just a small portion to celebrate

Well, I must say, I have been completely overwhelmed by the response to my challenge in the last blog post! I am sure that reaching 100 followers was much too easy a challenge, and now I'm going to have to give my gorgeous journal away to one of you by the end of this month! Drat and double drat! (I really love you all to bits, really, I do!)

To celebrate the 100 followers milestone, 2 years of blogging, and the stickability to last the distance, I thought I should treat myself to just a very tiny slice of carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. Now it could be argued that the slice is actually, much larger than what it looks in the photo, but because the food police, (and you know who I mean, don't you Nathalie!!) are likely to see this, I had to try and camouflage the size by photographing it at a very strange angle indeed! LOL

Anyway, now that I'm giving away my journal, to some very lucky follower, I thought I should set about making another one to take its place, (so that I can get attached to the new one, and make parting a truly joyous occasion). I found this, a piece of stitching I started last year, and never finished. I think it will make the best embellishment in my new journal.

I might just have to show you when it's finished.




I am slowly working my way through your lovely comments, and I hope to visit everyone's blogs too, but if you don't hear from me, it's because you have a no-reply setting on your comments, and no email on your blogs. Which means, if I can't contact you, you will need to keep checking back here on a regular basis right thru March to see who has won the gifts.

Here's to my friends, may the rest of your week be full of happiness! (and small slices of carrot cake! LOL)

Carole :D

March has arrived! Special celebrations!

March is here again, and do you know what that means?
Madness and Mess is turning 2! My very first post was March the 2nd.

Almost 500 blog posts, and over 70 followers!
And so many friendships - near and far!

To celebrate my blogging birthday, I have decided to throw out a challenge.
Last year I gave away a gift each week for the whole month.
This year I decided to take it to the readers.

This is how it will work:

For the first 3 weeks in March I will give away 3 of my collectible postcards,
I will make a draw at the end of each week from the weeks comments,
(and comments can be made on any blog posts not just those made that week).

and each
winner can pick a post card from the 3 pictured here.

Then the fun begins,

during the month of March, I want to see if I can get my followers
to exceed 100.

Can we do it?
You may have to spread the word!

If we can exceed 100, by the end of the last week of March I will
make a draw from all the names of my followers for
this beautifully bound, hand made journal.

Pages have been prepared for use

And I have started adding treasures to the pages myself, to get you started.

It's ready for you to start using.
Record your holiday, keep memories, treasures, goals.

It's my gift to you for following my blog.

So, do you think we can do it?
Can we make 100 followers?

Make sure you are a follower, if you want to have a chance of winning this gorgeous journal!

Carole :)

Summer Dayz

I'm looking for revenge!

I am very excited here at the headquarters of Madness and Mess! Excited really is an understatement. I have my blogging buddy, Mrs G coming to visit, (she's not actually coming until the end of April, but that's completely beside the point, LOL). She's even coming to stay the night which will mean the guest bedroom needs to be off limits to a certain brother and sister team who delight in sneaking in unwanted dead "things".


When I got home from town this afternoon, Mr Madness and Mess yelled out -

"There's a mess in the guest room!"

"What?"

"What kind of mess?"

And then I saw it! Miles of it! All over the floor of the guest bedroom!



I could have hunted them down and strangled them!!

So I yelled rather loudly,

"WHO DID THIS?"

And then I went to find them.

Wednesday was outside, lording over the manor, funny how she wouldn't look me in the eye!




And her brother was sleeping, with, I would think rather a full tummy, and pretended to sleep right thru my 20 questions about the excess of feathers all over the floor!



Dear Mrs G, I sure hope you know what you're letting yourself in for! I suppose at least you could lie in bed and do some creating, something that has feathers in it maybe?

Carole :)

A new quilt for my store

Here is the latest quilt for my Etsy store. It's a very striking in your face quilt. Bright and cheery.

It is 44" x 60" and is made from 100% quilters cotton with a cotton/polyester batting.

Use it while you read on the sofa, cover an outdoor table or throw it over a bed.
Whether you use it or just throw it over the back of a chair to brighten a corner,
this quilt is a stunner.

This is an Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring quilt!

Carole :)

Oh sheer bliss...

One night during the week, Mr Madness and Mess took me away on a Bridget Jones Mini Break.

