My Creative Space

My Creative space is trying to stay safe from 'redecorating' little hands this week. She is becoming ever so fast, and has a growing interest in making mess. BIG mess. Even when I think she can't get to it she somehow finds a way. I think kidlets are born with highly developed obstacle-beating and problem solving abilities....how else do they outsmart us?

See more creative spaces here. And of course, have a lovely weekend!

Someone Buy Me..

This T-shirt. It says a lot about me. Love Threadless.

Free Stuff I Love: Blogging Resources

Does your blog a little makeover? Do you ever get stuck on what to post? Today is for you then.

Here are some links and free resources that I've used. I am absolutely NOT an expert, but am just inspired by what could be in this space!

Here is a great video I came across on the Bakery Blog a couple of weeks ago. I have watched about 2/3 so far, and it's really interesting. It is quite long, but sit down with a cup of tea or coffee and you'll be fine (if you get the chance, go to the Bakery website and click on the blogs and blogging tags. More great information there.)

Need to tweak the look of your blog? Try these to spice things up:

1. Infoserve Media has HEAPS of interesting backgrounds, (plus give away the html code for you to use, as well as instructions on how to use it.)

2. Travis Beckham from Squidfingers also has lots of interesting patterns (and gives permission to use for free).

3. Kevin and Amanda have a great tutorial on how to change blogger post titles to a font you like. If you're not so good with html code, then follow the instructions and you will be fine. If I can do it, anyone can!

4. Made by Madeline also has some cute templates you might like to browse through.

And on writing, pro-blogger has some good resources:

How to write great blog content

and

Ten Tips for writing a blog post.

Anyhow, Ellie and I are off to have lunch and chat crafting with family today. Hope you find these useful :o)

Someone Gave Me: Handmade Home

Guess what I got for my birthday from my lovely sister-in-law? A pre-ordered copy of Amanda Blake Soule's latest book!! Yay! Can't wait to have a look inside and get my hands into some great projects, but I'll have to wait another couple of weeks yet.

Today over at Amanda's blog, she is showing off her creative space. Oh my goodness. I am so inspired. She just has the most beautiful way of making her home look creative, comfortable and well-loved. You should really go and have a look, it's very cool.

[image from soule mama]

I think I'll chip away at mine again today.

Love this vintage...

Hi everyone, I hope you had a lovely weekend. I did. I celebrated my birthday yesterday with my two lovelies, and had a great time. 32. Wow. I can remember when my Mum turned 33 and that feels like yesterday...and she seemed so grown up and so much more wise and mature than I feel right now. Have I learned enough? Done enough? How did the time go do quickly?

I did receive some lovely gifts, might show you some of those later on, but I thought I'd start this week with a little change to my weekly blog calendar.

I've been thinking it might be good to change from Book of the Week for a bit. I'd like to keep it interesting for you guys, so for a while I'll be posting on Monday's about Vintage stuff I like or have purchased, or been given!

Please feel free to tell me if this is a huge disappointment to you (really, please do), but I'm hoping it's not, and that you enjoy Monday's makeover. There. Enough explaining. Here we go....

[image from thrush]

LOVE this Vintage 1970's blue skirt. Cool! It's the Grace Kelly Skirt from Thrush on etsy (yes, you read that name right. I checked again too). This skirt is right up my alley. I'm loving the colour, the shape and waistband detail too. Cute with a pair of thongs or ballet flats I'm thinking. And of course, a cute white t-shirt. Do you love it too?

The most delightful little thing

I SOOOO wish I could knit something like this...isn't it just the sweetest thing? Check out more of Danielle Thompson's work here. Beautiful, just beautiful.

[via make it perfect]

Finished Tote

Here it is. Another tote bag finished. This time, a birthday gift for a lovely friend. I made this with my usual suspects - vintage embroidered items teamed with natural linen, and lined with a vintage cotton. Love the colour of the lining myself....I don't know if blue roses actually exist, but I like them. This little one is off to suprise her new owner tomorrow (I don't think she follows this blog....hope not!).

Someone Buy Me..

Organic Baby Boots from Infusion on etsy. So cute!

Free Stuff I love: Have you ever wondered?

Have you ever wondered how to....

Make a cute little lunchbag?

or a fabric covered magnet?

make your own cloth labels? (two links there my friends)

personalise a gift with something beautiful?

make your own family tree?

or cover a book?

Well, now you can!

[all images from linked original sources]

A little something

I love linen so much. Especially natural linen. Team it with white crochet or lace and I'm sold. Here's a little something I'm working on as a gift for a lovely friend (I can't resist the lovely little hand grabbing it either. I just want to kiss those lovely little fingers).

Book of the week: ISBN 978-4-8347-2832-3

More from my Japanese Crafting addiction! I picked this cute book up about a month ago at my favourite Japanese bookstore. It's full of really sweet ideas, and I can't wait to try out the shoes, rattles and bibs. There are babies being born around me everywhere lately, so the ideas in these books will come in handy. There is just something so satisfying taking something small but handmade to a baby shower. I love it. Below are just a few of the projects inside.

Inspired by...

Yorktown Road. Love the natural fibres. Love the hand-dyed colour. Love the bags. Love it all really. Drool more here.

[images from yorktown road , etsy]

Someone Buy Me...

This gorgeous vintage little red wagon for Ellie. For $18 I'd take it now if it shipped to Australia. Too cute!

[ Image from Minor Details on etsy ]

Free Stuff I love: Shoulder Bags

I've been waiting to post this one for ages. I think you will like these great (but free!) tutorials on making lovely shoulder bags. And several of them have pleats too....pretty.

