very happy outcome

I will admit to being a bit sad about dropping my little owls off but am more than rapt at the outcome. They were picked up quickly and will be heading off overseas - how exciting. The toy society recieved the following email -

Hi!

My name is Kate and I found two beautiful hand knitted owls down by Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra, Australia.


I work in a charity run childcare centre in the area and I was delighted to find these treasures!

One of the children at the centre was having his last day today and is moving to Indonesia. I thought that these two lovely little owls would have a wonderful home with him.

What a heart warming project you run, finding these toys was the most moving experience I have had for a very long time.

Thank you!

Regards

Kate

Can't wish for more than that - shall be doing more in the new year. Please have a look at all the wonderful toys being dropped off around the world. Love the good feeilng something like this brings - a truly good way to spend christmas.

Toy society drop

Love this idea, hand made toys are left in clear bags in visible places for anyone who walks past, hopefully they report back when the toys have a new home. I decided my little birds were ideal candidates for release into the wide world, although it was hard to say goodbye...

Anyway keep an eye on www.thetoysociety.blogspot.com and hopefully we can see were they end up. Love the boy scouts from Ottawa and their very cool toys and the exceptionally interesting places that they drop them. Love that the web brings all sorts of people together.

A day of sewing

I was so over christmas shopping and then realised I hadn't quite finished as both Meaghan and Henry's teachers who really did deserve to be aknowledged and the kids do love giving them presents. So a day on the sewing machine, I stuck a movie on and made them some christmassy coasters. Really enjoyed not having to think too much. I also made the seahorse for Henry's teacher as his kindy class were known as the seahorses (from this pattern). Henry picked out the penguin pencil which is very cute.

Then to top off my sewing day, used some of the leftover material to make a bag to place a bottle of wine in for some friends of ours - big fan of this, makes an ordinary present seem a bit special for very little time.

On a sloghtly related note, Henry received a hand made card from his year 6 buddy yesterday and he wrote the nicest things inside that I have to share them -

"I wish this year would go slower so we can spend more time together but it went too fast. I hope you enjoy your years in primary school and I hope I will see you again Fare well Paul."

I know Henry has loved having Paul as a buddy - a great system.

Off to do a toy drop for the toy society, what a fun idea and then christmas cards I guess.

Matt on holidays

Matt was supposed to finish school (year 10!!) last Tuesday, but got an email late Sunday night telling him he was in the hockey team for a tournament that week. So he had half a day on Monday to clean out his locker and then off to hockey for the week. For the most part he enjoyed it, with the full range of weather, from very hot too the final which was our wettest day in years.
His team made the grand final which was impressive as there were teams from interstate as well as locals (the Tassie team did not do themselves a service to the point of on of their referees being sent off - and now have a very poor reputation). The final was one sided - not ours unfortunately with a Melbourne team winning in a very soggy game. A good way to spend the week - and I think I have to plant a couple of trees for the amount of time I spent in the car.

On a happy note, one of my friends had her first baby in the middle of the night yesterday. He was very late and I suspect Dania had a torrid time, ending with an emergency caesar. But Nikolaas Frederick Warmerdam has arrived safely.

For Rob and Trace

Love this photo of my niece Emma. Much competition between Grandchildren for nan and Pop's attention since Emma arrived (curse you). I think they have an unfair advantage living so close (not to mention the fact that Emma is very cute and has shown she is a wonderful little personality as this photo shows).

Hard to get the kids competitive juices flowing as well when they adore her as well. You may have won this round baby brother but we will find a way back (perhaps money may work...).

Year 6 farewell assembly

A few tears were dropped (by parents not the kids) yesterday as Meaghan and her cohorts were farewelled by the school. It wasn't the dreaded boring yr 6 farewell that was endured a few years ago when Matt left. Meaghan has had a good year with a few dramas, that they all survived with a closer friendship group as a result. Unfortunately they are going to different schools next year but I suspect there will be much messaging and texting between the 4 of them.
They had a teacher who suited them (it was the second year that the wonderful Michelle Staningford had taught them so she knew them well. Very appreciated.
I think I will be a mess when Henry leaves (or maybe thankful after spending countless years at the one primary school - the disadvantage of having well spread kids) - only 6 more years to go...

glitter

I am loving glitter at the moment - luckily it is Christmas so I can indulge. The JOY hanging is a kit from Cocoa Daisy, very simple and very glittery. Meaghan was showing it off the other day to friends, so mustn't be too daggy. The downside of all this is that I am often seen covered in glitter, it sticks to everything, including husbands and children, so I tend not to point out when they are a bit glittery, what they don't know, etc.

