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Winds of change

This week I have done things differently – you may have noticed my absence here and it has been deliberate. Time away from blogging, facebook, twitter and all things online has allowed me some breathing space this week. Not only that – but I have committed myself to taking the children out every day while the weather is fine. What an improvement this has made! Yes, I’m totally exhausted but in a good way. Now to share some of our week with you:

Lemon and poppy seed drizzle cake, recipe here

I love how my 5 year old has such a strong mothering instinct, she attracts little ones wherever she goes.

I love how my children are growing and changing and feel so blessed to be a part of it.

Op shop finds + daytura flowers = happiness!

Enjoying local sights.

Jar makeovers with paper, mod podge, colour papers and ribbon.

I printed out an old picture I like, soaked in tea and dried. Then coloured lightly with watercolour pencil and sealed with mod podge. Attached and layered with mod podge also. Tied a velvet ribbon around and placed some dried poppy heads in. Easy!

I’ve re – committed to my desire to live fully on baked bread. I’m going pretty well with no bought bread for about 2 weeks. I bake it every second day.

Slow and steady wins the race. I hope I’ve finished stippling this quilt by M’s 4th birthday next month!

Rock cakes are a constant favourite here. I’ll try to post the recipe on my other blog sometime soon.

If I haven’t visited your blog lately I do apologise – I don’t want to become one of these bloggers who expect comments but don’t give any. Perhaps you’ll decide to remain silent today in protest!

Hope your week has been as productive as mine. God bless!

Dear Reader,

by Kelly 3 Comments

THANK YOU!

To all of you who leave me comments. To all who send an email to say hi and check I’m OK. To all who have sent me wonderful things in the mail to cheer me up. To all who have prayed for me. To all who have gone out of their way just for me.

Your thoughtfulness and kindness means so very much to me. So, once again THANK YOU and God bless you!

Have a happy day 🙂

Decoupage

by Kelly 6 Comments

Ever tried decoupage? I had an old wood tissue box cover that has been painted, repainted, covered in fabric and eventually shoved away as I didn’t like any of the previous ways I’d decorated. I like it now. A lot.

This was a fairly long process but well worth it and one that I really enjoyed. It’s great to have a break from your regular crafts and try something completely different. It’s also cool that I already had a lot of the materials I needed to start and the decorative paper is cheap.

In case you’re interested in the process I’ll give you a brief account. Firstly, 4 coats of cream coloured acrylic paint. This was sanded back to reveal a little of the original black paint on the edges and corners. The images are from a piece of scrapbooking paper that I cut out with scissors and a craft knife. That took patience!

After gluing and drying the images I varnished a couple of times then applied crackle varnish. The effect was much too subtle so I reapplied but still no joy. Moving on, I mixed raw umber paint with flow medium and rubbed on with a cloth to give an aged or antique look. Then I varnished about a trillion times (I seriously lost count of how many coats!), sanded, varnished, varnished….

I’m going to give a final light sand to take a bit of the shine off, and voila!

Now I’m casting my eyes all around the house to see what else I can decoupage – yes folks, a new obsession is born……

Hottie Challenge

by Kelly 9 Comments

After much deliberation I’ve finished my cover for the Hottie Challenge!

I decided to use a piece of my hand dyed silk that I was keeping for something special. I used free motion embroidery to highlight the colours and patterns of the silk.

I also added beads and some hand embroidery.

The back is made with some of my hand painted fabrics.

I know it’s a little “out there” but I really wanted to do something a bit different and reflect my love of colour and patterns.

This one is off to Curlypops Central, then to Open Drawer to raise money for the Margaret Pratt Foundation. I’m looking forward to seeing what everyone else has come up with 🙂

Crafting for charity

by Kelly 9 Comments

I’ve heard many a time that the best way to help yourself out of a low period is to work for the benefit of others and I find it to be very true.
Over the weekend I’ve been busy sewing for a handmade auction at my husband’s work for someone very much in need.

I’m very happy with this bag that I designed as I went along with a great deal of winging it! I went to Spotlight to buy handles, but when I saw the $15 price tag for a couple of bits of plastic I changed my mind and made a strap.

The bag is pleated (that took ages!) and has boxed corners, if that’s what you call them.

Hobo bag from a commercial pattern.

Finished with a matching fabric covered button. I hope these bags raise some money for the auction.

I picked some lemons from our tree to make a small batch of lemon curd, I love it.

Thanks to all who commented on my last post, I so appreciate your positive support 🙂

Blech.

by Kelly 9 Comments

Maybe it’s the cold and wet weather. Could be the $1000+ worth of unpaid bills stuck to our fridge or the specific time of the month, the complete lack of inspiration or dwelling on hurt from the past. The zero sales that I’ve had these past months. Whatever it is – whyever it is I wish it would go away and leave me alone because I don’t like it!

I have too many good things in my life to ever feel down about, yet it still happens and I can’t shake it. It goes away eventually. But then it returns. Sigh.

How about I just show you a couple of things I’ve made lately that have made me happy?

