Terrible two's....

Blogtoberfest Day 11:

We have without a doubt reached the terrible two's.

Well....terrible seems such a strong word. maybe the tornado two's or the antz in pantz two's.
Cause lordy knows, if I leave him to his own devices for too long the house looks like a tornado has ripped through it, and if I'd like to go sit for a while and enjoy some chai under the shade of a tree....


He's bound to be either climbing that tree....

or finding the nearest animals mouth to put his fingers in...aughhh!



When does the serenity return!

For more great Blogtoberfest reading, be sure to head over here.

On the drawing board...

Blogtoberfest day 10:

On the drawing board today is another batch of dragonfly skirts.

I've not yet had the chance to photograph it on a body for you, they are cotton Lycra with a fold over top. Very comfy and swishy all at once.

Mine sure has been getting some wear and heading in to summer I 'll be doing these with an exciting new bunch of artwork too.


So far I've made up teal, fuchsia and black down at the shop, all with the chasing butterflies screen printed across the bottom.

For more great Blogtoberfest reading, be sure to head over here.

Flea market finds....

Blogtoberfest day 9:


Yesterday we headed off to a street garage sale. I Love it when the community bands together to offer the garage sale of the century, having 20 0r more houses take part.

We found lots of toys for little man but my favorite find was this little toy piano.

I love anything that looks a little weathered.

Especially chunky, solid wood pieces.

For more great flea market finds be sure to pop over here...

and for more great Blogtoberfest reading, be sure to head over here.

Home is where the craft is.....

Blogtoberfest day 8:

I Headed off to see the fab little exhibition 'home is where the craft is' last week.


So nice to see a few local crafty celebrities turning there hand to art pieces for the home.


and little man made sure he found all the interesting....non exhibit items to show me....


I quite enjoyed the pop up market out back to0 and made sure I didn't come home empty handed.

Cactus in retro tea cup handmade by the lovely Polka dot rabbit, also nabbed a few vintage table cloths for future projects too.

For more great Blogtoberfest reading, be sure to head over here.

Finders keepers....

Blogtoberfest day 7:

Headed off to the first Finders Keepers market yesterday, down at docklands.

Got me some pretty brooches and hair clips,

By Tree party designs.....

And a few magnets and erasers from little Jane st.

I could have bought so much more as the array of stallholders was top notch. Just beautiful stuff.

But like a few murmurs I've heard around blog land, I agree that it was a bit overwhelming.
So big, so many stalls and so much high quality craft that the mind does boggle.

They did have a nice little bar and band up front, so I could have chilled for a bit and headed back for a second round, but I had the children in tow and only managed one quick whizz around.

I tried to say hello to all my fave sellers, but there were customers galore that flocked to certain stores, making it hard to shop.... let alone stop and chat.

I do see this as the beginning of summer markets though and know that we all have a few months of fantastic shopping opportunities coming up.

Hooray for handmade!

For more great Blogtoberfest reading, be sure to head over here.

A crush......

Blogtoberfest day 6:

I most definitely have a crush on my new fabric!

The amazing colors....

The delightful pattern....

Mmmmmmmmmm........

It's the 'Innocent crush' collection by Anna Maria Horner.

New wrap skirts are all made up and in the store already.
Forgot to take a pic, but that just gives me something else to post about next time I'm at the shop.

For more great Blogtoberfest reading, be sure to head over here.

A new toy.....

Blogtoberfest day 5: A new toy.

It would seem that technology today is not built to last....

So when you take your old camera to the store to be fixed, sales assistants everywhere, try and hide the giggle....

Laughing at this silly woman who thinks her $300 camera that is 8 years old is going to be fixed for her.....

Thankfully i was not too unprepared for the mocking and had an inkling that this might happen.

So we did our homework and found the best deal on a digital SLR. A long awaited update to our old pretend SLR.

Now I'm walking around happy snapping random things in the house, trying to teach myself how to use it.

Let the fun and games begin....

For more great Blogtoberfest reading, be sure to head over here.

Old dog new tricks....Blogtoberfest day 4.

Only up to day four on the fest, two days behind ...I know, but don't worry I have a few things up my sleeve.
Today though, I have to tell you about a fab little course I did at the C.A.E just before heading off on school holidays.


