CraftyRie

3 eggs

2012-02-02T17:31:00.000+11:00

I baked a cake.
Yum right? Well, yes it tasted yummy, but it didn't go to plan.
You see, I mixed the cake, put the cake in the oven & then tidied up after a cup of tea.
When I was tidying up, I found 3 eggs on the bench. Those 3 eggs were supposed to be in the cake.
'Not again!' I thought, I've gone & baked another cake forgetting to put the eggs in it!

The cake may not have risen high & it may have a slight crumbly texture, but it still tasted yummy!

Do you want to bake an Orange cake too? Use this recipe, it's dead easy but don't forget to add the eggs!
BTW, I was also thinking about naming this post: The Tale of 3 Eggs or maybe even 3 Eggs & Baby, but in the end I didn't, don't know why, just didn't!
....And that's my I spend my days, thinking weird stuff, forgetting the basics and then drinking tea!!!

...vote...

2012-01-30T21:30:00.000+11:00

I need your vote.. please, pretty please!
If you have Facebook, then pretty please with cherries on top, could you vote for the photo of my son, Joe???

It'd be great if you did, but ok if you don't!
If we win, we would get a $100 voucher to buy some more cloth nappies!
Anyways, to vote, you just click on the photo or this link and hit the LIKE button.

Thanks so much!!
Hugs, Rie.

Retro...

2012-01-24T17:24:00.000+11:00

Mum gave me a bundle of knitting needles to share with my knitting group...

LOVE the retro colours!

Lemonade

2012-01-21T14:49:00.000+11:00

I make scones a lot, I use the same recipe over & over & over. Then I found a recipe for scones using lemonade & cream. Mmm, I thought, sounds yummy.

So I made them and yes, they were yummy but too indulgent I think. I mean cream on the inside & then I'm going to put cream on the when cooked... too fancy for me.

BUT, I did start thinking, instead of using just plain lemonade, what would happen if you used Raspberry lemonade instead? Do you think they'd turn pink? And then if we used Lime lemonade, would they turn green?

Hmm, I wonder.
Have you ever made lemonade scones? Have you ever used pink or green lemonade in them?

Sedy Mutar

2012-01-20T14:33:00.000+11:00

I'm whipping up some Seedy Mustard... mmm, mustard!

First you mix the seeds...

Then you add the vinegar..

Then you take another photo cos it looks so pretty!

Then you take some and whizz it up..

Then you add some liquid..

Then you add some whole seeds back to it..

Then you bottle it up, using the old baby food jars!..

And make them pretty and of course .. eat!

Book Review: The Clan of the Cave Bear

2012-01-20T10:18:00.000+11:00

The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean Auel
This is book 1 in the Earth Children's series.

This book changed my life. I know that sounds a little weird but it did, truly. I was first given this book as a gangly teenager when all I read were Stephen King novels. The person that gave it to me, was horrified that I didn't read anything else (pardon the pun). So she gave me my first literature book.
I read it. I loved it.

The book introduces you to Ayla. Ayla is an injured orphan adopted by 'The Clan'. The clan are well, um, I guess the word is Neanderthals. Ayla is very different to The Clan, she is tall, blonde & blue eyed & likes to laugh, The Clan are short, dark eyed, dark hair and talk with their hands. Ayla doesn't fit in yet she is adopted by the Iza, the medicine women and she learns the medicines & cultures of their ways. She learns to hunt, which is not allowed, she has a child at a young age but most devastating of all is the last chapter when she is sent away from everything she has know because the new leader detests her.

The author has gone to great lengths to research the archaeology, anthropolgy, so you just don't get a good read, you learn as well! Jean Auel is not just a novelist, she is a true Story Teller.

Rie's Book Review Rating::::
10 = Read it. It is THE BEST BOOK EVER WRITTEN.
Click on the image or the title to take you somewhere to purchase it online.

The A to Z belongs to me

2012-01-19T10:30:00.000+11:00

I purchased the Alphabet.

So sorry, but it's all mine now, you can't use it anymore.

Sorry for any inconvenience that this may cause.

Book Review: Shades of Gray

2012-01-19T09:42:00.000+11:00

Shades of Gray by Amanda Ashley

I picked this novel up in the bargain bin from my local bookstore. I wanted a book to read over the weekend that didn't require much thinking... And I chose the right book!

It's a vampire book with a bad vampire, a 'good' vampire, a vampire hunter and of course the girl.

I have to admit, the book wasn't easy to predict so that was nice - always nice to not the ending! Nothing annoys me more when you can guess the ending halfway through the first chapter!
The book flowed nicely, you could connect with the characters and the writing 'sat' well with me.
There were no typo's (can't stand a book with typos, can you?!) and no fancy made-up names or places either.

I might keep an eye out for more books by this author as it's always good to have a couple of easy reads on hand!

Rie's Book Review Rating::::
4 = Read it, it was ok but I don't think I'll be re-reading it again in a hurry.
Click on the image or the title to take you somewhere to purchase it online.

Ebay'd fabric

2012-01-18T11:25:00.000+11:00

Check out my new stash of fabric remnants that I bought...

Delicious!

But umm, problem.

Too yummy to use!!

Book Review: Baby Love

2012-01-18T10:45:00.000+11:00

Baby Love by Robin Barker
Hubby bought this book for me, he thought it'd help us with this new thing called parenthood.
I tried reading it whilst pregnant, but couldn't get past the first chapter. I found the book to be very 'do it my way or the highway' type thing. It was too serious, almost too judgemental for an overtired exhausted new mother. BUT, saying that, hubby loves the book it's the book he goes too if he wants an answer or wants to 'give me advice' on something.

Most definitely check it out in the library before you buy it, better yet, let someone else buy it & go visit them & flick through it there (whilst they make you a lovely cup of tea & settle the baby down for a nap for you!!)

Rie's Book Review Rating::::
3 = I read it but nothing really rocked my world.
Click on the image or the title to take you somewhere to purchase it online.

Book Review: Kidwrangling

2012-01-18T10:16:00.001+11:00

Kidwrangling by Kaz Cooke
My hubby purchased this book for me as I enjoyed Kaz Cookes pregnancy book, Up the Duff. After the birth I was an emotional wreck & when I tried to read Baby Love, I found it too 'harsh' for my delicate hormones! But Kaz Cooke has a way of describing the boring, the mundane, the embarrassing with such a great sense of humour, I can't help but read this book.

It's helped me cope with tantrums (Bubba's & mine), fever & illness, how to cope with breastfeeding & how to get Dad involved etc. It's helping me figure out what to expect today, tomorrow, 6 months time and what about this thing called holidays? Holidays with a baby are you serious?!!!

If you're after a book to help you out, this is the book for you. The book is like having your favourite Aunty stashed in your bookshelf!

Rie's Book Review Rating::::
6 = Good book, buy it, you won't regret it!... if you have a baby/toddler!
Click on the image or the title to take you somewhere to purchase it online.

Book Review: Save Our Sleep

2012-01-14T09:03:00.000+11:00

Save Our Sleep by Tizzie Hall
This book has a weird name and I never really gave the book a second look until a friend told how great it was.
Yes, the book is about sleep patterns for babies but it is also about routines, behaviour, goals & food.
I liked the book as it showed me that I actually have some maternal instinct and that is the very reason why I purchased the book1 Yes, I know that is a little weird, but hey, new mum here & I need all the reassurances that I can get!
The book helped me set some routines for the baby and by doing so, it set routines for me which was something I was really struggling with.

I'd suggest flicking through it at the local library before you buy it... remember there are lots of parenting help books out there & what is good for me, may not be the one for you!

Rie's Book Review Rating
6 = Good book, buy it, you won't regret it! ... that is if you have a baby!!

