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Displaying 1 - 10 of 15 entries.

Quiet Time

  • Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:07 PM

It’s been quiet for me on the creative front. That doesn’t mean I haven’t been busy with Cassis Craft! At last, I have reorganised our front room into a very pleasant functional office for both myself and Greg. I have all my stock in there now instead of in various rooms and my in-law’s house. Greg has his desk in there too now.

The girls, however, had a fabulously creative time during the school holidays recently, being let loose on their craft box. They had some friends over one day too and the four girls had a great time creating all sorts of things. I don’t mind glue and glitter mess at all; with floorboards you can never quite get all the spilt glitter but at least the glue wipes off :)

The friends’ Mum commented that she couldn’t believe that they hadn’t asked to watch the TV in all the time they were crafting. This got me thinking. I couldn’t remember the last time the girls watched TV or a DVD, except for when we were all sick and we weren’t capable of moving or thinking! It’s just not something we do. Even Greg and I don’t watch it very often. I just don’t think there’s much on worth watching! As for children’s shows, well, are there any decent ones for 7 and 5 year olds? They used to watch Play School and some other ABC shows as preschoolers but now that it seems to be a 24 hour channel, it just seems like endless dribble!

Our girls enjoy craft, reading, puzzles, board games, Barbies, cars, Lego and always seem to be busy with each other making up games too. I sometimes wonder if I should suggest the TV or let them on the computer more often.

I love watching them during craft time and being involved. We love discovering what’s still in the box. We work together sometimes. We suggest ideas. We share. We argue! There can be tears. Ah, quiet time!

What do you do for quiet time? What do your kids do? Is there anything decent on TV?!?!

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Crocheted Baby Blanket

  • Posted on August 18, 2011 at 7:54 PM

Baby Blanket in Gift Box

In between the whole family having influenza and Sophie being rushed by ambulance to hospital with a convulsion due to her fever, while Greg was in Japan, a beautiful baby was born into our family.

My brother and his wife welcomed their first baby, Anna Grace, on the 1st August. Unfortunately due to our illnesses, we only got to meet her last weekend.

I wanted to give their baby something special and so after many attempts at different designs and not being happy with them, I finally settled on a simple granny square with scalloped border blanket. While I was trying to do something different, the granny square design is a classic and so pretty. They didn’t know what they were having so the main part I did in white and waited until the baby was born to add the pink border.

I have made (many, many years ago) crocheted blankets but not one this size or this special, not even for my own girls. I really enjoyed making it, watching it grow and imagined the baby in the pram with its soft blankie. I still have the one that my great-grandmother made for me and used it with both the girls. Hopefully baby Anna will love hers and keep it as a special reminder of her Aunty Belinda :)

Baby Blanket Open

Baby Blanket

Baby Blanket Corner

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I’m Back!

  • Posted on July 28, 2011 at 8:49 PM

I have been missing in action from here for quite a while for numerous reasons but I won’t bore you with those :)

Since the Sydney Craft and Quilt Fair in June which was such a fantastic week, I have been looking into the logistics and possibilities of doing further craft fairs. While the bigger ones are out for logistical reasons, smaller ones are possible. Do you know of any you would like me to exhibit at? Are you organising one? Due to the fact I have paper products, an inside venue would be preferable. Also, due to the logistical nightmare of owning only one car and having young children, it would need to be in Sydney!

I am also in the process of organising quilling classes from my home. What days and times would suit people the most? Would anyone be interested in a children’s class? How much would you pay for a 2 hour class?

Thank you for reading and I look forward to hearing your ideas. You can either leave a comment below or contact me via the Contact page.

Continue reading I’m Back! »

Walk for Women

  • Posted on May 26, 2011 at 8:55 AM

I have been rather busy lately. Quite an understatement really!

One of the things I have been doing is training and preparing for a 50km walk. Yes, that’s longer than a marathon! It is all for a very good cause – the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia where they do some incredible work helping the women with these injuries. So on Saturday, 11th June, there will be over 100 women participating, all doing various distances along the route. Another friend and I are doing the full 50km from Coogee to Turramurra. (This is in Sydney, Australia).

You can read about the nutrition preparations I have been working on over at my other blog, Foxy Food.

If you would like to sponsor me in this walk and support the work of theses marvellous people, please do! There are 2 ways.

If you see me in person, I have a sponsor booklet.

If you don’t see me, are overseas or would prefer, you can donate online. For the Event enter “Walk for Women BFox” and follow the prompts. If you are overseas, enter 0000 as your postcode. If you do donate online, please let me know as we don’t get notified of these ones and I would like to say “thank you”. :)
All donations $2 and over in Australia are tax deductible.
Thank you for your support of this great cause.

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Thinking of Products

  • Posted on April 7, 2011 at 8:35 PM

Over the past few weeks, I have been very quiet on the blogging front. During this time I have been going over exactly what I would like to stock, what products I think would appeal and what I enjoy making! This has a lot to do with the fact that I will be trading at the Craft and Quilt Fair in Sydney in June.

What would I like to see there? What would I buy if I were there as a customer.

