Wonderful Wednesday - What caught my eye...

Chevron case by 'One Busy Sloth'

This item definitely caught my eye when browsing madeit.com.au! Maybe it was the bold blue and red chevron pattern (which I love)? I also love the skinny and long shape of this handy pouch. Made with sturdy fabric, it would be a handy pouch to hold cosmetics or pens/pencils.

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Wonderful Wednesday - What caught my eye...

Patchwork Pillow Case by '20 Four Acres'

This week, when browsing through madeit.com, I discovered this bright and cheery pillow case. I love how this design is made up of sets of sqaures. I also love the bright green fabrics that are used. This cover reminds me of summery, grassy fields with flowers. A practical, handmade item for the house or for someone special.

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Wonderful Wednesday - What caught my eye...

Business Card Holder by 'Ina Sudjana'

I came across this lovely business card holder when browsing on madeit.com.au. This seller hand stitches all of their items. I love the colour combination of grey, green and yellow. I love the top stitching and I love the flower embellishment. Crafted to be sturdy and strong, this would be a handy way to keep business cards altogether.

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Wonderful Wednesday - What caught my eye...

I found this very practical idea on the madeit.com.au site...

Hand knitted vase cosy by 'Sam and Charlie Designs'

I love this beautiful vase cosy. A perfect way to transform an ordinary glass jar into a vase. I love the colour and I love the cable pattern, to add a little texture. Simply gorgeous!

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Wonderful Wednesday - What caught my eye...

I searched madeit.com.au this week for something girly and pink. I personally don't have any little girls, however, I do have two gorgeous little nieces. When I spotted this item, I thought that it would look very sweet in a little girl's hair...

Felt Birdie Hair Clip - by 'Two Hoots and Ruby'

These little clips are handmade. I love their simple design and outline. I love the detailed embroidery and I love the simple bow embellishment. What a cute little item.. perfect for a gift!

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Wonderful Wednesday - What caught my eye...

Superhero set by "Signed with love"

I love this bright and beautiful set, ready to transform a child into a superhero. I love the star motif and the ability to personalise the cape. I love the matching cuff and mask to complete the outfit, ready for hours of imaginative play.

For more handmade products and gift ideas, visit madeit.com.au (click here).

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Wonderful Wedesday - What caught my eye...

The weather is beginning to have a bite of coolness to it. After looking through madeit.com.au, I found this unique item...

Felted scarf wrap by 'Yadviga'

I love the uniqueness of this item and the ability to wear this item various ways. I love the speckles of colour on the brown background. It would make a lovely shawl or scarf to highlight an outfit and to create a bit of warmth. What an eye catcing piece!

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Wonderful Wednesday - What caught my eye...

This week, I went searching madeit.com.au for some aqua coloured finds... Here is something that caught my eye...

Little Dumpling Coin Purse by 'Kerri's Hangups'

How cute! This little purse could hold your loose change and more... I love the retro, bright coloured fabric and design. I love the large, clip openers. This would make a lovely gift for any lady (I'm also thinking of the hard-to-buy-for teenage girl) or why not keep it for yourself!

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Wonderful Wednesday - What caught my eye...

This week, I decided to search for some blue coloured items on madeit.com.au and this gorgeous item appeared...

Blue snowflake teardrop pendant by 'Glass Rainbows'

This item is stunning! I love the teardrop shape and I love the tiny snowflakes that are captured in the blue resin. A gorgeous, wintery accessory...

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Wonderful Wednesday - What caught my eye...

During the week, I spotted this item on madeit.com.au...

Embroidered Yellow Pouch or Purse by 'Small World Dreams'

This is gorgeous! I love the detail of the embroidery and the crochet edging on the front of the purse. It compliments the bright, retro yellow fabric of the body of the purse. This item would brighten a cute white and yellow dress.

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Wonderful Wednesday - What caught my eye...

I have been browsing madeit.com.au for some items for the home. While I was looking, this gorgeous item caught my eye..