Click on the image or the title to take you somewhere to purchase it online.

Book Review: Cry Wolf

2012-01-13T08:40:00.000+11:00

Cry Wolf: An Alpha and Omega Novel by Patricia Briggs
I LOVE this book. In fact, when I'm feeling lost or down, I go grab it & read it in a day.

Yes, it's about werewolves and yes it is in a series but I just adore the characters, the romance between the two lead characters; Anna & Charles is just wonderful!

Although this is the 2nd book in the series, you don't have to start at the first (although it does help). In fact the first book, On the Prowl is a short story in a book with mixed a variety of authors, that's how I first stumbled across Anna & Charles.

In Cry Wolf, Anna & Charles begin their life together in his hometown but not before they have to deal with the locals & a rogue werewolf & whatever is killing people in the wilderness. It shows the gentle side of Charles as he introduces Anna to life as his mate.

Rie's Book Review Rating::::
10 = You MUST read this book. This book will change you life in the most awesome way possible! I've read/used this book, over & over & over again! Yes, I adore this book!
Click on the image or the title to take you somewhere to purchase it online.

Some changes

2012-01-12T12:48:00.000+11:00

Ok, new year, new start right?
Well, let's hope that the new start continues for more than one week!

In an effort to motivate myself, I've added some lists to my blog.
I've added them to my home page, under the heading there are some new fancy schmancy tabs.

I've added a list of books to read, a list of crafts to complete, a list of recipes to make.....
When I say added, what I actually mean is that I've added the start of the lists. You see, I'm still unpacking and I'm a major procrastinator and haven't even unpacked one box yet. So when I get around to unpacking boxes, I'll add to these lists!

I've also added a guide for tutorials that I have come across on the web, I'm going to keep adding to this list as I hate it when I think... "Oooh, cool I'm make that" and then I can never remember where I saw the link... This will solve that dilemma (hopefully) as I'll add the tutorials to that page!

I've also added a guide to some online shops too, as the same thing happens, I think Oooh, I'll buy that when I've got a spare $20 but can never remember where I saw it!

Please feel free to comment on these pages, to add suggestions for books to read or tutorials to make or even some great new online stores.

I know it seems a bit weird adding a couple of near empty lists onto my blog but if I don't make a start, I'll never start!!

I'm starting with adding some book reviews. I have these books sitting beside my chair, so it's a great way to start my book list. I love books, I really do and now that Bubba is sleeping one nap in the middle of the day, I find myself reading not unpacking! By reviewing the books, it will motivate me to think more, to write more and to spur me into more reading!

My Greeting Card Organizer

2012-01-12T08:31:00.000+11:00

My Greeting Card Organizer
It's not everyday that I fork out $40+ on a whim...
But I convinced myself that I needed this in the store, that I really needed it... So I purchased it.
I get it home & panic. That's over $40, what did I do that for? Surely, I can organise my birthday cards for cheaper than that, surely just tossing them into a drawer should work.... but it doesn't. I've lived with stuffing new bday cards into drawers for years & always lose them, always forget them and never remember to send them. NOT ANYMORE.

This organiser has pockets at the start of each month for you to store any birthday cards for that month. And yes, it has a monthly planner to note all those birthday's down too.
The only thing missing from it, is an extra slot to pop all those blank cards in - you know the ones that you send on a moments thought to make someones day or a get well card or a congratulations card. But that's ok, I'm coping without that, I've slotted them into the back page!

So, yes, know that I've thought about it, I'm glad I spent that money, it's an investment. I'm getting organised so look out world!!
I definitely recommend the organizer!

Click on the image or the title to take you somewhere to purchase it online.

No crafting here...

2012-01-11T12:39:00.000+11:00

Hey there! How are you? Whatchya been doing?
Me?
I've been doing Ab-So-Lute-Ly no crafting..... and that feels awful.

Well, I guess I lie just a little, I'd actually forgotten that this is crafting. It seems more like a chore but it's almost finished. And no, I didn't get it finished in time for Xmas, but Bubba didn't notice and I tried not to care!

So what have I been doing? Well, I'm still trying to unpack, but it's hard with a baby attached to your butt! Huh?? Yep, he's attached to my skirt! He's learning to stand and to walk & insists on standing & holding onto my skirt when I'm bent over the oven, an unpacking box or trying to brush my teeth. Consequently, I haven't found the bed sheets (& they really need to be changed), nor have I found the blender, my scissors, my comfy shoes or bubba's toothbrush. My hubby comes home each night and after dinner, off he goes & unpacks a box. Huh. I'm jealous I can't do that cos I'm stuck in the kitchen doing the washing up or cleaning the thousand crumbs bubba has left on the floor or collapsed on the couch from exhaustion.
Yep, who'd have guessed looking after a 12mth old was exhausting!!!

jammed in his pj's

jammed after breakie!

Today, guess what I've been doing?

I've been following bubba up & down the hallway countless times as he walks behind his trolley, I have to follow 2 steps behind because he gets jammed a lot & I have to fix it within seconds otherwise he sits on the floor & screams. Up & down, up & down, up & down all morning long.
Sometimes he'd stop though, too watch a minute or two of Sesame Street. Today on SS, they were talking about the letter W. They asked us what our favourite word is that starts with W and that got me thinking as I walked up & down the hallway. W. Hmm, I think my favourite W word is Walrus followed by Willow.

What's your favourite W word?? Oh, yes, I agree, I think I need to interact with adults more!!

Hello Twelve

2012-01-01T11:57:00.001+11:00

Ahh, a new year, welcome 2012, welcome.
So Twelve, what shall we do this year? Will we be friends & have fun & adventures & laugh a lot? I hope so, I don't want the opposite of that, nope, not indeed.
I have some ideas Twelve, some great ideas on what we can do together.
We can try our best to make do.
Yep, make do! That's going to be our catch phrase for this year.
MAKE DO.
We shall try our bestest to Make Do with what we have.
We shall try our bestest to Make Do with all the zillions of crafty stuff that I have & either make it or give it away.
We shall try our bestest to read &/or use every book we have.
We shall try our bestest indeed.
And to support us along the way, I'm going to blog it all Twelve. If it's blogged, then it's a promise to myself that I'll do it. And yes Twelve, I am aware that we may not complete it all in 2012, we have to have Thirteen & maybe Fourteen to help too.
After I nearly quit my blog a few months back, I had to sit back & try to remember why I started this blog... I remembered that I started it for me, for my record of my crafts, memorable events & other stuff. So I'm getting it back on track with that, it's going back to being my blog and not what I felt it had to become!
So my dear bloggy readers, there will be some changes to the crafyrie blog this year, I'll be adding tabs to the top of the page & adding my (shame) Make Do lists for Crafts, Books & even Food. Yep, I'll be trying out all those recipes scattered around the house, stuck in books & recording those that worked. I hope you stick around, it's been great having you here!
Happy New Year to you, your family & friends.
Love Rie.
xoxoxo

The last day of twenty eleven

2011-12-31T12:58:00.000+11:00

Wow, it's New Years Eve 2011. How did that happen?
What happened to February? What happened to September?

Bubba's 1st bday

I'd like to say that my 2011 completely sucked, but I can't because amongst all the bad things that happened, my lil boy was there. Bubba grew from being a newborn to a baby and is now sitting in the bath looking at me and I'm looking at a toddler. Wow, my lil baby is growing!

January saw us a brand new parents, we learnt how to burp babies, how to breastfeed, how to quickly change nappies so there was no fire hydrant (!!), we learnt that he loves the pram and loves to be cuddled whilst Dadda sits on the fit ball & bounces. We learnt that baby vomit goes everywhere & poo explosions really do happen.
We learnt what it was that makes a family, we learnt that love is universal when it comes to babies. We learnt that having babies is NOT selfish & they bring joy other people whether it is our 70yo Greek neighbour or the 15yo checkout chick at the supermarket - the joy is widespread!