To this spa resort.

With pools of steaming hot water.

We wined and dined.

And retired to our own private cabin.

Sheer bliss.

I'm ready to face the grind of university again now. ;D

Carole

my latest needle keeper

photo courtesy of Nathalie

Nathalie asked me to make her a needle keeper. "No probs" I said. She said she was sending me some things, bits of ribbon and buttons etc... to use. "Fine", I replied.

Her envelope arrived full of vintage buttons, YAY!, but it also contained black STUFF, and PURPLE stuff and bright RED stuff!! I swallowed hard, it was a magpie's delight! Oh my, colours I probably would never use in 100 years!

What was it Tim Gunn said?? Oh that's right, "MAKE IT WORK".

Right. I will.

Above is the result. If you would like to see more of it, hop over to Nathalie's blog and see some more details. Lets know what you all think!

Oh, and that darling wee stitchery on the front was hand-worked by Linda. Very clever.

Carole :D

using up some pretty fabrics

I have been making a few more bookmarks for my etsy store. Here are 2 pics of each, the first pic shows one side of the bookmark, and the second pic shows the reverse side.

photo 1.

photo 2

photo 3

photo 4

photo 5

Have a good weekend friends.
Carole :)

It's complete

A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you
when you have forgotten the words.


Don't you think that's just perfect for the quilt you've all contributed to?

Carole :)

it's coming together nicely...

A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart, and can sing it back to you...


carole :)

still stitching...

'A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart...'


Carole :)

stitching...

'A friend is someone who knows the song...'


Carole :)

Just need something else...

My Blogging Buddies Quilt needs something, some sentimental words. I think these might work perfectly.

Follow along while I stitch...

"A friend is someone..."



China is Royal Albert 'Country Garden'
Biscuits are home made chocolate chippies. Would you like the receipe?




125gms (4oz) butter
50gms (2oz) sugar
3 teaspns sweetened condensed milk
few drops vanilla essence
175gms (6oz) flour
1 teaspn baking powder
50gms (2oz) dark chocolate (or chocolate chips)

Cream butter and sugar and condensed milk then add essence followed by dry ingredients and chopped chocolate.
Roll into small balls, place on cold greased trays and flatten with a fork.
Bake 20 mins at 180C (350F)

I always make a double mix as these never last long at our house!

Carole :D

A zing of colour in my weekend!

This is what I've been working on over the weekend. Amongst other things....
It's a colour scheme I totally love, bright and zingy, but it's not one that I would have picked in a million years.
But sometimes you just need to step outside your comfort zone - for a short while anyway!

It will go in my Etsy store when it's finished.

Did you do anything over the weekend that's outside your comfort zone??

Carole :D

Pull up a chair, grab your coffee and cake....read on

As those of you who know me, know that I will be, in 4 months time, finished my university studies and will hold a Bachelor of Communication. But many of you will not know that I also have a background rich in photography, art, journalism and teaching.

I am, I guess like 100's of you out there who would love to earn a living from their art, but with the day nearing that will see an end of my studies, and no job guaranteed, I have spent considerable time thinking about my options. You might say, which roads I shall travel. lol


After much encouragement from family and friends I have made a decision.


The more I think about it, the more obvious and logical it seems.

I am Opening My Door.




And I am encouraging you to open yours.

I have decided to focus on combining my skills in order to be able to offer to teach
you classes in mixed media art.

I am happy to travel anywhere you would like classes taught, and if there is enough interest, I will consider teaching on-line classes.




Personally I believe that students have the most fun, and learn the most from a physical hands-on class. Nothing beats the friendships made and the learning that takes place. Not only does the student learn from the tutor, but from each others interpretation of ideas. There is nothing more stimulating than a group of inspired, creative people, working together.

In the near future I will introduce you to my very own website, and over the next few months I hope to add different classes to the list.

"Open Your Door"

A 2 day class
Tutor: Carole Brungar

in which I will encourage and guide you in your journey to unlock your inner door and create a journal in which you can base your inspiration, record memories, create goals or just to give as a special gift. A mix of paper, card and fabric.

At the completion of the workshop each person will have a completed piece of art totally unique to them.

Please contact me via the email link on the side if you want more details.

Carole :D

-- SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT--

Check back here tomorrow for a special announcement!