OK, I will open it then.

Conversation with the kids late this afternoon.

Mum, is that parcel for you?

Yes.

Can we open it?

No. (while trying to act nonchalant...) It's nothing, I'm going to open it later.

While the kids settle down to play their new favourite game, Cluedo, I grab the parcel and the camera and sneak up stairs...to rip it open!!!!!

I have never seen such an assortment of wonderful, pretty, useful and beautiful things.

All of them are all those adjectives!!

Thank you to:

Suzanne for the headband

Sarah for the diary/pen holder

Natasha for the tissue holder

Bec for the ipod/phone/tea bag cosy

Danielle for the zippered purse

Sophie for the brooch

Kat for the make-up purse

Monica for the woollen chain

Kylie for the hair tie travel case and the clips

Leah for the knitted wash cloth

I love everything!! You ladies are very clever and generous!!

A big thank you to Cass for organising this great swap.

Are we allowed...

to open our swap package??

Apple picking.

We went apple picking here on the weekend.

It was muddy and rainy and cold, but we had a great time stomping and munching our way through the orchards.

We picked 22kg of Granny Smith and Sundowner apples to take home, as well as the ones we ate while picking. Fresh apples are so unbelievably juicy and heavy. YUMMO!!

We have made muffins, cakes (the one above is particularly yummy with it's sunken cinnamon covered apple slices), tart tartine (inspired by Masterchef) and of course baby food for our little man who will soon be starting solids.

Ready for posting and a new list.

Mail Swap letters all done and ready for posting.

Well a postcard was all this 6 year old boy could manage, but he did really well getting all 5 done.

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I managed to make the scarf and one bib from last Monday's to-do list. Not too bad.

New list for this week:

2+ bibs for Baby Ben

Print photos and make a collage to go in the large black frames I bought from Ikea a few weeks ago.

Happy things.

A sweet big sister with a sleeping baby on her lap.

A pile of books from a newly discovered library, including the one about boys I have been told I should read.

And something finished off my to-do list.

A scarf for Sarah.

Yes, it is a bit wide for her tiny frame, but it is finished!!!

It is backed in pinky/purple fake fur and is very soft and cosy.

Any hint of itchiness or scratchiness near a childs neck, and you know they will never wear it!!

Swap fun!!

I have joined in another fun swap.

The Button Swap over at The Adventures of Wondermommy.

Signups close today!!

Monday to-do list.

In an attempt to try and up my actual crafting, I am going to make a weekly to-do list on Mondays, and hopefully by the end of the weekend I will have done everything (or at least something), on it.

This week:

3+ bibs for my very chucky baby. Most of the shop bought ones I have are pathetic, and not absorbent at all. The other day when I had to stop in the carpark of a certain Pennant Hills Fabric Shop to feed Ben (he was screaming his head off!), I just had to pop in and buy some thick towelling material (among other things), so that should be perfect for the job.

Kid's scarf for Sarah because she keeps wearing mine and is certain to lose/ruin it. I have seen some cute ones here, here and here.

Mail Swap Crafting

S and J were very excited to receive their mail swap partners this week. They will be writing to kids in Australia, Norway, USA, Canada and New Zealand.

Sarah decided she would make cards and had a great time crafting yesterday.

Where do you find the time?

Over lunch today with the lovely Pippi (who came bearing thrifted goodies which I will blog about later), we were discssuing where people find the time to do such creative things, and also blog about them.

We have kids, they have kids. What are we doing wrong?

Do they stay up really late at night? Do their kids sleep for hours each day? Do their husbands help around the house to give them more free time? Do they have nannies, maids, or other domestic help?

I suspect the answer to most of these is, no. So what are they doing that we aren't?

Pippi and I would love to know when you find/make/steal time to do your crafting.

Please, let us in on the secret.

Yay for Dr Jan!!!

On Saturday I had the absolute pleasure of watching my Mum graduate with her PhD.

It was so exciting to see her publicly recognised for so many years of hard work and study.


She was nervous, the rest of us just enjoyed basking in a bit of her glory. The party afterwards was a roaring success, and beautifully catered by my clever sisiter Lisa.

Well done Mum, you are an ispiration to all your daughters, and your 12 grandchildren. We love you and think you are awesome.

You can read a little bit more about Dr Jan here.

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Snailblazer swap items have been finished, wrapped, posted and received by Cass.

Can't wait to see what everyone has made.

Almost!

I almost managed a photo where everyone is smiling, looking at the camera and wearing vomit free, yet co-ordinating, clothes.

almost.

Hats and grumpy babies.

This was me the other night while Dave was in Adelaide, trying to cook dinner with a grumpy baby in the sling. I always wear an apron over the top so he doesn't get splashed, (and so my Babyhawk doesn't get dirty!!)

He looks really impressed, hey.

Today I made a few baby hats using the things I bought at the oppy the other day. I used 2 of the striped t-shirts and this dress.

The dress is big enough for at least 2 hats, and maybe a pair of comfy baby pants too.

These are so simple to make. A bit of applique would be cute and jazz them up at bit don't you think?

This quilt was bought for me by the wonderful Pippi at her local Op-Shop. It is so soft and well worn, and is fully of pretty pastel blocks. I am not sure where in my house it is going to live yet. Possibly at the foot of my bed, along with my other great find from a while ago.

Thanks Pippi.

And a few recent thrifty finds of my own.

This retro apron.

And these pretty doilies and bookmark.

And if your kids are anything like mine and love to write and receive mail, sign them up for pigeon pair's 'KID"S MAIL SWAP' . It looks like a lot of fun and you don't even need a blog to play along.

OK, I am off to try and finish my swap items before my inlaws take over my sewing space on Wednesday.