May saw us deciding to move, the 2 bedroom flat that we had rented for 12yrs was now too small. So, we thought, where should we move too? I didn't care if we moved to the next suburb or to the other end of the Australia. Hubby came across a great job in Hobart, he applied for it, interviewed for it & then we all visited Hobart to see if we liked it. We did. Well, it kind of helped that when we were trying to decide to move there, we were sitting at the waters edge in a town called Margate and a group of dolphins swam past - yep, we thought, we'll move down here.

So then we packed everything up & moved across to a short-term rental until we found a proper place to live.
BUT... that is when the s@#t hit the fan.... All of a sudden bad things started to happen, all coinciding with the move to Hobart. We thought we must have triggered it all. We are bad luck. But then it turned out, our move to Hobart actually helped people that were really down on their luck, we could offer them a bed to sleep in, hot food in their stomach, a person to chat too and of course, a gorgeous little boy to cheer them up.
What happened?
In a nutshell... out of the blue, I rang my mum & ask her how she is, she tells me she has turned yellow. Huh. Turns out that doctors think she has cancer. On other side of the family, my hubby's sister in law has fallen really ill. She keeps going in & out of hospital. Then my mum ends up in hospital for tests, they want to confirm if it is cancer. The day we were to drive up to Launceston (3hr drive each way) to find out the test results, hubby's brother is waiting in the Hobart hospital, ICU waiting room as his partner has just been admitted to the ICU.
So we have to leave hubby's brother, sitting there all alone in the ICU waiting room to find out more about his partner. We've never felt more terrible in our life, leaving him sitting there, but we couldn't stay, mum was finding out today if she had cancer, we had to drive the 3hrs to go see her. I'll never forget the look on hubby's brother's face, as he was sitting there, it breaks my heart to think that we had to leave him there.
Turns out my mum had cancer. Pancreatic cancer & was told she had about a year to live.
Tears. Lots of tears. Thank goodness for bubba, he got me thru that bit.
We then had to drive back to Hobart & could then sit with brother in law & occasionally visit his partner.
Mum then had to be sent to Hobart for more tests. But..
They stuffed the test up, they cut a hole in mum's esophagus, she was put in ICU too. Yep, 2 reli's in the same ICU.
So then we end up with 2 extra people staying at our house, my brother in law & my mum's partner. It was a full house, lots of stress but bubba kept us all going.

BUT there is good news ... mum decided to have major surgery to remove tumor... turns out that the tumor was so big that it was mimicking cancer! So yay!! No cancer for mum!
And my sister in law? Well, she's better too! She's at home now, walking around & even has the strength to hold bubba too! Amazing!

And not to mention that we were also looking for a house to buy, which meant we had to investigate the suburbs as we were completely new to the area, arrange to view houses etc etc.
We eventually purchased our house, we moved in over the first two weeks of December, then it was bubba's 1st birthday on the 15th December and then it was arranging & baking Xmas presents, then it was Xmas and now it is the New Year. Phew, maybe we'll get to unpack some boxes now!! Except for the fact that I had really bad hayfever that has turned into the flu, so now I'm just sitting around feeling sorry for myself!!

So what was a crappy year, turned out good in the end!
I have great plans for next year, I'm going to destash my entire craft supplies, I'm going to try to read/use every book that we own & of course, I'm going to blog all about it too!!

How was your year?

Bubba 'helping' to unpack!

Merry Christmas to you

2011-12-21T14:46:00.000+11:00

Merry Christmas to you & your family.

I can't believe a year has passed and Bubba is now one years old, gosh time flies.

This is the photo of Bubba taken at Myer, yes he cried at first
but was easily distracted with Santa's bell.

And yes, there was a normal 'stare at the camera photo' but I chose this, I love how he's trying to 'whack' Santa with his own bell!

Amongst the unpacking, I'm busy making Rocky Road & Seedy Mustard for Xmas gifts - not doing the buy gift thing this year, there are only so many 'useless' gifts that you can buy people!

And I'm thinking ahead to next year, wow 2012, sounds like a year that we'll get invaded by aliens (but I hope not!).

I have lots of things in mind for next year, good things, busy things, fun things!

Until we chat again, have an awesome Christmas break, eat lots of fun food, be merry & be safe on the roads.

Love Rie.

At the moment...

2011-12-19T11:32:00.000+11:00

Life is a way too cluttered at the moment for me, for us. Having just moved house, we have boxes everywhere, but what is worst, we have half open boxes everywhere as we try to find things such as.. where is the picnic rug, where are the screws to put the bed back together, have you seen the sunscreen, where is the alarm clock and do you remember which box the remote control went in... All those sorts of things.
The kitchen is a disaster but I can find just enough space to cook & bake. I've managed to bake Bubba a Carrot Cake for his birthday; a real one for the grown ups & the same mixture minus the nuts, icing, eggs, dairy & soy for Bubba & his best buddy - as his best buddy is allergic to eggs, dairy & soy. BUT what surprised me, is that the recipe still worked minus the eggs... weird huh! ... so 'why do we use eggs in the cake' was the question during the weekend!

The kitchen is 'finding' itself, I'm trying to 'listen' to what the kitchen is doing.. it seems that the oils & condiments are finding a home to the left of the stove & the foil, baking paper, plastic bags etc are finding a home on the right of the stove. Hubby, of course, thinks I'm mad & should just put stuff away and sort it out later, but this is my mad method & it seems to be working!

We also handed back the keys to the rental property on Saturday too.. no more renting! Yay! I did go for one last walk down the backyard & found the Cherry Plum tree was ripe with fruit, so I picked a small bag ful to make into jam... I could have picked bags full of them, but hey, I just moved, I have only 1 empty jar and no kitchen space!!

In crafty news.. not much is happening here! I'm still trying to finish Bubba's Xmas stocking, but I'm not going to stress if I don't get it finished, he's only 1 & he's not going to notice if he doesn't have a Xmas stocking or not! BUT will all the moving, I am completely embarrassed by how much crafty stuff I have.. I have way too much! In fact, I think that next year, I will try, yes try, to finish off as many projects as possible! So instead of finding a storage space for an unfinished project I can find homes for finished crafty items instead!!

On Saturday we had a little birthday picnic to celebrate Bubba turning 1. He spent most of the time stuffing as much food into his mouth as possible!

And on Bubba news... he's weaned himself off one breastfeed - his morning tea booby feed & he's now only having one nap during the day... he's done this all by himself!! He refused to have a nap on Saturday (the morning of his picnic), he must have been too excited and he didn't have a morning nap on Sunday either as we walked around Hobart as he was too busy chatting away in the pram... So he solved my dilemma on how to transition him from 2 naps to 1!! Clever Bubba!!
And for some cuteness that isn't crafty at all, this little video is of Bubba just this morning, 'helping' me unpack the fragile box.... I walked into the loungeroom & Joe was having fun unpacking the box!!!

That's me for today, phew, I didn't mean to say so much! Have a fun day where ever you are!!

Pecan Pie

2011-12-18T17:30:00.000+11:00

I made a pecan pie. Yep! I'm so proud of myself, I'd always wanted to make one & it worked & it was uber yummy!

You can make one too... I used this recipe, it was easy, quick to mix up & so yummo.

This pie is going to become a family favourite!!!

and the winner is....

2011-12-17T17:03:00.003+11:00

The winner of the book Textiles Journeys is...

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:6Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Which is Trudi of Maude&Me.

