Speechless

Source

Watching the devastation unfold in QLD this week has left me speechless.

Everyone feels completely helpless at this early stage of the disaster. The most useful thing to do right at this very moment is to make a cash donation and wait until the call comes for other diffferent types of help.

There are many ways to donate cash, either directly to the QLD Premiers Relief Fund, or via fundraising efforts.

Check out the all of the fundraising links over on the Handmade Help blog.

Cooking up a storm

My pre-ordered copies of Homemade - The Handmade Help Recipe Book arrived this week.

I've already gifted one copy to my mum, one to my older sister, and one to my sister-in-law. I still have one copy for my younger sister, and two copies for girlfriends, and the lucky last one for me!

My sister and I have already flicked right through the book and picked out our favourite recipes. She's making the Veal Ragu for dinner tomorrow night. I'm liking the sound of Past e Patate for my dinner tonight or maybe Sausage Bake (I have some snags in the fridge about to expire).

Then I'm dreaming of Chocolate Self Saucing pudding for dessert.

If you haven't bought a copy, then head on over to the website and snap one up pronto. They're only $15 and make a perfect gift - and the best bit is that you're not only helping to provide free copies for the Bushfire Survivors, but any other profits will be given directly to the Salvos.

Everyone who volunteered their time to make the book a reality, has done a tremendous job and should be very proud.

In case you haven't heard

The Handmade Help Recipe Book is now available for pre-order.

From the website:

In February 2009 Victoria was victim to the worst bushfires on record, which wiped out entire communities, caused 173 deaths and left thousands without homes or shelter.

The Handmade Help Recipe Book evolved as part of handmadehelpsout.blogspot.com by a group of crafters and artists who wanted to contribute to the recovery effort.

The result is a truly international cookbook, packed with treasured recipes and family favourites, donated by people across the globe who wanted to help including well-known chefs such as Margaret Fulton, Allan Campion and Michele Curtis.

All proceeds from sales of the recipe book will be donated to the Salvation Army

The book is available as a hard copy or as a pdf download. There will be a limited print run of hard copies, so it's best not to dilly dally or you'll miss out.

You may even find one of my recipes inside!

It's the perfect gift idea (I've ordered seven copies).

Come One, Come All

Head on over and check out the Silly Gilly auctions right here on Ebay.

All proceeds go to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal as part of Handmade Help.

My apron is right here!

Love Fridays..... Love Silly Gilly & Craft Markets

Today I'm Loving Friday because today (or maybe tonight) is the day that Silly Gilly is starting her Ebay auctions as a part of Handmade Help. Silly Gilly sent me some more amazing tea towels last week too, but I haven't had a chance to photograph them yet.... thankyou Silly Gilly!

There have been lots of amazingly wonderful crafty things donated for the auctions, including one of my Tea Towel Aprons - you can see a photo here: I've used a vintage pre-loved 'Victoria's Great Ocean Road' tea towel with some vintage floral sheeting for this one.

I'll be launching the Tea Towel Aprons and a new Handbag Design at the Made'n'Thornbury Market at the end of the month.

There'll be lots of other crafty ladies selling their wares as well:

Tinniegirl

Buttons by Lou Lou

Finki

Troischats

just to name a few

.....and there'll be coffee and baked goods and a kiddies craft table too!

Check out the home of Love Fridays...

My Creative Space

I'm not being very creative today.... too many things to do and people to see - you know the drill.

I'm hoping that this box of goodies that I'm going to drop in to Meet Me at Mikes today will inspire some creativity as part of the Re-stash a Crafter project. I've inlcuded yarn, knitting needles, sewing needles, pins, fabric, buttons and a little bit of floss.

I've searched the house for my crochet hooks because I really want to donate them too... but I can't find them anywhere. I'd better keep searching!

Bags for the boys

I didn't have the chance to make it to the fabulous bag making sewing bee on Saturday, but I did manage to whip up a few bags to contribute to the Rainbow Comfort Packs.

Four super simple drawstring bags that would be perfect for very little boys to keep their treasures...

....and two super simple tote bags for older boys. I wish I had time to make more, but I need to drop them into Nikki today so I've run out of time.

This is a before shot (I don't have an after shot), but I also have a few headbands that can be included in the bags for the girls, and I just need to have a bit of a rummage around to see if I can find anything else to include.

The next job is raiding the craft stash to gather some supplies for Re-stashing a Crafter. I'm aiming to drop a box of supplies off to Pip on Thursday, and then I'll keep working on some handmade goodness.... clothes, softies etc etc etc.....

I'm wondering whether I should give up on my crochet dreams and even donate my hooks!

I'ts so nice to be busy doing something nice for someone else!

One last thing - thanks to all of the lovely peeps who made purchases from The CurlyPops Shop last week. I was able to donate $110 to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal yesterday.
I'm continuing on with the same offer this week. I'm donating 50% of the value of all sales in the shop. Keep checking the Handmade Help blog for more ways to lend a hand.

Handmade Help - Quilting Bee

Quilt on bed at Sewjourn - handmade by Jan

I received a lovely email thismorning from Jan at Sewjourn.

