My Creative Space : Lego Party Planning

(Invites bought from here and edited by DQ as it's not a birthday party)

This weekend we are throwing Jude a little lego party. So today is about food and finishing off the goodie bags.

We've gone with non-traditional lego colours of blue and orange, for something different. And have a few cute games lined up.


I'm hoping to make some cakes that look similar to this...


And I would love to know how to make cupcakes that look like these ones...


There is also lego styled pizza and lego marshmallow pops to be made, as well as a fruit platter...just in case the boys feel like something a bit healthier, but hey, it's a party :-P

My sister and nephew arrive today from interstate, and I can't wait to spend some time just hanging out with them, as it's been quite a few months since we've seen each other. And Jude is so happy to be having his cousin Caden coming to his party.

It's going to be a good weekend.

Inspiration abounds in the creative spaces over at Kootoyoo.

My friend, the Artist

This is where I will be Friday evening, supporting my ever-talented and fabulous friend Jude at her exhibition opening at Limerence in Belgrave.

The exhibition is running for the month of April, and is definitely worth a view, so why not pencil an outing to the Melbourne hills in your diary?

And another bonus is the hills are just spectacular in autumn. Really, they are :-)

Creative Space : Making, Making, Making

Just keep making, making, making....it's my motto at the moment.

The market went quite well last week, which means I have to work extra hard this week to get my stock levels up to something resembling 'enough'. Don't get me wrong though, it's a good problem to have :-)

I've started making girls skirts...did I mention that yet? Oh well, I am. I have got a mix of adjustable waist/flat front market skirts, and these new wrap-around cord & cotton mix skirts, which I think are perfect for the cooler days - definitely cute with tights, boots and a beanie. Currently I'm making from Sizes 1 to 6, but definitely plan to go up a few more sizes.


The wrap skirt pattern is new for me and I only have 3 made up so far, so that is definitely on the to-do list today, along with some more little bow bags, fabric flower headbands, and some crochet in between all that.

I'm looking forward to next week...no markets booked for the for-seeable future. I'm hoping I will get time to update my Made It store, and also to sit down with a coffee and read/flick through this book.....


I've never patchworked before, and this book looks lovely and inspiring with lots of basic technique info. Honestly though, I would like to do a true scrappy patchwork quilt...I'm working on my stash of squares with this project in mind.


If any of you are in Melbourne this weekend, I'll be at Mulgrave Makers Market this Sunday. The weather forecast is looking good, the farmers market is there too and I'll be joined by Danielle, Jude, Wendy, Jane and so many talented makers.

Lots more busy, crafty, lovely people over here.

xxx

So Lovely...

Last week I received a most lovely 'Stylish Blogger' award from Wendy of The Textured Leaf...I was quite surprised to see my name listed there among some wonderful, inspirational ladies, it really quite made my day.


Thanks Wendy! xx

Now, the trick to these awards is to not only pass this award on to 5 inspiring bloggers, but to also reveal 7 things about yourself....always a bit tricky, is this :-P

Ok, so first up....bloggers who inspire me :

Artsy Ants - a blog run by two sisters, Sylvia and Simona, both equally inspiring in the things they create.

Naturally Dyed - my lovely friend Jude creates beautiful artwork with hand-dyed silks. Her blog is still super new, but will inspire those who are lovers of natural colours within this unique art form.

You Had Me At Bonjour - An Aussie crafter living in the South of France with her family of five, and another bub on the way. Kirsty takes some beautiful photos (lots of travel envy here :-P), makes lovely things and writes wonderfully.

Little Suitcase - Toni always has something interesting to say, and takes lovely photos, oh and also seems to pick up the most fabulous thrifty outfits...she has the knack

MissyMuh - Mend and Make Do - Clair is a crafty all-rounder, a beautiful photographer and has a most lovely blog.

Now onto the 7 things about me....hmmm...what to write, what to write...

1 - When I was a teenager, I went through the whole teenage angst of trying to be different, and started spelling my name Kelleigh (you see, I went to school with 3 other Kellys)...I think it lasted a whole week or two, before I got over it.

2 - I was a closet Jeremy Jordan fan (obviously not in the closet anymore hey!?). It's this kind of cheesy pop that makes me smile.

3 - But normally I have a much more grown-up taste in music - Angus & Julia Stone, Florence & The Machine, Lisa Mitchell, Paul Dempsey, Jamie Cullum, Clare Bowditch, Sarah Blasko, Newton Faulkner, Pearl Jam, Radiohead. Truly I do....
we'll just ignore those cliche 90's ballads sitting in the CD rack, won't we? he he

4 - My husband and I really struggled naming our littlies. If I had my way, instead of Alannah, Jude and Levi, we would of had Charlize, London and Dempsey. Roh would of had Charlotte, Bowie and Will. Not that we don't love our kids names, we do, it just shows what changes compromise can bring....our compromise being scratch all those names and start again :-P

Man, this is hard..

5 - I love to bake, but struggle with the concept when I'm on a diet. I can only be so strong, and the smell of freshly baked goodies is just not a fair fight!

6 - I'm a decaf, skinny latte with a shot of vanilla kind of girl

7 - I love Pinterest...it's highly addictive, super inspiring, definitely time-sucking and hopefully, a little bit useful. I love it.

If you've made it this far, well done you!

So, there you have it - some new blogs to check out, maybe, and a few things about me that you probably didn't wonder about, but I shared anyway.

Thanks for visiting xx

It's the little details..

I did a little happy dance last week, when the fabric labels I had ordered, arrived. I quickly put them to use in some new creations like the 'Little Bow' bags and the market skirts I've been making. Such a great finishing touch!

And Sasha, from Tags & Labels, made the whole process so easy and was so lovely to deal with.

