n u n d e

Do you ever wonder?

2011-09-29T15:30:00.000+10:00

Where do bloggers go? When once they blurted/blogged/tweeted regularly and watched you do the same and then abrubtly did it no more. Just gone. Some might have passed, some just moved passed onto something else and some may have accidentally dropped their computers whilst cleaning their gutters. Who knows? Well I know where I have been and now I am back to tell you. I gave up my knitting needles for pens. I swapped my templates for unit assesments and I gave away reading blogs for text books that are not half as much fun and give my brain the sensation that it is an elastic band being stretched to the point of snapping.

I have still be spying on you especially my local ladies just incase I bump into them.
Miss Muggins and One Pair of Hands are always busy and making me jealous because they both lead busy hectic lives and still whip up a zillion things. Alas, I cannot. I have a one project personality. I cannot multitask and I do not possess the skills of those amazing mothers that work, do mum stuff and obtain degrees with high distinctions. I am actually lucky to pass at all. But I want to do it and I want to get that degree. Why? Because , well , I got so tired of being mad at how things were run around us that I decided to educate myself to use words that the people in power would understand since they clearly didnt understand Melanie speak which often regressed to obscenities and the use of inappropriate raising of middle fingers. Oh my. It took me 40 odd years to realize that kind of behaviour gets you no where.

So basically, I am taking my blog ranting to a new level. I miss crafting, knitting, sewing, EVERYTHING actually and I miss blogs, reading blogs and the constant Ooooh factor like this blog Limoncello. Oh my gosh I want to make everything on her site. So why am I here? Well I want to push myself to do more than just one thing at a time. I have a studio/shed, infact I have two and it is full of all of the things I dreamed of owning to play with so what a waste. Why cant I do both? My art may suck but it is what makes me tick and without it I havent been ticking too well. See you all.Great to be back.
Blog ya later
Melanie

Be a part of breaking the longest bunting in the world effort.

2011-06-15T08:57:00.001+10:00

For many reasons I have not been able to blog but recently I have seen much activity in my email regarding my Bunting Template. YAY.
Thank you to everyone who is enjoying my template. I believe I have repaired the link and it is now good to go. Please let me know if there is a poblem and GOOD LUCK.

Message recieved today from another avid bunting fan. Check out the links.

Hello! Me and a whole load of ladies are using this template for the guiness book of records longest bunting! we are getting everyone from around the world to send in triangles with this template thankyou very much! if you would like to join in and promote please attend this event... https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=214123248627250.

.. Or promote the tumblr!
http://fyeahbunting.tumblr.com/
Thankyou very much! Spread the word! xxxx

My creative space - Thursday

2010-11-25T09:14:00.000+11:00

Sooooo , 2 years ago my son moved out, to which I quickly responded by making his room into a sewing room.
2 years later, son moves back, I'm booted out of sewing room into the big shed which is to be my new "Creative Space"

My plastering is a bit iffy, my painting a bit hap hazard and due to the lack of rooms now we have camp stretchers as beds, floors as wardrobes and I am exhausted because of health stuff and I FINALLY got my top teeth out and today I get fitted for my new ones YAY. pardon the massive running sentence.

So! After many years I am finally getting my teeth for christmas AND a new, bigger, much improved "Creative Space"

I am sure you will find prettier creative spaces at Kootoyoos and although mines not pretty right now, it is super exciting.
Due to niggling illnesses, new found deficiencies that I didn't know existed and way to much self absorption I have been an absent crafter but I have turned the corner and feel my mojo returning and cannot wait to create, be artful and share with you all.

Cheers
Melanie

yum and yummer

2010-09-15T11:14:00.001+10:00

I know I claim to hate cooking and I stand by my claims vehemently even though I do seem to be cooking a lot. Its OK, its just a phase. I blame masterchef.
My cupcakes were too sickly sweet for the birthday do yesterday so I did what any cooking hater wouldn't do and spent hours scouring the Internet for recipes.
I am most pleased with the results and realized what you cooking nuts already know. These are fantastic recipes for kids to make too. Make the day before if you can.

YUM!

No Rum Rumballs

250g Nice biscuits.
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/2 cup desiccated coconut
395g can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (1 teaspoon natural vanilla essence)
About 3/4 cup desiccated coconut, for coating

Using a food processor, combine cocoa and Nice biscuits. Blend until they look like fine crumbs( I don't mind the odd chunky bit )
In a bowl mix crumbs with remaining ingredients

Refrigerate for half and hour to make mixture firmer but no longer or you wont be able to get it out of the bowl........(yes , I did that and then later found my husband hacking away at it with a knife to eat it)
Roll into bite size balls.
Roll the ball in the remaining coconut to coat.
voila

YUMMER!

Vanilla Wafer balls

Vanilla wafer balls (I made this recipe up using bits and pieces of other recipes. Amounts may not be accurate but these are so yummy it is worth experimenting on your own for desired results. I know kids will love these.)

I used the 65 cent wafers from Coles in the biscuit section

1 and a half packets of vanilla wafers
Half a packet of Marie Biscuits(120g)
Half a cup of coconut
(another 3/4 of a cup of coconut to coat balls)
1 tin of sweetened condensed milk ( I used 99%fat free because we want to appear to be healthy don't we?)

Throw wafers in a food processor and mix until they are mostly fine crumbs but leave some chunks for texture.
Blend Marie biscuits until they are a fine crumb
Mix all ingredients in a bowl then roll them into bit size balls.

Roll into remaining coconut to coat.

For added Princess sparkle value I rolled mine first in fairy dust sprinkles but I am a bit like that. You can omit this and it wont effect flavor.

YUMMISH!

Non Alcoholic Rumballs

These were OK but not to my taste and ever so sticky and messy to make. Some people loved them though so it was worth it.

2 1/2 cups Madeira cake crumbs (approximately 280g)
1/4 cup baking cocoa
1/2 cup Condensed sweetened Milk(99% fat free of course)
1/2 cup of raisins or sultanas
1 tablespoon rum essence
1/2 cup chocolate sprinkles

Combine cake crumbs and cocoa in a large bowl. Add Condensed milk and rum. Stir until a thick,

sticky mixture forms. Place chocolate sprinkles in a bowl. Roll into a bite size ball and

roll in chocolate sprinkles until well coated. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Serve.

Yummiest

BUCKEYES

picture: Allrecipes.com

They never last long enough here to take a picture.

Click HERE for a look at the recipe. Best eaten straight from freezer, mmmmmm

Needless to say, I am feeling a little bit stuffed and podgy today because there were so many and I am supposed to be freezing them, however, they don't seem to be making it to the freezer....

I really love that I can freeze these for rainy days when the kids use thier whiny voice and say" muuum, there's no food" whilst staring into a full pantry.

Happy Wednesday girls

Cheers

Melanie

And now it's September

2010-09-13T10:00:00.000+10:00

Birthdays galore and a little get together planned on Tuesday to celebrate all of the September girls.
I said I would make cupcakes but they're just so sweet and sickly.

I took these photos with my Birthday present, my iPhone, and although it is a handy little camera to have in a pinch, I am somewhat perplexed at why the pictures always come out upside down and the blueish tinge on everything is a bit eery.

As a phone Brilliant. As a camera it makes a great phone:)
My kids have gone to QLD so I am all alone. Oh what plans I have with my precious alone time.
I will first start by making something less sickly for tomorrow.
Happy Monday Girls!
Cheers
Melanie

Avoision

2010-09-01T12:30:00.000+10:00

Yes I love that word. I always thought I made it up but then I heard some one else think they were clever for making it up so there ya go. Regardless, its an awesome word and its what I do with such precision. I suffer from avoision and have been avoiding things for years but funny how some things you cant avoid.

Yesterday was one of those days.

As stated previously I hate crocheting.

Unfortunately someone hadnt heard my proclamation of loathing towards the craft and did the sweetest thing for me and now I am bound by the code of crafters to at least keep trying.

Yesterday I was pleasantly surpised to have this placed in front of me with a "There you go" or something similar.

Now people have expectations and there were witnesses. I even had one lass trying to help me hold the wool how she does to perhaps make it be more comfortable on my fingers so that I may love it more....
Helen even brought in a How To book with easy to read instructions for complete nutcases that cant read instructions and guess what, I understood them!!!
Ho hum
Crafter's are like drug pushers. They're always on the lookout for someone they can push their crafting drug of addiction onto. Well FINE...
Ill keep going with it. Not like I can avoid it now.
P.S I love that my friends care enough to want me to love something they love.
Cheers
Melanie

Fantastic Plastic

2010-08-23T09:23:00.000+10:00

Oh I know, the title is a complete contradiction to all nunde beliefs but I am still being as nunde as possible(nunde does = natural after all).

