The one where Christmas came early

Packages, packages, packages....

So many beautiful things have landed on my doorstep lately, that it seriously feels like Santa has already been to visit.

This one arrived last week all the way from the UK. Lynsey from Cuteable and Swirly Arts sent me all these amazing treats.

Whoops! One of the Tunnocks Tea Cakes is already missing in this shot, and those Thorntons Chocolate Chunk Cookies are TDF. I've been limiting myself to two per day to make them last.... and vintage fabric and gorgeous tags and my BIL's favourite - Wagon Wheels!

My lovely friend Carly popped in to visit last weekend with a pressie for me - check out the specs cleaning cloth. So much prettier than the ugly grey ones that came with my new specs.

Speaking of specs... did I show you my new specs from Zenni?

One last package for today.

This was on my doorstep when I arrived home on Sunday.

Did you count???

That is a stack of thirty teatowels and one pillowcase from Amanda at Krafty Panda. Amazing. Speechless....Love.

Sigh... I'm so lucky!

Pins and Needles and a Fashion Fail Date

Do you remember the totally gorgeous owlie pins that Amanda made for me as part of our swap a few weeks ago?

Well, look what arrived in the post on Friday! The most gorgeous little bunch of flowers, just for me. They're teeny tiny and truly exquisite. Thankyou so much Amanda!

They look perfect hanging out in the mushie pincushion with the owls.

A little heads up* for this coming Friday - Jodie tweeted a pic of her fashion fail debutante dress on the weekend which was absolutely hilarious, so I'm proposing that this Friday becomes Fashion Fail Flashback Debutante Friday. I'd love to see everyones puffy pavlova disasters!

But never fear, if you didn't become a debutante, feel free to add wedding / formal dress fashion fails to the mix!


* I thought I'd give a few days notice so that everyone can dig their photos out of hiding.

A Flute and a Hoot

Amanda finally received her swap apron in the mail this week, so now I can do the big reveal.

I had to be careful not to chop off the poor pussycat's ears when I chopped into the tea towel, so I added a fabric section at the top to lengthen the apron.

After the dilemma I was having about finding some co-ordinating fabric in the stash for the binding, I actually decided to sort through the huge plastic container full of fabric strips that I've previously pre-cut.

Where I managed to find the perfect complemetary coloured binding strips.

You see, there are some advantages to living in a house that is overflowing with fabric....

My Creative Space

In todays creative space: I have a little swap pressie* that I need to finish up for Amanda.... I just have to find the precisely perfect fabric in the stash to make the binding and straps.

Sometimes the perfect fabric can be a little elusive, but when I spot the one, I'll just know.

The other task for today is to sort through the scrap bin to take along to the Northern Craft Bonanaza tonight, because one persons scraps are another persons treasures.... hmmmm there seems to be a proliferation of pink here!

I've also finished the custom camera bag from last weeks space, so stay tuned for some photos tomorrow.


*I'm purposely only showing a snippet of the very cute tea towel that Amanda sent me to transform. I want to keep the rest of it a surprise until she receives it back


The home of My Creative Space

Parliament

A Parliament arrived in the letterbox yesterday.... but thankfully not that sort of parliament!

I'm doing a little swap with Amanda, and my gift is these super-gorgeous teeny-tiny little owl pins. The detail is truly amazing to see up close. They're far too beautiful to use as sewing implements, so I'm thinking that they're going to herald the official beginning of my collection of beautiful tiny things to fill out my printers tray.


Thanks for all the lovely messages yesterday - I'm hoping to get some answers later today.... fingers crossed.

PS - If you like my little owlie pins, then pop on over to Krafty Panda, because you could win some yourself!

The one where I finally say thankyou

Lauren Williams Button Necklace and Betty Jo Lino Flower Brooch

Life suddenly got a whole lot busier this year, so I've been a little slack with keeping up to date with the thankyous!

Lovely Lauren gifted me this gorgeous button necklace at the market on Saturday (it features one of my favourite Ume Komachi fabrics) and lovely Liz gifted me a gorgeous (extremely limited edition) floral lino brooch.

In the mail last week, I received these fabulously funky retro tea towels and a gorgeous scrappy brooch from lovely Steph at Moo Bear. She stumbled across them at a garage sale....the floral motifs and the colours are absolutely amazing.

...and last but certainly not least is this absolutely beautiful tea towel from lovely Mandapanda at Krafty Panda.

 I desperately need to make myself a new tote bag (the grubby penguins need a wash), so this will be the perfect size and print!

Thank you so so much to all of you for the super special pressies!

A special delivery

Do you remember this gorgeous 1992 tea towel that Amanda from Krafty Panda sent me?

I received a message from Beck about it, requesting an apron for her daughters birthday (who was born in 1992.... sheesh that makes me feel really old)!

As Beck was having a stall at the Daylesford Makers Market last weekend, I couldn't resist changing my plans and heading to Daylesford to deliver it in person.

Happy Birthday Charlotte!

In my mailbox

I was lucky enough to recieve two amazing packages in the mail this week!


On Thursday, the postie arrived with this wonderful pile of goodies from Amanda at Krafty Panda - beautiful tea towels and sweet little cat doiley (putting my thinking cap on to work out what do with that one)!

....and then on Friday, another package from Linda at Two Pink Possums. This one has tea towels, lovely fabric, and some new sewing needles (just what I need actually).

Thankyou so much Amanda and Linda - as usual I'm completely blown away by the generousity of all the crafters out there. I've received so many lovely things in the mail - I'd love to know what my postie thinks I do with all my packages!

Have a happy Saturday...