Linaloo

A message to Daddy on his birthday

 

200

I know this space has been a little quiet around here for a while and I'm not sure that there's any particular reason other than I haven't really felt in the mood lately. And now I feel rather school-girlishly self conscious posting which, in turn, is annoying me immensely, after all, it's my blog and this is my 200th post.

Are you still following?!

In all seriousness, thank you for reading and commenting here, I'm truly touched by your kindness and words of encouragement.

Here's hoping my blogging mojo comes back soon...

Sweet and Simple

I've not pressured myself to make handmade for everyone this year, but I have made good use of craft show leftovers for teacher gifts. Where we live, it is not uncommon for parents to be very generous with either cash or gift vouchers and I really don't want to compete. So we've opted for simple instead. An appliqued artsy clutch filled with a few different luxury sachets of hot chocolate and chai latte (for the cold mornings in the playground) and a small note from the children to wish them a happy holiday.

Anyhow, I'm catching a plane in a few hours (yay!), so here's wishing you all a very happy holiday season. I'll be back in 2009!

I N S P I R A T I O N G I V E A W A Y

In the spirit of Sew Mama Sew's giveaway day, if you would like to win this little prize consisting of an artsy clutch (of which I've made several this year as an alternative to gift wrap) and a set of four, hand embroidered coasters, please read how to enter below and I will draw a winner on Monday 8th December.

To make things a little more interesting, your comment MUST include a crafty challenge for me to complete after Christmas, whether it be quilting, sewing, knitting or something else - feel free to add links to tutorials or examples. Please note that I will pick a random winner (not simply the idea I like best!) and will complete the challenge by the end of February! Go on, inspire me!

Finally, if the winner is outside of North America I will do my best to get this little package to you by Christmas, but unfortunately cannot guarantee it will make it on time.

Updated 4th December. Woah! I had quite a shock when I logged on to my email yesterday evening! As a result, I'll be changing the time of the draw to midnight EST tonight!

Out of my league

Minor crisis averted when Batman decided he really needed to be Scooby Doo at the eleventh hour - thanks to a friend with a spare costume at the ready. A Dorothy dress (which, by the way, involved humming Somewhere Over the Rainbow the whole time whilst I made it) and Batman cape are within my capabilities, Scooby Doo's clearly way out of my league.

Happy Halloween!

Waste not want not

As always, I'm still on the repurposing, recycling, upcyclying, call-it-what-you-will bandwagon and made some of these last night.

Baubles from last year's Christmas cards. I just need to find some festive ribbon or baker's twine for hanging.

Originally these were inspired by last year's UK Christmas issue of Country Living received in a swap, but there's also a tutorial here. My circles were made with a punch and after a whole hour of head scratching about how to accurately draw an equalateral triangle within a circle, I gave up and eyeballed it. Easy peasy - done in 15 minutes!

Happy Thanksgiving

It's Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada and general elections on Tuesday. See, Canadians are so low key you probably weren't aware of either of those facts. A fellow Montrealer, the uber cool, Claudia and I had a little swap of acorn caps from my oak tree in exchange for fabric scraps and leather straps (more on that in another post).

Among other things she sent some cute little squirrel fabric with which I immediately whipped up these, to match my new placemats perfectly.

I don't think I'll ever tire of making coasters. Which may be a good thing as I have somewhat foolishly agreed to sell stuff at a craft fair next month for charity.

Happy weekend all!

PS I still haven't sorted that banner issue, apparently Typepad are on the case.

Thank you

So I just realised that I've passed my 1 year blogging birthday and although I have had to step back a bit more of late, I love that I have a full year of entries to look back on. I love that when I think I haven't been very productive that I can click on the handmade photo button (on the right) and realise how much I have actually managed to create in this past year.  The last thing I actually made on my sewing machine was this little project which I can finally reveal - as it reached its destination safely.

I also wanted to let you know, that although I'm not committing myself to a giveaway to celebrate the passing of the year (I hope you'll understand) that I thank each and everyone of you for dropping by and taking the time to comment, especially as I have been pretty lame in the commenting and replying department recently. Many of you feel like firm friends and I'm so glad to have met you all. 

So (ahem) she asks shyly - anyone fancy a shopping trip to London in December?  Only 3 months 'til I return!!!

Relief

It' s been a pivotal week in my brief experience of being a parent.  One off to a new daycare and the other starting kindergarten.  I've had a knot in the pit of my stomach for weeks worrying about how it was all going to work out, and, as the anticipation finally subsided this week, the feeling of relief is palpable in our house. I knew everything would be just fine but I still couldn't help worrying about every possible minor detail until it finally all happened. 

On a lighter note, I received my doll quilt from my partner, Xena, all the way from down under on Friday.  Isn't it cute? 

 And look at all the lovely goodies it came with! 

Thanks Xena!

FOUR

Happy birthday little man.

You are your own person.Today you insisted, despite your gregarious nature and sunny disposition, that you wanted no party.  Instead swimming and ice cream cake with your family were the only things on your agenda. 

You melt my heart. Last night when I kissed you goodnight I said "this is the last time I'll kiss my three year old", you looked at me worried and said, " will you kiss me when I'm four ?".