House Renovations

Here is an update on what I have been up to in the world of painting. I have not actually finished one whole room yet!!!

The house is half painted everywhere, the garden is half finished everywhere and the mess is still half there, actually it is probably more there than not there. So I am very frustrated right now!

I decided once I had had enough of the painting to create a new project that I will be selling on etsy. This is sooooooo.... useful. A nappy pouch. Great for carrying wipes, nappies and a change of clothes. All of which I have found VERY important over the last two years. Who knew baby food does that!

The outside of the pouch.

Lots of pockets for ointments, wipes, in a special pocket so you dont need to take them in and out, up to 3 large nappies and around 4-6 of the newborn size from memory, and still room for a change mat and a spare onesie.

It is quite compact too so you can fit it in a bag or on the pram. I hardly take a nappy bag anymore as everything I need fits in here and I can chuck it in my backpack if I want or hang it over the handle of the pram.

It took me ages to work it all out but now I am pretty happy with it all. This one is made from denim and a gorgeous brown patterned fabric.

Apart from working this pattern out I have been getting ready to deliver new stock to one of the shops I am supplying and having a special display in another so lots of things on at the moment, besides the neverending painting.

I am off now to have a go at getting some baby boots made tonight.

Night all

Karen

My First Flickr Mosaic

I have been playing with making a picture mosaic. Here it is. It is my first try so still learning new tricks!

1. We're Going On A Bear Hunt, 2. Harry Potter, 3. Clark Kent, Lois Lane and Superman, 4. Pirates, 5. Princes and Princesses, 6. Superman and Clark Kent, 7. Jungle Book, 8. Angelina Ballerina, 9. Teddy Bears

Blog Candy Giveaway by Craft Fairy

This is a short blog to tell you about a giveaway. If you love Paper and special embellishments then take a look at Craft Fairy and her blog and you can enter the draw.

Please go and have a look, her blog is great with some lovely cards and she has posted about her new craft room she is moving into. Soemthing I'm sure we would all like to have!

C u.

Lazy Saturday Looking in the Garden

I thought I would show you around some of my garden. The sun has been out and things are actually starting to grow. I love this time of year. It is very inspiring and I don't feel as sleepy as normal.

Here are some of the characters who inhabit my garden.

A little one eyed frog - much loved!

The only type of snail I like in my garden - a gift to scare of the little ones!

Her ladyship!

And here are a few of the flowers I am quite proud of...

I would love to grow these in my garden but these ones are from Spotlight.

This is the garden we have just planted.....ooops...I mean my hubby just planted... out the front of the house so it is brand new! nI love the happy faces on the pansies!


Now he has done the garden he is vacuuming my car for me and washing it - as all good husbands should!



............ and I am here blogging! Catch you later!

New Zealand's Next Top Model Finger Puppets

Time flies doesn't it and I reckon it is going faster and faster the closer we get to Christmas. I have been at a market this morning and just got home. Top priority - to update the blog!

I just made myself feel a bit more in control by tidying up my sewing room first! Now I can think about what to do next.

I promised I would show you the puppets I made for the judges on New Zealand's Next Top Model TV programme. One of the judges - Colin - commissioned me to make them for a bit of a laugh. I think they turned out quite well.



Sorry I tried to make the real pic a bit bigger but it just got blurry.

Anyway pretty cool huh!

Here is another order I don't normally do but was asked to. It is 101 Dalmatians.



Well I am off to try to get something done inside while my hubby mows the lawn outside. Will try to be more consistent with my efforts to blog.

Superman Puppets a Feature!

Superman and his alter ego Clark Kent just
got featured by FeltFoodCreations.

Would love it if you check it out.

Having A Tidy Up!

I am one of those people that can't even start to get motivated if I can't see the top of my sewing table and I am afraid it has been one of those weeks. I keep pushing everything over to try to fit more on and eventually it just starts falling off the other end..... SOOOO..... time for a tidy up. I won't be showing you a pic of this terrible mess but I will be busy this weekend fixing it up. I can't even get near my machines!

I decided it was easier to look at other people's blogs and check out their studios - by the way I love that word! Mine hasn't grown into a studio yet - it is still a sewing room. Anyway I found some fantastic photos of studios I would love to have! And the shelving is to die for!!! I asked my husband to make me some but I think it will take a little more persuading yet.

My Latest Treasury - Spearmint Green

Catching Up

Well, I have to blog I am told. I havent had any time to blog because we are getting our house ready to sell and have been painting every spare minute with builders and painters everywhere. This morning I got woken up to a plumber knocking on the door to install a new toilet. I was fast asleep so a little unimpressed but it all looks good now.

