BookWeek Costumes

It is bookweek around the world this week, and my kids school had their dress up day yesterday.  The theme was "One World, Many stories". 

This was my inspiration, a photo from the internet - Miss L asked was she as beautiful as this Pocahontas - my reply, "of course, you are even more beautiful"

Miss L went dressed as Pocahontas.  Mst O went as the lovely Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz.  I had the week off work which was fortunate, so I had a bit of extra time to get back into the sewing room and get creating.   I had all the right stuff in my stash for both costumes, plus a trip to the op shop to get some jewellery so we could try to recreate Pocahontas necklace, it is not exactly as she had but Miss L was very happy all the same with what I made for her.   It was so lovely to see them parading around on stage at school with their classmates in costume.  Mission accomplished !

Test Post

Not sure what has happened lately, but my blog has changed, and I have lost my sidebar, it has relocated down to the bottom of all my posts - and it is not good.  So please bear with me whilst I try to fix it.   Thanks so much.

Backyard Damper - Take Two

Last weekend saw us out in the backyard cooking damper in our brazier again - it is becoming a yearly tradition, and one that we all enjoy very much. We were joined by our neighbours again and I have to say it would not be the same without them. The more the merrier as they say. I have photographed and posted the recipe for you - it comes from Julie Goodwins "Our family table".

The kids all got really involved, and the damper tasted much better than last year, thanks to Julies recipe. We followed up as always with a bag of marshmallows and then a bit later we had a bbq dinner, sat around the fire and ate lamb and drank red wine. What a way to enjoy a cool winters evening.

The damper would not be complete without the golden syrup and butter, when you slide the damper off the stick you simply fill the cavity with the syrup and butter and wait for it to melt.

I do have to say it was "finger lickin good" and I can't wait til next winter. What's your familys' favourite winter tradition?

Have to have Hydrangeas

My latest outdoors project has been two new vegetable patches, they are doing great. I have broccoli florets that are getting bigger each day, we can't wait to harvest and enjoy chemical free produce. The carrots are looking good and also the tomatoes and honey snap peas have flowers now, so that is a good sign.

But I need to re-landscape my garden, and I have to have some hydrangeas. Pictuured at the very top are some varieties I have never seen before, the bottom three are the stunning lace caps. Even the common variety of hydrangea that we all know well are simply beautiful, old fashioned, and most importantly, remind me of my Nan. She had some beautiful hydrangeas and I am going to plant some in honour of her, I can't wait !!!

I was excited to get an email from the Madeit Website today, they are featuring my flower power doily pants on their front page for the theme "DOILY FINDS" - I had a link here to take you to the page, but they have updated it now with other items so I have removed the link. These pants are a one of a kind as are all my creations, made from a beautiful vintage fabric that I sourced in Brisbane at Retro Metro. The fabric is quite an open weave almost linen type fabric, lovely crisp white with gorgeous purple, soft pink, orange and yellow flowers. It would have to be one of my favourite old fabrics from my stash and I used two doilys to decorate both the butt and the leg, a really cute feature. I wish I could wear pants like these, cos they are super cool. I love them on Miss L, she wears them well. Thanks Madeit for choosing one of my designs to feature in your special home page this week.

Opportunity Opportunities

It's so hard sometimes, not to take the opportunity, when you are at an opportunity shop, to buy that "bargain". Cos if you don't buy it, someone else will. My Mum works at an op shop, unfortunately it is in Victoria, but she gets some great stuff, and most of it she pays $1.00 per article. Yep, you heard right, ONE DOLLAR $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Unfortunately here most op shops are way overpriced. Mum got these old canniesters from work, probably for $1. She very kindly gave them to me when I went home recently.

She also got me this gorgeous vegetable dish, I serve our steamed vegetables in it all the time. And soon we will have a lovely supply from our new vege garden.

I bought these cases recently, the bottom one was from a garage sale. The middle one was from an antique shop on View Street, Bendigo. And the little one on top I got from the op shop in Yandina. It is an old school case and oh so cute !

This retro looking desk I got for my son Mst O from the Endeavour Foundation warehouse at Kunda Park. It cost $50, if Mum had gotten it from her op shop it would have been - yep - $1.00

I found this set of six retro espresso coffee cups and saucers at the markets in Yandina on the weekend. The whole set cost me $8 which was okay. They are quite groovy.

My husband enjoyed a coffee in our new cups, I can't wait to use them for a dinner party.

I also picked up a gorgeous little old Brother typewriter for $5 from a garage sale, the kids love it to play on it. They had no idea what it was. I used to have one when I was a kid. I love to hear the tap tap tap sound of their little fingers on the keys. I also picked up some vintage Dr Seuss books, I love these. And so do my kids !!

