Bookmarks, lost socks, winding down.

Well the good news is that I finally have a computer after weeks without one, so hopefully I can get myself back into blogging regularly. It's been a struggle!

Here are a few things we've been making at our place lately.

It's been wet and rainy, so on the weekend we made some bookmarks using cardboard boxes and fabric scraps. Aidan is getting so grown up now!

 

 

 

As usual the button sorting provided another hour of so of amusement. :)

 

A retro cubby was made using Nan's table. It's a great table for this activity. A feast was consumed inside.

 

 

 

I added a bit of Nan's kitchen under sink vinyl to my little kitchen corner of love.

 

 

I made a cushion from recycled materials and the tiny scrap of Sarah Kay fabric I found at the op shop a while ago.

 

 

 

 

Liam had to make something out of trash for school, so he made a stool from an electrical cable I found on the side of the road last year while I was out walking. I only picked it up because I didn't like seeing it there and was annoyed at the trades person who had dumped it, so I brought it home, and it sat out near the front door for a few months. Inspiration finally came. Liam was impressed, and so was his teacher, who let him sit on it for the day at school.

 

 

And lastly, my lost sock wall, with a little play on words, on a topic close to my heart.

 

 

My making has slowed down a little, deliberately, and I've been in two minds about it. I needed to slow down, to actually get some sleep and stop from going mad, but I do miss my frantic creativity a little. I'm still finding my balance. I've started yoga, and actually started reading a book again, and loving it. So I'm a little sad to be making less, but very happy to be learning to relax again, and loving the transformative world of books once again.

 

 

 

 

 

Another week goes by...

 
Hi everyone! Hope you are all doing well. Sorry for such sporadic posting but my computer is still not working. I have still been updating my Facebook page because it's easier to do that from my phone.

We celebrated Mr Crafty's birthday.  A Joyous occasion as always. :-)

I found an amazing vintage dress at the op shop. Must have been in someone's wardrobe for a long time. Anyone want to guess the vintage?

I found this absolutely perfect nest on the ground upside down, which inspired me to make a new bird feeder and resting place.

I made a vintage plate cake stand.

I had a wonderful day with my whole family (mum, dad, brothers) visiting my brother who has just moved into his his new farm in Trentham.

We found a market there.

My brother's house, which he has stuffed full of vintage furniture, and the cow bell collection he brought back from Switzerland where he lived for about 8 years.

Clock we got my brother at the market.

I visited the view hill bargain shop, which is always home to a treasure or two, and has lovely staff and often some great vintage items. Well worth a visit if you are in Bendigo. I got some gorgeous vintage orange willow tins there last year, and a mint condition chenille rug.

Yesterday we got these shoes for Mr D and a hair wrap for Ms J.

 I bought some vintage cotton reels, which I'm hoping to use as knobs for the drawers on the desk I'm doing for Juliet's bedroom.

So that's most of what I've been up to this week, as far as I can remember. Loving each day as much as the last. 

Paper crafting with Ms Juliet

Ms Juliet and I did some Sunday paper crafting with a magazine poster from one of my favourite magazines Frankie.

First we tried to make a paper house. Here's the shape we cut out, and glued to some thicker cardboard.

Folding did not yield a house, but we improvised and made it into a pretty cute gift box.

Attempt number 2, the same shape was cut, but this time we actually made a house. How cute is it?

After a job well done, and with Mr Crafty having to work on a Sunday (Boo!), we decided to take a break for milk and biscuits.

This yielded some materials for our next project. It was all in the name of art really.

Milk cartoons are already waterproof, and make super cute vases. Cut pieces of paper up, glue them on, and then paint a couple of layers of watered down pva glue over the paper to waterproof the finish.

I think it looks adorable. Does anyone else want to try one? Cute mother's day gift perhaps?

A wee bit of craftiness, tucked in here and there.

Amongst the chaos of school holiday awesome, a little bit of craft did creep in. I had my 10 year wedding anniversary, and really enjoyed reflecting on that time and celebrating it both with my family and Mr Crafty.

Here he is finding the little hot air balloons I made him with hidden messages inside containing 10 things I love about him.

I splurged on a new dress for a night out but I did find these awesome leather shoes at the op shop for $5.

Heading out with Mr Crafty. For about the second time in the last 2 years.

I made him an anniversary card, using an old book and a map, and my original wedding vows which I wrote myself.

Readers of my old blog would have also seen this picture I made him. I used a map of the first place we went hiking. More on that over here.

The kids also made us some cards. Love!

Juliet and I got crafty one day and decorated some wooden bangles. Jules platted some ribbon for hers and I wrapped mine in lace and embroidery thread.

Can't seem to get the kids to keep clothes on.

We also made some more toilet roll bird feeders, which the magpies just adore.

And these are some of our new family members. A few more girls to even the score a bit. They've settled in well.

Easter Madness

Having made something every day for a year and blogged for almost all of those 365 days, 6 days without a blog post seems extraordinary to me. I have to admit that I have missed the excitement and especially the challenge of a daily creation.

The last week for me has been crazy. The kids are now on holidays and Easter was MAD. This was our first Easter spent in Bendigo and I have to say it's kind of a big thing here in my home town. Big would be a massive understatement. It's huge. Gynormous is how the kids would describe it.

There has been a big Easter festival going on and we've been right there running amok inside it.

We simply had to begin our long weekend with a beautiful family breakfast using some of Nana's old plates.

Followed by some rides and running in the park.

Isn't this the most stunning herb garden you have ever seen? Our town is looking gorgeous for autumn.

Night time action was just as much fun.

Here's Aidan and Juliet watching their first ever fireworks. WOW!!

And Dylan was absolutely fascinated by this.....

And that was all just Friday!

Juliet and I were helping out on Saturday to make vegetable jewellery for the Bendigo Community Farmer's Market parade float. It was loads of fun.

The next morning I got up and made a couple of carrot t shirts for the boys to wear.

I made some home transfers and then embellished with wool and felt carrot tops. Forgot to take another pic.

And off on the float we went. What an awesome time.

We spent an hour waving to these gorgeous people in the crowds who came to see the parade. What a fabulous vibe.

The weekend continued, there was more fun, and a trip to Melbourne, but I'm exhausted now just thinking about it all. It was fabulous. All of it. I wouldn't change a minute, but now I think I'll hibernate for a while.