~Two posts in 1 day~

Just checked the stats for my blog, not expecting there to be any activity, and I am totally blown away.  My blog is still attracting 100 - 300 people a day!  That is so humbling, considering I haven't been on here for so long.  So to all those that still visit......Thank you 💖That is truly amazing.  I started this blog in 2011 as therapy and an outlet, as my life was quite isolated back then.  It helped me to connect with like- minded people and made me not feel so alone.  So I guess when you look at it like that and the long periods between posts, it meant my life went in a positive direction and connections away from the computer were made.

Just in case I dont get back to this again for some time, please know that each of you who visit are greatly apreciated.  I would also like to wish everyone a very Happy & Bright Christmas, from my little corner of Australia to you and your family, wherever in the world you are.

 ~Life In Melbourne~

Its been nearly 7 years now since I moved to Melbourne and as you can see, I have been really bad at updating my blog.  My life is full on.  My husband in Adelaide, passed away in 2019 from cancer.  We only knew he had it for 3 weeks and then he was gone.  It was very sudden and very hard to deal with.  

I moved to Melbourne for a fresh start and to be closer to my birth family.  I met and made a wonderful friend not long after I moved here.  He was my support through my grief and helped me through the emotional  'baggage' I carried with me.  He became my best friend, never waivering in his comfort or kind words.  We hung out on occassions, company for a dinner out or a Sunday drive.  Well long story short....we ended up marrying.  I had no intention of every marrying again.  I was with my husband for over 30 years and planned to be alone for the rest of my life.  But it seemed fate had other ideas, and as Allan had never been married before...I agreed.

So here I am nearly 7 years later, 5 years married next year, running my husbands fencing business, which is a full time job, though a satisfying one also, and this year we won the small business award.  

I also now have 2 Etsy stores which I work on after hours of a fencing business.

My first store which I started just over a year ago has been so much fun.  I create and sell digital clipart for commercial use, as well as junk journal kits and papers.  I have so much fun creating these and I have embraced AI with a passion.  It has no limits and with my over active imagination, it is the perfect outlet and another form of crafting.  You will find this store here:  Sweet Art Graphics   My other store is physical goods and here I create Junk Journal Dangles, Snippet packs, dyed medalions and yoyos and you can find this store here: Snippety

I would love to have more time to sew and create things for Snippety, but working full time and catching up on housework doesnt leave me with much time to go out to the craftroom.  I am so looking forward to retiring and it cant come soon enough for me.

My love of pink and pastels, shows alot in the digital clipart I create, that has never changed, and even in my creations for Snippety the pastels and pretties are present.

I would love you to stop by either or both of my Etsy Shops.  My digitals at Sweetartgraphics are sold worldwide, but everything in Snippety is only sold within Australia.  The postage and tarrifs make it unfeasible to send elsewhere.

Just a few of the many many hundreds of designs you will find at Sweetartgraphics etsy store.

~New Blog New Look~

Hope you will join me at my new blog as I begin the next chapter in my life.  I will continue to post crafts etc here (when I can find the time to do them) and share with you the journey that is my adopted family.  Life gets busy and I am being pulled in all directions atm which leaves very little time for blogging.....but when time permits I am always happy to share.

Last but not least......

Remeber to tell your family every day you love them...for life is but a fleeting journey ღ

You can find my new blog here:  Shabby Delights New Beginnings

~New Tutorial~

I have uploaded a tutorial for this glass brick......these make fabulous gifts for any occassion.  Click the link at the top of my blog.   

~Op Shop Finds~

Who doesn't love visiting op-shops.  They are a treasure trove for vintage items, furniture, handmade goodies, pictures and sometimes even the kitchen sink.  I am supposed to be good and not buying but instead thinning out my collections.  Temptation is too great I am afraid, and I again found myself drawn in by the lure of rummaging to find that elusive 'gotta have' bargain.

My favourite from this treasure hunt would have to be the ballet pictures.  I had a set of these on my bedroom wall as a girl.  The Baby Planter is a rare find also...dont see these around much any more and I love the pastel colours. 

