Tis the season for ....

Landfill

Oh I know, your thinking "here she is again, all up in my face about rubbish, bla bla bla"

Well yes, I am actually!

It's not just you, It's me. How many of us got our growing kids a new bike and will leave last years bike out for hard rubbish?

I did, numerous times. Not this year though because this year I am cleaning his old bike up and giving it away.

What about Christmas paper? Are you still using it? Shame on you.

Trees just like this were used to make that paper. Not this one in particular, but many like it. Oh I know, you have convinced yourself that your paper was made from an ugly tree no one liked that a man planted just for making paper and it was probably a horrible tree anyhow. But was it? I mean, really?
What are the alternatives? Fabric or 100% recycled paper. Reuse last years gift bags. Some of them are awesome and will last for years and years. Wrap items creatively in towels etc. You guys probably know a million ways to wrap paper free. Share with us your ideas please.

What about those plastic toys that last for a week before the cheap brittle plastic snaps. I saw so many Grandparents and parents at the cheap $2 shops buying these types of toys for thier kinds/grandkids. All they did was leave the kids with landfill long after the grandparents are gone.
How do I know this? Because I was there too buying stocking fillers and for the first time ever I said NO. There will be no plastic crap in my kids stockings this year. It was very successful and the stocking still bulged and this tradition will now continue. FOREVER

In light of all of this I have done a bit of googling and found some alternatives to landfill for the impending waste that will be a result from unwanted, outgrown or broken presents.


e- Cycled - a place to list unwanted furniture, books, appliances and what-nots.

The Big Aussie Swap   Planet Ark. Check this out and the rest of Planet Arks website for brilliant suggestions


Secondhand Shopping and swaps     - a collection of sites

What about mobile phones? Most mobile shops have a bin to put you old phone in. I know crazy Johns does.

And then there is good old do it yourself. For less than a buck post your unwanteds on eBay or the Trading Post.

Put a sign in your local Milk bars window or Supermarket noticeboard. Coles, IGA and Safeway still have the good old fashioned noticeboards.

For computer stuff try E-waste 1800 392 783                     

Our earth and it's inhabitants will be eternally grateful if we were to ponder our actions of this years purchases and change some of our habits because at this time of year the volume of waste to enter our rubbish dumps is staggeringly high.

Lets all be responsible and accountable and change that. Please?

Wishing you much peace during this time of celebration.

Cheers

Melanie

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Just had to drop in and say

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It is that time of year

So many new years resolutions are already being made as so many are being broken with every Christmas party we attend.

Food everywhere, and more to come. Who can say no?

not me thats for sure!!

It was our little craft group (PIPS) break up yesterday and no craft was to be done. Just lots of eating, talking and great company. We pretty much solved the worlds problems during this lunchtime but all solutions were forgotten after much needed nanna naps, so sorry, you will have to work them out yourselves.
Thank you to the girls at P.i.P.s for a wonderful year and I cant wait for our next crafting adventures in 2010.
Cheers
Melanie

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My Creative Space Thursday

Finally my space is filled up with one of my most favourite things. All awaiting something, never sure what, but none of the creations I make with patty pans involve cooking. I need more variety to add to my collection. Anyone know where you can get yummy looking patty pans?
To peek at other spaces in other places check out Kootoyoo's place (she isnt awake yet so I will link it later.....woot she is awake!!) click here

Have a great Thursday. I am off to Theo's in Boronia to check it out. I have been told its like a crafters warehouse so Im pretty excited.

Cheers

Melanie

The Old Cheese Factory Crafters Market News

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High Tea

I worked so hard today girls, as did all of the other Homestead chicks.

2 High Teas back to back, goodness gracious me And a massive function on the grounds for people with disabilities. They had thier own band, drunk lots of coffee's and altogether partied big time on the lawn to the music. I met tonnes of nice folks there but was too busy to go out and have a little  boogey myself. Yeah, like I was gonna go out and dance anyhow HA!

For craft market  news check it out here

Now to sit for a bit, make dinner, then eat, then make some bags for the market.

*yawn*

is it bed time yet?

have a good one

cheers

Melanie

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Handmade gifts at the Gala

The event was officially opened by the mayor and the fun began.

500 toys the Berwick woodies made this year!

yes 500!