The assortment of creatures is our mantle piece chrissy display. Love the smooth texture of these creatures, always want to pick them up just to run my fingers over them, they will probably have no colour left soon. I do love collecting Christmas decorations it has to be admitted. I don't do many lights, our house doesn't suit and I would be afraid of burning it down, or more likely flipping the safety switches which is a common enough occurrence as it is. Collecting ornaments is an entirely different matter. I think I will have to do a LO on my Hallmark addiction (there is a sentence I never thought would come out of my mouth).

first day at high school

It has been one of those mornings. Matt informed me late last night that they were having their party for french tomorrow and was there any food he could take? Hmm always a couple of hours late with the requests. Fortunately (?) Meaghan was having her orientation day at her new high school (how nervous was she?) and we could go by the shops, drop him off then Meaghan and finally Henry, who having been dragged out of bed, hadn't eaten brekky and ended up being 1/2 and hour late. all good fun especially when the petrol tank indicator was flashing at an alarming rate.
Any way this layout is to note how quickly the kids have grown up, it couldn't have been 4 years ago when my little girl was still, well, little. Sigh.

latest craft

Saw these twirlers in latest Creating Keepsakes magazine as well as Jodie sending me to Heather Bailey's website, love the simplicity of the design and they work so well. The kids loved it (ie fought over it) so will have to make a boy version for Henry.

The birds I knitted last week, just making it up as I went along, which probably shows. But again the kids love them especially as they seem to throw well...

proof

that spring was here for a short time anyway...
(Commonwealth Park about a fortnight ago).

another night out yay

I feel as though we celebrate a birthday every second week at the moment - not a bad thing of course. Last Friday night we went to a Bite to Eat (in Chiefly I think) for Katie and a very late celebration for Liz. Very retro style restaurant, love that but service was less than impressive. Good to try somewhere new and I guess it was hard to top the last couple of places we have been.

I made Katie a simple photo album (pictured) out of the last Cocoa Daisy kit. Love the black, white and green combination (with a touch of hot pink of course).

The digital layout is for Ros as i have only just managed to download the photos form this night today. It is mostly from a shabby princess kit called damask and dots. The oh so yummy cake was created by Jodie.

Back on track

Just drawing breath after a very busy weekend, starting with the Curtin Primary twilight fair and finishing with an ill advised picnic by the lake (my fault, who knew it would be so cold at this time of the year? Well all of us probably). The fair was busy during the lead up with Henry's class doing the raffle (no extra work thanks to some very hard workers - am hoping Henry is always in Oliver's class as his mum does everything) but Meaghan's class was running the white elephant. So much stuff came in, many people treating the stall as a rubbish tip but still plenty of good stuff. The kids had a ball, which in the end is the best thing.

Saturday was little athletics - Henry loves to run. Meaghan had a pool party to go to and Matt had spent Friday night at a friends.

Then we decided at 7pm to go to circ du solei which began at 8. OK we do enjoy last minute plans but this was getting tight. Had to pick Matt up from Red Hill and then back into town, Made it to the show just after it started - so very worth the effort. Matt was looking a bit grumpy (understandable given the rush, so I asked if he was enjoying the show. Well no came the reply - can't see much as he didn't have his glasses - doh. Another quick trip home by Geoff and Matt to retrieve glasses, plenty of time though. Such a great show, can't recommend it enough.

Another busy day on sunday with an architect dropping by to rediscuss our renovation plans - think we are well and truly ready to do something now.

And Geoff fixed my log in so I now have access to my photos and photoshop after too many months without. My first effort is above , when we went out for the lovely Jodie's and my birthdays back in September - really enjoyable night, we did miss Jo though.

new cushion covers

Such a girly thing - cushion covers. I love this material and addicted to fabric has a quilt kit with theses colours plus rust coloured matching fabrics by Joel Dewberry that I have my eye on. yummy.
The other is for Meaghan with the cross stitch adapted from a chicklets kit by Janlynn. I love that I am actually finishing items at the moment.

back again

with Michelle in red, me in green scarf and Terri in black

The boys straight out of a Roger David catalogue (Geoff, Dixon and Pete)
With my handsome (and tall - always notice that in photos) hubby.


After a few months away, computing/photo troubles I am back. Over the months, Matt has turned 16, Meaghan is now 12 and I have enjoyed a social life.

A couple of weeks ago Geoff and I headed out to Bungendore for their annual ball. We went with some close friends from uni and it was one of the best nights I have had in a long time. The theme was Beijing (isn't everything this year?) and all the girls dressed up. The boys donned black tie (looking very good) and we danced the night away. The band played middle of the road tunes a I think they managed to get one or two songs from the 70's in but it was all 50's and 60's stuff. The food was interesting with the entree being yummy but the mains disappointing and NO DESSERT! Honestly what is that about?

Matt babysat Henry and Meaghan as well as Jasper and Duncan and all (except Henry) were still wide awake when we returned close to 1am. He now has a taste for having his own cash so I suspect will be looking for a job over Christmas.

The night before we went to Rubicon in Griffith for the very lovely Ros's (is that too many s's I can never tell) birthday. Will post some photos when I can work out how to access them.

I have started on christmas cards as I have found nifty paper cut patterns of the twelve days of christmas - that's the next 12 years of cards sewn up. I will post a picture prior to sending them out.

Jo's birthday

It was the lovely Jo's birthday a couple of weeks ago so we went out for tea on Friday night. Great fun, much lamenting as another 40th is reached. I made a card for Jo out of an acrylic album with photos from previous nights out and the best bit is handwritten notes from all the girls to Jo placed between the photos. Every time we go out, it makes me appreciate this close group of friends even more.

