Friday Friends - DUSTy Divas - C3N2KIDS

Happy Friday readers, how was your week? It was a busy one here, and this weekend will be spent relaxing at home I think. Nothing too strenuous, the weather is meant to be a little wet and cold. Might be time to cuddle up with the fur kids and a good book!

This week it is my great pleasure to introduce you all to a new Friday Friend and DUSTy Diva, meet Ofunneka of C3N2KIDS!  

The gorgeous things that Ofunneka creates are bright and colourful and I have some favourites I can't wait to share with you. The first is this "quirky, afrocentric, vibrantly coloured, cuddly stuffed owl for children of all ages".

"She is fondly called Jamilla which means beautiful and as her gold streaks and multi colours show, she is truly beautiful, extravagant and loves to be pampered. Maybe your little one or even you is up to the task of pampering and keeping her beautiful? She enjoys play and nap times." And, if owls aren't your thing, how about stuffed cuddly elephants?

Straight from the African forest , this cute little elephant, fondly called Pinky spends a lot of her days using her long brown tail to ward off flies, especially during the summer heat. She loves a cuddle as well and can double as a pillow for your little one." I also adore Ofunneka's little monster toys - cuddly for children of all ages!

Lovingly described in this way by Ofunneka: "Old pirate red eye aka Reddy is a favourite of my husband's, believe it or not. He does count himself as a child, so this "little monster" is for the enjoyment of both "young and old children"..

As you can see dear readers, there really is something for everyone, of all ages to be found at C3N2KIDS. I invite you now to unleash your inner child and enjoy the bright coloured creations in The Tale of C3N2KIDS. See you all on Sunday for the Sunday night blogpost xo 

The Tale of C3N2KIDS

Hi, my name is Ofunneka Anyanwu, I am 36 years old and recently moved to Australia about 2 years ago, a move which I believe was destined, since I had  part of my high school education in Papua New Guinea, spending most of our school holidays in Brisbane, Australia, so it seemed only natural for me to move here with my husband to start our family. 

I consider myself , a die hard creative mind, who derives much joy in expressing myself through creating what I call "my little treasures" for children of all ages. 

I get satisfaction also from running my NGO dedicated primarily to educating the girl child, in Africa. I am also myself an adventurous spirit, having participated in the popular BIG BROTHER series, in South Africa in 2007...oh those days!!! ;-)

Although I had always loved sewing, as far back as when I was just a little girl, when I used to embellish my clothes using needle and thread, or sometimes even went a step further to sew them from scratch, still using needle and thread, but they were more often than not, quite ill-fitting (but I didn't care then. This practice carried on, even up to my days as a single gal, sewing appliques and making amendments to my clothes using needle and thread, tools I thought were sufficient then.

I also had the privilege of growing up with a mum who made it a point of duty to make our (my siblings and I) outfits during festivities, we always looked forward to the final products. 

But I believe the true inspiration for my shop came after I had my now 21 month old daughter. 

But when my little angel came along, I wanted to make beautiful, unique outfits for her and just had to invest in a sewing machine (thanks to my husband).

Having explored sewing her clothes for a while, I still felt that my creativity was stifled, this burning desire to explore all angles of my creativity birthed my second baby.... 

C3N2KIDS! A shop for soft toys, throw cushions, educational felt and fabric books, monster dolls and mini cards for all occasions, catering specifically for children of all ages...

Dear readers, want to see more? Here is how you can connect. 

Buy lovely things on handmade.com.au here: 

https://www.hand-made.com.au/C3N2KIDS

Buy lovely things on Etsy here: 

http://www.etsy.com/au/shop/C3N2KIDS

Buy lovely things on handmade emporium here: 

http://www.handmadeemporium.com.au/c3n2kids.shop

and become a follower on facebook here: 

https://www.facebook.com/C3n2kidsCreativeCarefreeChildrenNurturedNow

Tea and Alice - Wednesday Wishes

after my decadent high tea experience, this Wednesday Wishes inspiration comes from Tea and Alice. 

Enjoy xo p.s. we're all mad here ....

Alice in Wonderland Tutu from TutusByCheri

We're All Mad Here, hand stamped tea spoon from MilkandHoneyLuxuries

Alice in Wonderland Tea Cozy from maryellenaliperti

Eat Me Gift Tags, Tea Party Favor Tag, Alice In Wonderland Themed 

from TheRedStarDesigns

Wonderland 9 Piece Tea Set- 4 Cups 4 Saucers 1 Teapot from MeKu

A delightfully decadent High Tea

Hello lovely Maddabling blog readers! How was your weekend? I hope it was one filled with good things, as mine certainly was. This week, I present a special blog post feature called A delightfully decadent High Tea.There is no recipe for me to share and I will save until next week the photos from the Flinders Peninsula + Bald Head walk trail that we completed on Saturday. I hope you enjoy this high tea adventure with me. 

A delightfully decadent High Tea 

Dear readers, before I start, I must confess, I have never ever been to a High Tea before. Let me set the scene for you. 