That is 500 toys for 500 kids that would have otherwise missed out this year and according to the charities that attended to receive the toys, there are a lot more going without this year.

Quilts made and donated by the Pakenham Quilters

and Joe's wife.

Bunk beds, so cute and cosy!

They even have little matresses..

Oh my, my inner child screamed out for one of these!

Master nunde yearned for one of each and asked "mum, why dont you ever make me wooden toys for me?"

Good Question.

Answer: um I dont know.

Afterwards we ate cake, dainty little sandwiches and more cake.

We liked this bit alot.

Then we went out to watch the vans take off with all the loot.

But not to worry, looks like they have made a good start on next years bounty.

Times are tough all over and it is heartwarming to see such generosity.
Have a great day everybody.
Cheers
Melanie

late edition. just had to add this link to One Pair of Hands so you could see all of the quilts on display that the Pakenham quilters donated. Click here
Awesome ladies and they do  all this on top of making people size quilt for struggling families. xoxo to them all

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So Seventies

No, this is not a picture from the 70's, although it could be!

Caribbean gardens hasnt changed since I was a kid and I am glad. I hope it never ever changes. The market was still as packed as ever  and I had my very first stall there with my friend Helen. Its only 5 bucks on Friday so you cant go wrong. I went with a $50 float and returned home with the foulest takeaway capucinno ever made, 2 awesome hair clip for a bargan, a photoshop elements cd, minus $20 from my float and a free pair of luminous transparent green crocs from the lovely Asian lady next door who said no one was going to buy them anyhow and she didnt want to pack them back up. Both Helen and I have size 7 feet so we both scored as this was the only size she had. She couldnt force them apon any of the other stall holders lol. What does that say about our taste. Hey they were free OK !!! They do  kind of remind me of zombie feet when I wear them but free is free mate....

Im going next Friday. More of that later
Right now I am off to the yearly handing over of the toys to charities that our woodworking club holds every year. Not one toy was made by me this year but I am so proud of my woody mates that I must go and cheer them on.

Cheers
Melanie

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In case you hadnt noticed

It is Christmas soon and lets face it,

 since the shops have had xmas decorations in them since

 September how the  heck can you not notice?

None the less, it was off to P.I.P.S today where we talked about Christmas, read Christmas magazines and made Christmas things for the Christmas stall and the upcoming markets.

I savoured my capucinno, its always better when you dont have to make your own and Julie sipped a chai as we sewed, drew, snipped and altogether yakked very loudly in our special little room just for us on Tuesdays.

It was lovely.

Then at 12:30 I took off my "crafting buddy" cap and put on my new "Market Coordinator" cap and perused paperworked over a yummy grilled ham/cheese/tomato sandwhich that I didnt have to make so it was awesome. Oh yeah, Im liking this gig. Now that I am on the other side of the kitchen I can see why people come to The Homestead so much.
Now I have my "Slave" cap on, oh sorry, I mean my "mother/wife/cook/cleaner" cap. Simultaneously I am wearing my "Blogging/reading market enquiries/working on nunde website" cap too.
In  a couple of hours I will be wearing my "couch potato"  cap and I really really love that one. Until then..
Have a good one!!!
Cheers
Melanie

P.S I got your text THANK YOU Aisha
P.P.S Thank you mum for reading my blog.
P.P.P.S Thank you everyone who wished me well with my new endeavours. You are all ace!!!

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New Places, different faces

Today started with a sad face

I officially gave notice as a volunteer at the Homestead Cafe. Not because there is anything wrong with it there, on the contrary, I love it there. But it is time for a new direction and I just so happen to have a direction I prepared earlier!

And that is why today ended with a Happy face

I am now Market Co ordinator for Casey Crafter's Market and I have been given this baby in it's early infancy to nurture and hopefully help it grow. I wont go on and on about it in my personal crafty journal, thats what my other blog is for, but I just wanted to share with you my new baby. A new project to sink my teeth into.

Wow, I finally get to use my laptop for something other than playing Spider Solitaire.

Have a great Friday girls from the south and for the northern hemisphere girls, are you finished gorging on all that Thanksgiving food yet???

Cheers!

Mel

xox

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My Creative Space Thursday

Behold 10 meters of vintage fabric given to me by Julie who apparently has a shed full of unwanted fabric.....hmmmm, I think I found my new best friend.  The deal was that I have to make her a cool eco bag out of it. Deal!

