Here Comes the Bride

Don't panic. Mr frog and I are not getting married for the fourth time.

I'm doing this:

My first Wedding Fair.

Since making a beautiful bag for my sisters wedding a few years ago (including bags for me and her other bridesmaid), I've been meaning to get into the Wedding Biz.

It's just that, well...

I'm a chicken. A big fat one.

It seems the fear of failure is WAY stronger than not only common sense, but optimism too.

But then Bailey from The Vintage Press made me an incredibly generous offer that I just couldn't refuse. I couldn't say no to an offer of support from someone whose market table makes me drool, could I?

No.

So. I've been preparing like a maniac.

The early stages, cutting out fabric.

Machine sewing...

...and some hand sewing.

Apparently posing for pictures while working is very serious business. Also, I admit I seriously considered putting make up on and changing my clothes to take these pictures. That just seemed like too much work.

Anyhoo, I've made a collection of Bridal bags for the big day. I mean, my big day. And maybe yours.

Ivory silk lined in blue satin (for your "something blue")

For the retro/natural bride.

Inspired by my original wedding dress, Broderie Anglaise over pink satin.

Simple; white satin and some gold bling.

Inspired by Vera Wang, Pink chiffon over white satin.

Sexy bridesmaids.

"Something blue" coin purses.

Yeah... I've been busy.

Not only did I need to make new bags, but I needed to change my table set up. Obviously, for the expo I won't have my regular bags and book covers, it'll just be bridal stuff. So, here's how my mock up looked:

The photo album will have pictures of Madame Clochette bags in action, and some of my other bags.

The LOVE sign has been painted a dark red.

I'm still undecided about the flowers

I love how these ladies look against the black and white.

Then of course there are packaging, and dust covers, and order forms to be made...

Ok, they didn't have to, but how cool do they look!?

All of this has been done in between looking after Mr Frog and Tadpole. 10 minutes here, half an hour there. It has been incredibly frustrating, and all consuming.

The big day is nearly here.

Cross your fingers people.

And your toes.

And pray.

And hope,
 that my instincts are right.

MC

The First Birthday

It finally arrived.

After months of planning, weeks of having the dining table covered in my craft crap, and what seemed like hundreds of tiny, but seemingly terribly important decisions, a First Birthday Party was had.

I already had paper and string, so this bunting was FREE!

 You know how when you have something in your head it never turns out that way?

I sent out two versions of the invites, only because I couldn't get enough of this paper.

It didn't matter. They looked good, and came with a Fleur de Lys magnet made from Fimo, which I already had... = FREE!

Well, that didn't happen this time. The party looked and felt just like I planned. Just like I worked for. Just how I hoped.

You know I love a theme!

We celebrated surviving the first year of keeping a Tadpole alive in style.

Everything labelled in French

Finally an excuse to buy one of these babies!

Cheers!

Mr Frog doesn't celebrate birthdays. He's a weirdo. He knows it's a big deal for me so he said I could do what ever I wanted, and he'd just be there on the day.

Sweet!

And so I did. All the little lovely touches I found on Pinterest ( The Devil!) I could tweak to suit our little family.

This was meant to be on a blackboard looking fancy but that would've meant buying one and that was not an option. Make do people!

 And some ideas, I just kinda made up.

Leave a note for the birthday girl to read on her 21st birthday.

Tadpole was, understandably, quite overwhelmed by the people and noise. I was overwhelmed by the generosity of our friends and family.

I drank bubbles. I forgot to eat.

A good time was had.

This little handmade act of love was wonderful.

Eiffel Tower shaped biscuits with edible glitter instead of lolly bags.

To our friends and family who made it a special day, and who for more than a year have helped us in ways big and small...

I say Merci Beaucoup.

And to you I say "Wanna know how I did something from the party? Just ask!"

MC

Lemon Cordial is for Vodka, Lime and Soda

It's been forever since I posted, but it's not my fault.

I've been drowning in Lemons!

So, I made Lemon Cordial, which turned out not just sweet but wonderfully zingy. Then, I made Lemon curd, which is now my favourite thing to have on crumpets.

They didn't have time to get a fancy make over, I've only got one jar left!
I've also been making cards...

 ...finding things to add to the compost...

...Mr Frog has harvested our first veg, Lettuce and Spinach...

...and, we've been generally enjoying the garden Mr Frog has become so obsessed with...

Mind my bra hanging on the line.

Meanwhile, I've been going mad on Pinterest for Tadpoles 1st Birthday, and hunting for supplies. The invites are in the middle of being made, and I am slowly talking myself down from the extravaganza in my head to something more achievable without giving myself a stroke.

What have you been up to?

Got any lemons?

Lemonade is for Wimps

So, remember how I have a lemon tree?

Remember how I made Preserved Lemons?

Well, at the same time, I made this...

 

This is Limoncello.

After a month or so like this...

...this Bad Boy gave birth to these...

 Retro babies...

 Pretty little retro babies.

And that chilled little dude in front minus a little bit....?

He's mine. And had I not felt compelled to do a taste test (actually, I made Mr Frog taste it first) to make sure I wasn't going to poison anyone, my little guy would be full.

But not for long!

Oh, and the preserved lemons...?

I haven't been game to open them!

MC

Nervous Water

Tomorrow, I'm doing this:

I'm pretty worried I'm gonna be standing there "like a shag on a rock" (a little nugget from my mum) looking like a loser.

If you're in town, come visit me.

I'll be inside out of the rain and everything.

You don't have to buy anything.

But do!

MC

Odd Jobs

Since moving into our new rental, Mr Frog and I have been happily decorating all over the place. Trying out the stuff we already have, wishing for new stuff, making do, and occasionally actually buying when there's not much choice (for example, the pantry.)

Of course, my craftiness helps us out every now and then.

First up, a tissue box cover for the bathroom, which is really starting to look "finished". We bought a paper mache cover, then realised that the cheap tissues we buy from Aldi are not only shorter in length, but higher, if you follow. That means to actually have the tissues covered and not peaking out the bottom, I'd have to either buy more expensive tissues, or extend the cover.

So I extended the cover. Like an idiot.

It involved a bit of faffing...

First, eat an entire box of Cheezels on your own ( I did this over days, but I coulda done it faster!).
Raid the recycling bin for said box and start cutting.

Make a bunch of "planks" but glueing a few pieces together, trying to match the thickness of the cover.

Then get totally jack of the whole caper while having to stop and start while looking after the baby, and forget to take any more pictures.

Just finish the damn thing already.

That's a fabulous piece of scrapbooking paper from Kaisercraft.

 (Looks totally awesome if you ask me... no word from Mr Frog yet)

Next, we went mental with herbs, in pots on the deck. I love them.

 Mr Frog wasn't sure what was what, so, I made labels..

These were also made in stages, because that's my life now.

There was a bit of mucking about working out the best way to write in the clay (toothpick and water), and in the end I'm not sure I like them. Plus, I'm not sure if they'll disintegrate. I used air drying clay from the $2 shop, a bargain at $3.75. According to the packet, it dries to "earthenware hardness". I'll probably give them a coat of PVA or something just to help them out... but I'm not sold yet.

Do you think I should paint them?

Anyhoo, I had left over clay, so I made this...

Yes, that's a piece of wrapping paper in that frame. I'm so arty.

So that's what's been keeping me busy.

Now, I'm getting ready for this...

Come and see me!

MC