Crafty Hijinks Get-Together Update

Wow.
I'm so pleased to be able to say that we already have 47 ladies attending our inaugural Crafty Hijinks day in September! (I keep updating the tally as more people sign up)

That's just awesome. I'll list the attendees blogs below so you can do some blog hopping about and get to know who else will be there on the day. Maybe it will be someone whose blog you've been reading a while now and you'll get to meet them in person! From personal experience, I can tell you that meeting a fellow blogger in real life, one whose blog you've been following for a while, is a somewhat fantastic and very weird moment! It's like, "Arrgghh, so great to meet you, how's the dog and you looked great in that new dress and oh, my name's such and such.... ". Odd but so rewarding to finally put a real life face to a name and blog.

I'll get together a noice button that you can put on your blog soon to say that you are coming along. And please don't forget to spread the word. The more the merrier!

 Oh, and the collection of door prizes are coming along nicely too. Rosalie Quinlan has donated a book, Merrilyn of Threadneedle Craft in Daylesford has kindly donated stitchery panels, a beautiful book and patterns, Elisa of Kelani Fabrics is donating a voucher, fabric from my store and vouchers for crafty accommodation too.

Ric-Rac 
Silly Gilly 
The Crafty Squirrel
You Sew Girl! 
And so, I sew 
Flightless Boyds 
Matching Pegs
hARTy little peaces
Whippet Good
For My Little Monster
Thornberry
Snailblazer
Little Red Hen
Thread Needle Craft
Copper Patch
Narioka
The House on the Side of the Hill
Sue Niven
Kiwi Kids
Ollie and T
The Stitching Room
Farm Gate Creations
Sugarlemon
Stop That Owl
I thought I'd better write it all down
Flowergarden
A House In The Country 
Lilabelle Lane Creations
Jindi's Cottage
CurlyPops
Beccasauras
MacDonald's Patch
Dancing In Red Shoes
Ballarat Patchwork 
Dabbling All Day
m.e 
Solomon Sewing
Sew Well Maide
Four Wise Monkeys
dear fii 
Little Felt Houses
Sago on Tuesdays
Rolling in Fabric 

If you have paid to attend but your blog is not listed above, please flick me an email with your blog name and I'll add you in a jiffy!

Getting the cart back behind the horse aka taking some time to reset

I ran today.

I ran today as I haven't been to Zumba in three months. Why? Because it's too hard to go to Zumba and not hear her calling the moves to her favourite tracks.

So I got back on the non-proverbial outside treadmill and ran my local streets. The sun hit my body about half way through and I smiled. No way! I smiled during a run. Who'da thought?!

Returning to work post child

I'm a mum. And looking to get back into the workforce after having seven years off caring for my child. I was naieve. I thought that spending all that time with my daughter, getting her settled into school would be a great thing. Well, it was for her. But for me it was a proverbial 'shoot me in the foot' kind of group of moments.

Now here I am. A qualified Early Childhood teacher. Previously a bank manager, sales person, call center operator, receptionist, amatuer face painter. And currently seamstress.

With a stinking big seven year gap in the middle between all that experience and now. I have been taking relief teaching work in the last six months or so. And I have had a short stint as a receptionist last year.

But it seems to be very hard to get my foot in the door in a role that will match my experience. Relying on that resume is a tough gig right now. How can I get across that I have the valuable mature approach that a lot of businesses value?

So tell me, oh life experienced readers, how did you get over this 'little' hurdle, this speed bump in the career road?

Crafty Hijinks!

My last post got me thinking. Crafty times with online bloggy friends rock. Spontaneous road trips also are a barrel load of fun. Why not combine the two?!

Introducing.....................

Soooo, if you are craftily inclined, a blogger and looking for a good old fashioned crazy time, come and join us on Sunday September 15th for a day of Crafty Hijinks at Brown Hill Hall, just outside Ballarat.

Bring some hand crafty goodness to work on. More details to come, including door prizes and who knows what else to surprise and delight you!

Buy your ticket, which includes lunch, here!

Distance makes the heart grow fonder

I heard from a bloggy friend today. It warmed my heart so much. Some years back I made a random and out of the blue road trip across the country to meet her and some other crafty peeps in person who happened to be gathering at a park. I'd never met any of these gals before other than chatted online. I had an absolute ball and found a great friend with whom I have so very much in common. I've since watched this gal make leaps and bounds in her crafty endeavors. We don't talk every month but I hope deep down that she'll always be happy to chat with me about our crazy interests.

It's these sort of things that, to me, make my life worthwhile. Doing stuff that pops up out of nowhere and takes you on a crazy turn that you don't know where it's going to take you. Speaking of which...

Of late I've been taking myself along to see some local Adelaide bands - Lucky Seven, Lady Voodoo & The Rituals and interstate acts such as Ash Grunwald.

I love the way some music just lifts me right out of wherever my head is at and transports me to another moment. I live my day through my music. I have specific songs for different moods and emotions. I have genres of music that I hold close to my heart because they speak to me and make me believe I can be or do anything.

Sometimes I take my camera along to up-skill my photography talents. That is if I can stop jigging and singing long enough to focus the lens. I thought I'd share with you a quick snap I took last night whilst enjoying Lucky Seven play, with Mr Scuba Dee featuring on the vocals. This photo pleases me a lot as it was a quick snap but turned out to be a winner to me.

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Photo credit

I have lost my best friend.

She died suddenly, leaving us all to love her even harder now that she's gone.

Rest now, dear sweet Jayne.

You Sew Girl Coin Purse pattern review

I have been keeping busy with teaching and Zumba and making detailed dresses lately so I felt it was time for a little quick craft project for some instant fabric satisfaction.

Nicole Mallalieu of You Sew Girl! is known for her fabulously detailed and informative patterns so I headed her way to make a purchase online of her Coin Purse pattern. Instant download - love it!!

All in all this purse took me perhaps half an hour to do, being the first run through of this design. But now I have Nicole's techniques mastered, I'm sure I could whip one of these up in less than that. Here is my end result.

A structured purse with box base to make it stand up, a neat zipper closure and some padding to make it all fancy-like. It's lined and is a perfect size for coins in your handbag or basket, little make up bits and pieces or a sweet purse for a little girl.

Forgive the wonky topstitching - my excuse is that it was hot, late at night and I just wanted to finish something so I did rush a little! A very satisfying project all the same. This pattern comes with two sizes included so I will definitely be making more.

Thank you Nicole for sharing your cleverness! I feel right professional loike now!