I've been away but now I'm back!

I've been away since Monday in Brisbane taking Jaden to appointments at the Royal Brisbane Childrens Hospital. Nothing serious, just checkups. Jaden takes after me in that he was born with a Cleft lip (me a cleft lip and palette). But it looks so great now and the Royal Childrens have such wonderful specialists there. It was the usual round of Orthodontists, Surgeons and Ear nose and throat Specialists. All looking good and home again now. Thankfully we don't have to go back now for another 12 months.

I have had three wonderful ladies join up for my pay-it-forward exchange, Clare, Viv and Melissa. You can check out the links to their wonderful blogs on my sidebar. Please do.

Here is a pic showing off some of my knitting skills just for Melissa from thistledewfarm.blogspot.com as I promised. This is the Jumper and Beanie that I knitted for my DH (this is actually him in it in our front yard) to wear on a work trip around Melbourne/Victoria last winter. It is made from Alpaca/Wool and little bit of acrylic. It was so beautiful to knit and did not take long at all. This is the first ever adult jumper I have ever knitted. He loves it and wore it quite alot whilst he was down there. I've knitted a few little jumpers for my boys and everyone now has beanies or hats of some sort now.

My sister has become addicted also but now is more into crochet. Here is a little something she made for Jamie (my dh). He asked her to make him this bear to take to work and put on his computer. I don't think he realised how small it would be. He just loves it though and it is currently travelling with him while he's working in Brisbane for the Recovery Relief from the storms they had recently.

I'd better go, more cleaning and organising my house before Jamie comes home this weekend. Was my chance to declutter. Going well so far.

Happy Crafting!!! D :=)

Nothing much happening here today.

I have not done much by way of craft today as it has been my special day with Jaden (4). Every Friday when dear Bailey (2) is in daycare, Jaden and I do something special together. Today we went swimming as it is sooooo hot and muggy here at the moment. He has been having swimming lessons lately and I thought the two of us could get in a bit of practice. He was very excited to be able to show off his new skills today to Grandma who came with us just for this purpose. Within no time at all he has changed from a screaming banshee if even flicked with a minute bit of water to a drowned water rat who I just can't keep away from the stuff. Even in the bath he has been donning the goggles and calling out to me to check on his progress. Usually when I'm trying to get tea ready. But I am so proud of him.

I did have something exciting happen today craftwise. I had some fabric delivered to me by my postie fairy. I have been eagerly waiting for the backing/binding to arrive to finish my Rosewood Cottage Quilt (shown on the left here). I ordered the fabric from Abbi May's Fabric Shop. It is one of my favourite shops at the moment. I realised I had run out of the fabric that I used for the outer boarder and I had wanted to bind the quilt in the same fabric (might I say I started this quilt some time ago and and have not been able to find the said fabric anywhere. Until of course I discovered some at Abbi Mays much to my relief). As the fabric was on sale I bought enough to bind and back the quilt in the same fabric. They have been wonderful and it arrived so quickly from the U.S. Now I can complete a quilt on my "UFQ" list and one of my goals for this year. Yippeeee. It is so exciting getting fabric in the mail.

Happy Crafting. D. :=)

My Turn to Pay-it-forward!

I was so excited today to discover that I was one of the lucky three to sign up for Janelle's Pay-it-forward exchange. Thanks so much Janelle for doing this exchange.

Janelle is from http://www.threadsoffriendship.blogspot.com/ Make sure you visit their blog. I love it.

I think this is such a wonderful idea! This is how it goes : it's the Pay It Forward exchange, based on the concept of the movie "Pay It Forward", where acts of kindness are done without expecting anything in return, just passing it on, hoping that the recipients will do the same and pay it forward, like a never ending chain of kindness... How to proceed ?I will make and send a handmade gift for the first 3 friends who post a comment to this post, requesting to join this exchange, and promising to pay it forward to 3 other persons, etc.... I don't know what my 3 gifts will be. Your PIF won’t be sent this month, probably not next month, but it will be sent within 365 days (ample time) and that’s a promise! What YOU have to do in return, then, is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog. I'm more than happy to send something internationally - so everyone can be involved!!!

