A winner and a weekend at Dookie....

Christine from Auntie's Quaint Quilts is the winner of the giveaway! Congratulations Christine. I will be in touch with you soon!

Thank you so much to everyone who entered.

And, it was wonderful to hear from bloggers who have been following me for ages but never commented. I hope it won't stop here! Over the long weekend we visited my amazing Grandmother in Dookie. See this post about DookieThe boys climbed "Saddleback" - what a view. I forgot my sneakers.....
We had a wander about the little town and visited
The Dookie Emporium again. As usual it was stocked to overflowing with wonderful treasures. I walked out with a whole spool of black velvet 1" ribbon for $5! Bargain.We didn't have room in the car for much else!

The emporium shares space with the

Dookie Havest Cafe. We had a really great coffee here.Now, as usual, after coming home from my Grandmother's I am going on a diet - too much wonderful food and pudding! We had a great long weekend. I hope you did too?

Kathryn. XX

It's giveaway time!

To celebrate my 250th post and my 200th follower I am having a cute giveaway! Yeah!

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment, it's that simple. Everyone can enter.

I'm hoping all of my followers out there will leave a comment, so don't be shy.

Look what you could win......

This cute little Matryoshka doll named "Elsa" made by me!

A cute "Lavender Strawberry Kit" which includes the instructions,fabric and all of the embellishments needed to make two pretty strawberries! You can pick which kit you like the best.

And one of my handmade "Elizabethan style Kissing Balls". This will be made especially for the winner depending on where they live. (ie. with lavender if you are in Australia or without if you are international)
Plus a few other assorted goodies that I may squeeze into the post bag!
This is my way of saying thank you to blog land for wonderful friends and crafty peeps who keep me going!
Now, go on and enter.
You have until Tuesday morning 10am AEST.

Goodluck! Kathryn. XX

Hands Free and a Winner!!!

Inspired from here and here I decided to make my own "Hands Free" handbag.

I bought this "London newspaper" fabric (from here) a couple of weeks ago and thought it perfect for the accent fabric. I used lightweight clear PVC over the top with a quilt style binding so I didn't need a teflon foot for the machine to sew with it. Also used was denim, red and white polka dots and a luggage strap - adjustable.

It isn't quite finished: "Blog Finished" as a few would say!

I shall stitch down the binding at craft tonight.

I think I'm going to love being hands free now!

Now, let's get on to the giveaway winner, I know you are all dying to find out!!

Firstly thank you to those that entered. Your comments keep me motivated to keep going!

We had 55 comments. The pic is a little hard to read but....

the winner is comment number 35 and by my reckoning it is Deb from

"The Angel and the Pukeko"

Congratulations Deb. Please contact me to arrange your prize!!!

Thanks again everyone, Kathryn. XX

It's all happening....

Ok, so not only am I celebrating my 1 year blogaversary but soon I will celebrate my 100th sale on Etsy and I have reached 100 followers!

The person who purchases my 100th item on Etsy will receive a special surprise......

Pop on over to my Esty shop, My Shabby Cottage, to find out if it could be you!!!

Lot's of new goodies have just been added so there is plenty to choose from...

"Barefoot Roses" Hairclips Tidy
Little girls bag "Royal Ballet"

"Royal Ballet" Hairclips Tidy

"Cameo Roses" Hairclips Tidy.

"Flower Fairies" cushion
Lot's of Handbag Doorstops

And some more Princess Cushions are on the way too.....

Have you entered my giveaway yet?

Goodluck, Kathryn. XX

Happy Blogaversary to me......

It is a year ago today that the big wide world of blogging began thanks to this awsome gal!

I was around visiting Jodie to pick up some chenille when she said to me...."have you seen these great blogs?" "Huh?" I replied.....

I had never looked at a blog.

She showed me hers and the rest is history!!

So one year on, I have discovered a whole new world of wonderful people, met some great new friends, learnt a lot from the amazingly talented crafty community, had lots of fun, been encouraged to keep going, joined a craft group, been on a crafty weekend away, joined some great swaps and kept a diary of it all for the world to see and me to look back on in years to come.

I want to thank everyone who has left a comment here for me. It means a lot and it keeps me going. I try my best to reply to comments but sometimes the sewing machine gets in the way........ :)

Now, no blogaversary can go by without a little giveaway can it?

So, I have organised a gift certificate of $50US for my Etsy shop MyShabbyCottage.etsy.com

I am in the process of restocking the shop so look out!

All you need to do is.....

leave a comment on this post and if you don't have an Etsy account you must register for one

(you can add me - myshabbycottage - as the referrer if you want but it's not necessary)

so that you can receive your gift certificate (it's FREE to join - so go and do it!) and once you have an account you must add me to your favourite sellers if you haven't already done so.

So, that's pretty simple isn't it?

The giveaway will close Tuesday 16th June at 7pm (AEST) and will be drawn on Wednesday morning.

Good Luck to everyone!

Thank you blogland. It has been a blast.

Here's to the next year!!! Hippip Hooray!

