Love this vintage...

Chocolate brown crochet covered clutch.  From Allen Company Inc.  (From the 1940's too!).  

Sooooo pretty.

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After a shockingly busy last 7 days, I'm really hoping this week slows down a bit.  Hope you're week is happy and manageable as well, and that Monday-itis doesn't catch you!

Grandma's Ginger Biscuits

I've been baking, sewing and glueing up a storm today for a certain baby shower I'm helping put together for tomorrow.  

While I can't reveal my sewing adventures, I can tell you that these are seriously the best biscuits EVER.

Grandma's ginger biscuits.  Part of the anzacs/shortbread/ginger biscuits trio (family you know what this means). I've no idea where her recipe came from, but they are AWESOME.  Dunk these babies in a cup of tea and see what I'm talking about.

 And since it's Friday, I'll share the recipe with you...written exactly as she wrote it out for me.

GRANDMA'S GINGER BISCUITS:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups plain flour
• 5 teaspns ground ginger
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 pinch salt
• 125g melted butter or margarine
• 2/3 cup honey

Method:

1. Place dry ingredients in a bowl and stir to combine
2. Melt honey and butter/marg in a small saucepan until bubbling
3. Add to dy ingredients and mix well
4. Place teaspoon sized amounts onto a greased tray
5. Place in oven set to 200 degrees c
6. Bake for 10 mins then change trays on shelves
7. Bake for another 5 - 10 mins

Note from Grandma - if cooked too long they go very hard.  Be careful on your teeth.

Note from me - bear in mind this recipe needs a little alteration for fan forced or hot ovens like mine.

Yum.  Enjoy!

My creative space.

So I finally finished that t-shirt.  It was a little fiddly in the end (read: I couldn't understand the diagrams) but worth the effort.   It's made from some thrifted stripey cotton jersey and is from this book (a very sweet book too!).  Only notes i'd make for next time is make it a whole heap longer as Ellie seems to have inherited my very long torso, and I think  I might button the reverse neckline instead of the tie as it's a little bit bulky in the jersey on a tiny neck.

Unfortunately, only shots are on the hanger here as my model was not agreeable to working today.  She was too busy dressing in purple and prancing around the living room instead.

Sit down with a nice cuppa and enjoy more creative spaces here.

Free stuff I love: kerbside thrift.

I have never taken something from someone's giveaways on the side of the road before....  But check this out!  A sturdy kid picnic table in good condition just being thrown away!  I couldn't let it pass by and this was exactly what I needed.

I love a good freebie and one like this doesn't happen often.

I hope you're week's been fine - mine is a little crazy and out of control, but I'm head above water at the moment....ask me again on Friday and it may be a different story!   Have a lovely day!

Mr Postman Delivery

Look what the postie delivered today.....

Yay!  My copies of Handmade Living!  These will be on sale in my shop from December 4!  This gorgeous book would make a lovely Christmas gift for yourself or a friend, and is full of fabulous projects, ideas and inspiration!  I'm so pleased to be part of this publication, it's such an exciting achievement for little old me, who never thought I could be part of something like this.  Hooray!

Love this vintage...

Mid-century modern footstool from moxie thrift.  I would love to get my hands on this baby and re-upholster. Must get back to the op shop and look for one.

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Melbourne highlights :: Monk Bodhi Dharma

OK.  If you've never been here, you should go.  Seriously.  I promise it is a really cool place and was a total Melbourne highlight.  Think Tibetan inspired, repurposed furniture, vintage light fittings,  organic handmade foods and very very fine coffee.

If you're into skim milk you won't find it here, only full cream un-homogenised love in a little glass cup (that's right, one size only people).   Not to mention a pretty darn great atmosphere if you can actually get in the door!  We were really thankful to get in with a party of seven - we took up half the space in the place!

Monk Bodhi Dharma.  Definitely worth trying.  Definitely can't wait to go back.  If you live in Melbourne and you've not found this gem, don't think about it.  Click here and go tomorrow.

I think I'll wrap it up there for my Melbourne highlights for now, thanks for hanging in with me folks, there was lots more to see and do but I did manage a trip here to get a lovely small stash of liberty too,  which made my weekend, just no pretty pictures of the store unfortunately (I was too busy selecting fabrics!).  See you tomorrow.

xo

a little red ribbon @ Gnovember

I'm so pleased to be guest posting over at Gnomeangel today!  Head on over and check out my Top 10 Vintage Etsy Crushes and get shopping!   Hope you're having a happy weekend!

Melbourne highlights :: MOZI

More shopping!  Right around the corner from Liar Liar just happened to be a lovely little MOZI store!  Very pretty.  Just love the colours in store at the moment, particularly this first image.

If you'd like to visit a MOZI store, you can find one here.

