Chicago sisters...

All i can say is...
no wonder i can't seem to find the time to do housework...

yes i can't help myself...
and even thou i said to myself
i wasn't going to make anymore "royals" before the market...
i find myself at the machine again...
frantically sewing...it's only one more...
and these colours are so nice...

and i did promise someone i would make
a special blue Chicago sister...for all her inspiration...

if you are keen on receiving a gift like one of these...
post a comment on my PAY IT FORWARD
and you could be that lucky...
now back to the kids and cooking and cleaning...
and maybe a tad sewing, not much, well only a bit...

pay it forward...and mail!!!

THE RULES:
I will make a handmade gift for the first 3 interested people
who comment on this post and I have 365 days (ample time)
to do it in...
You must have a blog to join in and be willing to do
the same for three other people...
Lets have fun!!!

I have signed up for SKETCHES - pay it forward
and can't wait to see what i get...

i will make something
totally amazing if you comment...promise...
Now for my mail
Betty Jo has sent me some wonderful prizes
and i am thrilled...
will be wearing this ALL the time...
Yes I now am the proud owner of a
LINOFOREST original....yah...

country life...and i'm a winner...

I think the chooks are playing a joke with me...
these tiny little eggs we collected this morning...
they are so unusual and pretty at the same time...
i had to put a big pic of them as they have fascinated me all day...

Yes this is our bell just in case we can't hear you!!!

and after i took that shot i spotted the willow esky in the photo
and took a close up...love it...
the tray to put the ice in is still in it
and even though it is a bit weathered it gorgeous....

i spent the day in the yard and cleaning up
the verandah (god i love that word) VERANDAH
so Australian...so 50's....
today was my sort of day when SPRING is Spring...
not when SPRING is Winter...
or when it thinks it would like to be Summer...
i got so much done with lots of fresh air and sunshine...

Now another reason i feel so darn chirpy
is i came runner up in linoforests blogtoberfest giveaway...
and what a haul...
check it out if you are anything like me and can't wait to see
the goodies...
every thing and every colour that i LOVE...
thanks heaps*** bettyjo***
will be posting lots of pics when my mail arrives...
but for now i just get to look...
and look some more and some more...

Bagging it...

wow what a week...

well i managed to score a spot at the
TWILIGHT markets
yes i will be there with bells on...(only joking about the bells)
so I'm into full production...
made up some more bags with cute little cakes on it...
speaking of cakes pop over to sugar rush
and check out the cookie bouquet...

will be posting more "stock" as i come up with it...
but for now it's all "treadle to the metal"...

looks a lot like...christmas...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...could not resist and had to give everyone a
sneak peek at what is in the works...
oh i love the whole Christmas bit...
and i think this new little treasure will be just yummy...
and if your wondering how the ongoing debate in my head
is going....well the markets are fully booked and i have
to see if anyone cancels to get a spot...
there are having a TWILIGHT market from 3pm to 8pm
which would be the most amazing thing...
so even if i don't get a stall make sure
if you live in the Newcastle area go to
the olive tree markets
at the junction primary school and take a look...
on the 29th of November...
I'm pretty sure SKETCH will be there
and over 80 stalls with all handmade goodies...

Market day...

well i actually managed to do it...
yes a proper stall at a "proper market"
well even if there where only about 40 people who walked past my stall...
i think every local in town now know what i do in my spare time...
which the look on there face was enough to make my day...
not a good "sales day" but i think at the right market
i could do really well...
am going to get in contact with the olive tree markets
in Newcastle and hopefully get a stall there for there next market...
now as i have said before i just need to get some time off...
I'll have to ask the boss
(oh right that's me)...
"can i have the weekend off"....
"are you serious, do you know how much work you have on...
how many meals need to be cooked".....
"pleaseeeeeeeeee"
stay tuned to more in depth conversations or arguments!!!

chenille bag...

I went to my "little material shop" today
and bought the only chenille they had
which was green...
but quiet pretty and services the purpose...
which is to make a few different thing to put on a stall...
that's if i ever have a weekend off to do one...
oh well one can dream...

The trip "to town" was a result of deciding
6 months between haircuts is too long
and luckily they squeezed me in....
bless there cotton socks...
and in between the "oh your hair is so thick"
and "that's a unusual colour you put in yourself"
I managed to come out of there in 1 1/2 hours
that was just a cut and dry...
but was very chuffed with the result...
I loved trying to describe to the poor girl of 19 that i would like
a cross between "Amelie" and Uma in "pulp fiction"
minus the fringe...
after a long pause i said "just a bob" will do fine...

Chicago sister

Well I am officially calling these

The Royal Chicago Sisters...thanks to great suggestions of course...
i don't really tend to name them until i do more than one
you see when there is only one it is not
officially a sister...
well after making up this gorgeous little "flapper"
how could i not...
this could be the start of a beautiful new theme...P.S. if anyone can tell me how i can
reply directly to peoples comments...
i get lovely replies from you when i post comments on your blogs
( they are the ones that the original comment is at the bottom of the e-mail)
and i can't seem to do the same...and i sooooooo
love all your comments...

great suggestion...

