Our crafty Halloween

I wasn't going to do anything for Halloween this year but then my neighbour invited us with her & kids to go trick or treating. So I then decided we really must do something to celebrate Kobe's first time trick or treating. I blew up a bunch of balloons (some to entertain Kobe purely so I could draw (uninterrupted) ghosts on the others) & hang them up. Sadly they didn't last long & popped quite quickly.

The lil one loves painting with black paint (mainly because he gets it happily everywhere including all over the white shower tiles at bath time). So naturally we upcycled some toilet rolls to turn into bat door hangers.

A bit of old fashioned cross stitching on a candy bag (which I made years ago)  & the cutest mini pumpkins ever. I also made some monster pops which I posted on Instagram.

 

Some last minute Yo Gabba Gabba masks sewing. "Toodee" & "Foofa" wish you all a happy & safe Halloween filled with candy & chocolate.

 

 

Happy Friday friends!

Grace

Beautiful ethical fashion

When I think of eco clothing, shapeless hemp sack dresses come to mind but not anymore!!! Going green never looked so damn fine with these pieces. You can sleep well wearing any of these knowing they promote sustainable or ethical choices.

 

1.I found this lovely dress in linen which according to this post is the strongest vegetable fiber & also the flax plant in which it is derived flourishes in poor soil (requiring the bearest if any of fertilizer). (The mama who established the Bohemian traders online shop also has the sweetest blog).

 

2.Ethical fashion iniative joined forces with Karen Walker eyewear for Visible 2014 campaign. African artisans involved in the manufacture were also photographed in the campaign shoot. Perfection!

 

3.Bhalo took me by surprise. I heart their stance on incorporating fair trade into their business, not to mention how truly beautifully designed the clothes are. Their Bangladesh workshops even has a community garden & onsite composting. Those sweet shorts never looked sweeter & are even made via a hand loom which require no electricity.

 

4.I have been a longtime fan of Gorman. I refuse to bin the 2 skivvys I forgot to store away in Summer one year so the moths ate tiny holes in them, they are still good to layer under loose dresses in the cold months for many many years to come. My current fave of their organic cotton jersey range is this dot t-shirt. You can read their sustainable philosopy here. I thought it was interesting to note that they sometimes choose a recycled sythetic over organic cotton as a more viable sustainable option.  

 

5. I newly stumbled across Freckled Duck online shop whose niche caters to sweatshop free, organic cotton for children.

 

I cant seem to find any decent looking (yes shallow I know) vegan shoes.

 

 

Happy Monday friends!

Grace



 



 

 

 

 

Currently

Obsessing about anything fruit related. Im crazy in love with these kitsch 70's pineapple & strawberry cookie containers I thrifted at the markets (& the juice just tastes so good plus has no added sugar in it).
Baking braided fruit bread. Eh yeah I need more practice...
Discovered Manning road markets. A great place to stock up on local produce. I vouch for the juice stall.
Grateful that Kobe mostly behaved while Luke was away camping for 3 days.
Failing decluttering. I seem to be attached to everything...
Watching Moonrise Kingdom. Surprisingly refreshing & I thought it was funny.
Realizing I cant gossip infront of Kobe. Don't want him innocently repeating my secrets lol.
Excited my sister is back for a month from her travels. Been way too long.
Trialling the no poo hair experiment for a month. Im on day 7.
Struggling to find vegan shoes (that are also pretty...).
Upset that its going to rain this weekend. Im a sunshine gal.
Laughing over the lil ones new mantra; "reduce, renew, recycle". He repeats it while playing the "bin man" game.

Happy Thursday friends!
Grace

DIY: Pineapple zip bag

 

Lately I cant get enough of craft projects, something to stimulate my creative juices. Plus I wanted to practice sewing zippers so I thought why not make something useful like a funky zip bag/pouch.

 

 

A few things I used; leftover denim fabric, scrap retro fabric offcuts, ribbon, metallic embroidery thread & yarn, zip, thread, metallic sewing machine needles, scissors, thread, sewing machine zipper foot & sewing machine.

 

 

1. First of all I measured the halfway mark of the fabric then positioned the top of the pineapple ribbon, pinned & sewed. As I used metallic ribbon as the "pineapple top" I used the metallic thread to sew it & had to swap sewing machine needles to the metallic needles.

