Label of the week #2

It hasn't been quite a week from the last 'Label of the week' post but i just couldn't wait until Friday to share this one! 
'Moss & Myrtle' is a lovely label from Melbourne who consists of Cathy Slarks and Sarah Knop who make gorgeous sleep and lounge wear. Made from organic and recycled fabric is a range of tops, bloomers and pants. They are also environmentally and ethically friendly so they have ticks in all the right boxes! I received my 'Peachy Bloomers' in the post today and they are extreeemley comfortable and so cute i want to wear them everywhere! They even came wrapped adorably in brown paper packaging tied up in string!
Take a look at their range at http://www.mossandmyrtle.com/

it's begun!

I've started crocheting! and it is fabulous! very easy once you get started. it's going to be a very handy skill and hobby on long trips in the car or when i'm bored (instead of prowling ebay) so it should curb my shopping habbits too. HORAH! i'll post pics when i finish my first piece 'orange scarf'
 :)

Craft Lesson #2: Make your own string balls

I know, Christmas has passed, but these string balls can be made to use as decorations in a bowel on your coffee table OR Christmas baubles. They are very beachy looking.
So, what you need is:

• rubber gloves
• string/twine
• white craft glue
• baking paper
• bowel
• water
• water balloons
• balloon pump (optional)
• pin for popping

1. Firstly, blow up as many water balloons as you want to make string balls (with air, not water). I'd recommend using a balloon pump because those suckers are tough to inflate.
2. Make a solution of water and white craft glue (about 1/4 water and 3/4 glue) in your bowel (now don't use your best china for this activity, something easy to clean or even disposable (eep) will be fine.
3. Put on your rubber gloves and lay out a piece of baking paper.
4. Cut lengths of twine to however long you like. Longer is easier to work with
5. Soak these lengths one piece at a time in the glue solution and wring out with your fingers
6. Wrap around your balloons making sure there are no big gaps. Tuck the end piece under another piece to hold and place onto the baking paper.
7. Continue to soak, wring and wrap until your heart is content.
8. Leave overnight to dry and turn occasionally to ensure the hole ball is drying.
9. Once dry, get a pin and pop the balloon inside. I find tweezers are handy to have around in case the balloon gets trapped inside the ball.
10. and PRESTO, you have a twine ball. For Christmas i tied string through them and hung on my tree and place the Christmas tree lights in the ball and it looked adorable. Or put them in a bowel on your table and its a very cheap, easy decoration for your home.

Below are some piccys:

xxx

Label of the week #1

So, my new years resolutions are still going strong (STILL haven't gotten around to getting my crochet started, but i will, i promise) but i thought I'd add a 'Label of the week' section to my blog to display some creative labels, whether they be fashion, home wares or anything.
SO for my first "label of the week" I'd like to introduce to you 'Raw Hemline'.

Raw Hemline is a fabulously creative label from Perth, WA. Below is one of my favourites by the talented designer (and sewer!) of Raw Hemline, Holly. She also creates stunning head pieces, jewelry and more. Check out this and her other stuff at www.rawhemline.etsy.com

Eco Tip #1 Vinegar

White vinegar can be used for virtually ANYTHING. It's eco friendly and cheap.
Some uses are:

• Fill half your kettle with white vinegar and boil it to clean the scummy bits on the inside. When it's finished boiling, don't tip it out. Instead, pour it over weeds in the backyard to kill them (it dries them out)
• Make a solution of 1:1 warm water : white vinegar and dab it onto any bruises. It promotes circulation and it makes the bruises vanish
• To clean windows make a simple cleaning mix with one tablespoon of vinegar to 1L warm water
• To get pesky stickers off, soak the item in straight vinegar and they peel right off
• Use vinegar to get ink stains out of clothing. Soak in vinegar for an hour and wash
• Use vinegar instead of fabric softener. Makes your clothes smell fresh and makes the colours brighter
• If you have burn marks on your pots and pans, soak in vinegar for a couple of hours and then rub baking soda on them and the burn marks comes right off.

HORAH for vinegar!

shopping hours confusion

well, i failed on going to Spotlight to start my crochet adventure. The dang shops were closed! am i the only one who was confused by the shopping times over the new year holiday period? i went to the grocerie shops yesterday thinking they'd be open, but they were shut. i got told 'no no. all the shops are open on the Monday so the retail industry can have a two day holiday' only to find out Spotlight and Savers WERE open yesterday. but not today. devostated.

