My Creative Space

I'm heading off to begin a Photoshop Course today and I'm super excited.... so excited in fact that I decided at 5.30PM yesterday that I must have a new pencilcase (somewhat like the first day of school).

I searched through the stash and found this little sample swatch of my SuperPops fabric from way back when.

It just so happened to be the perfect width to make a little front facing zipper pouch to fit all of my favourite fineliner pens.

 Wish me luck!


More Creative Spaces

Super Lola Nova

A few weeks ago, I spied a very cool Felty Cuffs Tutorial over at Lola Nova.

It's was like the planets had aligned and shooting stars were raining down..... because every Superhero (even the completely mad and foolish ones, who like to embarrass themselves in public) needs Superhero Cuffs to go with their Superhero Headband!

But, do you know what's even more special about these particular felty cuffs?

They were made by the actual Lola Nova. How cool is that? Answering my own question here... it's way cool!

This is the arty-type shot where my arm is slightly out of focus so that you don't notice that I really need to invest in some moisturiser!

The best bit is.... I will wear them - you do know that right?

And a Merry Christmas to All

This is just a quick little post to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas from myself and SuperPops.

It's certainly been a rollercoaster of a year health-wise (especially the last six months), but here's hoping that it's onwards and upwards from now on.

I'm having some mini breaks at the beach and in the country over the next few weeks. There may be some sporadic posting here and there, but I'm not even taking my laptop, which of course means that I may just have a separation anxiety induced panic attack at some stage!

I want to say a huge thankyou to each and every person who visited my little place in cyberspace and left me a comment, or supported my crafty efforts through buying something from The CurlyPops Shop or from a Stockist or a Market. Also a huge thankyou to everyone who helped to keep me entertained during my hospital visits this year (my sanity also thanks you).

Oh and of course, a HUGE thankyou to everyone who gave me the perfect gift this Christmas by donating blood. The response was absolutely fantastic with everyone spreading the word via Blogs, Twitter and Facebook, and there are at least six people who have contacted me to let me know that they're donating for the very first time.  It just goes to show how fantastic the crafty blogging community is.

Well, so much for my short post - Merry Christmas. I hope you have a fantastic celebration no matter who you're celebrating with, or where you are in the world...... now where's my pesky little flying reindeer friend?

Finally.... a winner

I'm two whole days late drawing a winner of the SuperPops giveaway.

Sorry about that, but sometimes life (and markets) take priority!

So without further ado - via the magic of instant Facebook chat, I got my BIL from Clunes to read the comments and pick a winner:  and he chose Luvvie

Ooh - super powers - I would like to be like Dr Doolittle and be able to talk to animals. Particularly if I get to live in that great big pink snail shell thingy. 

Congratulations Luvvie! If you would like to email me your snail mail address, I'll package up a box of craft goodies and send them on their way.

Thanks so much to everyone who played along - I haven't thought of anything for this weeks giveaway just yet, but I will eventually!

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!

Pops aint so Super

I'm taking a little bit of a bloggy break this week - back soon.... I promise.

Is it a bird, is it a plane?

Wearing my Betty Jo SuperPops

No! It's the return of SuperPops!

Unfortunately, SuperPops had been put out to pasture in the good paddock for far too long over the winter.....  meaning that her superhero dress has become a little bit too tight around the midriff section. She can't currently sit down, as a button might literally pop off and take someone's eye out.

You may be wondering what would necessitate the return of SuperPops today.

I could pretend that she'd returned to rescue a kidnapped baby, do a good deed for a pensioner, or give away a prize, but in this case, I'm afraid she's returned to the blog for purely selfish reasons.

You see there's a Betty Jo fan giveaway going on at the moment, where some lucky duck can win a gift voucher (and I really want to win so that I can buy myself a cuckoo clock).

From Betty Jo:

Send me a photo of yourself or your Mum/Sister/ Gran/Buddy/Bloke wearing or posing with a Betty Jo Designs jewellery or clock. Please lets see who you are (no lapel shots or chopped off heads or macro zoom type pics.) Either email them to me (bettyjodesigns@gmail.com) or upload them onto to Betty Jo's Facebook
I hoping to make a customer gallery and need some submissions to kick start it!
I will leave this open for a while so (hopefully) I have a few entrants from which to choose who will win the voucher ( it will be a random choice I might add).

This is my proper entry.... now you should all get photographing pronto!

On My Wall - Part 2

While cleaning up on the weekend, I discovered another hidden treasure.

It had fluttered itself all the way home to my house..... only to get covered in a pile of fabric!

But now, this beautiful Betty Jo Lino Butterfly wall hanging has pride of place next to SuperPops, and all is well in the world....

On my wall

It's only taken me four months (which is pretty quick considering my procrastinating habits), but after picking up a cheap pine frame on my recent op shopping adventures....

.... and painting it a nice bold red, with some bright orange matting,...

.... my original Hoppo Bumpo SuperPops artwork has joined my art wall.

Isn't she a beauty?

Flea Market Finds

It's been a little while since I've had the chance to visit the oppy, but after my visit to Sparkle Heaven earlier in the week, I also managed to pop into the oppy in the same street.

There were four sweet nanas sitting around a table drinking cups of tea and chatting away. It was really lovely to be able to browse the store and listen to their conversation. One of the nanas even commented on my flower brooch (and noticed that it was handmade).... she has good taste obviously!

I was in a little bit of a hurry so after a quick browse, I came away with a brand new in packet vintage tablecloth, some embroidered napkins, and a photo frame so that I can finally hang Liesl's SuperPops on my wall.

I'm not sure whether to use the tablecloth on my table, or chop it up....but first, I'm off to transform that frame into something worthy of SuperPops!