Congratulations Trudi, I'll send you an email for your postal details.
Thank you all for entering the SMS Giveaway Day, hope to you there again next year!!

BTW.. once again the Number Generator is showing the max of 100 but I assure you it did select the numbers from the range 1-67, it's just for some reason when I copy & paste it across 100 always shows!!

Today and then tomorrow

2011-12-14T11:45:00.000+11:00

This time last year I woke up with contractions, I then had contractions every 10 minutes all day long until 6pm when they suddenly jumped to 5min contractions. I then made my hubby jump in the car, drive to KFC and buy me chips because that is what I wanted... I wanted chips & I needed to eat if I was going to get thru this. He didn't want to go, he was worried cos now the contractions were coming so often... but I made him go.. it was the quickest trip he'd ever taken (but he promised me that he didn't break any road rules)....

I ate my chips amid the contractions. I rang the hospital. They asked how I was handling the pain, I said it was bearable... they told me to call again when then the pain got too much... I was like 'huh, I can handle the pain & your making me stay home?'. But it was ok. I rang them again at 9.15pm and they told me to come in!

Bubba Joe was born at 3.30am... I've forgotten all the pain, the angst, the worry, the pain, the stress, the pain.... It really is true that when they put bubba in your arms the very first time, you forget about the labour!

Ok, I'm tearing up already. I was crying on the weekend just thinking about him turning one. Ok, too many tears, I have to walk away for a few seconds now.

Here is photo of bubba in the hospital, he's having his very first bath, he was 2 days old here.

And below is a photo of bubba taken just last Thursday. He was 'helping' me unpack, he found his box of toys & was having fun throwing them on the floor then he found his water bottle in the box...and apparently, unpacking is thirsty work!

We'll be having a picnic in the Hobart Botanic Gardens on Saturday, just us 3 with another couple & their 10mth old baby. Bubba loves trees, so we chose the gardens for that very reason.

Oh, the tears. I thought after having the baby the tears would ease up... but they haven't. Ugh.

Oh well!

Giveaway

2011-12-11T09:35:00.000+11:00

Your chance to win this fantastic book...

It's the Handweavers, Spinners & Dyers Guild of Tasmania book called Textile Journeys.

The book is a limited edition & not easily available in stores. I received a copy of this book for my birthday & thought that it was such a great resource, I hunted one out (took me 6 stores to find it!!) & purchased one for you.

It has the history of the Tasmanian guild, stories, hints, tips, techniques & patterns.

It shows you all you need to know about fleece, spinning, weaving, dying, knitting etc etc.

It's like having your own instructor in your book shelf!

All you have to do is leave a comment, remembering to leave a way for me to contact you in case you are the winner!
What to comment on?? You can comment on anything, maybe you'd like to comment on the Universal Craft Blog Directory - have you added your blog to it - yes no? Maybe you'd like to tell me about the weather? Or maybe you'd just like to tell me about your lunch!

Entries close 16th December 2011.

International entries welcome.

Good luck!

I'm joining in with the Giveaway Day with Sew Mama Sew!

Fabric Squares

2011-12-08T08:21:00.000+11:00

I've received the fabric from the Craft Buds charm square swap and the squares are awesome!

There are 2x28 charm squares that are 5inch square...

Any suggestions with what to make with them?? I was thinking maybe an apron for my new kitchen.... any ideas for free patterns or what I should line the back with???

Extra house shots

2011-12-06T09:46:00.000+11:00

Here are some more odd shots I took from the new house.
The first is from the small tin shed (yay for a shed!), love the stickers on the wall!!!

In the second shed (yes, my hubby is adoring the 2 sheds), we found an old vintage dresser!

And I'm just loving this passionfruit flower - so pretty!!!

Sorry for all the photos.... it's just all so new & exciting this home ownership thing!!!

Vent

2011-12-05T10:40:00.001+11:00

Somethings been bugging me lately. I go to sleep with it on my mind, I wake up and I'm still annoyed by it. So this is a vent.

Shame on you, yes you, the person who 'stole' my idea, claimed it as their own & is now making money from it.
Shame on you, yes you, the person who has a very popular crafty blog too, who I used to admire as I thought you had a lot of get up & go.. apparently, you have other peoples get up & go.
Shame on you, yes you, the person who claims that other people 'bag' them off, I used to be on your side, but now I see why someone may do that.
Shame on you, you made me want to quit my blog.
Shame on you, I hope that you get bitten by 1000 mozzies & find a cockroach in the bottom of your coffee cup.

This is the second time that someone has made me sit back & wonder why I blog, some people are just deflating, ya know what I mean?
The first time was a few months back when I wrote a post about how hard it was adjusting to life as a mum & as a stay at home mum, would you believe that 2 days later that someone put a post up on their blog saying that they love being a SAHM, that it was easy for them etc etc etc. When I read that post, I cannot describe to you how crap I felt, that maybe I was in fact a terrible person because I didn't find it easy & that I shouldn't blog & that I shouldn't even be a mum. Well, shame on them too, you should never, ever, ever, ever, make someone feel bad about themselves - that is just wrong. Shame on you.

Ok. Hmm, that does feel a little better, venting off some steam does help.
Thanks for taking the time to read this, I hope you don't have any people out there that make you question about why you blog. I decided, the reason why I blog is for myself and if you guys want to come along for the ride then that is fantastic, I'll open the door myself & welcome you in, but please don't say bad things to my guests or any other person otherwise I'd be forced to spill hot tea down the front of your crisp white linen shirt!!

But I do realise that there are some people out there that cut in front of you in the shopping queues & jump ahead of you & nab your car spot that you've been waiting for.... so in the comments section, please feel free to vent & add your own 'Shame on You' !!!

BTW... thank you for all the lovely comments about me moving into my very first house! I absolutely adore the new house, I woke up this morning excited after our first sleep in the new house, walked into the very messy lounge-room & found Bubba happily sitting there on his Dadda's lap - this is a home, my home & it feels great!

Home Sweet Home... Yay!

2011-12-04T09:12:00.000+11:00

This is it, our new home! Here's a quick tour of the house! Yay!!! (Yay again for the 1000th time!!)
Front entrance...

Bubba exploring the lounge to the kitchen...

My new kitchen & the pressie from the Realtor (cool!) & the view from the kitchen to outside.

The outside... a grape vine & big potato patch.

And the roof!

I took a ba-zillion photos, but I won't bore you with them all!!! Can't wait to move in!

more Gift Ideas for Boys & Blokes

2011-12-03T14:49:00.000+11:00

Here are some more gift ideas for the boys & blokes in your life.
Click on the image to see where to buy it!

Lego Ninjago Earth Dragon...

iPhone controlled Helicopter... (cool!!)

Tom Baker Dr Who & K-9...

White Sony PSP...

Little Britain Andy Wig...

Flying Shark...

Nerf Super Soaker...

Star Wars Trooper Helmet...

Rubiks Cube...

Lego Seattle Space Needle...

Captain America Flying Shield...

Hungry Hippos board game...

Banbao Bulldozer...

Progress

2011-12-03T09:27:00.000+11:00

Here's a current shot of how bubba's Xmas Stocking is growing.

It's a slow work in progress, but I have until Xmas Eve to finish it...
The shape is starting to form, as you can see I'm still in the process of joining the 'foot' onto the 'leg' length.
If I have enough of the fabric, I'll do the same hexy's for the back.
Any suggestions what colour to line the stocking with?

Gift Idea for Boys & Blokes

2011-12-02T14:39:00.001+11:00

Found the perfect gift for my hubby this Xmas..

Its a DIY kit for making a Tin Can Robot....

All hubby needs to do is recycle one of his beer cans then play!
Hope he likes it!

