FRUITFLIES!

Today is not about lovely crafty or witchy or magical things.

Today is about death!

You would think that being married to a wine maker would be glamorous. It's not. The piles of wine stained clothes, dinners that steal him from the family table, worrying about him driving home late at night from events, the physical toll of hard and sometimes very dangerous work... and, at this time of year, losing him utterly and completely to the grape. The wives of those who toil in the vineyards and stomp on grapes are known as "Harvest Widow's" for good reason.

My husband's mistress.

He loves that bottled nectar of the gods. He's passionate about what he does. So I smile and do what I can to support him in his bliss. To be honest, having a few extra bottles of wine on hand does ease my suffering ;)

Juicy green hussy!

But there is one thing I really and truly LOATHE about being a wine makers wife... fruit flies. Fruit flies, always and everywhere. Sometimes worse than others but always at least one or two flying around and ALWAYS a pain in the bottom.

Now, I've tried everything and heard every tale for getting rid of the little buggers. Cider vinegar, beer, soap... I've tried it all. But last week I stumbled upon something and did a little kitchen experiment to see if I was right.

I took several glasses and filled each of them with things said to trap/kill/lure the wee beasties. I arranged them in a ring on the counter and waited. Here's the results...

WINE

CIDER VINEGAR

 

BEER

FRUIT & WATER

Each of these glasses had captured just a few fruit flies (between 3-7). One of the tricks I read said to add soap to the cider vinegar, that the bubbles would 'trap' the fruit flies so I tried that too.

CIDER VINEGAR & SOAP

You really can't tell from the photo but there ARE several flies at the bottom of the glass. 

Compared to the others it was a fair bit more successful and the flies did get trapped in the bubbles.

BUT WAIT... there's one last glass.

What's in there? YEAST!

When I was making pizza dough last weekend the fruit flies buzzing around like mad driving me bonkers. That's when I decided to see if I could use yeast to catch the buggy things. Sure enough they seem far more attracted to this than any of the other liquids. Some dried yeast, a pinch of sugar and warm water = fruit fly death trap!

Spooky Little Box

The weather is starting to chill and my mind is turning to thoughts of pumpkins, witches and Halloween. It seems appropriate that today is all about Steampunk Spells on the Graphic 45 blog. I've been placed in fine company because my little altered box is included!

A small wooden dollar store box transformed into a mini Steampunk booth of potions and charms. It rather reminds me of something that might be found in a mad gentleman’s shelf of curiosities.

Aren't those feet amazing?!?! My fabulous junk patron sent me those (p.s. I love you!).

The vertical piece is the top of an ornate key. Those little curly bits at it's base? Discarded brad prongs. Waste not, want not!

Hop over to the G45 blog for more photos AND spy some other faboo projects made with the creeptacular Steampunk Spells collection.

Supplies:

Steampunk Spells - Clockworks

Steampunk Spells - Beware

Steampunk Spells - Witching Hour

Steampunk Spells - Vintage Voyage

Steampunk Spells Chipboard 2

Ornate Metal Key Holes

Stamped Metal Brads

Ornate Metal Keys

Ornate Doorknob

Petaloo Flowers

Mini wooden balsa wood box

Swinging Hook & Latch Set

Mini-spell bottles

Vintage Brass Feet

Milagro Charm

Old cork

A royal visit

This weekend Pixie Hill was bombarded with family. On Saturday we had a big fat meal for a belated birthday celebration for Nan Whit (aka my granny).

Whenever my gran comes for a visit the call goes out "Are you ready for the Queen's arrival?" or "Has the red carpet been rolled out?" We thought it might be a fitting theme for the evenings celebrations and so each of us contributed something to her royal highness. A robe from Auntie Liz, a sceptre from my mum, white gloves from Auntie Kath, and I contributed a paper crown. Here she is in all her glory...

And a better look at the papery crown made with Graphic 45 papers, May Arts ribbons, faux flowers and old buttons. See the complete material list at the bottom.

Paper Crown Material List

Graphic 45 papers
• A Ladies' Diary > Timeless Memoir 
• A Ladies' Diary > Afternoon Tea
• A Ladies' Diary  > Focal Point
• Secret Garden > Secret Garden Banners 
• Secret Garden > Secret Garden Flowers
May Arts Ribbons
Crushed Hydrangeas
Scor-Tape
Vintage buttons
Hot glue
Tacky glue
Ink pad

My morning journey

One of the questions I am most often asked is about inspiration. Sometimes just taking the time to notice what already surrounds us is enough to provide a spark. Every day on my way to the bus stop I have been taking my camera and keeping my eyes open for lovely little bits of creative encouragement.

 

If you'd like to follow along I will be posting more of these morning stroll photos on my facebook page. I am hoping this exercise becomes a good habit :)

Secret Garden Box

Over on the Graphic 45 blog today you'll find beautiful boxes. I'm pleased as punch this little creation is over there...

