Happy Halloween and a Winner

Happy Halloween!

I've been out trick or treating with the nephews (which is code for watching them go trick or treating, and then sorting through their lolly stash and eating my bodyweight in chocolate and lollies).

 There was much excitement on the way out....

.... and a bit of dawdling on the way home

Did you know you can still buy sherbet straws? They even still taste the same! Yum.



Anyway, it's time to pick a winner.

Random.Org tells me that the winner is comment number 3

Tanya from Tanya Today

Congratulations Tanya! I'll be in touch to organise your prize.

It's the final countdown - Blogtoberfest '12

Today's the day.... we made it!

31 days of posting each and every day for Blogtoberfest.

A huge thankyou to Kat from I Saw You Dancing for picking up the reigns and filling in for Tinniegirl this year as the hostess with the mostess.

Thankyou to each and every blogger who signed up for the challenge (there were 334 of you) Yikes!

Thankyou also for the 54 giveaways (some of which are still running so quick sticks).

I'll be back later thisevening to draw the winner of my giveaway. But first, I have veeeeeeery important trick or treating to attend to with the nephews.

Blogtoberfest Halfway - Time for a Giveaway

What better way to celebrate the half way mark of Blogtoberfest than to have a giveaway!

A few lovely peeps suggested a pink and orange themed giveaway, which I think is a brilliant idea.

So, all you need to do to be in with a chance to win a Funky Flower Pendant Necklace and Earrings Set is to leave a comment on this post.

The winner will be chosen by random.org at 8PM on October 31st (of course, please make sure that your email address is enabled in your ID so that I can contact you if you win).


There's also a matching set available as a charity fundraiser for Team Ruby which is an organisation that raises awareness for Cystic Fibrosis. Just pop on over and 'like' the Team Ruby page on FB.  The auction will take place in November.

While you're there, why not 'like' my CurlyPops page. It's the best place to get up to the minute info on the latest happenings, and access to special FB only sales.


How are you faring so far? Have you managed to post every day? Is blogging becoming a habit? Are you loving it, or is it driving you stark raving bonkers? Spill!

A Change is as good as a Holiday... right?

Well, that's what I keep telling myself... it's been a loooooong time since my last holiday, so I chopped all my hair off.

This is how little the Bubbas and Moo were back then. How things have changed....


Anyway, there was actually a point to this post.

I was going to tell you about the awesomeness that is the Blogtoberfest Giveaway list.

Make sure you go over and check it out and visit some of the lovely blogs that are having giveaways. I need to sort out my own giveaway too, but I need some ideas.

What would you like to win?


***apologies - the Linky Tools site seems to be down so you can't see the giveaway list. Fingers crossed it will be back up and running ASAP!

You're never too old to learn something new

How long has it been since you've treated yourself to a new learning experience?

Other than a one day purse making workshop with Nikki, I hadn't challenged myself to completing a course to learn something new since the days when I worked full time.

As I'm going through my google reader and catching up with everyone's blogs, I keep seeing the illustration above.

Though it may seem really simple to some, I still can't believe that just by taking a giant leap of faith and beginning with a short course to learn the tips and tricks of drawing and designing in Photoshop, I've managed to teach myself how to use Illustrator. Combining the two only makes it even better!

So the moral of this little tale?

You're never too old. Challenge yourself. Invest in your knowledge and skills. Take some time just for you.

You just never know what you might learn.

Blogtoberfest Day 1 - It's the beginning

Welcome to Day 1 of Blogtoberfest!

You may remember in previous years that there have been lots of lovely bloggy giveaways. Well, the same thing is happening this year.

If you would like to host a giveaway on your blog as part of the festival, then just pop on over to the Blogtoberfest Giveaway page, and add the details so that all of the other participants can find you.

Please try to stick to the same format (it just makes it easier to read):

• Blog Name - What you're giving away - End Date

Of course, if you have any problems, just email me and I'll try to sort it out as quickly as I can. Go forth and be festivalled!

Blogtoberfest 2012

Hello lovely peeps!

Can you believe that Blogtoberfest is nearly upon us again?

This year it's going to be slightly different as Tinniegirl is taking a break, and Kat from I Saw You Dancing will be leading the festival.

Everything you need to know is on the official Blogtoberfest Page - the sign up list, button codes etc. The buttons are also available on Flickr if you trouble with the html codes.

Go forth and sign up - it's going to be another bumper year!


PS - don't forget to use the hashtag on Twitter / Instagram etc. so everyone can find you #blogtoberfest2012

Things that make me smile...

