**CLOSED** Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day 2011

****WINNER is MICHELLE from Daydream Believers****

I really enjoy the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day, even if I forgot to offer up a giveaway of my own last year (might have had something to do with having a four week old baby at the time?). It’s a chance to discover new blogs & enter giveaways for things you might actually like from people that are offering prizes just for the fun of it, not because they’re being paid to or because they are hoping for something in return.

I am offering two vintage Enid Gilchrist books, Play Clothes & Toddler Clothes. These are very popular amongst certain people in the sewing set, some may even say collector’s items, so count yourselves lucky I’m too lazy to draft my own patterns….!

With these trusty Enid’s you could make a range of retro classics for your baby or child; think simple shifts, funky coats or even swimwear! If, like me, you don’t think you’ll be getting out the drafting paper any time soon, these books are a brilliant piece of Australian sewing & home economics history & a wonderful addition to any crafty bookshelf.

Below is a certain little Punk (*sobs*) in a dress from Play Clothes, made by Tracy way back in April 2009.

HOW TO ENTER:

All you have to do to enter is let me know what was the most memorable piece of clothing your parents dressed you in as a child? Good or bad, enquiring minds want to know. Cast your mind back to your baby photos for recollections of hand knitted jumpers or a little later when perhaps you wish your Mother had warned you against that ra-ra skirt & matching top with mesh sleeves ensemble… I’ll choose the winner at random & I’m happy to post internationally. Entries close December 16th.

Big thanks to Deb for reminding me about giveaway day today or I’d have missed out again!

OMG. That is; Oh! My Gocco!

Are you sitting down? Tell me you’re sitting down? You really should be sitting down.

I just bought a Gocco B6 at an opshop for $2.

I told you you should have been sitting down.

We were driving back from a positively splendid time at an indoor swimming pool with waterslides (A new favourite place for Punk & I), where I had whittled my initial $20 for the day down to $5, after pool entry & snacks, when I was surprised to see the oppy at the tiny town between here & the pool still open. I drove past, thinking “Probably no point stopping, I’ve only got $5…” but then I turned around & drove back because, well, I’m me.

In the alcove before you even get in to the opshop proper, I saw this thing of beauty sitting on an old ironing board.

I think I was in a state of shock. I’ve wanted a Gocco for ages but would never be able to afford one, unless, as I often half-joked, half-desperately hoped, I found one in an oppy. I calmly snatched picked up the boxes & placed them on the counter, reminding myself to breathe.

$2. $2! I still can’t believe it. And the Gocco fabric stamp kit for $1.50. Everything in tip-top condition, including the hilarious 80’s family shot on the box.

This is the find of the year peeps. Fo’sho.

More finds with Sophie!

This is Christmas.

Well, it’s a bit of what Christmas is looking like here this year, so far. Bright, mismatched, thrifted & crafted…

Punky’s mantle is decorated with some of the decorations we don’t have a tree for this year…

…& some awesome Japanese fruit decorations from My Poppet that will be staying up all year.

The advent calendar is doing double-duty as a Christmas card holder.

These two Johnsons of Australia Christmas plates, ‘76 & ‘77, found in chronological order on consecutive weeks, hold pride of place in the lounge room, along with an adorable vintage white deer ornament.

(The candy canes are steadily disappearing.)

And, a fabric Christmas tree update….

No comment.

Almost late to my own party, here.

A Quick Ornament.

This is the little ornament I made for our Brown Owls Kris Kringle on Wednesday, it’s just a teeny embroidery using the smallest embroidery loop with some thread tied around the screw to hang it; quick, easy & effective. You know that’s how I like it.

Back tomorrow to share some more Christmas goodness around here for the last day of the My Place & Yours Christmas Party! You’ve still time to join in if you’d like!

Outdoors.

Some photos from a trip to some falls yesterday; we were supposed to go camping too but I wheedled my way out of it…

Have a very rockin’ Christmas.

Because I really am a Christmas tragic, I had the tag “Christmas” playing on Last FM the other day, I came across some favourite songs (Bing!) & some new ones, but here are some xmas tunes that the you can crank up loud & wrap that mountain of presents to like a speed demon. You might want to dress in the festive Christmas garb of ripped jeans & a flannelette shirt, to complete the tradition…

The Game of Life.

Some oppy finds of late;

A Box Brownie – I’ve admired these in Kelly’s photos & knew it would be mine the moment I saw it on the shelf in a rather dull oppy while we were on holidays.

A daggy little Viking – another holiday purchase.

Some more things for my wall, that I actually got around to hanging up.

And last but not least… The Game of Life.

I LOVED this game when I was little, more than Monopoly, more than Trouble, more than anything, so to find this old version in fabulous condition almost brought a tear to my eye.

My favourite purchase in a long while, and only $2!

More finds here.