In my head + my giveaway

My brain is full of lots of things at the moment so rather than write some wonderful cohesive post I'm going to be lazy and use dot points.

• I've lost 2.5 cm from my waist measurement in the last 5 days. Don't know how but there you go.
• I'm looking forward to starting Tafe on Monday.
• I may possibly have a babysitting job for the other days of the week.
• I may possibly have use of a car in very near future *fingers crossed*
• I'll be getting my new sewing machine on Saturday. So stoked!! So many things to finish and lots of things I want to start.
• My computer screen is currently pink. Don't know why but it's quite annoying.
• I really do need a new laptop. This desktop is a refurbished previously dead one from a friend. However, I really want/need a new sewing machine more than I want/need a new laptop. I will be able do stuff at tafe, the library and boyfriend has super fast internet connection at his place too.
• Entries for my giveaway end tomorrow so hop over here and comment because there are only 4 entries so far.
• I'm really really over this heat. Bring on winter!
• The heat has not only upset my sleep and domestication but my crafting too. I can't sit still long enough to focus on anything and I really don't want to play with wool or big (read:warm) items that need to be hand stitched.

So there you go. That's my little outpouring for today. And in case you missed it the first time, my giveaway ends tomorrow if you want to win that cute charm pack.

"A woman is like a tea bag, you never know how strong she is until you get her in hot water"

Down to Earth

Morning all

Today I thought I'd blog about what I've been reading lately. Along with my daily perusal of the craft forum I've been hanging out over at downtoearthforums.com  This forum, hosted by Rhonda over here is all about simple living.

I've been reading it for a few months and honestly I just LOVE it there. There are so many great things on offer from recipes, diy tips, ideas for cleaning, cooking, growing fruit and vegies, raising chickens, milking cows etc as well as a whole host of crafty tuts and ideas. Not to mention subforums on frugal living, ways to save money and live green.

I think it's fantastic. I've always felt like I don't quite fit in anywhere because I'm happier at home with a craft, a good book or a new recipe to try out rather than shopping, partying or drinking like my peers and...most of society really. But when I stumbled upon this forum I felt like I found my place. In this little corner of the world there are people just like me who would rather take note of a dress design and try their hand at making it rather than put it on credit and regret it later. People who have containers of spaghetti sauce, soups and meat in usable portions in their freezer, along with stores of flour, sugar, pasta, lentils etc in their pantry for later, just like me.

It's a great place to hang out honestly because it's visitors have such a wealth of information. You can get in there an ask questions about just about anything and chances are someone knows, and if not, they'll work out how to do it and put up a handy tutorial to show you how to do it too.

Now this is not a gimmick, I was not asked to write a rave post, I just had to. After reading Rhonda's blog this morning I just had to share my excitement. Today's post included info about stockpiling groceries and cooking extra to freeze. I was reading through it thinking 'tick tick tick' because I do most of that already. It made me so happy to think I had finally found a bunch of like minded people to chat with.

Tennis and Etsy

My last few days have been spent crafting as well as cutting and listing fabric. I finally packed up my craft table from all my beading.

This is what I did while hubby watched the tennis on friday night.

Beading the other day before packing up

Prep-ing bangles

I have both an ebay store and an Etsy store. My etsy link is http://www.etsy.com/shop/designsbyrai
The ebay link is only temporary until I set up a business one but here it is http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/loveylovacious/m.html?hash=item1c2350f0d8&item=120851591384&pt=AU_Fabric&_trksid=p4340.l2562

fat quarter bundle

fat quarter bundle

fat quarter bundle

charm pack

Sewing machine.

The long and the short of it is that I am AGAIN looking for a new sewing machine. Mine slowed to a crawl and when I took it back because it was still under warranty they took my Brother and gave me store credit. Not impressed. So I'm on the hunt again. Trying to work out which brand to buy and work out my finances. I've been looking for a few weeks and out of the blue stumbled upon a Janome store in Moss Vale that not only sells fabric, wool and other bits and pieces but machines too. Including a Janome one that just came on sale and will be until the end of March, so take that.

How is your Saturday so far? Any big plans for this weekend?

'that's not a knife, this is a knife'

I came into Crocodile Dundee II halfway through last night and couldn't help but watch it. He's such a cheeky bugger. I don't think I've ever seen the second one all the way through. Some interesting tactics in those movies, and good lines - 'Must be why they call it the city on wheels, no one even gets out of their car to mug you.'

Any other Paul Hogan fans out there?

I'm only human

Yesterday was as promised, spent finishing the squares for my baby blanket and doing some beading. I just need to stitch the squares together now and I have 10 more bracelets to add to the market jewellery box.