Now to the real space that I am creating at today.

The Kitchen

Its Turkey time and although my husband and I decided to reign in any spending and do away with Thanksgiving this year, I just couldnt. I have cut back and am only making THREE pies and not TEN. The Turkey is somewhat smaller and in the shape of a roll and there will be no cooking because it is too hot. So Turkey rolls it is.

Check out what everyone else is up to at Kootoyoos

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Busy, Not Blogging.

With all of my spare time I seem to be filling it up with more things to do.

Yesterday I went to the Caribbean Gardens to obtain information on setting up a stall there.

I thought it might be a good way for me to move some Habi stock since I am taking so long setting up my online store.

And why has it taken me so long to set up my online store?

Because I cannot edit professional product photos. I use Gimp and Paint.net because they are free but finding tutorials for exactly what you want to do with these is like trying to catch a goldfish with one finger.

So off to eBay I go. Spending more money. UNLESS By chance an awesome photo editing wizz stops by that uses gimp or paint.net and tells me where there is a good tutorial without pointing me to messy forums that take hours to wade through.

So there is my dilemma. Its only a small issue, causing a major problem. Here's hoping a magic photo fairy can wave a wand and make me understand this stuff.

I get to stay home today YAY!

Have a fab day girls!

I will actually get time to play "My Creative Space"    and hopefully catch up on some vital blog reads.

Cheers

Melanie

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My Creative space

It's early and the sun is promising to shine down on us with avengance today so I used my front porch as a work bench to strip the lavender tips.

This is all the heads I managed to get out of one massive wheel barrow load harvested on Saturday. So with that in mind I am crossing "lavender farmer" off of my list of really super easy jobs to do.

Imagine how much lavender one must prune to get a truck load. Too hard for lil miss lazy bum , me!

Ckeck out Kootoyoo for crafty chicks who are playing a long

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After the dust settles from a hectic week

I thank goodness that I pedantically trim and hedge my front yard constantly to give a false sense of organisation in the house behind the little white picket fence.

because in reality my house is as chaotic as my back yard

wild and cluttered and in need of some tidying up

and that is what Mondays are for here at house nunde.

Cheers everyone!

Melanie

(wearing my cleaning lady cap today- not one of my favourite caps I can tell you!)

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Casey Craft Market

Whilst the tree lined driveway make it look cool, it was stinking hot and this unfortunately affected the amount of people visiting the grounds. No one wanted to leave their air conditioned comfort ..and I don't blame them.

It was still a great day, the day of Berwick's second Crafters Market and some visitors managed to suffer the heat and come along to support us.

Lets take a look at a few of the brave stall holders.

No this isnt an unattended tent.
This is how people react to me when they see me coming with the camera because I was editor of the Woodies newsletter for a while.

"GET BACK HERE BOYS!"

That's better, now stop mucking around and leave Dennis alone, I mean seriously boys, how old are ya? They never grow up do they?

The rocking horse at the back of the tent is first prize in our yearly raffle and the cheeky bloke at the back, Billy, he runs the Wednesday night Rocking Horse making class. Clever isn't he? The toys are an example of the 400 plus toys the woodies make every Monday to be given to underprivileged kids for Christmas.

Market Stall

" I Do"

Bridal and wedding accessories and I also spot a few scrap booking items. I managed a quick pic before being dragged back into the kitchen but didn't get to have a really good close up. Next time!

Helen from our P.I.Ps crew on Tuesdays whipped up a truck load of goodies.

Helen makes tea towels that hang from handles and also gorgeous hand crafted baby blankets. She embellishes them to enhance the pictures and lines the back with poly fleece for baby comfort. I always look forward to seeing her blankets she is working with on Tuesdays.

"The Quillow Maker"

http://www.jlquillows.com/

Even in scorching heat Jeanette's quillows look inviting.

And look, its a nunde farmers market bag.

I am not showing you my stall. It isn't up to the standard I expect yet to show off. Yes, I have seen your stalls girls and I know I have a lot to live up to. So until then this is all you get :)

The next Crafters Market is on the 12th of December.
I will have lots of Christmas bunting and some seasonal totes there as well as my eco range of every day grocery totes and various nunde bags. I am working on refashioning some yatch sails. Its certainly sailing weather!
Thank for stopping by.
Tonight we dine on big Macs to support McDonald's McHappy day which means I don't have to cook.
Stay cool if your a Southern Hemi chick and for the rest of you, please try not to gloat about your awesome weather.
Cheers
Melanie

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Its Market day!

