Ok - So I passed my year blogging birthday and well, forgot it ... and so I could've recognised my 100th post - but, mmm, didn't notice in time. So well ... I thought I would just have a celebratory giveaway just for the hell of it. Reckless, non? But there is a bit of a catch ... I haven't quite decided on the total giveaway booty ... that's right friends, TOTAL - it will be a surprise package of varied and unusual goodness. But there is but a small catch. You will have to work your craft booties for it. You see - on a previous expedition to the fabric and sewing mecca of seworld - I commented that there was something I liked about a trimming - but just wasn't quite sure what or why. Before I know it - I am exiting with the entire roll - gifted - by the glorious Gabbi. Apparently noone else quite knew what to do with it either and it was upsetting her shelf Feng Shui thang. So I need some help to show the world that there is indeed a place for this poor neglected retro inspired trim. 
Which brings me to the 'Giveaway Challenge'. I will send you up to 1 metre of the trim in the mail and you have to use it in some crafty project to make it have its day basking in the sunshine of handmade. (let me know how many cm or inches you think you might require) Depending on how many takers we have .... I could post you some more. SO what to do??? Well just leave a comment here to say you are in like Flynn. I will need your address - so perhaps email me that and I will pop your piece in the post. Then get crafting - there are no restrictions on what you make. I will make a little place on the sidebar with links so you can see who is crafting along. Then ... well I'll choose a winner - and you'll get stuff. What say you? Hell - you can even tell people you are doing it - make a real party of it. All welcome - come on - you know you have just been hanging out for this crafty challenge!PS. You have until Sept 29th to get it ready. If don't have a blog - no sweat - just email me (address on sidebar) and I'll send you some!
PPS If you have your return email set to no reply you might have to include your email address for me to get in touch with you.
...and then there's these lovelies from my favourite stall at the Esk Market. I'd been eyeing them off for a while, then this Sunday gone I pounced -on one- I'm on a budget. But the lovely stallholder threw the other one in too - so stoked. They are old cadbury tins the size of a medium bucket...
...and this awesome vintage fleece - just part of a gifted, rather than thrifted stash from the lovely Bec. She makes lovely screen printed t-shirts for kids. We sat next together at the Mother's Market way back in far last December. She visited me at 
Which brings me to this little beauty. Part of a family of six - they are the spoils of my first ever auction ... being a bit green and having to drop Dunc off at the airport... I dropped Loz off at the auction so she could raise her hand on my behalf. When I got back an hour or so later she informed me my lot hadn't come up ... and then they broke for lunch. To cut a long story short - come 4 hours later and a whole lot of stress thinking that we were placing bids by touching our hair or blinking (not realising it was the group of dealers bidding behind us) I bid furiously against one other and won ... it was one of the last items - we were there all day! But wasn't it worth it?? Which brings me to my next three photos... Spoils of garage sale warfare which have lasting scars...One sale so little time...
...and then this - and where my wretched neurosis begins. I found an odd plate or two and then enquired if there were any others. She said she had 'a few more boxes inside'. I had to go drop Dunc off at Uni so I said I would return - she held some stuff and said 'I will see what I can find'. I returned and she had found a few more pieces - 1 dinner plate, 5 saucers, 2 cups, 3 bowls, 2 side plates - but she told me she HAD THE WHOLE SET - it was just too much for her to get the other boxes. I tried to say I would come back later -blocked- I asked if I could come back next week -rejected- I tried using my daughter as collateral -no cigar - I mean it was a garage sale ...why tantalise me with just a few pieces! and I just couldn't leave them there, all alone, so I took the motley crew home...so now I have to walk, or drive past her house DAILY and all I can think of is that the rest of the set is in there waiting for me - my little NZ Ironstone ware speaks to me 'help me, Gemma. I miss the rest of my family' and I am helpless. So now I am just waiting for the next garage sale...it is a weekend ritual to just check... a few times...just incase she slept in...
...and she actually pulled it off - just one name came out ...congratulations 
You are the winners of this wee apron and sun bonnet with vintage button detail. 
And you're West Australian ... as a born and bred sandgroper - this makes me smile. They are a duo ...girls after my own heart they makes clothes inspired by the ones their Mum's made them in the 70s. I looked good in the 70s thanks to Loz. Good times. Drop me an email gals so I know where in WA to send the booty.
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Well folks - the day has finally come - I've got on the launch pad, done the count down and now hit the button! I have an online shop! It needs filling up ... but that will come over the next few days. To celebrate I thought I would have my first giveaway. It has been so encouraging and plain old awesome to be part of such a supportive and rather amusing online community - that I thought I would share the love. 