Well this is the result of a wonderful suggestion
from BELLGIRL
after quiet a few pages of drawing
I decided to just get the material out
and "wing it" and see how it went.
"WOW" so glad I did...

the eyes are very different to what I'm use to but I do think
it worked really well and with the added
chenille drop waist on the bottom it finishes the style
off quiet nicely...
I love making dolls especially when they turn out like this...
not all do of course...
with every new doll though I get quiet attached
and think I can't bare to see them go...
but then I start a new one all over again, and again, and again...

op shopping...

went to the local op shop today
and managed to grab a few bargains
little miss loves books...
oh well out of three kids
your bound to get one that does...
and as she insists on 3 books every night before bed
(secretly i love that time with her)
i need to update a bit so i don't get bored either..
i already have a snow white but i do like to get other versions
and i would hope that one day i can find one that
rewords the part about the queen wanting to (kill) her...
i change it myself when i read it to her but she is very
bright and likes me to point to the words as i read them...
i don't think it will be very long before she reads them herself...
and of course i hunted through the material but
(i sadly can up empty)
so i was lucky enough to find this little beauty hanging
on a rack....very vintage....
i really don't know what this fabric is called but lots of things
were made back then out of it...
it has a real weave about it...

and this gingham orange one that i already
know who i will be sending this too...
it has the prettiest crochet pattern of what i would call a
"my fair lady style" girl...
our op shop is very riffled through
as everyone in town goes there and
nabs the good stuff straight away...
but i think i was pretty lucky today...

country life...and winner...

HERE is the "ROOSTER"

that keeps us awake all night...
the rooster that poops on the back step...
the rooster that crows when I'm on the phone...
which i know i live in the country but jeez it makes it sound
like hicks ville...

and here is "MILLY" that would love to
eat the rooster if she wasn't so scared...now for the Winner which was pulled from little misses
trusty pre-school hat...
BETTY JO

congratulations
i will e-mail you shortly...
loved all the comments and will definitely be having another
giveaway...
to the girls that this time missed out...
I'm so glad you left a comment as finding your blogs has been
wonderful...love them...
and of course here is pic of a "royal sister"
in the making...
i usually do the faces first
but was a bit unsure what kind of look
i was going for...
now i find myself stuck...
she's a bit "roaring 20's" and i love the fabric
it was the only other vintage fabric my grandmother left us...
and sporting a yoyo on the cloche hat...
if anyone has a suggestions...let me know...

strawberry jam...

thanks to

spoon full of sugar
for their great strawberry jam recipe...

fresh strawberries...


mashing up the strawberries...yum...


this is the sugar and strawberry mixture
you let it sit for 10 minutes...


i mixed the hot mixture of jam setta and water
into the strawberries and sugar mixture

then pour it into the (jars)
here is the finished product...
as you can see i could not find a empty jar in the whole
house so takeaway containers it is...

for all the ingredients, measurement etc check out
spoon full of sugars post...
it was so quick and easy
just like they said...
now all i have to do is patiently wait for it to set......

just remember to go to my 100th post
and put a comment as it will be draw very soon...

bag and a mission...

After being very inspired
by the quilt show and all the girls work
i set myself a task of making up a bag
bigger than the others and incorporating yoyo's
i thought the yoyo's a bit tedious at first but soon
got the hang of it...
this could turn into a quilt blog soon
if i keep sewing like this
(ohhhhh no say the girls)
not that!!!!!!

now for my BTW mission
( really don't know what that stands for )

CLOTHES SHOP: ummmmm are there clothes shops where i live
maybe country target if i'm lucky...
FURNITURE SHOP: now were pushing it....
but i would love to go to ikea.
SWEET: yes i am....thanks for asking.
CITY: i so want to go to Paris...
DRINK: easy Tia and milk...
Music: really not fussed
i have constant noise around me...
TV SERIES: Gilmore girls...sex in the city...
FILM: love actually...
and a stack of mostly girly soppy or funny flicks
WORKOUT: now really who needs to workout...
i own a small dog just so i don't have to walk it...
PASTRIES: yum chocolate eclairs....
COFFEE: yuk...prefer a case of coke thanks...

THANKS TO BELLGIRL
AND FLOWER GARDEN FOR GIVING ME
THIS MISSION...
check out there great sites...

P.S LEAVE A COMMENT
on my 100th post to be in the running
for a great prize...

Quilt Show...

