Market Goodies

Whilst at the BrisStyle markets (previous post), Sandrine gave me the most wonderful handmade felt brooch. It has transformed my ordinary bag into a designer bag. Thank-you, Sandrine, it made my day! :))

I bought this lovely sea glass pendant from jewelry maker, Jess of Epheriell Designs at the markets too.

I am glad that Sandrine told me about these markets, I had a great time there checking out all the fantastic stalls! (and taking home some goodies!)

Cheers,

Sandi xx

BrisStyle Indie Designers Market

Had a wonderful day out on Saturday. It was a beautiful cool, clear winter's day; just right for day tripping. Called in to the fabulous BrisStyle market in Hamilton ('posh' leafy suburb), beside the Brisbane river. The market was held in the hall and grounds of St. Augustines.

Sandrine was there with her beautiful handmade felt scarves and hats. She had a fantastic trading day and sold out! Wow!

The hall was packed!!!! I had to go round a few times so I could see everything!! (Didn't want to miss out on anything!) Outside was just as busy. Looking up, a skywriter was writing a romantic request 'Marry me Leelee' (wonder if she said yes?)

We had an excellent brunch at one of the trendy cafes nearby. They had luscious bouquets of fresh flowers out the front.

Next, we headed for Chinatown near the city. Found a favourite sweet, sesame-peanut candy, in one of the chinese supermarkets there. By now, it was lunchtime, and being in chinatown, of course we had a yum-cha lunch. Lots of different things to try (not the chicken feet or the tripe though), and me being very un-co with the chopstiks ^ ^. (Hubby just asks for a fork, and laughs at me with the chopstiks - hey, I'm getting better!!!)

Cheers,

Sandi xx

Going Green

We recently purchased an Eco Bokashi bucket to recycle our kitchen scraps. It is a great system invented by those clever Japanese. After you put the scraps in, and squashing it down with the masher, you sprinkle a small amount of the bokashi additive (specially fermented grains) on top. The bucket holds twenty litres, so will take a few weeks to fill (and the fermentation process produces no odour according to the maker). There is a strainer inside, so the liquid goes through the holes and into the bottom of the bucket. This liquid is a great fertiliser for the garden. When the bucket is full, you simply dig it into the garden where it will break down very quickly into lovely compost. Now the scraps are recycled into the garden, much better for the environment. Just doing my bit,

Cheers,

Sandi xx

Eumundi Food Festival

On Sunday, we went to the Eumundi Food Festival, one of the events at the Noosa Long Weekend festival. Don't you just love the Tea 'Ladies'?

It was a great atmosphere with loads of wonderful stalls, and enticing smells of food cooking -like wood-fired pizza, turkish food, paella, nasi goreng mmm..

This fellow was making sugar cane juice. It was delicious! I had one with lime and ginger.

For lunch I had an excellent chicken laksa with lots of noodles and chopped fresh greens.

Hope you had a fab weekend!

Cheers,

Sandi xx

Feathers and Friends

I thought I'd show you our pet guinea fowls, Spot and Dot. They arrived around eight years ago (don't know where they came from), and decided to stay. Spot and Dot have beautiful spotted feathers. They are strange-looking birds with quite comical white faces (which look like they have rather badly applied clown make-up on).

On thursday, I met up with the lovely Sandrine for coffee in town. Sandrine creates beautiful hats and scarfs - such a talented gal! , check out her great blog. I gave her some of the guinea fowl feathers I had been collecting from Spot & Dot.

It was so nice to meet another crafty blogger.

Hope you all had a great weekend!

Sandi xx

Noice!

A new use for a knitting needle - a bangle! Saw this one at the Eumundi Markets on saturday, and just had to have it.

I bought the bangle from this stall at the markets. Yvette (Dolly Did It) has a great crafty stall, featuring all sorts of handcrafted things (like button necklaces and bracelets).
So don't throw out those single knitting needles just yet!
Hope you had a great weekend!

Cheers,
Sandi xx
Sandi

Op-Shop finds

I went op-shopping down on the coast during the week and found some lovely vintage things. Here is a white linen tray cloth with embroidered butterflies in the corners.

I also found some little silver spoons. I love to visit op-shops and bric-a-brac shops, you never know what treasures you might find. Do you like to visit these shops too?

Cheers,

Sandi xx

Been Knitting

I saw this easy to knit scarf on Jannimary's blog and decided to make one as well. I found some chunky red and white wool yarn (at Lincraft) and bought some lovely size 8 bamboo knitting needles. It only needed to be eight stitches wide using this type of wool. I used two 50g balls of wool and having about two-thirds of a ball left over. It is one long length, with a twist and both ends stitched together to make a circle.

I am glad I made this warm scarf now, as the weather has certainly got a lot cooler here, (even in sub-tropical Queensland). Dash, (the big sook), came over for a cuddle.

