Toy Society Bush Fire Appeal

This guy is on his way to Mike's as part of The Toy Society Bushfire Appeal. He's a space monster.
Smaller versions will be available at Mathilda's Market next weekend

Garage Sale

In our old suburb we used to get a really good local paper that always had good garage sales listed. When moved 10 years ago but only a few suburbs so I still try and pick up that paper when I can. I managed to get copy last Thursday and a garage sale notice took my fancy.

"Garage sale Sunday 8th March 8am, linen, retro items ....................." I didn't really need to read any further. The kids had a late night last night as we were out for their cousin's 18th for dinner but I knew I wanted to be up early to get there. 7.30am arrived and I jumped out of bed, Lucy decided she wanted to come so we left Charlotte watching cartoons and Jeff snoring his head off.

We arrived at 7.45am and the street was packed with cars and people waiting to get in. They had 2 tables of linen out the front and there were women and men just throwing stuff onto big piles on the grass. I swear one woman's pile was up to my hip. I started plucking stuff off the table and putting it in my bag. There were things never used still in the packaging.

Then we ventured into the garage. It was full of dealers carrying out anything they could lay their hands on and making piles all over the place. I had to pick Lucy up because there was so much stuff everywhere it was a hazard. I did manage to get some gorgeous hankies (never used, still with the price on), some cute serviettes, some paper dolls all intact, 3 Holly Hobbie placemats and over mits.

There was more stuff on a little veradah and in a little room off that housed some kids books. There were piles everywhere and Lucy was a bit over it by now but I did manage to score some Little Golden books, some to add to the collection and some to use for crafting.

On the way out there was a lady sorting through a box of tins and I was really hoping she was going to put them back but alas there was only 1 she didn't want, a cute Lucy Atwell one which Lucy has been carrying around everywhere.

As we were leaving a neighbour was walking out and she said that the lady who lived there has gone into a nursing home and that she used to just buy everything and hoard it. She said they had already had 3 skips, 1 other garage sale and that there was still more. So looks like I will be scanning the paper every week now.

Not sure how these pictures will turn out as I had to use Jeff's iphone

Bushfire Auction Now Open

Gillian from over at Silly Gilly has now started listing the auctions over on Ebay for the Bushfire Appeal so make sure you pop over there and have a look. It would be lovely if someone placed a bid on my items but please refrain from bidding on the things I want!

Unfortunately

I've seen this on a few blogs lately, although I can't remember where I saw it first, I noticed Helen has just done it so I thought I better join in.

Basically you type "Unfortunately.....insert your first name here" into Google and see what comes up, just for fun. You have to do the "" quote things to make it work.

Here's what "Unfortunately, Cassandra" came up with

Unfortunately, Cass hurts Frankie's feelings when he says she's only interested in helping herself and could care less about anyone else

Unfortunately Cass met her untimely end

unfortunately, cass is no footie statistician-or enthusiast- like her father

Unfortunately, Cass is a bit blind in both eyes

Unfortunately, Cass McBride has no use for David and publically snubs him in front of many of his classmates.

Unfortunately, Cass is unable to read

Unfortunately Cass is entirely closed down for the off-season.

Unfortunately, Cass died unexpectedly in 1997,

Unfortunately, Cass has probably told the worst person she could have ever chosen

Unfortunately, Cass was already pregnant by that point, but she still divorced him

No pictures because my brother has borrowed my camera. I have a softie to send off to The Toy Society bushfire collection but I really want to photograph him because he is so cute.

My girls were lucky enough to get a beautiful doll each made by the wonderful Jodie for Christmas named Ruby and Molly. If you read Jodie's blog you will know she is getting ready for the Stitches and Craft show (and if you don't read it you really should) and she is going to be launching some exciting new patterns, one of which she asked me to test for her a little while ago.

I got to make some pj's and a dressing gown for Ruby (Molly will be getting one soon). Here is Ruby all ready for bed and doing a bit of reading which she really enjoys.

Jodie's patterns are super easy to follow so you should make sure you check them out when they are realised.

Blushing Buttercream Pettiskirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

I definitely want to win this one.

Blushing Buttercream Pettiskirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

Amitie mailout

I got my Amitie VIP mailout yesterday which is always a surprisingly lovely package.

This time it included a pattern and I think when I get some spare time I am going to make the apron up and send it here.

I was also thinking of donating this fabric to Re-stash a Crafter.

During the holidays I was playing around with a new skirt for Charlotte but it needed a band at the front with elastic at the back and I put it in the too hard basket. While I was looking at my crudely drawn design I thought it would also make a great bag. So I drew it up and cut the pattern and then it got too hot to sew so it sat there for a while. Then I saw this post and threw my cut out pieces on the scrap pile.

Fast forward to Handmade Help and I was thinking about what I could make to send to Gillian to auction and I dug my pieces out of the scrap heap and this is what happened
I used a really nice canvas as the base and an Alexander Henry fabric on top. The bag actually turned out much bigger than I anticipated because I thought it looked too small so added side and base gussets, it's got three large pockets inside, magnetic closed and a long strap. It would actually make a nice nappy bag as it would hang off prams handles well or even a good bag for uni or work stuff. Anyway if you like the look of it keep an eye out on Gilly's site for the auction details.
I also took part on the EB Haby swap and got this parcel from Carolyn. Thanks heaps it's great.

In my pursuit of using up my stash of "untouchables" I made Charlotte an S-Cargo using some of Jodie's 'girls' on the front. Charlotte decided she wanted a hopscotch game on it so I embroidered that after I appliqued the girls on and then filled in their little talk bubble.

