Busy Busy ...

I have 2 really good friends
who were Christmas eve
& eve of: babies!
"Happy Birthday" WS & NH!! xx
I've been working on more
handmade gifts ... you'll have to wait!
&
The table has now been painted red ...
&
Here's my boy!
Oscar 'posted' a un-opened Christmas card
through under our deck yesterday
... it will never be opened!
Cheeky!

Binding bliss ...

So I think after many small projects to practice on ... I think I've go the hang of both using a little metal binding gadget to make the folded binding & the sewing of on the machine! So much faster ... Yay ... face cloths & a table runner .... "Yes" they are gifts! Would you like one? You could always ask me!?

More of what I've been up to ....

With so many lovely spectrum colours ....
(& you know I love my Tups!
This is the perfect storage container for these little beauties)

How could I not get my fingers working??

You might know this little book
brought out by some local talent?
'Melly&Me' ... check them out
I really love their Kokeshi Stitchery design & is was the perfect gift for my niece who talented Mommy (they live in Pennsylvania) painted lovely Japanese flowers all over one wall in her new bedroom! I didn't know that last year when I sent a little Japanese inspired gift!
&
so my handy work ...

(Yes - it will still get there for Christmas!
My precious husband ... is an FC with Toll ...)
&
the end result . . .
stretched per usual over a canvas frame!
I hope she likes?????
Cute huh!... I don't think they read my blog so I'm feeling safe about posting!

OWN hanging out with the girls!

A Tups Pink Plastic Picnic ...
(say that x3 times fast!)
yesterday after a morning swim
we all retreated inside!
.... escaping the wind & heat!

What I've been working on ...

• (just some of) Yesterday's "Thrifty Haul" .... I always love the thrill & mystery of what I might find! Funky, orange detail plates for the Cabin, speckled tea bowl ... pedestal dish & best of all a set of 6 mini wooden skittles . . . with 2 balls . . . I had to hunt for all the separate pieces! These will go in Oscar's Christmas stocking! I love the thought of an item's journey being re-invented with us! & I wonder what's its story has been so far ...??
• More thrifty business with lots of clothing for me & also for my toddler who was in tow & survived my marathon effort ... another fabulous hand knitted jumper for when Oscar is a little older . . . paid less for my entire haul of 20+ items than the 'bought new' wool would have cost the maker! Jumper only looks likes its been worn a hand-full of times.
• Had extended family over for a sunny Sunday afternoon tea; This has meant that the last week or so has been spent 'going-over' every square cm of our plot called 'Home'! There is nothing like a deadline looming for this household to spring-to-action ... windows cleaned, spider webs demolished, cupboard handles attached, pictures up, WC painted & new curtain to boot, wall hanging secured, baking made, Christmas decs finally in place, the garden has had the 'once-over' big time!

• ... was a lovely day & now the conveyor belt of projects to be done rolls on! How's your project list going? Mine never ends as I'm dreaming up new things all the time ... I also bought a groovy table on ebay yesterday .... which will probably become our new computer table once its painted ???? Red - I think!
• & now .... to get on with more Christmas gift making!
  

Summer Colour Eye-Candy!

Ginger Blossom . . . waiting patiently for 2010!
&
the new owner!

...for Olivia & a few words on friendship

1,000's of little stitches for you sweet little baby girl! .... I have something to say .... bit preachy so if you're not in the mood then I wouldn't be offended if you didn't read on ...

There is that saying that you know ... but you can choose your friends!
I've always had the attitude that 'my friends are your friends'
... I love the way that this works out ... especially when you have a crowd for an event ... the party mix 'works' then !
I also believe that friendships have 'seasons'.
Some friendships can last through life & ride with the bumps, turns, sunny days & devastations ... and some just aren't meant to!
Being ok with that & the friends that have moved on in other directions is important to your self image & how you continue to forge new meaningful relationships.
Often however there is hurt linked with these partings!
Hurt takes time to heal ... finding grace can take even longer!
Be content & happy within yourself for no one else can do this for you ...

So to all my friends .... some that are more recent,
to the established ones,
those that are a little disconnected but still about,
or those that I have reconnected with
or even those that are long gone but not from my memories
& even new bloggy ones
... I cherish you!
You are my village!
Be kind to those you love & care about for life is too short to do otherwise!
Its all part of the journey ... enJOY it ...
Show &/or tell them you love & care in whatever love language you speak!
For it 'tis the season ...
... another handmade Christmas gift ... one for a guy!

Alphabet I-Spy Quiet Book!

I just had to share!
This Alphabet I-Spy Quiet Book! is made by Care of
'Obsessively Stitching'
Care organised the sensational 'I-Spy' fabric swap that I participated in a little while back .... which as yet I haven't sewn together ... I am planning to perhaps after Christmas ... as I can't see I will have much of a chance before then .... I have a long list of Christmas gifts to make!
... Care is such a kind friendly person & I regularly check out what she's up to & she does me too! All this fun in our crafty blog-land!
This is a give-away ... read up but let me win!!! heheeehe
She has fabulous ideas to make for or with little hands ...
Have a great day!