Handsome hexies

So I am trying my hand at a bit of hexagon (english paper piecing) action for my next PTS cushion. After totally falling in love with my UHG swap hexagon loveliness from my very clever partner, I thought I'd extend myself with a new skill (also my sewing machine is out of action, so a bit of handpiecing is the way to go if I'm going to finish it in time!). So far so good, but am getting a bit of an inkling that I may have bitten off a little more then I can chew! I am using this fab tutorial (PDF). What I'm loving about all these swaps (apart from receiving awesome stuff!) is it is pushing me to try new things! (and furthermore I actually have to finish the projects!)

Genius.

Beautiful image by turning*turning here

Crafterwork - crafternoon at Fullers

I had a lovely time last night crafting - Crafterwork was a one off event between crafternoon and xyz. We made kusudamas from old books, drank tea and ate some tasty CWA cakey goodness. I love to meet people who get excited over craft, we had a huge turn out (especially for such a cold evening!). Thanks to everyone who came along, I hope you had as much fun as me!

{Urban} swap received

Yet again I am the luckiest duck! My partner in the {urban} home good swap sent me these beautiful place-mats and coasters, they are absolutely perfect! I adore the mix of charcoal, greens and yellows. The little hexagons are too cute! I've never had a go at hexies, but after recieving this fab swap, I feel really inspired. Thanks so much Kellie, they will be loved.

PS. This is my 200th post, woot woot!

Winners are grinners

I hope so anyway! Congratulations to Sally (a crochet acorn will be coming your way), Vic (a vintage illustration) and Beck (a vintage illustration too, I decided they were more fun then making cards, I hope you don't mind)

Thank you everyone who entered!

Above is a secret squirrel pincushion for a certain someone from Kate's pincushion swap who missed out, yay!

Vintage illustration - giveaway

Here is the second part of my blogversary giveaway, a 10cm x 10 cm framed vintage illustration. To win it, leave a comment, today or any day until Saturday.

I went to a fabulous talk last night by the inspirational Mrs Eaves (Gemma O'Brien) hosted by AGDA. You can see her work and musings over at for the love of type, great stuff, I particularly

love these cupcakes!

Crochet acorn - giveaway

As part of my three part giveaway I have crocheted this little acorn which would love to come live at your house! If you would like to win this little dude, let me know by leaving a comment. Further details about the giveaway here. For anyone who is interested, I have written a pattern for the acorn which I'll hopefully post soon.

Craft hope - bean bags (colours)

The bean bags for craft hope are in currently in transit across the Pacific but I did manage to take a quick snap before posting them. Here is the colour set. I'm loving the thought of something my hands have touched being touched by those on the other side of the world! Cool, eh?

After finishing this post I'm off to crochet the acorn for the giveaway (or crochecorn, as Blair has named it) It will look something like this :)

Giveaway

Okey dokey, so the birthday giveaway is threefold. Paper, vintage and yarn - three of my favourite things!

Paper - set of handmade cards

Vintage - a framed vintage illustration

Yarn - crochet acorn

A week from today I will pick three winners out of a hat. To enter, comment on this post or any post this week, each comment will receive one entry (only one comment from each post will be counted though, have I made it confusing enough!?) Hurray!

Happy blog-irthday!

Things to make and do is 1 year old! Can you believe it!? I certainly can't, time has flown by!

I want to take this opportunity to thank you all from the bottom of my heart, I've enjoyed this time immensely and I have you all to thank for that. Both to those who leave lovely comments and to those who visit quietly, I love you all!

Above is the image from my very first post of this blog! Wowee, my first attempt at crochet too. Eeep! Practise pays off, both with crochet, photography and blogging me thinks! You can also see a jumble of images from the year of blogging - and there I was thinking I'd just sat on my hiney all year!

What a perfect time to give the love back by a giveaway! I will be popping back later on today with the details.

Bec xxx

Beth-Emily's beautiful Hummingbird

Look at this! Wowee, I feel so lucky!

The gorgeous Beth-Emily has made this beautiful illustration just for me! It's so lovely, I adore it, and in my favourite colours too, grey and green. Love, love, love, thanks so much Beth! I can't wait for it to arrive, I'm musing about the prefect place to hang it.

You can find Beth's blog over here or her shop here

Pillow talk swap.. round 3

I've been avoiding the computer of late, do you have those kind of weeks? It's easy to get bogged down in the checking of: email, facebook and blogs. Instead I've been hanging out with The Boy, walking on the chilly beach, sewing in front of the heater, having friends over for chai, enjoying the company of my family and mulling over big news and decisions to make.

Above is my inspiration mosaic for the pillow talk swap round 3, which in all honesty I probably should have sat out, but I couldn't resist!

{ Urban } swap - down to the wire!

Finished, huzzah! Today was the deadline for the Urban home goods swap, and I nearly didn't make it. I sat up watching The Devil wears Prada with my Mum, while hand sewing the last of the binding last night so I could be sure to pop it in the post today!

I must admit now I am a bit afraid of becoming 'the girl who likes to make pink things' when really I'm 'the girl who aims to please, but no more pink things, thanks ever so much'. Regardless of my views on pink, I don't think this sewing machine cover has come up too shabby. I hope it hits the spot partner.

Pyjama city

I've been a bit absent this week, sorry. I had an impromptu visit to Melbourne over the weekend to visit my dear friend Madeleine and her little Poppet. It was so lovely to see them both and I have all of my fingers and toes crossed hoping they come home and are out of hospital soon! Above is a snap of the lighting at the uber lovely Action Rooms in North Melbourne - they are reclaimed PVC pipe! (thanks for brunch Mad, it was delicious!)

Since we got home it's been pyjama city! The Boy has been poorly and I feel like I've been hit over the head with a fatigue stick, plus our car went back to the repair man (again) so we've stayed home and comfy. Blair, (the lucky ducky) is at a conference in Coolum on the Sunshine coast. I can tell you, I can't wait for the weekend!