It is 6:30 am and I am up at this ungodly hour preparing for the market. Come on Girls! Anyone that lives near Berwick, come and support us so we can establish this as a permanent crafters market for the region. Pictures later..right now though I have unfinished bunting to whip up. Cheers!
Melanie

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My Creative Space

My creative space is being over run with colours I hate. Gaudy reds, Tacky greens and more polyester than this greeny can stomach. But it is going to be Christmas dammit and I am going to get all festy no matter what. Chanting the mantra "I love Christmas, I love Christmas"

So, why the mess and vomitous display of cacky colours in my delightfully shabby chic shaded world? Well, I want to make Christmas totes for Christmas tote'n Christmas shoppers so they refrain from using plastic bags. I may dislike trad' greens and reds but no where near as much as I abhor PLASTIC.

So the mess explained is:
1. 40 meters of black denim binding ready to make handles for my Slim nunde totes that I sewed with the right side on the outside which was opposite to what I desired. Yeah, go on, work that out!!

2. A panel of Christmassy panels to plonk on totes. The Spotlight lady advised me to use a thing called visoflex? Thank you spotlight lady but I cant because it goes against nundes mission statement (natural fibres only unless refashioned etc)which does suck a little bit because it does give a nice result. (insert pouty face here)

3. Crochet bangle recipes from Spotlight. I don't want to crochet the stuff that goes on the wooden bangle, I want to try to make the bangles out of discarded wood. A project for next year. Pretty excited about that one! Makes up for the following.

4. Plastic moulds ( oh my, I bought plastic, I must go plant a tree and all that) I have an idea to make plaster of Paris decorations for kids to paint at the December market. What do you guys reckon of that idea?

5. Cheap ribbon. Metres of it, and polyester too, wasted because the pictures come off so after a days use of it as an embellishment it looks more like a Xmas smudge than Christmas stars.... Thank goodness I just use plain for Bunting. I must go plant another tree. So far I have broken the nunde commandments twice.

6. A Pile of "sewn the wrong way facing" bags waiting for handles. Its OK though, the wrong way is actually the right way....yes there I go all cryptic again.

7. Oh this one was clever. I needed new tape measures to glue to my bench for permanent reference and LOOK, they are free in Target in the men's shirt section for people buying shirts( or pretending too) I was actually buying my hb's shirts but I still felt sneaky. An I liked it!

OK that's it. Now I have to go sew, snip and sweat in my sewing room before it gets too hot.

For other creative spaces to gawk at go to kootoyoo and check out the massive list of people that play along

Cheers for now

Melanie

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P.I.Ps

Today at our little Projects in Progress group we had show and tell (mainly because I nag the ladies all of the time to bring in every little thing they mention they have made)

Anne made this and although I asked her for the pattern, I am a bit dubious as to my sewing ability when comparing it to her dainty stitches. I cant sew that straight even with a guide.
So we will see if I venture into the "a bit too dainty for sausage fingers" kind of sewing. Until then I can always admire Anne's work and procrastinate about attempting it.
So anyway, is it hot enough for ya girls?
Oh shush all of you gals in the Northern hemisphere. My friends in Missouri tell me the weather has been gorgeous. hmmmmph
Cheers all
Melanie

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Belly Dancing babes

At the Old Cheese factory this past weekend. Gorgeous aren't they?

If you live locally or are heading out for a drive , come on down to the Crafters Market at 34 Homestead Rd Berwick. Saturday 14th November 10 - 3pm.

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Bunting - The Pointy End

of 100s of triangles for Christmas Markets ready to string together.

Go grab the template from my sidebar and whip some up to show us your Christmas Bunting. Go on! And don't forget to let me take a peek at yours if you have a blog.

OR

Buy mine when I have finished :)

Cheers!

