Swap Goodness

The Postie had been working hard over at Snailblazer's swap and I was lucky enough to receive my swap package with some really lovely loot all for me.

And it's not even my birthday.

In my Package I received
Some lovely bird cards from Jo
A cute Headband and fabric flower from Suzanne
A useful tissue holder from Natasha
A handy phone cosy from Bec
A zippered purse from Danielle
A funky yellow broach from Sophie
A make up purse from Kat
A Hanging Chain from Monica
A Birdy Hair Tie Travel Case with some lovely hair clips from Kylie
A knitted wash cloth from Leah

A really fun swap which I would be keen on doing again.

Thanks to Cass for organising such a fantastic swap. And I really love my poem envelope titled
Sarah's Poem
There was a mouse
Lived in my house
I said: 'For Heaven's sake!
Your squeaky talk
And tapping walk
Are keeping me awake.'

The mouse stopped dead
And turned it's head
It said: 'I beg your pardon!
I'd rather freeze
On a piece of cheese
Than move into your garden.........well it stops short I would love to have read more but it was rather cute.

Excuse me now I'm off to get another tissue from my tissue holder, if only i could roll up in bed and not get out.

Threads - Not from my sewing table!

"Mummy I have worms in my......" I am sure you can fill in the blank.
Since Easter we have had Croup, Ear infections, colds and then thread worms (and that is only one child) - what more I thought.
After treating the whole family and madly washing everything in the house - including all surfaces they came back 2 days later. How long has she had these things - no wonder every 5 minutes we heard "Mummy I'm hungry".
Well with strict handwashing and a retreatment I am hoping the only threads I find are the ones on my sewing table which do not move.

Book Review: Handle with Care - Jodi Picoult

Handle with Care Jodi Picoult's latest novel is about a family struggling to afford the cost of raising a child with brittle bone disease (OI) and the decision to file a lawsuit against their obstetrician (a close family friend) for wrongful birth. Picoult allows the reader to empathise with each character and as a parent can feel for all parties involved.

Handle with Care was an easy read filled with emotion, relationship struggles, questioning and ended with an unexpected turn left me feeling sort of incomplete and not ready to move onto another book just yet. However the unexpected ending was fresh and not predictable like so many others.

I have read all 16 of Picoult's novels and again enjoyed this book with similar style yet not repetitive. I especially loved the recipes added to the book a clever way of separating segments and inspiration to get ionto the kitchen.

Birthday Sewing

I have been busy sewing a birthday gift for my 2 year old niece Kayla- I decided to go with a cooking theme and make up a reversible apron and bandanna and led into a pot holder and mitten and to top it off a table setting for 4 - placemats, coasters and napkin sets. I am very please with the resultThe colours came together using the pink floral print (a fat quarter I had in my stash) I decided not to add a pocket to the floral side as it made it too busy. I quilted the blue spot to make the pot holder and mit. And needed to add some pink spot to make enough pink floral to make the bandanna. All the fabric came from my stash but I will definately be going out to replace my spots.

The table cloth has purple spots and will tie into a second apron and chefs hat for my other niece Sophie (Kayla's sister) who's favourite colour is of course purple and who's birthday is next month.

I hope they will both be cooking up a storm in thier new kitchen ware.

Sneak Peak

I have eagerly joined a Snailblazer Swap with the criteria of making 10 of something handmade. The dilemma was in what to make and then getting in and making them.

I decided to go with something that has been on my list of things to make for ME! Using some of my favorite fabrics stashed away for that perfect project.

Of Course I can not show you the finished project as that would ruin the surprise!

Packed and sent off I eagerly await my return parcel of 10 handmade items made by some extraordinary bloggers/crafters - see Snailblazers blog roll to see who is swapping.

Crazy Hair Day

Miranda Loved having Crazy Hair for Cheerleading.
I had done Bronte's the day before in 4 sections and as I was doing Miranda's in the before school rush decided dissected the 4 into 8. I was pretty happy with the result.

Happy Days Are.....

Holidays! Holidays Are Happy Days.

We are lucky enough to have a holiday house available to us on the lovely South Coast of NSW.

This holiday was cold, windy but filled with the natural wildlife.

The Girls new beanies I made the day before heading off -using Simplicity Pattern 3534 were well worn
We saw Dolphins Galore on our dolphin cruise on Jervis Bay

A baby Kookaburra visiting our back porch for breakfast

A Kangaroo family -mum, dad and joey in the front yard (and yes Kangaroos do jump down the street here)And many sea gulls all fighting for the next chip - I could have bought many bags of them just to watch Miranda's delight at feeding the sea gulls it was magical.

In Ulludulla Harbourand HusskissonGetting their feet wet in Ulludulla Harbour was as close as we came to swimming these holidays

Instead enjoying walks along the basin down the road from our house.

To end the holiday we stopped at Gerringong for an Ice Cream with T-Rex and a roll down the hill.
Free Plug - If you think our holiday looks fun why not take your family! The house is available to rent year round at an affordable rate, If you mention my blog you may get a discount?