Hooray it's Friday!  Hope yours is a good one.

Melbourne highlights :: Rose St Artist Market

Second Highlight :: Rose Street Artist Market, Fitzroy

Washed out a little, but still great!  I had a great time browsing the stalls inside and those who had braved the pouring rain outside.  I came away with a few cute brooches and gifts.

I had fun browsing the wooden postcard badges by Neil Thomas Art.  I purchased a "press for assistance" badge and my friend purchased one that said "Shhhhhhhhhhhh" (yep, she's a librarian - a cool one too). 

If you think you'd like to visit this market, click here for more info.

We also spent some time up and down a small part of Brunswick Street, but there was way too much to get through in a few hours, so we'll be finishing the rest next time!  Despite the rain, I did manage to stop into some great bakeries, stock up on some more tea and have a hearty lamb and vegie soup lunch!  

Melbourne highlights :: Liar Liar

So, my weekend in Melbourne was awesome!  I didn't get a chance to see everything I had planned, but I did manage to hit a few places that I could most definitely return to.  This week I'll be posting a few highlights of my trip (crafty and not).

First Highlight :: Liar Liar Cafe.  

She said it was great (my local friend that is), and it totally met the expectation.  Awesome coffee,  friendly people, fabulous food and even a private demo & tasting on using a clover coffee machine.  Totally worth a visit (or two in my case).

 This lighting was fabulous.  You know me, I love vintage anything (almost).

 Yes, this is a silly photo of me eating my delicious french toast with poached plums and mascarpone.   YUM.

If you think you'd like Liar Liar too, you can find it here.

[images courtesy of Nadine Newell - a very excellent friend and photographer]

Love this vintage...

Pair of red peep toe shoes from Good Grace Vintage.  Very sweet! 

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I'm back from a flying visit over the weekend to Melbourne.  It was a great time with friends, just too much to get through in 48 hours!  Back Sunday at 11pm meant I was really hurting yesterday morning getting up early and being at work at 8am, but it was worth it!  I'll post some pictures of a few favourites later in the week.   Have a fabulous week everyone. xx

My creative space.

 Finally beat the kid and got some photography completed! This little coin purse with vintage lace and vintage cotton lining is now in shop. A few more might be in next week if you keep your eyes peeled.

Today I'm off to Melbourne for a girls weekend! I really really need to browse and spend a little time like this without 2 year old in tow....yep, we had a shocker on Tuesday at the shops. I'm really hoping to find a couple of good op shops and possibly stop by here if my buddies will let me...

Plenty more MCS's here

Weekend Sewing

Hooray!  I got some sewing done on the weekend.  I had Saturday afternoon to myself, so completed a few more vintage lace coin purses for the shop.  They'll be in store soon, once I've photographed and listed them.



I also enjoyed my iceberg rose in full bloom and couldn't help picking some for my desk - I'm such a sucker for flowers in the home and look forward to it flowering whenever it's not (which is not all that often).  Anyway,  have a lovely week everyone, today I'm shopping for 2 year old sandals with a 2 year old (ugh!).  Wish me luck.

Love this vintage...

Antique brass watch from Beauty Spot. So lovely.

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I hope you had a great weekend everyone.  I did get some sewing time, but we're still battling illness, hopefully on the up soon (really hoping).

Friday.

Not one of my better days today.  I'm feeling a bit grumpy, needing twice-hourly cups of tea and not getting anything done.  Add a just-toilet-trained toddler playing up a bit, not sleeping etc. and I don't quite have the Friday I imagined.

Mr potato head still has a smile on his face though, reminding us to stay positive!

What I've been trying to get at is this t-shirt from this gorgeous book.  It has so many lovely patterns in it, I just wish there were about a thousand hours in a day to get them all made.  Hopefully tomorrow I can get it finished - I'm nearly done and it's killing me seeing it sit there.

Have a lovely weekend tomorrow everyone!  We're having breakfast with friends and then I'm sewing!

My creative space.

This week...a little iPod/iPhone pouch finished, listed in shop, sold and now off to a lovely customer.   Now I'm really looking forward to some quarantined sewing time this weekend (thank you Mr E! xx)... I cannot wait to sink my teeth into some more of these and get them listed for Christmas.

More MCS action here!

Free stuff I love: Gifted

If you haven't already heard, Creature Comforts Gifted Magazine 2010 is out!  And it's full of wonderful gift ideas and easy Christmas DIY projects.  And, yes, it's a freebie!

Check it out here, if for no other reason than some gorgeous window shopping.

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These two.

Today I took Ellie to see her Great Grandparents.   I'm so thankful these two are in my life and in hers.  I can't tell you how much.

Love this vintage...

Shoulder Bag from a newly found favourite Little Tuna Vintage.  Really nice shop.

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