Handmade Christmas Failure!!!!!!!!

My goal for this year was to have a 100% handmade christmas - well sadly its time to admit defeat. I had been living in denial for quite a while really - it is not going to happen. Maybe i am being unrealistic with my goal of 100% - i will think about this some more when i set my goal for next year. I have made some progress however and i am hopeful that everyone will get something that is handmade. So far all teachers and friends have been 100% made by me so thats something.



this is the one and only handmade thing the kids are getting and i am really disappointed in myself for not trying harder with them but i am finding myself a little lacking in inspiration this year - well theres always next year!!!

and a little extra - i made this little christmas hair clip for Delaney to wear in her hair - quite happy really - not only did I use my much underused embroidery machine but i also learnt a new technique so thats something.

gifts and graduations

first off - this is the gift for Tanner's much loved kindy teacher - Miss Angela. We all loved Miss Angela and i know Miss Angela loved Tanner just as much as he loved her. Angela is going home to England for Christmas so this was her gift - a hand knitted scarfette (pattern once again from the fabulous tikki ) and a notebook cover. After some devious digging by Darren we discovered her favourite colour was purple - hence the purple gifts :D

Tuesday was Tanners graduation from kindy as he is off to start prep next year :(. Personally i think he is too young but thats a whole other story. He was very proud of himself and I think is very slowly warming to the idea of school.

And this is the graduating class - you can't see Tanner - he is at the back but nevertheless he is in there :D

knitting

i have had this done for a while now but i have been a little bit blog neglectful of late so thought i would try and rectify the situation and post some recent craft action :D
This pattern is called Tropical Lily and you will find it over at http://tikkifabricaddict.blogspot.com/ and its free!!!!!!
Tikki has some of the best patterns around and are suitable for beginner knitters as well because they are so well written with plenty of instructions.
Delaney actually likes this too which is always an added bonus - she is not always fond of wearing my creations :(

Anyhoo i hope to be back later this weekend with some more things to show

photos

check them out

http://rachelrichter.com.au/blog/?p=4131

can't recommend Rachel highly enough - her work is amazing!!!!!!

this is what......

the baby monkey is up to - excuse the mess but as you can see he likes to empty cupboard and climb inside.

Yes he is a devil, crawling like a champion, cruising the furniture - he will be walking before we know it * sigh * growing up waaay too fast

skater boys

here are my 2 skater monkeys - just try and get them off those skateboards - I dare you! . Tanner is proudly wearing his latest favourite top - a hand dyed (by me) rainbow t-shirt - it has a little too much pink for his liking but it was my first attempt so he has been assured the next one will be less pink LOL




And Delaney and Macca Moo just because really - aren't they gorgeous!!!!!!!!!

happy birthday

Well Friday was my eldest boys birthday OMG where has the last 8 years gone. I can't believe how grown up he has become and also very scary to think in another 8 yrs he will be 16.

Happy 8th birthday Brierley James - we love you to bits


and a random pic of baby monkey - growing too fast - yes he can crawl and starting to sit - i think this one will be an early walker somehow

the winners are........

okay let me begin by saying a huge thankyou to all those who entered my first ever giveaway but also for all the lovely comments. I t has given me hope that one day i may actually do this and sell something.

Also a little surprise in honour of my particularly crappy day today I have decided to give all 3 sets away.

So 3 separate draws done the old fashioned way - names in a hat with the big girl herself drawing the names out

And here they are -


so we have Lesley with the pink set, blanicju with the purple and Romi Jade with the yellow, so lovely ladies i need you to contact me at nadine.smith71(at)gmail.com and i will send these little pressies off ASAP

Thanks again to all who participated and don't forget the big boy turns 8 next month so watch out for a boy giveaway coming soon :)

GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!

In celebration of my daughters 7th birthday we are having a giveaway. As i seem to have an abundance of all sorts of things that i make with the best of intentions I have decided to give some away instead of hoarding them away in the hope that one day I might start selling things. May my lack of confidence be your gain LOL

Anyway just post a comment telling me which set is your favourite for an entry into the draw, follow my blog for an additional entry and for a third and final entry simpy blog about this giveaway yourself and let me know.