You see my friend is clearing out her clutter and she even preceded her question with an "I know you don't like plastic but..." and then she offered me her old Tupperware. Um Yah !!! Ill take preloved Tupperware any day. This stuff is pure vintage gold and is perfect for mobile storage. I will still never ever ever buy plastic containers, EVER but I will gladly take your old Tupperware and I can put it in my "reclaimed, re-used, recycled etc" category to ease my nunde mind.
So while we are on this topic maybe I can prod you to ponder. Do you buy plastic? Bottles, cutlery, plates, storage containers....the list goes on? Do your really need to? Next time you go to buy anything that is plastic ponder the less toxic alternatives that have been around for longer. Or ...raid your friends Tupperware:)
Have a great Monday girls.
Cheers
Melanie

My Creative Space

2010-08-19T07:28:00.000+10:00

This is all I have in my creative space.

I wanted to learn to crochet forever. I looked on with envy as others compared and shared their skills and felt that somehow the skill of crocheting was missing from my crafting resume.
Well, after many attempts, followed by epic fails, I have mastered the granny square and I am making one giant one for my son for Christmas. Full of mistakes it is. Wonky on all sides and not at all what I envisioned. But I will finish it and Oh how he better love it because I have discovered something.

I hate Crocheting.

Hats off to those who love it. I am happy as ever to continue on my old way and buy crochet items from you so its a win for all of us:)

This post is one of many involved in Thursday's "My Creative Space"

Tuesday with the girls

2010-08-17T14:58:00.000+10:00

I finally ventured out of my hole again, which has been quite rare this year, to see the girls at The Homestead and it was well worth the effort I made to brush my hair.

Had an awesome time as usual and now I am about to make Pea and Ham Soup while I listen to my new CD that came in the mail yesterday. I love Amazon and I love Baino for linking the clip on her blog which enticed me to listen to it, then search it, then buy it with monies I havent made yet....On ya mate!

Working for a nuclear free city.

Hopefully some new tunes with inspire me to get my mojo back.
Have a good one!
Cheers
Melanie

Puddles

2010-08-03T09:18:00.000+10:00

One of my favorite things and something to be treasured in this big rainless country.

Not sure this mushroom thinks so....

Im off to PiPs in Berwick. Have a great day!
Cheers
Melanie

Hangin with the girls

2010-07-20T23:35:00.001+10:00

The Homestead

Hot soup and large skinny caps were consumed in abundance today as we froze our toes off at the homestead. Thats how devoted we are to whatever it is we do, which sometimes is a lot, or sometimes nothing at all.

The Project

Today's project that was right up there with things to do that I think are cool and it involves refashioning things from the Op Shop.
I will show you more as we go along. Perhaps I can bust out an EOFYS (end of financial year)tutorial to celebrate the start of another financial year.

I arrived with nothing today but apologies for not having an old jumper ready for the chop and just like magic Pam whipped out a jumper for me(probably foreseeing my slackness) and she never ceases to amaze me because it was my colors to boot. Pink, lime green and brown. Awesome!

Last meeting I learned the art of making Dorset brooches and the meet before that it was a Christmas theme thingy that I ruined and they may suspect it was on purpose because I loathe Christmas. I can assure you it wasn't on purpose...or was it?

So anyhow, to make up for my epic failure with the Christmas project I need to excel with this jumper /bag refashion idea to save face, and well, refashioning is my thing isn't it?, so I have no excuse.

A Random Rant

With the upcoming elections we briefly discussed politics and the subject that perked up my attention was that the Greens were going to ban Open fire places. Now at first I was outraged but then thought back to only yesterday and the multitude of days, weeks and years prior that I have had to inhale the pollution coming out of peoples chimneys because they burn toxic things that blow into neighboring yards, chasing us from our gardens on beautiful crisp perfect gardening days. Stinking up our washing! YES! Ban them I say. In residential areas you have no business polluting us. We only live a few feet from your chimney for crying out loud and don't you have a natural gas line running past your house too? This is the 21st century ya know?! Of course, all of this occurred to me as I was gazing into the alluring flames in the open fire place at the Homestead. I will miss those fires but I wont miss the ones in our street.
I can not express how much I am loving this winter and want it to last. I am normally a winter hater so this is odd for me. Old age perhaps?
Have a great week guys
I have a lot of blogs to catch up on.
Cheers!
Melanie

Someones junk

2010-05-13T07:53:00.000+10:00

Became a storage device for my ever increasing bits and bobs.

Another glorious Hard rubbish find.

P.S I finally got time to visit the Narre Salvos Op Shop on Tuesday and found once again used items priced higher than what they were when they were for sale brand new. The highest priced Op Shop in town. Shame on them.

Have a lovely Thursday!

Cheers

Melanie

Happy Mothers Day

2010-05-09T09:37:00.001+10:00

Im still here, Just busy doing mum stuff lately:)

Have a lovely mothers day.

Blog ya later

Melanie

*picture link*

Bag Testing and Witches Brew

2010-04-21T07:36:00.001+10:00

Well, yesterday I put my market nunde style bag to the test and carted home 19kg of cold remedies, most of which ended up in a pot to make chicken soup. I googled every herb/spice/veggie known to help get rid of colds and it all went in to make one big pot of green brew.
So how did my brew work?

Umm, I still feel pretty crook but I do have enough brew to feed me for a week....or 2.

So chicken soup/witches brew may not have been a huge success but my nunde market bag stood up to the test. I was hoping the soup would perform miracles because Master nunde has a cross country run today which I am helping with.
No matter, with a hanky in hand I will be there still and try not to pass on my cold to the contestants.
Have a great Wednesday
Melanie
xox

My Creative Space Thursday

2010-04-15T13:01:00.000+10:00

I am still here. I have been a bit preoccupied with things and just got too distracted. Family stuff, injuries to family, family drama, family on life support and it goes on and on and on. Yeah, I know, you guys know how it goes.
My only claim to having a creative space is my new stack of freshly borrowed library books. With any luck I will get to dabble in some new stuff I am about to learn from within these pages.
Check out the huge LIST for other Creative Spacers

Cheers Ladies!
Melanie

Old sheet - Refashion Apron

2010-03-20T09:37:00.000+11:00

Old Doona cover that my daughter has grown out of because it is pink and she hates pink.

Is now a Pinny for me.

Lots of fabric left over so I need some more ideas.

Cheers

Melanie

My friend does Art

2010-03-19T11:26:00.002+11:00

And if you live in Canberra or are near there this week you can see hers and other artists works at the address below.

Opening night: 6-8pm 18th March
Meet the artist morning: tea 28th March
10.30am till 12noon
Venue: Front Gallery, Wattle Street,
Lyneham. ACT
Dates: 18th – 29th March
Open daily: from 10am till 10pm
Contact: Barbara van der linden 0417888 586

I wish I could be there.
Wishing you much success and enjoyment A'isha.
Cheers
Melanie

My Creative Space This week

2010-03-18T10:28:00.000+11:00

My Creative space this week is covered in one of my most favourite things ever.

Fabric

A tiny snapshot of a boot load of remnants donated to nunde to be used in bags instead of ending up in landfill. Rescued from a curtain business, all new and all awaiting endless design possibilities.

Thank you Debbie - The new and improved Market Coordinator for The Old Cheese Factory Crafters Market. This is such an awesome gift.
More deliciously creative chicks are here

Cheers
Melanie

P.I.P.S Craft group Tuesday

2010-03-18T07:34:00.002+11:00

What a busy busy day Tuesday was. The morning was taken up with PIPS, our projects in progress craft group and our Crafty Leader brought in our first group project of the year. We were even sent home with homework which has to be presented at the next meeting where we will assemble it. It is kind of a patchwork/wall hanging/xmas/quilty thing. More info when I have read the instructions again:)

And then my baby turned 9. I guess he isn't a baby anymore. Mum made the cake and this year its all about football with the youngest. Pity about the choice of team he picked.......

The cake was delicious!
Thanks Mum

Have a good one girls!

Cheers

Melanie

Ripped refashioned Doona cover Tutorial

2010-03-12T11:36:00.000+11:00

After finding many old doona covers, origins unknown, I have decided to put them to use because theyre either too old to give away or too pretty to want to part with.
Because I hate waste and useless things I am converting them into something useful. This is my first sheet project of the year.

