We Wish you a Merry Christmas...

Wow, it's been a crazy year! Two overseas trips, 244 blog posts, 34 tutorials, a sassy 2 year old...and I'm spent.
I've pushed myself really hard this year, blog wise, mainly to challenge myself and see what can happen if I really put my back into something. I've tried lots of new approaches and have learnt so much, hopefully you have enjoyed the journey as well. Now I need a rest.

I'd like to thank you all for reading, liking, following, commenting, especially those of you that have been with us from the start, I hope I'm still relevant. Those of you that have joined us this year, welcome. It's great to be part of your day.

A really special thanks to all my sponsors and shop customers this year, nothing says 'I believe in you' more than handing over your hard earned cash. I don't really do any of this for the money (or I'd starve), but it's funny how validating just a little financial reward can be. I hope your My Poppet experiences this year have been amazing, I know you've all been really great.

Next year is going to be an interesting one. There are changes afoot! Lots of upheaval here at home (no, I'm not pregnant), so I'm taking all of January off to recharge and re-inspire. I'm excited to see how it all pans out.

So now it's time for me to sign off.

Have a Safe and Happy Christmas and holiday period. Laugh, eat and enjoy your loved ones.
See you in the new year
xx Cinti

Guest Blogger: Cherry and Me - My first ever Chrismukkah Tree

Today I'm handing the blog over to Elle from Cherry and Me, who has written this festive tutorial on a fun twist to her holiday decorating. Today is the first day of Chanukah a Jewish Festival also known as the Festival of Lights. Take it away Elle...

I come from a Jewish family but this year I thought I'd celebrate my first festive season as a new mummy by decorating a tree!

Read more »

Sponsor Profile - Shiny Happy Art

Today I'm interviewing Anna Bartlett of Shiny Happy Art. Anna has been a longtime reader and supporter of the My Poppet blog. I was delighted when she approached me to sponsor the blog, and I thought this would be a great way to get to know her a little better.
I love finding out what makes other creative folk tick, and I'm often interested in how others run their businesses and manage the other aspects of their lives.
Anna's work is very colourful and she has her own unique style. Let's get to know Anna a little better...

 
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Belle Magazine - Indulge someone this Christmas

{ Sponsored by Nuffnang }
The other day I told you about how my sister is really into fashion magazines, buys them all and has kept every one she has bought in near mint condition. My magazine style is a little different. I'm more into Home and decor mags, they have to have amazing photography and be totally inspiring so I can rip out all the pictures and paste them into inspiration notebooks.
In fact the first magazine I ever bought when I moved into my own place was Belle.

In the days before blogs and Pinterest, a girl had to get her visual inspiration from somewhere. For me Belle was, and still is one of my favorites. With beautiful styling, stunning photography and so many amazing homes featured, one can't help being inspired.
There is nothing so indulgent as sitting down during a quiet moment with a cup of tea and a really beautiful glossy. Yes and now finding the afore mentioned quiet time is a little harder now than it used to be.So if you are looking for a last minute gift for a friend with really great taste, you can stop your panicking and head straight over to Magshop to get them a Belle Subscription with one easy click. A whole years worth of Belle is under $40, and think of how much your friend will love you every time a new issue arrives in their letter box. Come to mention it, I wouldn't mind a yearly subscription myself. Now I'm off to drop a few hints, because frankly I could do with a little more quiet time with a cup of tea and a beautiful magazine. Maybe I'll indulge myself with a subscription and maybe win a trip to Hawaii at the same time.


Are you looking for the perfect Christmas present? Give your loved ones a magazine subscription this year and you can win a tropical escape to Hawaii with Magshop’s Christmas competition. Treat your family and friends to a magazine subscription today - it’s the gift that keeps on giving all year round!

