Retromummy Giveaway

 retromummy is having another giveaway! Oh the needlebooks I could make with these gorgeous fabrics!

Go and check out her link for conditions of entry!
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Nutcase or Needlecase ....

Why Needlecase of course!

Thursday and Friday while having a blog free day, I was busy sewing and embellishing and this is what I was making.

Some are completely handsewn (no sewing machine in the car while a passenger ...) and others are initially machine sewn and then completed by hand.

My lovely friend Megan has ordered five for Christmas Day to have as gifts for her female guests.

I also need to mention that I have a great Janome at Bankstown (which is just outside where Lincraft is) that has some beautiful, full cotton fabrics for $9.95 a metre (usually marked down from $22 a metre) where some of these fabrics came from. Some are stash, some are Lincraft fat square material and some are from Janome.

Also, having looked up Morris and Sons in York Street, Sydney for the link to my last comment on my last post I found they have a sale on (though a lot of items are "Out of Stock" grrr). Here is a link to their  DMC Stranded Cottons

Haven't been doing much knitting lately.
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Categorising Nearly Over

Okay, while others have been busy sewing, knitting, photographing and other crafty pursuits, I have been categorising the blogs I follow ...

I now have 200 Australian blogs listed below that are an eclectic mix of sewers and designers, screen printers, knitters, mothers and humourists ...

There are also Kiwis, Mapleleafians, Statesiders, Danes and a few others.

This photo of my DMC cottons has been added for no other reason than I suspect that a photo adds to the overall appeal of a blog. Am I right? I was going to do lots of cross stitch when I had babies .... I did for the thank you cards, and then life caught up ...

There are about 30 left to do, but I suspect that they may be Americans ...
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Thea & Sami Blog Giveaway and in a separate giveaway .. A Little Red Ribbon

TWO SEPARATE GIVEAWAYS from blogs I follow, both AUSTRALIANS to share ...

ONE

Thea & Sami from Brisbane are having a Blog Giveaway to celebrate 500 followers!

They design and hand screen-print natural fabrics for home & body decor.  Their range of products includes a boutique collection of eco-friendly homewares.

To enter the competition, be a blog follower on their blog Thea & Sami and post a comment.

The winner will be randomly selected on Sunday, 19th of December and entry is available worldwide.

Now pop over to their blog and dream about doing work experience with these lovely artisans.

TWO

And because it is Christmas, A Little Red Ribbon from Sydney has a beautiful little brooch with Liberty of London prints here.

To enter the competition, leave a post on her blog, with entries closing on this Saturday, 18th of December at 12 midday AEST, again with entry available worldwide.

She's also having a 30% off sale here until Friday, 17th of December 2010.

Good luck!
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Something for Stewart House

Okay, my day wasn't all about washing machines and short demographic surveys that would not be participated in.

There was also the Charity Fundraising Day for Stewart House at school today where my daughter sold these headbands for $2 each and sold all 16 (including some to teachers, even her male teacher ...)

And these ipod / iphone / Nintendo DS holders that should have sold, but didn't. I brought them all home. I gave my daughter $10 for the day and she bought mostly lollies .. surprise, surprise. Normally she comes home with a bag of some sort.

And look what $2 can buy you, else they end up in the skip bin ...

I've read 5 to the little mate since I've been home ...

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Short Demographic Survey

I just had a man ring about a short demographic survey that he was conducting for some company or another.

I told him that any information about me was private and I was not compelled to give it to him and thank you very much for his call, but I would not be helping him today.

Have these people not heard of the Australian Census where I am compelled to give it? Ahhh

Between that and looking to purchase a replacement washing machine for the one down the coast which carked it after a four week tenant, I'm having a good day.

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Colourful Fridays - Christmas Colours

 Robyn at Daisy Quilts has outdone herself with her display of  beautiful Christmas coloured things this week. I can't help but think Robyn must have the most lovely and organised home!

I went down looking in my daughter's room and wasn't disappointed. If truth be told, the little boxes were on top of the stereo and the nativity scene was on the tall boy, a little repositioning and bingo!

I got a little crafty last night, inspired by the gift I bought myself and have been waiting a couple of weeks to arrive, and which arrived on Monday, Handmade Living, featuring artisan MissChief Maker, among others, some of whom you will find listed below on  blog under "Australians".