Ripped Sheet/Doona Knitted Bathmat

Ingredients

One old queen size doona cover OR top and bottom queen size sheet set.

Sewing machine

The ability to rip

Size 3 knitting needles and/or Size 3 circular needles

Any size crochet hook

Method

Remove frills, edges where there is thick seams and press studs/velcro.

Start playing the Old Devo "Crack that whip" song in your head but change the words to "Rip that Sheet"

Cut at 3 cm intervals a 1 cm deep cut along the top edge of your doona then start ripping the strips.

RIP THOSE SHEETS

If you had both top and bottom placed perfectly when you snipped the 3cm intervals you can rip both top and bottom at once.

RIP THEM ALL TO BITS

When finished ripping gather one and of each strip to keep them organize and from getting tangled.

JOIN THOSE STRIPS

Sew strip ends together (I used and overlocker for this bit but any stitch will do)

ROLL THEM INTO BALLS

Roll into 1 massive ball ( the kids love helping with this) or 2 slightly massive balls. If you have 2 balls remember that you will have to drag your work to a machine to sew the last strip of the first ball to the first strip of the second ball.

KNIT THOSE STRIPS

Now cast on 36 stitches onto the smallest needles you can work with. I used long number 3 needles to cast on then transferred to circular needles size 3.
Row 1 till the end is knit one purl one. length varies depending on your preference or sheet strip quantity.

NOW MAKE YOUR BATHROOM MAT

Cast off and thread remaining strips through the edges of the mat using a crochet hook.
Bath Mat measures 38cm x 68 cm and is 1 cm thick. That's pretty darn thick ya know and its worth it when you feel how yummy it is on your feet.

To make it larger you could use more sheeting but my aim was 1 discarded Doona Cover with minimal scraps and I am pretty pleased with the result.

If you make one please share your results and methods if it was different.
Oh and because it is so thick, allow plenty of drying time after it becomes wet:)

Have fun and

RIP IT....RIP IT GOOD!!

Cheers

Melanie

My Creative Space

2010-03-11T12:24:00.000+11:00

More like "My Self Medicating Space"
I still feel crook. I'm not sick, just unwell and my hip,shoulder, back, head and right pointy finger hurt to pieces. Very Odd indeed! That's whats making me feel sick. I will go see a doctor if it is still like this by the next "My Creative Space"

On the bright side though, I got to prescribe myself some eye candy and medicinal nutrition to make myself feel better. I am busting to cut this pattern out but that requires bending over argh. I am sure I can improvise and find a non bendy over way to cut it because I want it made and I want it now:)

Check out the zillions of other crafty chicks on Kirsty's List

Cheers

Melanie

Saving children with my sewing skills

2010-03-10T21:11:00.000+11:00

Yeah that's right. True story!
Today my son told me of a tragedy about his mate who was playing with another mate and he got his jacket pocket caught on something and ripped the top of his pocket right off and some of the side. "Mum you gotta sew it up for him, his mum cant sew and she just bought it for him mum and she is gonna go CRAAAAZY Help him mum, he is really scared"
Now Im thinking, wow if she is that crazy I dont want to mess with his brand new jacket, what if she goes crazy on me? But then I thought on this...

Do you remember when you did something wrong as a kid and you were filled with dread about telling your parents. It was probably something so silly but as a kid you think its the end of the world and you may as well just pack your little running away from home suitcase and leave? Every kid dreads making their mum mad even though, and lets face it us mums are push overs, we never stay mad long.
So with that thought in mind I went out the back and sewed it up with invisible nylon thread so she doesn't notice a color difference, just in case there is a possibility she is crazy.

While I was out there I got productive to make up for yesterdays lull and made 4 more cotton dish clothes and tea towels. Total cost for them all $4.00 Now to sanitize them before use. Yep, I am feeling pretty pleased.

Then I got an idea.
I have this stupid little machine that I paid 50 bucks for. I think you can buy them for 10 bucks now. It is complete rubbish to teach a kid to sew on and I am not throwing it out because, well, it cost me 50 bucks. Now I am dismantling all of the unwanted external moving parts and modifying the bobbin winder so that its not so chinsey(spelling). I have modified the cotton reel holder, not seen in picture and it now has a vintage bamboo chopstick attached to it to hold larger reels.

So today I feel like a bit of an extreme crafter.

I saved a boy, saved money and saved a piece of junk from landfill.

Yes, I am handy hear me Roar!!

Before I go a really important to me question.

Where can I buy large over locker reels/cones of pure cotton?

Cheers Girls

Melanie

The dreaded Lurgy

2010-03-09T15:01:00.000+11:00

I have absolutely no idea what that is but I think its a term my mum used when I was a kid for when you catch a cold or feel sick. It sounds dreadful anyhow and I reckon it chased me down and has made me feel a little crook.
Instead of heading off to P.I.P.s today to hang out with my crafting buddies I went back to bed after school drop offs were done.
I reckon part of the dreaded Lurgies nature is to make sure EVERYONE calls you when he visits. Thats OK though because I got up and have been doing light duty cleaning and now I get to craft.
Im tired but can't sleep anyhow so why bother trying right? Last week us crafty chicks piled into Julies big ford fairlaine and cackled our way to Boronia where Theo's was having a craft sale. Oh man, we were in heaven! Check this out.

They were .30 cents each.
BARGAIN!
I have no idea how to embroider but oh well! What a bonus, underneath the cotton are some embroidery magazines that our Crafty Leader bestowed on me. I will have to show you her work one day. She is a spectacular embroiderer.
So anyhow, I missed out today and I bet they had fun. I would like to think its a little more fun when I am there. Of course, everyone like to feel special:)

Today is a great day to finish my rag rug. I had to redo some bits because I made them too thick which made it unworkable on small needles. I will show you soon, it is awesome and so so soft.
Hope you are all having a fabulous day and to all you Melbournians, isnt this cooler weather fantastic? Rain for 3 days!! Oh My, aren't we lucky?
Cheers ladies
Melanie
xox

Patty Pan Passion

2010-03-07T23:03:00.000+11:00

Strikes Again

I Just cant help myself.

My collection grows ever bigger and I love love love making everything and anything out of them except cupcakes.

Homemade dishwashing powder

2010-03-06T11:57:00.001+11:00

I have been on a cleaning frenzy lately and because I have developed some weird desire to wash the dishes by hand I didnt realize we were out of dishwashing powder.

What was I to do?
I had dishes everywhere, the 50 plus chicken ornaments needed dusting and my idea of dusting is throw everything waterproof in the dishwasher. And trust me, I have enough knick knacks to fill it up.
I was filthy dirty from cleaning and didnt want to change to go to the store. It was a dilemma I tell you!
So I did what any other modern housewife would do!
I googled how to make homemade dish washing powder"

A few million pages came up but the recipe was basically the same. I left out borax, essential oils and the ever senseless suggestion to RINSE first. Um NO, how about scrape into a bin, compost or dog dish......

After reading a few complaints from folks who found it didnt work, my conclusion was it was their dishwasher.

Basic Recipe

2 cups of Bicarb Soda

1/4 cup citric Acid

1/4 cup salt

For each load use 1 heaped tablespoon. Put it in your normal tab dispenser.
This mix gives you 2 weeks worth for a large dishwasher and I fill mine to the max with dirty dishes.

You can add borax and essential oils and I have made detergents using these before but borax is poison so I stopped storing it long ago.
If you want to add borax just replace 1 cup of bicarb with 1 cup of borax.

For shiny glasses fill your dispenser up with white vinegar.

It cost me 5 bucks to make and it works girls. Its no better or worse than the other stuff off the shelves, it works and its made of natural ingredients.

If your dishwasher isn't working that great then I suggest Googling "How to clean a dishwasher" and pull that baby apart.(only if you are confident in doing this step) I did and I was amazed where those scraps my kids never scraped were stored up under the grates, in the blades, everywhere.

Well, now that I have shared that revelation with you I will get back to it.

Have a great weekend, even if you are doing housework

Cheers

Melanie

Blog Signature

2010-03-01T22:16:00.000+11:00

Very Odd

2010-03-01T14:26:00.002+11:00

It appears that when I google via various browsers that my site shows the message "warning, this site may contain malicious software" any ideas? Ill have to google an appropriate questions to get it fixed. I cant have my blog being all malicious and stuff now can I?

