Wedding Favours

It is amazing what you find in boxes at the back of cupboards. In an old Tunnocks Snowball box was the left overs from my wedding favours back in 1995. I had forgotten that I still had them and the chocolates were well past their due date.

In 1995, there wasn't as much flexibility with printing so we got a stamp made with our names and date to stamp the attached cards.

My grandmother in Scotland wanted to contribute so she made 100 of these little favours and in this box are left over doilies, prototypes and flowers. Of course she then came out for the wedding and we added the chocolates.

Edit: According to my Mum tonight, my grandmother made them all just weeks before the wedding AFTER she arrived in Australia. I always thought she did them in Scotland!

I am thinking that I might want to make a brooch or something from the left over doilies. Probably dye it red or black.

Any other ideas for what to do with the left over little doilies?

Tori discovers Photo Booth

A while back we got ourselves a brand new spanky iMac. Initially it was for my hubby to do Photoshop on, but since then he has discovered World of Tanks and it has therefore become my study Mac for Uni given I can't get near the PC.

We are a mixed family, with both PC's and Mac's and I see the merit in using and being familiar with as many operating systems as possible. Not just because my background is in ICT in schools, but because each OS has it's own strengths and weaknesses. I believe that students need to be familiar with both environments as it allows them to be more flexible when they get out into the workforce. After all, we don't just teach students to write with pencils, they learn with a variety of tools and they learn the strengths and weaknesses of each one.

Anyway, I digress ... Tori and I were playing on the Mac this afternoon and she discovered Photo Booth. Here is a selection of what she created ...

Look Mum! It's me on the screen!



What if I make a funny face?



And another ..



If I close my eyes will it still work?



Oh look, special effects!



I'm a ghost!



We are all underwater!

The house that Margaret built

It is someone's birthday next week and I have been playing around with baking in the kitchen. When I told Tori I was going to be making a Gingerbread House, she said "Just like Masterchef?"...

A while back we made some cookies at a friends place from a recipe in the Nursing Mothers Recipe book and so Tori and I decided to give it a go.

Tori and Dadda picked out the lollies and with a great deal of mess we put the house together. Being held together with bowls and cans until the Royal Icing set.

My first attempt and I am pretty happy with it. The next one will be a bit larger and I might venture into using some chocolate.

Have you ever made a Gingerbread House? Advice?

Etsy Friday Finds: Elephants

I have some friends who are mad for elephants, these finds are for them!

Wax Seal charm by RQP Studio

Safari Decal by BubbaAndDoodle
I can't see my friends with this on their wall, but I think it would be a cute for a child's bedroom.

Elephant artwork by rachellelevingston
Check out her other pictures, especially this cute one.

Elephant Sillouette by ArtiiCraft
Even though they like Thai elephants, this is kinda cute and stylish.

Elephant Pillow by Petette
These guys have some gorgeous pillows.

What have you found online this week? Anything interesting?

My Creative Space: Sewing Room

I am slowly getting there with the sewing room. I was chuffed when the letters went up on the wall and even more pleased when I noticed that my Flowerpress Hottie fitted on the wall next to the window.

My larger space was way overdue for a sort and chuck, things that I had been hoarding for decades. Consolidating things into a fixed space has been a good exercise for me. The space still looks like a bomb has hit it, but it is slowly coming together.

I ended up purchasing some Ikea wardrobe organisers to put my fat quarters into in black, however I still have to properly colour sort and press my collection. I still have to get some blinds to put in the room and a few other things up on the wall next to the window. The coloured noticeboard that was in the old room is shorter than the shelf above it. That is going to annoy the crap out of me, so I will be making a new one!

On Tuesday, with Nicholas strapped to my back in the ergo, I tackled my costume box and chucked half of it. Most went to the op shop, but some hats gloves and skirts went off to childcare. I have kept a few costumes for either sentimental or rarity reasons.

I guess to sum it all up, if it is not functional or beautiful, I'll be finding a new home for it. For more creative spaces, head over to Our Creative Spaces.

In other news, our old cat Anastasia has spent the week at the Vet. She is 16 years old, has kidney disease and a tooth abscess. So things are a bit tense here at the moment. She has had a good life, but I am not ready to loose her yet.

Some time for me

Another crafty friend has organised a craft day today. What a lovely day for it. It has been ages since I have had a few hours of uninterrupted sewing time just for me. So what is on the to-do list?

Believe it or not, I have the final blocks for Tori's Paintbox Quilt to finish and then I have to lay it out and decide where the colours will be positioned. Best done in a room full of other crafters!

I've been chipping away at this project and it has probably taken far too long, but I am happy with the block choices and every few weeks I would come across another great monochromatic fabric that I wanted to include in her quilt.

I also have a great idea for some scrappy patchy monogrammed pillows for her bed from some gorgeous Jelly's that have been sitting for far too long on my shelf.

I have no expectations of achieving anything except sewing and chatting.

Etsy Friday Finds

I am still in home decorating mode this week, but I have come across some lovely things that I might be tempted to get.

Robot Letterpress by sweetharvey
Letterpress is on my "crafts to learn" list .. I am only presuming that this is a "sorry card"!

The Intrusion by UntamedMenagerie
This range of jewelry is just gorgeous, you must check it out!

Turquoise Block Print Cat Quote by cursiveart
Gaiman quote .. enough said!

Peacock Butterfly Pillow by Pillowation
Love the colours on the basic grey

Robots in Love screenprint by mengseldesign

I just thought that this was cute!

What about you?

Have you found anything interesting this week?

You must share!

Good Luck Danielle

A friend of mine goes in for a 9 hour brain operation this morning to remove a tumor. Luckily it is non-cancerous, but there is still risks associated with a 9 hour operation.

Picture Source

She was getting headaches and stroke symptoms, numbness down her left hand side. The doctor who was very sharp, recommended her for a MRI thinking it might be a tumor. And it turned out it was and they have just "caught it in time". She could have ended up having a stroke.

So if you have a moment today, say a short prayer for Danielle who is probably under the knife as we speak. She has a week in ICU afterwards and then another week in at the stroke ward and I am hoping to visit her when she is able.

Etsy Friday Finds: Window Shopping

I must admit that I am a daily checker of the etsy front page. I love to click through and go on little shopping adventures to see what I can find. My Friday finds are always compiled from a week of etsy surfing.

My print of the two Koi "swimming towards happiness" arrived this week and it gorgeous. Can't wait to get it framed and up on the wall.

Here are some selections from my window shopping this week!

Star Wars Print Typography by handz

I love the simplicity of this "fanboi" print.

Obi Belt by LoobyLouCrafts

This would look great around a corset or tight dress.

You want it when Pillow by alexanddraferguson

Lingerie Long Earrings by gemagenta
The pieces on this site are simple, yet complex.

A-Z Alphabet by boldandnoble

I've been looking for some nice images for Nicholas' room, I love this one because of the camel!

Have you come across anything in your window shopping this week?

Trip to the Dentist

In anticipation of Tori's first trip to the Dentist next month, she went along with me yesterday for my regular teeth clean and check up.

She got to ride on the chair, wear a bib and sunglasses. The dentist then got her to sit still (!!!) and counted her teeth. While all this was happening, Nicholas was helping the ladies out on the front desk!

When I got my teeth cleaned I had about 25 minutes of no kids to focus on and it was the most delightful "switch off" feeling given the last few days and the mad rush to get my first Uni essay in.

I've been going to this dentist for about 15 years and when I first visited him I was a nervous patient who sometimes needed Valium to calm down. Now I can get my teeth cleaned without gas and for the first time yesterday I enjoyed it.