I took the royal sisters out to the quilt show and
even though the numbers were down on what were
hoped for it was wonderful to see the hall
with all the beautiful quilts hanging around...
Sharon did a more than amazing job at organizing the event...
and spent every second of the day making sure it was
looking lovely for all to see...
the winners on the day donated there prize money back to
the breast cancer organization which was truly thoughtful...

these are mine that i put in the small item section...
even though i did not win the 2 girls will be on sale at the
community centre and money going to the fundraiser...

Sharon won the open section with this amazing quilt
that has little yoyos on it and is the prettiest thing i have seen
in ages...
visit her new blog here...

and this lovely quilt...

it has got me to think i really need to finish mine...
don't forget the giveaway is still up and running
leave a comment on the post below to be in the draw...

100th post...

Well i feel almost a bit star treky
with this
Michelle's log... post 100...in a galaxy far, far, away...
or maybe not....
well it has been a bit between posts as i have
had a fair bit of work to get through...
one thing i really wanted to finish to put up
was this pizza carry bag...
as the story goes...
there is a very sweet old man that comes
to our business most nights
for the usual chat and social get together with his mates
and every sunday he gets me to make up a pizza
and he takes it home for him and his wife's dinner
it is rather sweet and he has always brought down
a very old and rather worn out "library bag"
to take his pizza home with him...

one night he had forgotten to bring down the "bag"
and it got me think i really need to stop and think
about other people and how spending a
bit of time and make something for someone else can
just make someone feel "thought of"

so here it is, the pizza carrier
complete with funky cowboy material
and handles positioned to insure that the pizza
sits flat for the walk home...

Now on
another
subject,
giveaway
time
i'm
not going to forget my fellow bloggers
and if you leave a comment and maybe even tell me of a "little joy"
you brought to someones day by making
or doing something for someone else...
it doesn't have to be earth shattering
just something sweet, i will put
you in my 100 giveaway to receive
this sweet babushka with the pretty blue eyes...


have a great weekend and i will post some pics after the
quilt show this weekend...

Cute and cuter...

WOW! what a productive week I'm having...
can't believe that the more
stress and work i have seems
to be when i make the most amazing "girls"...
I thought i would get a bit arty with the photos
i really need to organize a decent backdrop...

will be spending a bit of time this week
getting ready for the quilt show in October
I'm going to take the "girls" there and
hopefully they will find lovely homes
to go to...and lots of hugs...

this time of year is always busy.

the warm weather means more people out and about...
more meals to cook more drinks to serve...
hoping the sun stays around for a bit longer
and yes i think i don't need any more stress
i think if i tried really hard i can manage
to make a few more dolls without it...
honest...

Wedding Cake Anyone...

I you are after a more than imaginative wedding cake/party cake

your in luck...

our sister is now back in Australia
and baking her heart out.
with already a successful market stall and many
wedding expos organized
she is on a roll...
you can find her blog here "sugarrushconfections"
you may remember her from the turtle cake we blogged about before...
i still think it looked like she went
to the local zoo and nicked one...it's amazing.

This Month

I'm following a bit of a theme here and

thought i would include three things i
LOVE this monthabove is a pic from lino forest
i love all the wonderful creations Betty Jo makes
and the reason i wanted to post this mosaic
was the beautiful set of "flying ducks"
i so love them and this is on my Christmas list...
its amazing how she transforms this material into
pieces of art that are decorative and even
wearable like her brooches
check out her great blog here "lino forest"

above and below are my blackapple
prints that i now own
the "waiting room" print i was lucky enough
to buy on Emily's sale and cost me next to nothing
i have my eye on the next one i want
and then the wall will be complete...
Emily sells her prints here "theblackapple etsy"

Belinda has two as well
and i think we are both a bit obsessed.
and number three is SPRING
its about time it arrivednow I've noticed that everyone lawn needs a mow...

Vintage Material...

today i decided i have been
getting of the beaten track a bit.
and thought i should sit down and at least
paint a couple of faces...
well of course once the face is done
i can't leave it for another day,
just waiting patiently for me.
no, it says, finish me...
so after looking at my very low material pile.
i spotted this fabric...
now of course i have know it was always there but...
this material was my grandmothers and is very "special"
and after a bit of convincing my self that the wee girls
don't use up much, i carefully arranged
the pattern as to not use to much.
it is after all original 50's fabric...
and feels so soft.
her legs are made out of felt!
i really like the way it worked..
this "royal sister" will not be for sale as you can imagine
but i thought i would share her with you.

Little drawing.

I'm slightly obsessed with these little drawings
at the moment.
As you may have noticed by the new header.
My material stash is dangerously low and in need
of re-stocking.
My closest "big" material shop is 2 hours
away and work and kids and well
everything
don't allow a shopping trip in the equation.
So at the moment i have to be content!

Also for trivia sake. Three thing about me.
1. If i eat chocolate before i go to bed i have nightmares.
2.I eat about 1/2 a bag of raw mushrooms a day.
3.And for the amount of coca-cola i drink per day i should own the company by now.
yes, yes i know you all really wanted to know that.
see yah soon...