This is... My favorite place to buy craft!

I really like the Melton Sewing Center for craft goodies. Its on the main street of Melton and they stock all your sewing needs. They have a great range of fabrics and buttons and the biggest selection of quilt batting I've ever seen. The staff are all very lovely and really helpful. Another good thing about this place is that there are about 4 op-shops with in walking distance so you can make a real crafternoon of it.  

Thank you Handmaiden for this weeks This Is...

Claire...

 

  

This is...My Favourite place to buy craft!

I thought long and hard on this weeks 'This is' meme, before finally deciding that op-shops, really were my favourite place to buy fabric. I would say that about 90% of the fabrics we use to make McCranky! things come from op-shops. I suppose the reason is becasue fabrics found in these shops are so unique, rarely do I see a piece that i've brough before in another shop somewhere down the line. I love the feeling of seeing a perfect piece of fabric hanging or folded up, waiting to be cut and used to make something wonderful. I've had a quick look at what some other people had said and am quite excited by the prospect of doing some online craft buying. Neither Claire nor I have ever delved into buying fabric over the internet (not that I can remember anyway) but definatley think that some will be done in the near future.

More Weekend Picnicking...

Saturdays lately have involved a lot of picnicking, yesterday some friends and I decided to embrace Melbourne's short lived warmer weather with a picnic in Carlton Garden's. The weather didn't quite live up to our expectations, based of Friday's sunshine, but it was fun all the same.

From Meaghan.

Knitting Books!

I found these Knitting Books last weekend at an op shop in Diamond Creek. They have really lovely pictures and the patterns are beautiful. One day I hope I'll be a good enough knitter to tackle at least one of the projects.

Claire...

This Is...My Favorite Childrens Book!

The Secret Garden is special because I can remember sitting in bed with Meg and listing to mum read this to us. We got to hear one chapter a night and we couldn't wait to hear more. 

Another good book that was read to us was the My Naughty Little Sister books. I wish I knew where they where I looked all over the house today but I cant find them, hopefully they will turn up.  

Claire...

This Is...My Favourite Children's Book!

When I was little I was in love with the Magic Faraway Tree, and still am. I remember Claire and I reading this book over and over again, and getting more and more amazed at the adventures Jo, Bessie and Fanny were getting up too. I think Moon face was my favourite character, he was so nice. We still have the copy we read as kids, but Mum keeps it at her school so the kids can read it too. Whenever I enter an op-shop I always look to see if I can find my own copy, one day I will have the whole set, and will be able to look at the illustrations and read them whenever I like.

More This Is, over at Three Buttons!

Visiting the Museum!

This week as part of one of the subjects I am currently taking for uni, we all went and visited the Melbourne Museum and its Melbourne Story exhibit. I think its really fascinating seeing exhibits like this on places which are so familiar to you. It makes you take notice of all the things around you, and maybe introduce you to things you may have never of seen before. One of my favourite parts of the museum was the Family Photo Album it was sitting on a coffee table in front of a lovely old couch, and was full of old photographs from different eras and suburbs, the best part is that hundreds more of these photos have been included on the exhibits website. Below are some of my favourite images, if you click on the links you can read about about where and why the photos were taken, which I think is really nice.

Melbourne CBD 1934-35

The Old City Square 1980

Essendon Airport in 1940

From Meaghan.

Op-shopping in Ballarat and Daylesford!

Yesterday, my housemate Josie and I visited Ballarat and Daylesford again. This time we brought Josie's French friend Lucy along, who is down visiting from France for the winter. It is really nice visiting places you have perhaps visited a thousand times before with someone who hasn't even sen them once, things become exciting and new again. On this particular trip we introduced Lucy to some extreme op-shopping, and Australian Bakeries, both of which left a good impression I think. We all managed to walk away with some amazing purchases. I collected some great serving trays, a number of dresses, and some lovely novels.

P.S. The shoes I mentioned in a couple of posts below were purchased from the big shoe shop on Brunswick st. just down the road from Meet Me At Mikes. I'm not sure what the shop is called but its signs are blue, and it sells heaps of shoes.

From Meaghan.

This is...How I Like to Spend my Weekend.

This weekend was always going to be a very busy weekend, filled with all of my favourite things, when i read that this weeks This is was about weekends, I couldn't of been happier.

My Weekend began on Saturday with a lovely breakfast at Small Block on Lygon st in East Brunswick. This really is my favourite place to spend a morning, they serve the most amazing coffee and the breakfast choices are really delicious. I came here with my housemate Josie, and were joined later with another of our friends. We had fun catching up on what each other has been up to and reading the paper.

The day progressed with an afternoon of baking, in preparation for Sunday's activities. Like I've said before baking is really one of my favourite things to do, and baking cupcakes would have to be my speciality. My favourite recipe comes from a book Claire gave to me for my 19th Birthday, along with a whole heap of baking equipment. The recipe never lets me down as it always produces the tastiest cakes around. My Favourite part of baking would have to be the decorating, this time I used marshmallows to create flowers.

Later on Saturday I met with a friend at Lentil as Anything, where we enjoyed some lovely curries. I really like this place, with its 'pay as you feel' philosophy. The first time I visited it was a little uncomfortable ordering meals with no value attached, but as you get used to it, it becomes quite nice. Despite the rain we took a rather long and confusing walk to Collingwood to listen to some music, and see some other friends, then it was home to bed in order to enjoy Sunday to its fullest.

Sunday arrived, and I couldn't have been happier. Today me and some friends decided it would be a good day for a picnic, luckily it was. There was no rain in sight and the air wasn't as cold as it has been. For this particular picnic we headed out to Kalista in the Dandenong Ranges. We went to Grants Picnic Ground which was great as there are lots of native birds that will eat out of your hands, I had a great time doing this with my friends amazing little boy, who found the whole thing incredible. Then it was a long train journey back to the city.

