December daily - 13 to 19

I was really organised with my December Daily journal - I finished all the pages before we left for Melbourne and took some glue, scissors and a pen with me with every intention of finishing it off but, it never left my suitcase!

I am almost done now though - I just have to get my last few days of photos printed.

But here's Dec 13-19 which are (almost) done!

Dec 13 - carols by candlelight in the local park

Dec 14 - making Kris Kringle presents

Dec 15 and 16a - Christmas parties (15 still needs a photo)

Dec 16b and 17 - Christmas feast and presents for my sister

Dec 18 - a leisurely night at home and Dec 17 - picnic in the park - also awaiting a photo.

I've really enjoyed doing this little journal, it certainly helped make Christmas a little more special. I can't wait to finish it off this weekend.

Spoilt

I was very lucky this Christmas - some of my favourite presents were:

Karen Martini's second book - Cooking at home - from my parents. I think I am going to love this one as much as I loved the first one - I've been home for 4 nights and already cooked 2 meals from it!

A gift voucher from my in-laws...

for Patchwork on Central Park!

I used it to get some gorgeous Japenese fairytale fabric and Amy Butler's pattern for Gumdrop pillows.

I also got the book "The Art of Happiness" by the Delai Lama - from my brother-in-law and his wife, and a Sydney/Melbourne 'Taste' voucher from my sister and her boyfriend which can be used at a number of restaraunts, bars and cafes.

And somehow, I also got 5 blocks of chocolate! 3 different varieties of Lindt and 2 fruit and nut...

See - seriously spoilt!!

Home again, home again...

Why do car trips always seem so much longer on the way home? We drove home to Sydney yesterday from Melbourne, and after dinner and a glass of red it was lovely to get into my own bed again. We picked up Sampson today from his holiday at the cattery and he is incredibly smoochy - it has been lovely!

And now I'm finally settling in for some late afternoon sewing... just what I need to relax after a busy, but wonderful time away.

I forgot to upload these photos before I went away, but these are the presents I sent to Emily for Chookyblue's SSCS.

This sweet bag was designed by Leanne Beasley

And this little angel was from a pattern in Homespun (and of course, I can't find the issue right now because I am looking for it!)

And of course I had to make one for myself too

SSCS gift

My SSCS presents came from Marica in Sweden. I must say, I have been very spoilt! Marica made 2 beautiful Christmas stockings and also sent a Tilda stitchery and threads and a bundle of Christmas fabric too.

Aren't these stockings gorgeous? They match so many of my other handmade decorations too.

The stockings are wonderfully made. And Marica's hand stitching is beautiful - so tiny and perfect!

And the Tilda stitchery - I squeeled with delight when I opened the package because you can't find these in Australia (at least, not that I know of). The design and threads are very much in the style I love - absolutely perfect!

Here's a (bad!) picture of the back of the pack showing the stitchery design. It is so pretty...

Thankyou so so much Marica! I feel so lucky that you have made these for me, and all the extras - the stitchery, threads and the fabrics - were so very generous of you. I can't thank you enough for your generosity and the happiness these presents have brought me.

I think I will be smiling for days!

From my little family to yours...

These photos are from the amazing SSCS presents that I received from Marica - I am overwhelmed by her generosity and am so grateful for all the work she has put into these presents - more photos to come soon!

last minute rush...

There's been some furious last minute sewing here the past two nights...




I made this skirt last weekend (a Make it Perfect pattern) and have just finished adjusting the ties so I can wear it to the cricket on boxing day (I remembered to shorten the skirt length but not the ties - doh!). And I finally figured out what to make for my little cousins - little appliqued t-shirts! I just bought some plain coloured t-shirts and then free motion appliqued some little pics on the front of them - so simple.

A sunbonnet sue for Bonnie...

A butterfly for Yasmeen...

A bee for Belle...

Ladybirds for Lily...

And a sad kitten who went off to the cattery today for his Christmas holiday.

Tomorrow we are up early for a ROAD TRIP (!) to Melbourne for Christmas with family and friends.

The joy of giving...

Giving. With no expectation of anything in return. Not even a thankyou.



This year we decided that we had to re-evaluate our reasons for giving Christmas presents. Last year I was very disheartened when one of the presents I had spent some time putting together was barely even unwrapped before being placed aside. I had to prompt the recipient to continue opening the packaging because there was more in there that they hadn't even gotten to.

Afterwards, I started to think about why I had given this person a present in the first place.
Was it because I felt I had to?
Or because I wanted a thankyou and a present in return?
Or because I wanted to give them something nice that they would enjoy?

I realised it was a bit of all three. I felt I had to buy them a present, and I expected at least a thankyou in return, but the effort I went to putting the present together was because I wanted to ensure it was something they would enjoy.

