Curses ....

I was on the Internet replying to a email when we had a huge electrical storm ... and guess what, we lost power AND it fried my Internet modem.  I am currently using my small wireless USB Internet stick to update the blog.  Very slow.

As I live in a small country town, it is not possible to purchase a replacement ADSL modem easily, so it will probably mean a trip to the nearest city.  Griffith is only 69 kilometres away, but it is a nuisance when it is not planned, let alone the expense of replacing the modem!

I am very lucky my computer is still working, and my backup drive, which was connected when we had the power outage, is still working.  So it is not all bad news, although my week has been one of "hiccups", a welcome back to normality, I think!

I do have some more finished items to post, but I will leave that until I get my Internet sorted out.

Hope you had a better week than me...

Judy

Bunny Kisses and Tails

Yes, that is what I am working on today, really cute!

Hershey kisses:

Packaged up with a topper, they become Bunny Kisses

Using mini marshmallows, the next pack is Bunny Tails

These printables are quick and easy to make up, but I am unsure of how many I should make for the market stall.  I can always use the leftovers as gifts for my family and friends for Easter.

(Please keep it secret, Olivia)

Judy

Easter Goodies

I have started making some inroads into the mess on my desk, that I showed you in my last post.  These will be all little gifts to have on my Red Market Day stall just before Easter

First up seed packets, a lovely gift to pop in a card:

From this:

 

To this, the packet of seeds enclosed in a cute envelope:

 

 

Ordinary looking Kleenex pocket size tissues

 

 

Looking much cuter, with a "Bee Happy: wrapper

 

 

Still lots to do, and would you believe that I have not yet sampled any of the chocolate (?)

 

Judy

Back Home

After a wonderful two weeks on holiday I am back home.  It is great to be back, but I miss having meals prepared, linen changed, washing done etc.  As you all know, it is hard to get back into routine!

Here are a couple of last photos from the island, these were the ones from the lookout that I was having trouble trying to load from my iPad.

From the first lookout:

 

Second lookout:

 

 

Looking down into the crystal clear water

 

 

Our last glance at Castaway Island, Fiji

 

 

If you want a really relaxing holiday away from all the hustle and bustle, I would totally recommend this resort.

 

Now back to reality, this is what I will be working on for the next couple of days.  It may look a mess at the moment, but they will end up being little gifts for Easter.

 

 

 

Judy

Feeling Fragile

The rich and different food caught up with me yesterday, feeling terribly frail with an upset stomach.  Not pleasant!

The day before I managed a bush walk to the top of the island to two lookouts.  The walk was rated as "medium" but with my fitness level it was "very hard" but well worth it for the views

I cannot seem to be able to upload the lookout photos, but here are a couple of  the island as we depart today for the mainland.  We travel on this small boat out to the sea vessel.

Once we were on the sea vessel, this photo is looking back towards the island.

We now have three days on the mainland before we return home.  The island did not have any TV or radio services, so we are catching up on some national news.

Tomorrow we are booked into the Mandala Spa for a massage, bliss!

Hopefully I will be able to sort out the photo upload problem by then.

Judy

Another day

Yesterday was cultural day on the island.  They lit a fire for the Lovo which is cooking the food in a pit in the ground.

The food was cooked for approximately 5 hours.  We then enjoyed a banquet of traditional food, which followed a mellee/entertainment session.

It was hard to get a good photo as they were moving very fast.

Finally another beautiful sunset photo.  It is going to be hard to leave the island on Saturday.

Judy

Being Lazy

Gosh, it is so easy to be lazy while on holidays. Lazing on the beach or by the pool, eating lovely meals.

This is the Sushi lunch I had yesterday, absolutely delicious.

This morning while having a "late" breakfast I noticed other guests being more energetic, parasailing over the water

I hope these photos are coming out ok as I am only using my iPad to take the photos and then upload

Enjoy your day

Judy

Sunset over the water

This was the lovely sunset last night from our beach.

Can you see why this is called "Monkey Rock"?