A trip down memory lane

I love old things. I love buying old things. My husband always says when I return from an op shop spree " We don't need any more stuff " . When I buy something from an op shop or market or antique store, part of the fun is wondering where it came from and who did it belong to. But what is even better than someone elses old stuff is your own old stuff. When something that was originally your mothers, mothers, mothers that has been handed down the line to you, now that is special. This jug below is from our old family farm, it comes from my Dads side of the family, about three generations ago. It's an old shaving jug and I just love it.

This memory board was put together by my Mum and it's full of so much family history. Dad built the timber and glass box frame for Mum, just one of the gazillion things she nagged him to make for her over the years. Sadly we lost Dad to a brain tumour about five weeks ago, so this is just so special to me now. It is full of old jewellery that came from my great Aunty Chaz, lace gloves that were once hers and some beautiful old wedding photos and postcards from many years ago. It has lots of other little bits and pieces in it, and you can see my Mums marquesite watch that my Dad bought her when she was in her early 20's. I love this watch, and what a great way to be able to look at it everyday rather than having it stored away out of sight in a jewellery box.

This is a painting of my mum's family home that she grew up in, in Horsham Victoria. A few years ago she gave a photograph to a friend who is an artist, and she commissioned her to paint a picture of her family home. It was a great idea. Dad made the frame for this too, so it is such a special piece with great sentimental value.

The car in the garage is my Pops old car. Sadly the house has been demolished to make way for a duplex, so it's great to be able to look at this painting now and take that trip - you guessed it - DOWN MEMORY LANE.

A Tutu for You You

I have been checking out Madeit.com.au a bit lately, and I have been finding some really great stuff. I love these hair clip holders, tutu style, so pretty yet so practical, go here to Lilliput Loft if you want to have a look, or maybe even buy one, OR you could have a go at making one yourself. It's probably not that hard. I would, if I just had some time.............

You CAN make this !!

Just a quick post before I head off to work. I wanted to share this site with you, most of you probably already know of "You CAN MAKE THIS" - it always has cute patterns for purchase that you can download instantly. I love Peony flowers so thought I would share this one, the dress is very sweet too. Pop over to here and have a little look for yourself.

I will be posting pics of my latest op shop / market finds in the next couple of days. So pop back if you have time to check them out.

Have a great day !!!!!!!

Snug as a bug !

I am a sucker for gorgeous quilts / blankets/ throws - I love the chunkiness of these two above, you can't beat a beautiful cable knit. I can never decide though, bright colour or neutral and earthy - maybe a bit of both is in order - go here to see more.

I love the neutral cream background on this one interspersed with gorgeous colour

and these colours are just so vibrant it hurts

What a beautiful mix, so, what are you waiting for.........................get crocheting before it's too late.

Beautiful Bendigo

WELCOME TO BENDIGO I lived here for a couple of years, back in 1976 - 1978 when I was just 8 years old. Bendigo is a beautiful small city, full of lovely old homes, antiques, lovely gardens and good shopping. This is a picture taken by me recently, looking down View Street, Bendigo Victoria. View Street has quite a few Antique Shops and several Vintage Clothing stores. I was lucky enough to spend some time here earlier this month shopping. I managed to buy a vintage suitcase and a 70's paisley jacket for myself and for my friend who lives across the road I bought an antique vegetable dish. I will post pics of these soon. This Antique shop kept me entertained for probably an hour or so.

Here is the Trades Hall

building which is Heritage listed. It is one of only 3 remaining Trade Halls in Victoria. It was built in several stages, with work commencing in 1896. Next to it is the Penfolds Fine Art Gallery, I did a Google search on this building but could not find any history on it. The next two pics are of the Fire Station, again in View Street. It is a lovely old building of the typical Victorian red brick, built in 1898. It is now used to hold concerts and is part of the Performing Arts Centre

Unfortunately, when I was in Bendigo I did not know about theBendigo Woollen Mills. It is apparently the largest wool outlet in Australia and they also do online ordering for those of us who do not live nearby. Next time I go to Bendigo this will be on my "to do" list.<

I did, however, know about Langley Hall, though I had no idea where it was. Several months ago I was checking out real estate in Bendigo, dreaming of living in one of the many beautiful old homes down there, when I stumbled across this most beautiful place. It was for sale for a cool 2 million, but I knew I had no chance of convincing my husband that we had to buy it and live a beautiful life there. So driving through Bendigo recently on my way to a friends place, there it was, right in front of me. A quick photo stop was in order, so I got myself a few pics of the grand old lady. She is simply stunning.

This picture is courtesy of the internet, I will post more of mine in a later post.

If you get the time, head to Bendigo, and I recommend you go in autumn or winter to enjoy it at it's best. If you get a lovely cold day with a blue sky you will be in heaven.