anita meade - simple.creative.life

Turning off the 'puter.

Yep, I am turning it off. I've already indulged for almost an hour today. My house is in chaos, I have about 10 different, unfinished craft projects in progress and my butt is ever expanding, and it's all (well almost all) the fault of the cyber world! I mean how is a girl supposed to get anything done when there is so much eye candy here on my 'puter. My latest obsession is Flickr. The creative inspiration to be found there is just amazing - but as far as time goes, Flickr is a black hole! So farewell for the day my friends. I am going to pop on a CD and try to clear some of the clutter that has invaded every flat surface in my house. Wish me luck. No doubt I will have to check back in this evening.......just in case I missed something ;)

Homemade vegemite and cheese scrolls.

Thought I'd pop in and show you what I whipped up tonight for the kids school lunches - they are my version of "Cheesymite Scrolls". At Baker's Delight these cost $3.00 each, so they are a very rare lunchbox treat for my boys. I thought I'd have a go at making them myself and I'm thrilled with how they turned out. I reckon I've made my dozen scrolls for the cost of 1 - 2 Baker's Delight ones. I've kept a couple out for tomorrow and popped the rest in the freezer. They will make a nice change from sandwiches for the boys.

 

I just used to dough recipe for sticky cinnamon scrolls in my breadmaker manual. After the breadmaker made the dough, I rolled it out in a large rectangle, brushed it with melted butter, spread it generously with vegemite and sprinkled it with grated cheese. Then I rolled it up and cut it into 1 1/2 inch slices and popped them on a baking tray. I gave them another light brush with butter and another tiny sprinkle of cheese and left them to rise for half an hour. Then I baked them at 160" for about 12 -14 minutes.  I reckon they look good enough to eat ;) 

Thanks for popping in. See you again soon. Love Anita. xxx

Cotton lovelies

Just thought I'd pop in and show you some cotton creations I've recently added to my etsy shop Anita Meade Creations

I've been knitting and crocheting lots lately (I think it's the return of some cooler weather) and I've made a few new dishcloths/washcloths plus a couple of other creations. 

I love the earthy, natural colours of this set of three washcloths..........

 

This little crocheted box it the perfect size for 3 (or even 4) of my favourite knitted washcloths. I think it would look really pretty sitting on a bathroom vanity etc.

 

And I think these two crocheted washcloths would make a lovely gift for a new baby, or a little girl, with their pretty, rainbow colours....

 

Over the weekend, I used up a few scraps of my favourite Lily "Sugar'n' Cream" cotton yarn and whipped up this crocheted pincushion. I think the pincushion bug has bitten :)

 

Now what yarny creation will be next? So many ideas spinning around in my head.......check back to see which one makes is into the physical world next :) Hope you're all having a wonderful Monday. We are having a lovely warm autumn day here in Melbourne - I'm soaking up the last of the warmer weather while it lasts! Thanks for stopping by. See you again soon. Love Anita. xxx

Lucky

I'm back in blogland - well actually, I have been lurking around everyone elses blogs this week, gaining lots of inspiration. In my break from being a blogger I have come to realise that blogland really is about giving and receiving. I get so much joy from reading other peoples' blogs. I am inspired by their creativity, I am intrigued by how they tackle their day-to-day challenges, I am heartened to know that we are all different and yet in many ways, so similar. I am warmed by the spirit in which things are given and shared in blogland. I have "met" so many wonderful people here, and come to know them through the sharing of our blogs. In short, I feel that if I intend to keep receiving all the goodness that blogland has to give, the very least I can do is give something of myself in return. This is a creative, generous, warm, artistic, amazing community and I am proud to be a part of it.

Today I feel incredibly lucky. There are lots of reasons for this......the hour long chat I had with my dear friend Jo at school drop off time, the little catch up I had with my darling mate Erica on the phone this morning, and when I checked my mailbox today, I found a delicious little package waiting for me. It was my pincushion (part of the swap I've joined in with) from Cath at "ChunkyChooky". Just look what she sent:

Isn't is just adorable. I have always loved hearts and the colour red. Lately I've had a fascination with embroidery on denim. All these things were a part of Cath's gorgeous creation. She also sent me a pack of pins and some pretty felt flowers. Thanks so much Cath. I really appreciate the time and love you put into this swap item. 

So obviously, when you participate in a swap, you also make something to send off to someone else. The recipient of my pincusion was the lovely Laurel. This is what I made for her:

 

The cute pincushion pattern came from Leanda Xavian at one loop short

I had such a lovely time crocheting the hexagons that I made an extra one and mounted it on a little denim needlebook which I lined with pretty fabric and some felt from my stash. Thanks so much to Kate from Fox's Lane for organising this swap. You can see some of the other wonderful pincushiony creations at the Flickr group here.

Well my friends, the sun is shining, and I have washing to hang out and a little puppy who is very keen to go for a walk. I will be back soon - that much I promise you. Blogland really is too good to stay away from for long :)

Thanks for stopping by today. Love Anita. xxx

Still here....just quietly.

Lots of people out there in blogland seem to have announced they're taking a blog-break lately. I completely understand that, at times, you need to focus your energies elsewhere. Sometimes you get a little stale in your blogging and you need to go out and just "be".....you need to live life rather than just view it through a computer screen. You need to re-energise, re-invigorate and re-inspire yourself. Most of all you need to reconnect with who you are and where you're going. I'm feeling a bit this way myself lately. I know I've been absent. I am planning on diving back into blogland.......when I feel ready. I know it will be sooner rather than later. Perhaps it will be next week when the kids are back at school.....or the week after. But just know that I haven't forgotten you....my friends "out there". I'll be here again soon. Love Anita. xxx