This crafter is not crafting!

Confession time is upon me and I must let it be known, I don't get around to crafting as often as I'd like.

There's such contentment and relaxation in making things.....when things are going swimmingly that is! 

Sadly I have not had the time lately and I'm cranky when I can't get a bit of crafty down time. 

However, when I do get a moment I will be getting my craft on with Pip  

There are loads of great inspiring ideas in Make Hey

So that's what I shall do.......

Make Hey while the sun shines!

December draws near

2011 is heading its close, which gets me thinking....... CHRISTMAS!!!!!

I had a bit of downtime yesterday to look at a few things for inspiration, gift ideas and to all round get the Christmas vibe flowing. 

                             First I looked here and found 

Happy little gift boxes

                                 Photo gift blocks by these guys

super gift idea

Are you in the Christmas zone yet??

2011- Does it really have to be called "The Year of the Rabbit?"

Look at that! How quickly did Christmas and New Year roll around? It felt like a whirlwind blew through. So much so, that I can't bring myself to take the Christmas tree down yet.

Let's get on to The Year of the Rabbit. During the Christmas blur, M,14, 13, 11 &  I were having a BBQ with the NT friends. There was a rather traumatic incident with our friends big dog and our pet Rabbits. Score being Dog 1, Rabbit 0. So there is a slight painful association with the Chinese Year of the Rabbit at ours.However,

we have enjoyed a lovely time catching up with family and friends over the festive season.

These things were awesome:

•  A visit here 
•  Celebrating my sister's birthday
•  Cousins sleep over
•  Romantic 2 day child-free getaway to Melbourne
•  Exploring Piper St, Kyneton (ah child- freeee!)
•  AWESOME presents ( I DID get Pip's new book,thanks to Fine & Sunny
  
•  Time to myself to begin an embroidery project from my book 
•  Beautiful food and wine
•  Finding a gorgeous pair of shoes here that fit my big    feet YAY!
•  Painting at Caledonia St (I made a great team leader)
•  Driving home with 14 as my DJ, the same Hip Hop song 16 times made us laugh alot

So I guess The Year of the Rabbit isn't so bad after all......

Christmas Craziness

So it's nearly here. Don't you just love the "Are you organised for Christmas?" question. It seems to be the only time of year when complete strangers express concern for the level of our organisation. To avoid a twenty minute conversation about the complete lack of anything remotely like organisation going on in my life, I reply rather meekly and politely  that it's "Going well, thank you for enquiring."
The honest truth would actually sound a little like this.  Wellllll.............The kids have some presents, the marvellous M has possibly far too many, the dining room is my work area with a wrapping, stamping and tag writing station as well as many works in progress...The cute as bunting for a favourite boy, a key thingy for a workmate, a pair of jeans that need urgent repair for a friend.  I still haven't unpacked from the Craft Up @ Artback, I have yet to bag up hair accessories for my neice and I am constantly trying to keep all things Christmas away from Pierre and The Baby. Add to the list planned drinks and catch ups, a Christmas party, 2 night duties, friends in town from Alice Springs and we are going away in 4 days!
I have managed to only experience one major meltdown.........o.k two meltdown's this week. 
Meltdown #1- A little background on the lead up to paint the picture; I have started a tradition (which is important to me that I maintain as I am particularly inconsistent with stuff at times) of MAKING each family member an individualised Bon-Bon to snap open at Christmas lunch.  Finding appropriate things to fit inside a cardboard tube the size of a toilet roll is not that easy.  Anyhow I have eveyone's BB gifts sorted, that correct amount of cracker pulls, crepe paper, printed labels etcetera.  That is until.......an early morning phonecall from the host of Christmas Lunch.....my wonderful Mother in Law (sincerely & honestly) to say she had a few orphans joining us for lunch, possibly 6!!
There was a small 3 way conversation between M , the MIL and I about adding extra BB's for the newly aquired guests and going to one of the many $2 shops around to source extra BB's.
Ten minutes later I found myself sobbing in the bath, crying big salty tears into the bubbles and blubbering that I go to so much effort...BLAH, BLAH, BLAH! I ended up having a shower to calm down and  sleeping for 3 hours after my tantrum. 
Note: The catalyst for my irrational thinking and behaviour may have been due to a sleep depravation. Sleeping 3 hours in 48 is far from recommended.


My amazing MIL and I spoke yesterday, she was calling to say the orphans had been promptly re-accommodated to Christmas lunch elsewhere and she was hoping "we" were Ok.  I informed her I was delerious, irrational, hormonal and wanted to punch my own head in! 

I think most of us need a disclaimer at some time or another in December don't we?
My brain hurts too much after re-living that to write about meltdown #2, another time....maybe.

Craftin' it up before Chrissy

I have been meaning to get a plethora of crafting done prior to Christmas, however I seem to be chasing my tail. So I have found the ultimate solution, get everyone together and have fun while we work on our To Make Lists. Invitations are open to other likeminds who also need to get their stuff happening.  So we will be celebrating our craftiness, making some handmade lovelies to gift all while we eat, drink and be merry. 

This would not be possible without the sheer kindness of the lady herself, Anne Hederics at ArtBack in Wentworth. So pack the project, pop in the car and join in.

New Camera

Christmas day 2009 was one that I was a little reluctant about, to say the least. This was the first Christmas day that I would not have the kids around, which made me want to avoid the world for fear of falling to bits. I booked myself in to work Christmas eve with my shift finishing at 7am. I simply wanted to sleep through the majority of the day to make it easier.

I had not made any firm plans for lunch or dinner despite offers aplenty. Sorted!

Then disaster! My shift was cancelled last minute ruining my master plan.

M and I went to our Christmas drinks and then spent a relaxing evening at home... just the two of us. I was secretly wondering how the following day would pan out now. 

When we woke on Christmas morning we had a leisurely breakfast and slowly opened presents. I have to admit I love looking at un-opened presents, it apeals to my inner child so much so that I don't want to open them as the surprise will be gone. I savoured each parcel taking my time. When I opened this particular gift I was stunned.... a fantastic Nikon Digital SLR  that I had been coveting for an eternity. My sweetheart is a great present buyer but truly excelled this time, it was the exact camera I had been wishing for. So instead of looking pouty all morning I was stalking the cats, setting up the tripod and losing myself in my new toy. This is one of the shots I captured that morning, Pierre looking adorable. Merry Christmas indeed!