The facebook thing....

I tell you, it is so hard to keep up with all this social media stuff and still manage to blog! Things have taken off over on my facebook page recently and just trying to keep up with all the emails alone is almost impossible, let alone managing to actually make things as well!



I thought I would take a few minutes this morning to show off here the bunnies that I've managed to do so far for Easter, there are more to come!



While it is exciting to get a big influx of orders and requests, the stress that goes along with that is most unwelcome.



I do appreciate all the orders and all the bunny love, who wouldn't, but at times this week I really have just wanted to tell them all to go away and leave me alone! Please tell me that's normal?!



At one point the other night I actually panicked and thought I would run out of chenille before I could finish all the orders! That was a weird feeling! Late night panic buying of chenille on ebay of course fixed that problem (for the time being anyway!).



So I'm sorry if I've been neglectful of this space for a bit. I do love my blog and I hope to get more exciting things to share soon. I am sure all of you are sick of seeing bunnies by now!

Some news....

Finally today I get a chance to sit down, write a blog post, and share some exciting news. Well, I think it's exciting anyway.

As you're all probably aware by now, if you've been reading my blog for a bit, I really do love a bit of recycling. I love taking the best pieces from some very well loved bedspreads or linens that have seen better days, and turning them into something new with many more years of love ahead of them. It really does give me a bit of a thrill. So recently I've taken that idea of recycling just one step further. With this latest batch of bunnies I have started using stuffing that is made from recycled water bottles. This stuffing performs exactly like the polyester stuffing I was using before, but instead of being made from virgin chemicals, I'm preventing plastic water bottles from going into landfill. In fact, every bunny or bear will be preventing over 23 bottles from clogging up the environment. Isn't that exciting!

I'm using Innergreen's 100% PET toy fill. It's hypoallergenic, washable, and Australian made. Got to love that! In changing to this product I can now say that each bunny or bear is roughly 99% recycled. The only thing that is new is the thread used to sew them together and the ribbons around their necks. I'm so very proud of my little guys, doing their bit for the environment.

oh, and I've turned comment verification off. that captcha thing was driving me nuts. if I get too much spam, I will have to turn it back on again, but we'll see how we go!

Gleaners....

Have you heard about the latest fabulous exhibition opening next week at Gleaners Inc?

That is where my newest bunny "Audrey" is headed. Off to join all the other gorgeous doily creations. I only wish I was heading down too!

my creative space...

Wow! A blog post! Not much else going on around these parts other than I'm in full bunny production mode for Easter. I'm making a few very special (and very yummy!) bunnies, so stay tuned....



More creative spaces over here.

Flea Market finds

It had been so long since I had had a proper op shop day so I was chomping at the bit earlier this week to go with two other gorgeous bloggers! I got vintage sheets galore (though I needed my running shoes on to get past Jennie and Leonie and get to them first!), teacups (pics to follow on that one, somehow Jennie ended up with my cup and I ended up with hers!), giant knitting needles and yarn.


I also managed to duck into another oppy on Friday in between errands and picked up this very sweet Japanese bowl.


I thought while I was actually blogging for once I would show you the beautiful elephant laundry sprinkler from the 1930's I managed to pick up on ebay a while back. You might remember, I have been wanting one of these for ages!


And lastly, these gorgeous little op shopped finds gifted to me by Jennie. How did she know I have a laundry obsession? And how cute is that little iron?!



Not sure if Sophie is playing flea market finds today, but I'll link back to her anyway, hope you all had a great weekend!

Facebook

A bit of a reminder that selina's vintage is now on facebook. I'm hoping to get some time in the next week or so to do some updating of the blog, and my facebook page, and hopefully even manage to get some crafting done in there too! I've been thinking about some bunnies for Easter, is anyone interested? Offer up some colour combinations in the comments if you like, I always like to hear what colour combos other people like!

Vintage sheet swap!

Feeling like a bit of a boost to your vintage sheet fat quarters collection? Head over to here to grab all the details and sign up, I have! This one is for Australian residents only though.

Filmlife Blogger Challenge

When I read over on Cam's blog about the filmlife blogger challenge I initially wanted to join in, then changed my mind, then decided to jump in anyway. If you don't know already, the filmlife project and blogger challenge is a collaboration with Donate Life Week 2012 aiming to encourage and inspire young people to really think about, and discuss with their loved ones their thoughts and wishes on organ donation.

This is an issue close to my heart. For those new here or don't know already, I have cystic fibrosis. And one day in the not too distant future I will need a double lung transplant in order to save my life. The way my liver is going I will probably need one of those while they're at it!

Before I get to the three questions posed for the filmlife blogger challenge, I would like to share a little something. Until today I was not a registered organ donor. Shocked? I wasn't. I was actually under the impression that having a chronic illness meant I couldn't be a donor. Turns out I was wrong. In preparing for this blog post I was doing a little reading on the net and came across this page on the DonateLife website busting those myths and misconceptions people have about organ donation. I guess my point is that anyone can be ill-informed about these sorts of issues. For someone who is fairly knowledgeable about medical procedures and issues, who has seen first hand the impact a second chance at life in receiving donated organs and will someday herself need donated organs be unaware of certain facts, anyone can. It's not too late to educate yourself or admit you may be a little ignorant to the truth. Knowledge is power.