So instead, i'm going to pass on my top 5 tips for going op shopping - i'm sure most of you go by these anyway, BUT for you who don't, i hope you find them helpful.

Number 5: Go frequently. Op shops are always filling there shelves with stock and as theres generally only one of everything, you don't want to miss out
Number 4: Don't have time restrictions. You don't want to be rushed. Take your time so you can look at every section
Number 3: Don't go in with expectations of what you want. if you're only looking for one thing in mind (eg a black dress), you'll more than likely miss other awesome buys.
Number 2: Most things will wash up a treat! If clothing or furniture looks a bit grubby, grab it anyway. If it doesn't scrub up clean, it'd probably only cost you a couple of dollars anyway, and maybe you can remake something with the cleaner parts matieral.
Numero Uno: NEVER EVER disregard sizes that aren't your own. I find that the best fabrics and patterns are on those clothes that are 5 times my size. remember, it's very easy to alter clothing.

So, three days into my new years resolutions and i've been successful! so far so good. Well, on two of them, i havnt bitched and i havnt eaten take away. i have every intention of going to Spotlight today and getting a crochet kit started.
I think i'll start off with making a scarf. I figure if i start now then i've got plenty of time to make it before winter starts and theres no pressure.

How are your new years resolutions going?

Craft Lesson #1: Make your own jar lanterns

It's summer. everyone loves to have some outdoor barbies and some drinks in the backyard, but what will you do when it gets dark? do you have outdoor lighting? No?! Never Fear! you can make your very own recycled lanterns.

All you need is:

• an old jar (try and get fido jars as they have metal around the top to tie your string/rope to)
• sand
• tea light candle
• brown string/twine/fine rope

How to make them:

• Firstly, take off the lid of the jar. If you squeaze the metal holding it on, it makes it easier to get off. Keep the lid though because if you're not going to use the lanterns for a while, it's handy to put the lids back on to stop bugs and spiders making a cosy home. 
• Keep the metal on the jar so you have something to tie the twine to.
• For small jars i doubled up on the twine (pictured below) just to make sure it would be strong enough
• For larger jars i plaited three pieces of twine together to make sure it was EXTRA strong so no one would get K.O'd by a falling lantern.
• Tie this to the metal on each side of the jar.
• Put a dabble of glue on each knot to make sure it doesn't come un-ravelled.
• Fill jars about one third of the way with sand
• add a tea light candle

And you are DONE! a very adorable hand made recycled power free lantern.
If you tend to get eaten by the mozzies, why not put in a small citronella candle intead?

Make as many or as little as you like, they always look super cute. I think grouping lanterns in three's and having them on the ground around the garden path also looks just as good.

Another new years resolution or two

I want to knit(or crochet). booties. for babies. they are just adorable. so i'd like to learn to knit so i can make booties such as this:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Mamachee

another rad etsy shop that sells adorable bootie patterns is:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ketzl

I'd also really like to start meditating. Try to bring some inner calm to myself. With everything going on in the world i think people need to take a few mintues each day just to relax and not think. I know, people say meditating is hard to do, but i think i'll give it a shot.

Take care x

HAPPY NEW YEAR

So it's new years day. Happy New Year!
It's that time of year again where you get to make up resoloutions to try and follow throughout 2011.
This year i've tried to make mine relatively simple and achievable.

1. No more take away food - eg maccas, kfc, hungrys and pizza. i would try cutting junk food all together, but c'mon..we all know how hard that one will be. i will allow myself to eat fish and chips though because at least that is (well i think it is) fresh food. I'm stopping the takeaway because i'm sick of the preservatives. i found an old pizza in my shed which was from AT LEAST 4 months ago and it didnt seem to have decayed at all. i found it slightly disturbing.
2. Stop ma bitchin' - i tend to get caught up in bitching about people alot. so i'm going to stop. i don't enjoy bitching, it just makes me feel sad and angry, so why do it? People think i'm the nice girl and innocent, i don't want to let them down.
3. This year i'm very keen to get my veggie patch finally started. i have a compost bin but nothing to put it on! this hopefully will help with number 1 on my list, because if i have lovely fresh fruit and veggie available to me in my own backyard, there's no excuse to be lazy and get take-away.

I hope your brough in the new year with lots of friends and family and this year brings you much happiness and good health.

What are your new years resolutions?