Please let me know if you can advise/inform/enlighten me on this problem
Ta very much
Melanie

UPDATE

After following the procedure as recommended by several, it was found that I had NO MALWARE on my site according to a scan run by googles suggested company. Thanks Google for having me spend hours looking for suspicious coding on the links you said were infected yet there was NOTHING. Yes I am a little bit bitter lol and relieved, I have my blog back. Phew. I realized just how attached to my blog I am.

Cheers all and thanks so much for your help.

Fun with friends

2010-02-23T22:32:00.001+11:00

PiPs resumed this week and our crafty leader returned from New Zealand with gifts. The perfect gift for crafters. A package of Native to New Zealand fabric, one to each of us girls, to take home and whip something up with, then bring for show and tell. A Challenge! I love it.

Later that day after much laughter and world problem solving with awesome friends, my helper and I wound up more ripped rags. Well, I sewed them together and he wound the ball until it was as big as his head.

I am thinking of making a small sewing utility case/book with the Kiwi fabric. What do you reckon? I need to stop making bags, well not forever, just for this one project. Everything I touch turns into a bag. I am an OCBMD- that's medical lingo for Obsessive Compulsive Bag Making Disorder. Oh well the last bit is ridiculous, I hardly think it's a disorder!

This week at nunde was all about...

2010-02-20T14:00:00.001+11:00

C.U.K ......Cars, Ultrasounds(no,no ones pregnant.) and Kids. All of which caused a great deal of trouble and/or focus for the whole week. Hoping to resolve all issues as soon as possible so that I can resume doing what I love best, blogging and creating, tinkering and trading.
Some weeks are like that aren't they?
Even so, at least my flowers are pretty:)

Have a great weekend

Oh and yes, I will do a tutorial soon on re purposing old sheets as requested:)

Bedsheets to Bathmats

2010-02-16T20:49:00.002+11:00

Another Happy Repurposing Tale

My dog Pig chews tiny holes in our towels if we leave them on the floor and this resulted in the nunde house being bathmatless for a long time.

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My Dad tells his friends that if they don't want stuff, give it to my daughter, she collects stuff.(And then frowns at the collections scattered around the property)

Below are 3 Queen size doona covers circa 1980-ish donated to the "Give all your unwanted stuff to my daughter " charity © by my Dads neighbors. Cheers Dad.

Now they are yards and yards of strips

And now they are speedily becoming a bathmat!

Brilliant, I need a bathmat!

Cheers

Melanie
Don't you love Happy Endings?!

Food and Froof

2010-02-15T21:51:00.000+11:00

We had a birthday.

This prompted Miss nunde to whip up a vanilla choc Oreo cake.

After devouring a slice that consisted of 30 pounds of butter, a vat of sugar and a couple of Oreos,

we all agreed it was a little bit rich for us but not too rich to stop us having seconds.

So apon feeling my arteries harden I decided to try to get a little bit healthy. I wanted to do this 4 years ago but I was too busy eating yummy artery hardening food so I didnt have time.

I pondered all the things I have done before that have helped me with lifestyle changes.

There was only one answer.

Extreme angry knitting

It worked when I gave up being a chain smoker 57 months ago, I knitted a massive green blanket to stave off urges to smoke. I thought I would tap into those tools and knit like a needle wielding manic.

So out came the biggest bloody pink blanket in the world today.

Tomorrow the angry knitting begins.

Yet another blanket is knitted as a bad habit is kicked.

I will miss you Cake and Cookies but my arteries wont:)

Etsy goodness

2010-02-08T11:28:00.001+11:00

The posty brought me my first Etsy goodness for the year and I just love love love it. These are the most gorgeous dishcloths and pot holders ever and I dont want to use them because my I will get them dirty. I must get more!

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Click on the cute little love hearts to go check out Firedaisy's store

nunde new year

2010-02-08T11:02:00.000+11:00

While some of my kids are still too young to understand the meaning of "Stop yelling, screaming and chasing each other with pointy objects while mum is working" I take the full 6 weeks off from anything nunde. Well, that 6 weeks is up and
today is the first day of the nunde year. I had so much fun this holiday. Giving up my volunteer work was the best thing ever and because I felt such a freedom I have decided to rethink the market position too. I really want to focus on my goals this year and I have decided to devote 100 percent of my time to my business to give it a fighting chance. I really cant multitask like you clever chicks, and that's cool, I just need to focus like a laser beam on one task.

So I started on a few personal projects. You have already seen the lanyard for my keys, well here is my hawt hessian phone sock with matching lanyard. Simple things yes but these bright lanyards have helped me no end. I never really wear them round my neck though. It is so that I can find the things that ALWAYS get lost. With those 2 time saving projects out the way, I start the year with great enthusiasm. Hope to impress/amuse/interest you this year. Lets get started!!
Cheers
Melanie

P.S thank you to everyone who downloads my template for bunting and writes to me to say thank you. you guys are ace.

Scraps! I think not...

2010-01-17T00:08:00.001+11:00

4 pieces of scraps equal

One yummy lanyard

Cheers

Melanie

Saturdays are for....

2010-01-16T17:29:00.001+11:00

Perfecting homemade Light studios in preparation for 100's of stock photos to be taken. Best toot ever on this is from here

Pondering, once again, on how to refashion this kids jumper from the Op shop. OK, now Im thinking lap top bag and matching phone sock.

Turning gross lanyard with texta all over it (Thanks master nunde)

into new lanyard. Fantastic, now I can find my keys again.

Hey this will match my cool, really bright laptop bag and phone sock!

And finally Saturday is for eating Bounty Chocolate Tartlets that miss nunde whipped up. Will provide recipe when I pry it from her greedy recipe hogging hands.

2 things I noted today. 1. Light studio works great as you can see with the pic of the kids jumper 2. Sewing machine lights need to be daylight bulbs, not the warm globes. Those globes are a killer on your eyes if you spend hours sewing. I now have a clip on daylight globe lamp to fix that.

Have a good one guys

Cheers

Melanie

Time ....

2010-01-14T23:29:00.000+11:00

First meeting today

re: the new handmde market in Berwick.

Much brainstorming

Starting from scratch

Lots of letters to write

Deadlines made.

So starts a new chapter...

about time!

Cheers

Melanie

xox

Upcycling ships?

2010-01-13T22:59:00.000+11:00

They have been doing it for years dont ya know?

This is the ship my stepfather John Lawler played a large role in sinking last year.

He has dived it 7 times since then and shared with me some of his personal pics

It has only been a few months, can you believe?

Look at the growth already!

Look at the grafitti, already!

I feel that if any member of your family gets their name on a plaque to be seen for all eternity then it is your right and duty to brag about it, so as is my right, I shall brag.

Well done John.

Upcycling ships. Gotta love that!

Time to Stock Make and Take

2010-01-10T00:53:00.000+11:00

So it is back to work!

*moan/grumble/cry a little bit*

I had the nicest break ever and although I did nothing special, I think it just felt great to get 2009 over with. I never liked you 2009. I found you a bit of a struggle creatively and barely was a bag designed, rubbish rescued or a cupcake created due to commitments elsewhere.

It is time to start again in 2010

Yep, there it is, my catchy mantra for new the year.

START AGEN IN TWO THOUSAND AND TEN

Bugger off 2009

It was 11.30 pm when I decided to prepare myself for the new year.

After a few minutes of that gruelling exercise I came back inside to blog about it, as one does when one is faced with stuff.

It is all pretty exciting stuff though. I have things to do this year. Me things..nunde things, not other things.

(This picture is a test to refer to as my skills at editing hopefully improve. wish you could smell these. They smell gorgeous)

Here is hoping for more peace in places that are in pieces,

where ever that may be, however small or large.

Happy New Year

cheers

Melanie

Tis the season for ....

2009-12-29T10:04:00.000+11:00

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

Just had to drop in and say

2009-12-24T23:37:00.002+11:00

It is that time of year

2009-12-16T07:14:00.001+11:00

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

My Creative Space Thursday

2009-12-10T07:09:00.001+11:00

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

High Tea

2009-12-09T16:16:00.002+11:00

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

Handmade gifts at the Gala

2009-12-07T07:26:00.001+11:00

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

So Seventies

2009-12-06T13:49:00.000+11:00

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

In case you hadnt noticed

2009-12-01T16:42:00.001+11:00

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!!!

