Blogtoberfest...

Two posts in one day...?!

Well I never....

After my disastrous attempt at my very first meme; A Drawing A Day (I am sooooooo sorry Pepper!!!), which for me, turned more into a drawing & a half a week, I thought surely I would rock another challenge!? ;)

Ah, I'm not that foolhardy... I hope. This'un I CAN DO. Not that I couldn't draw every day... I just didn't... but this... well, I'm already almost doing it....

Blogoberfest is an October Blog carnival hosted by TinnieGirl, and I heard about it only yesterday on Curlypops' blog.

Of course I decided to jump right in - thinking that since I think I only missed one day of blogging in September, October would be a piece of cake... delicious, delicious cake... mmmmmmm

....

Ahhh... where was I? Oh that's right... It's October & I have pledged to post every day along with my other festival goers & join in all the bloggy goodness.

I realised, too late, that my Mum & a sister & brother or two, are coming to stay for a holiday next week... probably not the best time to have committed to trawling blogs & posting prolifically... but hey... I'll give it a whirl - and my Mummy takes amazing photos so I'll steal... uh.... showcase some of them, while she's here.

This is going to be FUN!

My Creative Space.

I SO wanted to have last week's WIP ready for you today (that pic is Le Punk "helping"...), but alas, my wrist feels rather carpel tunnel syndromish and I can't say I enjoy it... I've been (hand)sewing, drawing, sewing, writing, sewing & sewing and it is starting to take it's toll so I am taking a break & stocking up on ideas & inspiration, which means, today, My Creative Space is sporting crafty books & mags.







There are old books, new books, library books & opshop mags. Yup, that's Better Homes & Gardens on the bottom there. I find it hard to believe that I own any Better Homes & Gardens mags - 50 cents or not - but I swear to you they are SO much better than you imagine them to be... really! Full of cool home ideas & crafty stuff & even the occasional yummy recipe (meanwhile, that big ass CWA cookbook has maaaany yummy recipes...!). Like the super annoying TV show without the super annoying stuff. Will be scouring the Oppy for more issues, me thinks.






(See - how awesome is that bookshelf wall? I am drooling over pretty like this right now, obsessed with buying a house, hopefully we get to go house shopping around xmas... woot!)


I'm going to get me an old peeps brass bracelet or something & get sewing again... if I don't have that WIP up next week feel free to kick my butt.

More Creative Spaces here.

Wordless Wednesday....

...suits me today.

Latest Opshop Finds.

Just a couple of things from our most recent sprees;

First of all.... SPORKS! Splades if you will, or as is written uninspiringly on the actual box: "buffet forks". Whatever you call them you must know their greatness - most of the forks in our cutlery drawer are not forks at all, oh no, they are these babies and EVERYONE loves them. I love them because more often than not, I'm balancing a plate on my lap instead of eating at a candle-lit, flower adorned dining table, and it is made so much easier by having all utensils in one hand...

They're great for the Little Punk too since she's still learning how to use a fork, when she fails to stab she can scoop & vise versa - a grand invention, how are they not more popular?! Is it because nobody wants to admit that they don't always sit at the dinner table in their professionally decorated dining room with the best silver & linen napkins...? Were people more comfortable admitting this in the 70s (whenever I stumble upon still-boxed sporks the boxes are invariably a lovely brown & orange combo...)? Or were there just more parties? (...but if there were more parties, weren't they already supplied with their own fondue sticks, and otherwise engaged with bowls full of car keys...?!)

Also pictured is a pack of 2 adorable duck decals that I know not what to do with but am deliriously happy to have come across... that little duck is so cute & cheery! The amount of old furniture floating around with similar decals is amazing - they were the obvious solution when a baby was suddenly expected me thinks - "The baby needs furniture... quick, take my cupboard & throw a puppy sticker on it...!!"

A purty good-as-new handmade dress for Le Punk - it is beautifully finished & just waiting for a sunny day.

What do you think of the pictures? I've been playing with Picnik again, it's sooooo easy to use & quicker than messing about in Photoshop.

Example of my fave effects -

Before

After: Applied "Ortonish", "Rounded Edges" and & watermark. Instant Vintage charm me thinks.

Eeek!!

I need this doll, erm... I mean Punk does... Isn't she GORGEOUS?!

I always fight with myself when I enter a blog giveaway I really, really want to win, I wonder if I should blog it to get an extra entry or try to keep it all to myself! This is only the second time I've done it, the first time I was super lucky & won the skully tote... So hopefully that is some sort of good blogging karma & if I cross all my fingers & toes, & perhaps my eyes, I might be oh-so lucky again..?

Of course I want you to enter too. At least then I'll be able to rest, knowing such a precious dolly found a wonderful home... ;)

Her creator is a Crafty Mama too, so you know she has to be great!

Giveaway running at Handmade Kids until midnight on Wednesday 30th September 2009.

If you don't want her (but who wouldn't?!).... feel free to enter for me... ;)

Some Felt Baking.

Cookies!!! I think these ones look like peanut butter & chocolate chunk.... mmmmmmmmmm..... peanut butter & chocolate.......

Finally I have made a start on the felt food for Punky's birthday kitchen, it was fun making these, but then I started on a "slice" of bread... it took FOREVER! Probably because I was supposed to sew the edges with embroidery thread & I only have black & red so decided against it. Will have to go get some to make the food production a little swifter.

I haven't been using any of the pretty patterns out of the Japanese pattern books I got... I should have known I wouldn't, but they're pretty to look at all the same. I'm just winging it, as usual, but I don't think that's a bad thing.
Oh - another reason I'm glad I got the books - one taught me, in pictures alone, how finally to do blanket stitch! Since all the arts & crafts I know are entirely self taught, I really had no idea how to do it - even the basic sewing books I have either assume you know how to do it or explain it in such a way as to confuse the heck out of me, so I have just stayed away from anything absolutely demanding blanket stitch, until now....!

Yay for well photographed Japanese pattern books I say!

(PS, Le Punk has already tried to eat them.... I guess that's a good sign...?!)

MEOW!

My Putty-Tats (aka Geelong Football Club...) won the AFL Grand Final yesterday, meow!!

In their honour I have rounded up some cute etsy pretties in the team colours....

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade punkyandme.etsy.com