It'd make a great gift for husbands, brothers, sons, nephews, uncles, workmates & teachers.
If you want to get one, here's where I purchased mine from.... Tin Can Robot []

Vintage Sheets

2011-12-02T14:15:00.001+11:00

Now that I've moved to Tasmania, I can afford to go into the thrifty shops! Yep, that's right, I said I can afford too... when I lived in Melbourne, I lived in Hawthorn and the thrifty shop stuff were expensive, I mean, $12 for a single bed sheet, $15 for an old vase etc etc... It was actually cheaper to go to Target to buy the stuff new!
But now back in Tassie & Tasmanians know what thrifty is. Yay!
So whenever I'm in town, I pop in to the thrifty stores and I've started vintage sheet collection.

Whatchya think?!
Oh, and by the way, I can actually fit the pram into the Tassie thrifty stores, the ones around where I lived in Melbourne, I had to leave hubby outside with the pram cos it wouldn't fit in the shop!!

Keys

2011-12-02T09:52:00.000+11:00

It's official, my husband & I (!!!) are now home owners!
Yes, first time home owners!
Woot Woot!

We looked at heaps & heaps of houses, he'd like one & I'd hate it & vice versa. I was starting to think that after 15yrs together we didn't have anything in common any more.
Then one day as we were leaving the supermarket, I looked across the road & said "there's a house for sale over there". I looked it up online & we made a time to look at it the next day.
As soon as we walked into it we love it. The house felt like a home, our home.

The funny thing is that it isn't a house that we ever pictured ourselves in, but as my mum told me, "You'll know it as soon as you walk in"... I have to admit, I was beginning to doubt her advice!

Three months later (we asked for a long settlement due to our current rental lease) and I have the keys in my hand!
Woot Woot!

Photos to come!!!

and the winner is....

2011-11-30T15:29:00.001+11:00

Wait, not winner but ........ WINNERS!!

Yes, there are 3 winners in The Lovely Crow giveaway!

And the lucky winners are:

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max:

Result:

41 BettsPowered by RANDOM.ORG

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max:

Result:

160 AnonPowered by RANDOM.ORG

.. but they are contactable!!

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max:

Result:

65 TonyaPowered by RANDOM.ORG

Congratulations to the 3 lucky duckies! I'll contact you via email with details on how to claim your prizes!

BTW...I don't know why the True Random Number Generator pics are showing min 1 to Max 100, when the Max is 232 - weird, don't know why it's doing that but I promise, the numbers were drawn from 1 to 232.

Stuff it!

2011-11-23T11:22:00.000+11:00

I just walked out to the garden to hang the nappies on the line, when I suddenly realised, that I was in the garden. Yep, I know. Not the smartest cookie in the pack! But I realised that we will only be here for another 2 weeks before we move, in fact, it's less than 2 weeks now. So then it will be bye bye garden, bye bye flowers and bye bye spectacular view.

And here I am sitting inside, stressing about trying to make Xmas gifts for everyone & missing out on the garden. So Stuff It. I'll buy them all boxes of chocolates, packets of cookies & cartons of beer and make presents next year.

So if you want me, I'll be out the back, on a picnic rug with my son.

Chat soon!

BTW... it's not like the hand-made presents are overly appreciated by the recipients... So I'll just 'bust a gut' & finish Bubba's Xmas stocking and buy the rest gifts!! Do you ever feel the same? Do you feel that your hand-made gifts often go under-appreciated??
Oh.. and the view?? Here 'tis!

On another table...

2011-11-22T09:57:00.000+11:00

Too much hand-sewing without a thimble is making my middle finger tip very sore...
So I'm taking a break. A short break!

AND... I just realised how close Xmas is...

I need to do some cutting so I can make some cards as gifts.

Then I'll have to hunt out the blank cards, the glue and my lil rubber stamp!

And my thimble? I've got 3... but they're packed in boxes cos we're moving Oh So Soon!!!

Hidden J or can you see it?

2011-11-21T08:36:00.000+11:00

I've now added red & white hexy's all the way around the J...

Can you still see the J?

I didn't want the J to stand out like a sore thumb, I wanted you to see it if you were looking for it.....

Whatchya think? Does it work?

Making Red & White Hexy's

2011-11-20T07:30:00.000+11:00

Progress: I'm building a block of Hexy's to add to the Xmas stocking.

Then, I've added it to the curve of the J. Now to sew in place.

Next step: I'll now need to add more to the other side of the J...

A hexy J

2011-11-19T07:22:00.000+11:00

Can you see the J... can you?

This is the start of my bubba's Xmas stocking.. the J, of course, is for Joe!
I'm starting the Xmas stocking with the J, then I'll add the red & white hexy's
around it to build the shape of the stocking.

I'll let you know how it goes!

An extra, un-needed step!

2011-11-18T06:12:00.000+11:00

Turns out... that you don't need to pin the fabric in place....

You can baste just fine without pinning - THE bonus of having small hexy's!

Lesson learned!

Stacks of business cards

2011-11-17T07:21:00.000+11:00

Do you have stacks of business cards that you've collected over the years?

Yep? Hey, me too!

Especially since we just finished looking at houses, I have lots of real estate agents cards scattered everywhere.

So, I decided to cut them all up into hexagons...

Creating a big stack of hexy's to use for Bubba's Xmas stocking!

Tracing a stocking

2011-11-16T07:11:00.000+11:00

Bubba Joe needs a Xmas stocking... it'll be his very first one! Yay!

So, I traced our Chrissie stockings.

I did it kneeling on the floor, facing away from Bubba, so he couldn't touch the scissors.

But do you know how hard it is to cut a straight line with a baby tugging your clothes then a baby hand on your butt then a baby hand in places that a baby's hand shouldn't go. Yes. It is very hard to cut a straight line, so the line is a little wonky in places. But the shape is there.

Wanna see what I used as a template.....

Yep, a good ole cereal box!!

In the post

2011-11-15T07:38:00.000+11:00

Look at what was waiting for me in my postbox!

Cool huh!

It's from the lovely Liesl of Jorth!

..... and if you want to make one yourself,
she's popped the tutorial on WhipUp. Check it out!

... I'm thinking it's the perfect size for keeping a block of chocolate!!!!

Giveaway.....

2011-11-14T10:12:00.001+11:00

Ebeth of The Lovely Crow is having a giveaway right here on CraftyRie!

Yay!!

There will be 3 winners.. yes, 3 chances to win!

What can you win?

You can win (your choice) of crochet patterns from The Lovely Crow's Etsy shop.

Here are just some of the great patterns available.

Remember, Christmas is just around the corner, you could crochet something up quickly as a gift & truly make someone's day!!

To enter: 'Like' The Lovely Crow on Facebook & come back here & leave a comment stating that you have 'liked' the page.

Click here to go to The Lovely Crow on Facebook.

Remember to leave a way for me to contact you if you are the winner!

and remember... there will be 3 winners!! Yay!

Entries close the 30th November 2011.

Good luck!
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED, Stay tuned for more Giveaways on CraftyRie!!

And off they go...

2011-11-14T08:48:00.000+11:00

Red & White... that was the theme of a Xmas hand-made swap...

Scratched my head for a bit, put the thinking cap on...

This is what I came up with, a White Crochet Garland

and a large Christmas Coaster, perfect for popping a bowl of lollies on.

Whatchya think, are they ok?

But I had a dilemma, however do you wrap a garland!!

Solution.....

Now... are you the lucky recipient? Maybe, maybe not... only time will tell!

Did you join the in The Haby Goddess Kris Kringle Swap this year?

Living with Crochet

2011-11-13T05:35:00.000+11:00

Here is something that's making me happy at the moment and that's Living with Crochet.