1000 cranes project

One of the newest websites that I am addicted to is Folding Trees. They are asking for contributors to post 1000 cranes made out of recycled paper. The story of the paper cranes is as follows (Taken directly from the Folding Trees website). This is my contribution, made out of a security envelope, with the photos taken in Lennox park here in Canberra.

"The paper crane has become an international symbol of peace in recent years as a result of it’s connection to the story of a young Japanese girl named Sadako Sasaki born in 1943.

Sadako was two years old when the atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945. As she grew up, Sadako was a strong, courageous and athletic girl. In 1955, at age 11, while practicing for a big race, she became dizzy and fell to the ground. Sadako was diagnosed with Leukemia, “the atom bomb” disease.
Sadako’s best friend told her of an old Japanese legend which said that anyone who folds a thousand paper cranes would be granted a wish. Sadako hoped that the gods would grant her a wish to get well so that she could run again. She started to work on the paper cranes and completed over 1000 before dying on October 25, 1955 at the age of twelve."

she decided she was worth it...

I borrowed this idea from here, love the little picture. The picture and most of the other stuff came from and IT Kit, lots of fun.The caption should be tatooed on all new mothers - just to remember to spoil yourself.

Also loving this guy - what a great thing to do with your life.

Bags

Meaghan and I had a bag making session on Tuesday. It was fun picking out the ribbons for Meaghan's bag. My bag is an Amy Butler design (Frenchy shoulder bag) with her fabric available here. Love the heavy weight material. I will have to search for some of her other materials as the range available in Canberra is quite limited.

Digital

Loving the digital scrap at the moment, cheap (= free mostly) and quick results. Meaghan and her friends went off to camp in the first week of may and awoke to the foggiest morning we have had in a long time. Luckily it cleared, and they had a ball. I'm sure staying in motel styled rooms helped enormously - I mean what is that all about. I am sure camping in even the loosest sense does not include a tv...

Plus a couple of layouts

Here's a couple of digital LO's, with Meaghan and her friends after the matinee performance and the desktop I have been using this month (again a freebie by The Shabby Princess). Matt is at the viewing platform of the Eiffel Tower in this one (sigh).
Matt finishes term 2 today, hopefully will be germ free next term, where he has to start deciding what to do for HSC - all happening very quickly now.

Curtin goes to Hollywood

pre show excitment...
interviewing Logan (above) and a dancing Tweety - Meaghan and Minnie - Gala (below)

The year 5/6's put on a performance last night as well as a couple of matinees earlier in the week. The kids threw everything had at it, and it was wonderful to see them all. Meaghan was part of the paparazzi, who 'interviewed' the stars as they waltzed down the red carpet. She also did a dance with a tweety bird mask later in the show.
The boys did a dance to Greased Lightning, which would never have happened in my day, but was one of the highlights of the night.
Mary Pitt did a wonderful job pulling it all together, such a good thing for all the kids to be involved in.

Hermes bags

For those of us who prefer not to spend enormous amounts of money on a posh bag then Hermes has set up a neat little cut and paste to make your own tiny paper versions. So guess how I spent my morning? (The answer having nothing to do with housework). Anyway was quite pleased with the results, they would make cute little gift bags as well. The link is here. They even have a plain version to decorate as you want.
Having spent a few minutes browsing their site it is well worth a look, they have gone to a lot of effort, love the leather glove cutting demonstration, and the illustrations for the little folding bag - all good fun.

Presents for Louise

Finally we had another birthday to celebrate. It has been a long while since the girls went out to tea, although it is now once a month until the end of the year - hooray. June is Louise's turn, so a good excuse to make a couple of items I have been wanting to have a go at.
The button flowers are from a Kim Archer @home class, very quick at look great, the notebooks are moleskines (which I love to just pick up and wish I had any talent at drawing) with some scrap tags and rubons, also quick and look effective.
Jo's birthday next and the big unmentionable 40 is coming to town, although the rest (except our Fiona) of us have all crossed that bridge (with some style I think).

Nan and Pop visit

Last week Mum and Dad came from Mulwala to visit, a rare occurrence in winter. I suspect (know) that it was to watch Henry at Auskick, Dad being an Aussie rules addict. Dad was a very talented footballer in his days and hopes the talent is passed on somewhere along the track. Henry was a very good pupil and listened intently to all Poppy's instructions. They had a game at Auskick which involves all the kids but probably less than half of the kids actually touch the ball (Henry being one of these). Henry is far more interested in dancing and attempting cartwheels than taking on the big kids. Luckily he has a ball doing this and is quite happy just to run for the hour.
They also finally got to watch Meaghan play tennis. Every time they have come previously it rained, this time was a close call, just freezing cold in the end.
All the kids get thoroughly spoilt by Nan and Pop when they come, although this time Henry's bed collapsed the day before they arrived so Meaghan had to give up her bed, fairly unamused. It all ended well though and Meaghan is getting a new bed tomorrow.