Green Dinosaur Hat by 'Sheri Rose'

This is so cute and perfect for a little one as the cooler weather rolls in or as a photographic prop. This beautifully crafted beanie turns your little one into a dinosaur.

Thanks for viewing!

Wonderful Wednesday - What caught my eye...

madeit.com.au offers a lot of handmade goodies created by various artists. This is what caught my eye this week...

Pink floral porcelain dish by 'Springwood Porcelain'

This is such a beautifully crafted dish. I love the heart shape and I love the detailed floral design that embellishes it. I can see this dish being used for numerous purposes - as a jewellery holder or it could be used as a ring dish in a wedding. I admire crafters of porcelain - such a delicate craft. Click on the picture to visit 'Springwood Porcelain's store.

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Wonderful Wednesday - What caught my eye...

There are so many handmade goodies out there, made by some creative crafters. When browsing through Madeit this week, this little beauty caught my eye...

Vintage Wool Jacket by 'OneString'

I love the colours of this jacket - the apricot and the aqua colours. I also love the fact that this gorgeous jacket is made from up-cycled material. I love the cute collar and matching big buttons. A lovely warm accessory to keep your little one toasty.

Thanks for viewing!

Wonderful Wednesday - What caught my eye...

When browsing items through madeit.com.au lately, I found this item...

Cake bunting by 'Confetti Creations'

'Cake bunting' pretties up a cake and adds a festive feel. Made out of twine and cardstock, this gorgeous little row of onesies would look beautiful on a cake to celebrate a birth or a cake for a baby shower. I love the different shades of purple, complete with different purple patterns. More styles of cake bunting are in store.

How do you decorate cakes?

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Wonderful Wednesday - Decorating

It has been a wonderful break, however, it is back to reality and back to my full time work. I have enjoyed sunshine, long bike rides and catch ups with family.. complete with sleep in...

 This week has seen me heading back to work for longer stints in order to organise the work space for the upcoming year. One of my favourite activities is decorating the workspace. I spent some time (and some money) this morning buying a rug, chair, storage containers, table cloths to create particular play spaces, to ensure that items are tidy and accessible and to make the room inviting. Hence my inspiration for this week is... decorating!

Macrame pot holder by 'The Coloured Knot'

What a decorative and useful item! I love the colour and I love the way that this item is carefully knotted to create this lovely hanger. A nice touch to a home...

Jewellery stand by 'Domum Vindemia'

What a beautiful object! A beautiful item to hold jewellery that is made out of up-cycled items. I love the vintage feel. Gorgeous!

Wooden bunting by 'Simply Type'

Such gorgeous bunting to decorate a wall around the house! I love the simplicity of this bunting, comprising of natural wood and simple lettering. Wonderful!

Do you feel an urge to change some decorations in your house?

Thanks for viewing!

Wonderful Wednesday - Cool

Last Wednesday I wrote a blog post about craving warm, sunny weather... Well, let's just say that I have warmth now in abundance, in fact, maybe a little too much warmth. As I am typing, the temperature read out on my phone states that it is 41.5oC, a little higher than what was forecast for today. The next few days are going to be exactly the same. We live in a lovely, stone home (no airconditioning) that stays cool for a little while, but I gather, by the end of this heatwave, the house would have warmed up considerably.

However, that is the land where I live and I am very grateful for the beauty and peace that it brings. At times, this land experiences scorching heat, but can also have snow on the mountains. It has dry heat down south, whereas up north it is more humid. Sometimes it rains and rains, however at times, rain is sparse.

I suppose that is why I enjoy living in this area. It may experience some pretty cold and wet winters, however, the summer sun is usually not intense. A little coolness would be nice, though...

Hence, this week's inspiration is... cool, using colours that reflect this notion (blue, purple, green)...

Bracelet by 'Escape Jewellery'

This bracelet is gorgeous! Just looking at it reminds me of a tropical beach as the gemstones remind me of the beautiful aqua water. A lovely colour combination, highlighted by the sterling silver.

