two pink possums...

tactile

2009-11-16T16:43:00.000+11:00

looking. sorting. folding. playing.
happy colours. tactile. ideas brewing.

creative space ~ paper and bits

2009-11-12T10:18:00.008+11:00

I have felt too hot and bothered to play with fabric these last few days so it has been all about paper and mixed media bits........some are in the early stages of playing around with ideas.......
some are still progressing............

some are finished... like this one of Frida........

and Alice.......

pop over to Kirsty's to see who else is in their creative space this week....

world sweet world

2009-11-11T09:51:00.001+11:00

I gave up buying magazines quite some time ago. The last one I got was the last of a birthday present subscription to Inside Out mag which sadly ended a few months ago.......

I have kept a huge collection of glossy craft mags to refer to for inspiration and another stack of mags I keep to cut up for collage and journals.

One magazine I HAVE TO treat myself to is Mixtapezine. I can't express the joy on the day that arrives. I make a big pot of tea and can't put Mixtape down.

I have however, recently discovered this little gem. World Sweet World. Another fabulous indie magazine only this one is from New Zealand.

I bought just one to check it out and I am smitten. If I do get just one xmas present this year (hubby and I always say we won't buy each other anything, then we do at the 11th hour) I am hoping for a sub to this mag.

To receive Mixtapezine and World Sweet World would keep me happy in magazines for a very long time to come.

If you haven't already, check it out.......

retail therapy...

2009-11-10T16:57:00.000+11:00

I have been quite strong over the last few months at the oppy. Just choosing things I think I can really use and if there are a few things I would really like, I try to put something back. Because apart from ending up with too much stuff, the cost does add up quickly if you enjoy going on a regular basis. But for me, and I daresay a lot of you guys, retail therapy in an op shop is just that ...."therapy". The browsing, the find, the missed heartbeat. I look upon it as a little bit of sanity and joy for me.

If my health is worse at a particular time, I will still try and get out to the op shop that week as it really does make me feel better.

I found these Arcopal pieces the other day. I knew the platter would be loved and useful but the little cups are espresso size and I don't drink espresso. What to do....

I grappled with this thought for a while......and decided they still would be "useful" even if not for espresso. Any drink really, even though it would be a small drink......They just HAD to come home with me too....

more curtains.....

2009-11-09T10:40:00.005+11:00

Between xmas and new year last year I decided that I was going to try and go the WHOLE year without buying any new fabric. I felt I had so much to use up and should do so. I also decided buying fabric at the op shop was perfectly OK whether it be in the form of tablecloths etc or if I was lucky enough, off the bolt.
This actually became quite easy after a while. I still had trips to Spotlight to buy threads etc and just didn't look at the fabric at all. However, in needing to make new curtains for both the girl's rooms this became a challenge. I decided the curtains would be cotton dressmaking fabric and so proceeded to show them the stash......
The eldest chose white bleached calico in between hot pink crushed velvet ones which were already in the cupboard from years ago when she was little. One room sorted.
Youngest didn't really like what was in the stash that was plentiful enough for curtains. So reluctantly we headed off to Spotlight.
There were two conditions, 1. it had to be cotton so I could use it at a later date when she wanted a change and 2. it had to be on sale!
Fabric chosen...flannelette skulls! and after hemming all edges I have put them up with these rings. We had a supply but had to buy more. I think they work really well and am quite happy to use them.
But off course with the summer sun now blazing in for the first half of the day the curtains are not thick enough. Another trip to Spotlight to buy copious amounts of unbleached calico. I LOVED doing this as I have such a love for calico. I have hemmed all the calico and will just sew it along the top of the curtains.
So now they are double thickness, very frugally made, look good AND I know the day will come when I can reuse the fabric and it won't be wasted. Hey I could even sew the skulls together and make a sheet!

tablecloth cushion....

2009-11-06T13:50:00.001+11:00

I am getting into the spirit of reusing my vintage linens now. It just took one tablecloth to be a curtain and I am on a roll. I have been wanting to make cushions for a while and the last of the crappy store bought ones just died (broken zip) so I made a start.
First one is a tablecloth too. It is a very simple construction. Just cut your square to the size of your zip which will be the size of your insert ie 40cm plus a cm on all sides for seam allowance. The square that will house the zip add 2 more cm to allow for turning in on each side of the zip then cut it through into two pieces to put in the zip.
Once your zip is sewn in put both squares right side together then sew around the square. I go around twice for extra strength.

and your are done... more to come

more sweet mail.....