I am one happy chicken

xx

Rubble & Riches Carboot Market - this weekend!

So this is where I'll be at this weekend. Quite a few parents have been working their bottoms off, over the past few months, to make this a huge success.

And it even looks like the weather is going to play nice - a beautiful autumn day of 23.

There is a lot going on around the grounds, including :

* A Giant Book Sale
* Carboot Capital - a treasure hunters paradise
* Free kids activities
* Food Central - including Sushi Express and Tamarind Thai
* Market stalls, of course
* Showbags
* KidZone - Crazy hair stall, craft, balloons, fishing game and much more

So if you are looking for something to do tomorrow, why not come for a trip to the beautiful hills, and enjoy a day outside. Oh, and Upwey - just before Belgrave...just fyi ;-)

Now for the cliche.......
'Fun for the whole family'

he he

xx

My Creative Space : Market Prep

This weekend I have a stall at our local primary school market day (will post all details later for any local Melbourne people who might like to come!), so this week I have been madly making to have a nice variety of things to offer.

I have bows for hair clips and maybe some headbands too...


My lovely friend Nadya came over last night and helped stitch and felt these bows, and helped keep me focused on getting things done - it was wonderful, and so productive - thanks sweetness xx

Here are some fabric roses, also for headbands...


I've also decided to branch out a little into kids clothes. So this is my first batch of girls skirts, varying in sizes 1 to 6 (so far) and each one unique in it's fabric choices and final look...


And yesterday, my hat display wire thingy arrived, so just quickly tried it out with one of my indie-style slouchie beanies...definitely a worthwhile purchase, I think :-)


So that's me this week. And I promise to have a few more blog posts in the coming days...it's been a little quiet, I know.

And with all the talented people out there, I'm sure you will find some great inspiration over at Kirsty's Creative Space blog hop, so why not grab a coffee and have a browse?

xx

My Creative Space : Must Sew :-P

So, that big pile of lovely, cut-out fabrics from last week...yep, barely touched. Slack, I know!


But what I did make are these little custom order bags using the very last of my Alexander Henry 'Willow' stash (in this colourway, anyhow :-P) which should be ready by the end of the day. I literally have one round of stitching on each to do, as well as add the handles, and then, ta da, they'll be finished - yay!

I have two markets this month, so I really need to find my sewing mojo and get back into the swing of it all.

But not yet, not today.
Today I'm hoping to be a relaxing day - I have a much-longed-for hairdressers appointment with Heidi my lovely hairdresser. I'm thinking something different..maybe a blunt fringe, and definitely some colour. And Levi is spending some time with my sis, so woo hoo for 'me' time!

I'm sure you'll find many more productive creative spaces over here, so why not check them out!

xx

Third Time the Charm

This dress and I have a not-so-happy history.

The original making of it went off without a hitch but then...

the back elastic snapped just as I was doing it up on Alannah...peeved just a little? oh yeah


I finally find my groove with the dress again, and fix it up, only to find that someone had accidentally knocked it onto my wet oil painting, so now there were random red splashes of paint on the belt sash....

So this is where the 3 felt flowers make their new and much needed appearance.


But with all of this, finally, it is finished and Lana loves it, and even got to wear it on the weekend. Just in time for the end of summer :-P

Note : Made from McCalls pattern M5574

Yummy Lunchbox Idea

I don't know about your children, but my eldest is terrible when it comes to eating her sandwiches - even when she picks the fillings out herself!

Anyhow, at a friend's BBQ the other week, they had a yummy vegetable slice there which Levi devoured and I also enjoyed. When asked about the recipe, my friend just said that she had altered a zucchini slice recipe by adding more vegies.

So home I went, and had a play with a variation on my favourite zucchini slice recipe, and here it is...


Ingredients
5 eggs
1 cup S.R flour
1 zucchini, grated
2 carrots, grated
5 button mushrooms, finely sliced
2 teaspoons minced garlic
100g shaved ham, diced
1 cup grated cheese (I used Colby but you could use Tasty or Parmesan)
1/4 cup light olive oil

How to:
1. Preheat oven to 160 degrees.
2. Grease a 30cm x 20cm tin.
3. Beat eggs.
4. Add flour and beat until smooth.
5. Add zucchini, carrot, mushrooms, garlic, ham, cheese and oil.
6. Combine well.
7. Pour into dish and spread evenly.
8. Bake in oven until golden.
9. Serve warm or refrigerate for eating later.

So this has been Alannah's new lunchbox filler, instead of her sandwich, and she's loving it!

Yum!

Tasmanian Talent On My Wall..

I thought I'd just quickly share a 'what's on my wall' moment with you..


I love this piece of tile art. My parents bought it for Rohan and I for our 2nd wedding anniversary, when we were all holidaying together in Tasmania.

Claire Mahon, the artist, had a stall at one of my all-time favourite markets - The Salamanca Market - and we fell in love with her talent and vibrant paintings. The tassie oak frame finishes it off perfectly.

And it's new home, in our kitchen, on my red wall, makes me happy.

Today's Creative Space...

is more about cutting out, then finished products...

there are quite a few bags cut out, 4 different designs including two for a custom order..


some little girl market skirts...something new for Polkadot Lane..


and there is also the crochet beanies & indie style slouchie hats too...


Head over to Kootoyoo for so many more creative spaces.

Neverland - Stylin' Up

Just a few photos to share (particularly for Mum xx) from the Neverland party.

Peter Pan (Jude) and Captain Hook (Ash, of course :-P)..

Michael Darling, Wendy's youngest brother (Cedar)..

Wendy (Sienna) and Princess Tigerlily (Alannah)...

The Indian Village..

A Ship's Mate (Levi...ok, officially not really in costume, but it was nautical themed :-P)

Princess Tigerlily..