8 Little Things

 

1. New additions - a thrifted boy wearing clogs and holding a duck (who could resist?) for $1, and a 10 pound ball from Freedom

2. 'Great Expectations' - my latest book club read. I love an excuse to read classics.

3. My first piece of Anthropologie - a gorgeous paisley cowl I won in a giveaway on Mother Down Under - thanks Caitlin!

4. Chocolate Cake Beard!

5. Brooch friends - One for the Pot and Erin's window

6. Broccoli in bloom - so pretty

7. A new thrifted cushion for $2 - a little bit of early Spring

8. Phase two partially complete on the Doll House - first coat done

 

What lovely things have you been making, growing or doing lately?

Eight Reasons to Smile

1. Blowing bubbles for the first time

2. An old cane laundry basket found at the markets ($2!) and piles of hand knitted baby clothes. Cane baskets make doing laundry that little bit nicer I find.

3. Emerson's treasures, old and new

4. Brave visitors at the duck pond and a fascinated little Miss

5. A coat of white paint to bring a bookcase back to life
6. A 'new to me' vintage dinner service my parents had hidden away
7. A sweet thrifted basket ($2.50)
8. Wonderful mail - Greer spoiling me with gorgeous wool!

What's making you smile?

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Have you entered the Sussan $100 Gift Voucher Giveaway yet? Winner announced tomorrow.

Lately

1 & 2. Thrifted round cushion and gum boots

3. So many choices

4. Egg and dairy free baking

5. My little helper is teething

Thanks to all those who joined in the Handmade Ornament Swap! Everyone who sent an email has been included (no matter if our time zones differed and the linky had closed. If you emailed me, you are in.) Sign up is closed now and 72 crafty folk are taking part. What a fantastic response! Even better than I had expected. Thanks everyone for sending through your details and for all your kind words. And thanks to everyone who helped spread the word. We have swappers from Australia, New Zealand, USA, UK, Portugal, Germany, Canada, Turkey and the Czech Republic.

I have begun matching up partners, which is a lengthy process. Each swapper needs a partner for their ornament and a second partner to receive an ornament from, so three people in total need to be matched. If they have chosen to make two ornaments that number goes up to five people. Then the variables such as national or international, likes and dislikes, come in to play. I've enjoyed reading all your likes and dislikes. I have noticed that pink and brown seem to be the most disliked; while traditional colours, embroidery and crochet top the most liked. Everyone will receive an email before the first of November with their partners details. 

I can't wait to see what everyone makes!

Thrifted - practical and charming

These sweet old cups were 50 cents each. The crane was made for Cohen by a man at the op-shop to keep him amused.

Hand knitted baby dresses, $1 each.

These hand knits 50c - $1 each.

This tricky looking girls hand knitted top was $3.

Charming, cheap and practical. The rewards of buying what we need second hand. 

Eventually

I once discovered a bag of crochet squares while op-shopping. (My blog informs this was in 2009. Surely not!) They were sweet and colourful, all made of wool, and it seemed sad to leave them there. I couldn't help but wonder about the maker and her plans for them. I decided to give them a new life, though I had no idea what that new life might look like. Over the years I have laid them out and rearranged them, trying to think of a use for them - scarf? dolls blanket? - before being reminded that each one varies slightly in size and many don't sit flat. Still at a loss as to what to do, they would go back in to the bag.

Funny how things come together. Kate's month of motifs reminded me of that little bag and Kylie's gifted bunting decided their fate. With only the ends to weave in now, I believe they do make the most charming bunting. And I'm sure they won't mind being put away again until a certain little girl turns one. First birthday's come so quickly after all.

I'm so pleased to have given these lost squares a new life. Eventually.