Kathryn. XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Giveaway now closed - thank you to all who entered.

On the long weekend....

We mostly tried to stay warm.

It was 11 degrees celcius....

Hubs tried to get some painting done before the rain came and the sun disappeared. We celebrated a few birthdays (hubs included!) with good friends....
Went to the house a few times and had a steady stream of visitors wanting to have a look....
Went for a walk........

What a view!

And my poor sewing machine has not been touched for 5 days.

I better go and stroke it...just to let it know that I have not forgotten it.

I hope you had a great long weekend?

Kathryn. XX

(edited to add: It is my 1 year blogaversary tomorrow, so make sure you come back for a super dooper giveaway!)

The Brass Hussy GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

The Brass Hussy GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Go and check it out for a chance to win a gift certificate to "The Brass Hussy" on Etsy!!!

Good Luck, Kathryn. XX

It's official, I am a winner!

Of a giveaway, that is!

I have been blogging, now, for 9 months and have entered many giveaways but this is the FIRST one that I have won! You can imagine my excitement can't you!Heleen from Dutch Colours had a pretty giveaway on her blog recently. The gift was a beautiful pink "Valentine Sweetheart" embroidered with little flowers. It arrived this morning and I was thrilled to open this little package.
Not only did she send the heart but all the supplies I would need to make my own heart, some pretty fabric and a lovely card.
Thank you so much Heleen, I love it all!
Some new Shabby Union Jack cushions...after the disaster the other day! They are in my shop now.
And finally, an award passed on to me by "Happy Loves Rosie". I had not come across Happy's blog before but I was delighted at what I saw - lovers of Cath Kidston and vintage delights start swooning!

Upon receiving the Lemonade Award, you also pass it on to other bloggers who you think show great attitude and gratitude.

Here are the rules:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.

2. Nominate at least 8 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude

3. Link to your nominees within your post

4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.

So here are the 8 blogs I will pass the award to:

Marie - Spun by Me

Kylie - A Bite of Country Cupcakes

Kerryanne - Shabby Art Boutique

Kristina - Shabbily ever After

Gail - Originals by Gail & Tony McCormack

M - Tales from an O.C Cottage

Andrea - The Pink Poodle

Sairer - Vintage Pretty and Shabby

It's going to be a great day!

Kathryn. XX

Drum roll please.... We have a winner!!!

Firstly, I would like to thank everyone who visited my blog and left a comment to be in the draw for my 100th post giveaway!

I appreciate every single comment left here. It gives me the motivation to keep going and it is so wonderful to have so many new "friends" from Australia and around the globe. Without blogging I think I would still be stuck in my rutt.....

It's a whole new world when you blog!!!

Ok, so hubs found this great site for picking names from a hat from here. It also enables you to add names twice, thrice etc.... I couldn't figure out if Random.org did that?????

Anyway, without further ado....we have a winner and the hat chose....

Noemia from Portugal!!!

Woo Hoo! Congratulations Noemia! This wonderful package of goodies will be heading your way in the next few days. I will email you.

Thank you to everyone who participated....make sure you come back for the next one!

Kathryn. XX

"Trash and Treasure" and a giveaway!!

Today was the big day.

The day some of us got to meet "Trash" in person! Originally a Ballarat resident, she now lives in the UK with her husband and two children. They had made the treck "home" to visit the rellies and do some sightseeing for a few weeks over Christmas and the New Year.....

Thanks to Ric-Rac and her organisational skills we started off at Ballarat Patchwork for fun, laughter, crafty talk, door prizes and asking poor old Trashy 100 questions! Then we progressed to the Eureka Park for a picnic lunch...
Some bloggers (not to mention Trash coming from the UK) had travelled far and wide.....
http://thequiltingb.blogspot.com/
http://rousabout.blogspot.com/
http://sillygillykids.blogspot.com/ all the way from Adelaide - crazy lady!!
http://fourwisemonkeys.blogspot.com/
http://annie-flowergarden.blogspot.com/
http://ballaratpatchwork.com.au/scrapbag/
http://janeysrelaxation.blogspot.com/
http://thornberry.wordpress.com/
http://twocheeseplease.livejournal.com/
http://trashaloucan.blogspot.com/
http://littleredhen08.blogspot.com/
http://nicolemdesign.blogspot.com/

http://dontlooknow.typepad.com/dont_look_now/

I hope I haven't missed anyone...

Then it was back to Ric-Rac's place for afternoon tea and more crafty talk...
Trash had even brought some crafty loveliness from the UK as pressies for us all.
It was great to meet you Trash. A fun day was had by all.

Now, a little while ago, it was my 100th post
(around Christmas time - far too hectic for me to run a giveaway!)
So, to say thank you for all of you who have supported me and my blogging adventure, here it is, my 100th post giveaway.......or should I say my 112th post giveaway!

in this giveaway you will receive.....
1 lined zipper purse made with Cath Kidston's "bubbles" fabric,
3 fridge magnets made with Cath Kidston's "Classic Rose" fabric in red, white and blue!
1 key ring also in Cath Kidston fabric "Classic Rose" on one side and "Summer Blossom" on the other,
1 of my "Shabby Packs" - including 1 fat quarter of Paris Bebe fabric along with lace, buttons, rhinestones, charms, roses, clay roses, ribbon roses and more.......
1 2009 fridge calendar.