It's a sunny Sunday afternoon in Spring. Four ladies are headed to Carlyles for a High Tea. 

Carlyles is "set atop Mt Adelaide and originally built in 1895. Carlyles was designed as the residence of the Fort's Commanding Officer. 

Featuring the traditional styles of the day, such as intricate mouldings and skirtings plus high ceilings and of course a fireplace for every room. 

Commanding an uninterrupted view across Lake Seppings, over to the Stirling Ranges, Carlyles is surrounded by natural bushland and green lawns up to the children's play area."

The setting is just perfect - the most wonderful place to relax and enjoy the company of those sharing the experience with you. 

The table settings and fine china are just gorgeous. You can feel that it will be an exquisite experience from the moment you walk into the High Tea dining area.  

Have you ever wondered about what happens behind the scenes of a High Tea? Let me show you a sneak peek of the silverware

and the fine china teapots, sugar bowls and milk jugs that make up part of the High Tea service. 

Then dear readers, comes the delicious bubbles to drink, High Tea delicacies and not forgetting the freshly steeped tea!  

It was very hard not to start on the sweet things first! This is how the culinary dilemma was presented! 

Savoury things on the bottom tier - sandwiches, savory scones, little quiches..... 

the second tier had little chocolate tarts, scones with cream, red velvet cakes and custard puffs...oh my! 

and on the top tier, macarons, brownies, biscuits and cake, needless to say there was not much left over by the end of our high tea. It was all very decadent. 

 I do love the teapots and china which remind me of an era long past. 

There is also a lovely Harpist who plays the most beautiful music to enhance your High Tea experience. 

On the day that we attended, there was a charity fundraiser raffle being run by a group of local ladies. Funds were being raised for local charities such as Fellowship House and other charities such as The Royal Flying Doctors Service. It was nice to be able to give something back to such a worthwhile cause. This snap shows the generosity of local business in the raffle donations that were given. 

It was wonderful to share this High Tea experience with Naomi (of Nazzy Beads fame) and to meet two sweet ladies being Amy and Stefanie. I couldn't have asked for a more decadent afternoon. 

Dear readers, I can personally assure you, that Lisa and her perfectly attentive wait staff will ensure that you have a High Tea to remember. If you haven't been to a High Tea at Carlyles, you simply MUST. 

Here is where you can find contact information for Carlyles: 

http://www.carlylesalbanywa.com/

and you can become a follower on Facebook here: 

https://www.facebook.com/CarlylesAlbany

That concludes the Sunday night blog post, I hope you enjoyed A delightfully decadent High Tea. See you all on Wednesday for a new Wednesday Wishes blog post xx 

Friday Friends - Australian Etsy Creator - FoilingStar

Hello Friday! How was your week? Mine was busy busy, at least the weekend is almost here! I hope to share with you pictures from my very first posh High Tea outing this weekend - I will keep you posted! 

I digress.... this week I want you all to meet sweet Ali from Foiling Star - this weeks Friday Friend, Australian Etsy Creator and Featured Artist! 

Ali makes embossed metal wedding garlands, wedding favours, hanging decorations, brooches, mixed media mini art, mixed media wall art and Christmas decorations. She lovingly designs, hand cuts and uses hand tools to emboss her stunning creations. Let me share some of my favourites with you now. I heart this cute Embossed Metal Elephant Garland with Silk Tassel, divine Bohemian Gypsy style! 

Brighten up your kitchen with these beautiful Refrigerator Art - Magnets with Embossed Metal Hearts and Ethnic Patterns.

How tweet I mean sweet is this Wood and Metal Bird Brooch, with Embossed Tin from the Botanical Jewelry range.

Readers, I invite you now to Catch a FoilingStar, enjoy the story that Ali is sharing with you. Have a great weekend everyone, and Australians, don't forget to vote in the Federal Election on Saturday. See you all on Sunday for the Sunday Night blog post xo

Catch a FoilingStar 

Seven years ago I went from having a very good, content life to very quickly, one of significant limitations and dependence on others for everyday things. A  problem with my arm which sometimes affected my whole body, developed and it meant that a lot in my life changed.  It seemed that there was little to be positive about, however, I think that indirectly, it led me to where I am now. Things remained fairly poor, more or less for four years after which, things started to very slowly improve.  It was around then that I came across Etsy.

I couldn't work or drive and how much I could do was unpredictable. Etsy became a real positive in my life and it made me think about possibilities.  Out of nowhere, and contrary to how life was going, I decided I would open an Etsy shop.  Before this all happened, I was always making something. If I was to attempt a very low level creative business, I needed flexibility and control over my workload. Despite still being quite restricted, I had a very strong sense that it was what I was meant to do. When metal embossing found its way to me, I knew it was just what I was looking for. I started making my unique hanging decorations and eighteen months later, FoilingStar came into being.

