COUNTIN' CROWS - ...gathering my thoughts

I have had to purchase a new sewing machine as I have somehow managed to "kill" my oldie.....and it got me to thinking of how times have changed. Gone are the days where everything was painstakingly stitched by hand...perfectly sized stitching that one has to study hard to realize is not actually created by a machine, but lovingly handstitched. I have a couple of older pieces in my collection that are handstitched and the workmanship is truely beautiful. When sewing machines were introduced they were very basic and offered none of the "bells and whistles" we see today....although again they produced fine quality garments for loved family members and friends. So....my new machine...phewwww.....talk about "bells and whistles"...automatic needle threader, a button to move the needle up and down (no winding of any kind required!), automatic button holer...70 computerised stitches, LED display...(to name just a few)....and this was one of t

A Merry Christmas from my family to yours! Had a wonderful day yesterday....I don't know who was more excited...CJ opening all of her pressies... or us "grown-ups" watching her...lol. ...either way it was a wonderful day spent with family that I will never forget...made even more special because of our precious little Charlotte! I hope you all experienced the special Spirit of Christmas yesterday!! Anyways...we are heading back over to my brother's for "leftovers" for dinner tonite and another welcome dose of CJ magic.....woohoo ...cant wait ...! Till next time......  Chris x

Well I have "FINALLY" popped up the Chrissy deco's!!!....and with a week to spare!!!...lol....nothing like leaving a job until the last minute is there!! Main Lounge Room Honestly...I really dont know why I bothered as we are not having anyone over this year that will see them (we are off to my brother's ....cant' wait!!!)....but after our "icky" christmas last year with Mum, Charlotte and my nephew in hospital.....I thought I would make the effort to get these out!...and after all Christmas just ain't Christmas without a Christmas tree is it? Dining Room ....most of the decos are handmade either by myself, by talented friends of mine or I have purchased them from the states and they only get to see the light of day and the twinkle of christmas lights for a couple of weeks a year, which is a real shame....so heck...why not put them out!!! Kitchen I really didn't have the time (should have been catching up on

I'm a bit late with this post...... but better late than never has always been my motto! Now..... the little cutie-pie pictured above I am sure you will recognise as my little neice Charlotte and ... although I am struggling to believe it.... she is one already!!!...my how time flies. This major event came to pass about a month ago..but I have only just received some lovely up to date pics from my "sis"...hence the late post! It seems like only yesterday I laid eyes on my new little "best friend"!....and that is what we are fast becoming. She is the sweetest little person I have ever met and the joy I get from my visits, her cuddles, chuckles and sloppy kisses is immense...well its practically immeasurable!!!. I just love her to bits (but I am certain you will have guessed that already...lol) Having not been blessed with kids myself I am so grateful to my sweet brother and sister-in-law (who is more like my sis) for allowing me to be so involv

Well.....maybe I have just the thing to help you???? ...if you are game that is! Meet my vintage medicine collection..... Now before you go getting your britches in a twist...they are for show only...I dont use them!...although with some of the miracles that they proclaim (and it is printed in black and white on the packaging so it must be true) ...maybe I should try a few! Hmm...so many to pick from ...but let me start with this little beauty..... I just love the bottle it is in and the whole look of it! Let me fill you in on some of its many uses ( please note that all comments are made in gest and are not intended to devalue the product) Recommended for;- Muscular rheumatism... (alright) Chilblains (can live with that) Muscular cramps (so far so good) Stiffness and soreness of muscles due to exertion, exposure or fatigue (yeppers) Mosquito bites and stings of many non-poisonous insects... (still okay with it) Cold feet, neuralgia

LOL...well a bag lady yes.... but not one that pushes around all of her worldly possessions in a shopping cart. Oh me oh my...goodness no!...with all of my "cra..."...oops I mean craft and collectables..lol....I would need an awful big trolley...about the size of your average road train I would think...lol (bit hard to maneuver around those tight corners...tee hee!) What I mean is.... that since my last post about the bags I wanted to make for my mum (youno... from that ridiculously priced fabric that I just had to have!!) I got to thinkin'....and what I "thunk" was that I really should have a go at one before I cut into that $43 a metre fabric that is literally worth its weight in gold. So I set about buying some more suitable fabric...(and handles and trim...and more fuseable lining, and..and..and....oh my god!!!...HELP ME PLEASE!!!...seriously...I have a problem!!!!)...and set about making a bag to test my capabilities. Well....it turned out fabulou

