Blogtoberfest 2010 - The End

And so, blogtoberfest is over for another year. I didn't fare as well this year as I did last year, kind of dropped the ball a bit. But in looking back over the month, I still managed to get heaps done, and was able to blog most of it.

I hosted weekly giveaways and even won a fabulous one.

I attended a fabulous exhibition opening with new friends.

I've spent a fair amount of time making stock for markets, and even committed myself to one that I've been meaning to do for awhile.

I've hosted a swap and participated in another.

I've even been held captive in my house by a rogue snake! Oh, and I finally got another job.

Thank you Cathy for doing such a fabulous job of hosting, and thank you Ms CurlyPops for keeping track of all the wonderful giveaways.

So, it has been a big month. It's funny how when it's all documented like this that you can reflect more on what you've managed to achieve when you haven't really felt like you've achieved much at all. That's what I've gotten out of this years blogtoberfest. How about you?

p.s. Don't forget to enter my last blogtoberfest giveaway here. It's a big one! Entries close midnight tonight (Australian eastern standard time).

Thank you.....

1. Bluebell and Violet, 2. Dresden, 3. Posie, 4. Barbara

****entries have now closed.****

Well, we've come to the last Friday giveaway of blogtoberfest, and I promised a big one, so here it is. As a thank you to those that choose to follow along on my (mainly!) crafty journey, I would like to giveaway either a bear or bunny, custom made, as my gift to you, dear reader. That's right, one of my signature bunnies or bears could be yours. These currently retail at Handmade Heaven for $79.95 (bear) and $84.95 (bunny). I will be offering this as a follower only offer. Whether that be you are already a follower or a newbie, or even one that follows in bloglines (I know you're out there!), then this is the giveaway for you. So, all you have to do to enter is be a follower, and let me know in the comment of this post whether you would like a bear or bunny and what colours you would like. I'm opening this world wide, so anyone can enter. Have a look through my previous bunny and bear posts (here and here), and see if anything takes your fancy. I have most colours in vintage chenille, I'm bound to have something you will love! You've got until midnight, Sunday the 31st of October (Australian eastern standard time) to enter. I'll be drawing the winner on the 1st of November, so get entering!

So again, thank you. Thank you for following along with my ramblings and giving me support when I need it. Just reading my stats and knowing how many people pop by is enough sometimes to keep me going.

XXOO

Friday giveaway winner!

I've drawn the winner of last weeks giveaway (I really wish I could figure out how to grab a screen shot of the random number thingy!!)

The winner was comment number 3 which is.......JK Creations! Congratulations Jess, I'll be in touch!

I'll be back real soon to announce my final giveaway for blogtoberfest. Make sure you come back, this one is a doozy!

my creative space...

Says it all really.

Much more productive creative spaces over here.

edit: 40 minutes after posting the last pic..........#$%#@!*&^*!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Robots

Thanks to Vic I've been a little enamoured with robots lately. Particularly robot fabric. There is some cute stuff out there. While in Spotlight the other day for other things I came across this robot print in flannel and just couldn't resist! I could see the little chenille and flannel baby quilt forming in my head. So while I know it's not chenille baby quilt weather here, I will just have to make it. Kind of a reward when I get all these stockings finished off for Gatton's Christmas in the Country. Speaking of which, I really should get back to that sewing machine.........

Apologies

I've really dropped the ball this blogtoberfest. I've missed days, I've barely had a look at all the other blogs participating in blogtoberfest, I've been terribly slack at replying to comments and even slacker at getting the prizes sent off to the winners of my giveaways. So, my apologies. I really do mean that. Sorry for dropping the ball. I hope to catch up with everything but at this stage it may not be until early next week. I start my new job today and I still have to finish off a heap of stock to send to the Gatton Christmas in the Country.

Tinniegirl did pose the question yesterday, what brings people to her blog, and it got me thinking the same thing. What brings you wonderful people to my little part of the blogosphere? What makes you hit that little follow button and keep coming back and leaving your lovely supportive comments even when I am so slack at replying to you? I would really love to know.

Flea Market find of the year!

As part of blogtoberfest Sophie thought it would be fun to host "Flea Market find of the Year". My entry to this is something that when I first blogged it here, I had already proclaimed it to be my flea market find of the year. To most of you it may be boring, but I believe that when you've specifically been looking for an item for ages at the oppy and then find it and it's A) exactly what you were after and B) fits like it was tailored for you and C) half price, then it's fate really isn't it. So, this is it. My grey light wool coat, to take to France. My Flea Market find of the year.

