www.myrtleandgrace.blogspot.com
Friday, December 3, 2010
Super Easy Christmas or Party Bunting
Ok this bunting is so very super quick and easy. You can used ANY Chritsmas gift wrap or as I've done these paper doilies. If using gift wrap just cut isosolies triangles to the size you require. I like them to be about 20cm long, to get it done even quicker layer the paper to cut multiples out at once. For the doilies cut the top few inches off to create a straight edge. I have used 2 different sized ones and alternated them along the ribbon. Any ribbon can be used and even the metallic curling ribbon runs through the machine fine. Leave yourself a tail of about 30 to 40cm for tying off. layer your doilies or paper under the edge of the ribbon as in the first picture and just straight stitch keeping the ribbon lined up with the edge of the paper. As i'd mentioned I've alternated different size doilies along the way leaving a gap of about 4 cm between each doilie. You don't even need to cut the thread just stitch along the ribbon for an extra 4cm then carefully feed the next doilie or bunting under the ribbon an keep going until you run out. Don't forget to leave a tail at the other end to tie up. It's really cheap to make and super easy to make.You can make this as long or as short as you like and can also be done in birthday wrapping paper or scrapbooking paper. Time this one took me 20 mins and cost- ribbon $2.50, Doilies 2 packets $4.00 total $6.50 for a super effective decoration.
The last photo is my next little project. I've made heaps before and though for Christmas I 'd make a long string of small tissue paper pompon flowers. This is just the start so I'll pop on another picture once finished. Just as cost effective but a little more time consuming.
Our CHristmas theme this year is...
I don't know what it is about decorating the tree that I love so much. You'd think after being a VM for so many years that I'd be over decorating them but happily no. Months of deliberating and discussing with girlfriends what "theme" this year will be searching out those couple of extra special decorations to add in to the collection, I always hear grumblings at how my decoration collection is slowly growing. I don't know why he grumbles because I only have about 1500 items carefully boxed up in colour order. You know one create for red ,one for yellow, one for green Etc and all the way through the colour spectrum. Doesn't everyone do that? It is in fact about the only thing in this house that is soooo freakishly organised. I did have a BIG clear out years ago and believe it or not got rid of approximately 4 green garbage bags of baubles that I had used in my line of work. Now I only have to concentrate on my own home, ahhhh. I found some gorgeous little wooden birds at my fave coffee/ gift shop The Upholstery Gallery in Ballarat and decided on the theme, so here it is. I thought the little paper doilies bunting would make a cute addition to the wall (I'll pop on a quick and easy tutorial for how to construct your own doilies or Christmas paper bunting) and from the cover of the Christmas Country Style magazine I'd noticed on the tree they also have little tiny doilies hanging. I happened to have an abundance of these at the moment so I'll also add them on over the weekend. Enjoy the pics I hope you and your family have as much fun and receive as much joy decorating your family's tree as we do. we wish you a merry Christmas.
Warm Wishes, Rach
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
It's Oh So Quiet, Shhh
Shhhh...
Poor little man was sooo very tired this afternoon that he couldn't even wait until I'd got him out of the high chair to fall asleep! What a horrible Mummy I am leaving him there covered in baby dinner. But, he looked so very peaceful and sound asleep that I didn't have the heart to move him. I just had to share this shot with you all.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
New Promotional Competition
So here it is, the highly anticipated..."All Things Nice " Collection for the Sugar & Spice children's market. Want to know how you can win a FREE Myrtle & Grace Dress? The next BIG promotion is open! It's easy and fun, just design Myrtle & Grace's new (standard) postcard front! It can be any medium scrapped, digital, painted etc It must have...
1. A Myrtle & Grace Dress or Tshirt
2. Myrtle & Grace Name
3. PDF or Jpeg Files Accepted
POst your entries onto the our face book page facebook and OR email to groobiteam@optusnet.com.au by 12th Dec. The winner will be judged by our friends online. The one with the most individual "LIKES" will be our lucky winner of a dress of your choice, custom or stock in time for CHRISTMAS. 3 lucky runners up with receive a double ribbon hair flower. So what are you waiting for, get creating. I can't wait to see what you all come up with. xx Rachael
Saturday, November 20, 2010
48 hours...
