Artful table Ideas: For a beautifully thankful Christmas.
December 17, 2013
As I have mentioned before on this blog, I am very sad that we don’t celebrate thanksgiving in Australia. This however gives me the opportunity to think thankfully at Christmas time.
Here are some simple ideas from around the blog world, that can be incorporated in your Christmas celebrations particularly in regards to the table.
Some are beautifully quirky, some ingenious, some worthy of a yearly repeat, some child friendly and some all of the above. Let me know if you get inspired and use some, it’s great to hear from you.

Gold Spray painted animals (or possibly nativity characters) with paper luggage tags attached. Image from Style Me Pretty.
What’s so Pinteresting about…… Advent?
November 29, 2013
Meredith’s got a fabulous idea for fantasticly simple bible content here. Love it especially this close to Dec 1.
Cathy gives insightful day by day content here.
Nicole….shares some great ideas here.
If you know what you want each day to hold, but need a little visual inspiration, have a look at my pinterest board here.
This year I have an unusual plan which focus’s on letters….. we will see how that goes.
To see what we have done in previous years look here and here and here.
I just realised that our advent events for 2012 are not collated….. so I will get onto that.
Enjoy, and let me know if you come across anything inspiring.
39 Valentine gifts to make and give.
February 8, 2013
I’m a bit in two minds about Valentine’s Day. Some of me sits on the “It’s a created day that is all about retailers and spending money” and the other side of me feels it’s great to be reminded to tell the people we love….that we love them in a more intentional way.
This year I feel more of the second…. hence the post….. but have tried to make it a little more creative (rather than spendy) because self created things almost always* help communicate the love better.
Ideas For Creative Dates
Super Lovey- Dovey
For the Kids
Ideas to Bake
Countdowns to Valentine’s Day (or count on….)
Cards
Everything else.
* Yes if you have asked for something specifically ….or have been promised something and you receive a sweet handmade gift, you won’t feel the love!How Pinteresting is….. harrysdesk?
December 3, 2012
As no-one was forthcoming with another Pinteresting idea, I decided to make a board of the items available via my etsy shop this Christmas.
If you have been following along, you will know it has been a very slow year for harrysdesk. Although all the girls are now in school, I have missed my studio greatly. Unfortunately, I haven’t designed a decoration for Christmas this year, but still have some of the past years designs available.
I have a few more items to upload over the coming weeks, so pop back, if you like, and see whats new. I hope to add more owls, hair-ties and t-shirts…… so watch this space.
Now it’s your turn!
What should my next Pinteresting idea be?
You can choose by commenting below.
It can be as quirky or conservative as you like!
Two shirts become one skirt.
November 21, 2012
The Pop-Up Lollie Shop.
November 5, 2012
This year I took on the somewhat scary task of ‘stall coordinator’ at the school fete.
The idea for a lolly shop first came up a couple of years ago when chatting to my friend Belinda. At the time we both had preschool age and younger children, and so the idea just sat.
Saturday was our first fete. 10 hours of set-up and selling many, many lollies and chocolates later, my very helpful family (and 2 other families) ate dinner together and celebrated a job well done. A successful execution of a little idea.
I wanted to share a few photos of the fun!
Kindy mums, book-club mums, church mums and dads, 9 year old and her buddy Eve and 5 fantastic high schoolers worked hard not just on Saturday but in the weeks leading up to it.
I really want to say thanks to them for their cheeriness and energy while working really, really hard! A big thank you to Sue….. my sidekick for her fabulousness.
It’s a pretty easy business model. If you want to do one for your school or church or organisation, I am happy to talk you through the process.
Just email me.
The other half of a GIANT list of fete and fair tutorials and printables…. (Part 2)
October 27, 2012
- The Scrapbooking Jar by Crate Paper Blog
- Chalkboard Serving Platter by Wit and Whistle.
- Knitted Snake by Purl Bee
- Paper Fortune Cookies by design wash rinse repeat.
- Pebble Mat by Junk Hippie
- Clay bird ornament by JessicaJane Handmade.
- Owl cushion by button bird designs.
- Pillowcase shopping bag by Grow Mama.
- Mouse Ornaments by Family Fun
- Crocheted Washcloths by Purl Bee
- Monster Bags by harrysdesk
- Pram cards by The Pleated Poppy
- Salt dough Christmas Ornaments by Oleander and Palm
- Rice filled heating Owls for children by Just another Hang Up.
- Beaded Heart Wand by First Palette
- Circle Zip Earbud Pouch by dog under my desk
- Tea Bag gift Tag by The Studio Of Mae.
- Cardboard Horses by Design Sponge
- Mooshy Belly Bunny by Chez Beeper Bebe
- Felt Crowns by hellobee
- Easy Drawstring Bag by Purl Bee
- Recycled Book Bird Decoration by Under the Table and Dreaming
- Present Cards by Craft and Creativity
- Babies Triange Dress by Purl Bee
- Monster Slime by all things simple
- DIY ice cream sundae box by family bits.
- Monster bibs by stubbornly crafty.
- Cloud and rain mobile by dailylike recipe?
- Bunting by the yvestown blog.
- Lunchsacks by All people quilt.
Enjoy….and let me know if you think you might make anything.
Monster/Fort Kit mash-up.
October 24, 2012
Lately…. I mixed together two of my favourite creative gifts into a monster/fort mash-up.
Previously,I have made fort kits for gifts. I got the idea from saltwater kids, who got it at Bloom.
…and more recently I have been making monsters. You can see a tutorial here if you would like to make your own.
For this particularly creative 9 year old boy, I joined them together.
Would the 9 year old boys in your life like these?
Facebook Friday
October 5, 2012
Monster tutorial
September 29, 2012

