My Creative Space - Just a few things I whipped up...

I have been feeling under the weather, and haven't been doing too much crafting this week.  But last night I had the craft bug and got around to trying out this fantastic tutorial which has been open on my browser for a few weeks now!!

My first attempt:

And my second attempt:

The first one looked too spaced out, so I sewed the petals closer together with the white lace one, which I think looks much nicer.  

Link in here for more spaces.

Brooch Swap Sneak

I was super organised and made my brooch and sent it off a week ago.  I wasn't going to reveal anything until my partner had received it and posted about it, but I figured a itty bitty sneak wouldn't hurt!!

Perusing

I haven't been much in the mood to blog lately.  Main contributor being stress!  So I've taken a step back, and have REALLY been enjoying reading other's blogs with more intent.  I've also had some fun finding new blogs to follow.  I know we all say this, and often, but GEEZ there are some clever people out there.  So today, my blog post isn't full of gorgeous things I've made (even though I really do have a tonne of things I want to show you all), but it is full of things that have been making me smile, and feel inspired.  Hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

Foxs Lane - Kate, you're never too old to wear twirly skirts.

Raspberry Rainbow - Cat, thanks for making me feel normal about the miracle of the bottom of the laundry basket.  And I hope your roof attaches itself back where it belongs soon.

Creating My Way To Success - Jill, I'm amazed at your determination to empty that box of potential upcycles.  AWESOME.  I must follow your lead.

Made - Dana responded to my comment about her haircut, even though I was the 171st comment.  Some people are just too nice.

Little Poppa & Me - Tammi is on the move, and everyone knows how fun it isn't!  That will be me in another month or so.  You can do it Tammi!

Flowerpress - I sent off my brooch, for the brooch swap last week.  I can't wait to receive mine.  You can check out other's ideas and creations over at the Flickr group.

Made By Me. Shared With You - Tricia has an amazing ability to make something as simple as a blanket look so amazing.

Blueberry Patch - Cathy's post made me laugh.  Chickens are always good for entertainment.

Thea & Sami - Thea has found a pair of the most amazing hand warmers ever.  And she held an awesome fundraiser morning tea last week!

Seven Cherubs - Naomi gave me a good idea, to have a Daddy Baby Shower.  Although I think I still might want my own too.

Totally Tutorials - thanks for posting this tutorial, which led me to this blog, and this great tutorial.  I'll be trying my hand at it soon.

Rosa's Room - Karlyn, thanks for reminding me how hilarious kids are sometimes.

And Then There Were Four - Multiple Mum, thanks for saying it how it is. 

and finally,

Flower Photography - V, thanks for making everyday things look beautiful.

Hope you've enjoyed a good read!!

A favour for a friend

I have a good friend with by far the cutest baby boy around this neck of the woods. 

Told you :)

He has been entered into a competition to win a free portrait session and 11"x14" print ($140 value).  If they get over 100 votes and have the highest number by Tuesday next week they get the CD of images too!  If you would be a darling and pop over here and vote for him!!! 

And while you're there check out how AMAZING Shayla's work is.

Old jeans upcycle.

I keep alot of old clothes with intentions to find an upcycling project to use them for.  Yesterday I had some success with my intentions!!!  I decided that I needed to make a bunch of new headbands for myself.  I only had a few and there just isn't enough variety!!!  So I pulled out one of my storage tubs with old clothes in them, and on the top was a pair of old jeans.  I pulled them out and thought that a denim headband would look fantastic!!! 

I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out.  What do you think?

I think I'll be making a few more just like this!  I have already got a few compliments today.  Best part is, they're easy to make!

My creative space - Make your own envelope.

I love finding cool things on Etsy, Madeit & Craftumi.  Unique things.  Like envelope templates.  I mentioned it in a previous post.  But I've been busy making lots of them!!  Don't they look awesome??

If you have a creative space you want to share, pop over here.

Monday - a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

This week has not started out so well.  But we won't dwell too much on that. 

Instead I'm going to celebrate selling these in my store over the weekend.

And buying this for my American MIL for Christmas (I like starting early!) from here.

I'm also going to focus on the fact that over the weekend I bought...

and of course I bought these go to with it..

Now I can cut up my fabric with precision and ease!  I am hoping to cut up some fat quarters this week to pop in my Craftumi store.

I hope your week has started out fantastically!! 

My creative space - nom nom nom

Hungry much?  Feel like one apple?

Or two pears?

Perhaps you'd like three plums?

Or four strawberries?

But maybe you are still hungry.... so you might want some cake!

And some cherry pie!

Or how about a slice of fresh juicy watermelon?

But that's enough sweets for the day.  Now you feel like a pickle!

And some salami and a sausage!

Are you going to finish off with a leaf?

I've been pottering away getting everything made for the Hungry Caterpillar book.  It's what I did while I was away camping!  My sister joined in on the fun too.  Here's what she's made so far...

I started on the ice cream cone the other day.  

Now to figure out how to do the ice cream bit....

Only a few more things to make now.  Then I need to make the caterpillar and butterfly!!

To join in pop over to Kirsty's.

Chop chop

So I got my hair cut today.  Monumental for me.  Normal for some others.  Considering I've only had one haircut in two years, I think that could sum up my fear of hair cuts.  I don't trust my fellow hairdressers.  I've seen far too many poor skills.  But today I got over it and went and saw a hairdresser that I have heard about from friends for YEARS.  I had to wait a few weeks to see him.  But I needed a few weeks to get my head around it.

Before:

It was just long, floppy, dry, stringy, gross, knotty.  It had to go.  It had no shape.  It was pretty much not acceptable, especially for a hairdresser.  Come on, I'm supposed to have awesome hair right?

After:

Now it has shape.  It feels amazingly healthy - especially compared to how it previously felt.  It will take half the time to dry.  Funny thing is, he took SIX INCHES off... and it's still reasonably long.  He probably could have taken more length off, but considering the first thing he heard from me was "I hate having my haircut, I don't trust hairdressers and I'm freaking out", I think he played on the safe side.  I'll probably be braver next time :)

Need to work on that side fringe though.  It's all floppy.  Not used to sitting like a fringe should.  I'll whip it into shape in a week or two.  It won't know what hit it.

What are YOU scared of, and have conquered to some degree?  

I'm also petrified of having a baby.  I'll be conquering that one next year :)

Flea Market Finds - history

So this weeks find, is once again thanks to my fantastic Nanna.  

Because once again, she has held onto something FOREVER.  Hoarding comes in handy sometimes...

And I am again at the receiving end of her 'cleaning out' efforts.

This suitcase belonged to my Great Great Grandfather.  He used to be a Train Driver, and this was the suitcase he would take on the train with him to work.... because he used to drive the train from Brisbane to Sydney you see.. so he needed to take a few days worth of clothes and supplies with him.

This suitcase is about 150 or so years old.  I definitely will be taking good care of it, and have a safe spot for it to live.

Isn't it delightful?

Pop over to Sophie's to join in.

Playing with Macro

I've been exploring the possibilities with the Macro settings on my camera lately.  Here's a few piccies I've taken...

What do you like using your Macro settings to photograph?

Hope everyone has a super weekend!