CUDDLES WITH MY NEICE ....always nice but sometimes sloppy...lol LAURA INGALLS...oh heck .."Walnut Grove" in general...for my introduction to my love of all things prairie MY JOB...I get to work from home doing what I love!...is that really a job?? PHONE CHATS WITH LONG DISTANCE FRIENDS...gunna catch up in person one day! STIFFY (Fabric Stiffener)....Very handy and the name always makes me laugh GUT BUSTIN' BELLY LAUGHS ...and that fact that I still have some form of bladder control GOOD FRIENDS...who could live without them! PACKET MIX CHOCOLATE CAKE...say no more! MY LOVING HUSBAND AND FAMILY....couldn't do it without their support...plus they put up with me like only family can! OH OKAY...MY DOG!!!....even though she's neuroitic and drives me nuts...lol COFFFEEEEEEEE!!!! OLD JUNK...and the fact that it now lives in my home I AM NOT ALLERGIC TO DUST....lucky coz with my busy schedule most often I am surrounded by it MY SENS

Yep....well it's nearly here again...that fast approaching but wonderfully enjoyable "Silly Season". NOVEMBER!!!!......My christmas shopping would normally be done and wrapped by now....but oooohh nooooo....not this year!. This year I am yet to even start! Well, actually I have started...if you call buying fabric "started" !! Yesterday I headed off to a fabric sale at our local Spotlight store ...only to find that I had misread the information and it was only the "cruddy" fabric that was on sale...lol (simply  got blinded by the word SALE I guess...tee hee) Anyways...never one to miss an opprotunity to spend money I dont really have...I headed off to my favourite quilting and scrapbooking store where I had previously seen something that had taken my eye...........uh-oh...it was about to get very expensive!! I had seen some beautiful vintage look floral linen ...youno "the ridiculously expensive fabric that you just HAVE to h

Robert Louis Stevensen, Charles Dickens, Stephen King......Chris Byron (tee hee!!!) ....all writers suffer from writer's block...lololol Writer's block????....hah!!! ...I know!!!...you have to BE a writer to have writer's block...but hey...I'm struggling here so that counts doesn't it?......lol I'm not sure that it is necessarily that I have nothing to write about...in fact my head is full of trivial information, silly stories to tell and many a useless fact. .....the fact of the matter is I am just plain tired...knackered, worn out.......tuckered ! ......Waaay too tired to get the brain to work...so,  I am afraid that it will be just useless dribble that you will be receiving for my post.this week .lol. I lay the blame soley on myself....firstly we were away for most part of the weekend (GREAT I hear you say!!....well....NOT!!!!....but our trip away is a story for another day)...let me just say it would have been much more restful having all my teeth

As I was pondering what to write about this week...I wandered around my home and came up with unlimited silly stories that I could write, about one thing or the other, until I paused in front of this stitchery that normally graces my loungeroom wall. This week,.... I thought.... I will do something entirely different.....dare I say "risque" and consider writing something...wait for it....SERIOUS??? Serious! ...Serious???? I hear you say!!...Me?..... be serious.....well maybe for a minute or two I could manage it!! .......So,  I sat down at my computer, uploaded the photo, and started to think about my mum. My dear sweet mum! ........Where would I start....how would I describe her....well two words kept coming to mind.....BEST FRIEND! Then on thinking back I realised it hasn't always been like that (well it has, but I guess I just lost sight of it at the time). As a teenager we went through a bit of a bit of a rough patch. Of course we never stopped lovi

Oh boy....am I gunna be in big strife this time or what??...lol Above is a picture of my recent imports from the states, supposedly to list for sale on either of my websites.....but "lansakes" (just thought I would keep my cursing in line with the era..lol) I dont want to part with any of them. As a matter of fact....one pair has already made its way into my prim home and been added to my already indulgent collection.... .....but hey....you HAVE to be honest....who could resist these little gems???? Wow...where have they been...? What have they experienced.....? Well.....you're gunna be sorry but........here is my theory..... (stop rolling your eyes Jackie and just cue the dreamy music and smoke haze!) "...they belonged to a boy or a tom-boy (had to have.... coz surely no self respecting little girlie-gal's boots would have ended up like this...lol)...but my bet is with a boy. His name...probably Isaiah, Elijah ....or Jebadiah. He woul

I spoke last time about my shoe fetish.... Well I'm back......to share with you another indulgence of mine...this time it involves my love of old furnishings and an old meatsafe cupboard that "I just HAD to have". I dont know what possessed me to buy it as I have no room to put it, nor the ample budget required to allow such a purchase,....but alas....it now graces my home! I thought it would be nice to store my vintage quilts......well ....as per normal what I think and what I do are two completely separate things and my new (but really old) meatsafe has now found a home in our bedroom, which has undergone a huge facelift just to accomodate it!!! Up until Friday afternoon our room was on the "prim" side incorporating a collection of my old treasures, a prim patchwhork quilt and a gorgeous old distressed cupboard.....but not any more!!!. Now....they do say that a change is as good as a holiday (and lordy be.... how I need a holiday!)....so I literall