Now, if that all sounds good to you and you would like to have it all in your hot little hands, just leave a comment on this post to be in the draw!

If you blog it, I will enter you twice!

How easy is that? So, come on everyone (including international bloggers) is invited....
I shall leave it open until Tuesday and draw a name sometime during the day.

Good luck, Kathryn. XX

5.00pm Tuesday. The giveaway entries are now closed....I shall get organised and draw a name out later on tonight - once I figure out who needs two entries etc..........Good luck!!!

You have got to enter this giveaway.....

This has got to be one of the most amzing giveaways. Old Red Barn is giving away these three beautiful quilts to three lucky winners......How generous is that?

Go and check it out - but I want to win OK?

Not much other news today - I am busy, busy, busy with a custom order for a backpack! I designed the pattern yesterday and have nearly finished it... more tomorrow...

Kathryn. XX

Off to Italy...

Oh, how I wish it was me travelling to Italy but, alas, no. (sobbing loudly)

It's the bag I finished off for Monica on Friday as well as a few other goodies from the website.

I hope they arrive safely. I have heard many stories of people not wanting to send anything to Italy because lots of parcels go "missing".
I sent Monica a bag last year and it arrived safely but she had to pay duty even though I marked it as "gift". We shall see how this little lot goes.....

The bag has an adjustable strap - if anyone would like to know how to do one, Nicole Mallalieu has a great little tutorial here.

If anyone remembers this post I did a while ago about snapping the perfect photo of our two boys for the portrait, I think I have done it!

(Note. they were bribed with chocolate - who says you shouldn't bribe your kids?? Not me- it works - well most of the time. I never take my kids shopping with me unless it is absoloutely unavoidable - I bribe them with Donut King - "you behave or no donut for you!", or, I bribe them with dessert "you behave or no dessert tonight"....you get the picture!)

Anyway, I think this is the photo we shall send off to Joanne - fingers crossed we have chosen the right one.....

Shannon, from "Paint Mine Pink" hosted the Super Sweet Aussie Artists Giveaway recently and her trusty assistant Sam pulled out two winners names!! They are SUSAN @ Suzie Button Creations for prize A, and RUE @ Rues Peanut Butter and Jelly Life. Well done girls. Thanks To Shannon for hosting the swap and for all the girls who participated.

I hope everyone had a great weekend, well done to the "Hawks"!!!

Kathryn. XX

A winner, something strange and more malarkey!!

And the winner is..................... "A Spoonful of Sugar"!!

Well done girls - my trusty assistants helped me out this morning and voila!!! I shall be in contact with you soon.

Thank you to everyone who left a comment - I appreciate all of them!

I hope you all come back and visit me often!

Now, this is the "something strange" can anyone else see what I spotted on my bath mat this morning??
I have kept the image smaller so it is a bit easier to see. Step back from your monitor and you may see it clearer.

Any guesses??

School holiday malarkey - I love that word! It's so much fun..
This is what happens on a rainy day in Ballarat! At least they were in great humour yesterday.
Oh, and yes, I did stay in my PJ's until after 10am!! :)
KathrynXX

Aussie Artists giveaway!!

Shannon over at "Paint Mine Pink" has organised a few girls to take part in a huge giveaway for everyone out there who loves anything pink, shabby, whimsical and fun.

Participants include:

Moi!!

Bek @ Beksshabbydreams

Kerryanne @shabbyartboutique

Jullie @ whimsicalnotions

Kylie @ abiteofcountrycupcakes

Linda and Laura @ LillyCottage

Shannon @ paintminepink

If you would like to enter the giveaway you must leave a comment on Shannons Blog HERE!

You will be amazed at all of the wonderful goodies on offer and because there is soooo much "stuff" in the giveaway there will be TWO prizes. Whoo Hoo!!

Pop on over and enter!!! Don't be shy!!

Kathryn. XX

50th Post "GIVEAWAY"!

Well, this is my 50th post!

To all of the wonderful bloggers "out there" who have supported me and left lovely comments on my posts I would like say

"Thank you"

by having a giveaway!!

Included in the giveaway will be one of my "Handbag Doorstops"

....and a lovely shabby starter pack of goodies. One full fat quarter of "Sweet Sue" fabric, three different lace trims, clay roses, a rhinestone button and lots of Mother Of Pearl buttons.
Yeah!!
I have really enjoyed "blogging" and have "met" some wonderful ladies.
Bring on the next 50....
To be in the draw just leave a comment on this post up until next Monday. If you spread the word on your blog I'll pop your name in twice - be sure to let me know though.
So, go on, don't be scared.... I don't bite!!!
Good Luck.
KathrynXX

PS. This is open to everyone - international bloggers as well!