Draw will close next Sunday 25th October

As next month it is my eldest sons birthday - I will try and dig up something for the boys so stay tuned people :)

Happy Birthday to you

my beautiful girl - Delaney Rose was 7 yesterday. OMG where has the time gone!!!! She is growing into a beautiful, charming talented amazing girl and if its possible we love her more all the time. She is such a joy to have around - if you can stand the constant chatter that is LOL.

Delaney chose to have her ears pierced as her birthday gift - well she chose this last year as well but chickened out at the last minute then, but this year she was as brave as they come. She is so proud of herself and we are too of course. So she is now sporting some swish new pink earrings.

Stay tuned because i am having a giveaway in honour of my big girls birthday very soon

giveaway

here http://blakeandboo.blogspot.com/2009/10/day-12-and-mystery-giveaway.html

well done Tam your blog is looking awesome

nappy sewing

As you can see I've been sewing nappies - it has been so long since i made a nappy and I am happy to say not only did I really enjoy it but my sewing ability has improved heaps.
There are still modifications and improvements to be done but I think I almost have a nappy that works perfectly for us - of course that doesn't mean I 'll stop buying other people's gorgeous work :)

Stay tuned for more sewing adventures still to come

Giveaway

check it out http://www.handmadekids.com.au/?p=2775

but don't feel obliged to enter - cos I'd really like to win this - Delaney's birthday is just around the corner :-D

happy half birthday

well its the smallest monkeys 1/2 birthday today and oh how we've grown. He is such a happy boy - such a joy to have in our lives and such a precious addition to our family. Never for one minute even in amongst the noise, chaos and mess do I regret the decision to have a 5th child. Boy it really makes you wonder where the time goes - the last 6 months has gone in the blink of an eye - scary really!!!!

HEEELLLLOOO spring

hello and welcome to my old friend SPRING. Its spring tomorrow but honestly I think spring has well and truly sprung early this year - my jasmine has been in flower and smelling devine for a couple of weeks now and as you can see so have the other plants in my garden. I can't believe its September already WOW. Christmas will be here before you know it.

And speaking of September - I think all cloth nappy people know what I am about to say - Its time once again for the Great Down Under Nappy Hunt (if you don't know what I am talking about check out http://www.diaperdecisions.com/pages/greatnappyhunt.php)
Thousands of us crazy people will be madly glued to our computers hunting for a little icon
So if I'm a little quiet for the next moth you know why.

Proud Mummy

my 2 school monkeys had their sports day on Thursday and what a great day it was. I had the day off work which was pretty good in itself but aside from that they made me proud my oldest monkeys did.
BJ won his first ever ribbon when he came first in his relay race and then followed that up with a third place in the longest ball toss competition. He was so proud of himself too which made it all worthwhile. He was however a little disappointed that he didn't do better in his individual running race but he came fourth and thats nothing to be sneezed at but I guess he is a typical male and never happy with what he has LOL.
Delaney won her individual running race just like last year and came a very close second in her relay. I hope she sticks with running because she has such a great relaxed style she is a pleasure to watch it seems as though she isn't trying at all.
And just for something different as their house colour is green I thought I would hand dye some white t- shirts. It worked out really well because in a sea of green they stood out and we could always tell where they were because no-one looked quite like them. A great day was had by all!!!

A week of firsts

I never thought I 'd see the day when a child of mine fell asleep in their highchair. Yes I 've seen it plenty of times on Funny Home videos but I really never thought it would happen with my high spirited children but lo and behold here it is Hudson asleep eating hot chips no less. Little did we know at the time it was the beginning of a week of sickness - of courses there had to be a logical explanation for such out of character behaviour

Macallums first experience with the jolly jumper - yes he loves it - so far all the boys have loved it. Delaney was the only one who has not enjoyed jumping

My first pair of socks are finished. Darren is kindly modelling one for me here. I would prefer them to be longer but I was limited by the amount of wool I had.

And this is getting to be a habit - putting in a random shot just because its so cute. How much do you think Tanner loves his brother?