Image source: Cat and Vee

Today I’m being totally mean and showing you something that was made especially for ME!  Which means you can’t have it! It’s all mine! Mine I tells ya, mine!

But if you really want it (and you should) you can get one of your own (won’t be as cool obviously, but still it’s better than being totally uncool which is what you are if you don’t have one) from Cat and Vee.

The lovely Cat made me this totally rocking iPad cover using one of her prints (Pipsqueak) and a wonderful selection of fabrics.  The only fabric I requested was the typewriters and go granny squares, the rest was Cat’s choice and oh my! what a choice.  She made me a GNOME ANGEL!  That’s right – in the top row you can see a little gnome and some angels beside him.  It’s so freaking awesome.

…action shot – my iPad in it’s new home…

I love it!  It comfortably fits my iPad (which is sporting the Logitech iPad Keyboard Cover so is a little thicker than normal).  I can’t wait to take it out and about and subtly show it off.

If you love quality handmade items you need to check out Cat and Vee.

I’m addicted to Instagram and I’m so excited to find some creative ways to enjoy all the Instagram goodness.  Here’s 5 of the ways I’ve enjoyed my Instagram obsession in the past month.

1. Instadesk Application for Mac – I love this application.  It makes it so easy to view, manage, share and comment on your Instagram photos and feed.

2. Stickygram – I used Stickygram to put together a collection of Instragram photos of Sam and then had these posted to his grandparents.  Stickygram has free postage which is awesome because it makes them even more affordable and a great way to send a piece of awesome in the mail.

3. Blurb Photobook – With the birth of Sam my phone photo habit has gotten out of control and I’m so glad that I can now use all those photos to make a photobook for his first year.  I love this site because they cater for Instagram photos where some photobooks, while allowing you to use Instagram photos, don’t take into consideration the pixel sizes, etc and so the printing can be a little warped.  I can’t wait to order Sam’s first photobook.

4. Casetagram – I adore this as a way to always have your photos with you without having to turn your device on.  I’ve already put together cases for my own iPhone and iPad and I can’t wait to order some for family and friends.  These would make a great present for Father’s Day.

5. Instacanv.as – Our house has prints, paintings and canvas on nearly all it’s walls and now I can put my Instagram feed straight on my wall.  I’m totally going to order prints to hang and gift.  Such a great idea!

Don’t forget, I’m currently running a Scrap Vomit Squares Swap and you can get in on the scrap vomitty goodness. Want to know more: click here!

This week I’m sharing with you the 5 things making my life a little better at the moment. It’s a mixed bunch but each one is playing a vital role in my life these days.

1. Logitech iPad Keyboard – Given that I spend a large portion of my time now nursing a baby my ability to spend the same amount of hours on my computer that I used to has diminished greatly. Now I live my life through my iPhone or iPad. I’m very grateful for both (seriously what did parents do before the invention of a smart phone?) however my genetic disposition to sausage fingers means that I struggle with the typing on a virtual keyboard. This struggle has meant that I’ve been limited in how I can utilise my smart devices. (Typing a long email to a friend on a virtual keyboard is virtually impossible!) But no more limitation here! I purchased the keyboard for the iPad and haven’t looked back. It’s brilliant. Seriously! It’s a little smaller than an average keyboard which has taken some getting used to but it’s so much better than using the virtual keyboard. I am totally smitten with it. There’s a heap of different versions on the market but I went with the Logitech version because it’s also a cover for the iPad and has a stand function which means that you can use the keyboard without having to worry about the iPad slipping down due to vibrations from your typing. Genius! Wish I had gotten one sooner.

2. Stable Table – Anyone who grew up in the 80′s in Australia should remember the television advertisements for the stable table. For those of you that aren’t familiar with it, it’s a tray table that has a beanbag base. It’s sole purpose is to allow you to do things on a stable surface in your lap. (Like eat dinner in front of the television!) This little beauty is working in tandem with my iPad keyboard to make my life rosier. Again, because I spend so much time sitting either on the couch or in bed this little device has helped me greatly. It’s doing double duty as a portable desk and a dinner table for when I’m nursing Sam. It has to be the best $15 I’ve spent in a long time. HUBBY is going to live to regret that he didn’t get one when he had the opportunity!

3. Hill Hoist Portable Clothes Line – With winter and the mountains of washing that we seem to generate now with Sam we’ve had to come up with a solution to the clothesline situation in our house.  We have a clothesline in our backyard but we also have a beagle that likes to pull things off the line so we’ve (for years) used folding clothes horses and coat hangers to dry our laundry in our carport.  It’s not a great solution and it’s certainly not an easy way to hang linen.  So we went on the hunt for something a little bigger to use.  HUBBY found this clothes line and it’s brilliant.  I’ve set it up in our front courtyard and it’s so handy.  I don’t know why we wanted so long to find it! (The item picture above is our actual line set up in our courtyard.)

4. Infa Change Caddie Organiser – This little device is great.  It hangs off the side of your change table and holds all the things you need to use while changing your child.  It holds quite a few nappies which can be really handy when you don’t have time to be restocking.

5. Jim’s Cleaning – I wrote about my need to get order back in our home a couple of weeks ago and part of that has been to get in a cleaner.  I’ve had a number of cleaners over the years but by far Jim’s Cleaning is proving to be the best.  Great price, efficient service and the couple that comes to do our house are just lovely. Having a cleaner seems like such a luxury but at the moment it’s helping to save my sanity so it’s worth the money.

'Taste the Rainbow' by gnomeangel

Geometric Brooch Neon T... SketchInc $11.50	The peruvian necklace -... birdienumnums... $18.00	Tin toy UFO flying sauc... RetroTalk $45.99	Coloured Pencils Photog... VictoriaEngli... $25.00
Wood Toy Set -The Origi... applenamos $23.00	Rumba Necklace - Triba... AlinaandT $26.00	Circa 1960s Playskool W... ivorybird $8.00	Vintage bright graphic ... thecupcakekid $15.00
Rainbow Needle Felted B... JuicybitsJewe... $15.00	colorful beach felt bal... MadameVu $32.00	Heart garland - wedding... zolayka $45.00	Deliberately Pixelated... pillowpallooz... $125.00
Abstract Painting / ORI... tushtush $85.00	Beaded Necklace, Statem... lizbriggsdesi... $30.00	Hippo Animal Necklace C... GallivantingG... $14.00	Mad Bright Lampshade TamsinFazan $250.00

Treasury tool by StylishHome.

I love this collection of items because they’re all bright and bold.  I’m such a sucker for a rainbow, as I continually demonstrate in my collections on Friday’s.  I love the mix of mediums – from wood to tin to fabric to old school plastic dinosaurs.  It’s a little bit of brightness for your Friday.