Christmas Fun!

I hope you had a great Christmas ( if you celebrate it).
We had a great time, on Christmas Eve we met friends in the park during the day then went to a Kids' Carol service at church, where we were shown this brilliant short film of "The Christmas Story" made by members of St Paul's Church, Auckland. You should watch it - it's so sweet and funny too!
That was followed by an evening spent with friends.

Christmas Day:
After very little sleep due to an over-excited Mr 6 waking up at 3am and no-one really managing to get back to sleep... our day went like this:

6am - get up and open Santa gifts....

...Scrambled egg, bacon, toast & fresh orange juice for breakfast with crackers (Bonbons)
then clear up, chill out, shower etc...

Then set off for an hour's drive using my new 'Navman' to help us find our way - to a friend's parents' house.

We spent the day with lovely people eating a yummy roast turkey dinner followed by delicious homemade plum pudding and choc & rapberry pavlova, and watching the kids have rides on a tractor trailer and a pony, and then finally having a good hosing down for some splashy fun!!

We got home and opened a few more pressies before tucking them up in bed :0)

Then Boxing day, the boys went swimming, we all had the rest of our pressies, a yummy buffet lunch &
a roast lamb dinner (somewhat incongruously, but tastily, with Yorkshire puddings, creamed Horseradish  and stuffing!).

There was lots of Skyping too (both days) with our family in the UK.

What did you do? What did you eat for Christmas lunch?

Now ~ a little 'Etsy Finds' ode to Christmas ~
the TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS:

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A Partridge in a Pear Tree

Two Turtle Doves

Three French Hens

Four Calling Birds

Five Gold Rings

Six Geese a Laying

Seven Swans a Swimming

Eight Maids a Milking

Nine Ladies Dancing

Ten Lords Leaping

Eleven Pipers Piping

Twelve Drummers Drumming

Enjoy the rest of the Holiday Season,
love,
Sally xox

Etsy Meet-Up ~ paint-a-plate-fun!!

Last week I went to an Sydney Etsy Team meet-up at a really cool studio called Eagle Soup!

There were about 30 crafty types there and thanks to Kirsteene Phelan we were armed with ceramic drawing pens, all we had to do was bring a plate (or other ceramic receptacle of our choosing!!)

Kit the team leader and Katy had made lots of treats for us, including delicious heart-shaped vegie quiches, a gingerbread house and gingerbread folk. Yum!

Katy (left) and Kit

my plate part way through (I'll post a finished pic later - put my plates in a "safe" place & can't find them admidst the Crimbo chaos!!)

me - doing what I love best ~ being a crafty pixie!!

There were some great designs from talented folk looksee:

It was lots of fun :)

There were even goodie bags when we left!

love,
Sally xox

Monday Marvellous - Christmas Wreaths

{wreaths: image}

Well, the festive season is soon to be upon us. I've done most of my gift shopping, I've started to think about preparing the advent calendar, writing the cards and so on, I'm sure it will all snowball from here (pardon the pun!!).
 So let's start to get in the Christmas mood with these fab modern wreaths from Etsy (below)...

Images - From top to bottom:

Eclectic rag wreath

Button wreath

Blue & silver wreath 

Geometric wreath

Cranberry wreath

wreath pdf sewing pattern

I'm thinking of making one myself this year. I never have before, In fact a wreath is not something we usually have in my family, but I'm thinking 'why not?' this year! I'll let you know (if I find the time, and) if I do it!!

Here is my favourite one that I have found (on the internet at Pickles. ) Cute, hey?!

I love this one too!
here's the fabulous tutorial on how to make it
http://www.cornerhouseblog.com/2011/07/awesome-paper-cone-wreath-tutorial.html

Finally, here are some more links to tutorials I found on the web, and some 'round-ups' of wreaths too!

http://www.iheartnaptime.net/2011/11/candy-cane-craft/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8u3cpr8WcmM
http://herewegoloopylou.blogspot.com/2010/10/tutorial-yarn-wreath.html
http://incolororder.blogspot.com/2010/11/vintage-sheet-wreath-tutorial.html
http://urbandebris.typepad.com/urban_debris_journal/2009/12/wonderful-wreaths-and-great-garlands-banners-for-the-holidays.html

http://decor8blog.com/2009/03/26/wreath-round-up-your-opinion/
http://whipup.net/2009/12/19/whipup-holiday-guide-30-best-wreaths/
http://www.luvinthemommyhood.com/2010/12/wreath-tutorial-roundup.html


Feel free to send me photos your wreath if you make one!

Have a great week,
love,
Sally x0x

Designer Love - Mr.PS by Megan Price

Hi there! 
On this very wet and unseasonably cold Sydney Spring day, my thoughts turn to home. My homeland that is. If you are a regular reader of my blog, you will know that I am an English expat and sometimes I am drawn to things that remind me of 'Blighty', and my childhood, (I guess most of us have at least some fond memories of being a kid that we like to re-visit from time to time!).


I had fish and chips for dinner this evening - with brown (malt) vinegar of course. That's the English way.
It reminded me of one of my favourite Etsy shops - Mr.PS.

{Fish n Chips screenprint on paper - buy here}

I love the work of Megan Price who owns said Etsy shop. 
Her designs are in just the kind of Quintessentially-British-but-fun, retro style that I adore. 


...Think pots of tea, fry-ups for brekkie, fish and chips, 'bangers' and mash, pick and mix sweets and the ice cream van that came round after tea on a Sunday, offering up 99's, FAB's, Rocket Lollies and Snowballs... (did you have all of those where you are from? Are you OLD enough to remember them?? Not to mention 'Chopper' & 'Tomahawk' bicycles and Holly Hobby knee-high white socks!!!!).
I digress. Forgive me!

Anyway, as I was saying (before I oh so rudely interrupted myself!)...
Megan's screen-printed wares are quirky and British and really rather fabbo!


Megan, who is based in Greater Manchester, trained in illustration and has a passion for PRINT. 
Her hand screen-printed, hand finished  products, such as tea towels and tote bags;
 feature whimsical, bold graphics, line drawings and messages. 


Her Design inspiration comes from vintage signage, food and drinks, and the great British seaside, such as Brighton, Blackpool or good old Skegness! 


Here are some more pics of her wares:

Find out more about Megan here, or visit her shop, Mr. PS here.


All images by Megan Price.


Thanks for stopping by,


Happy weekend!


Love Sally xox

Two Cheeky Monkeys: Simple Button Headband Tutorial

Buttons from Jambo Chameleon (of course!!!)

I was thrilled to be mentioned on a fellow Aussie DUST team member/ Etsy seller's blog -
in which the lovely Deb gives us a simple tutorial for a really effective headband!

Two Cheeky Monkeys: Simple Button Headband Tutorial

{image by Deborah Davey of Two Cheeky Monkeys}

 I LOVE it when customers share what they have made with my buttons! 

... or even just fun ideas for using buttons in general! 

(Feel free to send me a message / photos if you have any button projects to share).

By the way, Deb also has a couple of great Etsy shops herself (and one on Madeit), where she sells her handmade jewellery and homewares.

So why not visit Two Cheeky Monkeys and Domum Vindemia to see what Deb has been making lately.

love,

Sally x0x