All wrapped up!

Tonight I'm staying in, doing some last minute cram study for my uni exams FAST APPROACHING next week and wrapping up my beautiful Mums birthday present!! It's mums birthday this Sunday (and because I'll be away travelling down to Wagga for uni) I have got myself together getting mums pressie all organised.

I'm giving her the yummy chunky marshmellow knitted scarf I made not too long ago, a pretty outdoor wire decorative wall piece that she chose from the Nyngan Ag Expo and a novel by the Author Rachel Treasure (my mum and I both love her book "Jillaroo" and this is one of the many books that Rachel has written since. This one is called "The Stockmen") I'm hoping she likes it just as much as "Jillaroo"!!

I love wrapping presents and writing cards and things. I think making presents look pretty when given adds that little something extra!! I bought a cute card from Jodie in her store Jellywares in town to tie to the scarf.


Because mum and dad are heading out to the farm this weekend to do some cattle work I'm going to leave mums goodies at her house waiting for her to get home on Sunday to rip into them!!

Tomorrow I'm hoping to show you the goodies that I'm sending my swap partner for the Calico and Co Big Birthday Craft Swap. I wont name my partner just in case she is floating around Blogland and stumbles across my page finding out what I'm sending her before I send it!!

I'm sending it a bit early because I will be too busy (and out of town) next week to get it all organised for the post in time for the swap deadline! I'm excited to see what goodies I get from my Swap partner!!

More craftie news to come tomorrow!

But for now - here's an early Happy Birthday shout out to my Mum!!! Love you lots and lots xxoo!!

(Me and Mum in the Philippines Dec 2009)

Natural Remedies...

I've never really looked into the whole idea of natural remedies but since I'm struggling to kick this STUPID cold that I've caught this winter I am thinking that maybe its time to give some natural remedies a go!

I was scouring the net and of course one of my favourite websites, Homelife and came across some ideas for kicking the colds and flu's the natural way.

I found a couple of helpful links, you can read the Homelife guide to preventing colds and flu's the natural way here. The main emphasis in this article is to exercise regularly (hmmm, I've been lacking a little in this department lately! Oops! lol), and to get plenty of rest regularly!

I also found an article on Gardening to Boost Your Immune System! on the same site. This is perfect since I'm really digging (pun intended haha) gardening at the moment! My garden needs some serious pruning and de-weeding and I can't wait until after my uni exams (when I scrounge up some spare time) to attack it!!

So I'm off to boost my citrus and garlic intake in my diet to kick this darn cold (as I've read is suppose to help!!)

What are your natural remedies or special tips and tricks to start feeling better from a cold?? Roger's secret to feeling better is "fruit and water!" he also swears by those cough lolly things, "Anti-col" ?? I'm not into them though.

I'd love to hear your tips!

Ellie x

(pictures from homelife.com.au)

Comfort Food

This week, Roger and I have both come down with the dreaded winter cold. Although we're not feeling too bad, it does slow me down a bit! So on Friday night I thought I'd whip up some comfort food for dinner. I had a large pumpkin in the veggie basket so I decided to try my hand at Pumpkin Soup!

MMM I love pumpkin soup, it has to be close to my favourite if not my favourite soup! My mum makes a mean pumpkin soup and I was hoping that I would also be able to make a yummy one!

For my first attempt I used this recipe as a backbone to follow. It was sooo easy and so quick, we were sitting down eating delicious warm soup in no time!

(boiling the pumpkin, potato onion and stock)

(The yummy finished product, add some cream and hey presto! Delicious!)

(Served with some crusty bread, toasted or not... yum!)

In knitting/crochet news, I have a few projects on the go at the moment! I'm currently finishing off making some goodies for my swap partner (in the Calico and Co craft swap) I'm also in the middle of making another slouchy beret and have just taken on my second knitting project.

I have decided to make a gorgeous cardigan/shrug. It's lovely. I'll link to the pattern next post when I've got a bit more done, so far I've only done the first few rows of the ribbed collar part so it doesn't look like too much! I'm so excited to get it finished though, I love it already!

Until my next post, I'm hoping you are all feeling well and not coming down with a cold like us! Have a good week!! Happy crafting :o)

Ellie x

Craving the craftyness!

Hey blogland, how you doing?? I have been a little slack this week with my posting :o( Every spare chance I've gotten after my hectic work days I've been forcing myself to study my uni degree. Uni exams are fast approaching and in about 2 weeks time I'll be off to Wagga Wagga for a week of labs and exams (arghhhh!!)

I'm currently craving craftyness of any kind because I haven't been very productive this week with my crochet or knitting! Unfortunately I havn't got any project updates yet, but am hoping to post some by the end of this week (stay tuned!!!)

For now I will settle for searching the net for craftyness to deal with my lacking! lol

On one of my internet browsing sessions I came across a very pretty blog and etsy site. Urban Farm Designs is a well designed and pretty blog with some really gorgeous looking stuff for sale on their etsy site.

I'm really digging aprons at the moment with all of their pretty fabirc patterns and colours, and they make this cute "Rainbow Ruffle Apron". I think it has a cool vintage feel, I love it.

Following on the "vintage" apron love, I also found these cool treasures on Etsy:

"The Bella Vintage Styled Ice cream cones" apron by Boojiboo on etsy

"I Love Lucy" retro 50's apron by Lover Dover Clothing

What crafty stuff are you loving at the moment??

Ellie x

Pretty purse love...

I LOVE finding pretty things on the internet, handmade goodies that make me smile! This is exactly what I've found in Sammiabrie designs.

Amie (the creator behind Sammiabrie designs) makes gorgeous purses (and pretty headbands) that are growing more popular everyday! I found Sammiabrie through Facebook, my little sister was on her Facebook page and as soon as I saw the pretty purses that she makes (by herself in her own home), I was HOOKED! I had to buy one, and my very own Sammiabrie purse came in the mail last week!

Here it is:

(Photo's by Sammiabrie Designs)

Isn't it pretty?! Ah I love it, its made out of Amie Butler fabric (which I loooove), and she has sooo many other cute ones on sale. This little pretty cost me about $35 + postage. I recommend if you're on Facebook to check her designs out! Too cute and so practical. I can fit all of my handbag essentials (phone, cards, lipgloss, keys etc) in it too! BONUS!

Ellie x