Crochet Flower Headband by 'Fibre Frenz'

What a sweet headband! I love crochet and I love how the different green tones all work together to create a gorgeous flower headband. A sweet apple button embellishment, as well. Beautiful!

Dyed Wood Bracelet by 'Gumdrop and Drift'

What a unique accessory! I love the hue of blue of these beads. They remind me of cool water drops. Lovely!

Are you feeling cooler?

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Wonderful Wednesday - Warmth

I have been craving it for a while now... No, not chocolate, not a bike ride... not even extra craft time! The basis of my craving is... warmth!

Believe it or not, it is Summer here in Australia, however the weather that we have been experiencing in the 'deep south' has been more reminiscent of Autumn/Winter rather than the sunniest and hottest season of the year. Clouds, wind and showers have been the order of the day rather than golden sunshine. I mustn't complain too much, though, as often our wide, brown land can experience devastating drought and we end up gazing longingly at the sky for rain...

During our holiday time and visiting family, Mr T and I had a firm reminder of how hot the sun can be with 40 oC days at a couple of abodes. Glancing at the weather forecast for the weather here, it looks like I won't need to wait too much longer for the sun to come out and play...

Hence my focus for the week is... warmth, displaying items that explore reds, yellows and oranges...

Vintage doily brooch by 'Sunshine Adore'

Anything that incorporates up-cycled items attracts my attention. I love how a beautiful embroidered doily has been transformed into a brooch. I also love the yellows, oranges and reds that are displayed.

Pack of 10 Sun stickers by 'Totally Innocent'

How cute are these stickers? I love the simple but cute facial features on these suns and the gorgeous variety of sunny colours. These stickers would make a lovely addition to party favour bags for any Summer party (they are also on sale at the moment!).

African sunset earrings by 'Art from Wonderland'

What gorgeous, wearable Art! These earrings depict an African sunset with a beautiful silhouette of a tree and an elephant. Lovely and unique! These earrings would be perfect for any lady that has been captivated by Africa and its beauty.

I hope the sun is smiling pleasantly on you wherever you are!

Thanks for viewing :)

Wonderful Wednesday - Glitter

It must be getting closer to Christmas. We are finishing off units of work, preparing the new children for their transitions - ready for next year and we are beginning to clean, sort and tidy. This isn't actually 'Christmas' - more the add on, 'busyness' that occurs as we hurtle towards the end of year. Rather, I love the activities that focus on the birth of Christ and the miraculous and amazing events of this account and I love the myriad of crafts that reflect Christmas. 

Today I opened the tube...the tube of glitter paint. Christmas crafts (especially fit for children) seem to necessitate glitter to be amongst the materials required. Despite my enthusiasm for Christmas craft, I cannot bring myself to place glitter into the hands of young children. No matter how well supervised the activity is, glitter ends up from one end of the room to the other. Cleaning up poses another problem. When wiping up the remainder of the glitter, specks of glitter remain fixed in the sponge, ready to decorate further tables and items. Despite thorough washing after the cleanup, specks of glitter end up radiating their light on various body parts - hands, hair and face...especially when meeting others in public. Glitter is not a simple ingredient.

Yes, I used to shudder when Christmases approached and the date to open the glitter jar was due. That was until I stumbled upon glitter paint! This product allows the shine and sparkle of glitter, without the need to sprinkle, as the specks of glitter are already suspended in gluey paint. This reduces the amount of mess and cleaning up is a mere wipe (still with a little caution so that the specks do not adhere to anything else). Glitter is slowly being embraced... and it is also the inspiration for this week...

Wooden Studs by 'WinkelKo'

These are so sweet! I love the simple circles of wood with the hint of sparkle with the glitter layer. This pair of earrings would make a unique accessory or gift.

Resin Sphere Necklace by 'URBAN Handmade'

This pendant looks amazing! I love that this pendant looks like a little ball of glitter. This item of jewellery would add some sparkle to any outfit...

Heart Garland by 'Misiu'

This garland would add some decorative sparkle. I love the gold, glittery hearts all strung up together. This garland could be used for a variety of occassions, not just for Christmas. Lovely...