Cheers,

Sandi xx

Star Quilt finished

I finished the star quilt yesterday. I think our quilt group has made around 65 quilts to send down to the Victorian bushfire survivors. The quilts will be going on wednesday. Just in time, as the weather is getting a lot cooler now. I learnt how to make this stack and slash star quilt at the Patchwork Angel.

Happy stitching,

Sandi xx

In My Mailbox

Look what arrived in my mailbox, all the way from Sweden. A parcel of goodies from Lynne. She was having a giveaway, and I was the lucky winner. There were ribbons (one in the Swedish flag colours, the other featuring a traditional Swedish horse motif), a red and green hexagon pincushion, a handmade felt picture, a hanging heart, and some crocheted flower decorations. Lynne also made a gift card with a photo of her cottage on it; lovely. Thankyou so much!

Here is a photo of some native violets, they grow everywhere in my garden.

As you can probably tell, I am having a bit of a play with the photos today, using photoshop. (I have no idea how to use most of the features). So it will take a while to figure out.

Cheers,

Sandi xx

Monkeying around

Last Friday, at the Brisbane Stitches & Craft show, I booked into Kristie's class to make a sock monkey. I got most of him(?) made at the class, then finished the sewing at home, so here he is.

Kristie is now selling kits to make them, check out her website at Rourke & Henry and you too can make one.

Over the weekend, hubby and I have started to put in some sleeper edging in front of the deck of our carriage (see background of this photo). We are going to plant a camellia hedge in front of it so you don't see the underneath bits. The camellias are the sasanqua variety and are in shades of pink and cream.

Happy Stitching,

Sandi xx

Keeping cosy

Once a year, our council has a 'curbside cleanup' where households can put out on the footpath any stuff they don't want, and then council trucks will take it away for you. People start putting out their 'stuff' a few days before the pickup day. Lots of stuff finds new homes and is recycled. I had put out a big box of empty plant pots and some old saucepans - gone now, and the boys cleaned out the shed and got rid of lots. Well, this morning, as I was up early (dropping off son to meet his connection to Brisbane airport), someone had put out a portable radiant oil heater (just up the road). I was just thinking the other day that I might need some sort of heating in the carriage studio. I plugged it in, and it works perfectly. All it needed was a little dusting off. It was quite heavy to lug into the jeep and then into the carriage, but I managed to do it myself.

On friday, I caught the train down to the Stitches and Craft show in Brisbane. I booked in to do two classes whilst there. The lovely Kristie Banham of Rourke & Henry taught us how to make a sock monkey. Don't you love the packaging? I will post a photo of my monkey when I finish it.

The other class was how to make a button bracelet with Fiona Lech of dear fii. We all had so much fun making them. Thanks, Fii.

This last photo is of the raffle quilt our quilt group made. Shown here at our annual May fair. It is hand sewn using the english paper piecing method.

Happy Stitching,

Sandi xx

The Roo goes bush!

Over the weekend, hubby and I went camping with friends to nearby Kenilworth Forestry Park. (noted for its' stands of native Hoop Pines and bellbird colony). The weather was perfect, with clear sunny days and cooler evenings.

We brought wood for the campfire. And sat under the twinkling stars. Marshmallows were toasted, wine glasses were clinked. Lots of chatting and laughing throughout night.

Our little group went bushwalking along the shady rainforest tracks. The pathway crossed over several little creeks, rushing with cool, clear water. Nearby we could hear whipbirds, with their loud cracking call.

This is Little Yabba creek, there are platypus living here.

The occasional goanna was seen patrolling around the campsites, looking for food. We made sure our food was locked away and the camper trailers and tents were zipped up (we didn't want any surprise visitors inside). There are signs around the camp area, stating not to feed the wildlife. I don't think that the wildlife can read; I had nearly finished my sandwich, when out of nowhere, a kookaburra stole my last bit of sandwich! Crikey!

It was such a relaxing weekend and everyone had a great time.

How was your weekend?

Sandi xx

Loot

Here is the metal train sign (reproduction) and vintage buttons bought on our recent travels south. I gave the buttons a clean in some warm soapy water with an old toothbrush, just to give them back their old sparkle.

Suzie from Little Busy Bee showed us her 'Tea set for One' recently, that she received for her birthday. I mentioned that I had one in a similar style. So here it is Suzie. Hubby found it in the cupboard at his new office, left behind by the previous tenants (long gone), so he brought it home for me. It is pictured here on the sink in the carriage studio.

Cheers,

Sandi xx

In my mailbox

Look what arrived in my mailbox (all the way from Sweden) - a beautiful bag pattern from Helena. It includes stitchery patterns for spring, summer, autumn or winter. So I have a choice of four different looks.

Helena was having a giveaway to celebrate the opening of her online shop (do check it out), and I was one of the lucky winners. Thanks so much Helena, what a wonderful surprise. I had to show you the stamps on the envelope too, they are so cute!

Cheers,

Sandi xx