don't you think?
go and take a look at her blog and have a read. Lovely.

A Legacy Of Stitches

What a super needle and scissor case! Would you like to win it? If you have a blog then go to A Legacy of Stitches and enter.

Granny Squares

If you love crochet, or even if you are new to crochet then go and take a look at these. Meet Me At Mikes has step by step tutorials on how to make them. Yum yum, I love crochet! Such a delightful portable craft.
I think i will be making these cos my sister has announced she is expecting a baby! this is going to be her second child, her first is just 2 years old. How perfectly wonderful.

Underwear

How to drop a couple of dress sizes without even trying.
When my daughter was down here last week we went shopping and i tried on a high waist long leg brief. My first thought, I love these! they are so comfortable and they helped define my body and my clothes looked better on. whilst they are not the most attractive undergarments they do do what they claim and better still, they are really comfortable. I can definitely recommend them

Lei and Wiss

The Cat of the Day belongs to my daughters cats. Lei and Wiss. They are both quite lovely very affectionate. I love them heaps.

Wellers

This is a glimpse of the Wedding Venue. Wellers. The first picture is The Main Dining Room The pictures were taken when the room was empty and before Christmas, but you get the idea. We love the wood and the openness of the place, adore the cute curvy chairs. The next picture is from the front of the property, you have many levels and very lush with vegitation. Even the picture from the car park is cute. and all around you have lovely hills and scenery. The last picture is taken from the back and it has a very nice old tram in it that you can go in and take pictures. It was in the afternoon and we saw rabbits running around, very unexpected and quite delightful.
We went there for lunch on Wednesday and the food and the service was just lovely. I can highly recommend the place.

Wedding Ideas

This is the wooden box that my daughter had bought for the Wishing Well for the wedding.
The box itself is plain and she is going to have an engraving of a scene from Wellers on it. Currently it is holding some of the wedding invitations she has hand made. The size is a business sized envelope.
This is the guest book, the pages are fabric with natural elements in it, Wooden decorations and hinges, The pages are A4 in size and perfumed. Very beautiful, The same scene from Wellers will be on the inside of the book to match the box.
She will be changing the ribbon to go with her theme.

Instant Village Giveaway

Would you like to win this table runner? Click on the picture to be taken to Mrs Moen blog to enter. She is celebrating her 100th blog and her first giveaway.

Wedding Cake

This is a completely open post. I am looking for wedding cakes in Melbourne Australia.
Cheesecake is a great option, but not limited to, I am interested in hearing about cake makers in Victoria, Australia. The wedding in question is in Mid March for 65 people.
I am interested in both good and bad stories here, not just commercial stores, but we love the home cook too. Even if you do not cook yourself, but know of someone who is an avid cook and could potentially be up to the task and live in the Northern Suburbs or the City of Melbourne i would love to know.

Tilli and Meg

Tilli Tuckered Out! She is so happy to have the pool table back.
Meggie on her Mat.

New Project

This is going to be my first project for my home and the first time doing applique.
I will be making 6 table mats and a table runner.
The book is called 501 Quilt Blocks a treasury of patterns for Patchwork and Applique published by Murdock Books. The sandwich fabric is 100% recycled blanket from Aldi.





I have decided to make one block for each place mat and then use all the blocks in the table runner.
Now the fun starts, choosing the fabrics from my stash.

Missing

Has anyone seen this cute little quilt? Kimberly is asking the quilting community to keep a look out for it. She displayed it at an open house and it never made it home with her. It is pictured above in her recent book, Jelly Roll Quilts and More. The really sad thing is that she sent it to her publisher when she was hurrying to make deadlines for the book, and never photographed it. The only record she has of the quilt is the photo in the book. It's a small quilt (22" x 22"). Keep your eyes peeled on ETSY and EBay. She just wants it back- no questions asked. Read more about it on Kimberly's blog.

Table Decorations

Bridal table Mock Up.

For the past couple of days we have been very busy. Steph came down for 3 days and in that time we set ourselves a timetable and got it done. Day 1 shoes, (i cannot put them on the blog until later cos they ware going to surprise people, They are really lovely. job done, ticked off the list.
Day 2. Wedding Dress Fitting. Lovely, Dress will be ready for a second fitting on the 15th Feb. the day after our nephews wedding and Steph has booked her time to be here then anyway, so that is just perfect. Job done, ticked off the list.


Bomboniere Mock Ups. They are also going to be place settings too. On the bottom will be their table number and they will choose how they place themselvers on their table. 60 plus candles, done. another thing ticked off the list.
8 round table Mock Up. There will be rose petals on the table too.

All the table decorations are wrapped and two table set ups per bag, ready to go. Bridal table set up in its own bag.
Last day, day 3, Steph booked for us to go to Wellers first as a thank you and to sample their menu and wine. so a table of 6 was booked and we went. LOVELY! the food was very nice indeed, looked and tasted lovely, the wine was nice and all had a good time.
We took more photos and had a lovely afternoon.
Steph had to go back home, happier that she managed to do what she wanted to do in the short time she was here.

Dear Dogs and Cats

I read this on another blog and have been given permission to print it. I love it!

