My week

 This week I've been doing some bike-riding and some supplies-buying!


I am feeling so much better and the weather has been beuatiful - double incentive for getting out and riding!
I persuaded hub to come with me on the Prospect Reservoir loop.
 It's a 34km circular ride, all on bike paths in Western Sydney. The path is not terribly scenic even though it follows the evocatively named Orphan School Creek for a goodly way.

Here is an example of urban decoration!

But then surprise!
A lovely buddist temple, with ceremonies going on - chanting and incense, it took me right back to south-east Asia.

Another day I ventured further west to the circuit of the Olympic rowing course.
This is such a great asset as open space in the west!

Unfortunately part of the path was closed while a group was testing a solar powered car for the solar car challenge.
Space age or what?

And my supplies-buying-spree!
Not on my list - painted wooden discs.

 Also not on my list - coloured lava stone beads
.

 Irresistible - coloured leather thinging

 You guessed it - not on my list either!
Does that happen to you? you end up with a lot of things you just cant leave in the shop!

And a pile of beads in my workspace that just happened to be there at the same time and became a necklace!

Do you sometimes create like that? Serendipity!

My creative space

My creative space this week is bead-free!

I have a very sore thumb.
I think it's trigger finger - or thumb....again!
I have had this in my left thumb before and had surgery....so now I'm supposed to be resting my thiumb in the hope that it will un-freeze!

I'm not very hopeful...and I'm very frustrated - I have lots of lovely new supplies....but can't use them!

Some things I can do lefthanded - like stamping!

If you would like to see other creative spaces or join in pop on over here.

Wednesday Wishlist

I have been lusting after these luscious leggings for a while!

What a gorgeous colour!

leggings by kambriel

This sweet locket necklace comes with 5 interchangeable photos - what a great idea!

necklace by jpgphotography

And you know I'm a sucker for handbags!
I just love the bird design and the large woody button feature.

shoulder bag by LBArtworks

A gift and something to do

 I am ashamed to say that I have been meaning to write this post for ages, because, you see someone gave me something and asked me to make some things...but so far I've only made one little thing!

Anyway I will tell you about the one thing and maybe that will inspire me to make more things!

The lovely Narelle, the creative force behind rubyvictoria and printmaker extraordinaire sent me some of her newly printed calico fabric.

 

I just love them! Dont you?

I was in the midst of sewing for a promotion waaaaay in the future, in October, for my craft co-operative The Nook. I was making little pouches (see here) and so I sewed a little business card pouch with ruby victoria's fabric -

and this is the inside -

This one is not to give way!
This one is for me!

Maybe I'll post a tutorial about how to make them - they are very easy!

Mad about bunting!

It seems that I'm not the only one who is mad about bunting!
And it seems that you can make bunting out of just about anything!

So here is a selection to brighten your Monday morning.

You can sew bunting out of fabric -

bubblegum by giggleberry

or you can sew bunting onto fabric -

dress by PunkinThreads

you can do a spot of fabric recycling -

recycled tshirt necklace by creativityismessy

or you can combine paper and fabric -

burlap bunting by lunaclaydesign

You can use paper by itself - cutely -

barnyard buddies by APaperPlayground

or classically -

zen garden elements by funkyjunkart

you can put bunting on paper -

gift tags by rainydaycolors

or on a cake -

cake bunting by jaimemancilla

or on a mug -

mug by teandceremony

Bunting can be photographed -

street party by opart

captioned -

photo by charleneprecious

or painted -

sunday picnic by janethillstudio

You can crochet bunting -

granny squares by bonnierose

or knit -

blue and white knitted bunting by wonderfullypretty

or bead bunting -

banner bracelet by blue sky beads

And my favorites -

dream sequins necklace by wichserstudio

bunting jewellery using leather, metal,

coral flags necklace by fishdreaming

leadlight -

persian garden pendants by jesscontreras

and clay -

bunting flags for spring by mimosabyme

What are your favorite buntings?

I'm thinking of some bunting designs for myself!

7 things sunday - 7 birthday things

"Happy Birthday to me..."

Yes, another one! they do seem to come round all too quickly these days, but it is so worthwhile to have had such a fun time.

Starting with a birthday eve of dinner, cocktails, The Jersy Boys, and a night in town.
Nowhere very flash, but very convenient.

Followed by delectable chocolates from Zokoko,

My hub also bought me this book that was featured on the First Tuesday Book club on ABC TV

 

Cant wait to get stuck into it.

The darling man also added to my chicken collection -

This one is rather huge and may need to an outdoors chook!

 My sweet daughter has bought us tickets to Cirque du Soleil's show Saltimbanco which is on this month.

They are always such fabulous shows.

My wonderful son got me the DVD set of Downton Abbey *surprise* which I missed a couple of episodes of -

And then of course there was birthday cake

 Amazing stawberry mousse cake!

And that's it for another year!

A sale!

Happy August!

To celebrate I'm reducing the price of all my ready-made mitts to a measly $12!

They are hand-knitted by me in pure new wool and are perfect for playing on the computer, shopping or going to outdoor markets in the cooler weather (which we have at the moment).
For those of you in the northern hemisphere - think ahead and get ready for winter or be organised with some early Christmas shopping!

To see the other colours pop over here.

Please note any custom orders will be full price ie $25.