From us to you ..

From my monkeys to yours, and from me to you

Have a wonderful Christmas with those close to you.

We love a bit of drama at our house ..

And what 4 year old doesn't? Just trying to take a pic of Maya in her skirt made from the "Making Children's Clothes" book by Emma Hardy! This skirt came together very quickly (or it would if I had the chance to make it in more than 10 minute blocks ...) It has a little gathered pocket and a red velvet trim with a small bow that can't really be seen on the pic. Cute for handing out the doves to the carers at creche today.

At lunchtime Kane and Maya went to Matt's nursery to let Smiley go. Smiley was a tadpole that the children in Maya's room at creche looked after for months, and he is now a little tree frog. He has been released into one of the wetland ponds at the nursery to live with the other tree frogs. Frog happiness.

Welcome to the flock ... Ruby Grace

Welcome, our new niece Ruby Grace who was born this morning, only 3 days late - a record! Congratulations Chris and Jonty and big sisters Harmony and Jada xxxx

And 12 doves finished for Maya's creche carers. Doves designed by Rosalie Quinlan and great for scraps!

Joy..

Joy! My secret santa swap has arrived from the USA. My secret santa is Teresa who made this beautiful stitched ornament for me, all wrapped in the fabric you can see behind it. Thanks Teresa and Elf Chookyblue for this swap. The present for Christmas day has been hidden away from temptation .. Thank you!

Today has been busy with the last day of school. I've been to the big church service and walked a looooong way from the closest car park to hear Callum sing and Kane narrate. Nice work boys!

Yesterday was the school fair that supports the schools sponsorship of two overseas children. I think Ayden went just to show off to his old teachers how tall he is now. Callum and Kane managed to buy themselves two cans of softdrink each before I got there and were buzzing all night.

I took Maya and Ayden into the "real job" office at lunch time today so they can see this baby fruit bat who is being fostered by one of the staff from our Melbourne Office. It's 7 weeks old and drank from a bottle. The kids were pretty impressed.

I'm hoping to make something this weekend a book, Making Children's Clothes by Emma Fell. Beautiful. I bought it here so cheaply with free postage to Australia.

I am a sewing machine ...

The Santa bags for Callum and Kane's teachers are finished. Santa stitchery designed by Bronwyn Hayes of Red Brolly. Just the right size for a box of chocolate. Teachers like chocolate don't they?

Around the Block - December blocks for Sheridan finished. Sheridan sent out such a great mix of fabrics in greys and greens with the them of "boxy" blocks using lots of squares.

A pile of mending was done too.

This is all pretty surprising as the weekend has been packed. Santa arrived at the creche picnic in a vintage car this year!

Kris Kringles..

Last night was out-for-dinner-and-drinks for the Wednesday night stitchers who usually meet at Annie's place.

I only managed to hear that I needed a Kris Kringle present on Monday night, so there was some frantic stitching going on here, and some lunchtime and after work quick, quick machine-ing.

This little bag showing a stitchery by Rosalie Quinlan Designs, and some of Rosalie's very cute fabric too might pop up in someone's blog...

Lucky me. I picked out Kathryn's gift, a whole honeybun of "Sweet" fabric. I've got idea's already!

Doves for Christmas?

The boys have been asking me when I am going to start making bags to give to their teachers. Actually I have started them, but I thought I would try these doves from Rosalie Quinlan's new book, "A stitch in time"

Maybe I will keep going with the bags for the boys teachers, but make a dove for each of Maya's carers at creche. They were pretty easy to make, and I used bag batting in the wings and attached them with a button so that the wings can be positioned, and embroidered the eyes, because, well, I have no black beads. Nice to use what I have at home.

Friday is for flying ...

Things have improved a bit since the last post. Ayden had his first flying lesson today! So exciting.

This week Ayden also had to appeal at school to skip Year 11 Geography and go into Yr 12. A process that had to involve his English teacher, History teacher, House teacher and Head of Geography to support him to the Head of Senior School. A big process that occurred unfortunately as Ayden missed the required B+ in English by 3 marks. All sorted though. Tough school.

A secret project is finished... this part of it anyway.

And, please visit Corrie at Retro Mummy to enter the giveaway for fat quarters of Rosalie Quinlans new line of fabric. If I won't win it, maybe you will! Beautiful. So is the giveaway at Bianca's!