on how to use up washi tape...

i have an obscene amount of washi tape from tripping to japan and hours spent on etsy so i decided that it was time to start using it instead of looking at sitting in a glass jar on my desk (don't worry - i still have enough for this to happen). i started with this little graduation present to a lovely lady. i grabbed an old milo tin, removed the wrapped and used washi tape to pretty it up a little bit. The result - a pretty tin full of goodies and a little less wastage!

p.s - sheet swap sign up over here.

a handmade christmas.

i know. this is a very belated christmas post.

bt i wanted to share with you a few of the goodies i made for the 'handmade christmas' task i set myself. somehow in the middle of last minute christmas morning sewing and presents being frantically wrapped i missed out on taking photos of the majority of gifts. it was lots of fun making up granola, soap, lip balms, heat packs and softies but i think that next year i'll get started a bit earlier and maybe cut myself a bit of slack and work up the courage to brave the shops at christmas time... or just embrace online shopping!

1. a picnic blanket for my sister-in-law (made with some of the FQs i got in the last swap!)
2&3. fabric letters for a lovely niece
4. vintage pink folrals for a lovely new baby
5. frankie posters make pretty wrapping paper :)

p.s - dont forget to sign up to the vintage sheet FQ swap over here. spread the word!

for a girl who is two...

a few weeks ago my niece turned two and i decided that this would be my opportunity to venture into handmade clothing. armed with my trusty machine, a vintage sheet and pip's lovely book i managed to come up with something that has been worn several times now and is still in one piece. success? i think so!

have a look at what i made for her first birthday...

an engagement present for my one true love...

i am blessed with wonderful friends. the kind that you want to go 'through life' with. the kind that don't care if you are a little neurotic or your house is messy and the kind that you can imagine going on family holidays with when you decide that you are ready for kids (at the same time of course).

...and on the weekend two of them had an engagement party. i wanted to get them something lovely. something that they could use to go on dates and enjoy the sunshine in their life and their weekends.

after weeks of thinking about this and months of collecting here are some of the goodies that i included in their 'vintage love picnic basket'. a floral tablecloth, napkins, handmade drawstring bag to store all that mismatched cutlery (let me tell you - it is hard to find nice forks!) and a fabulous little vintage thermos flask.

my husband would remind me often throughout this collection process that 'boys don't like stuff like this' - in my defense, i kept the colour scheme fairly manly... not a pink floral in sight :)!!

for a lovely baby...

... i made some baby bean bags after seeing them over here

...wrapped them up in green for go

... and gave them to this brand new little boy.

he is so lovely.

p.s - may i just take this time to say that it freaks me out a little that so many of my high school friends have kids. eek!

i got a degree!!

last thursday i found myself walking across a stage, doffing my hat and receiving a degree. it only took me seven years, multiple breakdowns and a LOT of peppermint chocolate. i am proud of me.

there isnt really any nice photos of me from the actual ceremony dressed in my finery so i thought i would share the pictures of some of the beautiful flowers and gifts i received.

graduating is fun (and i got the day off work... woohoo)!!

p.s - one more thing that i can cross off my 101 things in 1001 days list (number 85)!

slow and steady

here are some softies that i have been creating lately. i feel like i am getting better at crafting and i am super stoked to have found something that i love so much that also makes me feel so accomplished :)!

i am (very) slowly mastering the art of crochet and plan to tackle knitting next. i just wish i had more time to actually sit down and craft. it has been a bit lost lately amongst the thousand other things that seem to be taking priority...

i think the blue owl is my favourite - i love the fabric that i cut from a vintage pillowcase!

i popped the little bunny in the mail last week and it has arrived safely in the mailbox of this lovely lady!

p.s - im totally a twilight geek and im on the final countdown for my next bella and jacob fix! not long now!!