How many hours in the day

Today was the start of the reno's.

This involved myself and Mr Ric-Rac trying to remove the wallpaper from Master 12's room.

My plan was to clear the room yesterday and get the steamer first thing this morning but Mr Ric-Rac arrived home with it yesterday unannounced so it was all a bit of rush.

You can understand why Master 12 (he of the Wolfmother concert, recent Silverchair powder finger adventure, owner of 3 guitars, 2 amps and a bongo drum) would not be pleased with this wallpaper.

Things went swimmingly for about two walls and then the cracks began to appear (literally).

Plasterer brother-in-law can soon expect to invited over for a few beers (and bring your tools with you). I believe we may have to replace a few walls (this is a five walled room) as they are at least 80 years old, maybe more.

Gone are the days when I expect any renovation type plans to actually go to plan. We have always lived in old houses. Tomorrow I am starting on the hallway ( I took down the ugliest weird flower type wallpaper frieze today).

Once the steamer was returned to the hire place I got to work on something that had been eating away at me since I cut it out last night.

Oh yes!!!! another little doll sized quilt. I have been thinking of the practicalities of chenille jelly-rolls for a while and have a very old project stashed away in this style (only much larger) so I gave it a whirl today - super quick, easy, cute and no disgusting bits of wallpaper paste in my hair either !!!

Stay tuned guys - tomorrow is paint and blackboards and all sorts of stuff !!!!

A project a day keeps the doctor away

Those of you who read that whole last whingey whiny post will know I have been reasonably unwell of late.

Today I self medicated in the sewing room. I worked a little bit on my gifts for my Pay It Forward recipients...

and started to feel a little better but I knew it was just a brief moment of well being and a relapse was right around the corner.

It was time for preventative medicine!!

What was needed to combat this horrid flu was a new project, of course.....what better way to fight germs and disease than the thrill of riffling through the stash waiting for inspiration to strike!

I did think of all those Unfinished projects but I knew they just didn't have the appeal to really get me well again. No a new (preferably with no purpose) project it had to be............ and off I went.......

Quick and cheerful !!!

The answer - a little doll sized or miniature quilt with vintage chenille. Twenty little 4 1/2 inch squares and it was as easy as winking.

Now the boys of the ric-rac household are off to see Silver Chair and Powder Finger in concert tonight, in Ballarat, in a big top, in the rain and it is currently about 8 degrees........hmmmmm.


Those of us left behind will be nanna-ing it up on the couch with a bit of Australian Idol, lemon tea and the binding to hand sew.

and we are as happy as happy can be about it !

Afternoon Tea???

Anyone for afternoon tea? The kettle is boiling and

they are completely fat free .

Crafty week

It's not that I don't craft through the week (some people would say it is ALL I do) but getting photos just proves to be beyond me. Ballarat has the deserved reputation of being somewhat cold and gloomy so by the time I get home from work there is usually no light left at all. Certainly no photo-taking light left in the day.

Monday / Tuesday

Those ball animals are still rockin around inside my head but I think I have nearly exhausted all options now. This little hedgie is my newest love. His name is Edgar !

Wednesday

A quick trip to the localist of op-shops revealed this little haul.

• A glass buckle



• a set of Brand new Japanese hankies (coming to handbag pattern near you soon)



• Some little spring loaded button studs



• a little brooch handmade by someone with more patience than I


• a purse frame that did have a daggy pink plastic purse attached but I removed it for an experiment.

I have also been working on a few bags through the week and will be able to post those tomorrow. I even had a go at a bit of free-motion quilting and I didn't totally suck at it so that was a bonus.

Here is a fuller picture of little whiplash quilt. for those who asked. Now I am off to Spotty for some canvas !!!!

Cottage charm Giveaway Update

Today when the going got tough on a new bag I put it aside and whipped up a couple of ice cream cones to add to my Cottage Charm Giveaway.

If you would like to enter for this ever-growing freebie just comment on the Cottage charm Giveaway post of earlier.

I am really enjoying this giveaway and have found some great new blogs out there **waves to everyone** I could quite easily develop a bit of an addiction for swaps, giveaways and challenges (in all my spare time).

So one mint and one musk ice cream made from vintage chenille to add to the giveaway. How perfect is my scissor holder for ice creams?

Oh and I have to say that the dress fitted Jem perfectly - she twirled and twirled through the house and we talked accessories...we think white gloves and shoes. There was another dress of the same vintage there yesterday and now I can't stop thinking about it........and wondering if it will still be there should I happen to wander past on Monday.

Cottage Charm Giveaway

ALL DONE!!
I have decided to try and join the blogosphere a little (I know I fluffed up the whole apron thing) by joining in on the "cottage charm giveaway".

I have taken a fairly loose definition of the term cottage I think, but hope that people might like some of what I have to offer.

My cottage charm giveaway is for:

1. Bright yellow and pink BoBo made of vintage chenille




2. card of vintage buttons




3. 1m each of two of my favourite tape measure twill tapes




4. 1 strand of strawberries made of vintage chenille with vintage buttons




5. vintage chenille gingerbread man for the Christmas tree




6. 2 patterns for chenille cakes and cupcakes




7. 10 squares of beautiful vintage chenille measuring six and a half inches each.

If you would like to win this little pack of goodness all you need to do is leave me a comment on this post.

Please please make sure I can contact you via your comment so if you don't have a blog please include your email address in your comment. I will draw the winner on May 26th. I'll cover postage etc. so what have you got to lose? Thats it - No tricks just a little freebie.....

If you go and have a look at Kim's site you will of course be able to see everyone else participating and find some great new blogs in the process. (Thanks Kim- Great idea).

Chenille softie !!!

Hi everyone ,

I had a super time on school camp . It was filled with sleepless nights, vomit, tears, near accidents , lots and lots of laughter and some great kids. Everything a school camp should have !

Now just in case you think I am superwoman - I did not make this frog this morning - I made him before camp along with the others but he had no mouth - so voila ! Now he is done.

I think I am almost over the round ball animals but still lurking in the back of my mind are a hedgehog and a fish - so you never know.

Today I want to whip up a few quick things so I can join the cottage charm giveaway - stay tuned !!!

Thrifting / op-shopping saturday

Hi .

Well my love affair with blogger is being tested ! Everything went well for about a week but love is fickle and now blogger hates my photos -.

Hopefully it will work this time

Saturday involved a little op shop excursion - I notice all the US blogs call it "thrifting" which sounds kinda nice. Anyway, see the frame ? At my house we call these ballerina frames and I love them. I always imagine them with pictures of ballerina's inside but this one is empty so I will have to find something to put inside. Some vintage fabrics, a funky tin (already claimed by Miss 15) and a cheery day all round.

and buttons -aren't they gorgeous. I just can't go past a bag or jar of buttons in an op shop without having a look.... and these are gorgeous. Some pretty glass ones and I came home and sorted them into the collection ! (button therapy)