 

 

 

 

2. Next I did a rough lay on where I was going to sew the yarn on the "pineapple". I cut out a pineapple shape & zigzagged the yarn on in lines. I then pinned the pineapple on the denim & zigzagged around the edges to secure it onto the denim. I sewed all this with the metallic embroidery thread (which can be a bugger to sew with as it frays every now & then but it looks pretty).

 

 

3. After swapping machine needles back to the normal one & changing machine feet to the zipper foot. I sewed a zipper in. (I didn't iron or interface the zip thou as in the instructions...).

 

 

4. I have zero patience for setting up an overlocker, changing threads then working out the correct thread tension to suit the fabric. So the french seam was perfect for the zip bag. The seams were a bit bulky as I used denim but looked very neat once sewn. I sewed the sides first then the bottom.

 

 

Tada! I was originally going to use this bag to store electronic stuff but made it a tiny bit too small (bugger) so I will be using it for a library book bag for when Kobe & I go on our weekly visit.

 

 

Happy Friday friends!

 

Grace

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rainy day craft projects for toddlers

And just when I was super excited about all the glorious sunshine, the weather gods throw me a dreary rainy day = cabin fever alert. Those who know me know I have a child that doesn't entertain himself, he prefers the company of someone to play with so I quipped together some craft activities that will surely be entertaining us today. The added bonus is we have daddy with us today (hooray soccer season is over:)).

 

We made this camera out of an empty cracker cardboard box & paper cup which the little one enjoyed painting black (his favourite color most days). He also enjoyed painting his whole arm & legs too... I glued gun on the cup "lens" to the cracker box "camera" base along with some vintage buttons for the camera button & view box plus a ribbon strap (leftover from a gift).

 

 

I was lucky enough to buy this handmade tiger mask at the markets for all of 50 cents. This one is made out of fabric but we will be making a few more out of cardboard which was destined for the recycle bin. Do you know you can make your own paint out of this recipe?

 

 

Random artwork (the ones above are a dragon & Kobe did rain drops on the bottom picture I think) made out of scavenged bits of nature.

 

 

 

 Garden "flowers". I was originally going to make these out of egg cartons (cut out singularly) but then thought they would disintegrate way too quickly so I used the lids off McDonalds sundaes Luke & I treated ourselves to when Kobe was asleep. Win win for all. Kobe enjoyed the painting while I did the cutting of the petals & glueing the pom pom & stick base on.

 

 

 

And because it wouldn't be right without a rubbish bin themed project for the rubbish bin loving boy. We cut out pictures of "recycling" which Kobe glued with a gluestick onto a piece of cardboard. Then I made the bin picture. I took them to Officeworks to get them laminated, cut them up, glue gunned the Velcro on & tada a "recycle themed rubbish bin game" the lil one can choose what he wants to recycle. I also want to make a smelly rubbish bin & donation bin.  

 

 

Happy Sunday friends!

Grace

 

Bits & pieces

 

Growing teeny tiny beetroot, after months this is the biggest beetroot I have grown:( Im happy that grapes are started to grow on our vines, I may have better luck...

Sewing thermal lined curtains for the loungeroom. Hoping I can finish on the weekend.

Watching crash test mummies & daddies about first time parents & how they are coping. So damn good!!!

Fighting off a friggin virus. Woe is me. Im a real sour cow at the moment so steer clear lol.

Invested in a Gro sleep trainer clock. Its been a week & it has been a real struggle to get the lil one to stay in his bed to 5.30am. (He wakes at 4.45am every darn day?!?). I have to go & stay in his room with him for 45 minutes for him to stay (he whines the whole 45 minutes non stop).

Wanting to make my own laundry detergent however cant seem to track down Borax. Can anyone recommend where to buy it in Perth?

Enjoying watching Luke & Kobe sing "wheels on the bus" (completely out of tune but it is the cutest thing ever!!!)

Pulling my hair out over toilets filled with unravelled toilet paper by a sneaky lil toddler. Arrgh!!!

Failing cutting down on plastics by relying on the squeezy yoghurt tubes for Kobe way more than I like to admit.

Breaking my buying nothing new (clothing) 2014 resolution by buying these delightful metallic slides from Country Road. My one treat of the year.

Grateful to my friend Haelee for providing me with handy information about healthy eating regarding portion sizes for children. Its been an ongoing battle to coax Kobe to accepting healthy food over anything coated in sugar. I just don't want him having rotten teeth like I did as a child. Now to pass it on to Kobe's grandparents...

 

Happy Friday friends!

Grace