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.Â
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.Â
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.
For all the knitters out there who like big needles!
September 10, 2013
Saw this and just thought I should share.
Commission for Bel.
August 3, 2013

Something a little different. A reclaimed tapestry made into a giant bag for sewing , knitting and stitching things.
This commission from a fellow ‘textillite’ was very open-ended . Make a bag for all the sewing and knitting things for friend who loves harrysdesk and pink.
After getting permission I tried something that has been floating about in my mind for a while.
Many of the bags of bits and pieces from the op shop have the pieces from tapestries that have been forgotten about….some not even started.
This vintage style tapestry of Pierrot (Clown) and Horse was in perfect condition. It is most likely from the 80’s (some of you might remember) when pierrot had a bit of a resurgence. I am hoping the receiver has fond memories of the eighties!

….I even stitiched the pink colour panel. Yes, I know they are not meant to be stitched, but I wanted to draw attention to the parts of the tapestry not normally seen, once framed.

The flipside of the bag is made from reclaimed cream damask and the lining from a soft minty cashmere scarf. This pocket sits between the shell and the lining.

Inside the bag are a number of smaller bags and purses for all the other bits and pieces used for sewing and knitting.
Everything but the strapping of the handle was recliamed!
What’s so Pinteresting……about fabric designs?
May 25, 2013
I am a little disappointed to be showing you another of my boards, full of images that interest me. What’s so Pinteresting is supposed to be interactive. Yes you get me to collect ideas for you!
Anyone want to choose a theme for next time? Just leave a comment below.
In the meantime enjoy my collection of fabric designs, and ideas for fabric designs.
I’m inspired by: William Morris
April 10, 2013
Lately I have been working on an assignment for uni that gave me a chance to revisit and enjoy one of my favourite artists of all time, William Morris.
William Morris was an arts and crafts master….along with Architect Philip Webb. He worked extensively with fabric, wallpaper, furniture and ceramics.
Here is how his official website describes him….
‘William Morris was the single most influential designer of the nineteenth century, and remains today one of the best known of all British designers. This is due to his extraordinary talent as a pattern designer, his colourful and inspiring life story and to his forceful intellect and personality. Morris was much more than a designer; he was a fervent socialist, scholar, translator and publisher, an environmental campaigner, writer and poet.’
Most of you will know his work even of you don’t know his name…. he was that good. His work is still available world wide, and is so beautifully designed it holds it own 150 years later.
Here’s some more for your enjoyment.
Easter hats
March 28, 2013
Well….I showed them the inspiration, took them to the $2 shop and this is what we ended up with.
Due to time being minimal, I made them under instructions.
Easter hats have been a much more joyful project since I did some research and found out they were really about spring…..yes, even in Autumn…. and nothing to do with Jesus.
Easter Hat Inspiration
March 25, 2013
Lots of Easter Hat Parades coming up this week.
Here’s some inspiration…..
…. this year I thought, the wackier the better.
Can’t see anything you like?
Maybe there will be something on my pinterest board for you.
Book Club: The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton
March 16, 2013
Well… it’s a long time since I have reviewed a book from our book club. We are still going strong.
This will be the first of a few quicker reviews.
I might try  25-50 word reviews this year.
Here goes.
The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton.
It’s science fiction.
It has an un-satistying ending.
We didn’t like it and we couldn’t to talk about it for more than 2 minutes.
Life is short.
I wouldn’t bother.
That’s all. I’m going to love reviewing books like this. Let me know if you like it.
Our next book was A Visit from The Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan.
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….)Â
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!