Now, onto those questions!

1. What’s your take on or experience with organ donation, and why did you choose to take part in the FilmLife Blogger Challenge?

Basically, I will need a double lung transplant one day in order to save my life. I have seen the impact this ultimate gift has on peoples lives as well as having seen friends and even a family member receive their donated organs and live wonderful second chance lives. I feel that the more people that can open up about their experience with these issues, the more people will be able to benefit.

2. If you were to donate your organs, which one would you love to donate, and why?

(nb. this question is intentionally quirky so feel free to be creative and have some fun with it)

I'm going to have to say corneas for this one. I have always loved my eyes and they are one of the few things in my body that work 100%! I did experience a weird side effect from some post surgery ketamine once where my vision went all hazy, it was the worst feeling, even worse than the pain from the surgery! I would love to think of someone seeing again through my eyes.

3. Who in your family would you need to talk to about organ donation, to be sure your loved ones knew your wishes?

Clearly tonight I'm going to have to have that discussion with my husband and 14 year old daughter. Their wishes have always been made clear, now I realise I can in fact donate as well, I will need to express this to them. Around the dinner table is where everything gets discussed in this house!

If you would like to join in with this challenge put together the three questions and answers and head over to CurlyPops' blog and join in the linky!

To register yourself on the organ donation register here in Australia, go here.

Explore....

I was catching up on some blog reading in the first few days of the year, after all the crazy Christmas trading had me working more hours, and I came across a blog post by tinniegirl that got me thinking. In it she mentioned about her "word for the year" and I remembered how she had written this post the year before about the same thing. I briefly sat back and thought, what would my word be for the year, if I were to choose one. Immediately the word "explore" popped into my mind. Now, I'm not one to usually get into this sort of thing, so it was a little weird that any word at all would come to mind.

Over the next few days this word kept entering my head, so I let it, and I think it really does encapsulate all of the intentions I have for 2012. So, I'm going to lay it all out here, and give me some accountable record I can look back on over the year and see how it's all going. Just indulge me here won't you?!

I want to explore new crafts, and rediscover some old ones. I think knitting in particular, crochet didn't quite feel right in my hand. I also want to explore the silversmithing class I looked into briefly last year (or the year before??).

I want to explore new directions for my crafts. Maybe more retail outlets or even a bigger market environment, one with a bit more exposure (and where people are willing to pay more!).

I want to explore new friendships, and put myself out there a bit more. It's hard to make new friends at 36!

I want to literally explore more of this country! I do have plans for a trip to Melbourne this year (yeh Melbourne bloggers, look out!) but there are also places only a short drive away that I haven't been to yet.

I want to explore more options for my health. I need to stop living in denial so much and make a real effort, a real change. No one but me can do this, and I need to do it now.

I need to explore "yes". Not later, not tomorrow, not another day. Yes. Let's do that now. This one has been sitting quite close on my heart this last few days in particular. One of the roads I travel on up to 10 times a week heading to and from work claimed a life in a very tragic traffic accident. It happened only an hour before I was on it, heading home from work. She too was heading home, to the same suburb I live in, to a child the same age as mine, and this has left me feeling quite upset. I've lived with the knowledge that my illness will probably take my life, but there are still so many unexpected circumstances that can take it all away anyway. So no more "tomorrow", I need to say yes today.

So thank you Cathy, you somehow always manage to put the right post up at the right time for me, whether I tell you that or not. Here's to exploring all that this year has to offer!

xx

image from here

Good bye 2011.....

What can I say about 2011? After last year, it certainly was welcome relief. It's actually been a little strange, surreal even, for me. This year saw me head to France, something that I have longed for, dreamed for, most of my life. I've felt weird since coming home and have never really understood why. Does this happen to most people when their only dream comes true? France always seemed like that dream that could just never come true, and when it did, left me feeling a little flat. So it's taken a little while to get over, if that makes sense! I felt that this year I wanted to make some changes in my life, reduce some clutter, find my way, and stop sweating the small stuff. I feel I've done that. I faced the first year hurdle of losing my beloved pets, China and Max, and have found love in some new furry additions to the family. I starting making quilts and bunnies again after what seemed like the biggest break ever (and I actually had thought I would never make them again) and really enjoyed it. I've made a great new friendship with a like minded blogger who I am so glad moved so very close to me. And in the last few weeks I've really had a good think about what I want to achieve for myself and my family this next year and it feels really good. I've also come to realise that I'm probably the most contented I have been in a very, very long time. I've always been a happy and positive person, but it really takes a lot of effort to achieve that, this year it has almost felt like a weight has lifted and I'm finally in a place where it just isn't as hard work to be that happy positive person, I just am.

I'm really looking forward to the next year. My eyes are open and things are clear. Thanks for stopping by all year, it has really meant a lot. I hope that 2012 is kind to all of us, happy new year everyone!

XX

image found here