Happy holidays fellow bloggers and friends

Merry Christmukkah lovely ones. I hope you have all had a splendid Christmas Eve and are about to enjoy a most lovely Christmas and Boxing Day.

I have spent the past week shopping for various presents and foodstuffs. A day has not passed where i have not been in the Bondi Junction shopping centre frantically searching for one thing or another. Luckily all the rush and fuss is over, and i can sit back relax and enjoy my Christmas like everyone else.

Must admit i have take great pleasure this year in choosing presents, i find it so comforting when i find something that is absolutely perfect for a particular person. I also thoroughly enjoy wrapping presents, which is why this year i have wrapped essentially every present under the tree. Yes, even my own. :P

I'm rather proud of the tree this year. Damen and i went with a silver and gold theme, which has resulted in a very neat and beautiful tree. The minora is out too, along with our angels and all the Christmas stockings. They're stocked with chocolates and lollies and will be ravaged in a matter of hours.

Other than wrapping presents, i also enjoy making them. This year i haven't really had the chance to make many, but i decided that i'd make something special for my girlfriend. A while ago i nicknamed her missy mouse and ever since that day her guy friends have taunted and teased us about it. So i thought it would be a cute idea to make her a missy mouse, who i have named Belinda.

It was a good Christmas Eve i must say. Especially because i had the chance to spend the day cooking, just me and my lovely brother.

I have a few things i have been meaning to post, some new purchases, a few new softies and some delicious recipes ect. But they will come at a later date, i promise.

Until then enjoy the holidays, and Merry Christmukkah once more, and happy New Year.

The delight that are vintage bags

I was always one of those kids who would quietly raid their mothers cupboard and parade around in their mothers clothes. I used to try on moms wedding dress, her heals, and even commandeer her handbags. Recently i rediscovered a little collection of bags that i always adored. Most of them are cute evening bags, some are just amusingly 80's, others are sophisticated. All of them are now officially mine, and will make perfect editions to my summer outfits.

I have already worn the black fan bag. It's just disgustingly 80's and so cute. I plan on using the others during the summer holidays, as much clubbing and general partying will be taking place. Below is just a photo of my 'vintage' bags, some of which are older than others.

So Halloween has been and gone and unfortunately was not the most frightening of Halloweens. I spent the evening at a concert with some very awesome friends, and managed to do nothing Halloweenish. Saw a couple of wonderfully decorated houses though, with pumpkins and copwebs and electronic arms that move as you walk past. Very cool.

I recieved my gorgeous burgandy glomesh bag today. Would have had it on Friday but the idiots at the postoffice put it under the senders name and not the recievers. Either way it is stunning and exactly how i had imagined it. I'll post the picture that the sender used on eBay.






Soon i will add a cream colored glomesh to the collection, and then perhaps a cute little leather bag. Until then i fare thee well. I'll be posting some yummy festive holiday recipes soon.

Bags bags bags!!

Ah bags, such wonderful accessories. Despite my pitiful collection i do so adore bags, namely vintage bags. So this entry is well and truly dedicated to bags and the wonderful purchases i have made recently or will make very soon.

This first bag is one i bought a few months ago at the Salvos near my uni. It cost a grand total of $5 at a spectacular Salvos 50% off sale. Almost ridiculous that Salvos has sales when the items are so very cheap to begin with. Ah well, doesn't bother me ;) The bag isn't anything particularly special, but it is sweet and goes rather well with the blue and white dress i bought a few months ago.



The next 3 bags were discovered at a gorgeous Vintage Fair at Cantebury. The first is a carpet bag with a silver bobble clasp. I found it so charming and for $25 it was a bargain. The second is black velvet with a black ribbon along the front and a square diamante button. It's such a perfect evening bag, small and solid and cost $10! The last bag is a gold glomesh bag which i bought for my best friend Alice, but have decided i am too attached to part with it. It has a long strap and short strap, very convenient, and cost $26.