When I see someone making something completely gorgeous using fabric that I've designed.

Handpainted doll by Jennie at A Little Vintage using my Go Granny and Owlie Oracle...

This one is perfect for Blogtoberfest.

Juliet from Tartan Kiwi won my Reindeer Row fabric during last years Blogtoberfest finale, and she's made a little zippered pouch as a pressie for her nephew.

Soooooo cute! I have a teensy bit of this fabric left and it's making me want to get it out and make christmas pressies.

I haven't had a chance to organise my own Blogtoberfest giveaway just yet, so keep your eyes peeled for it this coming week. In the meantime, please check out the Blogtoberfest Giveaway page and good luck!

Blogtoberfest 16 Self Portrait Day

In the absence of any proper photos of myself (always the photographer, never the photographee), for todays Blogtoberfest Self Portrait day, I present to you, a random selection of blurry photos taken on my mobile phone.

The straight hair shot (middle bottom) is evidence that I'd just been to the hairdresser for a haircut. I would normally never ever bother even plugging a hair straightener into a powerpoint, let alone taking the time to straighten my hair with it!

Strangely enough, it seems that I only attempt a self portrait on my phone when I happen to be wearing my Dorothy shoes (strange but true). I'm sure they must have magical powers. It's looking like my wardrobe has a particular colour theme too.... bizzare.

Anyhoo, that's enough pondering for a Sunday, why not play along at Tinniegirl!

My Creative Space

No fun creativity here... just trying to get quotes for some kitchen modifications to prevent my oxygen from sending me up in flames when I cook....

Hopefully there's something much more interesting going on here!

PS - I'm already struggling to keep up with Blogtoberfest. My google reader has gone crazy and there haven't been enough hours in the day to visit everyone, but I have been reading - never fear! I'm hoping to make my way through the list to visit everyone by the end of the month!

Welcome to Blogtoberfest

I'm sooooo glad that September is now over, and we're starting afresh this month with Blogtoberfest.

Apparently there's a game of football being played in Melbourne today?

I have much more exciting plans afoot involving lots of coffee, maybe some chocolate, and this beautiful big fabric colour chart.

If you'd like to play along during the month, just pop on over to visit Tinniegirl here and sign up. If you'd like to host a giveaway on your blog, then pop on over to the Blogtoberfest page on my blog and add your details to the linky list.

But the most important thing, visit lots of blogs, and have fun!

It's a finale and everyone's a winner (including me)

Sheesh, what an amazing Blogtoberfest month it has been - 270 bloggers aiming to post each and every day for the entire month of October. I hope everyone had lots of fun with the challenge.

I had a wonderful month trying to write posts myself, and keep up with hundreds of posts in my google reader each day. I also finally returned to work, and to markets, after my trio of setbacks earlier in the year.

I participated in Home is Where the Craft Is, and had a few crafty giveaways to celebrate..... but I think the thing that I'm most excited about, is having my own fabric designs printed.

Which of course brings me to the very important business of choosing a winner!

Dragster Dominoes was the most popular choice hands down. I had this original sample printed in cotton, but it will look even better in a cotton/linen blend.

There were 57 entries.....

.....and the winner is number 29 - Tartan Kiwi

Thankyou so much to everyone who entered and picked their favourite swatch. The good news is that I couldn't decide which ones to print as yardage, so I've ordered all of them!

As soon as it arrives, I'll pop some in the shop for anyone who is interested.

Happy Blogtoberfest...... 'til next year Blogtoberfestians

PS - You can still check out the Blogtoberfest Giveaways Page because there are still lots left to enter!

We're nearly there...

We've almost reached the end of Blogtoberfest for another year...... and I'm about to be throttled by my ISP once again.

It was such a dreary rainy day yesterday - perfect weather for sewing (and ducks).

I whipped up this little make up zippered pouch as requested by my sister-in-law. It has a little side pocket for extra storage.

I'll be back later to draw the winner of my final giveaway and to wrap up Blogtoberfest for another year!

She's Baaaaaaack!

Well, we're now well and truly over the half way hump of Blogtoberfest. How is everyone faring???

If you played along last year, you may remember the journey of SuperPops. I had a little creative competition where I asked everyone join in and create their own version of the character. I also managed to publicly humiliate myself on the www.  It was so much fun, that I now have an entire bloggy page dedicated just to SuperPops.

This weeks giveaway is following the SuperPops theme....

The prize will be a B2 size mailing box jam packed full of crafty goodness.