2009-11-06T09:55:00.002+11:00

I have received even more sweet mail recently and this was just because...not because I won a giveaway. Simone, a bloggy friend who is so kind and thoughtful not to mention very talented (check out her beautiful quilts and stitcheries) sent me these postcards all the way from The Netherlands just because she thought of me when she saw them! How lovely is that.
I DO love them. The 7up ones are repros of ads from the late 1940s, I just adore the style. The other one is a print from 1994 and soooo appeals to my love of fairy tales and toadstools.
Thank you so much Simone, this blogging caper does continue to blow me away, such generous souls out there xxx

creative space doodling......

2009-11-05T19:04:00.002+11:00

I have been having a lot of troubling sleeping lately. A new medication I am on for a month is even making this worse. If I do doze off easily I seem to wake around 3am every night. I have taken to grabbing my journal and doing some drawing, or doodling really.
I feel the need to draw but being half asleep don't want to start anything major so have started out just purely doing lines and dots and swirls and wanting to add loads of colour. This one ended up with a fairy popping up too.
The reason I am sharing this is that it is sooooo freeing to do this. Starting off with no plan at all no expectation and just going with it. Mistakes don't happen as there are no mistakes. I ended up adding paper elements to this as well which was fun.
I need to keep this going all the time and I tend to loose it. Sometimes I start a piece and somehow think if it doesn't work it is the end of the world which of course is total crap.
When I was studying art, the compulsory drawing class scared me for about 18 months because I didn't/don't think of myself as a "drawer". Other students would come in and start straight away and I would procrastinate for ages.
My teacher slowly got through to me to just dive in and start. I can always change, rub out, draw over or start again.
I think this even applies to my sewing too. I just need to apply it to trying to crochet and I'll be happy.
So if you feel stuck in a creative rut, try doodling, it really is fun.
A fave book of mine on this subject is by Traci Bautista. Her style is pure fun and girly. Lots of doodling and a real inspiration. A book I couldn't be without....

pop over to Kirsty's to check out other Creative Spaces..

sweet mail

2009-11-05T15:32:00.005+11:00

Some more sweet mail has come my way this week in the form of two more Blogtoberfest giveaways I won. I was fortunate enough to have won three all up

I won a Button Brooch kit from Fi thank you Fi it is so generous of you to be giving away your patterns and this one is as sweet as.......

and look at this lovely bunch I won from Katia a sweet owl pincushion! he is the cutest poppet ever I just love the way Katia has made him, and some lovely trim and a beautiful square of fabric which I will incorporate into a tote or a cushion.

thanks so much girls, it has been lovely receiving such treats in the mail......

baking

2009-11-03T09:33:00.001+11:00

It was such a humid weekend and a long weekend at that so yesterday with it not quite so hot, Bel and I did a spot of cupcaking.
The plan for today is to get back into some curtain making (boring curtains not quick and easy vintage tablecloth type of curtains) to get it out of the way so I can do some fun and quick sewing!

For any of you that may be interested, the toadie curtain in my last post was just sewn along the top creating a tube for the rod. I turned the fabric about 3 times to add thickness. This method works well as this curtain will not be needed to be opened or closed, it will just stay that way.

toadies are up

2009-11-02T12:35:00.003+11:00

I have made the curtain using the lovely vintage tablecloth and it feels good to have done it. I am happy with the curtain and feel liberated to have actually used a linen I thought I should keep....
after all that's why I buy them......that's the theory anyway

giveaway goodies

2009-10-28T16:06:00.005+11:00

there have been dozens of fabulous giveaways during Blogtoberfest and I was lucky enough to win Cam's over at Curlypops. My goodies arrived late last week and look how wonderful they are. Cam has spoilt me. The main prize was this wonderful vintage embroidery book there are SO MANY fabulous projects in it! A lot of these vintage books are good for a chuckle but this has projects that I would love to do!

But that's not all, Cam generously put in some vintage fat quarters which of course I love and my favourite chocolate in the world....peppermint and this certainly did not last long. In fact I pride myself on how well I put the chocolate box back together after having it all so I could put it in the photo! Thanks so much Cam! Even though Blogtoberfest is drawing to a close there are still some giveaways open so pop over to Curlypops and join in the fun

my creative space~paper and wool

2009-10-22T09:35:00.000+11:00

A few different things happening in the space this week. I think I have finished my Inspiration Collage. I add pieces every day for days. Usually some glitter and bits and pieces as well, but I am pretty happy with it as it is....for now anyway. It's an A3 journal so a good size page to fill.....

and I am still going with THE scarf. I literally can only do 3 rows at a time still and then my arm kills me. Luckily I now have until next winter to finish the final approx 40cm plus tassels.

I do wish I could be like Hermione and bewitch the knitting so it could just knit itself in front of me in mid air while I read or maybe sew!! how cool would that be when your arms need a rest

I have been doing a few other things too but don't have photos yet, some drawings but I will get snaps soon....

