Crafty Girl with Ruffle

My Creative (I mean) Chaotic Space

I thought I'd start a new trend this week.  I've always wanted a creative space and now I have one.  However, it looks a tad chaotic.  I find creative and tidy just don't work together for me.  However, I have been relatively creative and very productive.  The most exciting map requests I've received over the past couple of weeks are from the suburb I grew up in.  The lovely  Paddington in Brisbane.  Mind you it was a bit different in the 70s and 80s.

I've also enjoyed making other purses.  These and other fantastic hand crafted goodies can be found online at Georgie Love  run by the lovely Sally.

New York, New York...

 

I had to post this purse.  I had a request for a New York purse this week and I was so happy with the way the purse turned out that I had to share it.

It has been a busy couple of weeks for Map 29.  Two little ''Miss Melways"made their debut in WHO Magazine and  grand Dame Brisway was in the Courier Mail "Q Weekend" yesterday.


Want to see Map 29 products in the "flesh"?  Why not pop over to Incube8r and have a look at them there not to mention a whole lot of other fabulous items.

And The Winner Is..........

Drawing #811 PRIVATE  1st drawing held by Map 29 Completed on 1 September 2009 at 09:05:54 UTC

Winners (1)

1st: Punkys Mamma

Congratulations!  Please e-mail me and let me know which map or street you would like on your purse.

Thanks so much to everyone who commented.  The positive feedback was overwhelming in the best kind of way.  So much so that I've decided to have a giveaway once a month.  So watch this space. 

I've also started a Map 29 Mailing List.  If you would like to join up to receive a monthly newsletter, just send me an e-mail. 

Pretty Purses and a Giveaway

 

 

   

It has been almost two weeks since my last post.  I've been really enjoying blogging of late and then we bought a new computer with Windows Vista on it.  I'm not really sure what Vista is compatible with, but certainly not with anything on our computer.  Hence, no blog posts.  Anyway, I no complain.  I think we almost have the whole computer thing sorted by the minute.  I have to say that I really missed being able to communicate with our lovely blogging community.

To celebrate I'd like to give away a 90mm Ausways purse with the Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane map of your choice.  For those of you who don't live in these cities, I'll make you another one and you can choose the fabric.  Just leave a comment and you'll go into the draw.  The draw will take place on  Tuesday, 1 September.

The purses in the picture above are all for sale and you can find them in the Map 29 Shop.

 

 

Fifteen Minutes a Day

Will eventually lead to a clutter free house.  I generally do this every couple of years but I think that it has been longer this time..........  Essentially I spend fifteen minutes a day decluttering a drawer, cupboard, whatever.  I don't pull out any more than I can deal with in a fifteen minute period.  I move in a clockwise direction until the room is done.  You would be amazed how those fifteen minute blocks add up.    It also never ceases to amaze me how much stuff we accumulate and I don't even like shopping!  This idea isn't original.  I discovered FlyLady a couple of years ago. 

This afternoon I did my jewellery drawer.  I was never a brooch girl once but I think that might have changed......

This is the end of my decluttering effort today.  Look what else I found....



 I've been looking for these for ages.

All this is going to the Op Shop.  Hurrah!

Melway Mayhem

I've been very busy for the past week making lots of Master Melways for the  Queen Victoria Women's Centre open day.  The lovely Curly Pops and I are sharing a stall.  You can see her stunning brooches here.  All up it should be a fun day.  Please come and visit us. We'd love to see you.

Whooooo is this then?

This is Owlie the clock.  Isn't he special?  He is made from recycled lino and other special treasures.  I found Owlie through the Clock Adoption Agency run by the lovely  Betty Jo who also makes stunning recycled lino brooches and other jewellery pieces.  Owlie fits in perfectly to her new abode as you can see here.......

 

                            

Just looking at Owlie makes me smile.  Owlies make great pets and need little or no care.  You won't be able to stop looking at your Owlie without smiling. 

Where Did This Week Go?

I don't know!  I just know that it is nearly over.  It is a bit like driving home,  but not knowing how I got there.

I've been wanting to blog all week about the fabulous weekend away our Craft Group had in Ballarat.  It was so nice to get away and just craft our hearts out.  Simone brought the first half of the Project Runway Australia .  That was seriously addictive with lots of big personalities.   I can't wait to see the rest.  Of course, no weekend away would be complete without a trip to the local Patchwork Shops.  We ran into Jodie and  Annie at  Ballarat Patchwork who very kindly took us to Gail's Emporium.  What a fantastic shop. Look what Jodie found.  Thanks Jodie and Annie for such a great time.

The accommodation was fantastic.  There was lots of room for crafting .

 
However, there was one thing I couldn't get my head around.....


The house had a lock on just about every door except the toilet!  The toilet had a switch system.  I was so fascinated by it, that I had to share  it!  The system is pretty self explanatory, however you have to do the switch flicking yourself.  It was very important not leave the red and green lights on at the same time as this could cause confusion!


There was also time for procastination.  The cunning plan was to sew up these squares over the weekend.  We got as far as this.....

As you can see, we are brimming over with enthusiasm at the prospect of putting this blanket together.

A Very Important Announcement........ Chickie is a Mummy!

It has been a very exciting day in the Ruffle Household.  I knew these little chickies were due any day, but when the books say 21 days until they hatch, they mean it!  About 9.30 this morning I could hear some cheeping and thought I was going mad as I could only see eggs.  Upon closer examination I could see a tiny crack in the shell.  I had no idea that chickens "cheep" in eggs.  Little Ruffle and I got home from school just in time to see chicken number one hatch which was pretty amazing.  Whilst I was cooking dinner, Chickie number two put in appearance.  Chickie is looking very proud and, well, motherly. Chickie was sitting on eight eggs.  I accidentally dropped two a week ago when making Chickie's bed.  They got caught up in her wings.  Sadly, the other four eggs wern't viable.  But I'm pretty happy with the clutch of chickies we have.  Since there are only two....maybe just maybe Mr Ruffle will let us keep them........

 

A Fabulous Felting Weekend

I did a Felting Workshop run by the lovely Mim yesterday and the above is the result.  I'm really proud of it (if I do say so myself).  Mim is a great teacher, very relaxed and so knowledgeable about felting.  You can see her beautiful work on her blog.   I am totally addicted and can't wait to do more.

 

I particularly love how the fabric at the end of my scarf gathers in due to the shrinking process of the fleece.  There were some amazing creations at the Felting Workshop.  My long time friend, fellow crafter and blogger Alison made an amazing creation.  More photos soon.

All up it has been a very productive weekend.  I finished a couple of projects that have been hanging around for awhile.  I started these bibs a month ago for the new grandchildren of Ray and Rosemary who run Mt Pilot Tourist Farm.  Ray and Rosemary gave us Chickie, Long Neck and Penny and we've spent a number of many happy weekends on the farm.