Swaps and sickness

I have been 'told' by hubbie that Google Chrome will be my saviour, replacing Firefox for all my internet needs, but I don't know - little things are starting to annoy me - like when I upload pictures into blogger, I can't cut and paste them!  ARRRgg! So, a little out of order (I wanted my Swap pressies first in the post, as they should be, but you guys get this instead....)

More pre-loved furniture (well, thrown out - we don't want you - you suck kind of furniture) -   Hard rubbish collection treasure hunting score - needs a bit of TLC (don't we all!)  Very cheaply put together, but a lick of paint will do it some good!

My DQS4 arrived!! Very cheery and fun little quilt made by Artsy Momma - Thanks Stefanie!! She mentioned that life is a bit hard at the moment, so to whip out a doll quilt for someone over the other side of the world would have been an effort -  It would easy to ignore such little things as swaps with people you are never going to meet or even have to speak to, so I appreciate your commitment and thought!

Great mags and fabric too!  I had never read American Quilting and Patchwork before - I have heard many Americans love our Aussie mags, but I really enjoyed this one! Not too many ads, interesting designs and interviews, simple speak - I like!  The Adorn mag was great too.

The back:

The 'sickness' thing is getting bad...........

IT IS I tell you - the malady of OOS (Obsessive Op-Shopping) - I felt the need yesterday, despite numerous other jobs I had to do in my precious 3 and a bit hours between school start time and work.  I hadn't been to Animal Liberation Op-shop (1355 Toorak Road ) in Burwood before; so off I trundle (said sorry to my dogs (we are 'dog-sitting' a neighbour's dog for 5 weeks, but that will be another post) walkies will be later, only to find that it opens 50 mins after I get there. Well, the need was still there and growing!

So, where to get my next 'hit' - RSPCA op-shops (yes TWO next to each other) in Burwood East (in the funny little quadrangle of shops opposite the RSPCA)  Drive like a mad woman, because time is running out - I'm only giving myself 45 mins - Guess What?  Everything Half Price!!! OMG - an op-shop at even less than ridiculous prices - it could not be true!

let me show you what I got..........

Some deliciousness for Vintage Sheet Swap

Couldn't resist this really interesting vase - in fabulous condition - does anyone know the label?

(the background is another sheet which is my favourite Spring tablecloth at the moment)

This Was my handbag for many a year (another op-shop score), but it is time for retirement - (my own take on handbag accroutements)

This is the new sportier model: more of a sling-over your shoulder, swan down the street, feeling fine kind of gal:

Great books for kiddleys over next school hols:

Mmmmmmmmmm - ice-cream - say no more:

Favourite pillowcase

How much you ask?.....All that... yes ALL THAT (plus a quilting hoop!!!) for 20 bucks!! that included a donation!!

The lady behind the counter was soooo lovely - what a joy to meet people who enjoy serving others - perhaps other (not so joyful) op-shop ladies could take note and smile once in a while?

Skinners is fun!

Williamstown  - over the bridge and into a very picturesque place - still great architecture, great views, great cakes, quirky ideas.....

Skinners Adventure Playground -(edit: in South Melbourne) - it's the best!! Unique, original, colourful, interesting, inspiring, encourages children and their adults......... to PLAY!

Some recycled ship containers....

This is how the site used to look......

Sushi quilt looking yummy

The easiest pattern in the world is the Bento Box!

Whipped these up in no time - then the fun of mixing up the patterns, keeping light and dark contrasts. But.  mixing up looked um, crap, so, I have kept them in their own pattern boxes - a bit more Japanese I think! Symetry and order and simplicity, and they actually look more like an actual bento box now; contained, unique, specific.

I like.

Sushi Queen likes too.

Speedygonzales

Stumbled upon an Aussie homegrown online fabric store 'kelani fabric obsession'

I love love the motive.....

Just had to get these......oh so Springy....




and these.......'tres cute'




and this......




to be made out of this! (which has been sitting in the stash for soooooo long).


I now notice that the skirt picture is of a pregnant woman, and the blurb states that it will still look good on you when you are not pregnant. Well, thank goodness for that! Being nearly 9 years since my last bodychanging experience (ie preggers), time and effort hasn't made much of a difference, so a piece of clothing to cover all shapes sound fab.

Get this.....Ordered early Monday morn, arrived early Tues morn - how quick is that!!! and free postage to boot, with a follow-up call. I love that ding-dong in the morning, when there is no-one at the door, except for a little parcel, patiently waiting for me to open it.


One more thing....don't read if you are hungry....

In opposition to the total waste of plastic packaging, instead of buying favourtie biscuits week after week, we are making them instead....Wow, what an idea! No one has ever thought of that before......she says sarcastically to herself.


Choc-chip and Cherry Biscuits - they are rationed though, otherwise the whole family including me will ravish them in 2.56 seconds flat - Speedy gonzales time

1 cup of brown sugar
125g butter - melted

Stir

Add one egg then,

3/4 cup of SR Flour and 3/4 cup of Plain Flour

Stir

Add copious amount of choc-chips and cut up glace cherries

Mix may be too dry (I added a splash of milk)

Roll into little or big balls and bake on tray in 180C oven for aprox 20mins.

Full of goodness, ah, no, I mean tooth decaying, diabetic coma inducing sugar high evil, but they taste so good!

I'm meant to be exercising at this very moment, but you know how it is, parcel, fabric, biccies, they all take precedence.

A pinch and a punch for the First Day of the Month!

Then you say: a hit and a kick for being so quick!

This is how my children greeted me this morning, and then how they proceeded to beat up their poor mother on the way to school (we giggled and wriggled all the way done the lane trying to get each other back!) 'No returns' does not work in our house!

I'm sure others have said so too, but one of my favourite fabric stores can be the Op-Shop (or Thrift store)
Love collecting linen tea towels - two more for stash in 3rd drawer down
I so love the idea of a vintage Ice-Cream Churn!!! Ice-cream is my sweet-tooth's idea of heaven!




Some spring bouquets for the first day of Spring; actually these are heading off to my Vintage Sheet Swap Mama! Did you miss out on Oh Fransons! monolithic swap; well, here is your chance to get in on the Aussie (read cheap postage) act!! Some more sign ups would be great!!!

LAST DAY TOMORROW! One sheet could cost as little as $2 and be cut up into 'hundreds' of fat quarter pieces (okay, slight exaggeration, but you get what I mean)