Farm Shops

Just a quick little post about farm shops. This is one that I became a bit of a fan of during our stay on my Uncle's farm in Over Stowey in Somerset, England.

It's just simple, how life should be.

They grow it.

We buy it.

Bobs your Uncle. Farm fresh locally produced fruit and vegies. Come on, lets all just buy direct from our local suppliers, find them, use them, it just makes sense. It's just one of those little things we can all do easily to collectively make a difference.

My Creative Space

January is always a time for me to take stock, banish anything that has been awaiting attention for so long that the moment has passed and start on things that are new and fresh.

I decided to make a new 'appointment' board for the kitchen where I can put things that would otherwise be at risk of going behind the fridge to join the tea cosy and lost forever. Like my driving licence renenwal.......woops!

I bought the fabric when we were on our road trip in Bangalow. Such a cute relaxed little town, just inland from Byron. I found the best little retro shop on the way out of town towards Lismore which had a fantastic selection of fabrics and hastily asked the shop keeper if he would be up for doing a deal if I picked out a load, which he did. I have six meters of this one. It's stained in places but worth it nevertheless.

The ric-rac, brass coloured buttons, red braid and doily was all from charity shops and stashed in my cupboard awaiting a project and I'm really happy with the way they work together. Such beautiful bright colours. These boards are so easy to make. You just need a sheet of mdf cut to size (the guys in the hardware shop may be able to do this for you) and a staple gun. Once you've selected your fabric iron it and cut approx. 10cms bigger than the board. Place the fabric wrong side up on a large table and then lay a sheet of batting over the top and cut to size of fabric. Place the board on top of this (you can use spray glue to stick it if you want) and wrap the fabric and wadding around the board. Secure using a staple gun. Then embellish to create the look you want.

Anyway, that's what I've been up to. What about you? Hope you're all having fun in your creative spaces. Have a look at more here.

Gypsy Bags

I’m tired this morning and I don’t know where to start. I have so many things I want to achieve this morning. I should be doing the laundry and washing-up. But I’d rather take photos of the bags I’ve been making for the market. So I did.

Maggie goes to childcare on Tuesday mornings and I love the time this gives me. However, I have to stop myself from stressing about the best way to use this time or I end up wasting it chasing my tail around in circles trying to do too much and achieving very little. I wanted to write a blog post too as it's been so long again. So I am.

There are also times when Maggie is at childcare when I just want to lie on the couch in silence and read a book or have a nanna nap. So I do. But then after a while I have to get up as the feeling of wasting this precious time is too much and all the projects I want to do are zooming around in my mind. It’s always abit of a conflict isn’t it?

So when I’ve finished this I’m going to take cup of tea into my sewing room and work on the journals that I want to make to go in the little pockets I made last week. I have found some really lovely inexpensive watercolour books which have beautiful paper pages.

I’ve been loving making these bags. It’s so nice to be able to just hack into the fabric without having to measure and refer to a pattern every second. I love being more spontaneous and making it up as I go along. It’s a real drag having to refer to patterns and measure things when making clothes or following tutorials. I’d forgotten how nice it is to be more creative instead of trying to make everything millimetre perfect, as you do when dress making.

So maybe later I’ll have time to put some washing on, do the washing-up, vacum and make a some lunch. If I achieve all this I’ll have had a happy Tuesday morning. Roll on Friday morning. Did I really say that out loud?

Best Days of our Lives

It's mine and Kim's wedding Anniversary today.

I've been looking at our wedding photos!

So many thoughts, emotions and memories.

It really was one of the best days of my life.

Lavender and Tea Tree

Hey peeps, time for a quickie? I was just hanging my latest charity shop fabrics on the line and thought i'd share with you one of my household tips - a true good housekeeping special from the ultimate desperate housewife.

When you're washing your new charity shop purchases, add a capful of water soluble lavender or tea tree oil to the wash once it's in full swing, preferably on the last rinse cycle. You can buy these in Woolies, often in the medical/vitamins aisle.

It leaves your linens smelling fresh and as beautiful as a gorgeous summers day. Especially if they were bought from a particulalry whiffy charity shop!

Have a beautiful day all and please feel free to share your favourite household hints, the ones passed down from Grandma's are the best don't you think?

Arabian Delights

Massively bad day today!!! My sewing machine banged to a spectacular halt first thing this morning when I had a whole day of sewing ahead of me in preparation for Burnie Farmers Market tomorrow. I've been sulking and walking around in circles all day. So I need to do something to take my mind off it. Do you mind if I do abit of therapy right here on my blog?

The other night I went with the girls to see the new Sex and the City movie. WOW I loved it (much more than the first). It had me belly laughing the whole way through. Anyway, it reminded me of my time in Morocco. So if you don't mind I thought I'd indulge in some arabian delights.

I'd wanted to go to Essouira and Marrakesh for a long time for the arts and crafts.

So I told Kim about the surf breaks in Taghazout.

Oh the Souks!!!! Not for the faint hearted though. Morocco was definately the dodgiest place I've ever been, but we survived and have some extraordinary memories and stories from our experience.

Two strippy throws, a lamp, two carpets, several baskets, a leather bag, tea glasses, a teapot, two pairs of the funny shoes (like Carrie bought), a whole load of bowls and other bits of ceramics later I had just about filled Kim's board bags!!!!

Below is Yves Saint Laurent's garden where you can actually buy that 'blue/purple' colour in a tin!

We were actually there for 'part one' of our honeymoon.

Part two - Glastonbury Festival. We landed at the airport, quick bag swap and off we went, arriving to start work in the cabaret cocktail bar at midnight!!!!

So now, back to reality - I'm still doing Burnie Farmers Market tomorrow I just won't have as much stock as I hoped. But please come along, I'd love to meet any locals. It'll definately be worth it as Simon Bryant from The Cook and the Chef will be there looking at local providors and doing a cooking demo. Never mind the rain, it's a good excuse to put on those funky wellies we all have! OOOh that reminds me........Hunter wellies a calling! See ya tomorrow x

...more My Creative Space

Maggie went to 'school' this afternoon with her new school bag. Today especially she deserved a new bag as today she went to 'school' without a nappy on!......scary, but successful:))))))

Whilst she was at school, I finished off her party invitations.

I love it when the creative juices are flowing. Hope yours are too.