Meet 'Brambles'

 

Anyone who knows me, knows that sewing is definitely not my strong point.

I've always admired people who seem to be able to whip up some incredible creation using needle and thread and decorate their homes, or gift to friends and family the treasures they've made.

 

I've always been a person who loves creating characters. Whether that be through a pencil sketch, a story I write, or our pet cats that I've taken great pleasure in naming! So when I found myself craving the feel of fabric in my hands and actually wanting to sew something, it was only natural for me to lean towards creating a character.

 

I sat down and sketched out my pattern, then gathered my felts and other materials to begin creating this little character. It took me sooo long! But, I found it relaxing because I made up my mind to just let it take as long as it would take and enjoy the process.

 

I really, really love making characters!

 

So, let me introduce to you, my first ever completed little doll ... sweet little 'Brambles' ... she enjoys long bike rides in the country, reading and hot cups of tea.

 

 

 

I can see a lot of rough bits when I look at her,

but I'm happy with her for my first ever attempt! 

 

This is also my first ever attempt at a satin stitch for the eyes and nose

... not as hard as I thought it would be (thank goodness!).

 

I think the only thing that I would change about her, is making her face more three dimensional. I have no idea how to do that however, so it'll be another skill to learn!

If any of you have tips or tricks to help with this, I'd be so grateful!

 

Using our hands to create things of beauty is such a wonderful gift that God has given us.

I've been looking through my scrap fabrics and I've been inspired by the beautiful colours and hope to make some more bunny dolls soon!

 

What is it that you like to sew? Happy creating friends!


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Linking up with Share your cup

 



A Sneak Peek Into Our Home!

A little peek inside some changes around our home ... some of my favourite spots!

My second-hand hutch I brought for a steal, and now it homes my natural health ingredients and is the perfect display for my collection of jugs, and other tid-bits!

I recently brought this table second-hand for only $30! My husband helped to replace the top with fresh new pieces of Cyprus for only $3! It now holds all of our 'nature treasures' ...

... beautiful natural objects we've found through the years.

I love bringing nature into the home for my children to explore (& me too!)

I'll be posting more sneak peeks into our home soon! 

See you all then!

A Weekend at Home

I love those weekends that you have where you've got very little on by way of events to leave home for. A weekend with no time constraints, no agendas or to-do lists; just to be and enjoy (rare, I know). This weekend was one of those for myself and my family. 

I spent a leisurely Saturday morning in town birthday present shopping for my youngest daughter (didn't have to be done, but I thought, why not!) and enjoying some fantastic op-shopping. We played board games, sketched together, mowed the grass, cleaned windows, scrubbed old bottles that we dug out like buried treasure from out in one of our paddocks, printed out beautiful inspirational illustrations for a little journal book that I made (another post on that one), cleaned and shined op-shop finds, re-positioned furniture to make way for a beautiful cabinet that belonged to my Great Grand-parents, and just had a lovely time being together and being home.

It was a few weeks ago that we dug out the above mentioned bottles, and I've only just had the time to really try and get them scrubbed and as clean as possible. It took around 6 hours (in two separate time frames) to actually finish this ... felt like mission impossible at times! They went from looking like this ...

To this ...

To finally (and I mean finally) this ...

I think it adds a nice bit of old-fashioned charm to the kitchen. They still aren't spotlessly clean, but if soaking them for one week, putting them through the dishwasher, then filling them with rice (for abrasion), vinegar and bi-carb and attacking them with wire bottle brushes in hot soapy water can't get all of it off ... then who knows what will? I think I'll just be happy with them like this! 

This year I intend to sketch a lot more than I have in the previous couple of years. It's one of my personal goals in my new bullet journal. I find it very relaxing to sit after doing chores or preparing dinner or whatever it may be, to sit and create with pencil in hand. 

This gorgeous fox is a copy from another artist, it is not my original work (only for personal use). I really enjoyed creating the different texture in this piece with the fur of the fox and the grain in the wood. 

This is my original piece that I sketched from a photograph that I took of our lovely little rag doll kitten 'Aslan' ... I just can't resist him and had to capture him in a drawing as well.

Another copied sketch (personal use only) that I just loved. It's actually from a piece titled 'Little House on the Prairie' and I really like how it speaks of such simple, beautiful, wholesome times. 

I hope to be able to carve out more snippets of time here and there to sketch more lovely images, I'd like to have my journal full of them by the end of the year.

My great grandparents were such an amazing Godly influence in my life. I have many fond memories of them and I believe that their character and example is what has helped me form my own in some ways. They're very special to me and so having this piece of furniture (even with the timber veneer strips chipping off) in my home is very important to me (I hope to replace the veneer soon).

While at the op-shop I purchased a beautiful set of four 'Peter Pan' series plates in perfect condition for only $4.00 each, and a gorgeous cat and bunny rabbit one for the same price, along with a lovely butterfly one for only $2.00. I couldn't believe it. I also found a lovely little deer ornament that was only 50c ... it's pretty cute!

Here's my beautiful display cabinet that belonged to my Great-Grandparents ...

Well, I think that's about it. I'm going to tuck myself snuggly into bed giving thanks to my God who I love for all the blessings He gives. 

Life's never perfect, but it's still beautiful.

Good night friends xo

A New Un-Named Space!