Have fun with Gift Wrapping this Christmas - Beyond the Box

My favorite part of the gift giving season is the gift wrapping of course! I just wanted to share a few of the gifts I wrapped up the other day and hope that it will inspire you to 'think outside the box'!
Yes it's easy to make a boxed gift look pretty, but what happens when you have squishy irregular shaped gifts to wrap?My suggestion is a sturdy brown paper bag.

Now where the fun really starts is gathering lots of little things that are laying about in drawers and cupboards around your home already, and thinking of ways to pretty up your parcel.

Some fun things you can use are:
❅ Yarn or string - make pom poms, tassels, or use instead of ribbon
❆ Your children's artwork - get the kids involved in making some unique wrapping paper, cut it into strips to use as ribbon
❄ Assorted stickers - spots, stars, novelty
✼ Washi Tape or Fabric tape
❆ Vintage Christmas ornaments
❄ Pages or Photocopies of illustrations or maps out of books
❅ Paper doilies
❉ Newspaper
❄ Confetti
❅ Fabric as wrapping - Furoshiki - Japanese Wrapping cloth
❉Vintage wallpaper or vinyl adhesive (contact)
❆Leaves, gum nuts or flowers from your garden

Would love to hear some more suggestions in the comments

As you can see this is just the tip of the iceberg. My point is you don't have to spend big $$ on expensive ribbon and shiny paper to get a fun interesting result. Save your money for what's inside the parcel.

I hope you have some fun with your gift wrapping this Christmas.

Here are some related posts that you may enjoy:
Make your own fabric Deco Tape
Make a pretty gift bow (video)
Vintage storybook gift soap

How To: Handmade Fabric Deco Tape

This handmade fabric tape is easy to make with just a few scraps of pretty fabric. Use it to embellish scrapbook projects, gift wrapping or anything else you would use normal adhesive tape for. We've even been known to use small pieces as doll band-aids.

You will need:
-fabric scraps
-double sided adhesive tape
-scissors
-iron (optional)
How to:
- Iron your fabric if it is very creased
- Stick one side of your double sided tape onto fabric and press firmly
- With scissors cut closely around sides of double sided tape
- You're done! To use, cut required length and just peel off backing tape

Tune in tomorrow to see how I've used the tape to embellish my Christmas gifts.

It's officially time to get festive...

It's been 12 years since I've had a Christmas tree. Yes I'm the original Christmas grinch. I'm a December baby so I've always found it a little irritating that my birthday celebrations get lost amongst all the hoopla. I find it hard to put up any decorations till after my birthday. Before Emma was born Christmas used to come an go with just the faintest acknowledgement decor wise. Maybe some branches with an odd bauble or two, sometimes lights. But it seems Emma is now old enough to start to 'get it' so I thought it was time to get crazy and go super festive.

I was originally just going to make some pom poms and do the branch thing again this year, but I was stopped in my tracks by this sparkly tree. Then I found these cute flocked baubles and I was sold!
I used my Pom Pom Wreath as a tree skirt, looks great doesn't it?

No tree topper? No worries. I've got a festive pineapple, picked it up in Tokyo.
Oh and did I mention it's my birthday today? Emma will be super excited when she finds out. The one thing she likes more than Christmas trees is a nice big Birthday cake.

Related Posts - How To: Pom Pom Wreath

How To: Pom Pom Wreath

This Pom Pom Wreath is a fun to make alternative to the traditional Christmas wreath. You can make it with materials you may already have laying about the house. Get the kids involved in making the Pom Poms and you'll have this cheerful Christmas decoration made in no time at all.

There are lots of similar versions of this project out there, but here is how I made mine.

Read more »

Blythe Stylin' - Pretty in Pink

Poor Perty has been a little bit neglected of late, so I thought a new outfit was in order. I decided to try something a little more ambitious, although I don't know how successful I was.
Here she is in a little 60's style skirt and blouse combo that I made using a vintage barbie doll pattern. Barbie dolls have different proportions so I had to shorten the sleeves and tighten the waist. Putting the collar in was really tricky and the whole outfit probably took me just under 2 hours. I could have made Emma a dress in the same time!I think it turned out cute, although I'd really like to get my hands on some vintage Skipper doll patterns, as apparently they fit really well.
I am really struggling to make anything for Perty that fits properly, even the patterns that I download off the internet are too small as I cant get the print settings right.
Any hints and tips are appreciated.

