The number one place to buy cute stuff is hosting a "Week of Cute" with Angela from Sew Your Own.
I'm all about having a crack & so I'm playing along. These cards are Rootie Kazootie. I bought them without knowing anything about the TV show (from the 1950s). The kids & I were on our hands & knees sifting through a HUGE box of cards. Rootie Kazootie cards were the needle in the haystack. I think we were there for about an hour.
I'm particularly partial to Polka Dottie. I think that she is super cute.
These sheets are so gorgeous & I love that I have them in three colours. I've got no current plans for them but I like knowing they are in the cupboard just in case I have a cute emergency.
I didn't own these sheets as a kid - I really wanted them but Mum liked things a bit more understated.
Always up for a challenge - I'm linking my cute with Angela & Mikes to my Thrifted Tuesday Op Shop purchasing.
The cutest Op Shop ever turned up this beauty "tested & found to be working". This night light is so super cute that I couldn't leave without it.
I think a night time drive in that jalopy with the little glasses & drivers-cap attired chap would be quite lovely. Now I've just got to get the date to grow a moustache & find myself a nice hat with a yellow flower & we'll be set.
Gemma helped everyone out with the rolls royce super swank badge makers, Pip shared a cute as a button house badge & Anna Laura showed us all how to make gorgeous felt badges.
Everyone was very busy & very productive. It was lovely.
Now onto matters blog...
I've totally dropped the ball. I don't have wireless & I've been popping down to the office to post & that is absolutely it. I'm so behind in my reading & comments & replies - sorry.
So, I'm just shoving all that dirty washing under the bed & starting from scratch.
. This girl & I were chatting about how frustrating it is that we haven't been able to share HTML on our blogs without that pesky (but cute) button popping up in our posts. We know the Typepad girls can do it - surely there must be a way!
If you've got some HTML you'd like to share on your Blogger blog this is a step by step how to share the code without having that oh so cute button appearing in your post or sidebar.
First things first: You've got a brilliant idea/game/meme that you'd like displayed in sidebars all over the place.
Then Re-write your code replacing the <a the >< & the ></a> as pictured above in red.
Copy & paste this code into your compose window in Blogger. Blogger will convert it back to useable code for use by others. Like this:
I'm attempting to tidy up the bombsite that was once my lovely pool room. It's amazing how quickly things turn ugly.
I'm an all or nothing girl & today is going to be about the all. All about cleaning & tidying & sorting (maybe a bit about the opping too).
on my desk today:
a little glimpse of mike's storybook wallet
the new issue of mixtape zine - yep that's my page
op shopped fabric (with selvedge!)
op shopped clover carbon paper
couple of op shopped patterns
op shopped coffee maker. I really didn't need this but too cute to leave behind.
a stack of op shopped pillowcases
cute as a button squirrel tile. It's backed with MDF but I'm betting it's stamped "JAPAN".
empty yoghurt container which is destined for greater things - I hope!
op shopped cotton lycra to make more undies.
On my desk...the players
On my desk...the guaranteed update list.
To be sure to be included on this list you need to link back here in the body of your post. This is not a cheap trick to ensure linkage (I don't care if you never link). BUT it is the only way I know for sure that you're still playing along & I'm trying really hard to get around to everyone on this list. Thanks.
Hankies freak me out now, but when I was a kid I loved them. I had days of the week hankies and any outfit was complete with a freshly pressed and folded hankie in your pocket.
When I had sleepovers at Non's I was allowed to use her iron & ironing board which she would adjust to my height. It was my job to iron hankies, tea towels & pillow cases (perhaps that's where the pillow case love came from).
Best of all I was allowed to watch commercial TV at the same time!
Look at all the alphabet stuff I've collected this week & most of it today. I cast my op shopping net a little wider today & came home with a whole host of goodies.
I'm thrilled with these pickups. I've had my eye out for some of these letter magnets for ages & I LOVE the curtain fabric too. The rest is all bonus material for a "lucky shopper". The Noah's Alphabet fabric is all black & white cartoons of 2X2 animals which I think would look pretty cute as embroidery. I'll be having a crack at that AFTER Christmas
In addition to my alphabet haul I also picked up a gorgeous Christmas frock to get me in a festive mood. It is red velvet & perhaps a little micro mini for me - I'll have to find something cute to wear under it.
They are ceramic & a bit chipped & bumped around. The little guy used to have a plait but one of my nooty kids pulled it off when they were small.
They are bobble heads. He has magnetic lips & she has a magnetic cheek - just to make sure that they get the smooch right everytime. Cute & yet another reason why it pays to get up early.
I think this looks cuter. Don't eat the popcorn though...the last thing you want is a mouth full of Tarzan's Grip.
And now for the gifting part...
I fashioned this gift from tin cans I'd saved but it would work just as well using a milk carton (in fact, now I think of it that would probably work even better...darn it). Then I embroidered the popcorn piece & the red stripe once. Next, I scanned & mucked around with it in publisher until I was happy with the placement.