After a day of admiring vintage bags, clothes and jewelry, i decided to scout the internet for some lovely pieces. I must say glomesh bags are such lovely things and i always admire them on other people. After a thorough look on eBay i found this incredible bargain. 6 glomesh bags for about $25, give or take. This collection contains the most popular glomesh colors: white, cream, gold and silver. I don't think i can resist this purchase, but luckily i have 6 days to think about it before a decision is made. Perhaps one will be for Alice, as she really does want a glomesh bag and i feel so awful about keeping the one i bought for her.






This last bag is something rare and wonderful. It is fairly easy to get your hands on any of the above glomesh bags, the colors are rather common. Pink and mauve, however, are not common at all. There is the lovely pale pink matt glomesh, or the gorgeous metallic mauve glomesh. I have found one for $35 including postage. Take a look and you too will fall in love.

The wonder that is ebay.com.au

Recently i have rediscovered http://www.ebay.com.au/, the wonderful online store that literally has EVERYTHING. I found some amazing vintage materisls which i will transform into cute little softies.





This one i just fell in love with. The colours, the flowers, it's just so retro and cute. It cost a total of $3.55 including postage.





I'm not sure exactly what i will use this one for, but i found the bunnies and bears theme quite charming. I guess i can make a toy for my baby cousin, Twiggi.


A big thanks to recycling_junkie who sold me both pieces of material. Her collection is really very good.


And of course there are some pieces of meterial i am dying to buy, but most of it is just that little bit too expensive. Take a look at the following and let me know what you think.










Three pieces of material in the one package, and all for $4.10 including postage. The material all measures half a metre, and they are just so stunningly kitsh.






I love anything to do with tea, because tea is magic. Unfortunately this piece of material is just too expensive for the amount they give, a total of $9.15 for just under half a metre. I simply can't justify buying it :(

There are so many more but i simply haven't the energy to post all of them. If you care to see the wide range just look up retro fabric or vintage fabric and scroll through the thousands of items available.

I'll be back soon with more little cuties. And this time they will be designed and created by your truly. So i will most likely post pattern layouts, materials needed ect. :)

The newest members of my softie family

Ive been on a softy rampage lately, creating cute new softies from the 'more softies' book that Cassie brought home a couple of weeks ago. It's been fun getting back into sewing, especially considering how interested the kids are (the ones i nanny). Me and the youngest, Zoe, went to spotlight to choose some fabrics and buttons and threads and various other bits and bobs.

I made her a little dog who she named Daisy. So, without further ado, it's my pleasure to introduce Daisy dog.

And my next little creaton is called Cleo the elephant. She is a present for a little girl who just immigrated to Australia.

And lastly i'd like to introduce Beeny the bunny who is roughly stitched together and not at all well made. But she is still adoreable.

Soon you will be dazzled with Becky's dog, and another little elephant for the other little girl who just immigrated. They will be up as soon as they are created :)

Getting down in denim

I have been shopping once more. It's an illness i swear. But at least good things come from over spending money. For instance i found some devine denim numbers that i have posted below, all of which i adore and cannot stop wearing.

The two skirts are both from Cotton On, not somewhere i regularly shop, but when i went in this time i liked what i saw. The high waisted shorts are from the Bondi markets and are so perfectly fitted to my figure i could swear they were made for me. And i love them with my brand new leotard that i got on sale at a cute shop in Broadway shopping centre. I need more leotards, pity i can't find any of my old ballet ones. Speaking of old leotards, when i do find them i will post a crafty entry about how to make a very ordinary leotard something a little more special using some very simple ingredients :)

Some special little things

Hello darling ones. I have not posted in a long while, i am very very sorry. I recently purchased some gorgeous vintage/second hand things, and decided i would share them with you lovely ones. I also made a new softy out of some random scraps that i was about to throw out. She is scraggly and very odd, but i like her, and her name is Widget and she is a Magic Mushroom.

