Winners announced!

Given the number of entries to my giveaway I decided you could each receive a pattern :)
Bern, Anne, Melissa and Sue will soon receive their PDF patterns - thank you all for entering.
Bern - I can't seem to find an email address for you on your profile so if you could let me know what it is that would be great.

I hope everyone has a blessed and peaceful weekend. We will be celebrating the beginning of Advent, that beautiful time in the church as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Our Saviour.

Stuff in progress...


Thanks to Hilary's help in finding me a suitable pattern - a lovely log cabin cot quilt. This for my sister's first baby, due in January, very exciting!


She has painted the room a lovely green and the baby furniture is white, so the fabric colours I chose to compliment the existing colour scheme. I think it's going to look gorgeous.


I've taken up my courage and am trying another knit. It's so enjoyable to be knitting again and so far, so good - no mistakes! The pattern is "Little Annie" by Tikki. I'll keep you updated on it's progress, but don't hold your breath, it's pretty slow going for me.

I'm also waiting on a painfully slow supplier for some fabric to dye and sew into dresses for a custom order.

What are you working on this week?

Quick reminder - the giveaway will be drawn tomorrow so if you haven't entered yet you still have time!

White & dark choc chip cookies



125g butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup caster sugar
1 egg
1 cup plain flour
1 cup SR flour
1/4 teaspoon bicarb soda
1/4 cup white chocolate dots (add more if you like)
1/4 cup chopped milk cooking chocolate (add more if you like)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cream the butter and 2 sugars together. Add egg and continue to beat. Slowly add flours and bicarb. If mixture is a little dry you can add a splash of milk and mix in.
With a wooden spoon mix in the 2 chocolate types.
Spoon very generous teaspoonfuls onto a greased tray and press lightly with a fork.
Bake for around 10 minutes at 180 degrees (C)
Cool on a wire baking rack.

"I give you my heart" giveaway!

My newest embroidery pattern is finished and available to purchase!


Would you like to win a PDF download of the pattern?






Just tell me what you would use your finished embroidery for (framed, on a pillow, quilt etc?)

I have 3 to give away. 
For an extra entry post this on your Facebook page then come back to tell me you have done so.
For an extra, extra entry blog about my giveaway then come back to tell me you have done so.
For an extra, extra, extra entry become a new follower of this blog.

I'll draw the winners a week from today. Good luck!

My Madeit shop is alive again!

To be honest, I'd forgotten I had a Madeit shop and it was totally empty. Most of my customers used to be from the U.S. so my Etsy shop was more convenient, but now almost 100% of my buyers are Australian (which is wonderful!) So, I'm very happy to have it re-stocked in time for Christmas.


Hand dyed rainbow dress


Hand dyed tiered skirt. Fully customisable in size and colour :)

PDF Embroidery pattern.

I have more listings to add including some new embroidery patterns - yes they're coming, but it's slow work, in my case picture snail pace :)

I'd love for you to pop over to my Madeit shop and take a look. Have a good sticky beak while you're over there, it's changed a lot since I first opened the shop and there are so many beautiful things from so many talented artisans.

Healthy treats!


When I saw Cathie's Healthy Chocolate Oat balls I had to give them a go, being a fan of
1. Anything chocolate
2. Anything sweet and shaped into a ball!

They haven't disappointed either - they are totally delicious! I rolled mine in coconut, don't they look festive?
One point to consider - if your food processor is cheap and tired it won't like making these at all! Recipe here.

Gossamer Dreams tonight!


Just a reminder that Gossamer Dreams is on tonight at 8pm. I recommend you take a look early and plan your purchases as these goodies won't last long! I have a hand dyed dress and skirt on offer :)

Gossamer Dreams previewing tonight!

Here is a small collection of just some of the items in this months Gossamer Dreams stocking.


Riverside Dolls


                                          Inkidink


Cherish Designs

You can preview Gossamer Dreams tonight from 8pm and pick out what you want for tomorrow night (if you're quick enough!) This is the last stocking for the year with beautiful items from the regulars and lots of guests (me included!) It would be a great opportunity to nab some unique handmade Christmas gifts.

Cornflake slice recipe (very,very easy!)


Mother in Law's recipes are great - these ladies who cooked on wood stoves (and my MIL still does) and fed the hungry hoards (my MIL had 10 little ones to feed) really knew what they were doing. We "modern" homemakers can learn so much from their ways. This recipe is from my Mum in law :)

125g butter
1 tablespoon honey
1 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup cornflakes
1 cup desicated coconut

Melt butter and honey together, add to mixed dry ingredients. Place in a shallow slice tin, press. Cook in moderate oven until golden brown (about 15 minutes) and leave in tin to cool. Turn out and cut into squares.

Easy?


Sneak peek embroidery


I'm working on a new pattern.


It has lots of little stitches.


And lots of cuteness.


I'm almost done, so it will be available in my Etsy shop soon and there may even be a little giveaway!

Gosh I've missed stitching!

The cooler weather has me thinking about knitting as well, it might be a good time to try out Linda's cat pattern - so cute!

Happy weekend and God bless you all :)

Buttons, bandanas and bracelets!


More new hand printed linen buttons to tempt you with!


All from husband's lino blocks.


Such a pretty blue methinks.


And some bandanas - hand dyed, printed or painted of course!


Random fact: my Etsy shop has never been as well stocked as it is right now :)


And aside from all things Etsy but on the side of all things creative, look what the girls and I did with a few yarn scraps and some old beads. Cute?



Pads restocked




Yes! I finally made the time to re-stock my Cloth Pad shop and hopefully there is something for everyone. Don't forget, there is free post in Australia this month so it's a great time to buy :)

Free post




Postage is free within Australia in my cloth pad shop for the whole month of November! (Menstrual cups are excluded.)

Hopefully I'll be stocking some new ones over the next few days, it's getting tough to keep up :)

Coffee painting


I've been following Art projects for Kids for inspiration and ideas. I decided that the coffee painting looked like fun so I brewed a little coffee paint and away we went!


The coffee was quite weak on paper and then I remembered I had some Parisian essence in the pantry. The contrast of the weaker brown coffee and the very strong essence was beautiful and the girls came up with some really interesting paintings. They loved the novelty of painting with coffee too.


Yesterday was All Saint's Day and our homeschool  group celebrated this morning by having a saints dress up day. So, from left to right we have Saint Lucia, Saint Bernadette and Saint Therese!



This blog is closing!

All posts will now be found at my new site.  Click here to go the the new site.