unexpected

(this photo has nothing to do with the post, but I thought you may like to see what we wore at our "Royal Wetting Party")

I started my blog a year ago today (timed so I could visit Jodie at her stand at the Stitches and Craft show and tell her I was a blogger too - which I did, after hours of loitering in her presence...).

When I started blogging, I expected to do a lot more "making" than I have actually done, and to live up to my blog title in a way... so on first glance, this year hasn't lived up to expectations.

On the other hand, I hadn't expected:

• to make connections (and in some cases get to meet and become real life friends) with incredible, smart, creative and warm-hearted women

• to experience the incredible generosity of so many people, and to begin to give back too (though I think I really have received more than I have given so far...)

• to share snippets of our own life and home, and my own thoughts and values, and in doing so, to begin to feel more comfortable in my own skin (thanks, Cath)...

• and... well I could go on, but I'd like you to reach the end of this blog post!

In celebration of a year of NOT living up to expectations, and being pretty happy about it, I'd like to offer a surprise giveaway (at this stage, not even I know what it will be, which scares me a bit, but I will try very hard to make it good!).

Just leave a comment on this post (about anything you like - maybe even something unexpected that has happened to you that you were happy about?), and I'll draw a winner on Sunday May 16, at 12 noon.

Thank you so much for making this year unexpectedly good xx

giveaway winner

And the winner of my vintage FQ giveaway is...

NessaKnits!

Email me your address and I'll send your fabrics on their way!

Thank you to everyone who joined in.

101

Yesterday I wrote my 100th blog post. I could pretend I didn't notice, but in fact I was suffering from a little milestone anxiety. As I've mentioned before, I'm not so comfortable with big events (even if they're only big in my own head!)...

So, instead, I'm celebrating 101 posts - reaching 100 and keeping on going (and I've always been fond of prime numbers...).

I have a little giveaway in honour of this little milestone - 5 vintage sheet fat quarters, one each of the sheets you can see here (I've been on the lookout for sheets to join in this Vintage Sheet Swap...).

Just leave a comment - entries open to all.

PS: forgot to include the closing date - entries close next Friday, March 18

reverse finds - a giveaway

I've hit a bit of a reverse finds wall - feeling indecisive, and lacking confidence to follow through on my plans and ideas. A prime example is my vintage sheet and fabric collection. I have enough to call a "stash" now, with some special bits and some not so special... but I find I can't bear to cut into them to start using them up.

So I'd like your help. How about I hold a giveaway, and give you some fat quarters of fabric / sheets, to get me on the "cut it up and use it up" wagon?

I'll admit, these are from the "not especially special" pile, because I have to start somewhere. They are all used (oh, except for the 2 bits that are fabric and not sheets), and some have fade marks and small stains - but I will do my best to cut around these or give you more fabric to compensate.

I have 3 "sets" to giveaway - a fat quarter of each fabric shown in the set (with possibly a bit more fabric if you have a special favourite that I can manage to part with!)...

the red set (apple sheet - which has some misprints throughout, bear sheet, and a Christmas "panel" - the panel is a rather wonky 40ish x 60ish cm)



the blue set ("japanese" style sheet with coordinating small floral print [trust me, it's there, even though you can't see it!], and bunny / mouse sheet - which has some noticeable fade marks)


the stripe set (rainbow stripe sheet, the other 2 fabrics are, well, fabrics!)

(sorry about the photos - if you live in Melbourne, you'll understand why!)

To enter, leave a comment telling me which is your favourite. While you're there, I'd love some ideas for using up the old bits of sheets that aren't worth sewing with! I'll draw the first 3 winners, and if necessary, email to negotiate who gets what if your preferences don't automatically work out.

You can get bonus entries by being a "follower"(a term that still makes me laugh!), and / or entering your own reverse finds link below (1 entry for each). Reverse finds is a loose concept - basically anything that reduces the clutter in your place really - even by a tiny amount! My old posts are here if you want to see what I mean!