What is your favourite, glittery item?

Thanks for viewing!

Wonderful Wednesday - Cats

I love dogs! I love the way our little dog shows such enjoyment when we walk in through the door after being away for a while. I love taking him for a walk, something that he also enjoys. I love his little personality and the way that he picks up on routines amazingly quickly. I love the way that he jumps up on my lap and snuggles down for a sleep, especially when he wants attention. Mind you, he does have some little quirks that annoy us too - all part of his little personality.

I did have a cat when I was growing up and I loved her to bits. Her name was 'Susie'. She was a fluffy tabby and she was such a gentle little girl. After she passed away, we did have a couple of other cats, but they were no way near as friendly and loving as 'Susie'. Mr T is not a big fan of cats. He is willing to interact with the pet cats of others, however, he is very much a dog person and there is no way that we would have one as a pet. Therefore, I have moved away from being a cat person and have become more of a dog person.

This week at work we focused on Pamela Allen's book 'Hetty's Day Out'. This is a story of a cat that goes out visiting different families and neighbours and is given so much food that she has trouble getting back through the cat flap. I used this story as a creative writing springboard with my littlies. We thought of an animal character, different foods it could eat and different places it could visit. We then thought of a problem that could occur and how that problem could be solved. After drafting our stories, we then made up little books to 'publish' our stories, Hence with all this fun and focus on cats, this week's inspiration is...cats!

Girls Novelty Bag by 'Pinwheels'

How cute is this bag? I love the tabby stripes that it has on its body. I love the cute smiley face and starry eyes. A gorgeous, little accessory for a little girl.

Wooden Cat Earrings by 'Once Upon A Tree'

How beautiful! I love the simplicity of these items - a simple cat figure cut into wooden discs. I love the way that this creation uses the natural beauty and features of the wood. Stunning...

Cat Coin Purse by 'Junction Road'

What a sweet, little purse! I would love to put a few coins in this sweet creation. I love the pink dotty fabric. I love the traditional, shape and size of this purse and its closure. I love the cute, kitty motif with her pink and white party dress. Lovely...

Thanks for stopping by!

Wonderful Wednesday - Pears

It was wonderful to feel warmth on my skin today- to be able to wear a short sleeve top and skirt. It has been a while *sigh*. Maybe Spring might be finally pushing it's way through?

To be honest, I am seasonal - not necessarily with clothing, but with FOOD! When our veggie patch is working well, I love growing and eating cool season veggies - broccoli, peas, kale. However, when there is a sniff of warmth, my body starts to look forward to warm season veggies/fruits, and there are heaps - tomatoes, zucchinis, pumpkins, cucumbers, and also the fruits - apricots, strawberries and peaches. Yum! Nothing is more delicious than a freshly picked, flavoursome, home grown apricot.

At work, we read the book "The Pear in the Pear Tree" by Pamela Allen. It is a funny book about a pair of children and their desire and determination to pick a juicy pear off of the tree. It is also a terrific book to emphasise rhyme. The children that I worked with got themselves into pairs, thought of a pair of rhyming words, one drew a picture of one, the other drew a picture of the other and altogether we made up "The Book of Rhyme". Today, we found facts about pears and we thought of words to describe pears - what they look like, what they feel like, what they taste like and what they smell like, hence we had some juicy, tasty fun today... hence, my inspiration for this week are...pears!

Pear Cuff links by "Lilypad Designs"

Isn't this pair of pears adorable? I love the cute, smiley faces on the pear fabric. What a great idea to make this pair into a set of playful and fun cuff links!

Pear Brooch by 'Elle's Tea Party'

This brooch looks good enough to eat. I love the look of a 'slice' of pear, with two little seeds in the core. A unique brooch.

Pear Skirt by 'JIGsew'

How sweet!I love the detailed pears on the fabric. I also love how the pink belt picks up the same coloured pink flowers in the skirt fabric. I love the gathered high top waist. The great news is that this skirt is sold with a matching headband...

Lots of sweet, pear inspired items!

Thanks for viewing!