Handprinted fabric- Christmas style

I have looked everywhere for a decent non-kitschy Advent calendar and was so excited to see Kristen Doran has begun to print her own. I met Kristen at the Stitches and Craft show in Brisbane earlier this year and she's as lovely as she is talented. Angus has this great bag made by JoJo (Jodie Gray) from Kristin's Robot panel and we get people asking all the time where it came from.

She had two Christmas paenls, the green above includes the pockets to complete the Advent or you can use the red panel and could even stretch it over a canvas or frame

This one is next on my list, it would make a gorgeous cushion cover

Sweet giveaway at Sweet Tidings

Head over to Sweet Tidings to enter for a chance to win one of these great 'Where the Wild Things are' crowns.

and while you are there check out The Rice Babies store

I bought Ellie a Lily softie, isn't she adorable?

The bells are jingling

Step into any store at the moment and you will most likely be reminded of the fact that Christmas is on it's way.

After trying not too make too big of deal I have given in slightly and to make it a bit more special we need a tree. A proper one unlike the poor Frangipani last year

Apart from buying another potted plant, the options are a cut tree or a plastic one. I found this great blog post outlining the pros and cons of each option and had some great ideas at the end

Even eco-friendlier

* Decorate a houseplant.

* Buy a potted tree that can be planted in your yard after the holidays

* String up lights on a tree in your front yard.

* Build your own wooden tree.

Build your own? now that sounds more like it!

I found these for inspiration, I love this one but have no idea where to get driftwood from here (I had such a large supply when I lived in Newcastle)

and this

and for something different a tree made from 300 recycled water bottles that hangs suspended in the air. It's from an Artist at Paprika

I think with a bit of imagination we can come up with something workable, I'll post back with our results.

All Hallow's Eve

Replenished

“Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain”

Shhhh, be very quiet

Out in the garden today I had a rare glimpse of the shy and elusive organic chicken emerging from their shell and captured them in this series of photographs for you.

Crack begin to show in the shell

a foot! And look it seems to be holding something....

It's the winner of the Blogaversary giveaway- congratulations JennaZ!

and there he is, the organic chicken is all it's glory

Ready to hit the town

Thanks to everyone who entered my giveaway

Giveaway over at Handmade Kids

Super dooper cute material from the Oz Material Girls.

Check it out here

and don't forget my give-away finishes tomorrow, I've found a few more things to add too.

Hair Clips

Using the tutorial here

Giveaway: Blogaversary pressies

3 years ago today the Monster Blog was started, back then Elissa and I were only dyeing for our own knits and selling them embellished and we one of the first Australian dyers for the cloth nappy knitters.
Today Elissa is off to bigger and better things and I find it hard to get any time to knit or dye any more.
This blog has become less and less about knits and so I think it might be time for a new name.


So to give-away I have up for grabs a skein of Woolganic Organic merino hand dyed in my 'Rainforest Dreaming' colourway, a skein of semi solid green older style woolganic (a much thinner 8ply) and a ball of Gondwana 8ply Woolganic.


To enter:
Leave a comment after this post and tell me your suggestions for a new name for the Monster Knits blog
Extra entries if you post about the giveaway on your own blog (come back and tell me)

Entries close on the 16th of October and the winner will be drawn at random

Coming this week

My Blog-iversary!
......and my birthday

and to celebrate you get the presents.
More info on Friday.