Melanie

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Medieval Faire 2009

Medieval Faire 2009
Originally uploaded by nundecreations

Once again people who love all things that are not now adorned their hessian undies and shined their big shiny metal hats to come out and play at the faire. It was, as usual and awesome day. Why werent you there?? It wont be at the Cheese Factory in Berwick until next year so come on, write it down in your diaries. The kids love it. One thing that confuses most of us is it is call a Medieval Faire yet it is really a Faire that covers a broad range of periods. Hence the civil war dude buying up our chocolate chip cookies. Cant wait for the next one!

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So Seventies

So here I was, sorting stuff for eBay and out came the green nylon scrim from the 70s that my lovely friend Judy sent me. I hated all things lime green as a kid growing up in the 70s and rushed to grow into my own tastes and not my mothers. Now, here I am, unable to part with these just in case I ever get to use them..... reliving my childhood maybe? Getting old?

Or just plain old bad taste resurfacing. /shrug. I'll not be eBaying these today!

Do you ever do that? Collect things from your childhood era even though you couldnt wait to throw it out before? You should see my ever growing 70s collection.
Anyhow, Happy Hump day
Cheers

Melanie

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Happy Day!

I wasn't going to do anything halloweeny this year because 2 years in a row I carefully placed fake spider webs across my porch, laden it with spiders and lined my driveway hedges with bats and all such weird spooky things...and no one came.......

So up until yesterday I stuck to my guns.

Nope I am NOT doing Halloween.

And yet today I found myself drawing little faces on ghosty marshmallow and filling Halloween cups up with candy. I let Connor loose with the decorations and I even hung a few bats from the mop tops but THAT'S IT... Im not doing all the sawn off fingers, axes, blood n stuff and strange stuffed children with scary faces staring out from the back of my car. I will make this vow though. If at least one family that I am not related to knocks on my door and say trick or treat and is dressed appropriately it will restore my faith in my favourite(except for easter bunny) holiday event.
some one please knock on my door for some candy.

oh oh I have to run, I forgot to put the fake vomit on the doorstep....well if they want their candy they gotta work for it muwahahaha

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Rainy Fridays. Feel the Serenity!

Today it rained all morning at work and although there was a function being held at the cafe, the work was slow and relaxed.

It is overwhelming how popular The Homestead has become and I am so pleased to be a part of it even if it is in some miniscule way.

It has gone from being a home style cafe to a bustling hive of activity with the newly added High Tea's, small weddings, meetings and even funerals. I never imagined we would be this popular.

It is the Medeival Faire next weekend so adorn your favourite hessian undies and come along for some jousting fun. I just can't help sharing my happy place with you and sharing the calm
serene, relaxing, hmmm wait I think I am forgetting something..... OH NO!! ..............I forgot there was a *&&^% function that I needed to make stuff for TONIGHT!!!!!!!!
And there goes the serenity....
Have a great Friday. Im off to my shed to knuckle down for the next 3 hours. /sigh

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My Creative Space

Oh its not a pretty Space today but it sure is creative
For a really cheap, fully pro and seriously refashioned spray booth I draped a very used drop sheet over my clothes line and an old metal desk used for outside jobs.(a gift from Jules because she knows Ill take anything and find a use for it) I pegged it everywhere and used professional grade drop sheet weights aka dirty ol' bricks to keep the wind from flapping it around the sides.


And there you have it. A safe, clean space to spray my repurposed lolly stand for the next craft market. And what an awesome day in Victoria to paint!
Now I feel a bit mean not giving you something froofy like what you normally find in my creative space so to add some pink I asked my flowers to smile for you.



And so they did!
I am loving this weather!
But wait, theres more.....for other, probably more pretty creative spaces go check out the ever growing list as Kootoyoos. Wow you girls have been busy.
Cheers
Melanie

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Lovely loot!

Loot from Laurel
I am over a week late and I am so sorry Laurel(Missmuggins)
I won this gift for commenting on Laurels blog and I was so chuffed when she popped in to P.I.P.S to give it to me. She even gave me the square that I chose as the yummiest square. The little purse/pouch is made from a vintage Sheridan sheet and the clever clogs even incorporated the original Sheridan tag into the inner lining.
Thanks Laurel...mmm I am already busting to make those buttons. Awesome!


OP Shop Loot
Cost $1.00 kids mango jumper from the Berwick Op Shop
Purpose - To be re-purposed into a bag and anything else that comes to mind. Stay tuned.




I can't wait to get stuck into this.
Cheers
Melanie

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