My Creative Space

Thanks for your comments last week. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one juggling lots of things and trying to find a good balance between them all. I am trying to limit my computer use to one hour a day. We’ll see how it goes… How much time do you guys spend on the computer?

This week started out so promisingly. Khye asked if we could make some muesli bars. “Is that a good idea mummy?” he says in his 3 year old talk. “What a fantastic idea Khye!” So we mixed all the dry ingredients together. Khye was being a Really Useful Helper (just like Thomas the Tank who is a Really Useful Engine) and used his spoon to stir everything in the bowl. It was looking so yummy, so colourful, so promising…After mixing with the wet ingredients and smoothing the mixture into the tray we put it in the oven. That’s when things went wrong. I forgot to put the timer on. About 2 hours later I noticed the oven was still on. Another couple of seconds and I remembered the muesli bars were still in there too…No more needs to be said.

On the sewing front though, I did manage to get a stack of cutting out done.
Hopefully next week’s creative space will see me sewing this lot up.

Head over to Kootoyoo for more creative spaces.

Stormy photos

Wow weren’t the storms in Melbourne wild? Out here we were only hit by the edges of the storm – bit of lightning, thunder, heavy rains and luckily no hail. But we did have some amazing clouds whipping up around us.
And here is another stormy photo from a couple of months ago that I just thought I’d share.
I’m playing along with Shadow Shot Sunday, but I don’t know that my shadow photos are going to stack up against Harriet’s and everyone else’s beautiful photos. I’ll give it a go anyway and keep my eyes peeled for beautiful shadows during the week.

Op Shop Treasures

Its been pretty quiet this week at the op shops. In fact I spent less than $5! (Sean is happy!) But I did find a few little treasures.

This cute musical birdie for Maya’s room. I love the colour, I love the music and I love the fact that it plays for ages!

Another piece of clothing for Maya and some more fabric (background).
The jumper is acrylic but I love the pattern. Just need some cooler weather now! And I love the little orange flowers on the fabric.

And lastly I found this teeny tiny half finished patchwork. The sides of the hexagons are only about 1cm long! It comes complete with paper hexagon templates, tiny fabric scraps and hexagons already tacked and ready to sew together. It’s a lot of work for something so little, but I plan to finish it – it’s on the long list of projects to do. Maybe I’ll finish it 2020…

Head over Sophie’s for more treasures.

My Creative Space … or lack of

I love blogging. I love updating my blog. I love reading other blogs. I love visiting other very inspiring Creative Spaces. I love reading about Vic’s op shopping and garage sale adventures and the bargains she picks up. I love playing along with Sophie’s Flea Market Finds, showing off my finds and being excited and jealous at the same time over other people’s finds. I love reading Tif’s poetic blog posts, admiring her beautiful work and her amazing house. I love reading my bloglist to see what other people are up to. It inspires me and motivates me.

But now I almost despise the computer because the more I blog and read, the more I am inspired and motivated, but the less time I have to be creative. I’m still trying to find that balance and it’s particularly difficult when you also add housework, a toddler and a baby to the mix. So many things to do, so little time. When I finally get some time to myself, I don’t know where to start. Yesterday when I had a spare half hour, what did I do? I cleaned up the stationary draw! I guess at least I can find working pens now, but really that was way down on the list of things to do. So how do you guys do it? How do you fit in the fun creative bits?

Anyway, at some stage between all the loads of washing, the demanding toddler and the hungry baby I did find a few minutes this week to sew the long awaited ears onto Khye’s fabric rocking horse.

Not very exciting or inspiring I know but I did get to use needle and thread. I started making the horse way back here and I still have to finish the reins and the saddle – maybe that’ll be part of next weeks Creative Space!

Oh yeah, I did also make a bus with Khye the other day – I can count that as being creative too!

For other much more interesting Creative Spaces head over to Kootoyoo.

Fun things to do with kids #3:- A Bus

I was about to throw this biscuit packet into the bin (the recycles bin of course), when I had a sudden thought of "I can't throw this out, look at those great little compartments, perfect for sorting or something." After a couple minutes I decided it would make a great bus for Khye!

We made it together - Khye chose the wheel colour and he did the taping, while I did the cutting and as you can see by the photo it was pretty simple to make:
- tape 4 plastic bottle lids as wheels to the biscuit tray
- cut out a rectangle of cardboard the same width as the tray to make the windscreen
- cut a smaller rectangle hole on one end of the cardboard so the bus driver can see out
- cut a piece of clear plastic from some discarded packaging and tape to the cardboard to make the windscreen "glass"
- tape the entire windscreen to the biscuit tray and voila!

