A Lusciously Lush, Fabulously Fab GORGEOUS GIVEAWAY!


I've been blogging since April this year and it's been such a pleasure. Just a delight, you know? I feel like it's given me an outlet to be creative, to be thoughtful, to be a part of something special. Blogging may be 'big wide world' stuff, but to me Maxabella loves... just feels like a warm-hearted little village. A little village that has welcomed over 500 neighbours. Five hundred! I think that's a milestone worthy of a big celebration!

Lucky for me (and even luckier for you), five of our Maxabella lovelies... are wearers of those smart, shiny crafty-clogs and they just happen to be as generous as they are talented. And that's really, really, really OMFG talented.



Just look at what Brenda, Wynona, Mel, Jennie and Claire are offering to one lucky Maxabella loves... follower. Be sure to check out both the blog and the store for each of these special gals. Their work is beautiful and so are they.
Oh so handy Key Chain.  Made with natural webbing, gorgeous linen blend leaf printed cotton fabric and secured to metal hardware. Simply attach your keys and slip over your wrist.  You hands will be free and keys always remain handy!  RRP $10.

Custom-Made Maxabella loves Ornamental Bird.  Made with linen blend fabric, complete with printed twill tape, crochet wing and cord and beaded detail! RRP $Priceless!



Thank you Brenda! ESPECIALLY for the Maxabella loves... customisation. How cute is that! And the key chain is so VERY clever - "how did I ever live without that?"



An inspirational and grounding 'Life is Beautiful'. Print is 30cm x 40cm, printed on a silk finished paper. It comes unframed and the winner can select the colour of the print. RRP $22

And... a 'Live Laugh Love' 5 x 7 (inches) print, perfect for a standard photo frame. Printed on a silk finished paper. It comes unframed and the winner can select the colour of the print. RRP $10

AND a packet of sweet little Lunch Box Notes. As a child, Claire's Mum would leave little notes of love and encouragement in her lunchbox to brighten her day. Now you can do the same! RRP $5.

Thank you so much, Claire! I love your inspiring prints and the lunch box notes are just such a sweet touch.



Delicate crocheted necklace, lovingly handmade using a soft charcoal cotton.

Worn draped around the neck, as you would a scarf, with shell buttons adding weight to hang elegantly down your front.  The perfect summertime accessory. RRP $22.



Thank you Mel! I am the proud owner of this very piece, so I know how versatile and special it is. Bring on the compliments!




A whole pack of deliciousness!


Handmade Living, autographed by Tania, Julie & Tina (editor, founder and illustrator respectively)
Tasmanian Oak knitting needles with polka dots
Sweet gelato-coloured floral hair slides
Pretty fabric Christmas decoration
Adorable Humpty Dumpty coin purse
Vintage learn to sew card set
Little brooches and badges.  
RRP Over $100!

Thank you so much Jennie! I am so disappointed that I can't be in it to win this bag of goodies myself.

Look out for Posie Patchwork at a handmade market near you or pop by her online store. She is the Queen of Special.




'Little Red' 40cm x 40cm, 100% cotton designer fabric, Original Illustration by Ivy Designs, framed with Japanese cotton fabric with deers. RRP $40

Thank you Wynona! As readers of this blog will know, I adore your pieces to pieces (sorry about that!)


See, I told you it's a Gorgeous Giveaway!

One lucky duck will win the lot! All you have to do is be a follower of Maxabella loves... and leave a comment on this post. 

Tell me: Who is in your 'village'? Who do you rely on to get through your days?

One 'village' comment only please. You can earn extra entries if you spread the word by:

♥ putting my giveaway button in your sidebar (it's over there in my sidebar if you want to grab it); 
♥ or write a post with a link back to this giveaway post; 
♥ or write a post with a link through to one or all of these five lovely crafty blogs; 
♥ or link to this post on facebook; 
♥ or send out a tweety tweet

... or you can do all five! 

Remember to leave a comment below with a link for each extra entry. 

Giveaway is open until midnight 20 December (Sydney time... whatever that is in international time lingo). I'll post the winner (drawn using random.org) on Tuesday, 21 December. Best of luck, my lovelies! 

Oh, and thank you so much  for being a part of my village.

[Giveaway button image is from Upon a Fold - stationery lust!]


PS - if you don't have a blog that links back to your name, don't forget to leave an email addy!


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EDITED 20/12/2010

In a show of community spirit, we asked entrants to the Gorgeous Giveway if they would be willing to give up their entries to allow us to send all the prizes to Jane from My Pear Tree House. And they collectively shouted YES.

