A New Needed Prop

If you have stopped by before you probably know I am an avid op shopper. I love finding things I need, like a bathing suit for middle or a casserole dish to replace one I have broken. I also love finding things I don't need, like this lovely tea cup.

Why don't I need it? Well, I don't drink tea. I know, I know, I have never liked tea. I think it's because I associate it with being sick (when I was a child my mum always gave me tea with honey when I was sick). Second of all, it's an orphan. No saucer, no other cups. Just a lonely little cup.

Turns out though, I was wrong about not needing it. I decided to take new picturesof my felt biscuit brooches for my Etsy shop  and the tea cup was the perfect prop, don't you think?:) Cyndy

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Day 7 Blogtoberfest - Paper Buntings and Garlands

Pretty much every time I am in an op shop I bring home a book (or two or three:). Sometimes for the story, but mostly for the illustrations.

Many books are hidden works of art, particularly children's books. Many are also damaged. Despite the damage I figure something can be done with them. Magnets, brooches and cards are just a few of the things I have made with illustrations from books. And bunting and garlands, of course:)

I have several in progress right now including a 1970's version of Blinky Bill bunting:

And a Bananas in Pajamas garland:

Now I will admit, it is hard to cut into a book, even a damaged book, but in the long run I figure it's better to cut and create something that will be used then for the book to end up pulped or in a landfill.

Have you ever used illustrations from books? What have you made? Cyndy Pin It

My Creative Space

Only 6 weeks until my next market. I had visions of lots of making (the last market I did was in March), but somehow 6 weeks out it appears my vision is not yet a reality.

I have been working on a few new items for the market, including these pin cushions that feature my wool embroidered Australian native flowers. It's an idea that's been percolating for a while (i.e. what size, what shape, how to to do the back), but I only finished the first two in the last 2 weeks (the school holidays here).

I have embroidered the flowers on pieces of old wool blankets found at op shops and have backed them with coordinating quilting fabrics. They are square in shape and measure about 4 inches square finished.

Yes, I am moving at a bit of a snail's pace, but sometimes I need to let things sit for awhile until I work out what I really want to do. I think it's the anal retentive perfectionist in me:) I think their making will move faster now that I've worked out all the details. Well, that's what I am telling myself:) I hope people like them! I've kept the reject one (round in shape, about 3.5 inches in diameter and 2 inches tall) for myself and even though I am not in love with the shape/size, I do like looking at it every time I need a pin!

To see what others have been up to this week, surely at a faster pace than I, be sure to check out My Creative Space. Cyndy Pin It

Op Shop Find

Yesterday, on the way to a birthday party, middle and I stopped into an op shop we frequent. I always come home with more when middle is with me and yesterday was no exception.

I am not a huge figurine fan, but we found these Japanese cold paint ones packaged up together in a bag. When middle saw the horses in the bag she was sold.

I found this koala (mama and baby) piggy bank. I used to have a real piggy bank. It was vintage, ceramic and pink, but it was stolen when our house was broken into over a couple of years ago (I was more upset that they took the pig than the change in it). I've been looking for another piggy bank to replace it. True it's not a pig, but it is pretty cute:)

And of course what would a trip to the op shop be without some books. A Nancy Drew for middle and two Enid Blyton's for me:)

Hoping you had some lovely finds this week:) Be sure to visit Flea Market Finds at Her Library Adventures to see what others have found! Cyndy Pin It

Op Shop Finds - A Lesson in Looking Up

This week I was in one of my favourite op shops, looking through the shelves and about to walk away, when I looked up. And there, all by itself on the top of the shelves sat this Weet-Bix tin. Yep, I gave a little yelp out loud and grabbed it! It's not old, old (from the early 1990's I think) but I love it. You may remember my felt Weet-Bix? Yes, I will need to do a new photo shoot using this as a prop:)

On the same shelves (eye level) I found this black tole tray. I collect tole trays of all sizes and shapes so this will be  lovely addition.

And what would a trip to the op shop be without a few book? I found this hard cover Enid Blyton classic from the 1970s. It's a little worse for the wear but I had to have it. I also found the little cowboy book printed in 1967. My oldest is past the cowboy stage at age 10, but I am sure there will be some little cowboys somewhere in my future:)

To see more fun finds from the last week be sure to visit Flea Market Finds at Her Library Adventures. Happy Op Shopping! Cyndy Pin It

Op Shop Finds

Sometimes your lucky and sometimes your not, that's the nature of op shopping. This weekend I was lucky:)

I've been looking for some vintage pot holders and  I found two, both in yellow my kitchen colour. Love this little lidded jar too:)

I also managed to find a few things for my girls: a sweet pillow case with embroidered flowers, a sleeping beauty puzzle and a crown cookie cutter.

But my favorite find of the weekend? This wool blanket found in the dog blanket bin! The colours are fabulous.