First up is the Buttercup Bag from Made by Rae. I love it. Small or large, this bag would be a winner as a gift if you ask me.

If you prefer slightly larger, try this pleated purse from My spare time. Would carry just about anything, I think.

Here's a lovely simple and stylish Shoulder bag from Tiny Happy . Love the fabric combo's in this one. I absolutely love everything Melissa does. Her blog is really beautiful....and she does lovely embroidery too.

I think that The Wasp Bag from Machen Machen is very cool with those contrasting handles.

The Jordy Bag from Jordynn Mackenzie has a really clear step-by-step instructions to follow.

I hope you enjoy today's post girls and boys - happy bag making! xo

Another zippered pouch

Here is another of my purses recently made. I quite like it, but am disappointed that I used a vintage zipper to try and repurpose some older materials, however, after it was completed, I noticed that the zipper is a bit stiff. Any ideas on how I could make it smooth? I've heard of soap and also candle wax, and so far I've tried the soap unsuccessfully. Oh well. It smells very sweet now! If I can't sell this one someday I will keep it up my sleeve for something else.

I haven't yet had any labels made. So I've been inserting a little red grosgrain ribbon with white stitching inside the purses. I've realised that on the side you can't really see it very well unless you peek carefully, so I might have to try putting it somewhere else.

I'm also fond of the gingham lining. Happy with the old-fashioned but fresh look it's giving.

Mr Postman Delivery: Hand-knitting

I thought I'd add another quick post today - this little present arrived in the mail this morning. It's a hand-knitted vest by Eleanor's great-Nan. She sent it down from Molong this week. Isn't it cute? I think Madam approves.

Hand made is the best!

Book of the week: The return of the Naked Chef

I have a bit of a soft spot for Jamie. I just love his passion for good, hearty, home-made comfort food.

When I was at a friend's place one evening for dinner about 4 or 5 years ago, I had this curry. It was so delicious that it made me go out and buy the book. Then I made the curry myself and I was not disappointed. It is SO delicious. We are big curry fans in my house, and I would recommend this recipe to anyone who wants to learn how to make one from scratch. If you aren't up to making your own paste, then don't try it....but oh, how you are missing out!

Chickpea Moroccan Flatbread. Yum.

Beetroot with Balsamic Vinegar, Marjoram and Garlic.

Are you a chocolate fanatic? I bet you like the look of these chocolate pots. My mouth is watering!

In a nutshell, this is one of Jamie's older books, but has lots of wintry, homestyle flavours in it, with a splash of just about everything. Well worth the buy, just for the curry!!

Have a nice week all, I hope that Monday-itis doesn't hit too badly.

Something I've been working on...

Hello everyone. I'd like to show you something I've been working on. I'm a bit nervous to show you, because I'm not sure you'll like it, but here goes...

Seeing as I love vintage linens and embroidery/crochet so much, I thought it might be nice to use them in my sewing. I have made several zippered pouches that could be used as a coin purse/small makeup pouch or jewellery holder, and I also have several other ideas in the works. I've mixed the vintage pieces with a natural linen/cotton as I think they complement each other nicely.

The scary thing is that I have decided to start a little adventure, and perhaps sell some of these...Yikes! What am I getting myself into? It is completely freaking me out that someone might buy one and think it's terrible, but I will give it a go anyhow. I would like to get some sort of store up and running in the next few months, so we shall see what happens I guess.

This above purse is my favourite so far. I love birds in embroidery.

So please tell me - do you like? (If you do, I might show you some more over the next week.)

Someone Buy Me...

This beautiful lace-inspired Necklace from Excely on etsy. Being addicted to vintage lace as I am, this little lovely is right up my alley. Check out Excely's lovely store here.

Have a lovely day and I shall see you all tomorrow!

x o

Free Stuff I love: Quilts

Hi everyone, hope you are well today and having a lovely week. I don't know if it's winter blues or not, but I have been finding it a bit difficult getting back into routine after our long holiday....I forgot what it was like to be alone without another adult at home (how do you get anything done with more than one??). To ease me into the daily grind again, this week Ellie has decided to cut top teeth. I do feel sorry for her, but I'm sad that I have been trying and trying to get to the sewing machine all week and it is just becoming harder and harder. The sleeps are getting shorter and the behaviour more demanding. C'mon teeth, time to appear!!! But enough of poor me. All this to say that I have something I've been working on that I'd love to show you all if I could just get some time alone....stay tuned, it shouldn't be much longer now.

My posts for this week seem to have a quilting theme, so I may as well keep it going today :o) Free Stuff for today is a collection of Quilt Tutorials/Patterns that I think are cool. Of course, there are hundreds more out there, I know, but these are all pretty nice ones if you ask me!

Here is a pretty Baby Girls Quilt tutorial from Moda Bakeshop by Vanessa of V and Co. Pity there are nothing but little men being born amongst my family and friends right now!

Also recently posted at Moda Bakeshop is this lovely Candy Buttons Quilt Tutorial. I am really loving these dots!

If you fancy the dots, but don't fancy all of that applique, then try a clever alternative method and make this gorgeous Marble Champ Quilt by Lizzy House

Here is a nice gender neutral Sparks Baby Quilt Pattern at Handmade by Alissa

Learn how to make this Cathedral Window Quilt at Hyena in Petticoats

Today's favourite? Here it is: I LOVE this gorgeous little mini embroidered alphabet quilt shared at Orange Flower Patterns and Tutorials. It's so simple, and yet very effective.

And if you are a bit scared of binding quilts (like me!) then there is a tutorial on binding for you from Crazy Mom Quilts right here.

Happy Quilting my friends! x o

[all images from linked original sources]