it's been ages...

school holidays are in full swing, hubby's on holidays too so we've been gardening, cleaning, tidying up & getting ready for our long awaited paella party that, as it turned out, didn't happen.  Hubby did 'something' to his ankle, we're still awaiting news on the extent of damage there, so now we have a very orderly house FULL of food and nothing much to do but sit back & enjoy it, nice!

I've been having fun with thrifted platters, turning them into fancy blackboards..

The big boy spent the last week with Nan & Pop, always a favourite place for him to while away the days..

The other two have been busily building the biggest lego kingdom ever, staying in pyjamas till lunchtime, having light saber duels, playing in the yard, fighting a little but they can't stay mad at each other for long, and just hanging about enjoying some down time..

We've no grand plans for the rest of the week, which I'm quite happy with, though I do have some orders to finish off before Easter that I must get busy on.  It's funny how the routine & rhythm of everyday just fly out the window when the Mr is home! 

I hope it's a wonderful week for you all! X

a little upcycling...

I picked this jumper up a few years ago on a clearance table. I adored the shirred sleeves but would never ever wear it.  It reminded me of a school uniform every time I'd put it on & inevitably change before even leaving the bedroom...

I found it yesterday in a bag waiting to be dropped off at the op shop, and I just couldn't bring myself to part with those sleeves...

so I made some wristwarmers, cute, eh...?!

for more creative spaces visit Kirsty...

lazing & a pretty re-vamp...

we've been blessed with the most stunning of sunshiny days this weekend, hallelujah!  Perfect for a little stool re-vamp.  I sprayed this sweet old stools legs white, took off the fluffy purple cover & replaced it with a piece of fabric cut from one of my very favourite vintage sheets.

I also cut into a little sundress that I'd never had much wear of & turned it into a light summery top...

Last week was so bitterly cold, it's been heavenly to be out lazing on our back deck.  After a late night with some gorgeous ladies, lots of dancing, laughs & champagne, this is perfect recovery weather... 

my creative space..up cycling

I found these coasters at the op shop this week & could not go past those delicious colours all  pinned together...

I'd recently chopped up an old thrifted table runner & made coasters out of it, but seeing as we never seem to use coasters around here, I've decided to crochet a chain & join them all together as a garland! 

I wish I could show you a picture of it strug up in my living room, but I can't get it all in the shot.  I am completely in LOVE with it!

visit Kootoyoo for more creative spaces...

my creative space...

a cascade of paper doily hearts...

more in the 'dark' series of poison apple brooches...

a vintage sheet dress...

that looks a little more 'nightie' than 'beach', perhaps a pocket is needed...

and cloudy days influence my hook...

a productive week all round!

visit Kootoyoo for loads more creative spaces!

my creative space...

Some pretty new mousepads are under way here.  I've struggled to keep up with the demand on my 'Where the Wild Things Are' mousepads, they have just about totally sold out which is pretty exciting. I LOVE making these & I'm wanting to keep every single one, but I won't, how many mousepads can a girl need!  These round ones are great though, so much more comfortable to use & less sliding off the edge! I hope to have some more in store this week.

I've also been busy on the hook the last few days with requests for brighter colours.  It's nice to be reminded every now & then to venture outside of the usual colour palette.  I'm always using neutrals, greys & all shades of white, so it's been fun working on things that are a little more vibrant!

Some wonderful creative spaces going on over here...

@ my house...

Getting things done this weekend...

crafting outside, enjoying sunshiny days...

discovering the dress-up box...

getting stuck into those hedges, argh! I still hurt...

lunching with friends, a couple of birthday parties & wandering markets...Phew!

What's been happening at your place?  Pop on over to Lou Lou's...

my creative space...

I'm working on fabric garlands using a very old thrifted vintage curtain.  I just love this fabric, originally I was going to use it as two separate blinds for our bedroom, but I've taken the plunge  & cut into it now...I hope it's worth it!

We're also making birthday preparations for our big 9 year old boy...

garlands, goodie bags & cupcakes still to make..

we're keeping it simple (as requested by the birthday boy, no party games this year thankyou!) taking a small group of 3 friends out for a movie & some timezone madness, before coming back home for a bbq & cake, quite the change from last weeks pink party!

visit some other creative spaces here...

my creative space...