It has been cut in half (so it's two pieces). I am assuming this is because there are some damaged areas (holes from moths it looks like), but I think I can selvage enough to create a throw blanket for my lounge room and use the remaining bits as background for some of my wool embroidery.

Speaking of, here's a piece I finished this week featuring gum flowers on another op shopped blanket background:)

In case my finds aren't enough for you, be sure to check out Flea Market Finds over at Her Library Adventures:) Cyndy Pin It

Op Shop Find - Vintage Embroidered Linens

If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram you would have seen a peek of my latest op shop finds - beautiful vintage embroidered linens! I love vintage linens of all kinds, doilies, tableclothes, tea towels, hankerchiefs, pillow cases, sheets etc... Depending on their condition they can fabulous on their own, or they can be re-purposed to create something else.

I saw one of these gorgeous luncheon napkins (there were four total) and fell in love. They are so sweet and delicate looking. Littlest wants a princess party later this year for her birthday with a few of her friends and I am thinking these would be perfect at a princess tea party:)

I also found this gorgeous cross stitch table cloth. It's the standard square tablecloth size (52 inches). This rose motif is in each corner with a fuller version in the center. It was marked $3.99 but I only paid a $1 for it! Can you believe it? Clearly a great deal of time and care went into making it. It's in lovely condition so I could use it on its own, or maybe someday as part of a quilt?

And then there was this little hankerchief with a basket of flowers in the corner. My first thought was to make a dress for Miss Polly (the doll I made for littlest for Christmas this year) from it.

Oh the possibilities, now just to find the time:) Cyndy Pin It

Op Shop Finds: Vintage Cot Sheets and Pillowslips

On the way to a play date for littlest recently we stopped at one of my favourite op shops. As we pulled up to the oppy I saw what looked like a wooden doll swing sitting outside. My heart skipped a little beat. I got littlest out of the car and started heading across the parking lot and saw what every op shopper hates - someone else picking up the item you have spied! I tried to act nonchalant and to look at some of the other items sitting outside, all the while hoping the other shopper would walk away from the doll swing. But they didn't. Instead they took it inside and purchased it:(

Devastated, littlest and I went into the shop. I wasn't finding much and then I saw it. I couldn't even see the whole thing, but I knew it was a find. I pulled it out from the pile, a vintage embroidered cot sheet. I quickly sorted through the entire pile and found one more cot sheet (same as the first) and two different cot pillowslips.

The photos don't do them justice. The embroidery is so sweet!

Since we don't actually have a cot anymore, I might make pillow cases for littlest and middle from the cot sheets. Or maybe I will just look at them for a little longer:) Cyndy

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My Creative Space

A new school year is underway in our household. Middle and oldest started school mid last week, and littlest started kinder. I was thinking I would have more time for crafting, but I am still waiting for that to materialise. Littlest phases into her regular kinder schedule over the next couple of weeks, so still not much child free time. And I forgot with school also comes all the children's other activities (swimming, ballet, netball) plus all of my related volunteer work (toy library duty, school council, parent's association).

That's all to say I didn't get too creative this week. I made a wonky pencil case for middle (to her credit, she wanted to keep it even though I wanted to start again), sorted two containers of fabric, did some fabric cutting and started thinking through a new crafty project using a vintage tablecloth with Australian flora on it that has lots of stains (but it's still more of an idea than an actual project). I guess I need to be more patient with the transition to our new school year routine and lower my crafting expectations just a little:)

You can find lots more creative spaces over at Our Creative Spaces this week. Cyndy Pin It

Op Shop Finds

In doing my good deed yesterday (dropping off unneeded clothes at the op shop) I couldn't help but take a peek to see if anyone elses unneeded items were needed by me! Of course I found a few I couldn't resist:)

The first was this "Mary, Mary quite contrary" mug. I love nursery rhymes, especially the ones with "Mary" in them. I have some nursery rhyme prints on the wall in the girls room, so I am thinking I will use this in their room - somehow.

The second was this beautiful flower plate. I have written about and shared my love of flowers elsewhere including here and  here, and I have shared many of my flower related crafts like here but that's just the tip of my flower obsession iceberg. My bedroom walls are covered in all sorts of flowers from framed prints to painted trays to framed embroidery to yes, plates:) The plate is melmac, but the colours (in my opinion) are stunning. I have just the place in mind for it on my wall:)

And case you are wondering, despite these finds, I did manage to get rid of more than I found:) Cyndy Pin It

Op Shop Finds - Vintage Vegetable Themed Table Cloth

Do you have something that when you see it in an op makes your heart beat a little faster? Your eyes dart from side to side? Your palms start to sweat? Do you have some you so covet that you hope no one else notices your excitement, for fear they will swoop in and grab the item from you?