Simplicity 9464 – a thrifted pattern from ages ago. The top fabric (don’t know what it is – lets call is voile) was given to me by a relative who didn’t want it. So this pretty dress cost only a few dollars for the lining fabric which I already had. Wonderful, and she loves it 🙂

The girls and I were mucking around with polymer clay the other day and I made this little bear. Very simple, baked, coated with varnish and that’s it!

Hopefully I’ll be over my whatever thing in a few days and come back with some positive and inspiring stuff. If you’re feeling a little down my mission for today is to pray for you!

God bless.

The Invisible World

by Kelly 2 Comments

I love being asked to review books on my blog but I do have a strict policy that I adhere to: if I don’t like the book then I don’t review it – I would rather not complete the review than do the author the disservice of giving a bad review.

I was thrilled when Anthony Destefano sent me a copy of his latest book to review but also a little apprehensive because although I have read his marvellous children’s literature I had not yet ventured into his adult books.

No fear – I loved the book. It is one of those hard to put down, “wish I had a free day or two to just read this” books.

Image from Amazon

To give an overview, Anthony writes about the unseen world around us – delving into angels, devils and spirits, but it goes much deeper than that. I found the book to be highly intelligent and multi angled.

Anthony’s writing style is personal, but in a brotherly way rather than a distant authoritarian way.
It is pointed, yet not heavy, so an excellent read for a busy Mum like me.

I found the content easy to understand – no new concepts for me but a reiteration of known and some forgotten facts.

The Invisible World would appeal to Christians of all denominations, but also those who are interested in Christianity, death and eternity.

What I have received from reading this book is a reignition of some areas of my faith that had been overlooked and perhaps gone a little cold over time. I’ve been reminded of invisible forces that shape who I am and what I do.

The final verdict – highly recommended!

Wanna see something gorgeous?

by Kelly 12 Comments

Sorry, but no, it isn’t a photo of yours truly 😉

I have been ~~apprehensively~~ excitedly awaiting my parcel for the cushion swap. The last swap I participated in didn’t go so well – I didn’t like what I was sent and considering the resounding silence from my recipient I figure the feeling was mutual… Back to my parcel. I knew when it arrived this morning and saw the beautifully decorative label that I was in for a treat.

I had to force myself to pause for this photo!

The accompanying bookmark reads:

“I hope you like it! The 4 chicks are symbolising your 4 kids and the chicken theme is a nod to your natural, organic life!”

The girls were all over the cushion, each trying to claim it for their own bed!

The back was finished with an invisible zip (oh boy, I wish I could sew in a zip like this lady!)

I can see how much time and thought went into this cushion and I’m really touched and honoured to be in possession of it. The quality of stitching is just superb. It is now sitting on the couch and makes me smile when I walk past.

Naturally, you want to know the talented artist who made this. Her name is Anna and she a website and a blog.

Shiny Happy Art and the blog.

THANK YOU SO MUCH ANNA!!!

My Creative Space

by Kelly 3 Comments

Every now and then I’m seized with songwriting inspiration and go for it. One of the reasons I don’t write much anymore is I find it hard to deal with interruptions from the children and lose the flow. One day I’ll actually get around to recording something for you all!

My husband’s workplace is soon having a handmade homegrown auction to raise money for a very good cause so I think I’ll make a couple of bags. I’m winging it with this one so hopefully it turns out OK!

To be teamed with the Maisy quilt I’ve been working on this wool felt design for a matching cushion. The quilt has stalled because I’m in need of some flannel for the backing. Meanwhile, I’m enjoying a bit of hand embroidery on the quilt, which is looking pretty good even to my too harsh on myself eyes.

Grab some inspiration from these other creative spaces. and have a most wonderful day 🙂

Real estate speak translations

by Kelly 4 Comments

File:Dilapidated house at Murlaggan - geograph.org.uk - 969611.jpg

As we now search for our next home and are “seasoned buyers” I feel I’m getting quite good at translating the traditional real estate language that most agents seem to speak.

For those of you who don’t have a lot of experience in the home buying game, here are a few pointers for you:

“Plenty of room for the kids to play outdoors” – The house is so tiny it will actually make the yard look massive.

File:Dilapidated house at Blairgie - geograph.org.uk - 1752905.jpg

“Unique staircase” -Exceptionally steep. More of a ladder really. Prepare to climb.

“Cosy” – You won’t be swinging any cats in here!

“Comfortable family home” – Sure, if you have 1.6 children!!

“Renovator’s delight” – Current residents are a family of possums and many families of rodents.

“Overlooking a pond” – Some bright spark dug a gigantic hole two feet from the front door, filled it with water and named it “pond”.

File:Dilapidated croft house at Eyre - geograph.org.uk - 1779627.jpg

All dilapidated house pictures courtesy of wikimedia commons

“Turn of the century, original wood oven” – Hasn’t actually functioned for about 80 years and will need to be removed.

“Unusual” – plain ugly

“Outdoor room that could be utilized as additional guest accommodation” – I wouldn’t put a dog in that cold, dirty, dingy room let alone a guest!!!

Best of luck finding your dream home!