Tshirts - at last!

This is something I have been trying to get off the ground all year.
A and I have somewhat the same taste in clothes despite the 35 year age difference. We tend to go for the same design of tshirts.
She has been doing textiles at school, had a lovely new sewing machine and wanted to earn some money.
SO - we decided to make some tshirts.
SO - we bought some fabric way back in July.
Then - bought some great quality pure cotton tshirts.

BUT - we never had the time to sew. She was flat out studying for her HSC (final school exams), and I was doing other stuff, jewellery mainly.

NOW - she has a full time job, which is great, because she is taking 2009 off and going to uni in 2010, so she needs some money. And I am having a bit of a lull in jewellery sales.

But we have managed to get a few tshirts together and I am slowly listing them in my etsy shop.
I will also be taking them to markets with me next year.







We've had some very positive feedback and have sold one so far.


We've got lots more ideas for designs and lots more tshirts and tons of fabric - so watch this space!

Friday Fill In

1. I must go walking in the Himalayas before I die.

2. You can't stop eating.

3. I wish I never had to buy cat food again.

4. My husband has helped me change my life.

5. I know the song 24 hours from tulsa by heart.

6. If I weren't so afraid, I would go parachuting.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to having fish and chips at the beach, tomorrow my plans include staying home and catching up on the housework (boring!) and Sunday, I want to try out my new bicycle!

Things I've done

From the cycling arist who was inspired by Lisa Call (who was in turn inspired by Karine Swenson) I thought this "things I've done" list was a bit of fun.

The things that I have done are in bold.

How about you? what have you done?

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (does the concert band at high school count?)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain (Mount Koskciusco)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris ( well I went through on a train)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning (the chicken did it)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (it wasnt open when we were there)
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked (but not recently)
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (it's not money that makes you satisfied)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance (when my daughter broke her arm)
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (I love snorkelling)
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy (teddy)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt (does a patchwork cushion count?)
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone (never, knock on wood)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle (only in my youth)
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper (just the local paper)
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox (as a adult)
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury!
91. Met someone famous (Robert Plant, Yehudi Menuin)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Feel free to share the things that you have done, and leave me a comment if you blog about it too.

Samibop

Danette Rowse has created her own children’s clothing label using quality vintage and recycled fabrics. She individually makes each item herself in the Blue Mountains, Australia.

Sami Bop was started early in 2006 as a small project and has slowly expanded with three monthly markets and a showcase of styles now at The Nook Art and Craft Gallery, Upstairs, 133a The Mall, Leura.

Fabrics date back from the 1950s onwards and consist mainly of woven fabrics with interesting combinations of prints and patterns.

“I have been sewing since I was eleven years old, and since studying fashion I have used my skills to create an innovative and original concept in children’s clothing.”

“It’s wonderful to be doing something I really enjoy while I’m at home with my own children”.

Styles are for both boys and girls in sizes 00 to 5.

You can find Samibop on etsy too.

Friday Fill-in

1. Said the night wind to the little lamb, crikey! you're a cute little fella!.
2. The first Noel, the angel did say, blimey it's cold out here.
3. Trees, trees, Over the hills and everywhere.
4. It came upon the midnight clear, my new bicycle.
5. This christmas, Let your heart be light.
6. And the thing that will make them ring is the carol that you sing - but not me 'cus i cant sing.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a quiet night in with hubby, tomorrow my plans include my last market this year and Sunday, I want to rest (not very exciting I know, but I'm tired)!

Delicious easy vanilla cake

A friend gave me this recipe many years ago.
It is a very easy, mix-in-one-bowl cake.
It's sensational warm from the oven with a raspberry sauce and thick cream. It keeps really well and can be sliced the next day for lunch boxes.

125g butter melted in a microwave proof bowl
Add 1 cup sugar
300g vanilla yoghurt (I use low fat)
1 Tbs vanilla essence (the real stuff is so much better)
3 eggs
1 and a half cups SR flour

Mix it all together with a wooden spoon.
Pour into an oiled cake pan
and bake at 180 degrees for 50 mins or until a skewer comes out clean when poked into the cake.

Yum!

Friday fill-in

1. Friends are what makes life worth living.

2. Look after your health; it's the only one you've got.

3. I'm ready for brownie!.

4.Patchouli is one of my favorite perfumes or aftershaves or smells.

5. The oldest ornament I have is - I've got no idea.

6. Take some flour, cocoa, sugar and eggs, mix it all together and you have brownie.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to meeting my gym friends, tomorrow my plans include I dont know now that my craft market was cancelled and Sunday, I want to sell lots at the Kirribilli art and design market!

Using up all those odd beads

This is a great way to use up all those odd beads left over from other projects.
For some reason I have a lot of this bracelet size memory wire, I think I kept forgetting I already had some and then I would go and buy more!
I also have to admit that threading on memory wire is a pain, so I dont do it a lot.

But now I have found a really happy use for it - and I am gradually emptying my orphan beads box. The ones there are only one of.

These bracelets are a mix of gemstones, glass, beads, cloisonne with either silver curved beads or rubber tubing inbetween . The more colourful the better!

These memory wire bracelets have been really popular, as soon as I make them they sell!

Friday fill in

1. Snow is cold. (and I'm so happy we dont have any here!)

2. I'm looking forward to when my kids leave home.

3. Graeme is the best husband ever!

4. One of my favorite old tv shows is Monty Pythons Flying Circus.

5. I'm done with washing up.

6. The most enjoyable thing around the holidays is not having to get up early.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to cooking a lovely piece of barramundi, tomorrow my plans include doing some winetasting and Sunday, I want to sell lots of stuff at Millthorpe market day!


You can join the Friday Fill In fun!

some favourites

Just sharing some of my favourite treasures that I have found on etsy.

There are so many gorgeous things and wonderfully creative sellers, that it is so hard to choose.
so here are a few faves that I have been coveting for a while.

Firstly to satisfy my chicken obsession - a quirky, cheeky yet slightly retro chick bowl by shoshonasnow.


Next out of the box -
Blubies makes the cutest Australian critters from socks (unused!) and felt and all lovingly handsewn together.
They all come with a little story attached.
They are all so full of character, and it took me ages to pick just one, but it has to be ringo - to remind me of the possums that pad around on our roof at night!


and the last one for today - just because I love jewellery, and because the work is awesome, and because who doesnt love mermaids?
Of course - I heart meramids by mangotango.
Go check out the rest of this shop, everything is gorgeous.