Some behind the scenes action for you...

What to get a fashion lover for Christmas?

Sponsored by Nuffnang


Have you started your Christmas gift shopping yet or even made a list? What’s your shopping style? Some people I know make or pick up gifts right through the year. Me, I’m a December shopping sort of gal. I try and avoid the maddening shopping center crowds by hitting the internet for some gifts, and make a few myself too. We normally have a Kris Kringle kind of arrangement in my family, so gift shopping is a lot less stressful. I’ll be making all the kids gifts, but for the adults I’m thinking of getting Magazines subscriptions.

It’s a great option for those really hard to buy for folks...

...like my sister for example. She has everything a gal could ever want, so finding the right gift for her is not always easy, but the one thing she can’t get enough of is glossy fashion and interiors magazines. There was always an unwritten rule between us, I wasn’t allowed to look through one of her magazines until she had at least flicked through it first, and if I dog eared a page, well, I copped an earful. She has kept every single issue she has ever bought, and I’m sure she is single handedly keeping the Magazines Australia publishing industry afloat.

So Janet if you are reading this, a Harper’s Bazaar or Real Living subscription may be coming your way. (She’ll hold me to it now!)

But it’s a win-win for me too. I get to avoid the maddening shopping center crowds and get the chance to win a tropical escape to Hawaii. You know how much I love to travel, and a luxurious holiday in Hawaii sounds perfect to me.



Are you looking for the perfect Christmas present? Give your loved ones a magazine subscription this year and you can win a tropical escape to Hawaii with Magshop’s Christmas competition. Treat your family and friends to a magazine subscription today - it’s the gift that keeps on giving all year round!

My Poppet at Modern Times Pop-Up

It's on again, the Modern Times Pop-Up shop. This year I will have some of my vintage fabric goodies there which were especially commissioned for the pop-up event to compliment the mid-century furniture pieces.

Here's the throw quilt that I made......and of course the retro cushions.I'll have some owls there too.

Make sure you stop by for a look see if you are in the area

The Modern Times Pop-Up Shop2
opens December 10th – Dec 31st, 3 weeks only
260 Smith St, Collingwood.

Step Back in Time - One Year & One Month Ago

Turns out November 2010 was quite a colourful month...
-I made a felted alphabet which you can download in poster form. Pop over and get your Free Alphabet Poster.
-Uncovered an awesome vintage book at the Op-shop.
-Made a Christmas Pudding and met an amazing gal who I'm very proud to call one of my bestest friends.
-Sewed up some giant cushions for Emma's reading nook, for instructions on how to make them visit the Fringed Cushion tutorial.

Yes, it was a very good month

Sponsor Profile - Mini Mecca

I was so excited when Anna from Mini Mecca became a blog sponsor because I think she has one of the cutest online shops around.
Mini Mecca is choc full of unique wares from Australian and International designers with a focus on wall art, decor and creative finds. I was hard pressed to pick my favourites because everything is fun and colourful, so I thought a festive inspired selection would be appropriate at this time of year.
I'm especially loving the apple place mats by engel and the mushroom clock by decoylab, but I think my favourite thing in the whole store is the Lion clock by decoylab (pop over and check it out).

Shipping is really affordable too, only $7.95 in Australia with free shipping for orders over $125

Find them on facebook here

Mini Mecca ♥ Creative finds for growing minds ♥


NEWSFLASH! Mini Mecca are offering free shipping up until 11th Dec on orders over $50 with the code MERRYXMAS

How To: Vintage Storybook Coin Purse

This is a quick little project that can be made with off-cuts of a clear PVC (vinyl) tablecloth. A pretty and practical little coin purse that is ideal for spare change and business cards. It would make a great gift or party favour.