The Blanket Monster. ‘Blanket’
Use me for a library bag, PJ bag, music bag, laptop bag…. things I haven’t thought of….bag.
Tutorial for A4 size monster…..
What you will need.
- a zipper (approx 49cm)
- 15cm x 100cm mouth fabric (red)
- 10cm x 50cm teeth fabric (white)
- an old blanket or bedspread with tasselled edge.
- small amount of fabric for eyeballs.
- 2 buttons.
- thread
- thick thread for sewing o the eyes.
How to make it.
MOUTH:
hint: The further your fabric from the zipper the less likely it is to get caught when opening and closing….and exposes the zipper more, which is what we want in this case.
TEETH:
- Cut 4 (or more) 8cm x 8cm squares for the teeth.

3. Position the teeth (point down and cut edge matching the cut edge of the red) along the cut edge of the mouth (red) pieces. (I did 5cm from each end for the top, and 12cm from each end for the bottom)
ARMS:

3. Turn back to right sides… forming a cylinder like shape. Press with the seam down the middle of the arm. (this reduces the bulk in sewing it together later).
BODY (Part1) :
- Cut 1 rectangle 49cm x 51cm. (blanket fabric)
- Cut another rectangle 49cm x 20cm.
- Machine (with right sides together) the rectangles on either side of the mouth piece along the 49cm edges.

4. Iron so that the teeth head toward the zipper ( press seams away from mouth on the wrong side)…..
EYES:
BODY (Part2):

1. Position the monsters arms where you would like them. Position them with the fringing toward the middle and with the seam facing up.

2. With right sides together and zipper open about 10cm, line up the cut edges of the triangles to form a large rectangle. Pin.
3. Machine the sides together. Stitch the seam again where the arms are positioned to reinforce them.
LEGS:

1. Along the bottom edge create the legs by measuring across 12cm from each side seam and putting a pin….then up into the monster 12cm and placing a pin.
2. With a ruler join up the dots and cut through both layers of blanket to create the leg shape. Machine together along the newly cut line. Seam allowance 1.5cm.
HORNS:
- Now for the top (horns). Coming diagonally down from the top corners about 3cm and put a dot ( don’t come lower than your eyes) draw a line from one dot to the other using a ruler. This is your machining line.
- Machine.
FINISHING OFF:
- Trim excess fabric from the corners being careful not the cut your stitching.
- Turn your monster inside out through the zipper hole.
- Push the horns and legs out with the end of your scissors to get a nice point.
- Press