So this year I have decided that the frustration and even resentment that I felt after observing their response to my present was not worth it. And so this Christmas we are giving presents simply because we want to. For the simple pleasure of giving. In the knowledge that we have spent time thinking about what each person would like and enjoy. And I'm not going to give the presents that I have felt that I have to give. This year, the only presents I will be giving are the ones I want to give. And I don't expect anything in return.


I don't for one second think that it will be as easy as that. If I am faced with a situation similar to last years, I'm sure I will get frustrated. But I hope to be able to quickly remind myself of my motives, and then move on.

And so today I began my giving. Another pointy kitty went looking for a home today in Inner West Sydney as part of the Toy Society Worldwide Christmas drop. I was drop #36 and the last time I checked there was over 50 drops reported. All those toys being dropped in the hope that someone will rescue them, and knowing that you may never know what happened to them or even hear from the recipient. But I did it because I wanted to. And I hope someone gets as much joy from Miss pointy kitty as I have.

Last minute Christmas pressies - Cookies for Santa

I prepared some Kris Kringle presents last night for todays work Christmas picnic. I saw the idea first on Bakerella and then a Christmas version on Make it Do. I think it's a great idea and much nicer than a box of chocolates. The first time I did it, I put the sugar on top of the M&Ms like the others have, but it fell through, so this time I played it safe and put the sugar nearer the bottom. Unfortunately I couldn't find only red and green M&Ms, even the Christmas packs were filled with all colours, but I put in regular size and minis. These only took me 15 mins to put together which was a bonus. I hope the recipient likes them.

December daily update

I've been trying hard to stay up to date with my December daily album and I am really enjoying it! My scrapbooking isn't too elaborate, but I am happy with the way it is turning out.

I do wish I had my own printer though - it would make things so much easier!

The tree on Dec 4 is made from a brown satin ribon, some olive green ribbon and felt. I really like the different textures and want to try to incorporate more ribbons, trims and fabric into my pages.

Dec 10 is still waiting on a photo of my new red shoes that I bought to wear with my new dress on Christmas day.

Dec 12, which I put together this morning is definitely my favourite page so far. I'm not sure if you can tell in these photos, but Sampson has been sleeping with his head on my SSCS presents!

As you can see, I finally found some rings to bind my album. I had been searching for "binder rings", but I found out they are actually called "book rings". As soon as I changed my google search I was able to find loads of them.

This week I really have to start putting some Christmas presents together. I haven't even worked out what to make for three of my four little cousins, let alone started on anything. Although I am leaning towards making them each a kidlet, as I know from last time I made one, it was simple and quick to put together.

This week I have a couple of Christmas parties to go to, including a lunch for our research group at Aria. I am seriously excited - I have been wanting to eat there for a while, so it will be nice to do so when someone else is picking up the bill!

And tonight we are off to the local Carols by Candlelight. The Salvation army band played some carols in our street on Wednesday night which was a lovely warm-up for tonight.

It is definitely starting to feel like Christmas...!

Sunday stash & December daily

The range "Feedsack Melody" is the new fabric in my stash. One of my close friends is pregnant with her first child and knowing that we have quite different tastes, I asked her to choose the fabrics for a quilt.

Not my usual style or colours, but I do love these sweet birdsI've also made a start on my December daily album. However I still can't find any rings to bind my album. I've tried Officeworks plus K-mart and Target and also Lincraft... Does anyone know where I can find them?I'm not limiting my entries to Christmas, but documenting the 25 days... although I suspect the vast majority will be about Christmas!!

SSCS handmade ornaments

I woke this morning to hear that the parcel I sent to the US for Chookyblue's SSCS had been recieved!

I made presents for Emily, including these 2 ornaments which she has already put on her Christmas tree! If you head to he blog, she has lots of gorgeous handmade goodies on her tree, so I hope these fit right in.

I have had to borrow these photos from Emily's blog (sorry!) because I didn't take any photos of the ornaments I sent without the other presents in the background - oops!

I hope you like them Emily!

PS - the pattern for the gingerbread man can be found here - they are super quick to make, and would be a great last minute present.

SSCS presents received!

Look what arrived on my doorstep yesterday - all the way from Sweden! My presents from Chookyblue's Christmas swap!

Marica is my secret santa (got to love return addresses!) and she made me this lovely ornament with a beaded tassle on the end! Thanks Marica! I've put it up with the first of our Christmas cards that also arrived yesterday.

I can't wait to open the others on Christmas morning!

wrapped and sent

My pressies for Chookyblue's SSCS have been sent... I wonder where they are headed?!!

Now it's time to get onto my December Daily journal. I've set up my stuff on the kitchen table which I plan to take over for the next month. My poor husband, he thinks it is just for tonight...!

And make sure you pop on over to the gorgeous Retromummy blog - where Corrie is having a giveaway!