Today's plan however, is exercise. I have all the best intentions for getting myself fit and in better health. I have never been a small girl and recently found out that one day I WILL be diabetic. The only way to combat that before it gets unmanageable is to reduce my weight. The other big problem I have is that I have serious issues with my back that prevent me from overdoing it as far as exercise. I have in the past had gym memberships and at the moment am even renting a treadmill. I even have the wii fit, weights and a whole host of exercises and stretches to help my body but I just can't help it. I am so unmotivated some days. Honestly some days yes I'm just lazy but sometimes I'm just so scared I'll hurt my back again. Every time I put the effort in I end up on my back in pain for the next three days. It's painful and scary and there's really nothing I can do about it until it happens.

So as I said I need to get off my butt and use this dam treadmill I've been staring at for 2 months yet only used twice. Don't get me wrong, I exercise, quite a bit actually. I do a lot of walking, public transport has that effect. And carrying groceries home from the bus. Big fun. The trouble is it's only enough to maintain my current weight, not help me lose any so I need to CAREFULLY pull out the big guns and get moving.

I've done this before you know. I've made all sorts of resolves to improve my health but now...I trusted my instincts to get tested and I was right. I will get sick if I don't do something about this. So my motivation has to hurry the heck up and kick in and stick around this time.

Sigh, am off to hula hoop and flap my arms in a giant virtual chicken suit, AFTER I get back on the horse...I mean treadmill. I'm only human you know.

P.S. Don't forget my giveaway is still open til Feb 1.

rainy day = inside crafting

It's so grey and miserable outside. I would love to be sitting in front of my machine getting some things done but sadly I am without a machine at the moment so will have to make do with other projects.

baby blanket - fill in the blanks

baby blanket I finished a few weeks ago.

 I decided at the end of last year that I was going to stop putting projects aside for 'one day' when I actually have kids or someone to give kiddie things too and figured 'bugger it' I'll just start a baby box for myself. Which gives me oodles of time to do things like baby booties that I tried the year before last for my nephew.

Also,those boxes of beads have been on that table for weeks now, I really need to put them away or use them, or both. Hmmmm choices.....

ten things you might not know about me

Just because. Feel free to play along.

1. I have a beautiful orange kelpie x border collie who lives at mum's place. I miss her. She waddles - not cuz she's fat but the curve in her spine looks really funny.

2. I have a thing about black nail polish. No particular reason why.

3. I miss the kids I au paired every day.

4. I can't wait to hoe into some Cadbury easter eggs.

5. I love music.

6. I can't leave the house without my sunglasses. My astigmatism gives me light sensitivity.

7. I can walk all day but run for a minute and I can't breathe for the next 10. Go figure

8. Chicken kiev has to be one of my favourite foods.

9. I love me some Disney movies.

10. I really hate making the bed.


Anyone else want to join in? You can comment or post on your own blog. I'll come read it.

Crochet dishcloths

I've been doing a lot of reading at Down to Earth forums over the last few months and was recently inspired to try my hand at some crochet dish cloths. This is what I have so far. It's not finished yet and is made with leftover cottons but I think it's pretty good for a first attempt.

"If you judge people you have no time to love them" Mother Teresa

First giveaway of 2012

So I started this morning by pouring milk on my feet. Yes of course I did this deliberately. haha Have you ever had one of those days where you fill your bowl with cornflakes and they land just so you end up with a little ski jump on top. I poured the milk, it hit said ramp, went all over the bench and over the bowl onto my feet. I am just so cool :D

On to the giveaway. I have a whole bunch of fabric precuts going up for sale in the next few days ( when my internet plays nice) and I figured it would be nice to start off by giving one to a lucky blog reader. You will receive a 40piece charm pack containing 2 of each of the pictured fabrics.

Also, I was thrifting yesterday and ended up with 2 copies of the same book - the original and the reprint, so I shall add one to the mix as well. It's a pretty cool book, it has patterns, ideas and how tos as well as the basics for quilting.

To enter, Australian residents ( who should hopefully already be following my blog) just need to comment and tell me what fabric you can't go past. For me it's anything purple. I have to have a second look when I see purple or blue prints. So come on, fess up.

1 entry for commenting
1 entry for following me (if you already do just let me know)
1 entry for blogging about my giveaway

The winner will be drawn on Feb 1st.

Keeping my promises

So at the end of last year I posted a whole bunch of goals for this year. Some of which I have been working on, none of which you have heard about.

Yes I am a slack blogger. If you remember correctly, rectifying that situation was on the list of things to work on this year....so far I am doing splendidly obviously.

Partly because my computer is sooooo sloooooooow and partly because I haven't really had much to say I have held back. Well, no more! This is me committing myself once again to blogging more often with projects I'm working on, fabric stuff and just random stuff and things, be it stuff that's happened to me or just quotes and stories etc.

First point of order.... a giveaway. Yes it is true. If you return here tomorrow evening you will discover not that I am FNSIing ( I have a boyfriend who likes to go out Friday nights now) but that I am hosting a giveaway. There will be a charm pack and patchwork book to giveaway. So please come on back.

Signing off. Xoxo

"To the world you are someone but to someone you are the world."