getting into the spirit . . .

Greetings all,

It's really time to get festive & if i've forgotten anything, i don't care, i'm not going anywhere today!!  That said my husband is at the Fresh Food Markets in Belconnen getting vegetables as not ALL  our favourite vendors did last night's Farmer's Market, like the potato bloke, so he's allowed to do some potato shopping!!

Just because i'm not religious, i don't skip the superficial fun of this time of year.  For us it really is about family & presents.  I look at Christmas as an opportunity to stop & reflect on the year, how lucky we are & extra fun ways to show each other how much we love one another. 

So i've lit the frankincense & myrrh candles from Erica, thanks honey!!

 Hung the last of the handmade ornaments (this is from Kim from A Little Bird Told Me) & her gorgeous felt brooches were a hit with the teachers at school as gifts!! 

 Kitchen counter is 'a go' for food preparation, gosh i love wanky organic counter sprays, they make cleaning the kitchen counter over & over & over again a little less torture & smell delicious.

 What's not to love about a random birdie garland??

 What's all this about then, hmmmm??  No kidding, not staged, this is ACTUALLY how i found the reindeer today.  Those 'softie' bullies really didn't like the wooden imposter & well, broken antler, left on the ground & they're all pretending not to notice??  Damn, not the hot glue gun again??

 Yippee, my collection of Babushkas has grown, a couple of extras thanks to Bord & Butik in Alaska, love you Heidi!!

 The children have made their name place cards for the dining table.

 I'm in a 'nothing is going to spoil my joy' kind of mood.

 What is with this Santa, is he under arrest??

 While the children play with their gifts tomorrow, my husband & i can plant some lavender. 

 Let's not forget tomorrow is a big day for these two blokes!!

Merry Christmas to you all, 'tis the season for happiness whatever you believe.  I just believe in family, fun, friends & stopping to appreciate what you have or how you can make things better in your world. 
RightyO, best sign off, husband is home with potatoes & some surprises for our feast.  Just we 6 here in Canberra tomorrow, will be peaceful & fun, i love it.  We'll see our extended million family members in the next week, but this is all about us, lucky to have our handsome soldier home & relaxing this year.  Tomorrow we're having a bit of an Italian spin on our Christmas feast, i can't wait, will be so delicious!!  Love Posie
PS if you're new to this blog, welcome & hello . . . if you want to enjoy some giveaways while i take a little break, both current giveaways are open until the new year so good luck, follow & comment to enter!!

handmade from the pages of a magazine . . .

Greetings all,
Running early & carefree this morning, i almost left a face print on the glass door of the Post Office as i vigorously attempted to push it open, not seeing the "sorry we're closed" sign on said door at 9.05a.m.  Hmmm . . . i wasted some time at the bakery & newsagency before attempting the Post Office again.  So glad i did as i treated myself to the Inside Out magazine Christmas issue.  I really want to nail a good handmade Christmas wreath for the front door this year, voila, inspiration (read: styles i can totally copy).

 the beautiful cover didn't disappoint

 ahhh, whimiscal version of an advent calendar

 pretty garlands, i'm working on my own style

 & the wreaths!!

Did you read the words on that first page "if you make your own decorations they have soul & meaning & can become family treasures" . . . lovely sentiment.  I've been making these fabric penny wheels with a silver jingle bell for Shop Handmade & markets, tie to a tree with red & white twine.  Even my handsome soldier muttered "are you making these for our tree too??"  He likes!!  & yes, i will, plus birds of course!!

 I've not answered many magazine shoot call outs this year, kind of busy without a husband for 9 months so just not a priority.  But when Shop 4 Kids was doing a handmade child feature, i couldn't resist.  So i'm sending some bird bunting & a mix match baby wrap, lined with Tshirt jersey for a pram blanket.

As a mathematician & spatial person, i find it unnatural to piece patchwork together that isn't lined up precisely & completely orderly, planned, um . . . perfect, so this was a little experiment into a direction i'd like to try over Summer for next Autumn's quilts . . . it was liberating!!
Ok, after making this wrap last night (machine pieced with hand stitched edges) i got an order for a robot one at Shop Handmade today!!  So finishing that one off right now.  Love Posie