Op Shopping, Fabric Shopping, Quick Sunday Craft and an Art Swap

First of all I want to say a big big thankyou for everyone who posted comments with suggestions for the ladder. It's currently still sitting in the garden bed, but I will be sharing the suggestions with Mr CurlyPops (because he's the one who will actually chop it up and install it somewhere for me) to see which is his favourite. There were some fantastic ideas that had never even entered my head, so thanks!

I went op-shopping on Friday, again on Saturday, and then again today! I think I'm op-shopped out for at least a couple of weeks, but it's really hard not to stop when you're in the general location of an op-shop and you have time to duck in just to check if there's anything new in stock. I just happened to overhear the ladies chatting in Vinnies today, discussing that they were packing some things up to send back to Footscray, so they could get some new stock into the shop (bad news for me because now that I know that, I'm going to feel compelled to check back in later in the week)!

Anyhow, this is what I found.......


All these zips for about $3.50 in total. I'm going to have a try at sewing a zip into something (not sure what yet). I've never sewn in a zip in my life so wish me luck......


This huge pillowcase (photo shows it folded into four)......I bought it for the fabric....not sure what I'll make with it yet.


A set of four double sided fabric placemats......


A vintage double flat sheet, some purple floral fabric and a vintage childs apron.....


A set of 6 side plates in perfect condition (I gave these to my sister for her birthday).....


....and another craft book (because I really really needed another craft book). This one has some great stuff so I'll post some photos from the inside later in the week.



Yesterday I decided that I needed a calendar in the kitchen to keep track of everything. I have a really bad memory sometimes so I like to be able to glance at what is coming up in the next week. I have a diary in the study but I spend more time in the kitchen, so I thought it would be more useful to have a calendar......


So I decided to make myself a clipboard for the calendar pages.
I had a blank craft placemat in the cupboard and I used some of the beautiful paper that I received from Joanne last week. I just watered down pva to decoupage the paper to the placemat, scrunched up some cardboard and glued it down for the border, waited for it all to dry and then added a couple of coats of gloss varnish.
Mr CurlyPops added some bolts and nuts for me to hold the alligator clips in place and 'voila', it's finished.


I made up some calendar pages for the next few months.......


.....and added my very important appointments!


Today I went to Spotlight. My intention was to buy some spotty fabric to make more bias tape, but this is what I came home with.....


......and this is why I am sewing in the kitchen

Last but not least, I made a start on my Art Swap yesterday which is running over on Cathy's blog and here's a sneaky peek!

Phew! I'd better go and make some dinner before we starve!