Something In The Making

I'm making something for you Em. A surprise. Something I discovered you need when we stayed at your place the other night. Something that may come in handy. Something you may like alot. Something in our new fav colour. Something for you because you're wonderful.

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Last Minute Ho Ho Ho

Nothing like a bit of last minute gifting even when you know this occassion has been coming for a whole year. The occasion is of course christmas. Ive known my whole life that christmas is on the 25th december yet every year it becomes a last minute event.
Having said that i have done fairly well this time. I am actually referring to the addition of 'class teacher' on the christmas gift list. Little R's first year of school has opened up a whole new lost of giving opportunities.
And so it is that I am sewing a teachers gift on the morning of the last day of shool. Actually an hour before school starts whilst packing the car for a weekend trip.
Here it is, I have created FELTSIL. that's felt tinsel.....

Very simple pieces of pure wool felt sewn onto a natural twine with red cotton. Very quick, very easy and I really like it. I got quite excited thinking of all the possiblities for Feltsil. Different shapes and colour combos. Lots of places to hang beautiful, natural feltsil.
Now I do have to tell a funny story, actually, I'll write the conversation between Little R and myself......
Me- 'hey buddy, it's traditional to give your teacher a present at the end of the year to say thank you and merry christmas. What do you think you'd like to give her?'
R- 'Schnitzel'
Me- 'Schnitzel, hmmm, does she like schnitzel?' We had schnitzel three nights prior so thought they'd had a discussion about dinner!
R- 'umm, no, what's that stuff we decorate with? You know, all rainbow colours?'
Me- 'oh TINSEL, you want to give her tinsel?'
R- 'yeah, tinsel'

Oh it was funny and precious. So we have now made our version of tinsel.
Now I just hope Miss P felt tinsel to a schnitzel!!!.

A Little Crafty Christmas Cheer

This will be quick, very quick as its a busy day. We are heading out to a River Christmas gathering of wonderful friends with gorgeous kids. A picnic at the 'crocodile park', our annual christmas play date. Low-key, yummy food, lots of laughing in the sunshine.
But Ive sacrificed some food preparation time to squeeze in some sewing. My big little boy requested a christmas stocking this year. We usually lay a gold cloth under the tree and leave our treats for Santa on the cloth and that is where he very graciously deposits lovely gifts. We will still lay the cloth for the treats as I love the ritual that comes with that. The gentle, quiet moment we share on christmas eve as we each take a corner and lay the golden silk upon the floor. It seems to take forever as it floats down and we watch. Not sure what Santa will receive this year. Something home baked and sweet smelling no doubt and some glittery oats for the reindeers left on the decking!

This is the beginning of Little R's christmas stocking. Can I still call him 'little'? He's 6 and 3/4's! My mission was to use what i already have, fabric, trimmings, ric rac (oh how I love ric rac)' buttons, lace, ribbons, whatever.

And lace doileys too. I lov ethat this one looks like a snow flake. Yes even in a summer christmas, there's room for snowflakes. Actually our first christmas eve with child, it snowed and Santa left a little snowman in the tent he'd putup in the lounge room!!

Anyhow, here's the end result and for a non-sewer, I'm quite proud of them! Of course Little R compared the size of them both to make sure his little sister's wasn't bigger than his justin case Santa wanted to fill one more than the other!

Now I'm off to organise the first of my Quarterly Crafternoons. I realise I have completely failed to mention this at all but I have been organising a gathering of the crafty kind in my home town. A gathering that's a spin off of the International Crochet Day gathering held in September. A place for those craftily inclined to share skills, tell stories, learn to crochet and make stuff. And of course to drink tea and eat cake!!

Oh Christmas tree....

Enjoying some early morning moments with a cup of tea and reflection in the middle of a mad week ... A week of "tion's"...orientation day, presentation night, graduation night and national volleyball schools cup.

Enjoying a proud parent moment as Claire won an award at presentation night and gave a lovely impromptu speech that included some special words about her parents (..sob)

Enjoying dealing with the teenage tantrums that come with busy days and late nights ( sorry, did l say enjoying, probably should read enduring!)

Enjoying summer days in the garden dotted in red... sweet, ripe red strawberries, delicious red raspberries and even 2 little red cherries on the new dwarf cherry tree!

Enjoying our Christmas tree.... just because.......

X em

Oh Le, how about an update on the rippley blanket...would love to see pics of the new colors!

Wishes come true....

Can you believe Le its a whole year since we started this blogging journey?
....and why is it that turning 41 seems so much easier than turning 40?
.....and is it ok to blog about our 41st birthday before we have completely finished our 40 th posts?
....well surely a couple of pics can't hurt....
especially because we wished so hard and our fellas made our wishes come true.....

Merry and bright....

Well I know it is the season, but I wasn't feeling jolly because (being the impatient type) ( Le, stop smiling) I wanted to set the Christmas tree up on the 1st day of December and with birthdays and end of year happenings, it didn't happen and on the 2nd day of December it still wasn't happening because it needed some tweaks and a linseed oil rub (yes it is a wooden sculpture tree). So instead I focused on the seasonal shelf and spent a blissful half hour arranging and rearranging and humming .........
.........'have yourself a merry little Christmas...'