Thrifted Monday & a lovely surprise (edited to add: Vintage Illustration Week too)

I had an exciting afternoon today. I was on my way home from a work meeting and even though I was rushing to pick Charlotte up as I passed the Vinnies at Rozelle there was a parking spot right outside. It seemed to good an opportunity to pass up so I thought a quick 5 min look wouldn't hurt. So straight in to the tablecloths ,sheets etc but nothing good there, then to the crockery again nothing, then a quick dash to the children's books. They were all over the place with books in front of others but I glanced down to the bottom shelf and saw the word Debbie on an older looking hard cover. I pulled it out and lo and behold it was Debbie Learns to Cook by Gilbert Delahaye & Marcel Marlier. What a find it is in pristine condition and was only $1 I couldn't get to the counter quick enough.



Then I got home there was a lovely package from Adds including some lovely Michael Miller fabric, some ric rac, some books and some magnetic snaps she got very cheaply from Textile Traders for me, thanks Adds.

This is..........

my creation. Probably pretty obvious but these two beauties are my creations.


I still can't believe I created these two wonderful little people (ok Jeff helped a little bit). We are so lucky to have them in our lives. My two girls Charlotte and Lucy.

You can also check out my other creations here

Thanks to Betty the Geek for this week's This Is. You can check out more here

Sale

The Remnant Warehouse is having a sale so I popped over there this morning and did some credit card damage (not too much but I won't say in case Jeff reads this!). I got there are 9.15am and should have got there earlier, although there were heaps of people in the shop you could still move around but the queue for paying went the length of the store (anyone who has been there will know the size).

All fabric is at least 25% off and there is a lot of stuff that is 50% off. Here is what I bought.

American Jane 50% off Alexander Henry 2.5m $10


Michael Miller Dots 50% off

Charm pack 25% off Storybook 25% off Katie Jump Rope 50% off

Ingrid I got your guitar fabric and also some denim but if you don't want that I am happy to keep it. I also got some wadding so all in all very happy.

If you are in Sydney and can get down there is is well worth it. The sale is on until next Thursday.

Rock Chick

I just finished this bag and it is available here and here

This is..........

looking out my front door


A pretty boring view and we get the afternoon sun on that side of the house so getting the photo was a challenge. Our front door used to be our garage but we recently added a second storey so now we are dual occupancy and our front door is into what was the old garage. I'm very lucky my mum and brother live downstairs so ready made babysitters.

Thanks to Brooke for this weeks theme. You can pop over here to see them all

Baking & more East meets West

I had the urge to do some baking this afternoon and this was the result.


I used this recipe by Fiona. I love it because it is so simple and gives great results.

Here are some more picture of Helen and Adds during their visit.

Helen at Remnant Warehouse

Adds at Craft Depot

Charlotte and Helen at my house (I shouldn't tell you but they were singing along to The Sound of Music - badly!!)

Adds and Lucy

East meets West

The day finally arrived yesterday when Helen & Adds (my on-line sewing & blog friends) arrived from Perth. Now I'm not too good at meeting new people so it was with some anxiety that I drove to the airport to pick them up. After a delay of 2 hours they emerged from the airport and they were just as lovely in real life as they are on-line.

We made a mad dash across the city to The Tea Room for High Tea and met up with another lovely sewing/blogging friend Ingrid (who I have met up with many times before).

Helen & Adds

Ingrid & Helen

Ingrid and I were very lucky to receive beautiful gift from Helen & Adds. This lovely suitcase packed full of luscious goodies including fabric and a Gracie Lou dvd/cd pack.


I gave the girls a little gift as well - a bag each, a key ring purse and a few other little bits and pieces. I hope they liked them.



This is the little key ring purse I made but I forgot to take a photo of their so this is one I made for myself.
We are off on a fabric crawl of Sydney tomorrow so I am sure there will be plenty more photos to come.

This is..........

my inspiration board. This week's theme by Pip was a very tough one. After much deliberation I decided this was my inspiration board.

I get lots of inspiration from looking at blogs. I love craft blogs (of course) and cooking blogs too especially baking ones. Thanks to all the bloggers out there committed to inspiring others.

Check out Angela's blog to see everyone's inspiration boards.

I've also been tagged by Ingrid but I'll have to do that tomorrow as I'm off to meet some blogging friends at the airport.

This is..........

my favourite accessory and me. I got this bracelet from Charlotte and Lucy for my birthday. It is made by my wonderful online friend Natalie and features three small pictures of the girls surrounded by the cutest, smallest frames you have ever seen.

Valentines Surprise

On Monday I received a lovely big parcel from Karen with my EB Sewing Buddies Valentines Swap in it and boy was I spoilt. Karen made a fantastic sock monkey in the form of CJ Cregg from the West Wing. Karen knows we are big fans in this house and even Jeff got a good laugh from it. She is carrying a handbag containing the lyrics for the song The Jackel one of her favourites and funnily enough we just watched this episode the other night.

here she is relaxing on the balcony

She also sent me some great fabrics, some ribbons, a tshirt for Charlotte and of course some lovely choccies which I haven't even had time to eat any of yet (maybe tonight while Jeff is out).

Just to let everyone know who is part of this swap my cd's are going out on Friday. I hope you enjoy them.

This is..........

What makes me laugh

I know you shouldn't laugh at other people's misfortune but Australia's Funniest Home Videos

really make me laugh. Even though Charlotte (5) sits there saying "you shouldn't laugh mummy, would you be laughing if it happened to (insert appropriate name here)".

For more laughs check out what makes everyone else laugh.

This is.................Sunday Lunch

This week's This is.........was Sunday Lunch.

My Sunday Lunch comprised of last nights left-over Chinese. I forgot all about taking a picture until I was just about finished.


We are having a baked dinner tonight and I tried to talk Jeff into having it for lunch so I would have something wonderful to post but he just wasn't interested.

Pop over to Three buttons and see what everyone else is eating.

Finally some sewing

Yes this is a sewing blog and I have been sewing but the weather has been so gloomy here that I haven't been able to get any good photos. The weather is still gloomy but I took photos anyway.

This cushion is for a friend's new little baby boy

Another bag that I love but will be for sale in my Etsy and Made It stores (link on the side)
And finally some Miss Buttons from Threebuttons. I bought the pattern and it arrived nearly the next day. Since then I have been making heaps for gifts. I love them the pattern is super easy to follow.
And finally my doll quilt which is going off with Miss Sophie Buttons this weekend to the birthday girl


And finally Charlotte received the Student of the Week award for her class today at assembly. I was so proud and I am sure there will be a whole post about it soon.

This is..........

This week's this is....my collection.
My collection is vintage children's books, mainly Dr Suess, Golden Books and Enid Blyton (especially Secret Seven) but also other vintage books.



These are some of my favourites:
Dr Suess Dictionary in French (recently found in an op shop).


Never Talk to Strangers (another op shop find but very special because I had this book as a child)


A Letter to Amy (I won this as a prize in 1970, still going strong).