Recovering from the frenzy

That's two days of eating frenzy. We aussies have this extra day called Boxing Day, the day after Christmas....where we're supposed to open all the present boxes. I reckon its just an excuse for another public holiday. But who's complaining? There's all that eating (and drinking) to be had.

Anyhow, I can now reveal the present I made for my sis. I'm happy to say she loved it! This is the keyring front......


.....and the back. I'm just chuffed it turned out so nice.


And as usual I wanted to keep it, too, but when you get to the eleventh hour, all the shops have closed and the ones still open are selling crap wares....the "push came to the shove" and I had to put something in giftwrap. Here's the close-up of the stitching.


Lastly, I nearly forgot to share some fabric haul from our mini-break last week. For all you peeps who are fans of the French style of crafting shown in Marie Claire Idees', I found a shop in the middle of the Hunter Valley with lots of long bolts of the most beautiful French quilting fabric. The shop is called Les Indiennes de Provence.....and Sydneysiders, they've got a shop in the QVB. I only managed to walk out with some fat quarters cos' its a bit on the pricey side. But it's one of those situations where if I didn't have the bub running amok or the geezer crossing his arms and tapping his toes outside, I could've easily convinced myself to get some more yardage to make into a summer dress for the little kiddo. Awww geez, as if I need any more fabric!


Okeydokes! I now gotta get us ready to meet a friend for brunch.....hope everyone's having a good week. Cheerio!

The best surprise

You know the postal service is working their butts off when they drop off lovely somethings on your doorstep one day before christmas. I'm very impressed! But mostly, I'm squealing with excitement when I realised whom it was from and what it was.

Back in the mists of time I signed up for the PIF thingy on Anna's blog. I've been an avid reader of Anna's blog for a while. So many creative pursuits and craftiness. (I really dig her sense of humour, too) And she sent me the bestest package ever!

One of her roly-poly bunny pin cushions for me to adopt....


and this soooo pretty doll quilt! (Apologies for the atrocious photos, bad light, poor camera!)


Spoiled! I'm being spoiled! Thank you so very much, Anna! The bub is giving you a massive big smooch, too.

There's also some stickers and chocolate, but guess-who filched them just as I undid all the wrapping. I'll have to go hunting in her hidey holes 'cos I want that chocolate.

And thank you to you peeps for your "sisterly" gift ideas. I'm filing them all away for future christmases and birthdays 'cos I just know I'll be stuck again. I finished my sister's present yesterday morning. However, because she reads this blog I'll do the show-and-tell after tomorrow.

Merry christmas, everyone!

Two more days....dum dee dum dum

Have I fallen off the face of the virtual earth? Nope. But I've been keeping my arse busy trying to finish a few more presents. Like this purty linen shopping bag....which I'd like to keep for myself.


And this pair of simple cushions....recognise the fabric? We also just came back from our mini-break recently and I've been doing the headless chook routine what with getting all the holiday shopping in check before the family christmas pre-dinner on Sunday afternoon. In two days! Yikes!


Really, I've got just over a day and a half to figure out and make a present for my dear sister. Will I ever get that under control? Or will I just succumb to some more retail therapy? Pledge be-damned. I'm running out of time and ideas. What do you make for the girl who has everything she wants and needs?

Anyhow, we had a nice relaxing time in our local wine region. Lots of bottle collecting, lots of cheese tasting, lots of eating rich food and lots of drinking to go with the eating. Can't get too tippled anymore, you know. I'm now a responsible parent who has to keep an eagle eye on an increasingly cheeky bub. And for all the photo taking I did, I must've been slightly affected 'cos this is the only decent one to show. She's recently taken to scrunching her face whenever she smiles. Cheeky, indeed!


And if I don't see you before the 25th, have a right rolicking merry one! Cheerio!

And now for the adults

I've got a few adults to make presents for, too. But I've got an idea drought when it comes to the men (and the boys), so I've succumbed to bending the pledge by getting some books.


I don't think anything handmade would somehow be appreciated unless its mechanical, if you get what I mean.


Anyhow, this set of coasters came together very nicely. It's currently earmarked for an auntie, but it may still end up with someone else.


I'm actually debating.....to keep or not to keep! Nah! I'll give it away.


And here's the other bonkey....for another little boy.


And that's it for the softies rampage....at least for this year. I really need to get cracking on the rest of the presents.


Also, the ole blog may also be going for a wee nap over the next week or so. This holiday madness is driving me nuts, so we're taking off for a few days to the Hunter Valley to addle my brain a bit. To practice for the actual imbibing (inebriating) on christmas.

And now someone needs to wake-up from her nap. Those three hour zzzz's are still going strong. Woohoo!

Cheerio!

Bonkey

Her word, not mine. Whenever we tell the bub "you're such a little monkey!", she'll reply a loud "bonkey!" So here's the softie version.....again the pattern is from this excellent book.


This one's going to a little boy bub, so I had to make sure there was nothing that could be yanked apart and ingested.


Anyhow, they're now multiplying (like rabbits, I tell you) and I'm thinking of making another one for a small cousin instead of what I initially planned. Who knows when I'll stop!

At least that's another present off the list covered. Phew!

Tweedle dee

To go with tweedle dum.....


...except tweedle dee may have to stay with me.


Meaning of course, I may have to make one more softie. I've forgotten how much I enjoyed making these and when there's reason to, why stop? Erm, I do need to make some adult-friendly presents, too.

Tootles!

Letting loose

I finally let myself loose on my craft table....and yes, I've been productive! I truly enjoyed the daily blogging, but I failed to see when I signed up how much of the nap-time it would eat up and take away from the actual creating.


Anyhow, I did finally get stuck into it. In the last few days, I managed a softie from this book....



a carry pouch for some wooden fruits and vegetables....


from some japanese fabric and japanese counting tape, and....


two more embellished tank tops.


I've been working on that holiday craft list, as you can see.


Much of these are presents to friends' kiddos. There's more on the drawing board. And the fabric piles are whispering to me to get back to them. Quick, I gotta finish this post!

Let me just say thank you again to all you bloggy peeps for tagging along with me during the daily blogging month. And most of you got the correct answer.....I affectionately started calling my husband "the geezer" when I started dating him ages ago, as a play on his surname, which I too share now. It's a better nickname than "gonzo". That was his monicker back in school.

And without further ado, Korallin, I'm sending a thank you package your way. Can you please email me your snail mail address when you can.

Hokay! Back to the drawing board I go!

Edit: What the?! Just fixed the disappearing photos, folks. Hopefully they stay put this time.