We will be sending all of the prizes to Jane in the next week or so.

Thank you everyone for your generosity. Please leave any comments concerning this giveaway at this post here.

lOVE it

I was lucky enough to be treated to a facial on the weekend as part of my birthday celebrations with a very special friend. After wards I felt revived & calmed & ready to start a busy week feeling a little refreshed!


here are a few gorgeous looking pampering delights that I thought would help us all to get through the 'silly' season.


images from & products available here

Relaxing Bath Salts with Lavender Essential Oil
Stress Balm 2 oz.
Beautiful Feet Lotion

Tiny Prints Giveaway Winner

Torie Jayne Giveaway
My contest ended yesterday and I just picked a winner using random.org and I am delighted to announce the winner of the Tiny Prints Giveaway is...

Drumroll please? Without further ado, the lucky winner is...

Cathie, of the wonderful blog M.E, who was loving there photo books and cards. Please e-mail me your details.

Congratulations Cathie, you will receive $50 worth of store credit for Tiny Prints.

Thank you to all of you sweets that entered, to my loyal followers and new friends.

Don't forget there is still time to enter the Hotel Chocolat giveaway.

Have a sweet day!

My Winter Woodland Gingerbread House

My Winter Woodland Gingerbread Bird House by Torie Jayne
Birds perched on gingerbread roof
My Winter Woodland Gingerbread Bird House
Mushroom cookie on Gingerbread Bird House
Side view of my Winter Woodland Gingerbread Bird House
Chocolate Matchstick roof
Back of the House
Leaves falling down roof
As some of you may remember, last year I made a gingerbread bird house as a Secret Santa gift (you can read more about it here) and another woodland themed gingerbread house for a friend's baby shower. So, this year I have made a gluten free one for my family and I; perfect to sit on my "Winter Woodland Christmas" themed dessert table.

Gingerbread bird house

Ingredients
250g unsalted butter
200g dark muscovado sugar
600g gluten free plain flour
3 tsp Xanthan Gum
7 tbsp golden syrup
2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
4 tsp ground ginger

Cooking instructions
  1. Heat oven to 180 deg C.
  2. Melt the butter, sugar and golden syrup in a pan.
  3. Mix the flour, xantham gum, ground ginger and bicarbonate of soda in a bowl.
  4. Slowly add the melted butter mix to the flour mix to form a dough.
  5. Roll dough out to about 8mm thick on to baking paper.
  6. Cut out front, then cut small circle out of front.
  7. Cut out back.
  8. Cut out two roofs.
  9. Cut out two sides.
  10. Slide cut pieces still on the baking paper on to baking trays.
  11. Bake in the oven for 12 minutes or until firm to the touch.
  12. Leave to cool for a few minutes, then re-cut around edges to neaten.
  13. Press chocolate matchsticks into roof, so they melt slightly on underside.
  14. Leave to completely cool.


Decorating the Bird House

Ingredients
Roll on icing
Icing sugar (powdered sugar)
Royal icing
M&M's in cream
Food colouring
White hologram glitter
Brush on dust in Ivory Shimmer
Chocolate orange matchmakers
Meiji mushroom cookies x 2
Meiji almond crunch mushroom cookies x 3
Petal paste owl x2
Petal paste squirrel x2
Iced Leaves, Acorns & Robin


Equipment
Rolling pin
Sieve
Textured wood impression mat
Icing bag fitted with small star nozzle
paint brush

To decorate
  1. Dust icing sugar onto a hard clean surface and roll out icing to 3mm thick.
  2. Cut out base of house components in icing.
  3. Press bark impression mat into icing.
  4. Brush water onto back of cut-out icing component and place on top of corresponding gingerbread piece. Repeat until all gingerbread pieces are iced.
  5. Sprinkle white glitter over each piece.
  6. Make up royal icing as per instructions on packet, and spoon into piping bag with a small nozzle at the end.
  7. Pipe a small amount of icing on back of owl and place on front of house. Leave to dry.
  8. To build the base, hold the front and one of the sides of the house upright together in one hand to form a corner and with the other hand pipe icing down the inside of the corner and hold together until icing starts to set. Repeat until you have formed a box and leave to set.
  9. Pipe small star shapes around the bottom of the house between the cake board and the house.
  10. Push M&M's on top of the piped stars.
  11. Continue piping star shapes along all of the outside joins of the house, pushing M&M's into them as you go.
  12. Leave to set.
  13. On the back of one iced roof, pipe icing in a small line around the outside edge. Place on top of gingerbread iced box and hold until icing starts to set. Repeat with second roof piece. Leave to dry.
  14. Pipe small star shapes around the edge of roof, and joint at top.
  15. Push M&M's into piped stars along front and back edge and joint at top.
  16. Push iced birds on cocktail sticks into iced roof joint.
  17. Pipe small stars on back of squirrels, owl & leaves, and push onto sides and roof of house in desired position.
  18. Pipe small stars onto cake stand and push in cookie mushrooms & acorns.
  19. Dust house in sieved icing sugar.
  20. Sprinkle house in white glitter
  21. Leave to set.


