Archive for April, 2011

a moment of calmness and pancakes

April 29, 2011
the view from the pickled fig

I had a special treat this morning, breakfast at a local café with my Hubby, sans toddler. We had a real conversation and read the newspaper like other grown-ups do! The café is called the Pickeld Fig and is at South Beach. The view of the water is very pretty, I think there should be more cafés on the water in Freo. I had pancakes, and only ate half because there is no space for pancakes plus baby in my belly anymore! Happy days, I will look back on these calmer moments with fondness and longing in the coming weeks…

mmm pancakes pickled fig at south beach hello baby belly
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bird mobile

April 28, 2011

Officially one week to go until bub’s due date. I am kind of taking it easy now… but there is still a lot to do! My mum has arrived and she is magic. This morning she did my laundry, looked after Mister E so I could rest and then painted my toenails. She is amazing, thanks Mum!

She has been helping me sort through all the stuff that I packed away from when Mister E was born. I found this fabric birdy mobile that I sewed for him. I am going to put it up above the change table for the new bub. I found the tutorial at spool sewing 

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thrifty pencil tins

April 25, 2011
page torn from a nice book

I felt inspired to tidy up a little in my studio today. I decided to make some storage for my pencils and paintbrushes and other paraphernalia that have been piling up around me. It’s so easy to make one of these and I think they look so good! All you need is a clean tin, a nice bit of paper and some double sided tape. I have boxes of bits of paper just for such a moment of crafty inspiration. This picture I took from a book of watercolor drawings that I bought at the op-shop for next to nothing. I will need to make a few more to get my mess really under control!

before after
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birthday goodness

April 23, 2011
easter eggs

I had a very low-key birthday today as I am trying to conserve my energy for this imminent birth! I had a day filled with flowers and friends and my hubby took me shopping to let me pick my birthday pressies.

It’s a perfect shopping experience, I don’t know what I want when we go, but I know where to look. I go into my two favorite shops in Fremantle; remedy on High street and cornerstore on South Terrace. Today I picked out a scissors and string spool set (only I could get excited about string). I also found this super cute mis-matched cutlery set which I saw online at the contemporary home, perfect for our beach picnics. I’m going to bed a well loved and happy girl!

O-CHECK Scissors, String & Spool

perfectly mis-matched

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easter egg surprises – part two

April 22, 2011
sweets to fill the eggs

Easter is upon us and tomorrow I am having a few friends over for brunch, so I have finished off my little Easter egg surprises. I filled them with sweets and stickers and little fluffy baby chickens. Tomorrow we’ll crack them open and indulge in some sugar goodness. The eggshells still have a lingering smell of vinegar from when I sterilised them, hope that doesn’t make the chocolate taste funny! I glued the holes over with little mini cupcake papers, I’m not too sure how well they’ll stick, we’ll see in a few hours … I’ll keep you posted on if they were a success. They were fun to make in any case. I also ended up with some beautiful eggshell glitter from breaking little piece of the dyed eggshell off to fit the mini choc eggs in. It’s so pretty I’m going to keep the cracked eggs and make more glitter for crafty things.

eggshell glitter stuffing the eggs not sure how well the paper will stick
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delightful storybook pictures

April 15, 2011

I am so easily enamoured with lovely packaging. I had no intention of buying chocolate (really I didn’t) but I spotted these bars in a Euro-deli and couldn’t resist. How gorgeous are the illustrations?

By coincidence, the same afternoon I went to the post office and was surprised with a package full of gifts from a dear friend. Amongst other things she sent me these vintage flash cards with old storybook illustrations on them. They are so beautiful I think I am going to frame each and every one. (New op-shop mission, find 26 cheap photo frames). It’s so nice to have friends who know me so well. I feel very spoilt. If you want to get a set of these cards for yourself you can buy them over at red wagon.

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easter egg surprises – part one

April 10, 2011

My amazing hubby took our little man and spent the day out so that I could have some R & R before the bubba comes. I should have used the time wisely and watched a movie or had a sleep. Of course I didn’t and instead spent the afternoon … dyeing eggs for Easter! It’s my birthday during Easter this year and I’m going to have a few friends over for brunch, I thought these would look so lovely on the table. Easter eggs for big kids, they’ll be filled with yummy chocs and other treats. The idea is that I will fill them up with yummy things and glue them closed so you have to crack the eggs open to get to the goodies inside – how fun!

I saw the tutorial at the not martha blog. Be warned – if you are in the habit of bookmarking projects to do, you’re going to lose hours on her blog, she has so many nice things to make and do.

Now what to do with a dozen duck egg yolks that I have sitting in a bowl in the fridge?

 

 

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vintage magazine booty from the swap meet

April 5, 2011

Mister E had his first sleepover at his grandparents on the weekend, which meant I had a Sunday morning all to myself. Wow, what a special treat! Of course I went to the swap meet (Melville Markets) and it’s so much more fun sans toddler.

I was so excited to spot a pile of retro sewing and craft magaines from the 50′s and 60′s. Called Pins and Neeedles, the guy practically gave them away to me, he said he didn’t want his wife to take them home again! I’m going to love pouring over the dapper images of the good days gone by.

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making stamps

April 3, 2011

I saw this tutorial on making your own stamps on Genine’s Art Blog a few months ago and have been itching to give it a go. Genine’s designs are stunning, much neater and more detailed than the ones I attempted, but I enjoyed the process. It’s quite therapeutic carving up the stamp rubber with the lino cutters. I also saw these lovely stamp sets by yellow owl workshop. I loved the idea of creating a whole set in a cute theme so I had a go at a set of garden themed stamps.

birthday card with my new stamps carving the stamp testing out my new stamps stamped stationery
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