Party time and Mangoes

with the party season upon us...

I had a go at some bunting to pretty up the old carport we use...

just some leftover paper ribbon...

and some paper doilies stapled on...

it wont last long with the wind and rain its likely to get...

but it'll do for now...

 

 

then as I had donated our old Christmas tree...

I found an old seed pod from our palm tree...

it had almost the right shape...

bit wonky but that's me to a tee...

 

found a few baubles for decoration...

a piece of paper chain that had been saved from Mstr 11 months...

who had found it in a cupboard...

with great joy had rattled it around laughing all the while...

till he realised it would rip and tear so he proceeded to do so...

again with great joy...

 

an old crochet tablecloth prettied up the esky it sits on...

 

and finally taaa...daaa...our mango tree..

quite full of mangoes this year...

all the trees in the area seem to be quite overloaded...

must be all the rain we had at the start of this year...

 

this is what we find every morning...

carnage...

the leftovers from the possums and bats who are loving the fruit feast..

my job is to find any good ones and dispose of the rest..

we too have had quite a feast...

bucket loads actually...

sending visitors home with bagsful...

and still there's more!!...

Christmas Gift Tag Swap

these beautifully  handmade gift tags arrived in the mail  from Siobhan.
the gift tag swap was organized by Mezz, mezzmakesstuff.blogspot.com.au
the tags are made from cardboard & decorated with ribbon, washi tape, braid & string.
this was my first time at doing a swap. it was a fun thing to try, & just like opening a present not knowing the contents, it was a pleasant surprise!
i will post the tags i made for Siobhan soon.
(raylee).

School Holidays!!

have been busy with little fingers...

lots of paper...

bit of glue...

 

trying to come up with ideas...

just putting stuff together...



 

using pre cut bits too...

no masterpieces...

but lots of fun trying...

Boots & Vests for Country/Vintage Style Wedding

some more photos of the table setting.........roses in jars decorated with brown paper, hearts cut from old books, lace curtains & doilies from the op shop, hessian & tied with string.

i have made a few wedding dresses in the past........but this time i had a change & made these vests for the groom, the best man & the ring bearer.
these photos were taken by my sister cathy.
(raylee).

Wedding Guest Book

some of the pages & the front cover of the guest book i decorated for wayne & kylee's wedding...........& setting up the day before.

 (raylee).

Messy Work Table........

 my messy work table this week.......i lie,..... it's been like this for weeks.
there isn't much space left to actually do anything anymore........i've been collaging, painting, stitching,  cutting paper shapes & doilies & fabric by the ???.....i have lost count.....
 had to move the sewing machine out......big mistake apparently.......sewing machine not happy......threads tangling......breaking........so no stitching, (am i allowed to swear on the blog?)
no sewing machine.......is like having a hand cut off to me.
so i returned to the messy table & redecorated this old blue cane basket with a bit of paint, wrapped a strip of cheesecloth around the handle, stuck some paper doilies on the inside, tied on a  hessian bow, three cardboard birds tied with string, & a* hand stitched* heart from cheesecloth, & three white buttons.

after half a day of trying to fix cantankerous sewing machine, (this is not the first time it has been a b***h), i give up........i'm going shopping for a new one!
(raylee).

Long Time No See........

hello all, how are you?......well & happy i hope  ......i have a bit of catching up to do, will post my progress in the 365 challenge ......yes i have been doing something creative every day.......my altered book is growing as i try different ways to fill the pages.

 these are the pages i was trying to post when my computer decided to pack it in.......hopefully it is all better now.

these pages are mostly collage with some acrylic painted papers, for the ninth, tenth, eleventh & twelfth of january 2013. see you soon with some more.......thank you to every one who visits our blog.........we love having you!

(raylee)..

Letterbox Mail

i love getting real mail......the kind that gets delivered to your letterbox by a post person, sometimes ours is male, sometimes female.
this package arrived today , it included a cd , the album is called "parts of you, parts of me", some hand made badges & magnets & a card from mezz. thank you !!
mezz is a very talented girl, she does lots of crafty arty stuff, sews & cooks ,writes & sings beautifully.......i bet she can dance too!!
(raylee).