A few weeks ago we started with the backyard. It was mud pit because the older boys have scuffed all the grass off with the footy and games they play, so we have dug it up and put a little garden in. I dont have a photo of the finished product yet but here is one of some of the boys taking a break

The little one is Sam and he is eating a chocolate biscuit after all his hard work.

I have one of the actual garden but I am in it and it isnt that elegant so maybe I will take another. It is all coming along nicely and we had a great day today getting lots achieved. The boys were up on the roof cleaning and Sam even helped by washing down the verandah.

Wasnt it a great day outside this afternoon. We finished off a hard days work with a lovely BBQ for dinner cooked by the eldest two members of our household. Isn't it nice not to cook!

Its my new plan now that the kids all pair up and take turns on the weekend to cook dinner Saturday and Sunday, it worked so well.

Well another update hopefully in a few days with photos I promise. I have to do some crafting now as I am working in one of the craft shops I supply tomorrow and have no stock to take with me. If you are around check out Hidden Talent in the little country town of Yarra Glen, Melbourne. It is a lovely Sunday drive only around 30 minutes from Ringwood which is east of the city. I am on duty all day so let me know if you pop in.

Cool Things - We're in a Treasury!

Enjoying Some Quiet Time

I feel positively guilty! I left work early, and even though all the kids are gone and I am as close to up to date as one can be when you teach, it still feels wrong! Whats with that??

Husbands!

I am sitting here wondering what to blog about when I turned around and saw my husband. He was busy in the kitchen .... again! I thought it only right that I devote a few words to him. I don't know if everyone has it this cruisy but I am quite lucky! He almost always ends up making dinner (and is once again) and almost always listens to me drone on and on about the day's events, at a job where he knows almost none of my co-workers.

He helps me with the little tasks of winding shoe laces for my boots - with lots of verbal objection - cos blokes don't do that sort of thing! And lets me pile my wool up in the corner of the lounge - even though I have a whole sewing room to myself!

I am now trying to train our teenage daughter to ask him ALL the hard questions instead of texting me in the middle of the day!

Life would be fab if I could only convince him to move to Australia! But that is an ongoing saga and a story for another day.

Warm Woolley Baby Singlets

When I get home from work I have a routine. I always go straight to the computer and check what has happened in the world and on etsy and on twitter while I have been at work. It is a terrible habit to get in to (especially if you get home at meal time) but one which calms me after a day at work. Left to my own devices, 20 minutes is all I need to catch my breath!

Well here I am!

Yaaaah! Sold a pair of baby boots today! Really nice ones in a light natural woollen yarn with lime green, purple and navy trims. It's always nice to come home to a sale!

My Dad makes the cutest, warm woolley singlets. He is 80 years old this year and has a knitting machine which he uses to make baby singlets. They are really toasty and a great present for a baby shower. Here is a pic of them.One day I will get them listed as well. I reckon he is doing pretty well for 80, but he has always been a crafty one!

Now, I am still working on gaining a following so if you would like to help me out please follow us on our blog. I love looking at other people's blogs too so I will join yours as well. And my sister likes to as well.

Updates to my twitter and blog pages

I have spent almost the whole day on the computer and made a really cool twitter background all by myself! I also changed this blog (incase you hadn't already noticed!) I am much happier with the layout now! I am just trying to link up a twitter feed now. I noticed other blogs had one and I haven't wuite worked it out yet.

If anyone knows how then please please let me know.

PS: The pics of the puppets are still coming!!

It's Been A While!

I know it has been ages since I have written. I feel a bit bad about that! On the other hand things for me and my sister have been very hectic both on the shop front and in other ways.

My very exciting piece of news was that my nephew was gong to be travelling to Melbourne on extremely short notice! That meant he would be able to catch up and stay with my son, Zac, who lives there and has been feeling a bit lonely of late. Of course it also meant he would be able to take presents, and that meant panic mode set in! I ONLY HAD 3 DAYS UNTIL HE WAS LEAVING!

I think I may have gone a bit over the top but never mind. Got it all done and he left yesterday with a larger bag than he had planned to take! Now I can get back to making things for NZ and trying to concentrate on my real job!

I have been spending a bit of time thinking about how to make our shops work better for us. Everyone else seems to be doing very well I might add. And I can't complain! Haven't a minute to rest on most days, with more orders arriving daily - but i would like to make the most of Etsy!

Also would love some more followers on this blog if we promise to keep it up to date! Might have a giveaway once in a while too, once I get it all sorted. If you would like to follow us here then we are happy to reciprocate the follow.

Will be back later! I have a pic to upload of some puppets I made for the New Zealand's Next Top Model TV show, of the judges. Colin ( one of the judges) was going to try using them on the "Big Night In' Telethon! I might be famous already :) lol.