the dream in progress...

So what's been happening lately?

Besides growing my bub (due in 2 days!!) have been slowly building some ideas and stock to take on selling some crafts either at local markets, online or at a new local craft/artist co-op store that is getting up and running (very exciting!!). 

The plan is to use my collection of vintage fabrics and op shopped crafty finds to create individual homewares made from completely recycled materials - bunting, cushions, quilts/rugs.... oh its so exciting!

Here's some of my bunting I made for pre-baby celebrations... and as practice before making some to sell...

 

 Welcome to the start of my 'Naisy Days' range...

No definite plans for where my wares will appear yet, but will get past the first months of motherhood and then hopefully find what will work for me.

Have some cushion ideas I'll share with you later this week! Oh the joy of sewing and creating. Nothing like it. :)

nesting

Our first bub is on its way!

My first trimester was hideous with  nausea and fatigue so I'm in action mode during my second trimester to be set for the worst when third trimester starts in a few weeks time!

I've had such fun delving into my op shop stashes getting creative and making our bub's room a place I'd love to hang out in at any time of the day!  Finished off a few things today and wanted to share it with you all...

Op-shopped embroidery frames and vintage sheet fabrics:

Op-shopped wooden photo frames; a cute pic from an old Frankie mag and a 'Father's love letter' from God to a child:

Op-shopped alphabet blocks, wooden pins and golden books. Love this old crate I got from my mum:

Op-shopped brown cut-out detailed cushion - it needed some love and care to be sew down again but for 50c I love the texture and interest it gives to the room; old cushion which I'd got bored of, but the blue back face of it is perfect for this room. And a rolled cane chair I've had for about 9yrs and my husband wanted to get rid of but I knew it would have a perfect spot one day.  Can sit here and stare out the window at the trees and weather rolling in. A lovely cosy corner.

Some of my favourite little creatures I've found at op-shops.  There is just so much more interest and warmth in oldstyle toys I reckon.

And the cot quilt/play mat in progress! Gender is unknown so I'm sticking to blues and greens mostly. Loving creating my own patterns for different projects and being inspired by the materials I have on hand.

Can't wait to introduce our little bundle me new favourite room in the house!

sew summer

Christmas in my family this year had the theme of recycled, second hand or hand made.  So for my sister and mum I challenged myself to projects that required me to step up my sewing skills

I have conquered continuous bias binding, piping and zips! Oh it feels so good. 

We have a new european cushion cover for my sister's couches... my first attempt was but through quality control test by her 2yr old... fail.  I'm learning! Time and practice will improve the quality of my work I'm promising myself!

A cot quilt for my mum who has now kitted her home out for when her 'grandies' take over when visiting!  My projects are all from recycled fabrics.  This quilt used vintage hankies, sheets, doily and scrap material from the op shops.  Love the individuality and one-off preciousness it gives my projects.

And then a little New Years present for myself.  Some summer cotton cushions.  Just need some more piping to finish off the others for my new lounge collection.  My hubby is a texture phob - so there are a few cushions I have collected over the years that he relegates to being foot cushions as he can't stand the feeling on his skin.  We have success with this one. It's his new favourite!

They all have their lovingly individual imperfections. :)  Looking forward to practicing more so I can look at selling creations in the future! That day will come... when my sewing skills catch up to my dreams!

bye bye christmas

Didn't get to share Christmas with you all since I was out of blogging habit.  Packing away the little touches of Christmas this week. 

This year's theme in my immediate family was handmade, reused or recycled.  After all, so much focus of Christmas can get lost on having to shop or spend money at this time of year.  A lovely challenge to be more resourceful or support those who are producing products more resourcefully.  I made my first cot quilt for my mum (will share a pic soon!), op shopped a fab electronic guitar for 2yr old Nephew #1 and made a softie monkey for 4mth old Nephew #2.  Other family and friends received jars of citrus marmalade and envelopes of flat leaf parsley and coriander seeds dried from my garden. (Dried them just like drying the foliage of herbs for future use. Only takes a couple of days). Looking forward to more sewing and resourceful present challenges for the year ahead!

Till next year my little Christmas creative delights!

my second wedding...

If I had the chance to have another wedding, I would just as easily choose this one as I would my original own.

Our friends Brendo and Jess married on December 3, 2011. A wedding in the park, riverside in our beachside town and a reception at a nearby organic tea-tree and vegie farm set next to a serene water scene with amazing birdlife and horses wandering by in the background.. A wonderful atmosphere with family and friends for a couple truely in love.  The vintage and personal touches that they placed around their ceremony and reception venue were so lovely and all of my favourite things.  Jess is a girl after my own heart!

Hydrangeas and garden flowers,  old chairs from our church for the signing (which I envy every time I see them and think they'd look so inviting in a corner of my home!) doilies her girlfriends and grandmas collected (and made!), herb and vegie pots for the guests, dress-up and photo booth, my favourite - the guest libs and instead of a signature book or board they had a fingerprint tree to remember the guests at their wedding. There were even more touches that I missed capturing but oh it was such a lovely evening you wanted to sit back and enjoy it rather then miss it by being caught up behind the camera.

As I'd say to anyone getting married soon or in the future, a lot of effort is involved but it is so special to make the day your own, a day that speaks of your relationship, interests and things you want to share and remember - and it is all worth it.  Weddings have become more special to me as I reminisce at every one I attend, since my own, of the specialness of our day and what my marriage means to me everyday since. It is the start of a beautiful, yes challenging, but always rewarding journey.

Blessings to you both, Brendo and Jess.

free living challenge - day 11

goal... to abstain from spending hobbies - to focus on finding daily joy in no cost living.

today's joy...

continuing my current cushion cover fetish. decided to save some fun t-shirt prints from the rag pile and use them as features on cushions.  great for something a bit different and to continue the life of pieces that have sentimental value like one from my hubby's travels. there's been a thrifting vs hoarding theme this week on a few blogs... vic at punk & me blogged about the benefits of hoarding today... and erica louise from recycled fashion blogged about the fine line between thrifting and hoarding earlier in the week.

i'm glad i can prove my hubby wrong that you can never have enough potential materials around the house! he's quite impressed with these creations. so yes, past spending was necessary for this no-cost project in recent weeks. maybe i just have to find a bit more of a balance with my spending hobbies in the future. :)

however as my goal exceeds my skills these may stay in this state until i master piping and zippers!!

spent a lovely sunshining morning at the beach watching the dolphins, taking some pics and picking up rubbish along the way.  have been thinking for a while now about creating a beach junk sculpture or sign to hang at the beach entry round holiday time when tourists numbers are at their peak to make a statement about personal responsibility with rubbish and our overuse of plastics.  only 2 bags of rubbish picked up at the beach today. seems april holidayers are better then new-years holidayers!

the start of my collection for my future creation...

not sure how hubby will feel about my collecting rubbish however!!

overall a very satisfying day. :)

the peppermint world

cheers for the long awaited expanding website of peppermint!

cheers for sewing school patterns for rainy days at home! will have an attempt next week.

finally get to read my peppermint mag tomorrow. its been sitting neglected since its arrival. oh joy.