Creepy Cute Swap

I recently have been finding it hard to get inspired to do "crafty" things, so I have decided that it was time to get back into craft swaps on craftster.

I am just in the process on completing a "creepy cute" swap - I've received from my partner and here are the goodies I got below.

First up is these cute zombie and vampire cross-stitch magnets - too cute!

I received this wee hand painted coffin - it looks much better in real life - I didn't really capture it terribly well with this photo.

What's inside? A whole bunch of creepy cute dolls to add to my extensive collection.

 

My partner also made me this cross-stitch - I couldn't get a decent photo of the buttons but they are extremely cool with little brains and zombie ponies!

 

Finally, I received this cute little day of the dead style card.

My partner is yet to receive her package from me, I sent it in two parts with the second part just being sent today. I will hold off posting the picture of what I made until my partner receives her whole package.


For those of you that asked when I'll be macaroons - well I found that they are having a one evening course at Wellington High School on 16 May so I think I'll sign up for that and see how things go.


My 35 before 35 list now has a total of 27 tasks - so if anyone else has any ideas I can include just let me know.


I also have just sorted out some exciting travel plans for June, I'll tell you all more about them very soon.


Hope you're all having a super weekend xoxox

Wednesday Wardrobe Challenge - Red

Hello Folks! Another very short post from me I'm afraid - I have had a terribly busy week with very little time for blogging - I hope I'll have some time to catch up on my blog reading over the weekend.
This weeks wardrobe challenge was "red" which wasn't too hard for me as its one of my favourite colours.

I picked this wee 80's frock up from a local op shop for next to nothing and I love it! Also a great frock for winter as it's pretty warm.

Sorry there's only one photo - I almost forgot to take one at all! Rich usually takes an outfit photo for me before we leave work on Wednesdays. But at the moment he's starting work early on Wednesday so he can leave work early to attend his lecture. I really need to get myself a tripod so I can take photos myself - any suggestions.

Also thanks to Camelia Crinoline for suggesting that I add making macaroons to my "35 before 35 list" such an excellent suggestion, it's already on the list! I've even found a one day baking course at Wellington High School to teach people how to bake them.

The other suggestion I had was from Olivia at Wait Until the Sunset who suggested that I go and visit her - I think I can do that - It's been a long time since I visited Brisbane.

I can't believe that tomorrow is Friday already! This week has really flown by! I hope you're all having a super week.

Outfit Deets:

Boots - The big shwop

Tights & Belt - Glassons

Bracelet - Equipt

Dress - Op-shopped, Opportunity for Animals, Kilbirnie

Necklace - Belonged to a Great Aunt that passed away

Autumnal Frock

Hello World! Just a super quick post as I don't have much interweb time tonight, but I just wanted to share with you my latest frock - it's actually fairly simple but I have been lacking the motivation to finish it off. I don't know why - its seems like craft projects are like that sometimes. I am sure every crafty girl (and guy) has a pile of UFO (unfinished objects) floating around their house.
Here's a bit of a close up of the fabric the dress is made from - very autumnal I thought. The fabric was on sale for half price at the fabric store and I just had to grab some as I thought it was adorable.
This dress is another one form my book "Chic and Simple Sewing" that I bought when I was on my last overseas holiday. The book was a bit expensive - but it's totally worth it as there must be 10-15 patterns in the book and given what a single pattern is worth at the fabric shop I think it's actually not too bad. Plus I am still learning to sew and sometimes store bought patterns confuse me! In other news, I'm making a list 35 goals I want to achieve before I turn 35 - it seems most things relate to craft, baking or travelling (which isn't too surprising). One of my goals is to sew one hundred wearable items. Not all the wearable items have to be for me of course! They could be for Rich or a friend or family member (like the nieces and nephews) or an item for a craft swap.

I've decided the only way I will get to be a better seamstress is by sewing more and more! I know on hundred things is quite a lot but I have two and a half years to complete it - I think I can do it!

Does anyone have any other suggestions of what I can include in my list? I'm only up to 26 things so far which included making a gingerbread house, visiting Tasmania, making a layered rainbow cake, visiting the USA and volunteering overseas for a short time. Reading through my list to date I have decided I am not a terribly complex woman.

I hope you're all having a good week so far and I shall try and catch up on my blog reading tomorrow xoxox

Clothes Swap Post - Number two

Hello World! I hope you've all been having a great weekend, I am still sick but feeling a touch better today and hoping that I will be feeling up to going to work tomorrow - I'm sure there will be heaps to do!

As you may know, last weekend I had a clothes swap party at my house and I really had a great time - it was great to have some friends over and do some "shopping" for free. I thought I'd share what I picked up at the swap - it's a pretty awesome haul.

