My Creative space...

 This is my creative space, it's a reclaimed office desk that my lovely husband painted for me years ago when we were living in Perth. It's where the magic happens.

Behind all the stuff is my inspiration board, it looks rather drab to the untrained eye but the few things on it speak volumes to me. Lovely prints from 74 lime lane, my Bronze Medallion and my mum's id for when she worked at air services Australia... it's the best picture i have of her. Behind her is my 'best mum ever' badge the kids gave me last mothers day.  All these things make me feel special and that helps me create.

I claimed these shelves from my daughter today ( she's getting new furniture) to neaten up my desk.

Under the desk is 3 plastic tubs, one full of yarn and the other 2 fabric. I did a clean out today and donated a bag of fabric and a bag of yarn to pre school,. You know how your tastes change and get a bit more fussy about what you really like. I'm there.

So that's my actual  creative space all nice and clean for now...

For more creative spaces pop on over to Kootoyoo.

Ever feel like you're chasing your tail?

 I do, I feel like I've been doing it for a good few months now, well since the start of the year. And now it's time to stop the crazy and to start 'moving forward'... as our prime minister keeps saying.

So I'm doing just that. I hope to have my little etsy / made it shop up and running within the month. It's going to have a mix of  baby stuff like crocheted cardies and hair clips and little nappy covers and maybe dresses (not sure yet) along with some of these gorgeous pillowcases...

Are you chasing your tail? What's stopping you from moving forward? At the moment its the silly little banner needed at the top of the shop and wait for it...  time. I'm sure i can get one done if i could just spend some time sorting it out. Simple as that and I'm ready to get it all happening.

Have a lovely week xox

I'm grateful for...

 Nature...

It's amazing really how nature can create the most beautiful things like trees and butterflies and rainbows and just as quickly it can take it all away.

My sister called me after the tsunami worried that the world was ending. I guess with the list of random natural disasters that have happened in our part of the world since the end of last year it would be easy to think that.

But really these events have been happening for hundred & thousands of years. We have only had colour TV since 1975 and the way we get information has changed. Before we may not have heard about certain events but now we have rolling coverage of disasters. I know it serves a purpose but frankly it's depressing.

So what I'm trying to say is that i want to see the beauty in nature again and I'm grateful for the small wonders it creates like this very full Caterpillar who had feasted on our basil seedlings and could barely move.


Move grateful peeps are hanging out with the lovely Maxabella Loves...

Craft book challenge - March

I joined the craft book challenge to give me a push to get into all those craft books i have collected.

This month's project was from Meet Me at Mikes first craft book and was made just this morning.

Eldest son gets a phone call from his friend late yesterday and organises to go over to his place  today. No worries. Then later last night he tells me ... well actually it's his friends little brother's birthday and his friend was allowed to choose a friend to come over. OHHH Right... So mum can you make him something out of that camo material that you have and can you put his name on it too... That camo material is jersey and i can't really make a pencil case or bag out of it. Don't worry I'll sort something out in the morning.

 Looking for something super quick to whip up that was suitable for a 10 year old boy and pow... make a little pouch, the mmam's one would be perfect.

So after only a few hours from start to finish the gift was ready. We put some Australia postcards inside along with pencils and International post stamps. My son's friends have been posted here from America.

I was pleased as punch when I went to collect my son this afternoon and the birthday boy was well impressed that I had made him this bag. He had questions about how it was made and really was thankful.

Now that's what it's all about hey!

My Creative space...

So very close to finishing this quilt that started a long long time ago... sounds like the start of a fairy tale so I'm looking forward to the warm fuzzies and the end of this creation. It's fox's quilt. he's been on my tail to get it finished and i tried so hard to make a 'masculine' type quilt only to be told otherwise. Never mind, I'm sure he'll enjoy snuggling up under it very soon.

My second project on the go is my Quilt for Queensland. Just after i started making this baby the foot pedal on the pfaff gave up in the humidity and who can blame it really, it's been a hell of a wet season to put it nicely. A replacement pedal arrived from the states last week and I'm just it the process of quilting it together.

I decided to hand quilt it to give some extra loving to it's soon to be new owner. Never hand quilted before... it's a bit harsh on the finger tips but amazingly relaxing and fulfilling at the same time. You should try it.

I have one more project on the go but I will save it for later. Have fun checking out all the lovely Creative spaces over at Kootoyoo.... looks like the lovely Kirsty is trying something new too :)

I'm grateful for...

The people who work behind the scenes to make our lives as they are.
We moved to Townsville a year ago, it's a small city in the Queensland tropics. The roads North and south flood often and sometimes for weeks on end as we experienced over Xmas and new year. That meant that fresh food became scarce along with many other things essential and non essential including mail.

I know that a parcel bursting with new fabric (that i forgot i bought on some up late bender of etsy & flickr) makes my day. And just last week i received a lovely hand written thank you note from a lady who lost all her sewing gear in the floods.

This picture was taken from the passenger seat of our car while we were travelling back to Townsville from Mackay after Cyclone Yasi. When we saw this Australia Post truck we new the roads where open. What a lovely sight indeed.

Pop on over to Maxabella loves... to see what's making peeps grateful