Out of the Comfort Zone.

You may have noticed that I have been shaking up the VC product range a bit lately (how could you miss?). This is because I had a bit of an epiphany late in 2011 when I realised that I wasn't really heading in the direction I had orginally set out in with Verri Charmed. When I began, what I call "making stuff" in 2010 I wanted to incorporate vintage and upcyled products into the majority of my work, I also didn't want to get bogged down making the same stuff over and over again. I had a few hiccups and lost my way a little early in 2011 and hence strayed a bit from my path...... but I'm so happy to say I'm back doing what I love.

So I have set myself a little challenge for 2012 and that is to make,try, do something new each month. Of course I shall blog the results to keep myself on track. It's a way for me to continue to push past my comfort zone.

For January my first challenge was to make a cot quilt/blanket as a gift for a brand new bubba boy. I've not made something like this before, but I've wanted to for quite some time. I have started with something simple, because as we all know I don't like to read instructions, rather I just go ahead and blindly assume that I can make something that pops into my head. I'm sure the result is technically wrong... but hey I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

So lovely reader, I extend this challenge to you, perhaps you could shake things up a little each month and tell me about your results too? I'd love to hear about it! xx

2011

Time has flown by in the in the last few weeks of 2011, and I now sit here reflecting, has it been a good year? The answer is yes, and this is how I can tell:

My girls in January and my girls in December, happy. That is how a good year is measured.

Happy New Year! xx

The Craziness of Now.

We all have our busy weeks, you know the ones where you almost feel like you are holding your breath just to get through everything with out a hitch. I have had a few weeks like this in a row, and I still have several more to come.

It's hard at times like this not to wish time away, remembering how time is, afterall, so very precious, but I can honestly say that on this Sunday evening, I am truely looking forward to next Sunday evening, to have this crazy week ahead, behind me.

This week I will be wearing these hats, obviously hats that I wear often, but not often quite so simultaneously:

Mum
wife
Sister
Aunty
Daughter
Business Owner
Radiographer
Best Friend
Matron Of Honour

This week I am scared that at some point I'm going to let someone down, that I'm not going to be able to do everything that is needed of me. I guess only time will tell.

Miss Three and a Half

My Dear Delilah,

You make my heart sing and you warm my world with sunshine. You make me smile with your sweet heart and love for you sister. You make me laugh with your awesome facial expressions and off key singing. You always oblige when I need a hug and you never fail to kiss your sister good night. Your drawing and writing is blowing my mind, I can't keep up with how fast you are learning. You amaze me everyday.....

You also frustrate me a bit. Please can you put your cranky pants out for a wash tomorrow and put some happy ones on?

Love Mum. xxxx

Sunday Morning Finds

We are just fresh back from the carboot sale and I thought I'd share this week's finds:

My favourite of all the finds is the little oil painting "Autumn Flinders" (1981 really was a good vintage!)for the bargain rice of $1, the colours in it are just so vibrant! I've been on the hunt for chairs to go around our dining table in the studio (we only had one) so these were a must to come home with us for a whopping $8 the pair. The peach chenille blanket was an absolute must, and who could possibly pass up a brand new pair of Jag jeans with tags still on for a whole $10!

Love car booting!

Playing With The Verri Vintage Stash

Luke was out for the day today, a work function at the races. As the girls and I had already had a bit of a long week together, Delilah is having a big cranky growth spurt (like she needed one!) and Miss M is speedily heading toward the terrible twos (now I remember why we started calling Lilah "Captian Feralpants"!), I had decided early in the day that we needed some projects for the afternoon.

We've been doing ALOT of gardening lately, all three of us really enjoy it, the girls even have their own tiny gardening gloves and tools (and I am slowly getting to grips with my fears of slimy, crawly, creepy, stingy things), so our first task was to plant some basil.... well that took all of five minutes so we then cracked into the Verri Vintage stash and I showed the girls how to make fabric covered canvases. Following on from the pin cushion post, I am really loving a good short project at the moment, the sense of accomplishment is so satisfying..... so after making three:

Delilah decided we needed more, and I was very happy to oblige:

And beside the fun result of having produced some super cute artwork for our studio, we also had a completely pleasant and stress free afternoon:)

Pin Cushion Therapy.

I am loving the Oopsidaisi Pin Cushion Swap......

I had been feeling a bit down lately and for some reason a tasty little 30min sewing project seems to achieve such a sense of accomplishment that I have found myself feeling better.... although slightly addicted to making pin cushions, perhaps not brilliant when I have sooooooo much market sewing to do!

If you'd like to make your own, lovely Bernie from Tea For Evie, posted a fantastic tutorial for one on her blog, you can read it here:) Happy Sewing!