Random Friday

The first photoshop class was fabulous yesterday. It's been so long since I've been anywhere near a classroom, but it's really re-inforced to me that I'm most definitely a teacher/classroom/textbook type of learner.

The bonus bit - I finally met Cintia from My Poppet as we're both doing the course (thank goodness she tweeted about it or I may have missed out)!


The festival of birthday begins today with watching the Preppie in a class performance at school assembly, and then we have the sisterlyopshoppingpalooza (I'm sure that's a real word), and lunch at my favourite cafe (sorry pulmonary rehab, but I'm ditching you today)!

 Photo courtesy Copper Patch

Abbe needs some help answering some Craft Retreat questions here.

I'm testing out my newly learned vector drawing skills on the May Skirt Sew Along button. I'm hoping that it looks like a skirt in a wintery type fabric?

Anyway, check out the blog on Monday to sign up for the Sew Along. You can make any skirt that your heart desires for the challenge, but if you're thinking about making a You Sew Girl A-Line Skirt, the pattern is available here.

Happy Random Friday!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Even though it was quite chilly and blustery lastnight, we braved the cold and headed off to Carols in the local park.

Luckily the kiddies never seem to notice the temperature!

They were very excited when Santa arrived on a firetruck.

Just for a laugh - meet Baubleboy

Sometimes all you need is....

Milkshakes and cupcakes...

.... and sunshine and balloons...

....a new friend to chat to....

...and love!

Impromptu Road Trip

This made me chuckle.... the guy driving the tractor pulled over, got out, bought a cappucino, got back in and tractored away again!

....and it seems that there's been some strange goings-on in the chook shed too (check out that weird shaped egg)!

Ole - Part Three

Winner of Best Dressed Person

Winner of Best Pinata

Winner of Bext Dressed Oxygen Bottle

Silly Stuff

Can you believe there were actually three people dressed as Tequila bottles?

There was a huge mexican feast for dinner. One of my brother and SIL's friends parents (does that make sense) used to own a mexican restaurant, so their friend cooked everything from scratch - nachos, guacamole, bean dip, salsa, tacos. burritos, rice etc etc etc etc. OMG Delicious!

He also managed to set off the fire alarms...

It was all too much for this little mexican. I needed a siesta!

The End.

Ole - Part Two

It's party night tonight for my SIL's Mexican Themed Birthday bash!

Earlier in the week I had a chance to refashion the giant pink oppy skirt for my sister to wear as part of her costume..... but then she went and got herself admitted to hospital.

Sheesh! Some people will do anything to avoid dressing up in a silly costume....

Anyhow, I'd better go and search for some thermal undies to wear under mine. It's going to be bloody freezing. Brrrrrr!

Escaping to the Country

I packed three of my nephews into the car yesterday, and took a little drive to the country to visit my mum.

Even though it was hot in Melbourne, there was a lovely cool breeze down in the south west of the state.

Gypsy the Shetland loved all of the extra attention.... the poor old ducks, not so much!

The boys were able to collect eggs from the chooks, ducks and turkeys.

The quails had just had little babies on Friday, so there were five tiny little yellow fluff balls (and one grey one) running around the bottom of the bird aviary.

The little boys collected turkey feathers with Nana to create these fantastic headbands. I just need to add some elastic to the backs of them, and then return them.

It was such a lovely day out. I really should do it more often!

...and now for something crafty

The pockets look mismatched in colour but it's actually the sun glare coming in from the side.

Sometimes it's seems like forever in between crafty posts..... this is, after all, supposed to be a Craft Blog!

I've been working on this project in dribs and drabs over the last week. It's another pinny for my cousin's little girl, Ava. It was supposed to be included when I sent the last one, which was a more summery version.
This is a wintery version which will be perfect over a long sleeved top and woollen tights.

It's made from my absolute favourite op shop find of all time - a vintage bedspread (which also features on my living room wall)

I even made the pockets from the matching fabric in the middle canvas on the wall!

After the little glitch with the armhole binding on the last pinny, I modified my method a little, and I'm much happier with the finish. It's nice and neat. I'm still not sold on the neck facings on this pattern, I think that they should be larger so that they sit more flatly against the dress. I think I'll re-draft that pattern piece for the next one.

For the final finishing touch, I added a little bit of vintage ric-rac at the end..... the print is so loud that it probably doesn't need much more bling!

I'm popping it in the post today so I hope she likes it.

Room to Breathe

I'm in the midst of a health hiccup at the moment, and feeling a little blue.

A chauffeur driven trip to the country, filled with green grass and fresh air and giggly nephews was just the medicine I needed yesterday.....

.....along with lots of billycart rides

Alter-Ego Road Trip

The Supasel softie headed off on a road trip on the weekend...... all the way to the country.
Safety is the number one priority when travelling.

She was handed over from the giver to the receiver.

It looks like mum thought the joke was pretty darn funny!

The Weekend

How time flies when I spend time hanging out with my little nephews.

I took Moo Moo and Nico to a friends sons 6th birthday party on Saturday.
The DS pouch was a hit - the birthday boy loved it!
All the kiddies had a great time - there was a pinata, pass the parcel, and pin the tail on the donkey.
I filled the boys up with sugar and food colouring and then delivered them both back home to their parents (that's the advantage of being the aunty).

Collecting firewood

On Sunday I headed out to mums place in the country for some fresh air with my Sister and BIL and the kiddies.

 Climbing into the goat enclosure

The boys had a great time running around and visiting all the animals on Nana's farm.

They got to feed the chooks and ducks, and collect the eggs....

...and talk to the goldfish.
 

There's a big tree in the paddock next to the house with four swings...

.... and plenty of space for fossicking.

What fun!

Alter-Ego

Meet SupaSel
She's just a big softie at heart (lame craft joke sorry).

Sweet and funny and whispering sweet nothings???

or Weird and freaky and telling tall tales???


If you'd like to make your own, it was really very simple.


I took a close-up facial photo, and then printed it to the necessary size using ink-jet printable fabric. 
After printing, I colour highlighted the features such as the eyes and the lips using fabric marker textas that I picked up at Officeworks, to make the photo look more doll-like. You could also do this in photoshop if you're a whizz (I'm not).

When cutting out the face, make sure to leave yourself a seam allowance all the way around. I made my own template for the body and arms and legs (which is why they're really out of proportion).


I used ric-rac sewn into the head seam for hair, and hand stitched some handbag rings onto the side of her head for earrings. Of course, omit the buttons and earrings if you need it to be baby/toddler safe.