Pop over and visit Kirsty to see who else is playing along this week.....

thrifty happiness.....

2009-10-21T11:38:00.003+11:00

My heart skips a beat even more these days if I find a gorgeous vintage tablecloth or pillowcase, or any linens really at the op shop, as of course many of you already know, they are getting very hard to find.

This beautiful linen tablecloth is a beauty, not a mark on her.

This one is a little smaller and has a couple of marks but will be good for cutting and given a second life in some form.

A lot of the linens I find that are in perfect condition get washed and put away as they seem too special to cut up and reuse. Some get used for the purpose for which they were intended ie on the table on the bed etc, but others are just brought out now and then to be touched and admired. So I am going to try and change this habit by using the top toadstooly tablecloth for a much needed new curtain in the laundry.
Wish me luck in cutting it a little and hemming it, I will let you know if I can go ahead with it......

vintage loveliness...

2009-10-19T12:56:00.004+11:00

I retrieved this sweet sweet vintage puzzle as mum cleared out her toy cupboard. All the grandchildren are too big now to ever go to the cupboard so mum is going to use the space for other things. I love these puzzles, you know the type.....you chose a picture then turn the blocks over to make the picture. Did you ever have one?

my place and yours....

2009-10-19T11:38:00.005+11:00

Pip over at meet me at mikes is having a fun new meme My Place and Yours so I thought I would join in. This week's theme is On The Shelf.....This is a snap of one of the shelves in my studio just full of brushes and needles also a gorgeous card basket given to me as a gift from my generous bloggy friend Marian

more cake...

2009-10-17T14:39:00.006+11:00

more chocolate cake has been made at the possum's house this week

and hopefully I will get to make another one this weekend....

they don't last long.........

blogtoberfest winner

2009-10-16T16:39:00.005+11:00

thank you to those who entered my giveaway and the winner is number 3

so congratulations to........

A Spoonful of Sugar

there are many more giveaways still on over at Curlypops so pop over and join in

blogtoberfest day 12 ~ pillowcase love

2009-10-12T13:54:00.003+11:00

I picked up some sweet pillowcases at the op shop last week.....2 of these...
and this one too

have you entered my giveaway on the last post?
go on...the possibilities are endless with this pattern

blogtoberfest ~ giveaway

2009-10-09T16:12:00.006+11:00

to celebrate Blogtoberfest I am having a giveaway. I am giving away this sweet tunic pattern by Indygo Junction. It was a new release earlier in the year. It is size S-XXXL It is quite expensive to get these in Australia as the postage was as much as the pattern itself and because I have not used it and it has never even been cut I want to give it away to a good home!!!

So, if you want it...just a leave a comment on this post before next Friday 16th October and I will do a random draw thingey. I will throw in some fabric too, not sure what it will be yet

I am happy to post overseas and you don't have to have a blog (leave an email address) or be in Blogtoberfest to enter.........................good luck

blogtoberfest day 7

2009-10-07T15:14:00.006+11:00

I really suck at Blogtoberfest this year. I was much better at it last year but I have been struggling a little health wise over the last few days. But I will be back in a day or two with a giveaway to celebrate Blogtoberfest!!! See you then.

I'll leave you with one of my favourite fabrics and I am loathe to cut into it!!!
My little Bel is home tomorrow. yay for daughters coming home :)

blogtoberfest ~ day 4 ~ ~ paper

2009-10-04T19:16:00.007+11:00

I am working on another inspiration collage..........
it takes hours to collect images and ephemera........

it takes hours to settle on a composition...........

but I love doing it............

I'll show you when it's finished.....

Blogtoberfest day 3 ~ freebie

2009-10-03T13:43:00.005+10:00

freebie
Originally uploaded by **tWo pInK pOSsuMs**

here is the pattern I drafted for my square on The Quilt Project. It is now available for you to print out as a freebie and stitch. Please just click on the photo here and it will take you straight to Flickr to choose a size and print out. If you do get around to stitching it please let me know as I would love to check it out. Happy Stitching xx

BLOGTOBERFEST

2009-10-02T13:49:00.002+10:00

yay Blogtoberfest is well under way and WOW what an amazing response to it this year pop over to Cathy to check it all out . Click on the button......

sweet nostalgia free BOM

2009-09-29T19:40:00.000+10:00

there is a beautiful free BOM over at Dorothy Baker Designs. It's called Sweet Nostalgia. I am definitely printing it out to do. It of course may take me a looong time to do all the blocks but the vintageyness of it is too hard to resist. What an absolutely generous thing for Dorothy to do