I admire Indian, Moroccan and Middle Eastern patterns. I'm drawn to their textiles and home wares and fabulous, vibrant colours. I also love silver and metal and I appreciate the natural world. I am inspired and influenced by all of these and what I make, starts somewhere amongst all this. Being surrounded by my decorations, lifts my spirits. I love the lightness, the silvery shimmer, the beauty and colour. I want people who have an item of mine, to feel good when they look at it and to feel that it reflects their individual personality.

My goals are to keep loving what I do, to consider all opportunities that come my way, to make items with a high standard of attention to detail, to give my customers a positive experience, to be grateful for each step along the way and to enjoy the ride. I have so many ideas of things I want to make. So far I have hanging decorations and garlands, brooches and cake toppers and mini art fridge magnets. I have many more ideas for weddings and special occasions and I want to incorporate more vibrant Indian silks into my work. 

I have two favourites - my tea light holder and my decorative large wedding garland. 

I'm hoping I continue to feel improvements over time and that I can more easily make my business grow, but from where I'm sitting, life's more than good.

Dear readers, would you like to see more? Here is how you can connect:

Become a fan on Facebook here:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/FoilingStar/297882286985215

and buy lovely things on Etsy here:

http://www.etsy.com/au/shop/FoilingStar

Spring has Sprung - Wednesday Wishes

be inspired by these pretty florals - spring has sprung! 

SPRING SKY - Hand crafted polymer clay ring from TallPoppi

Silk Fashion Scarf. Floral Nuno Felt Spring Scarves on Etsy from sesenarts

pretty springtime floral tea dress with keyhole neckline in vintage cotton from grevilleadesign

Darjeeling Spring Cushion 50cm x 50cm from NewhookDesign

Blossom botanical purse flower vintage Laura Ashley from maplemist

Father's Day, Mountains to Orchids and Comfort Food

Hello Maddabling blog readers, today I share with you in the Sunday Edition Blog Post Fathers Day, Mountains to Orchids and Comfort Food. Happy Reading! 

Fathers Day 

Maddabling extends a very Happy Father's Day to all the Dads, Grandads, Step-Dads and Father Figures out there. Here's hoping you had a wonderful day and that you had fun spending time with family and or friends. 

I love this image which comes from one of my FAVOURITE letter press creators, Fluid Ink Letterpress. Davina is so very clever, see for yourself. 

You can buy her fab goodies here: 
http://www.etsy.com/au/shop/fluidinkletterpress 

and you can become a follower on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/fluidInkLetterpress. 

Mountains to Orchids
This weekend saw the Maddabling household embark on a mountain climbing and orchid searching adventure. The destination was Mt Trio in the Stirling Range National Park. It was a windy sort of day, and the wind became very gusty towards the top of Mt Trio. The gusts were estimated at around 50km per hour. We stayed to take a few pictures then headed back before the weather turned really fierce. 

Safely back at the bottom of the mountain, we were lucky  to meet a beautiful lady who Maddabling will name the Orchid Guardian - she was a regular visitor and keen wildflower observer, and she directed us to several gorgeous orchids, including the dazzling Queen of Sheba. The Queen wasn't fully opened as only does so in full sun but I saw enough of her to see how strikingly beautiful she must be, with shades of bright purple, orange and golds. 

Mt Trio is quite ominous from a distance in the stormy afternoon light, we would love to visit her again on a calmer day to really appreciate her raw natural beauty and the magnificent views from the summit. 

Comfort Food
Who doesn't love comfort food from time to time. This is a classic dish and I hope you enjoy this as much as I do. Today, the recipe is for Beef Stroganoff.

Beef Stroganoff
Ingredients: 
250g Fresh Pasta (Fettuccine is good) 
1 tablespoon of Olive Oil or Rice Bran Oil 
1/4 cup of Plain Flour 
Salt and Pepper to season
500g rump steak thinly sliced
20g butter
2 cloves garlic crushed
1 red onion halved and thinly sliced
1 tablespoon paprika
Small tin of whole champignons or 200g thick sliced mushrooms
1 cup beef stock
1 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons fresh flat leaf parsley, finely chopped

Method: 
1. Cook Fresh Pasta in a saucepan of boiling water, according to directions on packet. 
2. Heat oil in a large frypan over medium to high heat. Dust rump steak with flour, season with salt and pepper. Cook in batches until browned, transfer to a bowl. 
3. Melt butter in pan, add onions and garlic, cook and continue stirring until soft (around 5 minutes). Add mushrooms or champignons and cook until tender. 
4. Add paprika and cook for one minute or until fragrant. 
5. Add stock and sour cream, cook stirring over low heat until reduced to a thick sauce. 
6. Divide pasta between plates and spoon over Stroganoff mixture. Sprinkle with chopped flat leaf parsley and serve. 

note: serving with some steamed greens on the side of the plate really adds freshness to the meal. 

Dear readers, I hope you have enjoyed Father's Day, Mountains to Orchids and Comfort Food. See you all on Wednesday for a new edition of Wednesday Wishes xo