I've been busily making things for the store.  I'm trying to work up enough courage to try a market, I'm sure if I have plenty stock I should be fine..I guess..it's a little nerve-racking & stressful trying to build up those stock piles... 

loving my new poison apples, though some of these are a little on the 'dark' side, and my mouse pads, which have certainly been a trial have turned out well, thankfully...

for more creative spaces, pop on over to Kootoyoo...

handmade christmas challenge...

Christmas has to be my absolute favourite time of year.  I LOVE the carols & christmassy tunes playing everywhere you go, though hubby dreads them due to his years working in retail when the tunes started 2 months prior & seemed to continue weeks later, so I try to keep them to a minimum when he's around, I love watching all the old christmas classics on tele & hire extra from the video shop, I love reading a story every night from our special christmas book, the christmas parties, the kids handmade tree ornaments, the excitement & anticipation of the holidays on their way...

this year I think it's time we had some new christmas sacks, so I've pulled out a few bits & pieces I have in my stash to give it a whirl.  I love this striped fabric, I found it at the op shop & was going to make pj shorts for the boys, but I think it'll be nice for this little project...

more handmade christmas goodness over at knicky knacks...

alice arrives...

I love Alice in Wonderland.  For ages I've been on the lookout for original Alice books, the pictures are so much sweeter than most versions & finally I found one with limited scribble on it's pages...

so now we have some sweet alice goodies new in store...

my creative space...

All that shimmers...

re-purposing some delicate fabrics, giving unused pieces new life.  I'm loving these colours, so soft and pretty...

...and canvases for some little babies to be born very soon.  Using my sweet old door plaque for a little inspiration here, it was on my very own nursery door & I so love it!

Pop on over to Kootoyoo for a wander through some other creative spaces.

my creative space...

...is getting busy & really enjoying making more of these.

...and a work in progress, almost enough squares to put the patchwork blanket together. 

visit more creative spaces here 

my creative space...

I've been wanting to make a cover for my sewing machine for ages now.  It seems it'll be a while before I can have myself a little sewing room, and so seeing as the machine still lives on our dining table I thought I may as well make it look pretty using an old vintage sheet...

This proved more difficult than I imagined.  I didn't have a pattern exactly but I used the old plastic cover as a bit of a guide...

turns out it's a bit too generous, but I think it'll do the job.

and now, with the littlest superhero's delivered to their nana & pop's, I just might have time to get up to some more creating - Yay!

for more creative spaces head over to Kootoyoo...

what to do???...

I found this lovely Laura Ashley skirt at the op shop the other day.  It looks as though it has never been worn, and sorry to say I won't be wearing it either, I always feel a little frumpy in that length of anything, but I couldn't go past the grey wool fabric & I love the pretty embroidered patterns...

I've been hanging it here & there, draping it about, walking past admiring, feeling, examining...

just awaiting inspiration to transform...

visit Kootoyoo & see what's inspiring other folks creative space...

my creative space...

My cosy nana rug is coming along nicely.  I'm working on it a little bit here & there most days & loving it! Though I had no idea how much wool I would use to make a single rug.  I'm almost done on my own stash & those found at the op shops.  I can't believe these beautiful pieces & hours of work sell for next to nothing in second hand stores!  This is going to be one to pass on through the generations I can tell you!

A bit of a favourite way to spend my time on these cold wintery nights...

almost there...

and, after looking back over previous weeks, it seems it's not quite my creative space without another made over stool...

Visit Kirsty for more creative spaces...

 

my creative space...

It seems I have found more distractions to keep me from mastering this...

and so my creative space has been all about bringing this retro stool into my home, striping it of some layers & giving it a touch of vintage pretty... 

dodgy vinyl top layer nailed on & all hodge podge...

great second layer in vibrant red, such a shame it's a little worn & beaten...

choosing a fabric was proving to be a challenge, but in the end...

perfect!

Between some basic beginner books & everyones great advice on tutorial links, it is now time to focus....

to play along or just to see what others are up to, visit Kootoyoo...