Anyway...if you'd like to make a cute gift box for a movie ticket & popcorn gift then head over & pick up the jpegs sized & ready to print:
surround & lid (if you don't want to go with the real popcorn like I did).
Then adhere to your chosen recycled container.
...I had to have a go with the milk carton - I'm happy.
Absolutely basic "present wrapping" construction - no words required...
Today I'm fighting with my machine over button holes & thinking that maybe I should just buy the buttonhole foot & be done with it!
In the space today:
-my "cheat sheet" for the music boxes. I have each step written down to avoid "doh" moments. -a bit of yarn & wool suiting which I've been doing some felting experimenting with. -a few more stackers for the collection -& super cute Aunty Cookie original. I'm sure that there are several of us who fit this description.
Have you had a chance to visit last week's favourite space? It's over in the sidebar → OR you could just click here. I'll update this week's sidebar link once I've been visiting.
Also, a big thank you to the people who do use the link list to pop around & visit the other players.
Pop in & add your link if you are playing along this week.
It doesn't rely on tension, hook size, type of yarn blah de blah.
You just need to worry about making sure the rectangle of fabric measures...
circumference x head height = super cute 'x' stitch beanie
I was lucky enough to have recipients easily lassoed by the measuring tape but if you're making for a gift you might like to refer to this excellent size chart found via google this afternoon. Thanks Bev.
How to make a crochet & cross stitch beanieView more presentations from kootoyoo.
I knew the heart wasn't going to fly so The Big Girl & I went for something très sophistiqué. The kid hasn't taken the beanie off since it was gifted. Both The Little Guy & The Date think it's fabulous (& those fellas are a tough craft audience).
There's a pdf here if that helps you out.
It goes without saying that you don't have to be able to crochet to make this beanie. You could follow the same formula & use some lovely wool jersey & the machine. That'd make it super quick.
I'm not usually one to follow instructions of any kind. But my recent instruction following crafting episodes have been very good to me. I'm finding that 9 times out of 10 someone else has done it smarter, faster, cooler & safer than I ever could.
Soon to be released: THE craft book crammed with projects (by some of my favourite crafty spirits) I know I'm going to want to have a go at. So I'm working on practicing my ability to carefully read instructions.
Yesterday the big girl announced that she needed a new pencil case. I had some Op Shopped denim which I embroidered the pencils onto (I've got a fair blister on my pointer finger from that exercise). It presented the perfect opportunity to follow a tutorial I've had on my "to do" for a very long time.
Excellent instructions:
For Free: how to make a lined zippered pouch super speedy & super easy.
how to bind a book via Gemma. Easy to follow diagrams & a great gift idea.
how to make fabric flowers links to her flickr & you tube tutorials from her sidebar.
how to make a pincushion really beautiful result in record time!
how to seam fabulous series, well researched & clearly presented.
For a small fee (but well worth the dosh)! how to make your own undies from a t-shirt such a fabulous pattern with clear, well written instructions for absolutely the best kind of craft.
how to make a puff purse - using a purse frame kit wonderful hand holding instructions accompany this fabulous & super cute pattern.
Last year I saw really cool side sleeper for babies & thought how super cute they were & now I've received this via email from my cousin.
What a lucky baby to have this magnificent side sleeping bed made with such love by both his/her parents. It's absolutely the BEST thing I've ever seen & I'm so proud to be related to these guys.
Items include: more op shopped fabric, little drawstring bag that belonged to the date when he was a kid (how cute is that fabric) & wonderful "Snake Charmer" ACEO by Scarlett Cat.
The desk is pretty clear this week - I've had to make way for a very important project.
I shared a giggle with these two girls about my treasure from the smallest.
She's got a big personality for such a small person.
"Oh Mum, I got you something vewy special from school today! We were making things & there was some left over so I bwought you home some fabwic."
So proud she was...and this white fabric is the most thoughtful gift I've received in a vewy long time.
Note: We encourage the use of the w in place of the r - bad parents!
This is an absolute favourite in our house. It's great hot or cold. You can serve it as finger food at a party or make a meal of it. Best of all it can be packed for lunch the next day.
Rice Cake
1 Cup of Rice (cooked by absorption) 1 Large or 2 medium zucchini (grated) 4 eggs 2 cloves of crushed garlic 1½ cups of grated tasty cheese ---------------------------------------------------- ½ pumpkin (cut up & pre-roasted) 2 brown onions (pre caramelised) 3 Tablespoons of Organic pasta sauce
Mix all ingredients in bowl until well combined.
Season salt &/or pepper if you wish.
Line dish with baking paper. Use a lasagne type dish for slice or make it in a springform cake tin - it looks really cute.
Press mixture into tray & sprinkle with ½ cup of grated cheese.
Bake for around 40 minutes in moderate oven (until firm in the centre & the cheese is golden).
I've separated the basic mixture from the "extras". You can make this cake with absolutely anything you like. We love it with:
Sweet potato & spanish onion or Asparagus & corn & a tub of that Wattle Valley Chilli Red Dip instead of the pasta sauce.