I'm making you work for it this week - to enter, just leave me a comment answering the following question:

If you had a superpower, what would it be, and why???

Just to keep it fair, I'll get my sister to pick the funniest entry as the winner - entries close Friday 22nd October at 8PM.

***Oh, and if you like SuperPops, you can find her in the shop!

Whoops! I almost forgot...

Tagxedo - found via The Crafty Librarian

...to draw a winner of this weeks Blogtoberfest giveaway!

I usually have a handy dandy screenshot of the random number generator, but my photoshop trial has expired so I can't do it.




Anyhow, there were a total of 35 entries overall, and the winner is:


NUMBER 15 - It's Cass from Snailblazer - yippee!

Blogtoberfest Day 13 - The Self Portrait

I didn't even need to photoshop my head off - this photo is completely unedited. Hooray for my headless photography skills.

Do you think that it might be an omen that we're having a Blogtoberfest Self Portrait day on the 13th? Hope no-one is too superstitious!

Anyhow, on with today's story.....

I had a little shopping and afternoon tea adventure on Monday, so yesterday I decided to glam it up a bit and wear my new dress, my lovely bright red tights, my dorothy shoes (along with one of my brooches of course).

I decided in the afternoon that I needed a photo of my new dress, so I took a few self portraits right before the sky darkened and the storm hit..... and then I read Tinniegirls post about today being self portrait day - fortuitous no????

I thought I might share some self portraits that I have actually included on the blog over the years. I can at least have a laugh then....

Yes I know it's only Blogtober but......

I told you already that I'm trying to be super-organised this year..... so I've designed some christmas cards, just in time for errrrrr Christmas! You may have caught a sneaky peek of the reindeer yesterday.

Pop into The CurlyPops Shop to snap some up, or just visit me at any of my upcoming markets, where you'll also find colour ranges that are not available online.

I promised a Blogtoberfest Giveaway today and I'm sticking with the card theme. Just leave me a comment and I'll draw a lucky winner this Friday night (October 15th) at 8PM AEDST. The winner will get to select their five favourite card designs/colours.

Good Luck!

Blogtoberfest Giveaway Winner Week 1 + Animation Friday

The first winner today is ME because my internet is back to normal - phew!

I'm combining Animation Friday with the announcement of the lucky giveaway winner.  So for those that missed the process over the last couple of months, my animation shows the evolution of the Tulip Gadget Pouch.

For some reason today, some peeps can't actually see the giveaway list. I'm hoping that the problem is with blogger or Mr Linky, and all will be fixed by tomorrow.


Without further ado, I'm already over an hour late with the draw - there were 92 entries overall.

...... and the winner is number 72 - Kylie from A Little Red Dress

Thanks so much to everyone who entered - Kylie, can you please choose your favourite pouch (Tulip or Jungle) and email me your mailing address and I'll pop your prize in the mail.

I'll be adding a brand new giveaway on Monday, so stay tuned!

My Creative Space..... and I've been Throttled

I have four markets booked in between now and Christmas, so I'm desperately trying to be organised in advance this year. I have various little production lines in progress, strewn all over the place.

I'm not very good at production line sewing. I get bored quite easily and prefer to flit between projects instead..... which usually means that I end up with big piles of unfinished projects everywhere. Even after studying and working in manufacturing for so long, I just can't seem to take my own best advice when it comes to productivity and just in time manufacturing!

I've also managed to transform my work bench from a serene example of organisation  to complete and utter chaos in the space of a week.

Just to top it off, I received one of those horrible nasty emails yesterday morning:

This is an automatically generated email to advise you that you
have reached your peak download limit.
This means your peak service will be throttled to
128 kbps until 08/10/2010.

So it looks like I'm going to be very very quiet over the next couple of days, which is not very good in the first week of Blogtoberfest! 


The Home of My Creative Space

Happy Blogtoberfest Beginning

It's Blogtober the 1st, so I'm kicking off the festivities with a giveaway!

You know the drill - it's always really simple in these here parts - just leave a comment if you'd like to win one of my new gadget pouches (you can choose which design you prefer).

The pouch is approximately 13.5cm in height x 10cm in width. Flex Frame is 9cm wide. Pop on over to the shop for some more detailed photos.

I'll draw a winner at 8PM next Thursday 7th October.

Don't forget to check out all the giveaways over at my Blogtoberfest page (the link can also be found at the top left hand side of this page).

I'm heading out into the sunshine (yippee Melbourne) today, for a trip to Home is Where The Craft Is. There are only 3 days left to see all the crafty goodness on display so chop chop!