Celebrating the life of my Grandfather

Aged 21

My dear Grandfather went home to be with his maker last week at age 87 and we celebrated his life this week in a joyful family-oriented service that gave glory to God, just as his life did.  A beautiful, humble, dedicated, prayerful man who had a great sense of humour and loved each grandchild (19 of us and 19 great-grandchildren) like we were his only grandchild.

Both he and my Grandma have been such wonderful examples to us in marriage and life.  I remember my grandmother telling me a story about Grandpa copping a bit of flack from her family for not having a second job and earning more money as Grandpa chose to spend time with his wife and five children instead.  I am grateful for that decision and what a profound impact it has had on my entire family.  A family that value one other and relationships.  It was a very emotional day but wonderful to be surrounded by family and friends, people that understood just how I was feeling.  

Happy Christmas

Tabitha Emma

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas from my family to yours!  Thank you to all my lovely customers and readers for your patronage for another year.  I wish you a fulfilling and happy New Year.  I'll be back after the 9th Jan 2012 :-)

Screen Printed Christmas Panel

I eyed this beautiful panel off by Kristin Doran last Christmas, so after a sale in my etsy store at the start of the month I went straight over to Kristin's shop and bought this!

I backed it with white cotton and used some batting to give it some weight!  If I was thinking I would have given it a really good iron before I put my batting in...... derr.  I think I was so enthusiastic to get it done and put up.... but here is where I need your advice...

I found the least 'country craft' looking hanger possible - not sure if I should spray it silver too or leave it black.  The black might be a welcome contrast for my all cream walls.  Pondering if I should embroider around the main shapes... but don't want to wreck it!  I also sewed this extra piece into the top specifically for hanging... but this hanger doesn't allow much room to hang?!  I think I will just hand stitch it to the ends. 

Ok I am rambling now...I have a very sick grandfather in hospital and my thoughts are all over the place... my blog provides a great distraction for me... don't you love blog browsing for that very reason!!  A welcome but temporary distraction from life and that's ok by me. 

Christmas Craft DIY: Sequin Tree

Sequin Christmas Tree

Anya hard at work

Yesterday was supposed to be 'take Christmas photos' on our advent calendar but I did a little swap-a-roonie and we did a Christmas craft instead.  Anya's concentration waned after the first three rows of sequins but I encouraged her to keep going after a few breaks - I filled in her gaps, so it was a bit of a mummy/daughter project!

We bought two packets of sequins (maybe used a third of each pack), one small polystyrene cone and one packet of shirt pins (hardened and polished standard ball point by Birch)... the pins incidentally made this a much more expensive craft than it should have been (I got them at Spotlight and I am sure there are cheaper ones out there).  Push pins in through sequins onto your cone - that simple!  Make sure you point the pins down the higher you get so they don't poke through.... ouch.

The happy crafter

Our new little tree is keeping our nativity scene company - quite the juxtaposition :-) 

Artist Leah Duncan

Cushions

Prints

I found Leah Duncan's work through Make Something.  Leah started her career as a graphic designer before turning to fabrics.  Her native American roots are reflected in her designs as is her love for folksy and modern design.  A really diverse range can be found in her online store.  Simply beautiful.

Tea Towells

Scarves

Handmade Christmas Cards

We downloaded these cute Noel cards from Mer Mag blog then decorated with water colour thumb-prints! I love working with water colour paints over kids paint!

Anya has been writing her own name lately without assistance but had me gobsmacked yesterday when she asked how to spell Papa and promptly wrote it herself?!?!  What the???....  All that reading has paid off.  So she was as pleased with herself to sit down and write all her friends' and teachers' names on their cards.  I was grinning as much as she was... it isn't something we have pushed her to do, she just really enjoys reading and has been able to recognise the alphabet for a while now.  Not bad for someone who has just turned four!

Friday Cushion Round Up

I laughed out loud at this cushion by Yellow Bug Boutique! 

Cushion awesomeness by Auntie Cookie... Bargain Cushion and Addition Cushion in Yellow - currently on sale.

Gorgeous range of cushions below by Salvation Jane - you may have seen them doing the rounds in the Aussie press, yes that is actress Jane Hall!

Enjoy your weekend! 

Handmade Hair Accessories

Some new pretties that went off to Shop Handmade this week!  I made a little feather bow headband like this for my niece's school farewell.  

Chiffon Blossom

These blossoms sit low on the band to give you the "I just plucked a flower from the garden and put it behind my ear" kind of look.

Only a few of these antique-look, brass hairpin sets and headband.  Something different for me... although I apologise there won't be any available in my Etsy store for Christmas.  However if you like them and are interested for birthday presents for next year then please let me know. 

Birdcage and Book Installation: Prop and Display Ideas

Gordon spotted this fabulous installation while walking to our hotel last weekend.  It was at Angel place, next to City Recital Hall!  It looked amazing in real life... Unfortunately I didn't take my Nikon with me, boo!

Another magnificent install, sadly captured on the mobile phone was, this piece of art.  A waterfall of books cascading down through the shopping centre.  There were large paper mache ornaments throughout the display also.

Cool huh!  I liked the way these pages were displayed in the shop window below.  They look like they hang from the ceiling, to the top of the shelving units.  I left Sydney feeling very inspired and creative.