New Places, different faces

2009-11-27T15:14:00.001+11:00

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

My Creative Space Thursday

2009-11-26T12:40:00.001+11:00

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

Busy, Not Blogging.

2009-11-26T07:44:00.001+11:00

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

My Creative space

2009-11-19T10:29:00.000+11:00

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

After the dust settles from a hectic week

2009-11-16T09:30:00.004+11:00

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!)

Casey Craft Market

2009-11-14T18:01:00.008+11:00

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

Its Market day!

2009-11-14T06:38:00.003+11:00

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

My Creative Space

2009-11-12T10:56:00.004+11:00

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

P.I.Ps

2009-11-10T15:25:00.003+11:00

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

Belly Dancing babes

2009-11-10T07:15:00.003+11:00

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.

Bunting - The Pointy End

2009-11-09T20:31:00.003+11:00

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.

Buy mine when I have finished :)

Cheers!

Melanie

Medieval Faire 2009

2009-11-08T17:32:00.001+11:00

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!

So Seventies

2009-11-04T15:27:00.003+11:00

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

Happy Day!

2009-10-31T11:35:00.004+11:00

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

Rainy Fridays. Feel the Serenity!

2009-10-30T14:42:00.003+11:00

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

My Creative Space

2009-10-29T13:45:00.002+11:00

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

Lovely loot!

2009-10-28T19:45:00.003+11:00

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

Little Presents for Special Friends

2009-10-27T20:40:00.002+11:00

Pam's sister gave this tiny cup to Pam

Pam needed a pin cushion but not a tiny cup

Pam gave me the tiny cup to make a pin cushion with

I made it for Pam before P.I.P.S this morning

and this made Pam smile

Awesome!

My creative space - day 22 of Blogtober fest

2009-10-22T15:18:00.003+11:00

Today my work bench in my little pink, green, brown and orange space that we now refer as Lady Land thanks to a funny commercial on TV, is covered in a wedding dress. I was about to throw it away as it had no sentimental value and no end of coaxing would make my daughter want it because there was no sentimental attachment for her either to an event that took place in it a life time ago which is a bit sad but oh well. But then I remembered with much sentimental value the journey my mother and I had in the making of this dress. Her making, me whining and my best friend laughing because no one had EVER seen me in a dress before.
My mum made it in 9 weeks whilst working 2 jobs as a single mum and I remember every pin prick she delivered as she nipped and tucked. Where they on purpose? Who knows? I mean I was a little bugger of a kid so ....

So anyhow, I decided to hunt down the woman's weekly craft book that Elsie gave me because I fell in love with the picture below. I have rummaged and found my daughters first little flower girl dress, her lace from her first canopy princess bed ( I know, I went over board) and various lace and bits from through out my life that I have stashed

I am very excited about this. I have never done a quilt before.....Help!!!
To see what other arty crafty sorts have on the go, check out Kootoyoo's blog
I am off to finish building shelves in the walk in robe now ( man land) which is what started all of this finding hidden dresses in the first place.
Cheers all
Melanie

Lilac

2009-10-15T07:07:00.004+11:00

Love it..........

Smell it.........

Look at it ......

It is always worth the wait.

Love Spring

An what about this gorgeous weather we are having...

2009-10-14T07:14:00.007+11:00

What would have been blogtoberfest post 14 but was so busy, forgot to hit post. So much for a well planned month of blogging

..........This is where I volunteer.

Just thought I would share the images I gaze at as I wander around, breathing it all and feeling peaceful.

100 year old wysteria. I bet it knows things of old and long forgotten.......

Trash talk- tober

2009-10-13T07:04:00.006+11:00

Now this is my kind of recycled art.

Lamps made from unwanted car parts and other metal components.

My cousin Gary makes these.

Yes, making stuff out of rubbish runs in the family and these lamps are quite stylish as well as being very blokey.

Gary takes it one step further in his recycling efforts by locating items that large companies are going to fill up our landfill with even though the items may just have a printing error on the packaging. These companies will remain nameless but they would rather throw perfectly good items, and masses of them, into landfill, rather than give them away or bother to sell them as seconds.

So its a good thing we have people like Gary. I would like to nick name them The Rubbish Police but that doesn't sound very flattering does it? I would also like to see Gary wearing a Cape as he protects our planet from these polluting perpetrators. OK OK sorry Gary, I went off into cartoon super hero world then, as I am prone to do.

Looking forward to showing off his next work of art.

Cheers all

Melanie

12 Favourite Blogs - tober day 12

2009-10-12T07:21:00.004+11:00

Bainos Banter
Curlypops
Kraftypanda
Lucybowler
Onepairofhands
Ooty
Bimbimbie
5orangepotatoes
littlechrissy
maytheclothbewithyou
Theenchantedcloset
Missmuggins

Of course there are oodles more. I picked the first 12 I read today as they are on my regular reads list. Tomorrow I will probably catch up with another dozen or so. You know how it goes dont you? Cant fit them all in in just one day or we would never get any work done:)

Cheers!
Melanie

market - tober

2009-10-10T15:59:00.003+11:00

The very first market at The Old Cheese Factory went well for its first day.

Plenty of people came through and a few awesome people bought some nunde stuff THANKS!! And no, it wasn't my mum. I do know that 2 dear friends did buy something which is very sweet and yo guys are first to ride around with me in my BMW when I get rich.

I cant show you pictures because I was working in the Cafe. I was flat out. If I sold as many bags as I made coffees I would be driving us round in that Beamer already.
My daughter manned the stall and poor thing was so sun burnt because her bad mother didn't take sunscreen or cover. Bad mother!!! Who knew the sun would shine, I mean sheesh, this is Melbourne. Ya just never know. Its like you need to take your entire seasonal wardrobe with you round here.
Next Market is 2nd saturday in November. Here is the application form if some of you clever clogs want to set up stall there. PRESS HERE

Or just come and have a cuppa
For those of you, specially Elsie and Pam and anyone else I may have missed, Im sorry I didnt get to chat or if I didnt even see you at all. I was just so busy making cuppa's.
See ya at the next one!!
cheers
Melanie

Creative Space- tober 1 day to go until market

2009-10-08T20:55:00.005+11:00

My creative space is a mess, chaotic and fabric is flying everywhere.

Did I tell you I am in love with this little ripper. Yes I said little ripper. I sound like an Aussie from the 50's but I am in love with it all the same.

I can not imagine making so many bags without it.

I also love my Vanilla chai, get some, even if you don't drink it the smell in your creative space is aromatically awesome. I have to drink it because I took this at 9.30pm and I was still sewing. No coffee for me past 7pm or I get hyper.

And Look! 1 bag of 49 almost finished. Yes 49 bags...... Not a round, even Stevens 50......Forty nine!! I have no idea why and my obsessive compulsiveness is not dealing with that I can tell you.

and finally a boy bag, as designed by Master nunde 8, complete with skulls of course. If it is to scale it is going to be huge unless they are teeny tiny trees.

Well girls, Im tired. I was going to say something more bogan then but I realize you are all far more refined than me so I refrained. Oh and hey, any tips on setting up a market stall? I am worried I will forget something.
Cheers everyone
Melanie

Oh I almost forgot. for loads of peeking at other creative spaces check out Kootoyoos for the ever growing massive list of creative people

Work - tober Day 7 ,2 days until the market

2009-10-07T22:15:00.001+11:00

No time to blog, working my sausage fingers to the bone.
Have a great day
Melanie

BOOM- tober A front row seat view

2009-10-06T13:04:00.004+11:00

My step dad emailed me these pics from the sinking of HMAS Canberra. Cant get a much better view than this. Lucky John. Thought I would share them with you.

BOOM!!!!

BYE BYE

Day 5 Health-tober - 5 days to go until market

2009-10-05T08:04:00.004+11:00

Yet another lifestyle change attempt begins. Beginning with a bowl of porridge and the standard 2 cups of coffee (I have to keep some staples). My goal is to be healthy for a whole month......starting today.

From the minute I got up, I cut and cut and cut

sewed and sewed and sewed

fabric wandered in from the big shed to my studio waiting for more cutting

and are you going to ask the same thing as Mr nunde and Master nunde asked "How many bags have you made today" ..................To which I will answer you the same as I answer them NONE. I know you girls are cleverer than them though and you know that there is a process in whipping up 100 odd bags from scratch.
I worked hard today. Time for a coffee break I reckon. Yay!

