Blogtoberfest Day 16

My girl has an obsession with purple. It's been a while now, she likes everything purple-  some weekends I call her the 'Purple People Eater' as it's head to toe purple! (Sorry for the ear worm)

The millinery stand in Spotlight right near the checkout has been particularly enticing with it's purple headbands and fluffy feathers etc, and now it's racing season and all millinery items were 30%, I caved and bought her a purple headband for $2.75!

It was wrapped in purple ribbon when we got it, but the kiddie decided it needed something;  so a fun afternoon hunt in my (too big) ribbon stash and a hot glue gun....

Voila! One very happy girl and some tidy hair, so happy Mum!

The funniest bit? She never really nags me for stuff like this at a regular store, or if she does it's fleeting. But in Spotlight she knows I'm a pushover haha! At least she wants to craft!

CHA Craft Swap

 I cant remember now where I saw the details for this swap, but I thought it looked like a good idea, something to mix it up a bit from my day to day 'sewing for myself' theme I've got going on.

My swap partner details arrived, and Rachael was my swap partner. After spending the weekend with Abbe and co, I got back on the Dresden bandwagon and thought a vintage-y style cushion could appeal to most people, and got cutting! It was mainly machine sewed, but I hand stitched the Dresden onto the backing, and hand quilted with Perle 8 thread.

I added a little label to remind her where she got the cushion (I cute idea in the official 'swap rules', I haven't done that before!) and a zippered back.

And I close up here- I blatantly stole the got the centre circle inspiration from here and here!

Due to the size of our items we did a pick up/drop off meeting, as the cushion was huge and my pressie heavy! Here it is....

a cute heat pack named "John", just what this single lady needs! Guaranteed to cuddle back!

and some of Anne Marie Creations signature items, parachute silk earrings.

 

The girl and i picked it up on our way out to dinner, and she had a bit of fun with him while we waited for our friends to show up.

"Burping" the baby!

 

 and unintentionally looking like a tired mama!

It wasn't as funny when he was 'stolen' off me and warmed up for herself when we got home! I'll allow her that one night, then he's mine!

Big thanks to CHA and Rachael for the swap, it was heaps of fun!

Ahhh, The Retreat!

Yay, I'm back, baby! Gosh, computer problems are a pain, aren't they? I seem to have sorted them out, well, I paid a couple of 'geeks' to, so hope it stays working!

There's heaps to catch up on, less computer time means producing, but my first post is all about this place! My Internet/ IRL friend Abbe has opened this amazing place- 45mins from Melbourne! Fully renovated and beautifully styled, I was lucky enough to stay one of the nights over the opening weekend, and was spoilt rotten! Thanks to Abbe, and Julie, Fi and Blogless Faith, as well as a few other visitors, I had a ball.

As usual, I forgot to charge my camera battery, so I've borrowed some pics from Cam and Julie.

There is a fully equipped sewing room;

Gorgeous and inviting kitchen; plenty of space for everyone to accumulate in there, as often happens!

See? huge.

with an adjoining living area. Good for naps apparently.

 and a 2nd living space. (Bowl put there for size comparison haha or more likely it's a 'hiding from the others to eat the chips' room!)

 There are five bedrooms, each with 2 double beds, and built in robes. Linen and towels are all provided, so you only need to pack your craft! (Just sew new clothes!)

Another bedroom;

Another bedroom. This has a walk in robe and ensuite off it, just beautiful!

the downstairs bathroom has a tub, and a shower BETTER than mine at home, making it very hard to get out. I don't know many places that can claim that!

Other pics and reviews over here, with Nic and Bronwyn.

Abbe is having an awesome giveaway; it has my name all over it and I plan on winning (full marks for confidence, right?) but is free for anyone to enter, either by blogging about it or booking a stay. And with a 20% discount at the moment, anyone crazy enough NOT to do it?

Just remember to invite me, 'kay?

A very productive day

I was going a bit bonkers during my week off looking after the poxy kid, so my young pal said she'd come for a play! Blog land is the only place an old bird like me would make friends with a spring chicken like B Fab!

She came bearing gifts (the best kind of friend ha ha). A slightly used but about to be thrown out cutting mat! Too long for my table, but practically perfect in every way!

we didn't muck around and quickly set up the machines.

A beautiful winter's day....the sun called us outside....

to the backyard of quilting! My old neighbour Wal came and repaired the table for me,

and we couldn't resist the sun. I needed sunglasses!

 We got 2 cot sized quilts basted, and then did some machining.

Fresh cupcakes made by Little Miss and I

and a little trip to the oppy, or a 'tea break' as we like to call it. B-Fab spotted

 these Ken Done placemats, perfect to go with....

my other set! Ah, the genius that is Ken Done!

Thanks, Brianna, for braving the pox and hanging us with us girls for the day. 

Oppy finds

I have had two awesome vintage finds this last week, one that was actually from an op shop, the other off Ebay. I suppose Ebay isn't exactly the same as an op shop find, the latter being so spontaneous and the find usually unneccessary but essential at the same time.

The first is an amazing chenille bedspread. I became a huga fan of these about a year ago, knowing nothing about the 'shabby chic' phenomenon, just loving the texture and how they look in quilts etc. I raided my local op shops, after lots of looking on Ebay, one of the op shop ladies even went home and got some out of her shed to sell to me! I have a big pile I regularly cut from, and one has even become a top sheet on kiddie's bed, she loves it (purple). The best thing about most of mine is they have been under $5. This green swirly one, the fanciest I have found, was $3- ridiculous, considering I could cut it into 1,000 pieces and make 3 times as much. I don't even think I will cut it- it may make it onto my bed!

My second find is these self covering buttons. I bought a hair tye with a great little bauble- when I got home, I realised it was a self covered button! What a great find, a new craft item for me to make kiddy. I bought these square ones thinking how original they would be- $5, lo and behold, they are so vintage the cardboard is creased and they are preserved in plastic! I can't touch them, but at the same time want to make something amazing. I feel they would be a waste sitting in a drawer, and would love suggestion as to their use.

Looking forward to another find soon.......