 Now it may look rather subtle on the outside but inside there's a surprise waiting to be discovered.

A sweet secret garden that blooms all year around and is always ready for daydreaming and wistful thinking.

AND because I think that you are awfully nice, here's a tutorial for you to make your own!

Do hop over to the blog to see more photos of this, and another beautiful project by the very talented (and terribly nice) Miranda Edney.

Supplies:

***RED BOX Video Materials***

Graphic 45
French Country 6x6 Patterns & Solids Pad

French Country Chipboard 1

Secret Garden > May Flowers

Secret Garden >Springtime

Olde Curiosity Shoppe - Butterfly Specifics

Ornate Metal Label Holder

May Arts Ribbon

Petaloo flowers

Sheet Moss

Reindeer moss

Buttons

Pebbles

***BLUE BOX Sample Materials***

Graphic 45
French Country 6x6 Patterns & Solids Pad

Secret Garden > Beautiful Blooms

Secret Garden >Springtime

Olde Curiosity Shoppe - Butterfly Specifics

Ornate Metal Label Holder

May Arts Ribbon

Paper flowers and leaves

Sheet Moss

Reindeer moss

Buttons

Pebbles

Tick Tock

My gran arrives today and the house smells like cilantro and wine jelly from the canning Mr. Pixie did last night. The kitchen is a mess. The floors need to be done. I've got about 4 hours to hussy this place up so it'll be a short sweet post today... a refurbished clock.

I've always loved the swooping shape of these mantle clocks. This one is made from some sort of hard plastic, not real wood, so I was able to pick it up for just a few dollars at Value Village. (P.S. Does anyone else think their prices are getting a little crazy?!)

Now, this project isn’t fussy and doesn’t have a load of details but the results are very pretty. I love how simple but elegant the finished piece is. I think it shows off the strength of the design of the Graphic 45 papers, that they can stand on their own, and it looks rather lovely sitting on my mantle. And even though this piece was created using the 12 Days of Christmas collection I don’t think anyone will bat an eye if it’s left out all year long.

Creating a similar project? The best hint I can give is to paint your item to match the base/undertone of the paper you are covering it with. Doing this helps to blend your seams and give a more polished look :)

Hop over to the Graphic 45 blog today for more great projects, including a darling Mother Goose clock by Clare Charvill!

Supplies:

Graphic 45 12 Days of Christmas

Pear Tree

Swans a Swimming

Junk shop clock

Ivory acrylic paint

Adhesive

A pretty cubby box and a word on stash

I completed another little cubby box the other day. It's white and pink and sort of frilly and girly, sentimental and rather sweet.

I've used the Graphic 45 Secret Garden collection and Staples, along with some very pretty May Arts Ribbon. There's also a number of items from my stash and I wanted to talk about that for a moment.

Oh stash! That collection of awesome objects that we covet, we treasure, we hoard. Those things that would be perfect for crafting, but we are terrified to actually use.

There's loads of pieces from my stash in this piece. Some of the buttons and other doodads have been in my collection for ages (like that fab old bottle and the pink enamel flower), other items are recent additions (the head at the top and the bottom filigree piece).

Now, I'm not saying that you should immediately use every little bit in your grand collection but I really want to encourage you to USE YOUR STASH. You have those little treasures because you saw potential in them... use them. Create beautiful things and use them! Utilizing those items celebrates the worth you saw in them.

 

Waiting for just the right project? Make things! Make LOADS of things and that 'just right' project will come along. When it does, USE YOUR STASH!

Don't be afraid of wrecking or ruining something. Never fear your supplies (unless of course they are highly toxic or pointy, then 'safety first!'). If you don't play and experiment you're missing out on making some wonderful discoveries.

What's the very worst that could happen? You completely obliterate something? You make something hideous? Even then, you will have learned and gained from your experience!

I love you. I think you are brilliant and I think your should USE YOUR STASH. I pinky swear, you'll go on to create grand things if you do.

xoxo

MATERIALS LIST:
Small wooden cubby ($store) 
Wooden spools
Vintage bottle
Small glass bottles
Faux pearls
Dried Lavender
Spanish Moss
Mini Bird Eggs
Thimble
Vintage buttons
Antique 3D Gold Crowns
Old Fashioned Rose
Misc bits and bobs (old earring, broken jewelry, metal)May Arts Ribbon
Graphic 45 Papers:
Secret Garden
• Beautiful Blooms
• Leafy Treetops 
• Pretty Primrose 
• Springtime
• Secret Garden 8x8 Pads
• Secret Garden 6x6 Patterns & Solids Pad
• Secret Garden Stickers
• Secret Garden Chipboard 1
• Secret Garden Chipboard 2
French Country
• French Country Chipboard 1
• French Country Chipboard 2
 Graphic 45 Staples:
• Ornate Metal Key Holes• Ornate Metal Keys
Acrylic craft paint
Glue, glue and more glue