Bubba Joe (made by me & Mr!) in a crocheted Jacket (made by me) with

crocheted Boots (made by me), leaning on a crochet cushion (made by me)
and sitting on a crochet blanket (made by Grandma!).

How are you living with your crochet or your crafts at the moment?

I want... I wish... Hint Hint Santa!

2011-11-12T08:07:00.000+11:00

I'm starting a list of WANTS... ready for Santa.

and of course they are mainly books, I have to have books!

And have you seen this book? It's the Queen Mothers' favourite recipes...

What's on your Santa Reading wish list?

Christmas Cutting

2011-11-11T12:38:00.001+11:00

I'm cutting up the strips of fabric for Bubba's Chrissie Stocking.

Bubba is supervising from the high-chair, offering the odd constructive criticism!!

On the hook

2011-11-11T10:46:00.001+11:00

Another crochet on the go...

This time I'm trying to make a garland.....

In the post

2011-11-10T10:41:00.000+11:00

Check out this amazing fabric panel that I received from the very talented Anna of Shiny Happy Art. I won this via giveaway at 74 Lime Lane.

Now... do yourself a favour... and go check out both of those blogs - they are super amazing & both have fantastic shops - remember, Christmas is coming !!!

74 Lime Lane

Shiny Happy Art

Wait.. are you sitting down?

2011-11-09T14:41:00.000+11:00

Ok. Sit down. Sit back. Read on.

You can buy this book:

for $10,599 (AU$) with free shipping. Yes, free shipping. Yay! (!!!)

The book is paperback, 224 pages long & is the complete songbook for The Police.

Or you can buy this Encylopedia:

for $15,799 (AU$) with free shipping too!
This book is hardback, 14344 pages long & is the Encyclopedia of Analytical Chemistry.

Ok, ok, so you're wanting some arty?
You could buy this book/print:
for $7699

or for $4599 this Backstage Dior hardback

Or not. Or you could read a Mills & Boon or the newspaper or the back of the cereal box too!

On the hook

2011-11-09T08:04:00.000+11:00

Trying something new, yep another attempt at another pattern!

It's kinda working but the pattern isn't making sense & I'm having to refer to the diagram rather than the actual written pattern!
I don't know what's happening to me, this is the second pattern I'm trying in 2 weeks. You see, I don't read patterns, I don't understand them, I don't have the patience for them... It must be this motherhood gig, it's screwing with my head!!!!!!

In the post

2011-11-08T07:27:00.000+11:00

Look what I received in the post from Rose in Thorns!!!

The cutest oil burner, I can't wait to pop it onto the window sill in the kitchen of my new house.. roll on December!

And some Soy Melts in Rose fragrance - mmm, they smell divine! Oh, if this was just a rub & smell screen you could just smell how utterly divine this whole package smells!

And you just have to pop over & look at these space invader melts!!!

Too cute!!!

Thanks Rose!!

Pay It Forward...

2011-11-07T16:56:00.000+11:00

Back in September, I signed up for a Pay It Forward...

and today I receieved my PIF gift from Naturally Carol,
they were two very groovy cushion covers.

Thanks Carol, I adore them!

Now it is my turn to pay it forward.

The first 3 people to comment below and ask to join in...

will get something during the next year...

...something made for you that has been handcrafted by me.

(Remember when commenting to leave a way for me to contact you!!)

Yes, you have a whole year to pay it forward...

then when you receive something from me,

it's your turn to pay it forward

to three people on your blog!

if you want to play..then just say it

with a comment!

AND I have created a Flikr group especially for PIF's .. so click to join!
I've called it: Crafty Pay It Forwards (PIFS)

Book find: My Cool Caravan

2011-11-07T13:46:00.000+11:00

Ok, so this isn't a 'craft' book.. but it's full of retro caravans & the grooviest interiors!

Here are some sneak peaks of the caravans & interiors... and no, they aren't all your typical caravan!

Do I have to mention how cool the crochet trim is on this table!!!

Just so you know, I didn't buy this book, my Mr purchased it for his parents. Aint he sweet!

Hope you enjoyed the peak into this cute book and in case you're wanting to purchase, I have hunted around online & found it here....My Cool Caravan: An Inspirational Guide to Retro-style Caravans Happy days!

Taa daa!!

2011-11-04T22:08:00.000+11:00

Ok.

Are you sitting down?

Would you believe that I purchased, read, understood, crocheted
and completed a project within a few days??

Well I did.

In fact I would have done it sooner but bubba is going through a sooky lala whingey phase at the moment and he's crawling & trying to stand by himself.. which ends up in tears (a lot!).

What do you think of them?

I did make a boo-boo twice, but I ensured that I made them on both booties so it wasn't quite obvious.. and no, I've learnt my lesson - and I'm not going to point them out to you!!

But I have learnt that I need to review my techniques before completing a project!!!!

Bubba loves them and already tested them out, approved, chewed. jumped in & tossed into the air!

I've added them onto Ravelry here.

Progress and a pattern review

2011-11-03T14:51:00.001+11:00

Hey!

I'm making booties, Welly booties! And they are coming along great.. I mean, I'm actually reading and crocheting from a pattern!! (amazing) What pattern? This pattern: The Lovely Crow's Baby Goshalosh Boots.

What makes this pattern uber special is not just the design of the booties but the accompanying video tutorials with it .. yes!

It goes like this... I read the pattern & think hmm... then I check out the video tut's & think.. yep! Try it for myself, look at video again...and do it! Awesome!! What is also brilliant is that the pattern creator herself has this amazing calming voice when explaining the technique which I found very soothing. Have you ever been taught something by someone only to have the huff at you, sigh & then grab the piece away so they can do it for you.... well there's none of that here!!!

Have you made booties? Have you made this pattern? Want this pattern then click here.

And yes, if you are too observant, you will notice there is a little bit of a 'user' error in the top orange rim, but I'll copy this mistake into the second bootie so they'll match!!

Make a Shaker

2011-11-02T05:59:00.000+11:00

There's one thing in life that really makes me happy and it's to see someone enjoy something that I made.

... Especially if that someone is my own bubba!

... and that something is a very cheap Shaker!

A shaker made from a 4dips container, washed, filled with beans & glued shut.

Most excellent fun to have!

He also loves the old clear orange juice container with a spare lid inside it and the vitamin bottle filled with rice.

Scraps of yarn are fun too as well as my shoelaces, my slippers and the laptop cable!

You'll have to excuse the huge nappy picture of Joe, because he wears cloth nappies & they make his butt look huge!

And just in case you doubted me, here's some proof.....

First with the 4dip shaker...

Then with the rice/vitamin shaker...

Yep, another project

2011-11-01T08:00:00.000+11:00

I'm sitting here wishing I could start & finish something. Something that I'll be proud of.

And no, I haven't finished anything.. so in theory, I shouldn't be starting anything. Well stuff that theory!

Here is the project that I've chosen.

I saw these crocheted welly boots & fell in love with them and the sizing will just (with a squeeze) fit bubba.

Wish me luck, I've never ever, ever, ever made booties before and I've never ever, ever, ever finished a pattern either!

I wonder if I will finish them before bubba turns 5!!!

dc2tog... uh oh

2011-10-31T07:00:00.000+11:00

Uh oh. I just did all my dc2tog's all wrong.. but at least I did them wrong all the way thru.

I'll have to try again, this time using the correct technique (see below).

I should have did my homework first!!!

Sc2Tog ... huh???

2011-10-29T21:36:00.000+11:00

Here is a video that I used just last night, I found it a great help when all of a sudden I had to remember how to do a Sc2Tog... eek I thought, then ahhhh, this made it easier for me!