What better way for everyone to join hands around the globe and share our crafty goodness!!! So, who wants me to make them something - then you go and get to pass it on?

Have fun crafting!

D. :=)

Where do I start....

I have been really bad this week and have hardly had time to even look at my blog let alone anyone else's. I have so much catching up to do, lucky I've made myself a cuppa (and a few biccies) so I can finally catch my breath and have some reading time.

My dear hubby left on Monday morning on a flight to Melbourne for a two week trip around Victoria for his work. Yippee I secretly thought (though of course I miss him dearly) Craft till whenever, after the kids are in bed. Wooohooo! But alas things don't always turn out the way you plan. I have re-organised and cleaned my house and done some much needed decluttering (Garage sale time for sure) with not much crafting happening yet. And since I have not been getting my share of inspirational time reading all these wonderfully talented women's blogs out there I have been feeling a little bit lost.

Oh where oh where do I start....This is my first night without anything stopping me from getting in and doing something, anything. But I can't decide which UFO to pick up. I can't believe how terrible that sounds. This is a table runner that needs finishing. All I need to do is sew the binding down. You would think I would have done that by now. Maybe tomorrow...

I am so wanting to hurry up and get all my christmas stuff out and decorate the house already but unfortunately can't get motivated there either. Sad I know, but true. I'm hoping that maybe tomorrow something might kick in now that I don't have to do a trip that I was gearing up to do this week. December is such a short space of time to show off all your chrissy stuff so I usually start early November. This year I've been a bit slack in that department. I had even thought I might go all out this year and decorate with all my lights but am feeling a bit down and haven't got around to it. I had better get in soon or before I know it Christmas will be over (this is a Santa I made last year which I have have just unpacked with a few of my other hand made things. Will post them tomorrow too). So much to do tomorrow....

Oh well at least I've been plugging away at my Red and white Jacob's ladder quilt and nearly have it all together. I laid it all out last week and finally decided on the layout and now am steadily sewing the blocks together. I think I'm on my second last row. Won't be long now and I will have a little surprise giveaway to share with you. That gets me a little bit more excited.

Here are a few friends I have made that I will have to put away until after Christmas.

Oh well....until tomorrow. Happy crafting. D. :=)

An Amazing Quilt Giveaway!!!

You just have to check out Dana's (Old Red Barn Co) amazing Quilt giveaway! These quilts are so gorgeous. You would be mad not to have a look at her amazing blog with these beautiful quilts. I just fell in love with these fabrics and would absolutely love to give one a home. Quick, stop what your doing and just go and do it now, I'll understand you leaving here and I'll catch up with you again later. lol. Happy Drooling. D. :=)

Nature at Play

I am adding a second post today as I just noticed that the last one I just put on was the 13th Post. I just could not leave it at 13. (Silly I know)

So I thought I would share with you some pics I took yesterday of what I thought must be a bit of a phenomenon. I was on the phone to a close friend who told me to go outside and look up at the sun, so I did and these are a couple of the pics that I took of what I saw. A full circular rainbow going around the sun which was directly overhead. How bizarre. Unfortunately I could not get a pic of the complete circle because when I would look up, the sun would hurt my eyes (of course) and I would just point my camera and shoot, hoping all the while that I was pointing it in the right direction. I thought it was pretty amazing as I had never seen anything like it before. Anyhow, I had better go get organised for the afternoon session of mummy chores (Kindy pickup, soccer, Hmmmmm what to have for tea....). Happy Crafting. D. :=)

50 little blocks ready to be sewn together....

All 50 little blocks are made and ready to be sewn together. They are just waiting for me to get the time to sit and organise them into the right order (which for me can take a bit of effort as I find it so hard to do random) lol. But here they ready to go. (Hopefully this won't turn out to be another UFO.) Pressure is on now. I'd like to have this together before craft night this week. We'll see. Happy Crafting. D. :=)

Some Giveaway's to check out.