Having a wonderful, restful holiday

Judy

Breakfast by the sea

Beautiful - another start to a lazy day in Paradise

Judy

Hard life

It's a hard life, lucky I am getting to live it

Judy

More Finishes for Market Stall

I completed some more phone covers and chapstick holders for the market stall.  I like having a variety of little gifts on offer. 

Chapstick Holders:

 

 

Phone Covers:

 

 

 

 

The iPhone fits in so snugly.

 

 

I am really having fun, making all these little gifts.

 

Take care

Judy

Happy Valentines Day

Vintage Graphic from RaggedyScrappin

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY to all

Judy

Key Fobs

What a simple little gift this turned out to be ... key fobs.

 

All that is required is:

Webbing

Ribbon

Key Fob Hardware

 

 

I love them

 

I get my hardware from:  Little Red Raspberry

 

Simple, practical gift.   These are going towards my market day stall

 

Until next time

Judy

 

Valentines Gifts

I always try and make some little treat for Valentines Day - and this year is it very basic. Chocolate and Tic Tacs - but they look kinda cute.

 

I added a pack of stickers to the group and then packaged them up in a treat bag.

 

 

Simple but effective, what do you think? 

 

Judy

Sunday Sewing

I am nearly a week late with this post, no excuses.  Last Sunday my sister Sue & I had a day in the craft room.  The weather has been unbearably hot - 43 degrees, so since my air conditioner was now working it was an ideal place to be.



Sue's Sewing

My Sewing

We were testing out some small gift ideas, and we each completed four little items.

1.  Heart Pincushion from Moda Bakeshop
2.  iPhone cover
3.  Chapstick Cover
4.  Little Bunny Bag - seen on Selina Quilts Blog last Easter

The Heart Pincushion was quick and easy and used 2 co-ordinating fabrics, therefore both of ours were the same.  Nice and thick and will be capable of holding a lot of pins.  This would be an ideal little Valentine's gift for a sewing friend.

Front

Back

The iPhone cover, fits the phone snugly and securely.  It was extremely difficult to sew the final two seams on each side, due to the thickness of the wadding, fabric, interfacing as well as trying to contend with the seams. 

 

 

Chapstick Cover - don't we all need one of these.  Makes it easy to find and can be clipped onto the inside of your handbag.  This is a little different design from the ones I made here.  I think I prefer these ones.

 

Finally the little Bunny Bag - this was very easy to make, even if I had to pull out my sewing machine instruction book to check out how to sew a buttonhole.  It only uses 4 x 5" squares.  I can see these filled with little Easter Eggs for my nieces this Easter.

 

 

I will certainly be making more of each of these items, for the upcoming Red Carpet Market Day in Leeton.  Today, I started ... I made four more heart Pincushions and finished off another two little fabric boxes.

 

 

 

Tomorrow, and for the next week actually the heat wave conditions are going to continue, so I guess I will get a lot more sewing finished. 

 

I hope it is cooler where you are

 

Judy

Australia Day Crafting

I have used the Australia Day celebration as the theme for our crafts.


First up - a Australian Themed Fabric Box

 

The buttons used are available in store - Australia Destinations pack from Dress it Up.

Next - we painted a wooden Australia Mobile which consisted of a map of Australia, 2 x koalas and 2 x kangaroos.  This is what it looked like before we begun.

 

 

It was hard to take a photo of the finished item, as it kept on blowing in the wind.

Next, and my favourite, was a Cockatoo tin, this can be used to hold your pens & pencils, or scissors or just about anything.  We did not have any white feathers, and for one tin (RHS) we cut a set of Angel Feather wings in half.  My little cockatoo on the left, only has his little gold wings.

The instructions for making these really cute tins can be found here 

Lastly using a toilet roll and free printable we made this koala.  Super easy, check out the site as there are a lot of animals and characters you can use to decorate your toilet paper roll.

 

Nearly forgot - we also made a couple of gumnut  babies. 

 

 

A very creative afternoon, which resulted in one very tired Auntie.  

Have a good week

Judy