DIY bracelets - with or without a needle.

Picture the scene: you've got somewhere to go, you know what you're wearing, but the accessories just aren't going to work. What you need is a bracelet. But wait - there's no time, and anyway, you're broke. What to do?

Settle down, honey. You can do it yourself. Yes you can. And here's three options.

Okay, so can you knit? That's right, knit! A bracelet! Check out this beaded beauty from Jezze Prints, which takes just a scrap of yarn and a few leftover beads and a cup of tea and a Tic Toc:

Knit and put your feet up - the Knitted Pouf.

I have a bit of a pouf obsession. There, I've said it.

I like nothing better than the idea of a colorful, comfortable bally-type ottoman which I can rest my feet, book or bottom on, which also is a stylish addition to virtually any room. I hover over them and admire whenever I spot a spiffily crafted pouf. Alas, to date, I do not own one. And my feet end up on the couch every night. Not ideal.

Swing it with DIY saddle shoes.

Well, hello there!

It's been another hiatus from posting, what with one thing or another - but don't think I haven't been thinking about you. Quite the opposite!

Today I discovered this excellent DIY saddle shoe project via Craftzine, one of my all time favorite crafty sites due to the diversity of projects it showcases. It comes from an uber-cool gal called Morgan who blogs hip stuff at Panda Head.

Go ahead and fake it!

DIY peonies via Creature Comforts

Do you like peonies? I do. Can you believe these peonies aren't real? I think they are very gorgeous. I love me a bit of fake flower. Ergo this craft is right up my street.

Nellie's first birthday party (for which I make pretty things to look at).

As posted previously, we celebrated Nellie's first birthday a couple of weeks ago. I posted a couple of updates on some of the decorations I made in preparations but thought I'd post a round up of what decorations I used for the day.

Good Things #6/366 :: Pompom garlands.

We're having a little party for our Nell-bell in a couple of weeks - one already! - and so I've begun organising.

Inspirations :: Homemade Lip Balm

Tonight I discovered this great site call The Art of Homemaking. Megan is SUCH a talented gal, I think she may be living one of my dream lives (I have several - don't you?).

She has recently posted details of how to make your own lip balm, something which I would never have thought of trying before but her recipe really is quite straight forward. The main trick seems to be securing some of the ingredients and some super dinky little tins, but what a great gift for friends and family at Christmas! Totes impressed!

Finger-knittin' fun!

When I was a kid my mum taught me how to fingerknit. And do you think I could remember how to do it now? No way, Jose! So how glad was I when one of my favorite blogs put up this post? Very.

Such cleverness :: floral party hats.

Are these not the best things EVER??!! I mean, really! These have totally added fuel to my fledgling idea of a domestic goddess high tea Christmas lunch. Just another excuse to craft and then eat cucumber sandwiches and cupcakes!

This comes from one of my favorite crafty sites Oh Happy Day. Just go there. And make them. invite your girlfriends over. And then drink tea and eat scones with lots of cream and jam.

What the Craft??!! Another favourite website!

I am never buying undies again.

Have a heart this weekend...

Do you love these hearts? They come from a kids craft site called 4 Crazy Kings. I love them because they are dangly and bright and very basic, made from cheap plastic beads and glittery pipe cleaners and would look really great hanging outside in a tree or from a verandah, catching the breeze and twinkling in the sunlight.

New favourite :: Sew La Tea Do

A favourite crafty site :: Craftzine

Don't you love these pencils? They are on one of my favorite craft sites, Craftzine. I look at these pencils and think of Moonface and Silky and the Angy Pixie, and also how they would probably sell for about 10 bucks each in a cute stationery shop - but they can be yours for the cost of a few woodworking buttons and a packet of pencils from the $2 shop!

Small (crafting) achievements

It's been a weird week, coming off a busy weekend with Jack's birthday party (for which we were blessed with excellent weather and fine friends and family) to Jack's fitting for a Second Skin on Monday, to Chadstone on Tuesday and churning through mountains of washing at home yesterday, hence, no blogging. This weekend we will be spending some time in lovely central Victoria in Woodend with Rob's family to celebrate his dad's 70th birthday, and given the weather forecast is inclined towards indoorsy activities, I've decided to dust off the knitting needles and try to use up some of my wool stash to knit something.

Melbourne Craft and Quilt Fair

This morning I raced around like a mad hare trying to get myself, Jack and Nellie out the door reasonably early so I could get to the Craft and Quilt Fair. There were some sacrifices which had to be made in order to achieve the 8am deadline - couldn't wash my hair, only gave Nellie a breastfeed and took the bottles with me, and I relied on childcare to give Jack breakfast. Felt slightly guilty about this one but I knew they did breakfast there until about 8.30am so I swallowed down the guilt and dropped him off.