Sweet Fabric:
This is

  • This is...something that I'm surprised I like

    This is...something that I'm surprised I like

    This is hosted by Angela. Theme from Victoria.

    I bought this doll (from the Op Shop) to hack into her skirt ... but now I find myself quite liking her.

    She's only half a doll. Why does a company make a half doll? I really want to know more & Mr Google just keeps turning up those porcelain ones. He's not been much help on this one.

  • This is ... my current reading material

    This is ... my current reading material

    This is... hosted by Three Buttons. Theme from My Champagne Dreams.

    It's really piling up now (& starting to feel intimidating).

    I read Goodnight Mr Tom on the Darwin trip. I'm not sure how I missed this book as a kid/teenager. I remember it being a pretty big deal but I think I was all worn out after The Silver Sword (which I loved).

    I confess to being a bit nervous about Mr Tom. I'm supposed to be reading it with Grade 5 during this term. There is one part (& you know what it is if you've read it) which was quite shocking & I think quite a lot to take if you're 10 but I really truly loved this book. It's a fabulous read.

    I zipped through "Addition" in record time. I loved this book. Although I don't have an affiliation with numbers I could totally relate to the rule thing. This book served to remind me that really I'm just teetering on the edge. I'd only need a little nudge (that's not a challenge - just in case you were wondering).

    The remainder of the pile is untouched...I think I'm going with "In Ecstasy" next.

  • This is...a musical offering

    This is...a musical offering

    This is... hosted by Three Buttons. Theme from Curly Pops.

    I've said before that I am not the master of my own destiny when it comes to music. The date does it all.

    He's in Queensland so I thought I'd share what I'm listening to in his absence:

    1981 Over the Top on vinyl.

    Fun! The kids & my Friday night mates enjoyed it too.

  • This is...my favourite craft shop

    This is...my favourite craft shop

    This is... hosted by Three Buttons. Theme from Handmaiden.

    It goes without saying that my favourite craft shop is the Op Shop.

    I've imposed pretty strict rules on myself in regards to my crafting materials.

    Every once in a while I need to buy various craft supplies that are not readily available at Oppies.

    Much to my delight, I've recently discovered Mardion Haberdashery. It's an absolute gem of a place. Everything that Spotty or Lincraft could/would ever hope to sell & all jammed into a tiny little treasure trove.

    Owned & run by Ken who refers to everyone as "my friend". I love a visit to Mardion & I'm pretty confident you'd love it too.

    You can read my review on Craft City Melbourne.

  • This is...how I like to spend my weekend

    This is...how I like to spend my weekend

    This is... hosted by Three Buttons. Theme from The Bird Bath.

    cleansing in preparation for a fresh new week.

    This is how I spend my Sunday evening.

    Freshly washed hair & sweet smelling well scrubbed smalls. Lovely.

  • This is...a work in progress

    This is...a work in progress

    This is hosted by Angela. Theme from Debbie Hill.

    If you've clicked through to kootoyoo... you'll notice I've done a bit of housekeeping. I'm still working on it & I plan to update my pitter patter & my rainbow lists regularly. Like most of my cleaning it'll take me a while to get everything just right - very much a work in progress.

    Part of the cleanup involved setting up a "reader". Smart guy & a couple of other lovely folk have suggested google reader but he's the guy I dumped so harshly a few weeks back.

    I'm dating the Flock feed. It's working for me at the moment but it's early days & I still haven't added everyone I need to...we'll see how we go.

  • This is...my trade secret

    This is...my trade secret

    This is hosted by Three Buttons. Theme from Amelia

    Tarzans grip is the best adhesive ever. I love the stuff & I use it in so many crafty applications.

    I would like to discuss adhesive over a latte with Emma & Liz. I reckon that they know a think or two about it.
    .

  • This is...

    This is...

    Angela has gone with a theme free This is...

    & this is something that is very old (nearly as old as me)! She's my bluebird of happiness gifted to me by my gorgeous Grandma. She used to have a windup music mechanism. Does anyone know if there is a piece of Bluebird of Happiness music? I'd love to track it down.

    In other very exciting (& happy) news. My Softie for Mirabel has been listed in the first round of Ebay auctions. He's a silver lined cloud. I poured so much love into the making of this guy that I'm sure you'd have to feel it dripping out of his little silver limbs.

    Go ... bid & bid high!

    Thank you Mikes for organising & working hard & being nice!
    .

  • This is...what makes me happy

    This is...what makes me happy

    This is... hosted by Angela. Theme from Jacinta.

    I try to keep this space happy. I talk alot about the small things that I appreciate & make me happy. I know I've raved a bit before about the smalls, the date & the extended family. It really is true...love is all you need.

    So...what makes me "happy" is 2 date made Capiroska. Chatty, relaxed, giggly... it's a pretty fun version of me.
    .

  • This is ... what scrambles my brain when I try to understand it

    This is ... what scrambles my brain when I try to understand it

    This is... hosted by Three Buttons & theme from Flightless Boyds.

    He's my brother.
    He's tech support.
    He's super smart.
    He's creative.
    He's clever.
    He's encouraging.
    He's funny.
    He's about 5 steps ahead.
    He does good stuff.
    He works hard.
    He plays hard.
    He thinks a LOT.

    I try really hard & most of the time I'm pretty good but every now & then I just look at him blankly & shake my head.

  • This is...my most treasured childhood possession [Slide 12]...

