The 1st of Christmas has been, and with it two little girls bursting with excitement over opening their Advent calenders. Alex and Ashleigh are away on camp so they have to wait until Friday fro theirs, I am tempted to sample on behalf!

I've had a few good thrift finds lately, but keep forgetting to take pics! I scored some mint condition white leather retro roller-skate's in the brown vinyl carry bag for Ash for Christmas from the salvo's for $20!

And today I got this stunning bread bin which the girls think is awesome. There's nothing like retro floral to brighten your day!

I'm working on my Christmas deco swap at the Moment, and I'll post about that soon.

Hope you have all
enjoyed the sunny weather!

xoxo

A couple of nice things to share with you this week

My 'new' rose 'Lavender Pinocchio' which I've planted

next to my 'new' studio, so that I can look out of my lovely french

doors and be inspired by its beauty.

My inspiration wall next to my sewing desk..xo

Hope your all having a nice week.

If your in the Manawatu this weekend, pop into the crosshills

country fair in Kimbolton.

My girlfriend Debs popped in last weeekend.

A fleeting visit full of inspiration, drooling and cups of tea.

It was lovely.

Debs is an amazing artist, and for the past few years has been producing

the most amazing mixed media....altered....cool......stuff!

You can check out her blog here http://mistressdebrina.blogspot.com/

happy blogging

I was 'blog cruising' the other day and came across this lady

using this very nifty tool

I can't remember the blog now but I went on the prowl the

next day for the nifty tool!

It is a bias binding thingy. You feed the fabric through and press it

with the iron as it comes out the other side and

it's all folded and ready to go! So today as I started doing

some sewing, an order for one of my pinny tops, and I didn't have the right coloured tape, I suddenly remembered my 'nifty tool thingy'

and went 'yay'!

Here is my beautiful binding. I love bias binding but anything other than plain coloures costs you a fortune. My nifty tool was $17 (not exactly 'cheap') BUT...it shall get loads of use.

The brand is clover and I got it down at the local patch work shop.
Sewing my dolly

sideways picture....for some reason??

And the lovely model Fleur...my baby looks so grown up. ..

When did that happen?

Kitchen busy

The weather today is total crap, I've lit the coal range for the first time in ages,

time to get some sewing jobs ticked off the list I think.However......

I discovered hiding in the hedgerows on Sunday...some Elderflower in bloom...

This gave me a little hope for hot summer days sipping elderflower cordial,

So I subtly pushed Ged out of the car with a bag....

and well the rest you can see for yourself xox

The other goodies getting create din the kitchen this week were a batch of home made muesli bars.

I was lying in bed when I realised that the daily lunches consumed 5 bars a day! seeing as you usually only get 6 in box, I thought....that's an average of $3 (approx) per week day....$15 a week. Enough of this frivolous spending, which we really don''t have anyway. Out came the cook book and......

Oatie slice:

1/2 C Sunflower seeds

3 C rolled oats (the porridge kind)

1 C sesame seeds

1 C wheat germ (I forgot the wheatgerm and sesame seeds and it still turned out fine)

2 1/2 C Sultanas (or your choice of dried fruit)

1 1/2 C wholemeal flour

1 1/2 tsp Baking powder

1 1/2 C Coconut

1-1/2 C Raw sugar

11 oz Butter

6 Tbsp Honey ( I can't eat honey so I made a blend of 2 Tbsp malt 4 Tbsp golden syrup)

Melt butter and honey mix pour over dry ingredients, press into 2x sponge roll tins and bake until golden...15-20min. Cut into bars when warm. xox Makes 32 bars. This recipe can easily be halved.

 

Swap....Swap.....Swap

Is anyone out there in blogville interested in doing a goodies swap with me?

Spring has come and I have cleaned out my stash piles and would love to share some of it with someone, and get a little new inspiration at the same time!

I'm thinking I'll fill an A4 envelope with goodies...

...fabric scraps, ribbon, lace, paper, fibre......

you fill one too and we get exciting presents in the mail..ya!

If your keen leave a comment xoxoxo

Thursday was a beautiful day here, so I seized the moment and took the girls off for an adventure to the Herb Farm which is a few K's out of Feilding. We had a great time doing our Elf quiz's and munching on homemade marshmallows and tasty goodies. We were all elfy inspired when we got home so we hauled out the fibre and made some woolly dolls with fleece and pip cleaners...pop's one had a very vigorous felting experience and is now a caterpillar!