Made three more Wallets. Scrapped with Celeste (the one on the right) Made a page at crop. and finally after 2 years of procrastinating, started making a Vinyl shopper bag. The story behind the bag is this... A few years ago I had the idea that I would have some of my fave pictures of Emily printed onto heavy duty sign writers vinyl/PVC and after a test run on my sewing machine went horribly wrong I put it away for a while, then it got moved, then found again! Yeay. Now all inspired again after making the small PVC and paper wallets I found at the Ric rac blog. AND investing in the crucial and life saving Teflon foot for my sewing machine, sewing this baby up was a dream! That is until the upholstery thread ran out and the nearest shop is 40km away! a great big BUGGER, I'll have to wait till I go back into town again to be able to finish it off, but you gotta admit that it's starting to look pretty awesome already! Can't wait to show you the other side and if all this works out and they prove to be easy enough to bind I might just offer custom order bags for sale with your very own pictures on them.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Run Run as Fast as You Can...
What a crazy few weeks it has been around here. I took the kids away for our very first ever, ever, ever family holiday (Trips interstate to visit family don't count) While I'm sure the kids has a ball hanging out at the beach building sand castles (whole they are still allowed) and generally not having to do anything or be anywhere. I AM EXHAUSTED! So much for a bit of R and R. Oh well, it was nice not having a timetable to run to though and the local Op Shops down at Rye were a haven for inspiration and fabrics, lucky all my kids love Op Shopping too.
Just after getting back Myrtle & Grace mode was switched back on and it's all go go go getting ready for the Sugar & Spice market in just under 2 weeks . The brand new "All things nice" collection is is full production and I Even stopped briefly to put together the first of a little boys T shirt range. Suggestions for any other image ideas to put on boys T's are very welcome.
I have been madly fine tuning the details of the NEXT BIG PROMOTION for M & G which will be announced a little closer to the Sugar & Spice market. In between all this I had smacked the top of my head on the VERY heavy back door of the bus. "Ouch" was just one of the many expletives I used, I'm sure most of you could imagine what the others were. For a few days I was a bit out of it doing some strange things that I would normally have blamed my "placenta brain" on IF I had been pregnant (no, I am NOT! just in case you were wondering) Those strange things included putting the mobile phone in the fridge and putting the house phone in my hand bang then spend the rest of the day looking for them because I can't remember where I put them. Anyhow, I must keep sewing away, I feel neglectful of my blog but new and developing products are taking up my time.
P.S The weather had turned a bitter cold kinda wet the other and while driving along in the car Miss E yells "Mummy I sawd some penguins! they are three brothers" Hmm I wonder what she was talking about I know it's cold but penguins? This far inland? I glanced in the rear veiw mirror to see... Three black and white Magpies hanging out on the side of the road. Right colour and qty just wrong breed. Put a smile on my face, what a treasure.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Mmmmm. . .
An absolutely deliciously scrumptious assoertment of quilting fabrics to play with. "Mwahahahaha" I say as I rub my hands together with anticipation! It's going to be a long night of creativness.
Monday, November 1, 2010
I wish I had a Photo For...
This weekend just past Master 10 Found some dragon fly wings out in the garden. He ever so carefully transported them inside gently cupping them in his hand so they would not blow away in the breeze, and rumaged through the draw with one hand looking for an envelope to put them in. I, of course, thought the worst and wondered if he was either hurt and looking for a band aide OR that he was up to mischeif OR both! "What are you doing?" I grumbled. "I'm looking for an envelope" was his reply. "What? why? You are supposed to be outside enjoying the sunshine"
"I found these" holding out his ouside hands there they were a delicate pair of dragonfly wings in his typical little boys hands. "I'm going to keep them for Sienna, and give them to her. I'm going to tell her they are fairy wings!" My heart just melted, Awwwww what a lovely idea. I felt really bad then for grumbling and getting anoyed. And Sienna well she still beleives in Fairies and thinks they are the most special present ever! My lovely little man, I hope he stays this thoughtful throughout his life.
The Fabric File
9 Sleeps Left!
Well Hello There Stranger!
Monday, October 18, 2010
Summer Bliss
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Awwww Special Moments.
Will's Christening
I love these photo's of Will with his mate Hudson, sharing secrets and making Hudson upset by taking his dummy. Will with some of my family Grandma (My mum) and Nannie Turner (My maternal Grandma). Then Mummy and Daddy cutting the christening cake, Mummy even has spinach baby food all the way down her top!
Friday, October 8, 2010
Maisie Flower goes Minty
Freebies Time!
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Hairiffic!
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Facebook Likey
Monday, September 27, 2010
Birthday, Baptism & Bodies Everywhere!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
NEWS FLASH
So very excited, I have already created the templates for the cupcake tops and cut out 12 in ten minutes! Now that sure beats hand cutting! Sooooo many project possibilities now. Yee Haaah.
Bogged Down & Flooded!
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Life - Full Circle in One Paddock
Our eyes caught more calves yet again playing, the older ones seemed to be congregating in a kind of calf nursery playing and messing about with all of their new found friends. The another cow started circling and bellowing, lay down, got up and continued to circle some more. It was as she was circling that this cow was in the process of birthing as we watched...