This is my interpretation of her button necklaces. For more details of how to buy the book for yourself or someone you love, look to Tania McCartney or www.handmademarket.com.au.

There was also this from me ...

If my daughter had a female teacher, she may have possibly gotten one of these with her Christmas / end of year gift. She doesn't, she has a male teacher. Must buy appropriate present.


There were also these in the front garden ..

While I sat despairing at the state of this table, my son busied himself with lego.

Our plastic Christmas tree, decorated mid November!

And I couldn't go by without sharing this from my op shopping last Friday. I have two. I also have some others to share photos of on another day.

I then went looking for Christmas Carols from when I was at school and found this heathhill.blogspot.com.

CHRISTMAS DAY

The North Wind is tossing the leaves,
The red dust is over the town,
The sparrows are under the eaves,
And the grass in the paddock is brown;
As we lift up our voices and sing
To the Christ-Child the Heavenly King.

The tree-ferns in green gullies sway;
The cool stream flows silently by;
The joy bells are greeting the day,
And the chimes are adrift in the sky,
As we lift up our voices and sing
To the Christ-Child the Heavenly King.


I just loved the visual image of tree-ferns in green gullies swaying, usually when we were out in the middle of the school yard as the teacher stood on the steps to the classrooms, typically around 11 am and without hats!

Thank you so much Robyn for the opportunity to play along!

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Small Horsies Amuse Small Minds Who Missed Being Selected for that Show from that Celebrity who has arrived in Australia

Okay, that includes me!

Make Mine Mid-Century  is not going to be deterred at being excluded. She has created her own adventures. Check that link out.

Also check this one! Here Maybe check the second one out first ....

Genius!

I also follow another a blog that could sell bouquets of platypii to that Celebrity for all her guests ... Badskirt

I'd just like to see that Celebrity visit somewhere affected by our recent floods while she was here, if possible, perhaps somewhere that has been affected by extensive droughts as a precursor to these floods which have now devastated lots of expectations for a bountiful harvest ...

And dear Celebrity, I don't care about your relationships, and acknowledge I never thought you and your bestie were anything but besties ...  enjoy Melbourne  tomorrow (and all those great craft shops like this one Meet Me at Mikes or this one Maker Handmade).

Of course that Celebrity could just come to my page and have a flick through all the lovely artisans from Australia that are now categorised by country ...
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Timeless Wonders Photography Contest!!

Following on from Fairchild Street's entry in the Timeless Wonders Contest, I'm going to have a crack as well!

Details of how to enter the competition are found here: These Are a Few of My Favorite Things


1. Spring at Gunning, New South Wales
(Nectarines, Plums, Pears, Peaches or Apples? I should know!)

2. Nearly Every Boy Loves to Fish, Paynesville, Gippsland Lakes, Victoria
(this could also be called Poppy Bought Me a Fishing Rod)

3. Burning off the Undergrowth, Before the Fire Season begins, Gunning, New South Wales.
 (you can't see, but there is a grove of gum trees to the right of the photo, that I dragged all these out from under)

4. What One Stores Down the Side of One's House
(Captured after I went out to the rubbish bin and noticed the exact right amount of sunlight hitting the flowers!)

5. Spring at Sanctuary Point and Native Violas
(how low one will duck to get the right photo)

Rules
- All photos must be clean. No nude photos, and any people in them must be modest. Any pictures depicting dark or unclean images will be immediately disqualified.


I'm thinking that dark means devilish?


I'm also think the key to taking a good photo is to take lots of them all the time and I am thankful for the age of the digital camera and rechargeable batteries!
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Tuesday Treasures

I missed last Tuesday's Treasures, but  today I am playing!

This fellow I bought at the markets at Port Douglas in about October 2000 on the way back from Cape York. He is usually kept up on top of my china cabinet away from little fingers.

When the Sydney Olympic Games were on, my husband and I and friends Robyn and Gary decided that we weren't going to be here for the chaos, and headed off to see Cape York (which is at the very top of the mainland of the state of Queensland), via the Birdsville Races in western Queensland (link here), Longreach visiting the Stockman's Hall of Fame (link here), Muttaburra, Undarra Lava Tubes (link here), Cairns, Weipa (great fishing) and many other places.