Over the last two days I have been setting up my new art room. I'm not certain that that is what I am definitely going to call it, 'art room', or whether it's going to be 'craft room', 'relax room' ... whatever! All I do know is that I have this absurd compulsion to name things, and this room is no exception.

How getting my own room came about is a very long story that I won't bore you with. I'm just happy to have one, and I'm really excited to be using it through the year!

I have op-shopped pottery over the years, as it's normally so cheap, and all hand made too. I like having my most frequently used items within easy reach, and these pottery jars are perfect for keeping them out, yet organised.

This long table is predominantly for my sewing (which I am still definitely a beginner with!) and so it also has my sewing box and basket (with crotchet and embroidery work in it) close by.

I added my favourite books to my shelf and some pottery that was my late Nana's. 

The white chest of drawers is where I put my Quite Time Basket so I can grab it when I'm relaxing on the lounge.

You all know I love comfort. So this room has crotchet blankets, cushions, candles, and lamp light. And yes, that is a hat box turned into a little kitten bed for Aslan, he needs a comfy spot too!

My walls are decorated with op-shop art, so each piece cost no more than $10. The pink and purple flowers in the vase painting was also my late Nana's artwork that I remember hanging up in her home. It's extra special.

Last night I spent time in here praying, adding to my bullet journal, reading and relaxing. It was such a nice way to end a long day.

Do you have any suggestions for names? It has to be named something, and I need your help! Thanks everyone!

2016 New Bullet Journal

The concept of using a bullet journal is new to me. I know that it's probably been something that's been used for years now, but, as usual, I am late to jump on the band waggon. I actually stumbled across this method by accident when looking up vintage things on pinterest the other day.  It's basically a notebook that you customise to suit your needs and include lists, quotes, to-do-lists, event planning and all sorts of other fun and essential things that is part of your life.  If you would like to see some examples of bullet journals, then click here!

Seeing as I made this accidental discovery only two days before the new year, I thought why not give it a go and see if it works? So I dug out a perfect sized, tightly bound notebook given to me as a gift a few years ago, and I knew it would be perfect.

I scratched out a rough draft of topics that I wanted to include and set to work putting it all together. I'm really happy with how it turned out, and I'm finding it really easy and straight forward to use already. I'm not sure if I've done mine as an 'authentic' bullet journal, but that doesn't matter as it works for me. I think that's one thing that I like about it the most; its versatility. You really can include any thing you like in it!

The topics I've included are ...

• books read
• books to read
• movies/board games to buy
• school holiday activities
• birthday gifts
• waiting for ...
• books lent out
• birthday party planning
• op-shop bargains (I couldn't leave this one out!)
• blog post ideas
• story ideas
• quotes I love
• bible verses
• personal goals
• Christmas planning
• family books read
• monthly memories

As it's just the first day of 2016, I still have a lot to fill out! But, I'm really looking forward to having everything I need all in the one place for the whole year. It fits in my handbag too, which is so helpful when going out. I've tried a calendar on my iPhone, and I just can't help myself! I MUST write things in a notebook! I think it may be an illness.

I really like how I can write out what I need to get done for each day in its months section too, using the key to check things off as I go (See second image left side page for key).

Washi tape has to be included ... along with freehand drawings and designs.

For the pictures of my family on their birthdays, I printed out (just on normal computer paper) these cute little photographs. They're personal, cute and beautiful!

I created little tabs along the side of the pages just by folding washi tape over the edges, making a durable and cute little plastic tape tag to easily and quickly find the sections (these are also colour coded in the second picture).

It still has a long way to go, but obviously, that's the idea. Using it throughout the whole year to keep things organised.  I'm excited by the life God has blessed us with and I really want to live it to the full! I'm so thankful to Him for His many many graces and mercies to us, these I will record on the pages as I go (I am also beginning a new gratitude journal for the year).

I think once this journal is stuffed to the brim with bits and pieces of our lives, I'll tuck it away safely in our family memories box to savour over the coming years. 

Happy New Year to you all and I really look forward to getting to know you all so much more this year! I hope your year is blessed and over-flowing with precious moments that you take the time to enjoy and that your relationship with the Lord deepens.

Oh ...

... one more thing ...

... my amazing husband may have let me buy this little cutie three days before Christmas.

Meet 'Aslan' our ten week old pure rag doll kitten ... 

Isn't he just scrumptious! I am completely smitten!

Christmas Wrap-up

It seems such a shame to have Christmas over in just one day. All that preparation for months, then, quick as a wink, it's all done and dusted. But oh how beautiful it is! It's a truly magical time of the year, wouldn't you agree?

Our Christmas day was lovely. Quiet and peaceful. We had three lots of separate visits from family, and all were absolutely beautiful times. We made lots of memories, shared lots of laughs, and of course ate lots of delicious food! 

As most of us do as home makers, I found a lot of enjoyment in decorating the home, particularly the dinning room table. The hints of shimmering gold, the poinsettia red and that pine green all just makes my heart sing! 

I can't decorate without berries, poinsettia flowers, vintage op-shop treasures and candles!

Our four children loved the table too, my girls especially!

I hope that your Christmas was beautiful, with many new memories made with your loved ones!

I'll be back sometime in the new year, another year of adventure awaits!