School Holidays come to an end

Sadly, today was the last day of Grand daughter's holiday here in Melbourne. We have had loads of fun, shopped in dozens of Op Shops, crafted a soft toy and Cross Stitched, tried our hand at Yarn Bombing, enjoyed Art and Scenery.  What a wonderful 2 weeks.

Now it is time to pack away all the crafty bits brought out from every nook and cranny until next holidays, so to save time next term, I found the perfect, lined, basket at an Op Shop yesterday

more will be added tomorrow after we do the final going home suitcase pack, and the next 10-12 weeks will see it overflowing I'm sure, as I collect new things for next holiday.

No shopping today, instead we took the tram into the city and went to the top of the Eureka Tower, Out on the Edge at the 88th floor.  GD has done it before with grandad but it was a first for me!

NO I can't say, been there, done that, got the TShirt but I can say
Been there, done that, got the wristband!!

For those not familiar with The EDGE, you walk into a small room with 8 people, and like a drawer, it slides 3 meters out of the side of the building, it is all glass and 88 floors above street level, 300 metres above actually!
Interesting!

Happy Australia Day

Capt.Arthur Phillip arriving at Botany Bay, 26 Jan 1788

To all my new found Blog friends, Australia Wide I wish you all a very happy Australia Day.
Melbourne has started out with cool weather, rain overnight, but I have seen on the TV news that many of you are headed for heatwaves, take care out there.. .. remember slip, slop, slap!

the Beautiful Yarra Valley [Victoria]

Today was not so much about shopping as it was about looking at beautiful things.

GD and I took a drive out into the Yarra Valley Ranges, to visit Tarrawarra, and the Museum of Art there.  The current exhibition is of Brett Whiteley art, mostly vibrant paintings, and although the Gallery is only small, the trip there and the wonderful views from the Gallery and the Restaurant made for a lovely day out.

Artistic Photography by my young Grand daughter.

We did stop off at a few shops on the way there, and back, and did make a good day of it !

in Need of Tender Loving Care . . .

a quick trip to the Camberwell Market this morning, before breakfast found us this wonderful little 'boudoir chair' in much need of some TLC. It's already had at least one makeover, under the red, is some green velvet.  At some time a little darling has scribbled all over the seat, and the red is all somewhat faded.
I have a piece of pink and white Laura Ashley stripe fabric that I think will be just perfect for it.  Have to decide on what to do with the metal first, so it may take a few weeks (or months) before you all get to see the end result.

No other purchases, just coffee, hot donuts and home again, as Grand daughter had a sewing project she wanted to get started on a.s.a.p.



I am hoping to enter this Flea Market Find into the draw for a Give Away over at Her Library Adventures .. .. please check out her blog, apart from the great Give Aways, you can buy a few little brooches too, all in a good cause.

Greensborough Saturday

Have not been to Greensborough Op shopping for at least 5 or 6 years.  I used to do some part time work in G'borough,  and would slip into Savers and the Brotherhood every lunchtime.
As my Grand daughter was so impressed with Savers in Frankston, we decided Sat.morning would be SAVERS day.  Off we went and we, well she, was not disappointed.  3 more tiny frames for her Cross Stitch project  as well as some other crafty bits and pieces and  a lovely Japanese jewellery/music box

I found a few pattern books, a Notebook magazine, and some amazing Retro orange and white drinks coasters. 

We then had some lunch, visited the local Sewing Center to buy new needlework scissors and a needle threader.  All in all a very successful morning.  check her blog later today, or tomorrow for the results of her next bit of cross stitching!  -- she got home and got straight into it, while I had a cup of tea and watched the tennis.

foray into Frankston, Vic.

When I first moved to Victoria some 30 years ago we lived in Frankston, but they never had any fun things like Sand Sculpting then.

Today we took a family trip down the bay to see the 2010-2011 Sand Sculpting Australia presentation of CREEPY CRAWLIES in sand.  Unfortunately, recent heavy rains and winds had destroyed some of the installations, a few were being re-modelled and repaired as best as possible.  The whole thing is on display until 26th April.. .. so still lots of time to get them re-done.  Until they are completed entry fee has been reduced to just $5..
Each year there is a different Theme to the display and this year's  ''Creepy Crawlies" really was a good one, with spiders, cockroaches, fleas, bees, all looking wonderful in sand.

This was one entitled "A Closer Look" and was a giant magnifying glass showing all the bugs,
but it really looked like a Tim Burton horror story!!

After a good look around, lunch and a walk on the Frankston Pier, we made a quick stop off at 2 Op Shops, the RSPCA and the Savers, but as LJ and I had to be mindful that Grandad was waiting in the car for us, we didn't stay for as long as we would have liked to !  Savers in Frankston is on TWO levels.  I did find a few good buys in the RSPCA tho!

School Holiday Op Shopping

Having my grand daughter here in Melbourne means lots of op shopping, and a few of my most recent finds are over on I op therefore I am 
Today we went into Melbourne and had a girly day looking a real shops. We did get some 'cute' buys, such as matching Pandora Charms for our bracelets, and chocolate for Grandad.

Tomorrow off to Frankston to see the Sand Modelling.