Another cow stood nearer to us and she looked to the ground also circling with only very occasional inspection of her newborn who lay on the ground. This girl behave very differently to the first we'd seen encouraging her baby to stand, this time there was no licking and nudging. Just an occasional inspection of her babe then of us all watching from the car. For half an hour or so we watched each scene. Then new calf taking it's first steps and falling all so often, the birthing cow circling then laying down, getting up and circling some more, and the reluctant nurturer who didn't quite seen to know what to do, or did she? After sometime she would wander from her baby and come back and she did this a few more times until she wandered off completely and we realised as she had done that, her new baby was not going to get up at all and it had died. Back with other cows across the paddock we saw and heard her give one last bellow, do cows experience grief? It certainly sounded that way. Our birthing cow was still going round and round up and down it was an amazing process to see. And our new walker slowly was gaining more steady feet and was now trying to suckle from its mother. All the time she kept moving around her baby so it could not quite get to her teat. It was really very fun to see this strange Mother and Baby Dance. Both of them trying to work out what to do, Me providing comic commentary to the dance and the new calf occasionally face planting on the ground as it took lunges trying to take hold of Mum, sometimes only getting her tail which didn't provide much sustenance at all.
We left the road by the paddock seeing life full circle pregnancy and birthing, new life taking first steps and sad death of another. Isn't mother nature beautiful. What an amazing afternoon.
The PINK Party Over & Done
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Look What's NEW...
Cup Cake Box Tutorial
Scissors, Cutting Mat, Metal Ruler, Double Sided Tape, Grey Lead Pencil, Kindy Glitz
2. Score evenly around your box dividing each quarter into 4 again. I used something small and round to trace around to mark out each scallop. Cut scallops out and fold on the score. If putting a hair bobble on the top for a cherry like mine punch a hole in the centre at this stage- makes it easy for the elastic to fit through.
3. Optional decorative finish- Dry brush edges and detail with kindy glitz, leave to dry.
4. Lay out your pre bought cup cake patty pan bases. ( I suppose you could make you own if you wanted) Fill with goodies.
5. Use Double sided tape to stick lids together so that they form a cone shape. Make sure you enclose the elastic at this stage leaving the hair bobble sticking out to look like a cherry. Join with a piece of sticky tape from base to lid. This acts as a hinge. FINISHED.
PINK pink PINK!
Monday, July 26, 2010
365 Project Update
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
The Scariest few hours of my life!
Not long after I'd put my two little ones in the bath it started not just the normal type that we usually expected every now and then but the BIG ONE happened. Epilepsy seems to be an unknown, with so many different types of seizures possible, we've experienced most of them and ticked the box for ALL of them Sunday night.
While we enjoyed our nice relaxing bath washing Lil's back for I felt her for a split second flop and completely relax, almost melt in my arms then just as quickly as she melted she began to violently throw her arms and legs around, eyes rolled back in her head and I'm thinking OK I've got her I can manage this. I call for help to get my 2 year old out of the bath before she was injured. It normally is less than a minute or so, but this time it was not it kept on relentlessly forcing my small child's body in to the sides of the bath arms and legs striking me and the bath as I struggled to keep her head above water, The bath was just NOT draining quick enough the face washer I'd just been using kept blocking the plug hole slowing the whole process. I called again for help this time with a more panicked voice. My 2 year old becoming more distressed me become more distressed, now I'd noticed Lil's face as white as white could be her eyes looked like she had 2 black eyes, her lips that horrible shade of purpley blue that 'd only seen on the dying. In that moment I didn't think we were going to be celebrating a 9Th birthday in a fortnight, in that moment I though I was saying goodbye. I called out again "GET AN AMBULANCE!" But then a gurgle and a gasp of air was sucked in and breathing began again a
little labored but it was happening. I felt myself heave a deep breath in too. The seizure 'softened' enough for me to lift her out of the bath, With her eyes still rolled back in her head Lilly was sort of responding to me following my instruction to take in long deep slow breaths, but her little body was still contorted in an awkward pose, rigidly shuddering but not as violent as what it had been. Then she passed out into a deep sleep. This little child of mine had just run the equivalent of 3 marathons in a small amount of time. She was exhausted, I was exhausted. The ambulance still on it's way. All this happening in a space of only 15 Min's the worst part in the bath took all of 3 minutes. It was the longest and scariest 3Min's of my life. And Lilly well she doesn't remember much except that she got to ride in an ambulance and she had a sleep over at the hospital. She was wanting to go to school on Tuesday even if she was too tired to last the whole day there. At. least she is well enough to want to go.