On the quilling front, I know I like to get papers and books. The problem is, most of these seem to come from overseas. While the Australian dollar is performing well, there is still the cost of shipping to consider. Also, it appears quite a few craft shops now stock quilling papers. SO, I have been exploring and testing the world of Australian quilling papers. While we may not have the number of shades nor the long papers, I am still finding the quality to be really good. Therefore, I am going to have a bit of a mix. For the books, I am still contacting various distributors. As much as I would like to stock every quilling book available, I do have to have to limit myself!!

Quilling tools are also important and I am quite excited that I can source all the tools I need right here in Australia. The accessories on the other hand will need to come from overseas.

For kits, I am also going to source some from overseas but I am going to develop my own. I want to offer something a little different. Maybe a kit for a birthday party? Make something other than a card? This is where I am getting quite excited as it is where my creativity will be unleashed!!

For the Paper Beading side of the business, I am really happy with the tool kits and glaze I now stock. It was certainly a lot of fun testing the different glazes I bought! Some left a tacky finish, others seemed to change the colour of the paper, others still were too thick and gluggy.

I will also be offering kits to make different paper bead projects. Again, it is my creative side I will need to use and am loving some of the ideas I am coming up with!

If you have any ideas as to what you would like to see or something you have been looking for and can’t find, please comment!

Continue reading Thinking of Products »

Paper Bead Jewellery Now in Stock!

  • Posted on March 9, 2011 at 12:07 PM

Red and Black Choker ©Belinda Fox

For some unique pieces of jewellery (don’t forget Mother’s Day is coming up!) head to my online store.

I am happy to do custom designs upon request. These pieces make such a beautiful and personal present for occasions such as Mother’s Day, birthday, Christmas and to say “I Love You”. Traditionally the first wedding anniversary gift is paper – paper jewellery – what could be more perfect?

Contact me for further information. Classes will be starting soon, so register your interest for these too.

Continue reading Paper Bead Jewellery Now in Stock! »

Paper Bead Supplies Now Available Online

  • Posted on March 7, 2011 at 1:05 PM

Want to make your own paper beads? Need a gift for someone?

As I have written earlier, the Bamboo Roller Kit comes with a beautifully decorated bamboo bead roller and some precut strips for making beads. Just slip the paper beads between the 2 pieces, roll and glue*! Easy!

For greater durability, gloss and water resistance, coat the beads by painting or dipping them into the glaze 2 – 3 times. The glaze will make the beads water resistant but not waterproof – showering or swimming whilst wearing the beads is not recommended!

The Bamboo Paper Roller Kits and Glaze are now available for purchase in my online store. The Kits and Glaze are available separately or buy both to save on postage. All prices are in Australian dollars and include postage within Australia. Overseas postage is calculated at checkout.

* Glue not included. Any good quality glue stick can be used.

Continue reading Paper Bead Supplies Now Available Online »

Stanhope Doll, Bear and Craft Fair

  • Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:02 PM

It’s on tomorrow! (Or today if you get email updates!)

I went and set up this afternoon so all ready to go! Had my 2 girls to help so we got it done quickly.

I really meant to get all sorts of posts up about my products etc but I have been so flat chat getting it all finished I have just run out of time!

I will have photos and product blurbs next week as this has been a great learning experience as to what I want to stock, what I enjoy making and also about creative burnout!!

Have a great weekend and if you do come to the fair make sure you stop by #68 – that’s me!

http://www.stanhopedbcfair.com/

Continue reading Stanhope Doll, Bear and Craft Fair »

Bamboo Paper Bead Roller Kits

  • Posted on February 25, 2011 at 8:55 PM

Bamboo Paper Bead Roller Kits

I am very excited to announce a product that I will be stocking in my supplies range and I am the only one in Australia with them.

Through Janice Mae, I am now stocking the paper bead rollers with paper strips to make beads. These bamboo paper bead rollers are made in The Philippines, her homeland, where her sister has helped many families who now make these rollers and beads. Janice also pledges school supplies to underprivileged Filipino children.

These rollers make creating paper beads so easy but not only that, they are beautifully decorated with paper beads! You get consistent sized holes and the paper is held between the bamboo pieces so it doesn’t slip.

These will be in my online store after the Craft Fair where they will be displaying them and have them available for purchase. If you are interested in classes using these rollers to make beautiful, versatile paper beads to create stunning, unique jewellery, please contact me!

Continue reading Bamboo Paper Bead Roller Kits »

Bear Cards

  • Posted on February 24, 2011 at 8:05 PM

I thought I would start posting some pictures of some of the stock I am preparing for the Craft Fair and that I will be stocking as part of my normal range.

The Fair I will be trading at on March 5-6 is a Doll, Bear and Craft Fair, so I thought some Bear cards might be popular. The “normal” sized ones (C6) are not quilled but have a lovely soft teddy on them and the smaller gift sized one has a wooden teddy bear in the centre and quilled coils in the corners. They are ideal for a new baby, birthday or just because. I tend not to put sentiment greetings on my cards as I like people to be able to use them for what they would like or think appropriate. I have often found a card I really like the design of but have not been able to find a use for as the greeting was wrong. Once these cards sell, they won’t be stocked as I can’t get some of the supplies anymore :(

If you are in the area of Blacktown Leisure Centre on that weekend, come and say hello! Feel free to buy something too!

Bear Cards

Bear Gift Card with Quilling

Continue reading Bear Cards »