Cheers
Melanie

Day 4 blogtoberfest -Sunday was a big day

2009-10-04T19:11:00.004+11:00

For what seems like forever my step dad has been heavily involved with the sinking of the HMAS Canberra and today was the day.

If you watched the news in Melbourne he was the very very excited man being interviewed. I have no doubt he will try to lure us all into diving with him when it's all crusty and rusty to admire the handy work of all that was involved . 5 hours they were out on my step dads boat getting it set up and assisting one of the news teams. It's a good thing Johns boat has a dunny on it:) Oh and a big cheer for my mum who has had to hear nothing but sinking ship this, sinking ship that and she even roughed it out there with him for the 5 hours.
Anyhow, I am off to watch it again. It isn't every day someone in our family is famous so I am making the most of braggers rights while I can.
Cheers everyone
Melanie

6 days to go and 3 days into blogtoberfest

2009-10-03T21:08:00.004+10:00

Slim nundes in the making. Hands up who loves using these little doovalackies. Bias binding thingy whatsits?

I just love em to bits!

I had a great day

2009-10-02T07:16:00.003+10:00

Today was the day I was going to notify the powers that be that I was unable to attend the very first craft market due to certain obstacles............ Today I was gifted, by the powers that be, without any prompting or expectations, with having every obstacle removed so that I could attend the very first market at The Homestead.
I never expected such a thing. So what does this all mean?
I have ONE WEEK to get my products ready for the first market................................... (insert panicked expression here)

Anyhow. Enough about me. Here is a little something about a lovely lass called Laurel. Miss Muggins is offering a giveaway to celebrate her 1st year blogaversary and up for grabs is some sweet treats. I wish you luck if you do enter but I have to warn you, my fingers are crossed hoping I win *snicker*

I would also like to steer you towards my friend Elsie who is fast becoming a pro at this blogging stuff and is a clever lady to boot.
I am off to lay on the couch and contemplate the very very busy week ahead.
Cheers!

My Creative Space

2009-10-01T15:09:00.005+10:00

Piles of gold chain that we purchased from a Diva sale.

When I see Diva sales I see a multitude of creations that can be made with cheap bling.

This was 3 separate necklaces for $5.00 a piece. I am estimating that I can make about 10 bracelets, some phone bling, bag bling and extra chain for my gold chain Garland that I am making and still have some left over. Bargain!!!

On my creative e-space I am proudly showing this badge because I have decided to play along.

1 post per day for 1 month

So, like, if I run out of cool stuff to say I can like just make it up right? OK ???

I also want to announce the winner of my Blog Birthday Give away...........................................................

PIPPIWILLOW

Pippiwillow has won one my tiny takeaway cappuccino bags.

Congratulations!!!!!

So WOOT for me!

I did one bloggerfest post and one creative space post in one hit. Oh yeah baby, Im da man! err I mean WoMan. Check out the crafty little chicks at Kootoyoos. I wonder how many others cheated like I did.

Cheers!

Melanie

xox

Sweet Surprise!

2009-09-29T07:07:00.004+10:00

My gift from Tea with Lucy arrived today

Beautifully wrapped

With a lovely personalized card inside to me

With beautiful things that make me go yum!!

Already I am playing with ideas of what to create

This is one of the reasons that blogging has enriched my life.
So many generous people out there ............... Thank you Tea with Lucy.

Now what can I make ???? Receiving surprises is the first best bit, deciding what to make is equally as exciting!!

Cheers
Melanie
xox

I know people

2009-09-24T00:24:00.008+10:00

who really are Artists. I mean besides a lot of you guys.

My friend A'isha is part of this group exhibition and because I can I will boast about knowing an artist who is part of an exhibition. ............................................

Onya A'isha.

I think you're awesome.............................

...........................................I also swear that if I can make it I wont talk like such a bogan OK!
I hope your enjoying the quietness of the roads due to school holidays.
Have a great day!
Cheers!
Melanie

Freedom

2009-09-22T17:33:00.004+10:00

We take it for granted don't we?

I received a call from the area manager who spoke to us like we wanted his kidney when we first expected them to honor their warranty and he was so pleasant, bordering on sickly when he said " We have one fixed Kia Carnival here ready for you to pick up"

As if all the financial, work related, physical, isolation etc etc was merely forgotten because our only car was finally back after battling since MARCH 1 2009

Car-less for 7 of those weeks. Unable to drive far for the rest of the time and constant back and forthing with one of the rudest men on earth.

I need to tell you 2 things that we learned girls. We found out that even though the car was 5 months out of warranty if it is a major component like an engine or transmission that is factory faulty then the manufacturer is still responsible because those parts have not lived up to normal expectation. So
BEFORE an independent mechanic touches your car, call consumer affairs first to see if this applies to you.

Secondly, If people do not honor their warranties, call consumer affairs. It costs you nothing and they will help you.

Anyway
I'm not here
I am out driving!
zoom zoom
and dont forget
do your research then
Stand up for yourself girls

This week

2009-09-18T16:50:00.005+10:00

I found out where my daughter got this mug from

so for all of you lovelies that asked it was Target.

.......................

I stumbled on a dragonfly in my garden

I planted some natives that made me go oooooooooh. Alot of natives make me go "Blerk" so this was a nice surprise.
Speaking of natives, well locals, Mr Midas finally called us to say our car might be ready on Monday. We have been car-less for over a month and would have remained so if consumer affairs didn't get involved. I have enjoyed being driven around by my Dad though. He is 77 and the last time he drove me around when I was an angsty teenager and we both hated one another....
I was also privileged enough to get a lift in Elsie's little Torana the other day and it took me back about 20 odd years. I love the sound and smell of old Holden's, and yes, they do have a sound and smell. Elsie loves her little car to bits and one day she might show everyone on her blog. Hint Hint
........

today I was also greeted by a mass of Echium that just started to flower at The homestead. It was a stunning welcome back.
I also struck a deal with the Horticulturalist that we have on site and she is going to harvest the masses of Lavender plant heads for me if I provide a bag to put them in. If there was no one around I would have done a little victory jig, however it was a bit busy so I did it in my head instead.

And to top it off I received a comment from Tea with Lucy to let me know that I had won her awesome giveaway. Brilliant!!!!!!!!
Now I am about to make a yummy Twinnings Chai black tea and go to one of my sheds and ponder a very arty idea I have that requires a large easel my mum bought me, some engraving tips for my dremel that I imported from the US, a timber cupboard door donated by the woodies(1 of about 40) and some gesso. As a grown up I am always too scared to get in touch with my "artistic" side because , well , I don't really have one but it doesn't make me any less passionate when I get an image in my head of what I want to do. That and I fear people seeing my work - like my daughter did one day to which she responded, "what the hell is that" CRUSHED I will persist though because seriously, the girl painted her room a blue that makes your retinas bleed so she aint no artist either. Love you Jazzy

I hope your weekend is a fabulous one.
Cheers
Melanie
xox

My creative space

2009-09-17T08:18:00.004+10:00

mess mess mess... projects on the go~

................This ones almost ready to bake..um sew

Another one ready to be stuffed with scrummy scents

......... .Bag below is a FAIL. It is finished but I am not happy with it's presentation so hours of pinning with a dodgy finger wasted. We all know how that goes don't we?

More sewing will ensue today. I am still a bit bummed about my ugly bag but I am going to get straight back on the horse( my Jenome).

In between sewing I ll be checking out these other creative spaces at Kootoyoo's place. Last week it took me hours to get through them all. Seriously! I love it.

Cheers!

Melanie

Sore sausage finger

2009-09-15T23:30:00.007+10:00

A while ago I purchased a V-slicer so I could enhance my culinary skills by cutting vegetables into neat uniformly shaped slices because we all know that veggies taste better and are better for you if they re cut perfectly.

The first sign that my skill at using sharp tools didn't extend to the kitchen was when I cut the corner of my thumb on it. Nothing major. Just a grown women almost fainting because whilst the cut turned out to be barely a scratch, I was convinced Id lost a whole limb.

Then yesterday, after I neglected to listen to my know it all husband who told me to throw it away, I found myself once again yelling "Maaaaark" to which he responded with a grunt and displeasure at being interrupted just as his group in Warhammer were about to beat the current objective, which I could totally understand, being a gamer myself BUT.. The moment I poked my head around to snap his name out again he knew with one look at my paler than usual complexion what had happened, leaped from his chair to attend to me and then came the flood of reprimands, concern, more reprimands, scolding, and lastly "I thought I told you to throw that thing away"

He told me it was just little as he pieced it back together and after a day it has finally stopped leaking. So I finally took a look.... Well bugger me. There goes my aspirations of being a sausage fingered hand model. I think I'm going to lose the corner of my finger. We will see. So anyway, I "was" on a roll with my market sewing, website building and general bits of business stuff in general, after a long period of no motivation at all and then I went and cut my bloomin finger.

