Book Review- In time for Christmas

Hey all!

I've been feeling really bad because for the past weeks that i neglected this blog every time i went on the internet or went to my craft desk either i was missing a material or i was missing photos of the craft i had created. Well that's i lie, i haven't done much craft lately or Christmas gift making. Alert, Alert! What am i going to do now... Well before i get off and panic by scribbling down some notes i will tell you about i book i  bought at the beginning of the year.

So the story of how i claimed this book is my friend and i had ventured out to the city for the day. This was not a trip without purpose though as we were going to watch the Japanese film by Studio Ghibli, Arrietty, because my friend has an infectious love of all things Japanese and i like it too (but not as much as my friend).  So after we finished lunch we went into our favourite book shop that specializes in Japanese books. I think my friend had bought some anime DVDs and a manga book while i looked though the craft book section where i was in crafter heaven. There was so many! But thankfully i had culled off my list of promising books to two: one a vintage clothing book and the other a vintage take on homemade gifts. So which one did i choose you ask?...(drum roll please)

 

And to this day i am happy i made this decision. I love the way the projects are organised into smart sections i.e. "made by hand", "sewn by hand" and "sewn by machine". It makes it easier for example if you don't have a sewing machine then you know which section to avoid. The projects are a collection that will never really date and remain special as the use of vintage materials create a timeless feel. The graphic design of the book is also very nice and as i flip though pages i sometimes stop for a moment and muse over the beautiful photography of vintage pieces that blend well with the rest of the page. Sarah Moore also is very descriptive and in depth with the way she explains materials and other things which is an advantage to people that have otherwise used vintage or pre-loved pieces. 

In essence this book is great is you are a craft person who fancies vintage or this could be a great gift for a craft lover that you know for Christmas. Amazon.com and booktopia.com.au are just two online sellers that have the hardcover in stock and i'm sure any good book store will have it in stock or can maybe order it for you.

Hope I helped with your Christmas shopping or showed you a potential craft book to add or start your collection.

Seasons Greetings,

Creature Threads

Balling and Organisation!

Well today i got making things that helped me organise and something that i though would be nice for the hot Australian spring day that sizzled the house.

First off, I made decorated a shoe box with scrapbook papers that had been sitting in my draw for a year or two... I then cut a slit on the side of the box to fit a cord and made a small platform to put my devices on. So this is my box of chargers. It servers as an easy way to charge my things and also an easy way to find them when i go somewhere and need them like a sleepover.

Slit for cord

The box

box with platform

Melon balls, healthy treat

No technology= Cakes and Flip flops

Howdy!

I know i'm supposed to blog every week to keep you updated but last week my beloved family decided that they wanted to go technology-free... for a week. Yeah doesn't sound too hard but trust my it was! Especially as i was home for a week with my two little siblings that are under 5 :) sounds like fun. Well i ended up completing a puzzle, reading, playing finger snooker which is called Carom (its really fun Google: carom board game),    re-redecorating my flip flops, starting an advent calendar of sorts (will post about soon), and making a birthday cake for one of my little brothers.

Birthday Cake- Well because i was feeling the lack of technology and hum of the television mess with my brain i tried to remember some cake i saw the last week and brainstormed some ideas in my head of a potential cake that i could make for my brother. I make a chocolate cake from a recipe on the back of my Cadbury cocoa and used M&Ms, handmade racing flag with skewer post, green butter cream icing food dyed green, green sprinkles, washed Hot-wheels cars and cocoa. I used a piece of A4 paper because that was conveniently the same size as my cake and draw then cut out a 5 (yes my brother very young and we have a large gap between us :) ) I secured the 5 with some skewers then filled an icing bag and iced around the 5 then sprinkled it with green sprinkles. Then i placed M&Ms around the 5 and dusted cocoa on the 5 to make it look like dirt. The finishing pieces were the racing flag i made by drawing a grid with Sharpie then sticking it with a skewer and placed the toy hot wheels cars on the track with pieces of  cut white chocolate for track lines.

So here it is and yes he loved it! (so did my little sister with her quick hands!)

Isn't he cute lol, he was patiently waiting to open his presents!

There's four of us. I would of put a picture of me but there was none where i was looking...

Anyway, another thing did enduring last week was give my old dirty flip flops/thongs a good scrub! It took a while but i got then pretty clean. 

still dirty

clean and removed top straps then knotted two pieces of materials threaded through top middle. Put each strap through either side hole and knotted on the bottom and cut off excess.

Oh la la! some kinda new shoes :)

Be back soon,

Creature Threads

Writing wrongs starting with- "The List"

Hey Everybody! (haha i sound like that guy on the Simpsons),

Anyway, how's it going? And before i write anything else that might be remotely interesting... WOW, i nearly gave up on this thing! Well I thought that nobody would read this blog or ever drop by but apparently you lot love random colourful (not a spelling mistake, i'm aussie ) which makes me happy! And craft, of course :) Well it's time to write some wrong and go in a forward ,not stagnant, motion as it's been quite a while *ahem two years* since i wrote here. Well, well, well lets start with my list of things that I will be doing AND completing by the end of this year and the beginning of next that will all be captured in this blog. And an exciting note that I want to make is i'm going to make everything, that is crafts/projects, as cheap and Eco friendly as i can as i hate wasting things and I believe when i reuse something instead of throwing it out, I find that i'm more creative as i have something to work with.

So... Things to do/ make/ create/ find:


1. CHRISTMAS!!!!- I will share with you my journey towards creating a homemade Christmas. Last year I wanted to do this but didn't have time now I do. My adventure will include:
                   *Making all my Christmas gifts. Tutorials included
                   *Christmas gift wrapping ideas
                   *Christmas decorations and bits and pieces that make the days to Christmas and the day itself
                    special.

2. Granny Flat- Or studio if thats what you call it. Well I have a separated room at the back of my house and    it's been a junk room but i'm finally getting rid of stuff and clearing it out. Sooooo, i am going to take you on my little venture of transforming the space into a room as a retreat/ guest room/ kids space/ craft spot which is definitely. BUT BEST OF ALL is that I am going to try and recycle, reuse, redecorate most of the things that will be going in there. YAY! I am ubber excited because this is my chance to finally do a project that is substantial and that can be enjoyed by everybody.

3. Photos- I really want to take better photos for this blog. I looked at the some of the photos I had uploaded and cringed but in a way it is a good thing as i can only improve from here.

And Last but DEFINITELY not the least

4. Li- My little sister is quite literally my world. I love her to bits and i have various projects that i want to make for her. Most projects i do will be able adapted for a boy and i will probably be making some for brother as well. I want my sister to have what I dreamed of having because I was too young to make somethings and sadly didn't have an older sibling to help me out.

Yes it does sound like a lot. A lot but this is my new beginning and I'm not one to follow by book and go with a new years resolution as they have never really worked for me. I'm very happy and lots to do in the next few months and it will only get busier. But i like busy, busy is fun and keeps me entertained as i get bored easily which can be a bad thing at times :)

See ya soon,

Creature Threads