Jan is organising a quilting bee next month to make handmade quilts for the bushfire survivors. Even if you're not a quilter, there are many ways that you can contribute:

Quilting Bee

It’s almost impossible to imagine how it must feel to face the task of rebuilding after losing your home in the Bushfires. But we are hoping to contribute in a small way by making and donating quilts for people who have lost their homes. So please come along to our Quilting Bee. There are lots of ways you can contribute:

• Come along for all or part of the day to sew
• Donate fabric, batting or backings for use
• Make any 12 inch block and send it in and we will make them up into quilts on the day
• Make a Scrappy Log Cabin block - Emma has a good tutorial here
• Offer to machine quilt one or two quilts for us
• Offer to hand quilt a quilt
• Offer to hand sew a binding or two
• Come along to make calico bags for the quilts
• You might have a half-done quilt top you are happy to donate to be finished off
• Spread the word - please pass on to all of your crafty friends
• We particularly need more batting and backings though and are happy to list down the businesses that support us so if you think of anyone you can ask please let me know.

When: Saturday 21st March 9.30am - 4.30pm
Where: LightHouse, Ashburton Uniting Church, 7 Ashburn Grove, Ashburton, 3147

What to bring: Your sewing supplies, fabric, lunch. Morning and afternoon tea provided.
Contact: Jan Joseland on 0409 964 755 or info@sewjourn.net.au

It would be great to see as many people come along as possible so if you are free please consider joining in.....and the bonus is not only are we helping out in some little way but it's sure to be a really fun day!

You can also find the information right here on the Sewjourn blog. Please pass on the link to all of your friends who may be able to help out.

The rescued quilt top

You may remember this quilt top that I rescued from the oppy in November last year.....

Someone has spent hours and hours lovingly constructing it......

Quilting Mick let me know that it's a bargello quilt (I had to google bargello .... sorry but I have very little idea about anything regarding proper quilts).

Anyway, it's been sitting amongst a pile of fabric ever since I bought it. But then yesterday, I saw this post over on Handmade Help calling for quilters and / or quilting supplies. I emailed the Waverley Patchworkers - info(at)waverleypatchworkers(dot)com(dot)au , and the fantastic news is that I can send them the quilt top, and one of their fabulous quilters will transform into an amazing quilt to give to a bushfire survivor.

Alls well that ends well.....

Love Fridays...

Today I'm Lovin' Friday as I received an amazing package in the mail from Jess at Button Beauty.

I've had knitted washcloths on my 'I want to make' list forever.... I just never actually got around to it. Now I have these gorgeous washcloths (in my absolute favourite colours), and they're so soft and lovely.

There were also some fab vintage tea towels and hankies, a vintage pattern book, and some wonderful crafty bits and bobs that I can incorporate into my crafty creations. Thanks so much Jess.

I'm also lovin' all the updates over at Handmade Help..... so many crafty bargains for a great cause..... I just wish I could buy them all!

Check out the home of Love Fridays over here at Tinniegirl.

My Creative Space

Okay now, just stand back and take a deep breath..... I've been debating whether I should actually publicise the state of my creative space....aka my kitchen!
There's nothing like a bit of worldwide public humiliation to make me clean up.

I've been far too busy trying to whip up some items for Handmade Help. There's a little basket of baby clothes on the chair, and some kids t-shirts that I'm appliqueing on the ironing board (that all came to a standstill when I ran out of vliesofix).

The bench is covered in piles of fabric to make bags for the Rainbow Comfort Packs. I can't make it to Nikki's amazing sewing bee in Brunswick on Saturday, but I am going to use any spare time that I have on the weekend to make some bags, and then drop them off next week.

If you look even closer, you'll notice that even the Milo and the breakfast cereal didn't get put away thismorning...eeek!

....and on my ottoman, my poor neglected Toy Society Valentine. There's been a little bit more stitching (while watching So You Think You Can Dance) and a few more hearts added. This will definitely be finished tomorrow night so that I can whip up some softies for Handmade Help and The Toy Society.

You can find lots more creativity at Kootoyoo....

An Update and a Thankyou

A huge thankyou to everyone who has supported Handmade Help.

With my shop sales from yesterday and today, I have raised over $100 to donate to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal so far.

I've also bought some lovely craft things, including one of these gorgeous Itti Pouches by Lisa from The Princess and the Monkey , from which the proceeds will also be donated....

...and of course I've been furiously bidding on all of the handmade loveliness from the Handmade Help Ebay Auctions. I wonder if I'll eventually win one!

Handmade Help

Just a reminder that 50% of all sales from The CurlyPops Shop will be donated to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal.

Thankyou so much to the two lovely generous girls who made purchases today.

Head on over to check out the Handmade Help blog (thanks Cindy & Pip) for lots of crafty auctions and ways to help....

I also forgot to mention yesterday that if you have books that can be donated, Juddie is organising a collection. Head on over to Flightless Boyds or email - juddie1 (at) optusnet (dot) com (au)

The Toy Society is also still collecting handmade toys.... so keep sewing and stuffing!

Head on over to Nikki's You Sew Girl blog for details of her sewing bee this (EDIT) Saturday. It's a lovely way to get together with like minded people for a lovely day out, while helping at the same time.