Emerging....

me and kylie

Just a quick post today, I'm absolutely exhausted from my day at the Craft and Quilt Fair. I just wanted to thank Kylie for inviting me to her first solo exhibition, Emerging, last night. Kylie, your work is just fabulous and I wish you all the future success in the world. It was wonderful to see your pieces in the flesh (so to speak!) and even better to see those little red dots next to them ;)

XXOO

Friday giveaway...again!

Well, we're well over the halfway hump of blogtoberfest now. I know I've missed a couple of days here and there, but I've decided to not let it get to me. The way things are looking for next week I'm sure I'll be missing a couple more too. I just realised last night that I only have a little more than a week to get ready for Gattons Christmas in the Country, and I am not prepared at all. On top of that I start my new job next week! I can see some late night crafting in the very near future. Nothing like a fast looming deadline to spark some action!


Anyway, onto this weeks giveaway. This week I've got a little chenille fairy kit that I purchased a few years back when my chenille obsession was still new. I did have every intention of making these, but never got around to it. And lets face it, my daughter has never been much of a fairy fan anyway. In this kit is everything you need to make these little fairys. They are very cute. Just leave a comment if you would like it.


And the winner of last weeks giveaway is....... Catherine! Congratulations Catherine!

As next Friday is the last Friday of Blogtoberfest I am planning a much bigger giveaway. Make sure you pop back then for the details.

my creative space...

Just finishing up my stocking for The Great Stocking Swap. Since taking this photo yesterday, it has progressed much further. I hope to get all my other bits and pieces done that I'm sending to my swap partner and get it all into the mail tomorrow. I've ended up quite busy this week, so there hasn't been much time for crafting (or blogtoberfesting! bad blogger, bad blogger!), I finally found another casual job! Yay! When I get my roster I know that things will start to get a bit more organised around here, not having a job to go to since March has really messed with my routine.

Head over to Kirsty's for more creative spaces.

Your invitation.....

You are invited to the online opening

of

Emerging

Friday the 22^nd of October at 6:30pm

(Eastern standard time – Queensland Australia. Time zone converter here)

For those of you who aren't lucky enough (like I am!) to be attending the actual opening for Kylie's first solo exhibition, Emerging, she has organised an online opening to start at the same time as her actual exhibition starts. Isn't that wonderful of her? Now you all get to enjoy her beautiful pieces.

Make sure to pop by her blog at the above time to check it out. I think it would be fun to sit at home all dressed up with your champers in hand, waiting for it to begin. It sounds so exciting I almost wish I was going to be home to see the online launch instead of being at the actual opening! Well.......almost.

image taken from Kylie Stevens.

** Stocking swap reminder **

Oops! Forgot to blog yesterday for blogtoberfest! Oh well, moving on!



I just wanted to put the reminder out there to all the swappers taking part in my Great Stocking Swap. As of today, there is only 2 more weeks to get your stockings finished and in the post. Quite a few of you have already finished and posted off your stockings, well done! I plan to have mine finished up by the end of the week and have it posted off. If you've received your stocking and blogged about it, put a link up in the comments section of this post, I'd love to have everyone come and check them out!

Blog lovin' Saturday

In trying hard to think of things to blog during blogtoberfest, I thought I might do something a little different today.


Sometimes in the blog world you come across a blog that just speaks to you at a certain time. Like, recently I have been stumbling across blogs from France that are in English. Usually English bloggers, living in France. And I've really been enjoying them.
Then I came across a blogger who is an Aussie, living in the south of France. That got my interest straight up as in April next year I'm heading off to France, spending the majority of my time in the south, through Burgundy and Provence. But this chick has it all. She's Aussie, she's crafty, she's witty, she's a bit of a foodie and she shows off lovely pictures of their French holidays. Oh, and she writes well too! Tres magnifique! The only problem I have with this blog is that Kirsty doesn't blog enough!


Go and check out Kirsty's blog, You had me at bonjour, and I hope you'll love it too.


All images taken from you had me at bonjour, property of Kirsty.

Friday giveaway and last weeks winner

We're at the half way mark for Blogtoberfest now, anyone else feeling the pressure?!