Dear Dogs and Cats.
The dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.
The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Racing me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.
I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort. However, dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other, stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out on the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.
For the last time, there is no secret exit from the bathroom! If, by some miracle, I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge in an attempt to open the door. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years - canine/feline attendance is not required.
The proper order for kissing is: Kiss me first, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt. I cannot stress this enough.
Finally, in fairness, dear pets, I have posted the following message on the front door:
TO ALL NON-PET OWNERS WHO VISIT AND LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR PETS:
(1) They live here. You don't.
(2) If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. That's why they call it 'fur'-niture.
(3) I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
(4) To you, they are animals. To me, they are adopted sons/daughters who are short, hairy, walk on all fours and don't speak clearly...
Remember, dogs and cats are better than kids because they
(1) eat less
(2) don't ask for money all the time
(3) are easier to train
(4) normally come when called
(5) never ask to drive the car
(6) don't hang out with drug-using people
(7) don't smoke or drink
(8) don't want to wear your clothes
(9) don't have to buy the latest fashions
(10) don't need a gazillion dollars for college
(11) if they get pregnant, you can sell their children

Valentine Sewing Challenge

Charming Chatter is having a Valentines Sewing Challenge.

and you're invited. On Saturday, January 23, we'll be staying in to sew something for Valentines Day, and if you're free, we'd love for you to join us!

We'll be doing posts periodically throughout the day to show our progress, and asking you to do the same!

I love this idea, and as i also have 2 swaps, that is my goal to start and finish them so that i can post them before Feb 1st my own imposed deadline.

Do check out their blog for more details.

Quilting and Cats

Montage of Tilli and Meg in the garden.
Quilting Montage and Cats.
I have been busy this week, learning a new skill is both fun and frustrating! I have been happily cutting up my fabric and sewing them together and then decided to stop and take a look. I need Help! i realise i have no idea on what i am doing the colours look awful and i need to re sort out my fabrics.
Where and how do i start with this, do i sort it into colours, or print types, How do you sort out what is dark, medium and light tones? and i have a funny feeling that all my fabrics are one tone.
All part of the learning process i suppose.

Rosalie Quinlan Designs

If you like stitchery you will love this! Rosalie Quinlan Designs has this! Do check out her blog for more details and close ups of the blocks, Just delightful.

Ranette's Daily Stitch

Ranette's Daily Stitch is having a Giveaway,
Love that Jelly Roll.

Crafty Vagas Mum

Crafty Vagas Mum is having a giveaway for a celebration of her 99th post. Do check it out. Click on the pictures or her name and here. will all take you to the same place.

Quilting

Tilli
Meg
What I did today. This is my first attempt at quilting, I have a lot to learn, but I had fun and the cats now have a new mat.

Baby Steps

Today i am venturing out for the first time in quilting and this is the book i am going to use. Start Quilting with Alex Anderson. 6 Projects for the First Time Quilter.
This describes me perfectly and i am eager to start.
the second book is what i aspire to do for charity, A Pioneer Doll and her Quilts by Mary Hickey.
Any quilter out there be free to send me their favourite tips.

Sorting Out

No crafting yesterday, just sorting out my book case and tidying up my sewing area in the family room.
These books and magazines are ready to go to a new home. Who ever wants them can pick them up from me and can have the lot.
let me give you a run down on what is there,
100 crafting magazines.
approximately 80 books
full set of Golden Hands Magazines
full set of Stitch by Stitch magazines.
4 pairs of non prescription reading glasses.
Send me an e-mail if you would like to come to my place and pick them up.

I live in Mill Park, Victoria, Australia postcode 3082

from the bookcase.
Before

After

More Paper

This is a sample of the paper i made yesterday


this is what it looked like this morning.
I tore the paper in half, turned one side over to show how they look on both sides.
i did some finely, some more coarsely some thick and some thin.

Paper

This is the paper from yesterday, it has dried quite nicely, this is from both sides, a little too much texture but not bad for a first attempt.

This is the rosemary from our front garden
I will be making the paper again but this time keeping it simple, just use one colour for the sheets and add colour and texture with plant material after it has been pulped. I should get better results this time around.
The same rosemary just stripped from the stems.

Handmade Paper

this is a sample of the first try out batch of paper. I have learnt a lot here,
1. It is a messy thing!, I had completely forgotten this.
2. Don't do too much all at once,
3. Add the extra fibres AFTER pulped.
4. Gold paper turns grey.


I have put the paper aside to dry over night, then if it is still damp then i will iron it. I have cleaned it all up, and watered my plants! well, the apple tree and looking forward to doing it all again tomorrow after reading more on the subject.
Most important thing is that i had fun.

Making Paper

Today i will be making paper, This is something i have not done for quite some time. Going from left to right we have, Christmas Bonbons, and gold ribbon that i will be shredding up into little golden strands. A4 coloured paper to act as base colours, recycled blanket and newspaper, some ready made potpourri, a deckle, a bucket, deep tray, a shredder and not in the picture is the paint stirrer and drill. (thanks Jodie for that tip!). Not included, is Tilli in tray,
For these test pages i will not be using seeds, i will be using chilli flakes. The reason is that i want to get the consistency right and the flakes will show up and i can see how they will be dispursed.
The actual paper for the wedding will be done by myself and my daughter when she comes down at the end of this month.

Making Paper

I bought this shredder yesterday all to help making my life a little easier, to help cut up the paper for both the compost and for making paper. It even comes with it's own bin, $20 Reject shop.
What is this? It is a recycled material blanket measuring 155cm x 200cm I will be using it for a variety of crafts. Today i have cut some up into A4 sized pieces to use in the paper making along with newspaper for the pages to sit on while they dry. Cheaper than felt, at only $7 from Aldi supermarket. This is plenty big enough for me to share it with my kitties too.