Poppy Skirt in Action!

Poppy Pop Pops wearing the skirt I made her as part of the twirly skirt bonanza late last year. Her Mum has sent me some before and after pics. I must say that the after pic is my fave. I love a bit of dirt and water play for kids!

More of these skirts soon - they are lots of fun to put together. So glad to see them in action!


j

Inane, insane, not my cup of tea.

Rant alert.

I am against the business of logging for the purpose of wood-chipping and pulping. There. Those who know me know my thought on this. This truck was one of three that pulled up next to us in the Geelong area. Makes me mad. As a young Geography student I remember likening these trucks to a line of hearses and crying. Not quite as reactive this time, but still find this practice inane, insane and not my cup of tea.



J

Bean wonderful

Do you know Becky Bean? She is a wonderful crafty mumma from Queensland who joined in my Pay It Forward a while back. True to the joys of PIF, Bec sent me a fantastic parcel this week - thanks!

All wrapped and presented beautifully. I love the button detail!


A bookmark, scented oil for relaxation (perfect!), a pouch/clutch with 20c included (bad luck to gift an empty purse - super-thoughtful!), and vintage tea towels!! These two are SO ME. The third is currently being transformed and will re-appear shortly! Chocolate (organic and fair-trade-friendly of course!),





Thanks Bec. If you would like some Becky Bean goodness for yourself, visit her store! Yay!

J

Images of the beach

The ferry between Sorrento and Queenscliff in Victoria takes car or foot passengers across Port Philip Bay hourly in Summer.

After waving goodbye to Grandma, we took the ferry across the water to see Granny and Grandpa at 'their beach'.

Memories and pictures in my mind will last forever, these images will remind me.

Marvellous.


j

Pav-tastic

I often read a post where someone has been blessed by the op-shop fairies with similar luck to me in the same week... Does this happen to you?

This Lovely Lady posted recently about a pav plate that is used for baking and serving. While we were down the coast, my sister in law (SIL) and fellow lover of all things vintage, took me to a den of pleasure - an antique and bric-a-brac-arie on the Mornington Peninsula. Not the well-known one in Tyabb, no. This was one frequented by locals. The rafters house pigeons who poop onto items on the fringes. The old guys who run it walk around smoking foul-smelling cigarettes, and everything is coated in just the right amount of dust and cob-webs. It was brilliant.

When we arrived, SIL was telling me about a plate that a pav can be baked on, which has the recipe printed on it, and which is also a serving plate. Seconds later, we found a pav plate for $2 which had all the above! I carted it around, determined to make my first pav.

When we got back to the house, it was HOT and the beach beckoned. When we returned, Mother-In-Law (MIL) produced this.






(See the plate in the background with the pavvy goodness on it? Clever bakeware!)

"Unfortunately" Mr BB and the little buttons don't like pav, so MIL and I ate the lot. It only took 2 days! MIL serves up a splendid pav, with just whipped cream on top. Slice one had strawberries, two had passionfruit, three had banana, etc. Rather clever really! If only we had had Peppermint Crisp too!

(Photo by Curlypops from post Triumphant)

CurlyPops must have found her plate on about the same day too! We also both recently realised we had missed our blogaversaries, and are both hosting giveaways. Go to this post to enter my giveaway, and this post for Curlypops'.

Hooray!!

P.S. After finally unpacking yesterday, I realised that the pav plate was inadvertently left at MIL's! Bugger.

J

Lego Brickvention 09

Yes, this is a craft blog! Yes, I still go op-shopping! However the holiday shots are still being shown! You no like? Don't read on!

One of the events of the trip to Melbourne was the Brickvention 09 - a Lego convention hosted by the Melbourne Lego Users Group.


When they say there is something for everyone, they're not kidding! Even I got a kick out of a few of the exhibits. The best for me was a rock festival set up, with hundreds of Lego people watching. Back stage was a warm-up area, where you could see various legends rehearsing. Here's The Village People.



Here's DEVO!!


Of course there was a mosh-pit....


However my favourite?

Sensational! 'Fabulously exciting', as quoted by Master 6.

Of course my other highlight was a crafty one. One of the exhibitors wore a cap he had decorated with Lego pieces.



He had sewn them on, and can change the pieces he wears as of course they clip on and off. Master 6 loved it; I was intrigued. Of course I am now making one for my son as a memento of the trip. I hope he likes it!

j

Garden of my childhood.

I find my parents' garden a beautiful and relaxing place. They have lived in the same house in Melbourne for nearly 40 years, and I remember many changes in that time. Essentially it remains the garden in which I grew up. Dad's artistic handiwork is visible in the brick paving, and the walkways and arches.

Wisteria (growing on the arch) is a beautiful plant and one which appears in several places on the garden. It is an essential part of any garden for me!

Another arch Dad built supports their 'upside down' tomatoes. The buckets have holes in the bottom, through which the tomatoes are planted. The compost and other goodies go in the top of the bucket. The tomatoes grow with gravity and thus do not need any supports and stakes. They are strong and happy and easy to pick!


Mum and Dad's garage smells divine at the moment - the perfect place to dry the armfulls of lavender Mum has cut. I had to take photos - what a great place to dry the bunches! Lavender bags a-plenty!

It's always good to come home and see that little has changed. It's so very comforting.

x