Oooh, look at the pretty banner!

Oh I love having such a clever boyfriend who makes my ideas into reality!
Jag took my initial (soomewhat crap) design & there it is, a proper banner! Thanks lovely!
And thanks Drewzel for helping me to get it up there too!
Now I have to start thinking about what my first post will be at the new Melbourne Op Shopping Blog... so many great op-shop finds... I think I'll take lots of photos after work in the nice afternoon light. Stay tuned and keep checking!
Let me know what you think of the banner & logo too, I love feedback & tips! xx

HELP!

Dear Blogger friends,
Please help me to put a banner on the top of my blog... I am going nutty not being able to do it!

Also, when randomly and whimsically "e-baying" me (like "googling" someone), Jag found out that there is a label of my exact name selling checkered shirts. Humphf. Lucky I'm not in, or intending to be in, the checkered shirt industry trading under MY OWN NAME!

And why would one's bf search for one on e-bay?! The world is going a bit topsy-turvy for me today... I need a cup of tea...

Etsy browsing...

Not that I have ANY money to speak of until pay day, but I have been browsing Etsy, just to window shop, and as always I LOVE Catherine Campbell's work (a.k.a. my folk lover)...
I WANT THIS SO MUCH! It really is beautiful, and as much as I would like to use it, I would in fact frame it and put it on my wall. Now go over there and have a look! (But don't buy it, please, because I want to when I get paid on Wednesday!!)

I've been spying on what other craftsters do with their cards, and then of course comparing them to what I do. I think there are a lot of great artists using their own artwork on their cards, as well as some people using scrapbooking-type materials to create cards as well. I need to make sure that what I cut & paste together is original & appealing... my brain is really ticking over at the moment!

Hot Saturday afternoon... & good news!

Today I am spending the day listening to the radio - Triple J - listening to the the top 100 songs of 2007. We've had a BBQ of "Aussie burgers" (rissoles shaped like Aus.) & Haggis burgers, a tribute to our Scottish lass friend Angela. I'm currently sitting at Jag's PC with a glass of wine, radio turned up, sweat beading on forehead!

In other news, Jag has designed the lovely logo for me for "Spices for Violet" and we have looked into getting it made into a rubber stamp, so I can stamp the cards I make, as well as getting some fabric paint/ink and stamping fabric garments that I make... the best ideas and conversations emerge after a few glasses of wine!

Also, Amelia has invited me to contribute to the Melbourne Op Shopping Blog, "I Op, Therefore I Am", which is quite exciting! I hope anyone who reads my blog will also read the other blog, as it's exciting to see what others have found in op-shops as well as reading the good banter that goes on. I look forward to writing my first post (with no wine beforehand, he he he!) and hope it keeps me lurking around op-shops on a regular basis.

As you can see, my blog has undergone a bit of a transformation as I have begun to focus far more on "makings & findings" as opposed to random thoughts. I'd really like some feedback on getting my stuff out there - Cards & bags are my strengths - so if you read this and have some advice on where to sell, how to get it out there and how to run it all, please leave a comment.

Happy Reconciliation Day! (I like to say that, as opposed to Australia Day - we can only hope that one day it will be a reconciled country with our indigenous Australians)

Cheers! x

Vintage Sheridan!

I found the quilt cover (vintage Sheridan no less!) in a Healesville op-shop. It is by far the SOFTEST and LOVELIEST quilt cover to sleep under, despite the hot nights, I am still inclined to snuggle up under it. The top end is quite worn, probably from being used so much, but I really don't care. It is a lovely floral print... all for a grand total of $5. With a good wash and some sunshine, it smells lovely too!

The pillowcases don't match but they are the same era I suspect, and in the same kinds of colours - mauves, blues, greens - I love my new hotch-potch bed!

Note the pics of Jag & I on the wall - all our photo booth snaps from our time together. Aw...

Cabbage Patch Sprinklers

I drove past this on my way to a friend's place in Bacchus Marsh yesterday... I wanted to jump the fence and run under the sprinklers!

FINISHED!!

Please welcome, Squiffy the Owl!
After being started eons ago, Squiffy (previously known as Paisley the Owl) has been given a face and some stuffing. Ta da!!

One Dollar Bag

Fabric from the op-shop - $1.

Bag that mum loved, and was subsequently given to keep... Priceless!

Oh Sew Busy!

OK, so I have picked up sewing again... the most experience I've had with sewing until 2 weeks ago was year 10 textiles when I made a lovely a-line skirt, button holes and all, and then I ironed it too hot and it went shiny and yucky. Hmm.

Recently, I've had an OVERWHELMING urge to sew, so I holed myself up at mum's in Leongatha while she was away, hit the country op shops in search of fabric, sheets and pillowcases, made an almighty mess and sewed up a storm!

I'm not sure where the obsession with printed sheets & pillow cases emerged from but I have built up quite a collection... Here is the first of the pics... more to come!

Practising various stitches & learning to sew something! Pillowcase (above) & sheet sets (below) both op-shop finds.
Sheets from the op shop (below)

Nice orange table cloth from the op-shop (not sure what to do with it yet!)
Pillow slip (below) from the op-shop...
...has found a new lease of life as a beach bag! (& now has a little zippered purse to match too!)

Oh Sew Op-Shoppy & Lovely!

I found this lovely gingham table cloth with gorgeous hand stitching in an op-shop for $2 in Korumburra. I made 2 bags out of it - one with bamboo handles & one for all my fabric scraps.

Unfortunately I forgot to take photos of the finished products - stay tuned!