My name is Kelly and I love reading Chick Lit

La di dah...
(I'm just going to act like it's not been two weeks since my last post)

Anyway, yes, I said it - I read and love chick lit!
You know, those books that are like romantic comedy movies, with all the feel-good and squishy endings?
Don't get me wrong, I read other books that have a bit more substance to them, but I just love cosying up on the couch after a full-on day with my latest book and reading the night away.

And because of that, I thought I'd share a few of my favourite 'chick lit' authors, just in case you are looking for something new to read...

Now where to start...hmmmm....

Jill Mansell - is one of my favourites and I have quite a collection of them as I find them good re-readers. They are the epitomy of a feel-good 'awww' ending.

Melissa Nathan - has 5 novels to her name, and sadly passed away due to cancer in 2006 but her novels are witty, well written and great reads. One favourite being her debut novel "Pride, Prejudice & Jasmin Fields"

Marian Keyes - her older novels such as 'Sushi for Beginners' and 'Last Chance Saloon' are fab reads, and her new novels are good, but I'd recommend starting with the older books. The only exception is "Anybody Out There?" which was brilliantly written and so moving - not so much a romantic comedy though, more a drama.

Jane Green -  is another author who started out with chick lit but is now moving towards more drama/family style books. Of her later novels 'Second Chance' is one of my favs, but I'm always a sucker for her older novels such as 'Jemima J', 'Bookends' and 'Mr Maybe'.

I might leave it there for now, but I could go on :-) (I read A LOT!)

How about you? Any book or author recommendations for me? I would love to hear from you!
xx

Somers Winter Market - tomorrow!

So tomorrow, myself and the girls from Curious Bazaar will be at the fantastic annual..

And for this market, a few new items will be available such as...

A small selection of very funky pants - both for boys and girls...

And hopefully a few screen printed Ipad sleeve type thingys and maybe a crochet hat or two...

As well as these patchwork embellished tote bags...

And for a bit more enticement, Polkadot Lane and Sew Chirpy will be having a big sale on some summer stock...there will be bargains to be had!

So, here are the details :

Somers Winter Market
Coolart Wetlands & Homestead
Lord Somers Road, Somers
10am - 3pm

Maybe I'll see you there!

Creative Space : Mood for Making

Well, maybe not quite in the mood for making, BUT I definitely want to be...
So hopefully by just pushing through and playing with pretty fabrics, the motivating mood will follow.

So, I have been working on a couple of things...

Funky little pants for my next market (yes, details still to come, I promise!)..

these ones are a dark grey check with contrasting fine grey cord pockets

 I'm in love with this button fabric

and these super soft suede-feel pants with gorgeous japanese satin pockets

I also have some blank calico tote bags waiting to be screen-printed or embellished with fabric..

And these gorgeous fabrics to make something for me or mine...

Beautiful screen-printed fabric bits from Lamina

 

And I think I'd like to make a skirt for myself in this black & white fabric - it's too cute!

What's happening in your creative space this week?

To have a little blog-hop around to see what others have been up to, pop over here.

In Between..

So life has been pretty hectic lately. Loads of things on my to-do list, and I must admit to being a bit slack with the blogging.

But between kids, house, gym, business accounts, tax returns, online study and other general family commitments, the time to create and make hasn't been as readily available, as of late.

But in between all of this, I did manage to sew up this little summer dress for a market in August (more on this market a bit later)...

It was made using the 'Oliver & S - Seashore Sundress' sewing pattern, in a Size 5, and I bought a licence to make one of these to sell.

(Just a side-note for other market makers out there - did you know Oliver & S charge $6 per item for a licence to make to sell - not per pattern, per item you make from that pattern....thoughts??.)

It has cute little buttons at the top.

And adorable, little, contrasting pockets each side, for collecting & carrying little items.

Alannah has one, and it looks super-cute over leggings or just by itself, although it is a bit on the shorter side.

So with this market coming up on the 18th August, I have washed a whole lot of fabric all ready for cutting out into pants and bags. And I have a couple of things to make for Alannah for summer too.

I'm looking forward to making now that I've knocked a few big things off of my to-do list.

Thanks for stopping by.
xx

Pin It! Make It! : Chocolate, Choc Chip and Zucchini Cake

I don't know about you, but I love being able to sneak something healthy into what is considered a 'treat' food. No, not to be dishonest about it - my kids know there is veg in this cake - but to just add a bit of nutrition into something so yummy.

And yummy this cake is.

Pinned here.
Original link is here.

The recipe takes about 3 medium sized zucchinis, which makes up 2 log cakes.
With the original recipe, there is no icing, but my hubby prefers all cakes to have icing (except for maybe my Orange & Poppyseed Loaf) so I just smoothed on a thin layer of basic choc icing.

The recipe is easy to follow, and I definitely think this one will be added to our family favourite recipes box.

A great pin!

How about you guys? Anyone been Pinterest inspired lately?

Creative Space : Finishing Off

Sometimes my pile of 'nearly done' items seems to scream at me 'finish me, finish me!'.

Well, I figured seeing as it is school holidays, it's the perfect time to finish off some of these projects, where it will only take 10-15 minutes maybe, to complete. Completely do-able in between kids and activities.

So, I finally stitched on these doilies to my red scarf..

And these two buttons onto this Urban Hoodie, which is for stock for Polkadot Lane...

I also finished off these pink pants.

And I just need to sew in the ends to these 3 beanies (2 indie slouchies, 1 fitted)...

Today we are off rollerskating, but afterwards I think I may get a chance to sew up an 'Oliver & S' summer sundress that I've had cut out since summer, and as I've got dinner already stewing away in the slow cooker, I'll be able to work on it for a couple of hours at least....well, I hope.

What are you up to today?

Joining in with creative people from all over, linking up here.

xxx

Little Pink Pants

I finally got back on my machine - yay!

Made these little pants for one of Levi's little friends..(using the 'nowhere man' pants pattern by Shwin Designs).

 

And isn't she just the cutest little owlet? I think so..

 

xx