What fun, creative things do you do and make with your kids? I’d love to see your ideas and creations. I’m always looking for new things to do with Khye.

PS. Start saving all your plastic bottle lids. I use them for sooo many things. They make great wheels, eyes, lights, heads, ears, for threading, mobiles etc.

And don't forget the Baby Show Ticket Giveaway!

Oppie Treasures

It was another good week at the op shops with a few more treasures found. Apart from the pretty fairy dress and silver pixie shoes that Khye has been wearing all weekend (his father is horrified and refused to let me post photos - we'll save them for the 21st!) I also found this gorgeous little cloth dolly for Maya.
She needs a wash but her face is so pretty.
This light cotton market bag – I love green and spots!
I love the green lid and spots on this jar too!
I also found these wool jumpers. They are a bit rare during the summer season so I was lucky to pick these up. The pink one is angora and will make a soft cosy cot blanket and some cuddly spunkee toys.
And lastly this beautiful hand crocheted wool blanket. It was a bit pricey by church op shop standards so I decided not to buy it initially, but I couldn’t stop thinking about so went back the next day and thankfully it was still there!Thanks to dottie angel, I think I’ve discovered I have a thing for blankets. I only realised it once I had bought this blanket. I actually counted 32 blankets in our house! Some are in use on our beds, many in the cupboard, but I just couldn’t hide this one away.
Head over to Sophie’s Flea Market Finds for more great treasures.

And don't forget the Baby Show Ticket Giveaway.

Baby Show Ticket Giveaway

Thanks to Ecotoys I have some Baby Show tickets to giveaway. The tickets are worth $20 and the Baby Show is in Melbourne next week from Friday 5th - Sunday 7th March.

Ecotoys will be exhibiting at the Baby Show with their beautiful range of toys made from natural, sustainable and recycled materials. They will also have some fantastic offers and giveaways at the show including this gorgeous organic baby hamper valued at $240.

You may even see some of my spunkee soft toys at the Ecotoys exhibit!

To receive your free ticket to the Baby Show please email me with your name and email address. You will then be subscribed to the Ecotoys e-newsletter and we will send you a ticket via email which you can print and present at the Baby Show.

My Creative Space

This is where I spent most of my day today – in my favourite part of our garden.

I find it very peaceful here and it’s so nice sitting on the cool grass on a warm day. I blew bubbles for Maya who has never seen bubbles before and she was fascinated by them!
Then while Maya slept I finally completed this tiny babushka brooch that I had started at christmas time.
The pattern is from this book that Sean and the kiddies gave me for Christmas.
And I also photographed some of my spunkee softies in the garden. These softies are bound for my new etsy store and for the Ecotoys stall at the Baby Show in Melbourne next weekend.



Head over to Kootooyoo to visit heaps of other great creative spaces.

Op Shop Treasures

This week I’ve had a good run with the op shops. Apart from picking up some practical things like a hat for Khye, some clothes for Maya and a wasp trap for Sean (which I hope will also trap some of those darned flies), I also found some “treasures” for myself.

This lovely fabric covered Address and Telephone book.

I love green – I’m always drawn to green stuff.
I love the inside too. The index letters down the side almost look hand stamped with their imperfections.

But I have a dilemma, as I always do with these sorts of things. I don’t know whether to actually use it or not. If I use it the beauty of it might be spoiled but then what’s the point of having it cluttering up precious cupboard or bookshelf space. What I’ll probably end up doing is putting it away to “think” about and then forget about it! What do you think I should do – use it or not?

This beautiful silky scarf which Maya loves when I drape it over her. She loves the silky smooth texture on her hands and feet… and tongue!
And I love the orange and pink together with the black. It reminds me of this scarf I bought a few weeks ago.
I found two of these linen tea towels and although I’m not a huge fan of pink I really like these. I think it might actually be the greens that I like.
And the squirrel is my favourite panel.
I also found this yummy pure wool blanket. I love the woven pattern – it’s the same as a couple of other blankets we inherited from Sean’s grandparents and although they’re pink, I love them.
And lastly I picked up this kids wooden kitchen. I’ve been looking for a kitchen for a while and have resisted all the plastic kitchens I’ve seen and I’m so glad I did ‘cos this wooden version is great. The oven door is missing but that’s okay – I don’t think Khye has noticed. Last night he cooked us some yummy playdough pizzas!
I’ve been having lots of fun playing along with Sophie’s Flea Market Finds each week and checking out all the treasures other people have found.

Until next week, happy treasure hunting!

Where is she?

I lost Maya yesterday...

...amongst all her pretty flowers. If it wasn't for her limbs and her head, I don't think I'd ever have found her!