These S-Cargos are winging their way to Gillian to be auctioned off as part of Handmade Help. I really hope someone bids on them when they get listed or otherwise I'll have to buy them back.

There's lots going on in the crafting community at the moment to help the bushfire victims in Victoria. Cindy has started up Handmade Help and Gilly has done a little button for it (see my sidebar). I am sending some S-Cargo's down to her for an big Ebay auction she is organising.

Also Pip has a big list of contacts over at the Mike's blog.

Obviously one of the most important things at the moment is money so you can go to the Red Cross and donate. I'm having a collection at work next week during an event I have organised.

Bianca is organising softies through the Toy Society if you are interested and can make something up.

There are many more people and organisations out there doing their bit so get in and do something, anything.

I just saw at the end of the cricket that they raised $6 million tonight which is absolutely fantastic but hopefully that doesn't make people think that enough has been collected.

Dancing Queen

Last night in the sweltering heat we headed over to Taronga Zoo to see Bjorn Again as part of the Twilight at Taronga concert. It was a great night not only for the music we heard, the dancing we did but also for the nice breeze coming off the water.
Oh and if you've sent me an email and I haven't responded it's because I can't receive or send emails for some unknown Telstra reason. I am seriously thinking of changing except for the hassle of letting everyone know a new email address.

I have been participating in the I'm a Ginger Monkey Fat Quarter Swap and my swap partner was Rachel from Four Wise Monkeys. I received a lovely package yesterday from Rachel and I am thrilled with what she sent me. Two lovely FQ, one Heather Bailey and the other a green dot.

She also sent me some awesome buttons and a Melly & Me pattern for a Fat Quarter bag.

Thank you so much Rachel and thanks to Katy for being a great host

More stash busting

I've been working on a little project using a kit bought at the Stitches and Craft Show last year, obviously I bought too much there!

This lovely purse kit comes from Nicole Mallalieu and I was a bit scared to tackle it because the pattern 'advanced' and it also used some beautiful Lara Cameron fabric, but it was surprisingly easy to make up even the frame which I was freaking out about.

I must admit though that this is only blog ready because I haven't crimped the frame yet, that is going to take a bit of courage, but it is securely glued in.

I can definitely see more of these little purses on the horizon

As you may have read previously it was my birthday recently and I thought I was all done with the presents until this week. Last Friday the postie left a card in our letterbox because apparently we weren't home at 7.00am when he "tried" to drop a parcel off. By the time I got the card it was late afternoon and it was hot and I thought it would be some cannisters I won from Kirsty (which by the way arrived yesterday, thanks Kirsty) so I wasn't too stressed about getting there.

Off I trotted after work on Tuesday to pick the parcel up and it was a large squishy parcel from the other side of the country from my gorgeous, wonderful quilting friend Helen (we already have one of her quilts here, ours is the first one). I assumed it was fabric but when I had a sneak peak in the car I could see it was a quilt, so of course I rushed home to open it and this is what I found

This is laid out on the bed as there was too much washing on the line to hang it for a photo

Squiggly quilting

It is huge, I'm sure Helen went over the weight limit on the parcel and it measures close to 150cm x 150cm. We have a king bed and it lays beautifully over the top although there is no way I am sharing with Jeff when winter comes around, I'll be snuggling under this all by myself.

The back is yell with a border along one edge

Thank you so much Helen you are a wonderful friend and if only we lived closer I could bug you to do my quilting for me.

I've decided 2009 is the year I am going to start using all those fabrics in my stash that are too "special" to use. I figure why keep them locked away when I could make something from them and they will be noticed.

So the first on the list was this Kristen Doran Matryoshka fabric I have been hoarding since the Stitches and Craft show last year. I made the girls at Charlotte's party some little matryoshka dolls from some other fabric and Charlotte was pestering me for some but I knew I had this special fabric to use for my two. I backed them with some denim I had on hand.

Lucy had a little accident on the lounge this afternoon while jumping on my brother and is now sporting a nice bruise on her cheek. She loves getting her photo taken so when I had the camera out she had to get her "sore" in the photo.

She has also taken a shine to wearing these flippers in the house too.

I finally managed to catch up with Belinda yesterday and give her the gifts I made the beautiful Layla.

I used up the remainder of my vintage Peter Rabbit fabric to make a cushion, which I backed with some lovely soft lilac chenille. I blanket stitched around the pictures to add a bit of interest.

I also gave her a grey and floral rabbit. It's ears are a bit floppy bit she is one of my favourites.

Belinda was also very naughty and gave me this great tote she made. I absolutely love the fabric.

We conveniently met at Ikea but I was pretty good and just picked up a couple of candles and also this set of 3 tins that I love although I am not sure what I am going to do with them, but I am sure I can find a use for them.

Another year

Yes it's true today is my birthday and I'm another year older, although I can never remember how old I am now without calculation.

I was secretly hoping to get a Wii but Jeff just hasn't gotten his head around how good it would be! Instead I got a gift certificate from here. I've been a few times before and it is lovely. The girls got me some yummy chocolates and we popped out to dinner tonight to Gourmet Pizza Kitchen which was nice and they cater for the kids very well, with pizza dough to play with and colouring in books so it makes it nice and relaxing.

I also got a lovely parcel yesterday, which I opened early, from Adds. It contained the most gorgeous piece of Anna Maria Horner fabric, a new unpicker which I really needed and a new blade for my rotary cutter. Thank you so much Adds.