Australian Markets: Finders Keepers, Sydney

On the way home from the city we dropped into the Finders Keepers Market!  It was pretty busy and we didn't have a whole lot of time to stroll around but I could have spent a whole lot longer there.  The live band was fabulous and really added to the atmosphere!

The above stall is Bespoke Press which I hovered around the longest and the only store I bought from, aren't the old printing press drawers awesome?  I forgot to go back to Attia :-( 

Gorgeous artwork by Beth Emily, I loved her stall sign, even though it wasn't very big, it was visible and easy to read!  So many stalls let themselves down with bad signage (in my humble opinion).

The Story Book Rabbit had an eye catching display - height is key at an event like this otherwise it is just a sea of heads and backs, especially if you can't get to a stall.

Quirky draws me in every time!  Not sure of the name of this stall?  But I wasn't left guessing with the stall next door.

I would definitely recommend getting to the next one...especially with the farmers market on outside - double the reason to go. Speaking of markets, our very own Handmade Market is fast approaching in Canberra on 17th & 18th of December at the Convention Centre...  A fabulous venue, free parking, free entry and a whole lot of lovely stalls.

Birthday Night in Sydney

Love of my life

View from our room

Didn't get back to try one :-(

Just a few pics off hubby's mobile phone ;-)  We stayed at the Four Seasons at the Rocks - brilliant (got a better deal direct from their website as apposed to the last minute type websites).  We dined at Sailors Thai and LOVED it, I was just sorry I forgot to ask for my prawn and coconut curry to be mild and had to swap with Gordon, I did get through a small portion!  Thanks to my lovely cousin Gret for the recommendation!  We popped into Finders Keepers on the way home, more about that tomorrow.

New Etsy Store: White Mouse Creations

My Sewing Box

My cousin Yana has finally opened her etsy store - White Mouse Creations.  Yana does beautiful needlework, so anything you purchase from her will be top notch!  I think this is a gorgeous gift idea, especially for someone just getting into sewing!

Pocket Tissue Holder

I have one of these tissue holders and it is wonderful!  It also sometimes houses my mobile :-)   Yana uses beautiful linen fabrics and a lot of hand-printed materials.

Have a wonderful weekend!  Hubby and I are having a child-free night in the city and to say I am excited would be an understatement!  woooo hoooo!

How to Decorate a Christmas Tree

The Prop House - Brisbane

A few years back I worked for The Prop House in between studying, it was only one Christmas but that is where I learnt to decorate a Christmas tree!  The Prop House do Christmas VERY well!  I was also lucky enough to purchase our tree there at a great discount along with some lovely decorations!

Via Flickr

The first thing you do is fluff your tree, yes, fluff it people!  Make sure there are no gaping holes in the greenery then put your lights on starting from the top.  I have some beautiful 'crab lights' which look like tiny crab eyes and they are really pretty, I like them far better than normal fairy lights.

Nordic House

The next step is putting on your baubles (or the one consistent shape, style ornaments you have), smaller ones at the top and grade them down to the bigger ornaments at the bottom.  I break that rule when it comes to breakable ornaments!  My lovely ceramics go up out of reach of small hands :-)

Purl Bee

Then you add the next style of ornaments, I have silver star bursts which just pop in between the branches - they get placed around in between baubles.  Then we add the odds and ends.  Oh.... not forgetting your star or angel at the top!  Trees look beautiful when they are colour themed, i.e:  gold & red, silver and blue, all white etc.. I'm not such a fan of tinsel either but I know kids love it - my children just think it belongs at the shops :-)

We play Christmas carols and make it a lovely festive activity - the kids have so much fun.  Happy first of Dec everybody... we get to flip our first shipping tag over today :-)
 

Personalised Calligraphy Stamp

ampersandity: hand-lettering services & goods

Last month, I bought a good cheer deal through, Oh Hello Friend.  $50 worth of product for $28!  After much mulling over every product in Ampersandity's store, I finally decided on the self-inking flora fauna address stamp.

Card - Pepe's Paperie

I really love it and it looks gorgeous on brown kraft paper don't you think!  The beautiful card is from Pepe's Paperie, designed by a local Canberran designer for Pepe's.  I left the $4,000 pen of the year on the shelf though, slightly out of my budget :-)    

Handmade Weddings: Book Review

Authors: Eunice Moyle, Sabrina Moyle and Shauna Faust.  Photography by Joseph De Leo

I seem to buy a lot of books online (specifically crafty ones) and find I do miss thumbing through books to get a good idea of what I am buying.  So if you have had your eye on this lovely book by some clever ladies, here is my overview with a few photos!

The book is broken into six themed sections with approximately nine crafts per section.  Each book has a little guide on how to put the look together.

The rest of the themes are:

I realised I missed photographing a section called, Found - it is for the eco-conscious!  So there really is something for everyone's taste.  The projects vary in budget and skill level along with a timeline of when you should start.  The book has crafting tips, suggestions for sourcing materials and inspiration.  A few samples of what you can expect are:

Clipboard Menu's from Found

Embroidery Welcome Hoop from Retro Homespun

Calligraphy from Modern Classic

Button Seating Cards and Favors from Happy Graphic

Ruffle Roll Purse from Girly Romantic

Of course you don't have to be getting married to use this book as a resource!  The book can be used as a wonderful start to plan a themed event, projects for around the home or to give as gifts.  Sure there are a lot of free tutorials around the web but it is nice to pull something off your shelf and pore over the beautiful photos and be inspired.  Enjoy!