Gingerbread bird house pattern
Iced front of my gingerbread bird house
Gingerbread bird house parts
Dusted & glitter iced squirrel
Have a sweet day!

Giveaway Winners

I am very excited to announce the winners of the Ooh La La Studio Christmas Printables Giveaway are:-

Claire Chadwick
Martine Garrett
Emma Kemp
Kerry Hunt
Jill Troy

Please drop me an email when you get time and your printables will be emailed through. 

Thank you to everyone that entered and to Julie for offering her lovely printables.




Leanne

♥ Loving Hearts

[Image via weheartit]

This one's for Anna over at ♥ Much Love ♥ - to make up for all the non-hearty pics throughout the year!!! Happy days, Anna.

[Image via weheartit]

I heart hearts very much. They're about love and warmth and kindness and all the good stuff. They're symmetrical and balanced. They're curvy with an edge. They're often pink or red. They make me cheerful.


[Image by Irene Suchoki]


[Image from Tatterbean]

[Image by V. Kontarkte]

[Image via Doreese]


[Image by Mandi Campbell]


The gorgeous LOML is taking me on a road trip from Paris to Roma for our tenth wedding anniversary in 2012... now that's something to inspire many hearts!

[Image by G!L]




[Image by Amy Biness]


[Image via Maybeitsyou]


[Image by Peace of Mind]


There now, doesn't that feel so much better? Enjoy your day!


___________________________________________________

PS - I feel a bit like self-promotional fat heads Heidi and Spencer, but if you felt the urge, you could vote for me in the Babble Top 50 over here...

Petal paste squirrel

Petal Paste Squirrel by Torie Jayne

Ingredients

Equipment

Instructions
  1. Thoroughly knead petal paste.
  2. Push paste into mould.
  3. Turn mould upside down, push back so squirrel falls out.
  4. Leave to set for 5-10 mins.
  5. Brush Dogwood brown dust over tail, back, arms and head.
  6. Brush ivory shimmer over tummy, and cheeks.
  7. Brush Disco nutmeg glitter over tail, back, arms and head.
  8. Colour in eyes, centre of ears and claws with chocolate pen.
  9. Leave to set hard.



Edible cake glitter & dust
Dusting Squirrel
Have a sweet day!

Petal paste owl

Petal paste owl by Torie Jayne

Ingredients

Equipment

Instructions
  1. Thoroughly knead petal paste.
  2. Push paste into mould, removing any excess that stands proud.
  3. Turn mould upside down, push back of mould so owl falls out.
  4. Leave to set for 5-10 mins.
  5. Brush ivory shimmer over owl except for eye area.
  6. Brush Disco nutmeg glitter round eyeball.
  7. Colour in eyes, beak and claws with chocolate pen.
  8. Leave to set hard.


Iced Owl for my Gingerbread House

Have a sweet day!

M.I.A.

I miss you all!!!

Unfortunately I have been MIA over the past week as I have been away in Noosa with work with no computer access!!! I have come home for a day and I am back up again tomorrow!!! I have so much to share and show you all I am dying to get on here and blog! I am missing all of your blogs as well :) I didn't realise how much I love reading all of your inspirational and special journeys until now. Each day is so wonderful and I love reading and catching up with my online community and laughing crying and celebrating your lives! How special is the blogging world! It is 11.30 and I need to be up at 4 for an early trip up north so I must get to bed but just wanted to pop on here to say hello and I am still here and I cant wait until life gets back to normal so I can have some 'me' time aka blogging time! It's my birthday on Wednesday...the big 2...5... so I am looking forward to my last 2 days before hitting the quarter of a century mark :)

Keep smiling, laughing, celebrating, loving and cherishing all of those special moments! 

x S.K.K x