I do, it's vintage vegetable themed kitchen items of any sort. I love vegetables on anything; cookware, serving ware, table cloths, tea towels, art work, rugs. Yes, on anything.

About a week ago on my way to Spotlight I stopped in one of my favourite little op shops and when going through the table linens found this fabulous vegetable themed table cloth. A little wrinkly I know, but it did need a wash. I've ironed it and am already using it on the children's computer table in the kitchen. I paid $2. Sigh...doesn't that just warm your heart? Cyndy Pin It

Op Shop Find - Dress Up Twins Lacing Dolls

Don't you love it when you are in an op shop and from the corner of your eye you see something tucked away and just can't believe your luck? Recently the littlest and I did a quick stop at one of our local op shops and I saw this lacing doll game tucked in a corner up on a high shelf...for $1!

I thought it was from the 1970's, but turns out it's only from the early 1990's. It comes with all sorts of outfits - tops, bottoms, pjs, bathing costumes, shoes, slippers, hats, aprons, gloves, coats etc.. and lots of laces in all different sizes.

The littlest can do a pretty good job of lacing clothing onto the girl doll. The boy doll is missing, but it's still a lovely little item. The first three days we had it the littlest couldn't put it down; she wanted to take it everywhere! Not sure how long it will last in this house, but am thinking I might have to keep it when the littlest gets tired of it for myself:) Cyndy Pin It

Op Shop Find

The littlest and I managed to stop at one of my favorite op shops earlier this week (on the way to Spotlight). The crafting gods must have been smiling down on me as I found 5, yes 5, brand new zippers at 20 cents each in just the right size and colour I had been planning to buy at Spotlight (that didn't stop me from going to Spotlight though:).

I also found a fabulous vintage Sydney linen tablecloth to add to my vintage tablecloth and tea towel collection. And of course a few doilies, because well, who can resist a good doily?

And don't worry, the littlest didn't go home empty handed - she found a Barbie Rapunzel book and a Madeline video:) Cyndy Pin It

My First Crafty Swap

I am participating in my first crafty swap, the Snail Mail Swap hosted by Seaweed and Raine. The idea is to send someone "Sunshine in the Mail" because everyone likes getting real mail (not those yucky bills or junk mail). There are five options of what you can include in your package:

• stationary OR  note cards with envelopes
• a handmade postcard
• something you have made
• something that makes you think of Spring
• a surprise for your partner

You need to choose at least three. I have been studying my swap partner's (it's a blind swap so while I will be sending to one person, I will be receiving from another person) blogs for ideas of what to send.

I don't want to reveal too much yet, but above is some of what went into the items she is receiving. Will do a full reveal after I send my package later this week. They are supposed to receive their package before September 1. Yes, I am waiting until the last minute to send:) Cyndy Pin It

Op Shop Find

On Saturday my youngest and I went to the op shop after picking up some cat food. It was a last minute decision to stop, but I must have felt the vibe because I found these sweet little fabric coasters featuring hand sewn lily of the valleys. I have a few other items with lily of the valleys on them in my bedroom - I find the combination of white and green so refreshing and just looking at them reminds me of their wonderful scent!

I also managed to pick up some doilies, a bag of children's books, and a Madeline video (for the youngest, of course:). The price tag for the whole lot - only $6! How can you not love that?! Cyndy Pin It

My Creative Space...

Next week is my oldest daughter's (age 7) best friend's birthday. As a regular op shop visitor, I had found a Little Golden Book about horses with lovely illustrations in it some time ago. I scooped it up thinking I might make something from it for my daughter's best friend who is horse crazy. As with many of my purchases I wasn't sure what I would make, but I knew that would come to me when the time was right.

After procrastinating as long as I could (I actually have a hard time cutting up books), I finally settled on making a paper garland for her bedroom from the book. I started working on it yesterday. When my daughter came home from school she saw some of the shapes I had punched out and said "Mum, I know what I want to make for Bridgette for her birthday, one of those banners like you made for Aunt Tanya." Clearly great minds think alike:) I was able to tell her that was exactly what I was making. She still wanted to make something herself for her friend, so we have come up with an "I love horse" collage/sign she is going to make using some of the leftover illustrations from the book.

I hope you are getting lots done in your creative space today. I am feeling the effects of my first cold of the season, so might not get as much done today as I had hoped! For more creative spaces you can visit here. Cyndy Pin It

Op Shop Find

My youngest (age 3) and I stopped at our favorite ops shop on the weekend. We love looking at the books - I don't think we have ever left the shop without at least one in hand!

I was excited to find this stash of children's books from the Young Australians Series for practically nothing! While a number of them have some water damage, loose pages and broken bindings, they have some fun and beautiful illustrations in them. Not sure what I will do with them yet, but I am sure I will come up with something fun - garlands, cards, envelopes, tags? Cyndy

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