The Happy Swappers

I like to think of myself as a fairly easy to get to know kind of gal. The kind of gal that is very willing to help out another happy gal.

So of course, and definitely no personal gain interest of any kind involved here (ahem), I've started a flickr group called The Happy Swappers.


It's a group where I envisage that people post photos in the photo stream of the swap cards they wish to swap. They leave the photo there until a) someone contacts them saying they would like to swap with them or b) they see some cards they would like to obtain posted in the photo stream. Once they have agreed to swap with the other person, they remove their photo from the photo stream. Clear as mud? Any suggestions? Please contact me if you have any ideas as to how to make this new group more streamlined.

Thanks to Liz who put the first word out there that she had cards she wanted to swap. Let's hope it builds to something nice. :D

Bear with me on this group as it's just in it's infancy and I'm working it out as I go along. Sounds like life a little, don't you think?

Good things come in great big boxes!

Ahh, the deliciousness of a big whopping parcel arriving all the way from the US. I'm a self confessed fabriholic and am a very proud owner of some new arrivals....

Some beautiful Michael Miller and Robert Kaufman fabric, those two are amongst my favourite fabric designers. And the piece de resistance, a few boxes of divine Moda Learn to Sew Lace-Up Cards for the kiddies. I'll post more about these sweet vintage inspired treasures tomorrow. They will be up for grabs in my store soon....

And another thing I'm really getting into lately is making half aprons for girls in vintage fabrics using vintage patterns. I've found some lovely 50's fabric at the op shops lately and have already popped two up on my site. More to come next week.

I'm being talked about in the US of A!!

Lucky me has been written about by the lovely linguist Mary Ann on her blog indie-pendence.
She's written a low down on my website Silly Gilly and posted some photos of my hats, smocks and bags. Mary Ann also runs a Swag-a-Licious each month, with giveaways from wonderful indie designers and craftspeople. Leave a comment and maybe you could be a winner!

Mary Ann's other blog is also quite the read, and one of my favourite days is Wordy Wednesday. She challenges the brain cells by asking for meanings for some loopy words.

And of course, the winner of the three boys vintage patterns is...........

bit of a Dave Groll drum roll here......................


Cathy!! Whoo hoo Cathy! Congratulations on winning this bundle of vintagey gorgeousness. Please email me with your postal address and I'll pop them in the mail for you pronto.

More photos and updates on some new creations for my Silly Gilly store tomorrow. My camera is out of batteries so I will leave you with a photo of my little jet setter on the phone at Melbourne Airport last year....

I'll show you mine if you show me yours...

Ah the fun of swap cards!!

The very lovely Liz from Lino Forest originally posted about her desire to exchange swap cards here and I took her up on the deal. Next, we flashed the cards we were willing to swap via email. How's that - virtual swap carding!!

So lookie here at what arrived yesterday for me!!


My faves are the barber shop singers and the 1800's girls and the rooster and.... you get the picture! Liz has put it out there that we are looking for more swappers, card swappers that is (!), so if you are keen then flick either of us an email with a picture of your cards and we will either swap with you or match you up with someone!!

Blatant 'Read My Blog' First Giveaway!!

Ok folks, so how am I going to get you kids to read my blog and come back for more vintagey, op shoppy, Silly Gilly goodness? Give you some free stuff of course!

In my latest rampaging op shop expedition, I came across some scrumptious boys vintage sewing patterns. In my travels, when I find vintage patterns, they are most always girls patterns. Well, lucky readers, I found three great boys outfits that I have no use for myself, but would love another vintage pattern lover to enjoy.

First up we have Style pattern for three boys jackets, size 4, dated 1969.

Second, we have McCalls pattern for Boys' Proportioned Pants, size 6, dated 1962. (This is a cracker as the three proportions include 'Husky' LOL. 'Why yes sir my son is husky'... LOL

Thirdly, we have Simplicity pattern for Boys' Shirt & Pants in two lengths, size 4, date unsure possibly pre 1965?

All patterns have their instructions and a little wear and tear to the packaging given their ages. Make the little man in your life look squeaky clean in retro fashion!!

If you would like to be the grand winner for this pack, please leave a comment below. Tell your friends too! The winner will be drawn by random name selector, aka my kidlet, on the eve of Tuesday 10th June. Good luck and happy sewing!!

Bundle of books

Another couple of days of op-shopping under my belt. My daughter now asks, when told that we are going shopping, 'To the op-shop Mummy?' with a hopeful tone... Am I starting her too early? I think not. Nothing like being a thrifty two year old.

So I thought I might update with my recent finds.... I think I have a new collection growing, aside from the Little Golden Book obsession collection. Fifties and sixties children's books with their gorgeous illustrations and sometimes scary and not entirely little kid appropriate messages.

I quite like the book titled Ginger the Foundling... do you know of anyone that uses the word foundling anymore? Of course I had to look it up in a dictionary - foundling: A deserted or abandoned infant; a child found without a parent or caretaker. The book had more full colour illustrations inside and curiously not one paragraph indent....

The Lazy Fox and Red Hen (1958) is a great parable, advising in a roundabout way that it's always handy to have scissors and thread in your pocket. Now there's a safety tip if ever I read one...

And of course there was a couple of cracker Little Golden Book finds, including Jerry at School (1972). Makes me think of Jerry Seinfeld!

A Little Flickr Game....

My creation
Originally uploaded by gidgetstarbaby

I had fun doing this...... a bit of a twist on doing the usual 'answer these questions in ten seconds or else your right foot will drop off' type of quiz.... I found the link here

The concept:
a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd's mosaic maker.

The Questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name.


My answers
1. Gillian
2. chocolate
3. Frankston High
4. hot pink
5. Johnny Depp
6. champange
7. Ireland
8. caramel anything
9. happy
10. Nevada
11. quirky
12. Gidgetstarbaby