my creative space {midas touch}

It was love at first sight!  Me and this gorgeous gold faux leather fabric!  Oh my....I think I may have squealed in the isle at Spotlight when I came upon her!  It was not really what I was looking for....you see I was on a search for some bright jazzy fabric for some much needed new cushions for the new couch.....but this.....it was literally GOLD!   Perhaps it was the olympics that were having some subliminal powers over my subconscious, but I ended up buying enough to make two extra-ordinary large cushions for the couch.....but it didn't stop there.....

I speedily raced back to Spotty, a la Bolt style worthy of a gold medal myself, and purchased some more....

And I've whipped up some stool covers adding a bit of bling to the boring brown stools that really were in need of a quick cover -up.  You see, we only purchased them a while back, but little did we know that those little monsters, a.k.a children would be swivelling on them with such gusto that each bang and collision with the stone bench would render them dented and scratched!

 
I could take it no longer looking at those lovely once new stools looking so unkept, that the gold slip is just what they needed.....

The chairs and the cushions.....It's all gold here!  I have more leather left... I'm planning a summer tote bag....or perhaps a clutch....decision decisions....be careful....if you visit I might just adorn you in gold too!

For more gold medal worthy accomplishments, play along at Kidspot Village Voices! 

snap it {small}

A little delivery this morning of fresh eggs.  The owner didn't have time to clean them, but knew I wouldn't find.  Of course, it's always a surprise how many we get, what size and even what colour (as often we get small gorgeous blue eggs.  Today it was a mixture of sizes, and my daughter loved the small eggs that it was perfect for todays Snap It theme.  It also made for an impromtu baking session in between casserole cooking and lunch.  A quick banana and walnut cake was whipped up and I'm just off to make a coffee and enjoy some freshly baked cake! 

Play along

The Fairy Party

Our little girl with the big brown eyes

you have now turned four, wow how time flies 

I remember, a babe in my arms

you captured our souls with your wonderous charm

I have adored watching you grow

The love filled in my heart, will you ever know?

The power it has, the deepest joy you bring

A bright little spark, you make this family sing

And here is the much anticipated Fairy Party! A little group of awe-struck miniture fairies captivated by a "real" fairy and her magical, amazing performance.  

A selection of fairy food (mainly fairy bread, strawberried dipped in white chocolate and covered in sprinkles, hot food included home made sausage rolls, the staples like chocy crackles and savoury sandwiches and of course the cake!   A Women's Weekly Birthday Cake book selection which never turns out like it does in the book, but this little lopsided mushroom cake fitted the theme of a fairyland party and in the end was fun to make! Although my little marshmellow mushrooms wouldn't play fair and kept toppling over!!! 

The Birthday Girl in all her party glory truely had a great party.  Dress made a few weeks back here. 

Thank you Fairies! 

xx

my creative space {party hats}

Once a party is decided upon...all that be discussed is the making part of it. You make a list of the guests, you make the invites, you make a list of the games, the entertainment, a list of food that needs to be prepared, the cake that needs to be baked and the all important goodie bags, and decorations.

This week we tackled the party hats.  No store bought party hats here...on no sir-ee!  So I searched high and low through my craft room and was determined that it could be achieved without buying a thing.

Here is what you'll need to make your own fabric party hats.

• - A template (use an existing party hat or download one from here)
• - Some sturdy paper - I used some scrap 200gsm paper which was great at holding it's shape
• - hot glue gun and heaps of glue
• - fabric in whatever you choose 
• - hat elastic
• - stapler 
• - decorations....it's whatever goes.  Leave them plain or jazz them up with buttons, ribbons, yo-yo's lace and any other trim you want. 

To get started...

• Cut out your template and then all your paper and fabric leaving a good seam allowance for glueing 
• Next warm up your glue gun and place your paper on the wrong side of the fabric and edge the paper with the hot glue.  Being careful not to burn yourself, glue the fabric to the whole paper.  Then glue along one straight side of the fabric at and twist it into a cone shaped hat.  Sit aside and let dry whilst your doing the others. 
• Cut lengths of hat elastic and tie a knot in each end.  Staple to the side of the hat ensuring that you staple under the knot. 

• The next bit is the fun stuff....decorate as you wish and have heaps of fun trying them on and enjoying the party spirit!

For a whole party of creative goodness check out Kidspot Village Voices! 

My creative space {fairies}

A little party planning has begun in our house.  My daughter will soon be four...and all things fairy are what it's about when you are nearly four (apparently!). So with that theme in mind, we are preparing for a little gathering of a few of her friends for a fairy party.

 Some fabric was selected (on sale mind you! double win for this mumma!)  and a dress made whilst little eager watched chanting "is it ready yet?" "can i wear it now" - "no dear...I've just cut out the pattern was my reply!" 

But my little apprentice waited and watched and marvelled at her dress taking shape.  It was too long in the skirt, but instead of hemming it, I sewed in some elastic loops and buttons under the skirt so they can be hooped up creating a lovely little bubble skirt...perfect for fairy business. 

Some fairy ribbon wands were made with Japanese washi tape  and random lengths of ribbon - although I'm considering re-doing these just with ribbon on elastic just to be safe as the thought of little ones wielding sticks all over the place may get a little dangerous and my daughter has already sustained an injury whilst practicing her fairy magic the other day....

