Kelly Casanova Weaving Lessons

Kelly

Beary cute!

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I’d love to spend more time making bears, it’s really so enjoyable and the results so rewarding. Mohair is an excellent medium, even if it does cost a fortune!
I hand sewed this bear for one of my girls who is turning 6 next week. I used the “Camellia” pattern by Karen Alderson which I bought from Gerry’s. The pattern and instructions were great and I actually really enjoyed hand sewing the bear as opposed to machine. I made and designed the clothes.

She is 22cm tall and I suspect will be very well loved!

An interview with Yours Truly

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The lovely Sonja has interviewed me for the SHE (Schooling at Home Etsians) team blog today!

I haven’t been the most dedicated blogger of late – having your page constantly hijacked so that you can’t access it sort of quells the motivation!

I’ve been using every spare moment to work on my final piece for my stumpwork course and also so handmade goodies for one of my girls who is turning 6 next week. I hope to be able to update and share before too long.

God bless!

Thank you God for…

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I’m going to try to post my thanksgiving here every Friday and would love for you to join in. My purpose in doing this is to remind myself of all the good in my life and to acknowledge that I owe all of this goodness to our Creator. I notice a lot of people say “Thank God it’s Friday”, so Friday it is!

I’m not so great at maintaining what I start but if some of you join in perhaps I will be motivated.
You can post as many or as little thank you’s as you like, with or without photos. Then simply link up your blog post with Mr Linky so we can read your thank you’s!


Thank you God for…..


– A wonderfully long and uplifting conversation with my husband lastnight.


– An excellent local library with great resources and lots of free activities for the children.


– The feeling of spring in the air and the joy it brings.


– Recovery from the awful stomach bug I had at the start of the week.


Today I need to pray for something extra. Lord, I pray that pitbulls be completely banned in Australia. This is just too tragic. RIP little darling Ayen.



Fabric flowers

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With spring fast approaching it’s no wonder I feel so inspired by flowers!
New to my shop are these hair accessories:

                      
 Red spots with blue fabric button.

Shabby chic floral with pink rhinestone button

  
Blue polkadot with wool felt and cute mushroom button.

All are attached to metal barrettes and available in my Etsy shop now.

Thank you God for..

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I’m going to try to post my thanksgiving here every Friday and would love for you to join in. My purpose in doing this is to remind myself of all the good in my life and to acknowledge that I owe all of this goodness to our Creator. I notice a lot of people say “Thank God it’s Friday”, so Friday it is!

I’m not so great at maintaining what I start but if some of you join in perhaps I will be motivated.
You can post as many or as little thank you’s as you like, with or without photos. Then simply link up your blog post with Mr Linky so we can read your thank you’s!




Thank you God for…


Moments of sunshine on wintery days


Always taking care of our finances


Helping my husband to excel in his workplace


Central heating!



Oaty choc chip cookies

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I’ve moved my food blog here in order to simplify, so you can expect to see a lot of recipes and baking talk here from now on 🙂
These cookies are a little different and somewhat rustic. The addition of oats makes them a little healthier for the children but also changes the texture to produce a light crunchy cookie.
125g butter 
1/3 cup white sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 egg
3/4 cup plain flour
1/2 teaspoon bicarb soda (baking soda)
pinch of salt
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or essence)
1.5 cups of rolled oats
80 grams roughly chopped milk cooking chocolate
Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and half the flour as well as the bicarb soda, salt, milk and vanilla. Stir in the rest of the flour with the oats and chocolate.
Place heaped teaspoons of the mix onto a greased or baking papered tray. Bake at 180 degrees (C) or 350 degrees (F) for about 10 minutes. Watch them – they can burn fairly quickly! Cool on the tray for a minute or two, then slide onto cooling racks.

Craft studio clean up!

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Aren’t I cheeky, calling it my studio when in reality it’s a table in the corner of the room. Still, it’s my creative space and I’m grateful for it.
So, my space had gotten messy to the point of me being unable to sit down at the table without feeling overwhelmed and totally creatively stifled. Take a look for yourself!

Oh, the clutter!

How could I let it get so bad?!

Yuck!

Transformation!! 
Hooray!
See that? Clear space on the table!

A $35 set of plastic drawers from the Reject shop has helped immensely.

I even have things on display now.

Some cheap but pretty gift boxes (also from the Reject shop) now house my hand embroidery stuff.

This is my new “currently working on” basket.

And to top off the thrill of a clean space these fabrics arrived from Carol today. Carol makes exceptionally lovely cushions, quilts etc in the shabby chic style for her business Antique Rose Designs.

Now I feel really inspired, thank you for these beautiful fabrics Carol!
Not only do I feel fresh and inspired, I’ve realised how much craft stuff I have that hasn’t been used yet. Gets me thinking.
How about you? Have I inspired you to do a little reorganising in your craft space? It’s so well worth the effort!

5 things I love about Mondays!

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File:Monday morning I.jpg
Image credit

1. My husband is home every Monday, so it’s one of my favourite days of the week.

2. The beginning of a brand new week after a restful Sunday.

3. Mondays represent a little freedom for me. My husband can look after the children while I go out shopping (even grocery shopping is a luxury without having to take the children along!) or go to my embroidery class.

4. The children are happy. We don’t do any formal schoolwork on Mondays so it’s a relaxed and fun day for them. And of course, their number 1. Dad is home from work!

5. We get a lot done on Mondays. We try to do very little on Sundays and a lot on Mondays. Whether it’s a family outing, home renovation, gardening or catching up on paying bills, it feels very productive. Getting things done at the start of the week helps me to prepare for the week of educating ahead so that I can focus as much as possible on the children and not stress too much about “everything else”.

What are your Mondays like? Do you have any particular routines or rituals? Tell me, I’d love to know!

Thank you God for…..

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I’m going to try to post my thanksgiving here every Friday and would love for you to join in. My purpose in doing this is to remind myself of all the good in my life and to acknowledge that I owe all of this goodness to our Creator. I notice a lot of people say “Thank God it’s Friday”, so Friday it is!

I’m not so great at maintaining what I start but if some of you join in perhaps I will be motivated.
You can post as many or as little thank you’s as you like, with or without photos. Then simply link up your blog post with Mr Linky so we can read your thank you’s!

So here is my thanksgiving for the week:

 Thank you God for:


1. The warm weather we’ve had this week that has lifted our spirits and given excitement in planning our Spring garden.

2. The positive mood that has followed me around this week.

3. The small transformations in our house that are making it feel cleaner and homlier.

4. The strength to get out of bed and teach my children everyday.

I look forward to reading your thanksgiving! God bless.