And yeah, last night as in Friday night...
I'm a real 'out there' person, staying in & crocheting on a Friday night (and Saturday too!!)

Hello World.

2011-10-28T14:51:00.002+11:00

Hi there! How are you? What have you been up to lately?
Me? Well, I've been a little 'over' everything and haven't been doing much lately.
I think making Universal Craft Blog Directory sapped all of my energy!
The UCBD is going great guns! Yes it is, in fact right now, that is Friday 28th Oct 2011 at 2.40pm there are 155 on the directory list - how awesome is that!!!

I have received so many positive comments out there - thank you to each & every one of them! I love your feedback!

In crafty news, I've been making lists but not doing anything - and that has been really bugging me....... So I just bought a crochet baby boot pattern via Etsy.. and I've dived right on in there & started it. So now I've already completed the first row on the first boot and have not let any distractions stop me! So we'll wait to see how long this spurt of craftiness lasts... will bubba Joe have 2 boots to learn how to walk around in ... or will he have to learn how to hop? Ha... hmm, I just realised that I indeed stopped the crochet on the boots to write this post......

I've also signed up to 2 swaps.
The first is a fabric swap, I've already done my bit with that... just waiting for the postie to arrive now!
The second swap is via The Haby Goddess, it's a Red n White Kris Kringle hand made goody swap... I've got to screw my brain together to come up for something with this... but I will, I will.

In personal news... we just signed the paperwork for our mortgage yesterday... eek! Roll on to the last day of November & that's when the 'new' house becomes ours, then we have to pack, move, unpack and on the 15th December it'll be bubba Joe's very 1st birthday and then we have to think about Xmas! Oh, and how can I forget... bubba started to crawl, in fact he took his first wibbly wobbly steps 2 days before my birthday.. oh and yes it was my birthday - I turned the big... 37!!!

Busy, busy, busy (& tired).

So, what have you been doing & what are you planning?

Web find... paper art!

2011-10-24T15:03:00.000+11:00

OMG, check these out, beaut art from White Papers Press.

more images via White Papers Press

Up to my ears in HTML... and it hurts!

2011-10-20T07:57:00.000+11:00

I've been turning this:

into this:

So I can make a button for my blog.

Phew, 3 hours later I managed to make it. I hope it works!!

What is the button for????

Well, I had been thinking, I wonder how many craft blogs there are in the world now.

And.. how does one connect with them all?

And then WHAMMO... and idea strikes me,

"make a Universal Craft Blog Directory"

So, yep.

I've started the ball rolling.

Why don't you join in here & add your craft blog and lets get the Crafty World connected!

more creative spaces over here.

Universal Craft Blog Directory

2011-10-18T06:57:00.005+11:00

Welcome to the Crafty Bloggers Link-Up.

This is (hopefully) going to be the biggest list of Crafty Bloggers out there,
it will be a Universal Craft Blog Directory!

It's easy to join....

All you have to do is add your blog to the link below
and then invite all your blog readers to join as well,
and they will invite their blog readers etc etc
and hopefully it will keep being sent forward
& all the crafty bloggers will come back here to the directory & add their name!
Cool huh!

For now it's just under one category: Craft and as the directory list grows,
so will the categories and it will then have it's own blog site!

And to make it easy to remember where the Universal Craft Blog Directory is...
here is a button to add to your blog:

Copy & past this button to your blog & link back to this post
to help spread the word to help the directory grow! OR copy & paste the code (over in my sidebar under the button pic).

Rules: There are no rules... Well, I guess there is one, no two rules ...

1.) It's for Crafty blogs (you can determine if your blog is crafty - do you make, create or buy lots of crafty stuff?)
2.) You need to promote this on your blog for the Directory to work!

Step 1: Add your craft blog name to the linky list below - to find the linky button to do this - scroll down past all the other craft links & at the bottom there is a blue box saying "Add your link" - click this.
The easiest & best way to do add your link to avoid any errors is to copy & paste the link direct from your website into the linky box below.
Step 2: Create your own blog post, letting everyone know that a huge Crafty Directory is being made & invite them to pop on over here to add their crafty blog & then to do the same with their bloggy readers.
Step 3: Add the button to your blog so you remember to pop back & peruse the fab new Crafty Directory!

Join now:::::

Do you wonder how many??

2011-10-17T14:23:00.000+11:00

Do you ever wonder...... how many crafty blogs are out there on the web?
I do.
I wonder all the time.
One of my favourite past-times is visiting someone's blog & then visiting all the other blogs they recommend.

So I was wondering.
If you are just as curious as I am, at just how many crafty blogs there are... would you be willing to help me to figure this out?

I was thinking of a massive link party, where we invite all people to pop by & add their link...
What do you think, do you think it's worth a shot? It'd be like a big directory of crafty goodness!

I'll start to work on a format for one, if you have any ideas just let me know in the comments below!

Why did I????

2011-10-16T10:08:00.000+11:00

Hmm.

Ever found something in your stash & wonder why you bought it?
What project you had in mind for it?

So... what was I going to do with this bunch of zips??

Yellow, Aqua & Grey

2011-10-15T09:01:00.001+11:00

I just signed up for my very first colour-themed fabric swap being hosted by CraftBuds!

You know the ones, where you purchase a length of fabric, in my case a yard of fabric (yep, it's not an Aussie swap!!) and then you cut the fabric into 5inch charm squares, send off and then you receive a bundle of fabric in the post of all sorts of different patterns exactly the same size! Cool huh!

The fabric that I have chosen as my swap choice is this:

The colour theme is Yellow, Aqua & Grey - and my fav colour at the moment is ... grey!!! Yay for me!

Have you joined this swap? Have you joined a similar swap - how did it go, what did you make with your squares??

My new skirt..

2011-10-14T08:36:00.000+11:00

I wish I could sew like this.

But I can't, so I ordered a skirt - a tailored skirt - yes tailored!

And I LOVE it!

Do you want one too?

Pearl & Elspeth makes them & sells them on Georgie Love.

Oh & I 'borrowed' P&E's photo of my skirt, I couldn't do the skirt justice with my own photos!!

Visit Pearl & Elspeth here.

Visit Georgie Love here.

Hexy love

2011-10-13T06:46:00.001+11:00

So (or sew) I had made a Hexy Flower... but what do I do with it now??

I ask Mr... he just laughed.

Hmph, that didn't help.

Then I spotted a plain fabric bag.....

Hmm...

I'll let you know how it turns out!!

More creative people here...

Wordless Wednesday: Can't resist...

2011-10-12T07:11:00.000+11:00

more images here

A little piecing....

2011-10-11T07:17:00.000+11:00

Today finds me totally engrossed in something completely new.

... I'm paper piecing...

... and it's so much fun....

... and so incredibly easy...

... and so fast...

I love it!

I adore it!

Have you ever tried Paper Piecing?
What is it? Well, it's where you take a paper piece(!), in my case a hexagon, fold over the fabric, baste the fabric in place then join to another piece using a simple whip stitch. Once they are all joined, you take out the basting & the paper and you end up with a very cute hexagon flower (in my case). You can then make lots more and join them together to make a quilt or use it as an applique - which is what I'll think I'll do with mine.

Like it, well stay tuned as I'm going to have some sample kits to giveaway in about a month or so, then you can try it for yourself!!

Web find: Cute Sock Patterns

2011-10-10T08:01:00.000+11:00

Check out these socks... how cute are they!

And you can buy the patterns from here!

and the winner is....

2011-10-09T09:01:00.000+11:00

The winners of the cute Kangaro Xmas Fabric are:

Australian Winner:

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max:

Result:

52Powered by RANDOM.ORG

TLN - a Canadian in Australia!