So I very carefully did stuff that was just for me because my finger just wouldn't stop bleeding on and off and the pins...... too scary for words to have pins nearly my wounded little sausage finger.

I did try though. I will be braver tomorrow.

Here's my bag. I just love hessian and I want to share the hessian love. Its so natural. Love the hessian man..

More home made cotton dish clothes. This time not made from toweling so the kids cannot mistake them for face washers.

So there you have it. I am a big sooky la la and I'm not ashamed to admit that yesterday I nearly passed out from something that the blokes at my wood working club would consider a mosquito bite.

Have I thrown the V- slicer away? Um.......

If you know of a safer utensil that does the same job please tell me.

Cheers and have a good one

Melanie

Cool things

2009-09-11T08:47:00.004+10:00

Cool ceramic cup with silicone lid.

(one of the 5 coffee cups I got for my birthday)

Do my kids know me or what?

Now I can feel like I am having takeaway coffee

even when I'm not

and no paper cups die.

More cool

This will be cool when I make it.

Its going to be a giveaway, any day now, when I finish it.....

other peoples cool things

I stumbled on someone else doing something cool. Tea with Lucy is having a giveaway on her blog..well go on, check her out, you know you like to win stuff!!! Free stuff is always cool, right?

And the coolest thing of all

is Friday!

Have a good weekend

Cheers

Melanie

My Creative Space

2009-09-10T07:35:00.003+10:00

Its been a month of birthdays this month. Mine was last week and today it is my blogs. In my creative space today I took some pictures of things I would like to give away as a thank you for your support. I want to thank you all for making blogging such a rewarding experience and wish you luck in the draw.

This is one of my very handy hot nundes. What is a hot nunde? Its a little teency tote to carry your takeaway coffee in. You can really stick whatever drink you like in it. Pure cotton of course, right down to the thread.

So help me celebrate my birthday and 2 years of sharing my blog with you and comment on this post if you would like a chance to win one.
But wait there's more.
Come back sometime this month to check out the other item I am giving away in September.
All entries close 30th September. Comment as many times as you like for a chance to win. Come on girls, these bags are so cute and make a great Christmas gift.
For more creative spaces go check out Kootoyoo's and you will see why I have gotten so much inspiration from blogging over the last 2 years.
Thank you all
Mwah
Melanie
xox

p.s my daughter made me the birthday cake shown at the top. Isn't she clever and sweet? I devoured most of the Kit Kats that she lined the cake with mmmmm

I love ....

2009-09-03T07:27:00.005+10:00

Paintings done by my dear friend Lynette.

Brilliant rich color and texture.

This one is my favourite because it looks like printed fabric. Gorgeous!

Today is a special day. I have a very special lady coming around to learn how to set up her own blog and I am so excited to share my passion/obsession and lure some one else into blogland.
Cheers
Melanie

My creative space

2009-08-28T14:11:00.005+10:00

I would have posted yesterday but I was exhausted from walking everywhere. I clocked up 12 Klms just doing my normal Thursday errands on foot. That was on top of normal duties like walking kid to and from school(8.8klms). I may not be getting thinner but I am getting fitter. We won the first round with Midas and consumer affairs made them get our car back to us pronto for independent testing which proved without a doubt we were right, they owe us a new transmission. I hugged my car when I saw it and I am not lying. Enough of that though
I made this today and wanted to share it because for once in a long while I made something for FUN and for ME and this now sits in my creative space finished:)

I spotted these things on hairdressers hips and immediately wanted one for sewing. I made it with scraps from my odd sized fabric pile and an old handbag with perfect sized clips and rings. I knew I was hoarding it for a reason.

It hangs across my shoulder and sits on my right hip at perfect height to grab out my scissors. A bit like a scissor holster yes? So I can sling scissors now, Look out!!!

It works great. Maybe I should whip some up for my shop. Bah, there I go again, turning something fun into work!

check out the ever growing list at Kootoyoo's place of creative spaces. I'm about to grab a coffee to have a peek myself.

Cheers

Melanie

Scissor slinger extraordinaire!

another day at nunde

2009-08-26T07:15:00.004+10:00

and I am very happy with progress
38 bags sit neatly cut, awaiting construction.

Cutting fabric out is hard on the back. Does anyone else have this and if so, how do you fix it apart from giving up cutting fabric?

I am loving these. $2.00 each at the reject shop. Bargain! I always wanted those cotton reel racks you hang on the wall but I like this idea more now. I wish I got more.

And I am loving my old paint cards that border the window and cover the jagged plaster that I butchered. Must get some more .......

And finally my ironing board got a face lift with some scrap fabric.

Haven't I been busy this week???

Plus I have had to walk everywhere still because Mr Midas Narre Warren wont honor his Midas guarantee/warranty and wont get our car back from where they sent it. Nearly 3 weeks!!!!! Storms!! I have to walk my child to school in high winds, pelting rain and yesterday the wind brought down a fence that belongs to a big dog along the track we walk. We are a little bit...alot scared to see if the owners fixed it. We are arming ourselves with big sticks and a few of our own dogs today. I normally only take one at a time. I know, its crazy, but I am petrified of dogs even though I have 3 of my own. Yesterday was so scary walking home in the wind knowing a storm was on its way and a few times I broke into a trot when the wind whipped through the big trees making them look like big bendy sticks. It was exhilarating! Me breaking into a trot, hilarious!! Poor Connor was terrified, mainly because he and his school friends had turned the news of the coming storm into a full on cyclone warning with mass distruction world wide being imminant.

Gotta love 8 yr old reality. Its far more exciting than ours. Hope all of my fellow Victorians didnt suffer any damage from the storm. Stay warm.

Have a fab hump day ladies, where ever you are.

Cheers

Melanie

Trash Talk on Plastic

2009-08-25T07:36:00.006+10:00

I abhor plastic.

I cringe when I see packets that say individually wrapped, yes, more packaging, that's what we need right? Small tubs of yogurt, 12 little plastic bags of BBQ shapes in a big plastic bag and 6 packs of sugary water claiming to be juice in single serve plastic bottles..... STOP BUYING THEM.

I came across an article or two that I would like to share with you. They are worth a good read and although confronting to many, it is worth it to be more informed next time you go grocery shopping.

Please read this

Los Angeles Times opinion

Monday August 24th 2009
by Emily Monosson

Back to school with less plastic -- a teaching moment - My daughter and I recently made the annual back-to-school pilgrimage to the local big-box office store, and I am appalled. For me, the leathery smell of new shoes stirs sweet pangs marking those precious last days of summer; for my children, it likely will be the smell of vinyl and assorted plastics. More....

This following article is a less namby pamby approach with some really good "in your face" facts about plastic....read on and confront yourself with an issue that definately concerns you and me, all of us.

Rejecting the toxic plague
WAR ON PLASTIC
by Jan Lundberg Northern Californians Against Plastic

Here is a snippet of some interesting findings:

Clear plastic food wrap contains up to 30% DEHP [di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate]. This substance is also in intravenous blood bags. This poison was identified by the State of California for its Proposition 65 list of carcinogens and mutagens, but industry pressure got the listing weakened.

Triclosan, in plastics as well as antibacterial soaps, deodorants, toothpastes, cosmetics, and fabrics, is shown to cause health and environmental effects and compound antibiotic resistance. Researchers found that when sunlight is shined on triclosan in water and on fabric, a portion of triclosan is transformed into dioxin. More......

Maybe this week you could give up one of these things permanently and find a greener alternative.
I am up for the challenge, are you?

Take it easy guys
Melanie

Farmers Market August

2009-08-22T07:59:00.005+10:00

From this

To this...

What a beautiful Melbourne day for a market.

Well that's what I did yesterday. Tomorrow I'm making more bags. It is like a little factory in my sewing room and I'll give you a glimpse tomorrow.

Cheers for now

Melanie

nunde gets .....

2009-08-19T14:52:00.002+10:00

our first signage.