    This is...my most treasured childhood possession [Slide 12]...

    .

    This is... hosted by Angela theme from Danielle.

    Jill (me), Asterix & Miss Nettles. See Pip, I really am an authority on Pony novels (especially Ruby Ferguson).

    My Siblings.

    Together we shared a childhood jam packed with fun, adventure & laughter. They were my very best friends then & they are still my very best friends now.

    Footnote: Come home BT & never leave CT. I love you both.

    .

  • This is...my best Op Shop find [Slide 3]...

    This is...my best Op Shop find [Slide 3]...

    This is... hosted by Angela theme from The Lino Forest.

    Just about everything on, around & inside this bar is Op Shopped. There are notes on Flickr if you're interested.

    The Bar itself was picked up at St Vinnies in Kew. It is so far & away my favourite piece of furniture in the house & best of all it holds all the ingredients for making pretty drinks.
    .

  • This is...my most favourite outfit that expresses my individual style

    This is...my most favourite outfit that expresses my individual style

    This is... hosted by Angela theme from Kitty

    It's a mouthful that's for sure.

    This is... was a group effort & we've got a fair bit of banter this week...

    This morning I asked the big girl to take a pic of me in my current uniform (trackies). I told her what it was for & she looked at me in the way only she can (picture eye rolling & raised eyebrows).

    "That's not your style mum. It's your jeans, green jumper & snowgum jacket!"

    So I logged the big & the small into Polyvore & they created the above sets.

    1. Style Small, 2. Style Mum, 3. Style Mum Work, 4. Style Big

    Then we did a bit of "polyvore at home" and came up with this. I think that the girls have pretty much hit the nail on the head. I'm all about comfort at home & for work I mainly wear vintage dresses. This one is my absolute favourite & selected by my personal shopper.

    I'd been thinking that This is... was going to be really tough & it turned out to be lots of fun & the big girl LOVED Polyvore.

  • This is...my creative space

    This is...my creative space

    This is... hosted by Angela & theme from Michelle.

    My half of the tip/office. You'll notice that I have deliberately not included the floor in this photo - it's a minefield.

    Also, the sewing machine has migrated into the kids TV room because I didn't have enough room. It's usually just in front of that ladder.

    Much of my creating is being done in my spot in front of the fire.

    I'm looking forward to having my very own space as per the plans.

  • This is...my favourite travel memory

    This is...my favourite travel memory

    This is... hosted by Three Buttons. Theme from Hila.

    For our 10th wedding anniversary the date & I went to Lord Howe Island. It is absolutely the most beautiful place in the world. We were sans kids for the first time in 9 years.

    We stayed & ate at Capella Lodge - gorgeous.

    Never ones to be idle we filled our three days with walking, cycling, snorkeling & we had a guide take us up Mt Gower. I wasn't as fit then as I am now & nearly killed myself trying to keep up with 2 super fit guys. I made it up & back in super quick time & in one piece. The experience makes me think of that piece of sage advice...

    "That which does not kill us makes us strong."

  • This is...my pet

    This is...my pet

    This is... hosted by Angela - theme from Kyla

    This pic is from December. His name is Buddy & he is a schnoodle (one of those designer puppies everyone thinks are so awful...but he's a ripper).

    I can't show you a pic of him at the moment because he has just been clipped & he looks awful!

    He's a good little guy. I like him. He can stay.

  • This is...something I got & still haven't used

    This is...something I got & still haven't used

    This is... hosted by Three Buttons.

    I love this dress so much - it fits like a glove & it cost me $6 at the Op Shop. BUT...I just don't feel I can pull it off.

    I do wear quite a lot of vintage dresses - I don't know what it is. Maybe just a bit too girly or maybe just a bit too lolly like.

    It's very Maggy Ann though - I should try again.

    Thanks Flossy P.

  • This is...how I recycle

    This is...how I recycle

    I am pretty good at recycling. We reduce, reuse & recycle wherever possible.

    Re-crafted, repurposed, recreated & reverse art is my greatest crafty pleasure.

    I prefer to make stuff from things that have had a previous life. I source my craft materials from: "rubbish" from our daily life, op shops & reverse art.

    This is my recrafted toadstool pincushion - made entirely from "waste" products/materials. I made it last Monday at Brown Owls.

  • This is ... me pre 1985

    This is ... me pre 1985

    Mmmm stylish!

    Actually this is me (centre) in 1985 with my brother & sister. Photo courtesy of The Marlboro Man (TRUE & a Celebrity Sighting).

    Trevor ‘Butch’ Lemke (’56) recently visited the School. Trevor has lived in Thailand for 14 years where he is a professional photographer. Many of his photos feature the exotic Thai landscape and are used in travel books and brochures. Trevor was the last ‘Marlboro Man’ in 1975 and featured as the Cleo centerfold in January 1976! Great Scot.

    I didn't know (or remember the bit about the Cleo centrefold). Thank you Google!

    For Angela because she's ace & because Flashback Friday was lots of fun.

    I haven't forgotten my tags & I promise them for this week!

  • This is...the pair of shoes I would sleep in if I could

    This is...the pair of shoes I would sleep in if I could

    This is my lived in pair of Skechers. My grown up DBs.

    I'm a comfort girl.

    I have absolutely flogged these. They were ready to be pitched before LAST winter but I can't find a replacement. They are old, falling apart, chewed by the dog & comfy as anything.

    Thanks Angela & Hip Hop & Banana Bread