As the Opening Ceremony was broadcast in the Games Room at Punsand Bay Caravan Park (link here), we received a call to say our house in Sydney had been broken into, but fortunately the fact that we had active neighbours and an alarm system prevented anything from being taken, though a panel of glass missing from the a window at back of the house was removed and never recovered on our property. We believe they may have smashed the window during the day with the intention of returning as people watched the opening ceremony.

That is the only thing that marred the holiday and the sights and scenery during our trip were extraordinary and we hope one day to do the trip again, this time with the kids.

For more Tuesday Treasures, visit Melody at The House on the Side of the Hill.
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You Are Being Classified

If I read your blog, and I hope I do, I am in the process of classifying all the blogs I read by the country they come from, being the country they currently live in.

This is a work in progress and boy will I be glad when I am done!

Have a good weekend!

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Colourful Fridays ~ Teal

We are going to pretend that today is Friday (because it is somewhere in the world) and that I didn't spend yesterday visiting op shops, fabric stores and supermarket and cooking a roast leg of lamb to have with a hastily made salad of rocket leaves, mixed lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, green capsicum and fetta cheese by South Cape and drinking Bella pink champagne with my husband, and friends Megan and Jamie and family ...

Above are the arm bands and cute swirly straw cups we have organised for my daughter to give to her friends for Christmas this year. These are to be complemented by lollies of some sort or another. The cups are from Kmart for $2 and when we saw them we knew they were perfect for gifts. The arm bands came as an after thought later, but fit perfectly over each cup. The cups also come in lime green and red.

Is it then cheating if I include the Willow brand (Made in Australia) kitchen utensils with teal handles I found yesterday at Vinnies at Bankstown for $1 each?

Or the colourful quilt which my husband's mother made for him as a child, which my children dragged out for the kids to sit on while they all watched movies?

Then I have scissors of unknown origin, but one suspects may have come via the daughter and school, a pumpkin dip dish from my Aunty Helen and some patchwork I did while at school which features part of my summer school uniform from my primary years and smells divinely of lavender ..

And how could I go by without mentioning some knitting ....

All while one should have been doing a  little more with these below ...

 But somedays you just want to kick back and relax ...

And think of the great day you had and your marvelous finds, which included at Smith Family at Bankstown ..  Table Eight Dress for $5 (with a slight tear in the split at the back which I found as I put on the counter and pointed out. Was $10), a small Marcs Australia men's shirt for $5, a Lowes small men's shirt for $5 with car prints and a Saddle Club skirt for my daughter for $3. The men's shirts look great under the dress!

For more teal, visit Daisy Quilts here! Also, thanks to Bev at Kainga Happenings for hosting while Robyn was away!

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So Long Elsie May

I've been non posting this week, but I have been busy ...

My daughter woke on Monday and said she had a sore throat and had the day off. Again. I am a little over Madam having the day off, but when they say the throat is sore, I have to go with it ... I remember sore throats as a kid and they are horrible. So where was I? Oh yes, I was sewing. I was at Bankstown the other day and having been to all the clothes shops looking, searching, seeking an outfit for the Santa photo for Madam, I was pained to see there was not much available, or of a suitable length for her height.

A trip to Lincraft followed and I bought three lengths of material suitable for Madam and to her liking. Today, I made one into a skirt which she totally loved. Nothing terribly complicated, though I did do a "French Seam" in the join to make it neat and tidy. I even remembered what it was called correctly, because I just googled and found this ... French Seam.

The other reason why I have not posted is my Grandmother, Elsie May, died last Thursday evening at the grand old age of 96. My Grandmother, Elsie was perhaps where I get some of my creativeness from, while it is my paternal grandmother where I get the cottons! She was a home sewer who sewed many of my mother's ball room dresses when my mother was a young debutee, and also sewed for my sister and I when we were growing up, including dolls, dresses etc and even Raggedy Andys for both my brothers.

