apron!

what could be more exciting than these gorgeous Japanese fabrics i just brought from the quilting fabric section in Spotlight?? (p.s i hope they get a bigger selection in - i'm in love!)...

how about finally posting up a picture of my apron. 12 days after i said i would. oops! i'm sorry. so here it is finally, my double sided vintage apron..

I used the directions from Amy Karol's bend the rules sewing and did a few adjustments (including making it double sided) and remember my op shopped book the complete sewing book? well it told me step by step how to do the pockets.

This pocket here^^ just happens to be my favourite bit of the whole apron :) i once again just stumbled across that piece of lace in my sewing stash and it was pretty much the perfect length and had circles in it - just like the pocket fabric. When i finished this pocket i sat and stared at it for awhile..then i took it upstairs with me while we were all watching tv and stole some more glances at it - ugh im such a loser :)

and heres the pocket of the other side:

apron love

top left: by Amy Karol of Angry Chicken
top middle: vintage apron from Raya's at the Paper Pony's collection
top right: by Jennifer from the felt mouse
middle left: another cutie by Amy of Angry Chicken
middle middle: by Shanna from pinktrees
middle right: by Jean from cpotion
bottom left: created by Shannon at ifsew
bottom middle: by Erin from house on hill road
bottom right: by Dorie over at tumbling blocks

I finally did it..after much searching and 'oohing' and 'aahing' over the cute aprons across the blogging world i have almost completed my first apron! it's very cute. and i pretty much love it. alot! i keep wanting to just look at it and hold it and wear it even when I'm not cooking (and it's still held together by pins). I also wanted to take it to work, but don't worry...i was able to restrain myself hehe :) i will try and upload a photo tomorrow when its finished (I've just got to attach the waistband) so in the mean time here are some of my favourite aprons, most from tie one on flickr group.

things i like... (part II)

i also brought these for me :)
they are from the etsy shop my paper garden

they are little tag collages and i am thinking of framing them for my room, for one thin blank wall i have or to group in a collection on prints and frames on my shelf.

things i like..

i just brought some of these vintage letter press stamps from etsy. They are for Morgan's new room. I think they will look great either clumped together on his shelves, put in a shadow box frame or possibly into a canvas as an artwork. does anyone else have any clever ideas?

dusk walks..

The other day Morgan and i went for a walk down along the waterfront bike track after dinner. Despite being puffed very early on - i must endevour to walk more often! it was very beautiful and peaceful and we found these beautiful big wild flowers. Morgan picked some for me and i put them on my bedside table next to the little perfume vase my brother brought me for Christmas (isn't it sweet?!) My mum did ask me who's garden we stole them from - i have been known to do this - naughty naughty me! but they were just growing there next to the train station parking lot. Yay!
does anyone know what they are by any chance? i don't know much about flowers, for all i know their just river weeds, pretty river weeds though!

little loves...

what a clever little idea i stumbled across today! these little fridge magnet buttons are by Agnes Coy - you can view her shop here here. And i think they are so very cute! She also has many other gorgeous little designs..i am especially loving the trunk purse, pocket tissue holders and the linen bird pillow. i also think these would make a lovely gift.

I have some of these badges at home, which i brought but never really wore on a bag or anything, they just live inside a small container in my drawer, so i think i might glue some magnets onto the back and use them as fridge magnets. This way everyone can enjoy them :) - they are not fabric, but Japanese rice paper! Yum!!

that 70's book..

Hooray for working withing walking distance to about 4 op shops :)!! a couple of weeks ago at lunchtime i popped into Vinnies and came out with these great treasures...

books: The complete sewing course and a fantastic 70's read the complete book of Handicrafts ($2 each). The complete sewing course is full of and information on different sewing techniques, hand stitches, trims and finishes, how to change patterns and even includes some gorgeous patterns - (kimono, cot quilt, camisole and skirt, kiddies 'dungarees' etc). The Handicraft book is huge.. with so much exciting stuff I'm try!
- smocking, embroidery, appliqué, knitting (and different stitches), crochet, patchwork, tatting - has anyone tried this before? it's looks fun and effective!- macrame, tapestry, rugmaking!?!, leatherwork, paperwork, basketwork, jewelery, toy making, hats etc etc etc and some great charts ie: dictionary of yarn types, knitting yarn tension guide, needle and thread stitch for what type of fabric your using, guide to pattern sizes... i could keep going on! what a little treasure I've found!!
and i also found these 2 fun vintage patterns. although they are sizes 12-14 and 16 and large. so I'm not quite sure what I'll do with them yet:( but they were too cute to resist AND the lady ended up saying i could have them for free!! and I'm sure theres something in that complete sewing course book about changing pattern sizes :)...

heres a little peek inside the handicrafts book:

i definitely want to try out those oven mits!

and how cute is this little smock??

matching mother and daughter smocks (yes theres a pattern) - cute, although I don't think it'd ever wear it! and i like this little crocheted dress, oh and the long socks!! :)

oh and did i mention it has lots of cute apron patterns too?!!

more than words..

miss Keara and me.

yes we will have lots of fun little one!!

little birds

Today while browsing through the blogging world i came across this cute little owl made by Rebecca over at Hurrah! I came home from work and started rummaging through my material collection (or lack thereof!) all i knew was i just had to make one too! i found some aqua tweed and a scrap of lace that i has been savouring for a moment such as this (despite the numerous times my mother has tried to throw it out!) Some matching buttons and two hours later and he was all finished! When i look at him he makes me happy and i feel accomplished to have done something crafty today *grin*. I also spent a little while mucking around trying to make up a pattern until i realised that Rebecca had also posted the moonstitches 'tutowlrial', where her idea originally came from. it is such a simple and pretty tutorial and you can view it here. Now that i'm inspired i've decided to make a similar one but bigger (as mr owl at the moment stands 8.5 cm's tall) and i feel he needs a friend. the last picture of the tutorial also gave me the idea to make some for Keara and print each letter of her name on each owls stomach. i think they would look really cute lined up on her shelf! i'll keep you posted on how that goes..

thanks for your inspiration Rebecca!

also today i finally received my special package from Argentina (also my Christmas present from Morgan). it's a a print from etsy by Munieca called patterned birds. it's just the right size for the wall i wanted to put it on and i can't wait to frame it and hang it up! it's simple but i like all the different patterns and the colours just go perfect with my room :)!

I think i am starting to have a strange obsession with birds. Weird. Especially since they are the only one thing in the world i am scared of! give me spiders and snakes and heights any day but give me a bird that starts flapping in my face and thats it! chickens are even worse. weird..

magazine clippits..

Today, today I am simply inspired by this beautiful photograph. i don't know who the photographer is, but it's a page out of the fashion section in this months Marie Claire. theres just something about it that captures my attention and makes me day dream..

the elegant loose curly hairdo.
the oversized hair clip.
the cute grin.
the way she is clasping the antique camera.
i love it all! :)

it reminds me of summer and encourages me to enjoy all the summery aspects that are happening down here in the southern hemisphere at the moment..
running around barefoot, mangoes for breakfast...mangoes for lunch...mangoes as snacks... mangoes for dessert :), beach days that stretch long into the afternoon and leave you feeling sleepy and content when you get home, ice cubes in drinks, sweet summery dresses, late night walks, iced coffees, bright summery colours and warm pastels...

small simple pleasures that warm the heart.