We are still to make some fabric party hats, some more decorations and then plan the cake.  

What creativity are you up to?  Does Birthday preparations inspire your creativity?  

Join in the fun over at Kidspot

xx

I'm grateful for...{kindness}

A simple Grateful today....

Kindness.

More of it, even just tiny random acts of kindness.  Give it, receive it!

This clip makes my heart sing and my tears swell! Go Adele!

Play At Kidspot Village Voices with this lovely lady

Happy Grateful day
xx

my creative space {raindrops}

I've had a little stash of felt sitting idle for some time.  So I decided to whip it out for no other apparent reason that to create a little something that's nice to look at.  No sooner had I started did my daugher claim that it would be for her....she did not even know what it was.

Nonetheless when I told her it would a little raincloud she danced and pranced around singing "it's raining it's pouring the old man is snoring"...

I attached three little felt and one fabric raindrop to my big fluffed up felt cloud using clear craft nylon and some crimps.  It means you don't actually see how the raindrops are suspended....And coincidentally it matches with her blue and yellow artwork nicely...

What crafty goodness are you up to?  Well it's pouring with creative folk over at Kidspot, so join in the fun.....

snap it {grow}

A little while back me and my two aprentices went about spending the day pottering in the garden with a faint hope of getting some veggies and herbs to grow.  I'm the first ot admit that my thumbs are no where near a shade of green, and vertually any species in the garden that needs care (does not under mine)...so I was dubious, but determined. 

I am pleased and proud as punch, that our little vertical and pallet garden has not only survived but is providing us with some fresh produce.  We have harvested some lettuce...the chives are going strong and look at these wee little brocolinni heads making an appearance and flowers on the snow peas!!! 

Our garden is growing and I feel like Mary Mary quiet contrary! 

Join in with Sarah for our weekly Snap it! 

Things I've learnt being 30

Growing up.  A concept perhaps some of us spend a lot of time thinking about.  I know as a small child, I loved getting older, having birthdays and counting how many I was on both hands. My children follow suit...my daughter cannot wait to be four soon. 

Me....well my 12 months of being 30 is nearly up.  Yep. They say life starts at 30...who's they by the way!  but I digress.... I filled out a form the other day, and made a mental note, that no longer can I tick the 21-30 age category for much longer!!! boohoo! 

But what comes with age?  wisdom? knowledge? well, for me...here are some reflective thoughts on what I know about being 30....

1. A sense of self - This is a biggy and I wont ramble on...but having a clear sense of self is important.  It's fluid and on a continuum so to speak, but I feel a little more clear on the who I am, what I stand for and it being separate to anyone or anything else.

2. Self evaluation - less of it, more courage in my conviction and less worrying what other people with think (coz those that mind dont matter and those that matter won't mind!)

3. Imperfection - Accepting that this is perfect.  Be wrong - apologise.  Make a mistake - learn from it.  Be a good friend - listen don't judge.

4. Crowd pleaser I am not - and that's ok.

5. Not ashamed at my choice of music or raido station - even if it is 91.5 smooth FM with all the songs from the 80's - see I am not ashamed!!! 

6. Size and fitness - I cannot change the length of my legs, or the width of my hips, but I can look after the body I have been blessed with and let it lead me through a healthy life.


How about you?  What do love about being the age that you are??
 

xx

Yeah....but she made 9.9 Million!

Source: Uploaded by user via ElevateSymposium on Pinterest

Ok ok....so this was not the post I was going to publish today, but after some debate in the newspaper over the weekend I just felt like I needed to put it out there.  Yes, the Fifty Shades Trilogy Debate.  Or Controversy...or whatever you call it.

So, it seems like if you haven't read this series you are now in the minority.  More than 27 Million copies have sold worldwide and that doesn't include the e-book sales. Erica Leonard (aka E. L James) is now an overnight sensation and crowds are queuing at book signings and she is raking it in....Universal Productions have bought film rights for the mere sum of 5 million dollars.  Not bad hey!

I was surprised the other night when having a chat with my husband and two of his mates, when one of them mentioned Fifty Shades. I was surprised....(and perhaps blushing at the thought of having an impromptu book club about it!)  Yep...the blokes are talking about it too!!!  

I have to laugh about all the negative comments going on though....I mean sure....it's not everyone's cup of tea...but really...there are those out there really slamming it and "hating it" or "I didn't read past page eight!"  Sure you can rant on about the repetition or the writing style and the hatred Christian has towards women and naivety of Ana (and I admit to screaming at her a few times!!).   Why are people so compelled to completely and utterly diminish it?  The article in the paper from a reader's perspective, whilst it had elements I agree with, it all just seemed a bit sad to rant negatively on someones new success.  What ever happened to "It's not my taste, by hey good on you!"  Is it just another version of the Tall Poppy Syndrome.  Some nobody becomes successful yet there will always be those that need to put them down, disagree with how they did it or that it isn't that good..but you know what...

After all is said and done....regardless what we think....

It's made 9.9 million to date...and its still going.  I'd like to see her critics try doing that!

What do you think about those that make extreme success suddenly or even in a less than conventional way?