I am pretty pleased with my vintage finds........what sort of things do you look for in the op shops?

~A Place called Home~

╰⊰✿✿⊱╮My home is full of memories, those objects that remind us of another time,  another place and of the people we hold dear to our hearts....here are just a few of those memories.....╰⊰✿✿⊱╮

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╰⊰✿✿⊱╮My dad bought this to hang his hats and footy scarfe on, in their laundry,,,,it now hangs in my bathroom for me to hang my towels on.╰⊰✿✿⊱╮

╰⊰✿✿⊱╮A shopping day with mum and a bargain print for $5╰⊰✿✿⊱╮

╰⊰✿✿⊱╮A few vintage Pink towels and other pink pretties.  That gorgeous round pink box is from the Body shop and full of Rose Smelling pamper goodies...a gift from my son last Christmas and the other small box contains rose soaps.╰⊰✿✿⊱╮

╰⊰✿✿⊱╮Vintage Goodies sit on a shelf which happens to match Dads coat hook, the pomander is Avon, bought for me when I was a child and the powder duster and the little pink jug were mums╰⊰✿✿⊱╮

╰⊰✿✿⊱╮This gorgeous mirror is another wonderful memory that was a wedding gift to my mum and dad 65 years ago, unfortunately,  Dad passed away just before their 60th wedding anniversary. It always hung in our hallway at home.╰⊰✿✿⊱╮

╰⊰✿✿⊱╮Unique Vintage Ceramic bathroom Cannisters ...one that fits a single toilet roll and the other for good old epsom salts for those tired aching bones were found while shopping with a dear friend.╰⊰✿✿⊱╮

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╰⊰✿✿⊱╮No memories for this jug but a sweet find from a local charity shop....its not an oldie but very pretty in pale pink with gorgeous roses.╰⊰✿✿⊱╮

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╰⊰✿✿⊱╮A purchase from a facebook friend.....with rose fragrance soaps╰⊰✿✿⊱╮

╰⊰✿✿⊱╮A gift from a neighbour left on my doorstep because she knew I liked Pink.  Complete with matching soap dish.  It sits in an Antique iron wash stand in original chippy condition.╰⊰✿✿⊱╮

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╰⊰✿✿⊱╮Laundry Shelf╰⊰✿✿⊱╮

╰⊰✿✿⊱╮Another family memory, my mum used to do all the washing on this old board, but it wasn't pink back then╰⊰✿✿⊱╮

╰⊰✿✿⊱╮Pretty pink toilet roll holder made from knitted lace.  Best 35 cents I have ever spent at a charity shop. For me it reminds me of the old Dolly toilet roll holders ╰⊰✿✿⊱╮

╰⊰✿✿⊱╮My memory that hopefully, one day will remind someone of me╰⊰✿✿⊱╮

╰⊰✿✿⊱╮This corner shelf used to be in the craft room and you could not longer see it with everything piled up on it so I cleared it off and now it sits in my guest toilet.╰⊰✿✿⊱╮

╰⊰✿✿⊱╮Artificial flowers in a vintage Rayneham Vase that was mums╰⊰✿✿⊱╮

╰⊰✿✿⊱╮Angel love bought for me by my son.╰⊰✿✿⊱╮

╰⊰✿✿⊱╮Another bit of family history, mums shopping basket she would carry down to the local shop...no plastic bags back then....now it keeps my toilet paper tidy (oops better fill it)╰⊰✿✿⊱╮

╰⊰✿✿⊱╮Family treasures and the memories they invoke will possibly be a thing of the past in a throwaway society.  I just hope one day my kids come to realise that these links to their past are worth hanging onto for future generations to come to enjoy.╰⊰✿✿⊱╮

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~A Pink Few~

Wow 3 posts in one day....a new record for me.  Well not so much a post but a share of a couple of pinks from my home...enjoy ♥

Love my gorgeous new mixer cover from a lady in UK...shabby sweet