Soft Soap

I did a batch of soap up yesterday afternoon and I used a higher than usual vegetable oil content, as I was just using up the odds and ends of what I had.

It took at least 4 times as long to get to trace and when I turned it out tonight it was softer than usual. I am just going to leave it a few weeks more than normal, it smells and looks cute. I am going to have to put in an order for more smells, they all sound so great that if you don;t check yourself you could go waaay over budget!

In other news today for $2.50 I got a linen tea towel, a book and this fab linen table cloth from Vinnies! It shows all the sights of the Gold Coast but not one theme park!

It depicts a more quaint Gold Coast with people having dinner being labelled "night life" and highlights being walking on the beach and fishing,  a little 60's snapshot!

Obsessed

Yeah it is confirmed that I am addicted to the cushions as you can see here;

and here.

I picked up some retro material at a garage sale for the back of this one for $1.50, there was about a metre and a half in the piece. Do you love it or hate it?

The part I really love is the cutting out and sewing together. I think I maybe ready to do my quilt, my king size bed quilt. I have the material but have got to find the pattern that is just right. I want it to be browns, greens and aquas. Choc Minty!
Took the kids to see Brave today. I am not surprised so many people just wait till the DVD is out now, going to the movies is a financial commitment! Luckily my two kids have Movie Membership so they were $8 a pop but my ticket was $14.50 to see a kids movie! Then a small combo, sml popcorn and can of drink was $7.50 each - Total to see movie (an hour and 20 mins long) was about $46. Kids thought it was good but I think charging an adult to see a kids movie,when they are clearly chaperoning is wrong! Rant over.

I am off to make soap!

French Day

Bon jour!

Since today is Bastille Day and a collegue at work is learning French yesterday at work we had a French day and it really made the day fun. We brought French food, wore red, white and blue and had a French quiz.

We had muffins iced with the French flag on them, Cassolet with french bread, chocolate (of course - we use any excuse for that one) and I made a Tarte Tatin. We all had a lovely lunch together - albeit in shifts  - which was great on a day that had us a bit short staffed.

We regularly celebrate different days and try to carry the themes through our clothes and food. It is amazing how a change out of the usual can really give the whole day a lift.

What days do you celebrate at work or home?

One More Cushion

I think I could easily become obsessed by doing these cushions!! Here is the original tea towel;

A lovely 1985 Women's World Bowls souvenier, turned into my new cushion!

Still loving it.

Retro Cushion

Ages ago I spotted a really great project in a Gass Roots mag and thought one day I am going to make that - it is this one;

After finding out that Mum had some of the tea towels I was looking for (let's face it I think everyone had these at one stage - and everyone pretended that they liked recieving it as a souvenir)  I made it today. I picked a "Barossa Valley" one, greens, mustard and purple on a yellow background!

Don't it look cute??? I love it so bad that I can't wait to make the next one. That one is going to be one of those "Wildflowers of Australia" ones!

Here are a couple of pics of it all done. I will have to get a better insert though.

This is my new favourite thing!!