The Great Snail Mail revolution

While browsing some of my favourite blogs last night, I came across this post and decided to join in. It just so happened that the closing date was midnight last night, perfect timing or what?

I love it when the postie brings something other than bills, and a care package from across the world would be thrilling!

Now to decide what to send my partner.....

Busyness

A big thanks to my button swap partner Casey for these buttons, ric rac, and fat 1/4 , they are great!!

A simple Steiner 'doll' I made for Ben after reading this great book about Waldorf-Steiner toys for babies.

A giant library tote I made at Monday's craft group, also doubles as a baby carrier (he is standing up, LOL!!). Good thing I double stitched all the seams.

And Ben is wearing one of the many bibs I have made him using the pattern in Bend the Rules, so easy.

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.

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.

Swap fun!!

I have joined in another fun swap.

The Button Swap over at The Adventures of Wondermommy.

Signups close today!!

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.

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.

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.

Room reveal and a sneak peek!

School holiday smiles.

Despite my cleaning and de-cluttering frenzy, the kids are having a great break from school.

That pile of stuff in the corner is no longer after our trip to IKEA on Saturday. We took the trailer and went to town!! That corner now has a floor to ceiling 'pantry' cupboard.
A place for little used appliances, bulk food (Dave always goes nuts when he goes to Aldi), lunch cooler bags, cartons of beer, soft drinks, and anything else that doesn't fit in the kitchen cupboards.



And here the colour of Sarah's room is revealed. In the morning sun it is almost flourescent!

Some curtains, and the pictures put back on the wall will help it look less green I'm sure.

It does look nice and fresh and clean though, and she really loves it so that is the main thing.

And lastly, a sneak peek of what I am making for the Snailblazer swap.

Secret Santa!!

This morning I was finally allowed to open the package that has been sitting on my desk for over a week, (driving the kids wild with curiosity). It was from my EB 'Secret Santa'.



It was full of lovely Christmas gifts including this gorgeous card, 3 felt blanket-stitched bookmarks (which the kids have already claimed, though I may steal one back if I can!!!),

a needlebook (very handy because I don't have one at all), a festive pincushion/ornament with a bell, a little bag full of cute buttons and some beautiful lime/chocolate ribbon.

And some yummy chocolates and a magazine to inspire.

Whew!! That was a lot!! Thanks so much to my Secret Santa, whoever you are, I hope you will reveal yourself at some stage. I love everything!!

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Below is what I sent to my SS recipient, I hope she likes it, and I REALLY hope the singlet fits her little boy because everytime I look at her blog he seems bigger!!