I picked up this "gothic lolita" style skirt - its still a wee bit small at the moment, but hopefully it won't be too long until it fits.I go this pretty corset - I've always wanted one! I'm not sure where I will wear it, but I will find somewhere!

I got a very cute green camisole style top - it has a peacock embroidered on the front, although it's a little difficult to see in this photo.

A couple of stripy tops - one slightly slouchy and one fitted and a little bit punk.

I also got another stripy cardi - its a bit of a summer top though so I guess I won't be wearing it for a while!

Here's a few other bits and pieces I got - a necklace and a scarf with Australian dot painting on it - I'm not usually a big fan of dot painting but I really love this design. I also got some printable labels for crafty type activities and also the biography of Gok Wan - I love Gok! This wee frock/skirt isn't my usual style but it's perfect for an island holiday and Rich and I are planning on going to Samoa or Vanautu later this year, so I decided to snap it up! I also picked up a couple of belts a cute blue belt and a kind of Ed Hardy style belt - I think the bottom belt is actually a hip belt, but I'll be wearing it around my waist. I also managed to pick up a couple of dresses at this swap - first up this wee vintage number. I'm not usually a fan of orange, but I thought I'd give this dress a go and see how it works out for me. I also got this wee shirt dress - the picture doesn't really do it justice - it looks much better on!Finally I got this great winter jacket - it used to belong to Ria and she called it her "Lady Gaga" jacket. It does need the zipper replaced, but it's in great condition.

I hope you've all been having a lovely weekend xoxo

Weta Cave and Roxy Theatre

Hello world and yes I am still sick - unbelievable right? I don't think I've been sick for this long is ages. Fingers crossed I recover over the weekend! I do actually feel a little better today.

Anyway lets now think back to the weekend, before I was sick! Rich and I had a really fun day on Sunday. We went out to Miramar, which is a suburb of Wellington to visit the Weta Cave.

What is a weta - you may ask (if you're not from New Zealand) well this is a Weta - but the Weta cave has nothing to do with real weta and in fact isn't much of a cave either.

Weta Workshop is a famous special effects workshop based in Miramar and there is a pretty good chance you've seen some of the movies they have worked on such as the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, King Kong, District 9, Prince Caspian. The Weta Cave is their mini museum and store and it tiny but mighty!

This guy was in the garden, he's pretty cool right? He looks so real. I'm not sure if he's from a film or he's there because he's completely awesome.Lurtz is there to meet you when you enter the Weta Cave - he seems a bit miffed though. But seriously, it's amazing to see something like this up close. The detail that's put into it is really fascinating.
It turns out that Lurtz doesn't like people very much - so it pays not to get too close or you might get bitten!I tried to look scared - I really did. But when you're as smiley as I am it can be pretty darn difficult to put on a "scared" face.There were a lot of movie props at the Weta Cave including these from "Braindead" - which is one of Peter Jackson's early films. Back before Lord of the Rings he used to make some great splatter flicks - I really hope he'll decide one day to make another. If you like horror and you haven't seen it I highly recommend it! Although if you live in the USA the movie is released under the title "Dead Alive".These guys are from another old Peter Jackson movie "Meet the Feebles" which is a bit like the muppets - if the muppets were R18 and a wee bit crazy. I've seen this movie a few times and I love it! But it's not for everyone that's for sure. If you want to see the trailer you can view it here.

This guy from "Prince Caspian" is more likely to be recognised by people, as is this cutie from "Waterhorse".
This "Baby Prawn" from "District 9" was really cool - I loved that movie a lot. I wish they had a full size prawn though.
We also got to me Golem - he was pretty cool, but in these photos he looks a bit like he's giving us the evil eye!
I was never really much into Tintin as a kid, I never read the books and I didn't go to the movie but I have to admit that these guys were pretty cool. After the Weta Cave it was time to get a bite to eat, we decided to go to "Coco at Roxy" which is the cafe at the "Roxy Cinema" which is a beautiful restored old Cinema. We did want to see a movie at the Roxy but there just weren't any on at the time we were there, the next movie was starting in the evening. But that didn't stop us having a look around the cinema which is just beautiful - it puts all those horrible modern "multiplexes" to shame!!
They had another Golem at the Roxy - this one was a little scary though as he was cast in some kind of metal and had no eyes.
This is a very small part of the mural painted on the ceiling in the upstairs foyer of the cinema - it's truly incredible. This photo doesn't even begin to capture how amazing it really is!
A few more shots of the beautiful upstairs foyer area, there was a full bar up here too. I think if I lived in Miramar I'd love to come out here and grab a drink and soak in the beauty of it all.
There was also a collection of old movie posters up stairs - here's a few of my favourites, although the one for "Green Slime" is by far the best in my opinion.