Happenings

Wow, life is busy right now! I feel like one of the baby blocks above - every way I turn there is something else new or something else to focus on.

Lucky I am a list writer or I would surely forget something.
Todays to do list...

Redesign the vege patch (at least on paper if I actually don't get a break from the rain to get outside).
Start on a new handmade item for my store ( I have a few ideas but need to work on the actual pattern first)
Practice cake decorating especially piping since I have promised to make a decorative birthday cake.
Plant some seedlings.
Wash, iron and put away clothes (aaghhh)
Take out Japanese host student somewhere interesting tonight.
Youngest munchkin to birthday party.
Declutter garage (huge job that one)

Off now to get started!

My Creative Space

It is a happening place here at the moment. Major outdoor project in the process and the rains haven't helped as the backyard with all the excavations has turned into a muddy, slushy mess. I am just focussing on how wonderful it will look once finished.

We are also hosting a foreign student for a while too. So another body to feed, and look after and show around. Its great though for him and for us.

On the creative side I have been making these cute coasters - very bright and funky. Also the matching one above which is a plate mat size. Made from old magazines, rolled and glued and laquered to give a lovely shine and then finished with a tough coat of gloss.

Pop over to Kootooyoo and check out all the other wonderful Creative Spaces.

Made it Finds

I try very hard to practice recycling,reducing and reusing and being a little bit kinder to this world that I live in.

So this post is all about wonderful items that are eco friendly, reusable, made from recycled products or enviromentally friendly and they are all available for sale over at Made It.

First off is this very vintage and very cute Eco Market shopping bag. I love the vintage doily. Made by Hill and Vale Designs.


Ferdinand the Draft Snake will keep your home draft free and save on heating costs. Made by Craft LLama.


First up is this lovely organic soap. I have made handmade soap once and it is a skill that I would love to perfect. This is Goat soap and looks lovely.



Now here is something that is good for our enviroment, reuseable time after time and will save on plastic! Fruit or vegetable bags from The Cranberrys
Dishcloths from Sweet Chenille. Not only are these cotton dishclothes great for the enviroment but they are made from recycled chenille.

My Creative Space

Playing with felt is fun! Cutting out the felt and sewing it is also fun.

Felt reminds me of those felt boards I had when I was a child - you know the ones where you have a farm or underworld theme and lots of felt cut outs to arrange on the felt board.

So in my creative space this week I have been making things to restock my Made It shop. More childrens cloth books like the one below.

This one is about shapes - squares, circles, triangles, diamonds.

And more paper fun too. I have been loving the quickness of making cards and tags and writing sets. The gift tags below are part of a writing set I have for sale.

Come share your Creative Space too over at Kootoyoo.

Butterflys

I love when I finally finish a project and it turns out just how I imagined when I started. I fiddled about a bit making the template for the writing set envelope but finally came up with one just how I imagined. I have been working on writing sets. The butterflys are popped with 3D adhesive so they look like they are flying. This one features 6 butterfly cards, and six matching butterfly tags. The next one will be less feminine.

My Creative Space

The desk is semi decluttered (enough that I can actually use a section anyway) and I have been making writing sets. Lovely paper envelopes in the most gorgeous papers, handmade cards, tags and matching pens.
It has been a little while since I have done any paper craft and I have found I have missed it. There is something wonderful about combining papers and getting the look and colour and pattern combinations just right. Then the fun part starts of tizzying up the cards with fibre and brass brads, inks and other fun embellishments.

Made It finds

Just a bit of eye candy from Made It. If you haven't been over there lately pop on over and have a look. There is a huge array of handmade items that would make perfect unique and original presents.

I have a family of boys ranging in ages, stages and interests. Here are a few things I have spotted that would appeal to the men in my life.

Eldest son is a mad crazy guitar player and he would think this chain and guitar was great. Guitar necklace by Sculley Design.

Hubby loves Paris so this would appeal to him - Eiffel Tower wall decal by Vinyl Design.

Middle son is soccer mad. He plays and he refs so how perfect is this!Future World Cup Captain print By Buttercup Ink.

My youngest is a super hero fan. At the moment anything to do with karate and Ninjas are favourites so these super dooper ninja magnets would really appeal to him.

These are from Iszle.

These cufflinks are from Red Zebra Designs. My eldest would think they are super cool but he has no need of cufflinks just yet. Still one day soon he may.

So many cool things! It is definately easier to find wonderful things for little boys girls, babies and ladies but thee are also some masculine treasures there too.

Some places I like to visit

The wonderful thing about the internet is the access it gives to so many amazing, crafty and talented people that otherwise I would never come across.

I have a load of blogs and sites I love visiting but thought I would share some of my very favourites - ones I pop over to most days for a read.

In no particular order -

Meet Me at Mikes - wonderful creative site. Pips shop is one I would love to visit in person and her book is great too.

Cuteable - Jam packed full of creative yumminess. The place I go for inspiration. Just shows the sheer amount of talent out there in computer land.

Kootoyoo - More craft and creative pleasure to be had here. I especially love her My Creative Space each Thursday. Be sure to go visit all the wonderful links and also to share your creative space.

Calico and Co. - By Amanda Fuller. This site is full of inspiration. Handmade Heaven and Monday Spotlight are my favs.

Made It - There are so many creative people right here in Australia and how wonderful to have a place featuring so many handmade lovelies to buy.

I would love to know what sites you visit for creative inspiration. Please let me know by leaving a comment.

Dreaming of...

Balconys, shuttered windows and flower boxes. How I wish I knew what was behind those closed shutters.

My Creative Space

Craft with the munchkins. Putting to use some of our beach combing treasures to decorate a cheap frame. One cute picture and job done!

School holidays are starting here so there will be lots of time for lots more crafty kids fun coming up.

Short and sweet happenings here at my creative space this week.