Thanks again to Angela for hosting this week, and thanks to Birdbath for a great theme. I'm off now to see what everyone else has been up to.

From Meaghan.

New Shoes

I'm pretty predictable when it comes to footware, I usually wear the same simple black ballet flats unitl they wear out and then I replace them with an identical pair. But the other day I noticed these shoes in a shop window, with a price tag that I couldn't pass up. $35. I haven't worn them out of the house yet, but am sure they will become a new wardrobe staple.

From Meaghan.

I don't like op-shopping in the rain!

But today I did and I'm so glad. I found some great things. The Polaroid camera was a great find It came with the box, flash, and instructions. I'll have to get some film and see if it works. 

I also got an amazing blue coat I am very happy with, the best part is that the label is 'young look' I like that. 

There where also a few summer dresses, I cant wait to wear them. They will help me look forward to summer (I'm not a summer girl).

I think it was defiantly worth going out in the rain today without the aid of an umbrella and I think I shall make more of an effort to enjoy the Melbourne rain and not let it make me stay in doors.

Claire...

New Winter Hat!

Today I made a hat, I've always wanted to make a hat and for a first attempt I think it worked out well. I made it out of black polar fleece, it's super warm. I added a flower detail but next time I think I'll make it in black to match the hat. 

Claire

Gingerbread!

Today I really felt like some Gingerbread so I made some. It was really delicious and the best part was we had every thing I needed in the pantry. So I thought it might be nice to share the recipe.


Rich Gingerbread


You will need
225g plain flour
pinch of salt
1 teaspoon bicarb soda
2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon all spice
115g butter
115g golden syrup
115g treacle
55g brown sugar
2 beaten eggs
120 ml milk


To make
Preheat the oven to 180C, grease and line a 20cm square cake tin.
Sift the flour, salt, bicarb and spices into a bowl.
Melt the butter, golden syrup, treacle and brown sugar over a low heat and stir occasionally, until the butter has melted and the mixture is smooth. Leave to cool a bit.
Mix the milk and two eggs together.
Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and pour in the milk and eggs and the syrup mixture and beat with a wooden spoon until smooth. (when i got to this stage i thought the mixture was to runny but it turned out fine so it must have been right)
Pour into the cake tin and then into the oven for about an hour. You know it will be ready when you touch it and it springs back.
If you like you can mix some icing sugar and water to put on top like I did but it's not necessary.
Best served with a cup of tea.


Enjoy from Claire

Treasures at Savers...

Today i decided to visit Savers, I have somewhat of a love/hate relationship with Savers. This is largely due to its size and the amount of things kept inside. Sometimes I walk in and I can barely contain my excitement, with the possibility of new things to find. Somedays I am completely overwhelmed, and after a quick look through the fabric section I leave. Today I was excited, I managed to find so lovely new mugs for my house, and a very nice selection of blue things, a blue cardi, a blue t-shirt and a blue skirt, but unfortunately nothing on the fabric front. After my visit i took a nice stroll down Sydney rd and Royal Parade and then it was off to the movies, for cheap Monday!

From Meaghan.

This is...a work in progress

I started this quilt about 6 months ago. Its about half way finished, when i started it I was so excited about it but now I've lost the enthusiasm. There is just something about this quilt that i don't like but I i cant figure it out. Perhaps I'll give it another 6 months of pondering and I'll work it out.

Meaghan started this jumper about 3 years ago. I don't know how but she lost the pattern, after knitting the frount, back and half a sleeve she lost the pattern. So unless the pattern can be found I think this one will remain a work in progress.

Thank you Debbie for this weeks great 'this is' theme and thank you Angela for hosting this is.

I like Mikes

Yesterday on our way to work Meg and I dropped by Meet me at Mikes. I brought this excellent little pendant, isn't it lovely even the box is special. I always feel so happy after spending time their, Cam and Pip are always so nice and full of encouragement.

Thanks for being so nice!

Claire

Can you Believe it?

I knitted this little jacket all by myself. It's the first garment I have ever knitted and it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. I think you know its time to move on to clothes when you start to knit yet another scarf and not know what to do with it once your done. So now that I've proven to my self that I can do it I will have a whole new collection of hand knitted Garments.

P.S. Last night for dinner I made Pip's chicken in a bag from sunday supper and it was so delicious. I really recommend its, so easy. 

Claire 

I love Baking!

I really do. I love everything about it, from choosing what to bake, writing lists for ingredients you need, heading off to the shops, mixing things together, waiting for them to rise and finally sharing them with friends. Last weekend me and some friends had a big day of baking, in aid of a party which was happening, we made everything from cup cakes to biscuits and my favourite caramel slice. When I have more time i hope to share some of my favourite recipes.

From Meaghan.

This is... my trade secret

This is hosted by Three Buttons. Theme from Amelia.

My trade secret is to always have a big stash of beautiful fabric, however I don't think it should be stored in a big mess like I do. But I really think it helps motivate me seeing all the lovely fabrics and being excited to see what they will become. 

Claire...

See even our cat likes craft...

I couldn't resist posting this picture of our cat Harriette. The last time I visited Mum and Dad's for dinner, I caught her taking a nap on one of Mum's Knitted blankets, clinging onto a pair of knitting Nancie's. Mum is planning on giving them to her class (she teaches grade three and four) to have a go at. I remember these when I was younger, they were so much fun.

Today I am spending the day preparing to move house again. This is the third time I've moved this year, hopefully it will be the last too. Packing and un-packing boxes is not so fun.

From Meaghan.