I'll just get straight into this weeks giveaway, that is what you're here for isn't it? This week I have this very cute Gingerbread craft pattern. I do love this pattern, but it has been sitting in my pattern draw for a few years now and it's very likely I'll never actually use it, so I thought I'd pass it along. If you want it, leave a comment. That's it.

And the winner of last weeks giveaway is....... Nicole! Thanks Nicole for entering, hope you like to knit!


Speaking of giveaways, did you happen to notice that I was the extremely lucky winner of Kerryanne's 'Simply Christmas' planner giveaway?! I know, right?! How cool! Well it arrived today, and it is gorgeous! Look at it, all wrapped up like a Christmas present! Thank you so much Kerryanne!

my creative space...

I'm hoping to get a chance today to finish up these quilt squares for Deb's earthquake appeal so I can get them in the post to her tomorrow. I have some errands and some appointments to get through first so hopefully I'll have enough energy left over to get them done!

More creative spaces at Kirsty's.

Birthday shoutout

Happy Birthday Sharon!

I really hope you had yourself a great day, no matter the circumstances.

The Challenge

Phew! If it wasn't for Tinniegirls self portrait challenge , I would have really been struggling to blog something today! And it seems I'm not the only one with this problem.

So, this is me, behind the camera. With only slight photoshopping (I just had to flip it, taken in the mirror the Pentax was reversed, and it drove me mad!).

Blogtoberfest Day 12

You would be forgiven for thinking this alleged craft blog had indeed become a dog blog, but no, it really is a craft blog. My Blogtoberfest hasn't quite been running to plan so far. I was cutting it a bit fine with posts I had planned, a couple of days of sickness and bam, out of things to blog.

There has been craft going on around these parts though, but really just the boring stuff. This pile of cut out chenille and fabric Christmas stockings and their coordinating cuffs is getting bigger. I really hate production line sewing but I've realised in order for me to get the amount of stockings I want done before Gatton's Christmas in the Country in early November, this is the most efficient way of making it happen. So I've just been cutting. And cutting. See, boring. Stick with me though, there may be some good stuff coming up real soon*.

*well, we can all dream now can't we.

What happens when....

....you leave a 9 month old puppy alone for any length of time. No, that trench was not there before.

Blogtoberfest Day 10

Almost missed a day!

I don't mind the wildlife where we live. Even these guys, when they stay outside like they should. But this guy, he crossed the line. I was taking stuff out to my car and when I was headed back towards the door I saw the end of his tail slither inside the front door. I felt rather like a SuperHero leaping over the threshold (and the snake) to get in front of him to herd him back out. If he had of got into my already overflowing cupboards, we may never have found him again, and I would be sleeping at a motel. He's still sending a shiver down my spine!

Animation err....Saturday??

So I know the usual drill for Animation Friday is, well, Friday, but I only just now created this and simply couldn't wait to share it. Isn't Millie the cutest thing ever??

Blogtoberfest Day 9

Still feeling decidedly under the weather today, but not wanting to miss a day of blogtoberfest, I thought I would pull out an oldie from last years blogtoberfest, the random fact about me.

So, random fact about me, I first starting making money from craft when I was 12 years old. I used to make hair scrunchies using the scraps from my Mum's stash and I would then sell them to teachers at school. I had a shoebox I would carry them around in and go to each staff room selling my wares. I sold them for $2.50 each and I made a killing.

Friday giveaway!

Just a very quick post today. It seems I have come down with some sort of lurgy type thing between yesterdays creative space and last night. Woke up in a cold sweat at 4.30 this morning shaking and shivering.


Anyway, you don't want to hear about that, you just want the next giveaway right? So this weeks giveaway is for 3 vintage 1960's (I think) knitting pattern books. One is for women and the other two are children size. There are some very cute little patterns in this lot. So you know the drill, you want it, leave a comment.



And the winner from last weeks giveaway is...... Linda, from 2 Pink Possums! Congrats Linda!

my creative space...

Blogtoberfest Day 7


Not much going on today. The only pressing thing is grocery shopping. So after that's done, I will (hopefully!) sew up a skirt using this vintage tablecloth and very '80's skirt pattern. I'm hoping it will stay overcast as it is now, I always seem to get more in the sewing mood when it's overcast or lightly raining. Is anyone else like that, or is it just me?

Check out more creative spaces at Kirsty's.

Magazine swap arrived!