You will need:
-2 pieces of clear PVC vinyl, 10 x 4.5 inches (25 x 11.5cm)
-A scanned and printed image out of a vintage story book. I've just used normal office paper to print on, some pretty gift wrap or piece of fabric would work well too.
-scissors
-sewing machine and thread
-Metal press studs, tool and hammer or adhesive velcro dots

How to:
Cut out your pieces of PVC using the measurements as a guide. Round the top corners. Both pieces should be exactly the same.
Cut out your illustrated paper about the same shape but a little smaller (1/4 inch or 0.5cm on each edge).
a. Sandwich your paper in between the 2 pieces of PVC and fold the bottom third up as pictured. Sew the top seam.
b. Now sew the side seam right around and back down the other side.
c. Mark where the studs need to go and using your tool and hammer insert as per instructions on pack. (hint when adding the lower one, slide a piece of cardboard in the pocket to protect the underside as you hammer or even better, add it before you sew the side seams up)
or use adhesive velcro dots instead.

Some hints on sewing with PVC - A walking foot or teflon foot helps. Sew slowly, you may need to turn the flywheel by hand to start and finish. If you have any extra hints, feel free to leave them in the comments.

All done! Make one for yourself and a few for your friends.

Here's another easy project using vintage storybook pages - Vintage Storybook Soap

My dream Christmas involves food and travel...

Sponsored by Nuffnang I really can’t believe how quickly this year has flown! Christmas decorations were already appearing on the supermarket shelves months ago and I think we often start feeling a little anxious about everything we have to squeeze in before Christmas. I know some people really love this time of year, the parties, the gift giving, it all sounds so happy. But it can be pretty stressful too. Especially trying to think of Christmas gifts for all you friends and family. This year, I am thinking of having a Magshop Christmas and giving magazine subscriptions as gifts.
At this time of year I usually get itchy feet and long to be on my way to an exotic destination, far away from the festive season chaos. It’s not always possible, but a few years ago, way before Emma was born, Mr Man and I were living and working in the UK. Rather than spend Christmas working, and without our family there, we decided to take the opportunity to have a proper ‘White Christmas’. I think it’s something that as kids growing up in Australia you always dream about. Sure beach and a barbie for Christmas day is nice, but real snow on Christmas day is something out of a dream! So we booked a chalet holiday in France and spent the week skiing, eating fondue and enjoying the views. It was like a feature out of the magazines Australia Gourmet Traveller. My knees aren’t really what they used to be so there was more sitting around in cafes than skiing. But you get the idea. No cooking, battling for car parking, wearing silly paper hats, just tranquility.

And now I look back and think how nice it would be to occasionally have a time out during the holidays, and every year on boxing day Mr Man says “Next year we are going away!”. But we are never that organized and flights at that time of year cost a fortune.
The only way one could get away would be if I won the lotto OR this awesome Hawaii Holiday Competition offering the chance to win a trip for two to Hawaii thanks to Magshop. Sure the grandparents will be heartbroken if they didn’t see Emma’s little face light up when Santa (who I think this year will look remarkably like my Dad) gives out the presents, but hey, I’m sure Santa gets to Hawaii too.
So if you think that you could do with a little rest and relaxation during this crazy holiday season, I’d suggest entering this great competition. What have you got to lose?

Eva's Christening Day

I wanted to share some of the pretty photos from baby Eva's Christening last month. My sister hosted the Afternoon Tea Garden Party in her back yard after the church ceremony, and did such a great job of making everything so pretty.
The sweet treats were delish. Emma helped herself to SO many cakes, she was bouncing off the walls!
A great time was had all round.
You can see a close up of the christening dress I made her here.

Thanks to From Genevieve Photography for the lovely photos, there are more photos of the day on her blog here.