Big excitement.
I am missing blogland so much but I am really busy trying to meet a deadline and do you know how hard that is for someone that cant concentrate for more than 3 seconds to achieve such a goal? ........ bloody well impossible! How do you all do it? Clean house, brilliant mothering skills and careers...HOW?
Well back to work ....
ttus
Melanie
x0x

The Golden Mile

2009-08-14T09:15:00.002+10:00

Don't expect anything profound from me. I have had to walk EVERYWHERE because my car transmission is in being looked at again.

This is the bike track I walk my son and dogs along every day ....twice ...to school 2.2 klm each way. 8.8klm No biggy for you exercise lovin freaks. Massive deal for people like me that consider exercise the most mind numbingly boring activity, second only to cooking, on the planet.

So this is where I walk, blank of mind due to lack of oxygen

and the most profound thing to come to mind is mmmmmm fluffy

lots of fluffy yellow flora

Have a fantastic friday chicky babes and for crying out loud, never ever let yourself get as unfit as I am.

Cheers

Melanie

My Creative Space.......

2009-08-13T14:35:00.005+10:00

Is booming with productivity

3 sexy sewing machines all in a row

Each one working over time on various tasks. Look at the mess. Its awesome!

This is on my space aswell
/claps excitedly. The posty brought me this today.
now I have to learn to use my gocco
This is going to hopefully fulfil my dreams of screen printing witty/serious/picture/etc things on my bags

Just outside my sewing room is this little beauty. In between sewing things to go on it I am sanding this down ready to put my products on.

What is it you ask?

Well I am so glad you asked!!

Its an old lolly stand that was thrown out by our local grocery store, destined for landfill. Before and after pictures when it is finished of course. An upcycler/reclaimers dream:)

Just testing my new labels. If you could see behind the scenes on my creative space today you would see at least 6 of these labels that were massacred by my old slow clunky singer. I gave up in the end and let one of the younger machines do it.

So theres my space
Bustling away, messy and gloriously industrious.
For spaces, if you like perving at them like I do, go to Kootoyoos and check them out!

Trash Talk Tuesday

2009-08-11T14:16:00.002+10:00

I am blessed to have supportive friends amongst my collection of people and one of the few that dont roll their eyes at my passion for recycling/refashioning etc etc is Aisha and she often sends me tidbits that she has come across in her travels.
Instead of pretending like I did the work I am going to just post her email and it will now be the body of this post. So here is Trash Talk Tuesday's Topic, gifted to us from Aisha......

Aisha wrote:
"I go to a basket weavers group every month, and having an awesome time learning how to use the products in our gardens, native and non native... before the compost gets it... and just basically sharing the wisdom of the world...

Anywho... one of the ladies that attends is also an artist her name is Ann McMahon and she weaves out of recycled bread bags.... The colors that come through are simply lovely, and even up close you wouldn't think they are plastic... She doesn't have a website but is mentioned on the website ARTEREAL. Here is a page with her statement and one pic of her plastic eggs....

http://www.artereal.com.au/AnnMcMahon.htm

This same lady Ann, told me about the (ELF) Orange recycle centre in Orange, an education center, community garden and just an amazing recourse for the community, they also have an art program and competition using waste...

http://www.netwaste.org.au/projects/envLearnFac.htm

here is their art page...

http://www.netwaste.org.au/projects/wasteToArt.htm "

by Aisha
------------------------------------------------

When I saw Ann's poly eggs I totally embraced the message and felt like some one was speaking my language. My heart fluttered a little. Thanks Aisha for pointing these sites out.
Also there is some good info for us tech savvy E people on E- waste which I think all Computer users must/should/need to read up on. Including myself.

Dont forget chicky babes: For all of those interested in signing up for a new Handmade market please go HERE for the info

Oh and I would LOVE to see some of that weaving done at the weaving class! hint hint!!

Cheers everyone

Melanie

And here it is!!! Sign up Sign up

2009-08-10T17:08:00.004+10:00

AN INVITATION TO BECOME A STALLHOLDER AT OUR
NEW CRAFTER’S MARKET
The Old Cheese Factory community invite you to join an exciting NEW MARKET. Our first Crafter’s market will be Saturday 12th September 2009, then every second Saturday of the Month onwards, from 10am—3pm.
Held in the beautiful grounds of the Old Cheese Factory, with plenty parking available and an onsite café.

Stall/Site fees: $35.00 per market.
We will be having a viewing of all potential stallholders’ products on:
Friday 14th August 2009.
10am – 12pm no appointments - first in first seen.
Old Cheese Factory, 34 Homestead Road Berwick. (Mel Ref 131 A2)

As it is a maker’s only market no commercially produced products will be accepted.
The criterion for selection is:
ALL ARTWORKS MUST BE MADE BY THE STALLHOLDER

For further Information please contact
Dani Basilotta Ph: 9702 1919 E: danib@narreclc.net.au
Phyllis Booth Ph: 8786 7900 E: homestead@narreclc.net.au
Jacky Grewer Ph: 9702 1919 E: ocf@narreclc.net.au

Mundee and nunde

2009-08-03T11:26:00.002+10:00

I would rather be creating nunde bags next to my very pink and orange window dressings that I just love.

Alas, I must clean because it is Monday and that's what I do on Mondays.

Tonight I will be catching up on about 4 weeks of unread blogs.

Cheerio!

Melanie

Teaching an old dog new tricks

2009-07-29T12:55:00.003+10:00

Learning how to change a clutch on a an old grey Massey was easier than learning to do a granny square and unfortunately there were no desperate farm apprentices nearby willing to do the hard bits for me but here it is! My first Granny square.

See! I can do girl stuff:) Thanks Phyllis for your immense patience

What am I doing today in my new sewing room?
Cutting and altering bag patterns for a new grocery tote I am working on. It pretty much looks like any other tote really, just a nick here, a tuck there to make it easier to sew in bulk.

3 more days to list your .99 cent ebay stuff for free! get on it girls!

What went on when the internet went down!

2009-07-28T23:21:00.007+10:00

Here is the story of Mel's really awesome adventure while she had no Internet part one.

2 years ago I bought this office/shed to convert to a room for my eldest. It was to be fully lined, insulated, with a veranda, electricity, phone and Internet.
Now, I'm not going to talk out of school about my darling son because I love him more than mud cake and cream but let me just say that when you see YouTube clips of kids going mental because their parents cut their Internet off as punishment.....well hands up if you have a son like that...ooh ooh *waves hand frantically in the air*
I wish I could have set up a "teenage boy throwing tantrum" cam the night he went kung fu on every wall. Hilarious stuff for 21st birthday viewing, alas, I was unaware of it because none of us ever went in there since it was a work in progress....and once I found out we gave up out of despair and he moved out shortly after so we didnt need it.

So after so many years of it left unloved and unfinished I was thinking of selling it. But then I had an idea!
With no internet filling my head with stuff, I had room for thoughts beyond answering emails, poking or nudging people and harvesting cartoon crops obsessively in Farmtown.
I decided it would be fun to totally gut it and start from scratch.
Here is my handy daughter. She is growing up to be just like me, a wrecker!

So
I nailed some rafters up, whacked up some plasterboard and used 2 big buckets of filler to fill up the holes

Then, using cupboard doors that were donated from the woodworking club( I have about 40 of them) I proceeded to build a bench. I chose kiwi green gloss enamel paint for a clean smooth bench top for fabric to glide on.

This is my daughter painting "Mum is a Tool " on the wall. Nice!........
And here it is
My sewing room!
complete with a cutting table, heating, air conditioning, phone, Internet, insulation and a TV:)
Pink walls, green bench and orange venetian with a hot pink window box. It looks like someone came in and vomited shabby chic everywhere.
Still quite a ways to go but I can and have worked in there already and it is set up like a dream for what I do.

I will post pics of the veranda when I build it and I am thinking of putting in a nice fernery in front of it.
I am thinking of going with lino instead of carpet. This carpet is wrecked and must go. Lino is a better idea don't ya reckon? Please tell me you can get pink lino, that would be very spesh.
Anyhoo
I am exhausted.
cheers ladies, lovely to be back
Melanie

I have internet again

2009-07-25T14:19:00.002+10:00

Yes thats right, I am back and you didnt even notice I was gone did you? Shame on you! You can make it up to me by listening to me drone on about my internet free adventures. Oh, I can see your eyes glaze over like mine do when my husband starts retelling stories to do with the American civil war but come on guys, I am not that boring!!!!
Missed you all!
I have been busy and cant wait to share but let me wadw through the 35 millions blog posts you have all posted on your sites.
Cheers
Melanie
xox