When my mother was going through Nannie's things after she moved into a nursing home three years or so ago, she asked me if I wanted any of her patterns or material and I said no and Mum donated them to women at her Church who would sew them into items suitable for donating overseas. I am now regretting this a little, but at the time I had a tornado toddler and they would have been hard to hide from him

My Grandmother and Mother had a very strong relationship, my Grandmother calling my Mother everyday when I was growing up at 9.30 am, after we had got off to school for a chat about the daily happenings of my family. It was a very difficult decision for my Grandmother to be moved to a nursing home following hospitalisation and illness as she loved her home and often requested to be taken back there again.

My Mother has spent the past three years since she entered visiting Nannie everyday around lunchtime to assist with feeding her, catching the bus there and back as she does not drive. My Uncle also visited her every day on his way home from work to assist with feeding Nannie dinner, including her favourite of a Peter's ice cream in a tub.

I suspect in many ways, while her death at this age is blessing, my Mother and Uncle will miss the daily routine and the friendships and camaraderie they have built up with the staff at the nursing homes she was in, in their daily visits and also their Mother, whose personality had faded as time had passed and she had become increasingly confused.

My Mother's father, who was dearly loved by my Grandmother, died when my Mum was about 14, so wherever one goes after death, I hope he is waiting for her to be reunited once again.

I've been sewing and I'll post something soon.
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Fabric Giveaway!

I was over at Cathy's Sewing Room and saw that she had posted about a giveaway in this post.

I'm glad the good fairy was out and allowed Cathy to share her find!

Stray Stitches  is having a giveaway. And not just an ordinary one! It is a BIG one!

The first thing I did when I got to her post was have a crack up about the quote at the top.

Stray Stitches is giving away the mostly complete set of Thimbleberries Quilt Club 2006 BOM Quilt Kit.

There are several bits missing, but she has a more thorough explanation on her blog. This is also open to everyone and competition closes on the 10th of December.

Good luck fellow entrants! May the needle be with you.

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Colourful Fridays ~ Silver

I've been sitting here, taking almost forever to upload the right photos and Colourful Fridays is nearly over for today! So quick, the explanations!

First a teapot Mum said I could bring back from the farm for tea cosy photos. Mum would like me to knit a tea cosy for one of my Dad's cousins and perhaps she thinks this would be a good model! This was the teapot most commonly used as I grew up and the inside is very stained with tannins!

Next, a teapot trivet from my Aunty Helen, modeling cottons from my paternal grandmother's sewing box.

Can you see the cotton names on the Dewhurst Sylko cottons? Dk. Blue Slate, Dk. Beaver and Grey Mist on the Super Sheen! I loved that they named them and they weren't just numbers.

Next up we have little electronically plated silver mustard pots that I was gifted by mother when I was young. I'm pretty sure I was gifted them because she didn't like cleaning them. Guess what, neither do I and it shows!

On the bottom they say Farmers and E.P. Do you suppose they were from Farmers Department Store in Sydney once upon a time? Here is a little link.

Next for the Francophiles some DMC Tapestry wool wristbands in colour 7618 which I bought from Lincraft this week for the princely sum of $0.79 and knocked up into this rather stylish piece of art. I think so, anyway! I am knitting some to go with my daughter's friends end of year Christmas presents at the moment in all the colours of the acrylic rainbow. Mine is in WOOL! This is another modification of the My Friend Kylie scarf. Perhaps I will try them next in DMC Cottons. They take about 8 metres of yarn exactly.

Next, a slate grey wall plaque that my husband's grandfather Jock bought back as a slate tile from Scotland on his last visit. He had very good friends who were wood turners and they framed the slate for him. This is normally up on a wall somewhere, but my husband has painted several and removed nails in preparation of moving.

Finally, some pewter goblets. One with Vanessa and one with Cameron, I think from our wedding and probably from Claudia!

Also, my graduation one from University of New England Orange Agricultural College 1991-1992 where I did an Associate Diploma in Rural Business Administration. My husband did an Associate Diploma in Horse Management, hence the horse above!

And lastly, but not least, three knives I bought yesterday for $1 each from Salvos at Bankstown! Bargain. All Stainless Steel. One branded "Embassy", the next "Cavalier - Made in Sheffield" and lastly "Carlton Cutlery Co. Made in Sheffield".

If you want to see more Colourful Fridays ~ Silver, pop on over to Bev at  Kainga Happenings, with thanks also to Robyn at Daisy Quilts.

And if you have not played before, please play next week, all welcome to join in!
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