Megan @ Simple Pleasures

Thank you to all who took the time to read, comment and enter.  Your lovely comments mean the world. Thank you!

1. Ring of stitches, 2. leaves in technicolor 004 copy, 3. wonderland white rabbit embroidery WIP original design by isewcute, 4. Felt embroidery, 5. “Money Matters”, 6. pink dahlia felt embroidery

Today’s mosaic is sponsored by my new found love of stitching.  I’ve spent the past few days stitching to my hearts content.  I hope one day I can be in the same league as these stitchers.

Want to see more wonderful Flickr flavoured mosaics? Head on over to ArtMind.

I’m a little late with my Creative Space this week, but I’m hoping you’ll forgive me when you see what I’ve been working on.

Lately I’ve been really moved by some of the embroidery that I’ve been seeing on the great creative blogs out there.  I’m especially crushing on Carina’s Craftblog.  Which is lucky because Carina has published a wonderful ebook on embroidery.  I purchased the book on Thursday night and I’ve been searching for a way to use it ever since.

I hit the jackpot when I stumbled on to the blog Feeling Stitchy.  It’s a massively wonderful resource for all things stitched.  I fell in love with so many of the projects on there but I still wasn’t sure what to do so I went looking for more inspiration.

I was lucky enough to come across Vintage Transfer Finds and there I fell in love with this little birdie.  I stitched it up in no time and I’m so proud of it.  I even managed to do my first french knot and it worked!

I’m so smitten with it.  I decided to turn it into a little coin purse based on the tutorial on Cat Taylor which I found through the very amazing Creative Space by Megan at Simple Pleasures.

I used some of the new fabric I picked up this week at Addicted to Fabric and lined it with a bright purple just for something fun.

So what do you think?  I’m thinking that it would be a great little giveaway to one lucky commenter.  So if you’d like a little blue bird to keep your change happy just leave a comment on this post letting me know where you’d take the blue bird on your adventures.  Comments will be closed at 8pm AEST on Tuesday 9 March 2010.

Today’s Friday Fancies is an unusually long one.  I didn’t realise that there were so many variations of one of my favourite symbols out there.

1. Epershand Earrings 2. Harrington Earrings 3. Ampersand 4. Glass Marble Necklace Ampersand Symbol 5. Ampersand Ring 6. Sterling Silver Block Letter Ampersand Necklace 7. Silver Helvetica Ampersand Earrings 8. The Super Ampersand 9. Harrington Necklace 10. Aluminum Ampersand for Wall or Shelf 11. Ampersand Script Font 12. Land of Ampersand 13. French Style Petit Coterie Ampersand Burlap Pillow 14. Ampersand Gocco Print 15. Coral Ampersand 16. Ampersand Cushion 17. Ampersand Cross Stitch Kit 18. Wire Ampersand Symbol 19. Ampersand 20. Ampersand Necklace (Black)

Image source: Studioloo

I want this yarn, and not just because it’s called Candy Sprinkles.  I swear!

How beautiful does it look?  I’d love to make something funky out of it.  Not sure what… a scarf maybe… oh the possibilities…

I’ve finally gone back and updated my Etsy Shop with some (marginally) better images. At this stage I’ve just got earrings listed, but I’m hoping to expand the range over the next week.  I really need to work out how to get some better product images, so I may just put the call out for anyone that can do it better than me and is in the area to help out.  Until then I’m just going to have to make do with the following images.

I’m playing it fast and loose with today’s Friday Fancies.  Normally I try and stick to a theme, but today’s theme is all about things I like.  That’s it.  So enjoy.

A. Rufus – This little guy is just so adorable.  He’s made by The Vintage Magpie (the blog is a must see!).  He reminds me of Basil Brush, only without the double entendre.

B. What’s Up Chicken Butt? – I’d love a set of these cards.  What a great way to stay in touch with a bit of a laugh and some cool graphics.

C. Cast Metal Animals – Love these little animals.  I’m not a big fan of traditional style bookends, but these little critters would make the nicest little touch to a stack of books.  I couldn’t decide which one I liked most so I’d just have to get all three…

D. Milk – I’m still not able to drink milk like I used to and it’s still bumming me out.  But I’d totally love to get this card and frame it.  The colour combination is great, and it’s one that I’m really crushing on at the moment.  I’m even thinking about using it as the basis for my next adventure with crochet.

E. Funky Swirl Cupcake Liners – I recently picked up a copy of the Country Woman’s Association’s cookbook and I’ve been dying to try out some of their sweet recipes.  These cupcake liners would be a great accompaniment to the yumminess that is a traditional country recipe!

F. Snuggle Up – I’m starting to think I have a thing for bunny art.  I would love to add this to my collection.  Those little cotton tails are just so cute.

G. Scherenschnitte Ringer Tee – My love of t-shirts is not dissipating with time, and these great shirts are not helping the cause either.  Such sweet motifs and great colour combination with a vintage feel.  I want them all!

