flea market finds - treasures from the trip home

I posted a while ago about our recent family holiday, involving a big dose of en-route op-shopping... and showed you what I found on the way there... now I've finally remembered to show you what we found on the way home!


Our main op-shop destinations were Leongatha and Korumburra - we stopped in both towns on the way there and back, so as not to miss out on any shops that might be open only on certain days.


We visited about 5 op-shops in total, plus a book fair selling cancelled library books - there was at least one other shop I didn't set foot in, amazingly (I was already testing the patience of my fellow travellers...) - and had a great time enjoying generous pricing, friendly people and lovely finds...


though I wish I'd had more time to really have a rummage... next time I might make my family stay in an op-shop town, instead of a beach side village!!

Check Her Library Adventures for more finds!

PS: I'm trying a bit of Spring-inspired decluttering with a weekly "reverse finds" post on Saturdays - would you like to join me?

reverse finds

It's reverse finds day today! See my first post over here if you're wondering what I'm talking about...

One of things I had hoped to gain from reverse finds (as well as a less-cluttered home...) was a wider knowledge of ways to move things out of our house, beyond the trusty op-shop (though of course, the op-shop will always be a favourite, the inevitable problem is my tendency to walk out with more than I walk in with...). One of my wishes was to find places I could donate things to directly.

Fortuitously, I recently discovered that an old uni friend of mine works with a local organisation that actually seeks out donations in kind - The St Kilda Gatehouse.

This is who they are (in their words):

"St Kilda Gatehouse is a not for profit organisation which works alongside those who are marginalised and have life controlling addictions, particularly street sex workers. It provides a strong sense of community and belonging in a safe, non-stigmatised environment. For many who come from a background of abuse and poverty it is a source of dignity and hope – where they can find the support and care needed as they attempt to build a life off the streets and beyond drug addiction."

They provide support in many creative ways, from a weekly barbecue, to an annual "sleep-in", to a netball team, to counselling, support groups and crisis care.

They have a list over here of the stuff they often need - from clothes to furniture to paper bags...


I had a look around our place, and found some good clothes that have stayed good over a long time... because they don't actually fit!


I also noticed a huge box under the bed... cutlery given to us at our wedding nearly 5 years ago. I decided it was time to start using it, and packed up the old, basic, but still perfectly good cutlery to give away. A quick email to St Kilda Gatehouse confirmed this would be useful to them, so I packed it up and dropped it all in.

Would you like to join in too? I know Susan has already - hooray! Pop in a link below so we can all cheer each other on...

By the way, I'd originally planned to do a reverse finds post once a month (and this link will be open for a month) - is this a good frequency, or should we try weekly? Let me know in the comments...

Edited to add: I've decided to try for a weekly reverse find throughout Spring (every Saturday) - anyone can join in, any week that suits them!

a giveaway announcement (and an apology)

We've just conducted our first giveaway draw today, and there was excitement all round.

We took the old fashioned bits of paper in a cardboard box (because I always have lots of boxes around...) path, and while my trusty assistant was initially unwilling, it turned out to be a highlight of the day... the only problem was when she realised that none of the bits of paper had HER name on it.

We held a family draw later on... I came last.

Anyway, enough waffling on... the winner is....


Becclebee, of the lovely marjoryjane blog (check out the lovely baby blanket she made over here...).

The only thing is, I haven't finished the prizes.

My excuse is that my daughter is sick. The real reason is that I once again left things to the last minute, so when she got sick my plans fell by the wayside. Sorry, Becclebee - I'll send you a message and try and get them to you as fast as I can.

I promise next time I host a giveaway I will be organised. Promise.

my creative space - not quite the after photos

A while ago (quite a while ago...) I got started on a cardboard box dollhouse, thinking it would be a quick job to finish. The evidence suggests I was wrong...

In fact, the doll house looks a bit too much like our house - lots of boxes piled up everywhere, holes in the walls, and lots of mess...

Luckily, the little wooden dolls who've been waiting to move in are pretty adaptable, and have started getting on with life in their unrenovated abode (with the help of an enthusiastic 3 year old).

They've already had their first dinner party (banana and broccoli pasta, anyone?) and tested out their new chairs (can you tell they come from take away pizzas?).


Not long after, the dolls showed their creative side, and decided to move into their art and music room, despite having wallpapered only one wall (but what a lovely wall it is!).

One day, there might be a proper after photo... but don't expect it too soon!

For lovely creative inspiration, visit Kirsty

(and I'll be drawing and announcing my tiny giveaway winner later tonight...)

the case for evolution (or why patterns are worth the money)

My first project when I returned to sewing nearly 2 years ago was a toy dinosaur for our girl - after drawing so many for her, it seemed a natural progression. Being the kind of person who prefers to do things herself rather than spend money, I decided I could make up the pattern on my own... and so began a long journey of learning (with moments of satisfaction, frustration and despair along the way).

Here is Dino (soon after being made)....Amazingly, Dino was made first go from the first pattern I made (with some help studying similar patterns for a felt horse online...), and I was incredibly proud of this fact, in spite of some major lump / pucker / dodgy stitching issues...

Most importantly, though, Dino was and is loved, and is still together 20 months later.
Here is Dino now (in all his stained, floppy and splay legged glory)...

Buoyed by my early "success", I decided that I could make more dinosaurs, but decided to take the pattern in a new direction, to make a more "recognisable" dinosaur (a stegosaurus of sorts), and to "fix" the early problems I'd found. I discovered this was easier said than done.

I discovered long skinny necks and tails are almost impossible to stuff well,
that big, close together spikes lead to floppiness and hard-to-stitch bodies ,


that giant ric-rac make a good and fast spike replacement (if only it came in more colours)

and that it takes me at least 4 goes, nearly 2 years, and many many hours to get a dinosaur I'm really happy with.
After all this, I take my hat off to the amazing people who produce patterns - not only have they gone through the process of working out how they can make something, they have worked out how to show other people how they can make it too.... definitely worth every cent.

Creative space time is calling - see you there!

PS: I still have a little giveaway open over here...