Blog Loving

I was very excited to read on Plain Jane Creations blog that she loved my blog! It's been fun to do, and I've really enjoyed all the new friendships I have made all around the world (actually mainly from Australia and Holland but hopefully other countries soon). I think it's so nice to find people out there with similar interests who are all willing to share tips, ideas and inspiration. The crafting community seems to have gone global which is good as there doesn't seem to be much happening in my local community. So I for one, am very happy to have found out about the world of bloggers.

So, who inspires me most?

One of the first blogs I discovered was KissKus . I enjoy reading not only about her crafting but also about her life in Holland and her family.

I also really like devliegendekoe as she has not only been a source of inspiration, but she has been very friendly and welcoming into the blogging world as have Dutch Blue and Thyme and Lavender.

Here in Australia I love Moopy and Me - not only because Carly is fabulously talented and produces great stuff, but also because she taught Emily how to make her first softie. So, we definately have a soft spot for her! I also love hazyjane - we have had a little contact since I discovered her blog but I feel like we are on the same wave length - it's just a pity she lives in a different state! It would be nice to catch up over a coffee. I also love FreeFalling - for her honesty and strength.

I love lots of different blogs, too many to list, but for now these are the ones who have a big impact on my blogging life. Naturally, Plain Jane Creations is on my list too - I've only just found her but I am enjoying her blog immensely. It is her I have to thank for my first felting attempt - when I saw what she had been making, I decided I wanted to try it! So thanks Lisa!!!!

And thanks to all the above listed bloggers - you all have inspired me in different ways and you have all made me smile - I hope I can return the favour!

l
x

PS: I forgot to mention Kali - who was one of my first Australian blogs and my first etsy purchase (the most adorable pin cushion). I love the photography and I love her craft and I love the fact that she has been so friendly too - so drop in and see her as well!

Finally......a crafty weekend

We finally managed to have a bit of a crafty weekend after weekends of parties etc.


This is my first attempt at felting a bag. I made it as a gift for a six year old girl who is the daughter of friends that we are going to stay with when we go to Melbourne. I am now making a second one for her sister - but the second one is in different colours. I really love the colours of this bag and I really enjoyed making it, so I think I will definately be making more. Especially as it is made out of Woolbale wool which is on special at the moment at Spotlight for $2.00 a ball!!!!!

Emily finally managed to finish off her sock monkey which has turned out rather cute. She would love to make one out of rockford red (?) socks but we think you can only get them in America so it may be a little hard.


At the moment I have a few projects on the go, but I'm trying to get the bags done before our holiday to Melbourne and I want to make an ear flap cap for our friend's son, so he doesn't miss out (I don't think he would like a bag, although I could make a masculine one!) I am also crocheting granny squares for a blanket to go over my very red couch - I need something to break it up a little and the squares will be in similar colours to our arm chair. I've decided to be very disciplined and weave in the ends as I go as otherwise I will probably end up with a whole pile of squares that I just don't want to weave ends into, or a very hairy blanket! I will post photos of this another time, for now it is time to get boys, the loud, rowdy boys, into bed.

The Party's Over.....

It is with great relief that I can say that Julian's birthday week is officially over! I think we had four parties in all - one last Sunday for my family, one on his birthday for anyone that could make it, his friend's party yesterday which was followed straight after by a bbq party with David's family. phew! We were exhausted by last night and I'm still trying to clear up the debris today. I think they were all a success though - especially his superhero party yesterday.


This was a game of asteroid tennis which was made even more fun by the windy day we had - balloons are still floating around the neighbourhood. We also had a very funny superhero relay race where the kids had to put on jocks (over their costumes), mask and cape and run around the garden, take them off and pass them to the next in line and so on... very funny for the adults to watch.



We also played pin the mask on the superhero which the kids found very funny and surprisingly they didn't seem to know the game or any of the other 550 versions of pin the tail on the donkey.

This was the birthday cake. I was originally going to cut the bat shape out of the cake and ice it but I wasn't too sure about how the icing would go around the sharp edges so I cheated and made an impression with a cardboard cut out and icing sugar instead.

These are the fairy cakes I made including my version of cupcake picks. I was going to buy some but the party cost blew out of control so I made my own using toothpicks, downloaded logos and contact. It was even quite fun to do. :)

Emily got into the spirit of things by dressing up in her version of wonder woman. She was a great help all round! Thanks Em.


She is wearing a Wonder Woman t-shirt that I happened to find in a thrift shop last week - truly amazing really. She made the crown and arm bands herself and the boots she borrowed from her cousin (it's great having big cousins around - thanks Madi!)

Anyway, I hope that life returns to normal now that this week is over. I will reply to emails, read other blogs and do all the things I have put on the back burner for a while. But for now I must go and clean up a little more.......

Happy Birthday Julian....

It's been a busy day, but a wonderful day. Julian has had a great day even though I made him go to school! (He had a pupil free day yesterday so I couldn't really give him another day off). Six years ago today, Julian came into our lives and how lucky we have been to have had him. He can be terribly naughty, but also terribly lovely, very insightful and very, very funny.
He got a Batman costume which he loves so much that he's decided to wear it to bed tonight. On the weekend we are having a superhero party for him which he is very excited about.
The above picture is not that good and I apologise but it was the only one where he sat still for long enough to be in the photo! I hope that he sleeps well tonight as he's had a very big day.

Spring is here......

It was a beautiful spring day here yesterday - the sun was shining, there was a warm breeze, the sky was an endless blue sky and my whole house smelt of jasmine......


which just lifts your spirits a bit. We have a huge hedge of it out the front of our house which you can even smell when your walking down the street - just beautiful.
I love the smell of jasmine, orange blossom and freesias. They all seem to be enhanced by a warm spring breeze. When I stand at the washing line, hanging the washing out (again), I get lovely wafts of orange blossom and I can't help but feel a little happier.

We had a busy day yesterday but we managed to fit in a very quick trip to Nest Studio to pick up our very own copy of this................


We had heard about it coming out when Emily went to one of Carly's classes to learn how to make a softie, so we had been waiting patiently (?) for it to come out. It's full of inspiration, especially for Em who would love to make lots and lots of softies. Carly has even more treasures in her shop, well worth a trip if you are in the neighbourhood. We also found artwork there from belle and boo which is absolutely gorgeous. I happened to stumble across her blog one day and I'm itching for an excuse to buy something of hers.

Emily's latest WIP



will someday become a beautiful doll. I'm not sure when, as, like her mother, she started one thing and then before finishing it, has moved on to another project (a sock monkey). Hopefully we can post the finished product soon.

I'm off to decorate fairly cakes and a chocolate birthday cake for the first of many birthday parties this week for Julian. Today we are celebrating with my family, on Tuesday (his birthday) he will celebrate with us and some of my family, on Saturday he will have his friends party followed by David's side of the family. On Sunday, I will be exhausted and a little bit fatter!

WIP number 2

I recently bought a coffee table. For a long time we didn't have one as our lounge is rather small and when the boys were playing there was hardly any room.


As soon as I put it in the lounge I realised I needed a runner for it. I've been debating what to make (yes make - as I'm no longer satisfied with buying these sorts of things) and I've been toying with the idea of putting these crocheted flowers ...............


on to a blue linen runner. Kind of like a field of daisies - or given the blue fabric, a sea of daisies!

I'm finding it hard making the flowers as I'm not the delicate sort and these are delicate flowers. I'm trying to be patient!!! It is nice using the cotton as the weather has been a little warmer and my enthusiasm for knitting with wool is waning. Lets hope my enthusiasm is still great when I've made 20 or 30 of these.