Entries and links are open until Friday 29 October at midnight Australian daylight saving time - I'm going to have a day off next Saturday! I'll announce the winners on Saturday Oct 30.

a giveaway announcement (and an apology)

We've just conducted our first giveaway draw today, and there was excitement all round.

We took the old fashioned bits of paper in a cardboard box (because I always have lots of boxes around...) path, and while my trusty assistant was initially unwilling, it turned out to be a highlight of the day... the only problem was when she realised that none of the bits of paper had HER name on it.

We held a family draw later on... I came last.

Anyway, enough waffling on... the winner is....


Becclebee, of the lovely marjoryjane blog (check out the lovely baby blanket she made over here...).

The only thing is, I haven't finished the prizes.

My excuse is that my daughter is sick. The real reason is that I once again left things to the last minute, so when she got sick my plans fell by the wayside. Sorry, Becclebee - I'll send you a message and try and get them to you as fast as I can.

I promise next time I host a giveaway I will be organised. Promise.

my creative space - books, books, books, books, books

It's Children's Book Week (as the parents of school-age children are probably all too painfully aware!)
I love books, and I remember loving Book Week as a child - here I am with my sister dressed up as Mary Poppins (with umbrella out of view) with my sister as Rapunzel (you can see a bit of her "long golden hair" wrapped around her arm).

I also love using books as inspiration to make things - so here's a little collection of some of my favourite book-inspired things:


Not a Box is a simple, stylish, fun to read book that celebrates imagination. Inspired, I took an ugly pink nappy box, and covered it with a brown paper bag and Mod Podge, to make.... umm.... a cardboard box (amazing, I know!). It even has an eye hole for when you want to be a cardboard box robot...

and makes a good Duplo storage box at other times.

This is a book that requires no introduction - a childhood favourite of mine that I have forced upon our child from birth (perhaps even before...). To try and ensure this book remains a favourite, I made a little knitted caterpillar finger puppet - so easy, just a little garter stitch "scarf" folded on itself.

Charlotte's Web is another of my childhood favourites (I'm pretty sure I walked around with a Charlotte's Web sandwich board at a Book Week Parade once upon a time...) and I'm lucky enough to have my childhood copy of the book. The spider and "web" above were actually from a "garden" themed party, but I'm saving them up as an emergency Book Week costume for Book Weeks to come...Finally, one of my favourites - Pigeon, who, while being a somewhat questionable role model, comes out with the best lines... it's always fun to hear a 3 year old say " come on, what's five minutes in the grand scheme of things?".

Inspired by all this book love, I've decided to hold a tiny book inspired giveaway - I'll make a caterpillar and pigeon puppet (as above) for the winner.

The normal rules apply - leave a comment below. Followers get a bonus entry (just let me know in your comment).

Entries close on Wednesday September 8, at 11:59pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (I'll need the 2 weeks to actually finish the puppets!).



Oh, and of course, you know where to go for your weekly creative fix.

flea market finds - do you like Daniel Craig?

Not long ago at work, I was discussing a client's difficult housing situation with a colleague, trying to come up with another way to help her, when my colleague said, "you're a stray puppy kind of person, aren't you?"

She was right. Even though I've never adopted a stray dog, I'm the kind of person who notices scared, stray dogs on stormy days, and cares for them till their owners arrive.

I've noticed my op-shopping is beginning to reflect my "stray puppy sensibilities", buying items just because I feel sad that they're still in the shop after weeks, or because the item was handmade and needs someone to respect that and care for it again.

This instinct led me to take this home...



Yep, it's a lovely, well made tea towel, still available for sale new over here, and I'm pretty sure it featured in a recent magazine (Notebook I think). I felt sad that such a good quality product was buried on the floor under old sheets and pillowcases, and so I took it home.

The thing is, I don't really like Daniel Craig - I like him, but not enough to dream about him.

So I was thinking, does anyone else?

So put up your hand if you really like Daniel Craig (on second thoughts, write a comment and tell me why you like him, that might be more effective), and I'll get some random number selecting device to choose a winner. Entries close 12 noon next Sunday 15 August Australian Eastern Time...

Come on, let's find this puppy a home!