I have just discovered, thanks to Stina, these gorgeous giveaways (check my side bar for the links). You have to check out Abbi's gorgeous blog and she is giving away a quilt. How generous of her. I've now got another new favourite. Happy Crafting D. :=)

Festive Charm Tablerunner Update

Just a quick update on how my Festive Charm Tablerunner is going... Well I have hardly been able to sleep since starting this project because it's just about all I can think about (so I'd better hurry up). I can't believe and never imagined how starting a blog could get me so motivated into getting my UFO's finished. I just want to get everything finished so I can show you all. I think discovering so much inspiration at my fingertips from other like minded people has been so wonderful. (such an understatement I know). Anyhow, here is the update on the runner.

So far, in between organising Jaden for his first two orientation days in readiness for Prep next year (I don't know who is more excited him or me for him - he's growing up way to fast), parent meetings for prep and kindy commitee breakup meetings (me being the secretary of minutes) I have 25 petite little blocks ready to go and the other 25 just needing the top and bottom rows attached. Then it will be down to deciding on the placement and then joining them all together.

Here are a few of the first 25 completed ones and this next pic is of the remaining 25 yet to be sewn. Not far to go now.

I'm having fun doing this project. So thanks Ruth for this one. I think this could be a good chrissy pressie project, quick enough to whip up a few at once - I won't get to far ahead of myself just yet, one project at a time (cause who needs more UFO's, certainly not me) lol. Will keep you posted.

Happy Crafting. D. :=)

Phew! At last some Craft.

I just had to let you know that I've just finished cutting my charm squares ready to make the lovely Ruth's Festive Charm Table runner. I'm very excited and can't wait to sew them all together. I'm hoping to do that tomorrow when Bailey has his rest (Jaden will be at Kindy and only bare necessities to be done when it comes to housework lol). Gee, I must sound terrible. Well I did say I was addicted. I'll probably dream about sewing them in my sleep tonight (as I quite often do about my projects)(please tell me I'm normal)lol. Anyhoo, better go get some sleep or else I might need a nanna nap tomorrow and wouldn't that be tragic not getting any sewing done. TTFN (TaTa for Now) Happy Crafting. D. :=)

Took some time out - Been Camping

Well, since DH went back to work today after having two weeks off, he decided that he would like to getaway somewhere at least once on his holiday. So we took the boys on an adventure and did an overnighter. We took the camper trailer to Cedar Grove Camping grounds in the Amamoor State Forest (where they hold the annual Gympie Muster). Absolutely beautiful there and it was rather quiet too which was really nice. This is my first panorama shot with my new camera. This is the lovely creek which is the swimming hole for this camp spot. The boys just loved it (even though I thought it was freezing cold).

Was the perfect spot and day for a little hand stitching though. Of course you really didn't think I spend the weekend without some craft did you. (lol) I took my secret squirrel project with me to try and get finished so I can hopefully share with you soon. More on that later.

I thought I would also share with you our setup when we camp. Quite modest my also with a touch of home. (I know you've seen these before but this is how they are lovingly used). lol. I also forgot to mention the shaggy cushions that I had made to match each of the boys quilts.

And of course the room would not be complete without the main bed. I must say it is all quite comfy.

Our surroundings are so beautiful and it really is quite a nice spot. We had some unexpected visitors early Sunday morning much to the delight of two little boys.

Just a few more pics of our camp site and surrounds and I'll stop boring you (after all it is suppose to be a craft blog). lol

There are some really great walking tracks around the site too. Jaden and I went on our own little adventure which was really special for me. I so enjoy my special time with him. They are just growing up too fast. (sob) Anyhow that was what I was up to this weekend. Would love to show you all the pics but I'd be here all night and there are more important things tonight like hello !!! Craft!!! lol. Happy Camping, I mean Crafting. D. :=)

Fun Giveaway!

I just thought I would let you in on a wonderful giveaway I just found at http://seekatiesew.blogspot.com/2008/10/two.html. You must check out Katies blog. Lovely indeed.
Be back soon. D. :=)