International Winner:

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max:

Result:

1Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Larissa from the USA

Congratulations, I'll be sending you both an email for your postal details.

Ranch love

2011-10-08T09:32:00.000+11:00

So... I um, recently read a soppy girlie book that was about Cowboys and they lived in Wyoming.

So... I um, I had to Google Wyoming & Cowboys.

So... um... I then fell in love with the look of these ranches and the scenery!!!!!!

Red Rock Ranch

7D Ranch

There were stacks of sites but the list was getting too big!

Or.. there are some ranches for sale in Wyoming...

All photos are via the ranches website.

Forgot to mention

2011-10-07T08:19:00.000+11:00

Ooops, I forgot to mention that I popped the cushion onto Ravelry here.

Thanks for all the brilliant comments - very inspiring!

A lesson learned.

2011-10-06T17:13:00.000+11:00

I interupt this very serious crafty blog with a lesson learned.

... I've learned to NOT check a nappy with my finger ...

No photos included as you can imagine.. ickky!

Taa daaaaaa!

2011-10-06T06:03:00.002+11:00

I've finally finished it!

I originally started it as a gift for someone (whilst I was pregnant) but decided the colours were to bright for them, so then I thought it should a cot blanket for my baby but bubba is now 9mths old and he uses a sleeping bag so there are no blankets on his bed so a cot blanket is kinda redundant.

So, hmm, what to make with it then and then I remembered after sitting on the floor with bubba the other day thinking it would be great to have a new cushion, so the transformation from blanket to cushion was made!

I think it looks awesome and it makes me feel cheery.

Whatchya think?

And of course, there had to be a model shot with bubba!

more creative people here

Wordless Wednesday: Ends.

2011-10-05T06:00:00.000+11:00

more images here

Learning to Knit animation

2011-10-04T06:47:00.001+11:00

Here's are great stop-motion animation on knitting.

Thought it was so sweet that I had to share it with you.

Video via maxsworld

This video & more & a great shop & lots of other fun stuff here.

More lil granny squares...

2011-10-03T06:34:00.001+11:00

Yep, started another project.

Making more cushions.

My Aunty Jan!

2011-10-02T07:29:00.001+11:00

So you may remember this post... when I went off in search of my sewing machine?

Well, I found her! I found my Aunty Jan!!

She was hiding in a box from our big move (that was cleverly packed by my Mr).

Taa Daa, my Aunty Jan! Now I wonder if she is cranky with me?

Progress....

2011-10-01T08:28:00.001+10:00

Whatchya think?

Is it looking ok?

It's going to be a cushion.

Don't you just love...

2011-09-30T16:52:00.000+10:00

Ahhh, the feeling of happiness with a new ball of yarn.

Nice.

In the post

2011-09-30T09:59:00.001+10:00

I recently participated in a fabric swap.. check out the new additions to my stash.

As well as this awesome tea towel!!

To the manor born.. or not?

2011-09-29T19:44:00.000+10:00

Have a few million dollars stashed in your sock drawers??

Fancy updating your digs?

Check out the real estate below for sale!!

Louisiana, United States, over $US12m

Arizona, USA, just under $US13m

Bahamas, $US25m

Albany, Western Australia, $AU30m

- yep, Australia!! -

Belgium, $EU25m

New York USA, $US13m

Italy, $EU9.5m

France, over $EU15m

Which one do you want??

Yes, I've started another project... before finishing the last one!!

2011-09-29T07:16:00.001+10:00

I can't help it. I love to start projects.. I love squeezing out the idea and seeing how it looks.
BUT... no, I haven't finished the last couple of projects that I started...
So that still means I have an unfinished shawl, unfinished lil squares blanket, unfinished... oh the list is too long to think about!!

More creative people over here.. and maybe they actually finish their projects!!

Wordless Wednesday: Waiting.

2011-09-28T07:30:00.000+10:00

more images here

A Stay At Home Mum (with a Crafty Blog)

2011-09-27T14:59:00.000+10:00

Hello.
Can you help me?
I hope so, I need your advice.
You see, I feel a little lost.
Well, actually, is lost the word?
Maybe it's lost or perhaps shocked or dithering even?
You see, after nearly 20 years in the work force, I'm now a Stay At Home Mum (with a Crafty blog).
And well, it's really hard to adapt to this new life.
It's not that I don't love spending time with Bubba, cos I really do, I adore it, it's the best job in the world.
But....
But, every time I look in the mirror I see working office girl Rie not Mumma Rie.

Does that make sense? Maybe not. It's hard to explain.

I don't have to go back to work. I have no desire to go back to work. I don't miss work. Most new mums that I know have gone back to work - does that mean I should too? Is bubba missing out because he's not in daycare like the other kids?
And, I just don't feel the whole process of motherhood as a career has adopted me!

Well, it's not like I had a job interview for this motherhood job, nor did I have any training, nor are there any manuals and no, there is no 3 month trial period.
This motherhood job is for life.
Which is cool, it's great & wonderful & I look forward to everyday with bubba as I watch him grow & learn.
But... how do I step away from working office Rie?
I've tried to explain it to a few people but they don't seem to understand. They seem to think that I'm over-reacting or that I should just go back to work a few days a week or that I have Post Natal Depression.
I'm not, I don't want too & I don't have PND.
No.
So I decided, yes, I made a decision. If my main problem was that I don't look like a mum (well to me anyway).... then I should change the way I look. And the easiest way to do this is to chop off my hair! My hair is mid-way down my back & has been for years & years & years... so I'll chop it off short.
Eeek..... everybody said - that's over-reacting. Nope, I told them, if it doesn't work the hair will grow back & I'll try something else. So I did, I had it all chopped off. AND....it's been a few days now & I feel great! I think it worked!!! And I love waking up with crazy bed hair, it's hilarious!!!

So here they are... long hair office girl Rie & short hair Stay at Home Mumma (with a Crafty blog).

Whatchya think?
Did I over-react?
Are you a Stay at Home Mum? How did you adjust to motherhood as a full time career?
.... and... do I sound nuts?

Button love

2011-09-27T09:55:00.000+10:00

Rummaging through a remnant bin, found a stash of buttons - AwEsOmE!!

Paper bricks

2011-09-26T09:51:00.000+10:00

Do you use or have you heard of paper bricks?

It's where you recycle your old paper & make paper bricks for your fire.

So... I shredded up all our old bills and stuff.

And soaked them in water for a few days.

I then filled the paper brick mold thingy.

I then squished it down to compress the paper

and turned it out onto a cake rack to dry.

Once dry, toss it onto the fire....

And voila, something to warm your tootsies with!

Tea and Crochet

2011-09-21T06:51:00.002+10:00

more images here
and creative people here

Book find: The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt

2011-09-18T18:37:00.000+10:00

I bought myself a treat!

This book is so sweet and awesome and inspiring... I just had to buy it.

There are page after page of beautiful quilt blocks along with correspondence from mothers from the 1920s telling us whether they would want their daughter to marry a farmer. How sweet!!!

Each block is broken down into the pieces it is made up of - so easy, so inspiring.

Have you seen this book?

Have you made anything from it?

Does it inspire you to make the quilt?

Want to buy the book too? I purchased mine from here....

...in case I don't return....

2011-09-16T15:21:00.001+10:00

I'm off to find my sewing machine.
I remember packing it up & watching it go into the removalist's truck.
I remember the removalists unpacking the truck & bringing it inside.
Now... where is the darned thing!
... I think it may be hiding cos sometimes we don't like each other, sometimes we argue, sometimes 'things' are said ........
So in case I don't return, in case all the packing boxes fall on top of me, please let my Mr know that I was last seen heading into the spare room in search of the Janome!