I luv...luv...luv the C.A.E cause it's a learning environment for adults. Your generally surrounded by people your own age, with the odd youngin and octogenarian in for the ride too.

The teachers are just adorable. So patient, kind and positively happy to be sharing there skills.
The classes are not your standard hairy scary high level entry stuff, more so things like flamenco dancing or make your own natural skincare. They do more techy and business orientated stuff too, but I always salivate over the pages of craft, printmaking, sewing and art classes I could be doing.

If only the days were longer.

So this time I decided to do 'Learn to sew knit fabrics'

I have some what mastered a few techniques that have made it bearable for me to sew stretch fabrics, but on the whole it is a section of spotlight that I have always put in to the too hard basket. So unless I was sewing, my one good t-shirt pattern that turns out perfect every time, I was most definitely a fish out of water.

My other great motivation was a need to own cardi's in every color in the world, for my wardrobe to be complete......silly and sad, but true.

Woolly cardi's just make you boil the minute you walk into the shops or go to the office and sometimes you just need that little bit of something to throw over your arms for a dash of color or a touch of warmth without being to heavy.

I'd want it stretchy, lightweight and fabulously bright.

I can sew side seems....check....
I can cover stitch the ends...check....
but,how am i going to close it?!
Buttons on stretchy fabric? Self bound edges? aughhhh....That's where I always falter.

So off I go to learn some new tricks.

As per usual walking into a strange building and strange classroom, full of strangers all by myself makes me want to turn and run away, but i have to push those butterflies away, walk in, smile......and just open myself up to new experiences.

Not sure why I get nervous about these things, I just do.
Maybe it's that complete surrender, that thing of being utterly powerless and dumb in this space. Where you are once again that five tear old on your first day of school. You don't know the teacher, you haven't any friends there and you can't even read what's on the board. In my case....I can't even sew stretchy fabric!

So inhibitions pushed aside, I spent the next 6 or so hours learning how to finish and sew knits...all on your sewing machine.
Very impressed was I.

Here are some pics of my little trophies .....

Self bound edges or Chanel trim finish.

Concealed Chanel finish.

Rib trim.

and elastic cased.

We did more, but these are just a few of my sample peices for the day........ proof that you can teach an old dog new tricks.

For more great Blogtoberfest reading, be sure to head over here.

Seeing double...Blogtoberfest day 3.

Whilst in Phillip island we visited Amaze n' things, a little theme park filled with illusions and mazes.

Finding our way out of the wooden maze.

Mr. Finn had an absolute ball, in the mirror maze.

(Pic from phone cam, bit blurry, sorry)

Could you just imagine there really being 5 of him.....it's every big sisters worst nightmare!

Check out what else is happening on this fine Blogtoberfest day over here...

Flowers for mum....

Blogtoberfest day 2:

At the holiday house in Phillip Island, they had a lovely range of flora and fauna spotted around the yard, giving it such a great homely feel.


So I just had take some pics to show mum....who's abroad at present enjoying a holiday of her own.

Thought you might enjoy the little blooms of spring too.

For more great Blogtoberfest reading, be sure to head over here.

Blogtoberfest, wait for me.......

So, I'm a wee bit late signing up for Blogtober fest, but the hostess with the mostess miss Tinniegirl, says it's never too late and that any one can join in.
So rather than over think it and miss a few more days, I 'm jumping in too.

I may or may not be able to follow through on the daily posts, but I will try my bestest.
So In the name of fun or possibly insanity I'll play catch up and do 3 posts today......let's get started.

Belated blogtoberfest Day 1:

Over the school holidays, we ventured over to Phillip Island for a long awaited family holiday.

Having family in Queensland we usually venture up that way and stay with family, but it's not really a holiday when you're on someones doorstep. Especially when you all have kids.

Becomes more of a huge organizational feat..... making sure that the hot water doesn't run out during the morning shower dash...that there's enough seats in the car to take everyone to the theme park and that the kids don't kill each other.

So instead we decided to pack the car to the rafters, head south and enjoy the sea air. Just us.
Twas' bliss.

High on Kizzy's list for holiday activities was fishing.

So we grabbed our bucket, rods and tackle box and headed off.


We came home with 3 fishies to cook for dinner, so there were smiles all round.


Back soon for day 2 of Blogtoberfest...... and don't forget to check out all the other fab blogs joining in over here.