PS - Visit Sophie at the home of Flea Market Finds to play along.

Move Over SuperPops

There's a new Superhero in town...

He's faster than a speeding bullet...

....and as cute as can be

They call him SuperMooMoo

My evil alter-ego

A little while ago, I headed over to Tinniegirls house for a crafternoon.....

Tinniegirl had planned to make herself a cover for her new IPhone and needed a little assistance. SuperPops supposedly came to the rescue, helping out with the customised measurements and seam allowances.

Tinniegirl finished off all of the lovely applique and hand stitching..... only to find that it was a little bit squeezy for her poor little IPhone..... but it fitted EvilPop's Sony Ericcson phone quite perfectly.

Co-incidence..... or all part of my evil plan? (Insert spooky music here)

For the budding Superhero

I finally had the chance to make a start on the handmade christmas pressies today. I have requests for playtime dress up pieces, so I've begun by making some Superhero Headbands inspired by SuperPops herself!

I was having so much fun mixing and matching prints, that I decided to whip up a few extra to take to the market. I have lots more cut out..... just need to get back to the stitching up bit. But first I need to head over to my sisters house for meatloaf and mash for dinner...yum!

Seriously Spoiled

Not only did I arrive home from my weekend away with a mountain of LOOT, but there was also something else very special carefully flat packed in my suitcase for the journey.

Liesl and Liesl's Mum and Bargy came to visit the market on Saturday, and bought along Liesl's original SuperPops watercolour drawing for me to keep...... boob tassels and all!

Now I just need to find myself the perfect frame, and she's heading 'straight to the pool room' .... errrrr art wall.

Going Greener

Betty Jo Collage Cards and SuperPops

I had a very interesting morning today. As part of the economic stimulus package, households can have a free environmental assessment of their homes, to learn about how to practically reduce their environmental impact, save money on energy bills, and of course make homes more comfortable and energy efficient to live in.

I've already made a start since I moved into my new place by installing heavy curtains, new exhaust fans, and a skylight. I have plans to install ceiling fans so that I don't have to use the air conditioning, and after today, I'm also going to look at having an external awning blind installed on my bedroom window..... in fact, I've been to the blind shop for a quote already.

I've learned about lots of new products on the market to make it easier to be environmentally friendly too.... it was definitely well worth organising. If you're interested (in Melbourne), let me know and I'll email you the contact details.

The photo above shows the the lovely Betty Jo Collage Cards that I bought for myself on the weekend. I'm planning on framing them to create artwork for my walls.
They fitted in with my environmental theme today as they were all inspired by the flotsam and jetsam that Liz has collected from various beaches. I was also lucky enough to bring home SuperPops.... and she has a brooch finding so I can wear her with pride. Thanks Liz!

We have a winner!

When I logged off and finally went to bed lasnight, Punky and Me and Hoppo Bumpo were equal leaders in the SuperPops Challenge....

The poll finally closed thisafternoon, and after a whopping 165 votes were cast....


The winner is Punky and Me!

I'm also going to award a runner-up prize as the votes were so close the entire way through.

Thanks so much once again to everyone who took the time to play along. I'm going to bunker down tonight and try my hand at a poem, as part of Melanie's blogtoberfest challenge over at Emmstarr.

The Voting Lines are OPEN

All of the SuperPops Challenge entries are in, so now it's over to YOU!

If you're reading this in a feed reader, then just click on over to the blog where you'll find a voting poll on the top right hand side of the page.

Each entry has a grid number which corresponds to the mosaic above. The colums are A B C and D, and the rows are 1 2 3 4 and 5.
ie: Top left is A1 - Bottom left is A5 - Top right is D1 - Bottom right is D5

If you can't choose an absolute favourite, then you can actually give votes to multiple favourites instead.... so many excellent choices!

The poll will close on Tuesday November 3rd at 8.00 PM Melbourne time and I'll announce the winner of the public vote.

I want to give a huge congratulations and a massive thankyou to everyone who played along and took the time to submit an entry for the challenge, and a huge thankyou to Tinniegirl for creating and running the blogtoberfest festival, to Badskirt and Chunky Chooky for helping with the festivities, to Myrtle and Eunice for creative the snazzy SuperPops button, and to Loz and Dinny for inspiring the SuperPops character and giving me the idea for the challenge..... phew - time to VOTE.

PS - Thanks also to everyone who joined in with the giveaways during the month. I listed a total of 104 giveaways, some of which are still open, so make sure you enter.

Hoppo SuperPops Bumpo

She promised me boob tassels.... and she delivered!

Liesl is a very talented artist - as evidenced by these amazing drawings. I'm loving the flower closure on the cape and those very cool yellow boots..... if only I could live the life of my alter-ego superhero creation - what bliss!

This might just be the very last entry in the SuperPops Challenge.

I'll be back tomorrow (after Nico's birthday party) with the details on how to vote for your next top favourite fabulous SuperPops creation.

Tinniegirls SuperJoyPopsDoll

It's nearly time to close the competition..... the very last day of Blogtoberfest for this year.

This beautiful entry came in thismorning from Tinniegirl (I want that dress by the way). We're heading out to celebrate the final day in this wonderful Melbourne sunshine, so I bid you adieu until later.....

PS - If you have any last minute entries, please email me the link mscurlypops (at) gmail (dot) com - voting lines will open tomorrow (yep just like my favourite reality tv)!

SuperTrash

Donkey wanted to get in on the SuperPops action too!

This caped crusader is the creation of Trashalou (mother of Destructoboy)..... and he's looking very swisho indeed. I hope I'm not going to cause a huge family ruckus in Trashcan land if one of these entries is the winner.

I think I'd be quite happy if donkey arrived on my doorstep and wanted to save me....