H. Valentine – I love garnet and I love upcycling.  I also love love *wink* so what better way to acknowledge all of that then with this beautiful piece of jewelry.  I’m really loving all the jewelry that’s popping up at the moment made from cutlery.  It’s such a great way to take some amazing flatware outside of just the dining room.

Today has been a hive of activity.  Inspired by the woman at Brown Owls I’ve started on my Ginger Beer Plant.  I’m following the very helpful instructions posted over at Meet Me At Mikes.  It’s kind of an interesting looking mixture.  It reminds me of the fluid that we put in the fly trap for the backyard.  The smell is rather potent as well.  I’m crossing my fingers and hoping that at the end of this adventure I’ll have twelve liters of drinkable fluid and not just something to pour over the plants.

I also got out the CWA’s cookbook and made some chocolate biscuits.  I just love and adore chocolate so I couldn’t resist getting this close up shot of the milk chocolate melts.  The biscuits were baked and ready in under an hour.  They’re not bad, but a little dry.  I’m going to make some ANZAC biscuits tomorrow.  I’ve been craving them for the past couple of days, I’m hoping they’ll be a little better than today’s batch.

I’ve also been working on my Dolly Donation.  I’ve finished the girl and I’m half way through finishing the boy.  Hopefully they’ll be done by Monday and I can put them in the post.

Today I’ve spent a lot of time amusing myself and avoiding the chores.  That’s going to have to change for tomorrow…

Wanna see other people’s Creative Spaces? Head on over to Kootoyoo.

1. Roller Derby – Skate of Emergency, 2. Baby Kylee’s Bathtime, 3. two little owls!, 4. MOVIES TIME :D

I’m running a little late this week with my Flickr Faves, and I’m sure it won’t be the last time.  I’ve had a busy week with lots of new adventures.

On Saturday I went to my first ever Brown Owls meeting.  Much fun was had and I feel like I’ve got a brand new chapter happening and that’s exciting.  I backed it up with my first ever Roller Derby social skate on the Sunday.  Freshmeat doesn’t start until mid March, but already the new recruits are hyped.  It was a great day out in the sun.

On Monday night we went to the movies with COUSIN and LEE LEE.  We also ran into M and R while we were getting some pre-dinner food.  It was awesome.  We went and saw The Blind Side. It was spectacular.  It’s the first movie I’ve seen in a long time that had a positive vibe to it.  There was a happy marriage and family at the centre of it and the message of the movie was one of hope.  It was awesome.  I left the cinema on such a high and feeling like we can all make positive changes in our lives, and the lives of those around us.  I was also grateful to see a positive marriage portrayed.  I feel sometimes like the world just gives us all negative messages about marriages; that they’re all doomed to fail.  Sandra Bullock rocked in her role and deserves her Oscar nomination.  Tim McGraw was also a great surprise.  I can’t talk highly enough of this movie, if you can afford the movies – go see it!

We also got some wonderful news; my sister-in-law is pregnant!  It’s such great news.  It’ll be the second grandchild and it’s going to be loved like nothing else.  It may also have another cousin some time soon.  We got some great news from my Gynocologist.  We are able to start on IVF.  I’ve been scheduled for an examination on my tubes to see how much damage was done from the surgeries I’ve had.  Once that’s known we can start.  It’s going to be awesome.  For the first time in five years I feel like we may just, finally, get that family we’ve always wanted.

All in all a pretty outstanding week.

This Sunday will see the Park Hyatt in Canberra hosting Mathilda’s Market.  It’s a market specifically for selling handmade childrens items.  Now I don’t have any children (at the moment) but 2010 is shaping up to be the year of the childbirth for most of the women in my circle so I’m seizing the opportunity to do some baby present shopping. Besides, it’ll be a nice excuse to get out of the house on Sunday morning.

Mathilda’s Market is held in all capital cities, with the exception of Darwin.  (But I’m sure it’ll only be a matter of time before that is rectified.)

A month after Mathilda’s Market there’ll be the Handmade Market!

This market is not just about the kids, it’s got everything for anyone.  The market has become so popular it’s had to change it’s location to accommodate more stalls and shoppers.  Which is a great indication of how much people love to buy handmade and support local artists and crafters. I’m going to be saving all of my pocket money for this event in March.  Which will mean staying away from the fabric stores!

If you can’t wait till March, you can get a sneak peak of what’s going to be on show and the people doing the showing at the Canberra Handmade Market Blog.

As of April if you can’t make it to a market day there will be the Handmade Market Shop to supply you with your handmade fix.  The shop front opens April 16 and you can keep up-to-date with all the pre-opening happening at the shop’s blog; here.

With these new kids on the market scene it could be easy to forget about the tried and true Old Bus Depot Markets.

Held every Sunday in Canberra in what used to be, strangely enough, the Old Bus Depot these markets are an eclectic collection of craft, art, jewelry, fresh produce and specialty food items.  They also have a food court type area that has a small, but diverse, collection of stall holders.  These markets are a staple in our household.  HUBBY likes them because he can get his coffee fix from the wonderful people at Wagonga Coffee; and I love them because I’m a sucker for anything bright and shiny.

So that’s how I’ll be spending my Sundays for the next few months…