I can't believe I forgot to blog this! I took part in Floss' "No Frills Magazine Swap" and I got partnered with Floss herself. And wasn't I glad I did! She was after an Australian lifestyle/country homes magazine and I, of course, was after a French crafty mag. And what a mag she sent.


This thing is full to the brim of gorgeous cross stitch projects that I can see me making for myself and others.


Thanks so much Floss for organising such a fun, quick and easy swap. I'm looking forward to the next one!

Just chillin'

Blogtoberfest Day 6


This last week or so the weather here has been rather erratic. Rain then heat then high humidity now wind. It's been playing havoc on my sinus's. So today I'm just going to chill. Maybe potter around the house, make a nice pork and vege curry for dinner, and not sweat the little stuff. What are you up to today?

p.s. If you like the look of my mini chocolate croissants, you really should check out Cathie's. Much prettier than mine, though mine still taste pretty good. Just following a good recipe I guess.

Tuesday's Treasures

Blogtoberfest Day 5


Thought I would join in with Clare's Tuesday Treasures. I need to fill up these blogtoberfest days somehow! My treasures today are just a small part of my collection of comports. I really didn't realise how many I actually had until I was looking around the house to grab them for this photo. Believe me, this is a small selection of them! They all started with the gorgeous larger one in the foreground there. It was a 21st birthday present from my great-aunt and I instantly fell in love with them. I have them in glass and I have them in silver plated. The silver filigree one in the back was a wedding present from one of my besties from high school whose mother owned a secondhand store. Probably my favourite wedding present! I am always on the look out for an amethyst one, quite hard to come by and when you do, they are out of my budget!

Blogtoberfest Day 4

I have a bit of a cruisy day planned today. First day back at school for Miss 13, so I have the day to myself. I have a couple of little projects to finish off that I can take all day to finish if I want. Ahhh, bliss. I am starting to feel the pressure of Blogtoberfest and wondering if I can stay the distance. I've grabbed the little blogtoberfest calendar from 74 Lime Lane and am planning out the month. Go and grab your planner from here. It should come in handy me thinks. Thank you Kellie!

Week.....7

Alright. So lets just pretend that this really is week 7 and that last week didn't exist. Agreed?

Flea Market finds

Blogtoberfest Day 3


I've been a bit more restrictive in my opping lately. Trying very hard to only buy things I'm actually looking for. So I was very happy when I came across this queen size doona cover for $5. I've been looking for a nice striped sheet to make up a dress I've had the pattern for for awhile. I've also got a vintage skirt pattern that I've wanted some nice linen to make it up in, and I found this brown floral piece, over 2 1/2 metres, for $3.


Then the tea towels. Fast becoming my oppy weakness. These ones were only .50c each. Just can't resist that. And just look at that top one. Cute or what?! I do have some plans for these, more to come on that one I think (assuming they work out how I want them to, otherwise you may never hear of them again....).

Head over to Sophie's for other flea market finds.

Stocking inspiration week...3 and Blogtoberfest Day 2

Whoops. It's actually meant to be week 4 but the last week has been a little hectic and all sorts of things just went out the window. Oh well, must press on.

This week I have come across a few sewing patterns for Christmas stockings. There are quite a few out there on the internets! First up, this very elegant stocking in all white from Martha Stewart using up a handkerchief as a cuff. I guess if you wanted you wouldn't have to use an all white one, but it does make it so very classic.

Found here.

Then I came across these very interesting stockings (again, Martha Stewart) using felt and punching tools. Very nice.

Found here.

There is also this strip quilted one. I think they could have used better pictures, but it really has the potential to be a very nice stocking. And a great way to use up all your Christmassy fabric scraps. I think I'll be making one of these ones for myself.


Found here.

Hope you enjoy those links!

Blogtoberfest Day 1!

Let the festivities begin! What better way to kick off blogtoberfest than with a giveaway! Right?! I'll be holding weekly giveaways during blogtoberfest, every Friday. So make sure you come back every week. I'll be posting anywhere, and I don't like rules to my giveaways, so anyone is in with a chance.

First up is this very sweet little girls smock dress and bloomers vintage pattern. It has the sweetest little smocking detail, the smocking transfer is included in the pattern. It has been cut, but all the pieces are there in very good used condition. I thought I would add in some embroidery threads to go with the pattern to use for the smocking detail.

So, if you want it, leave a comment! You have until next Friday to enter for this one, then I'll draw the winner and announce the next giveaway. Good luck, and Happy Blogtoberfest everyone!