My new craft box for all things that are not jewelry related. It has buttons, ribbons, needles and thread, old broken broaches and necklace pieces, pretty floral hair ties and old watch faces. I will be creating much with all these things :)







Old camera's that cost $5 each.






A very cute dress that i need to unpick a little and take in. $10 at Bondi markets







A very cute evening dress with a crimped appearance. $10 Bondi markets.







Very comfortable pair of vintage shoes, real leather. Price tag said $345, but i bought them for $8. Truly a bargain.





The lovely Widget, made from various scrabs, and thrown together in less than 30 minutes.

Delicious Cauliflower Soup Recipe

Recipe time everyone. Something tasty that will warm you up in this cold cold weather. You guessed it, soup! And not only will this soup warm you up so very quickly, it tastes so good that you are bound to return for seconds. Something interesting is that this soup was named after Madame du Barry and dates from the time of the French Revolution and is still going strong :) Enjoy!

Cream of Cauliflower Soup

Ingredients

25mL oil

12.5mL butter

2 leeks

1 onion

500g cauliflower

1 litre chicken stock

2 bay leaves

5mL dry mustard

2 medium potatoes

10mL lemon juice

salt and pepper

250mL milk

feta cheese and paprika to garnish

Instructions

1. Heat oil and butter in a large pot and add chopped onion and sliced leeks. Allow to soften without browning.
2. Add cauliflower florets, peeled and cubed potato and the rest of the ingredients.
3. Cover and simmer for 25 minutes or until the vegetables are soft.
4. Cool slightly, remove bay leaves and puree the soup in a blender till smooth.
5. Return to the pot and reheat gently without boiling.
6. Check seasoning. Add a swirl of cream if you please. 

A day in the garden

These berries caught my eye, couldn't resist taking a photo. I used a special close up 'scene' which is especially for flowers, plants, little creatures ect.

A little garden friend.

Greenery.

Enjoying the sunset

Here are some photos from my one day old camera. I spent the evening at Mel's and as usual marvelled at the sunset (which was particularly spectacular that evening). So enjoy the photos.

A whole lot of sewing

Lately i have been absolutely obesessed with sewing. Mel bought me a great book for Christmas called Softies. Basically it is filled with patterns to make cute little softies. I have made a fair few lately, in between the craziness of the new year. I recently saw that there is a second book, so be prepared for many more softies :)

This is probably my favorite of the lot. Mincey the Monkey.

This one is cute, with it's big cuddly body and pretty eyes. Reminds me of a friend who likes owls.

Buzzy Bee, who i made for my dad (nickname Buzz).

The cutest little monster, whose name i have not come up with...suggestions are welcome.

Cosmonaut devil , who belongs to Damen. He's my second favorite.

This is supposedly a strange Alien, hence it being photographed next to my little Devon Rex, Tippany. I made this one and mom decided she liked it best, so it is now hers.

And that is the lot. What do you guys think? Let me know :)

Delicious gingerbread cookies

Hello again loves. Happy new year to you all.

I stole my grans camera on Christmas and photographed the cookies i made for her. Luckily she sent me the photo, and here it is:

My delicious gingerbread cookies, decorated by yours truly and Damen (my awsome little brother whose emo is my favorite).

Here is the recipe, which i must add was fantastic: moist and crispy and wonderfully spiced.

Ingredients:

1 cup butter

2/3 cup packed brown sugar

2/3 cup golden syrup

1 egg, beaten

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground ginger

3/4 teaspoon ground cloves (which i excluded)

Directions:

Cream the butter, brown sugar and golden syrup. Stir the egg and vanilla into the mixture until smooth. Sift together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves; stir into the wet mixture. Cover and chill dough for a few hours or overnight. Preheat oven to 165 degrees C. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into shapes with a cookie cutter, and place onto a buttered cookie sheet. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, cookies should be firm but moist. Enjoy!!!