My Ta-da Post - The "Lucy" Bag!

I am crazy in love with the beautiful crochet goodness over at Attic 24.  Being the lovely person she clearly is, she also has some wonderful tutorials so that you too can create some of your own beautiful things.

I became a little obsessed with her crochet bag tutorial and after a visit to Spotlight at Christmas netted me some lovely colourful balls of wool for only a $1 each I was all set.  As per her advice I also used her tutorial to crochet some flowers to stitch onto the handles so they cover my messy joins. 

I give you... my version, mistakes and all.  What shall hereby be called, the "Lucy"!

Point and Shoot: Tantrum Central

Friday afternoon, 28th January, Venus Bay Skate Bowl

Two year olds little girls live in a whole other world... one where they are in charge and should be allowed to do whatever they want, whatever their big brothers do, especially things that their mummy might deem to be unsafe.  Like, perhaps, scooting around the lip of the skate park.  Without a helmet on.

When these tantys happen at home she would normally hang her head down near her feet and scream as if being murdered.  In this case though, the pavement was a little warm and I think as it started burning her forehead, she realised that squatting and screaming was just as effective.

And how do we stop these ear-splitting scream fests?

We give in! 

Which is perhaps why the tantrum is such an effective behaviour for her in the first place.  You'd think by the third one I would have realised this!

Join in with Point and Shoot over at FatMumSlim.

We're all going on a.... summer holiday...

(lovely image from here)

We are off to the beach for five days today.... with no internet access!  How on earth will I cope?  And because I'm with a particular phone company whose service can be somewhat patchy, no mobile phone either!

Instead, I am laden down with books, magazines, crochet, bathers, boogy boards, bikes, scooters, towels, board games, picnic baskets, textas, 3 children & 1 husband....oh, and I may have squeezed in my ipod just in case I get some time to wander along that beach on my own!

Point and Shoot: Nostalgia

Sunday morning, playing with my old Fisher Price School House.

I'm not sure how old this might be but since I remember playing with it myself as a small person, I'm guessing about 30.  I loved it then and someone else loves it now! - especially the little slide, swings and roundabout!  Can you see the teacher still sitting at her little desk on the foldout blackboard?  And the bell on top of the school house - it sill rings!  Just wish I had more of the people that go with it.  If you have any that you want to part with I'd be very willing to purchase them!

Saturday morning, Weight Watchers Meeting

After literally having to dust off my sneakers I decided it was time to sign back up this weekend.  I'm a lifetime member and it's been a great program to use for each of those post baby periods.  This time I have no baby as an excuse... just too much Christmas and New Year.  It's a new program so I'm just feeling my way with it this week but we'll see how we go.  I was very entertained by the leader at this particular group making us all stand up at the end to follow her in some lovely chants full of such useful advice such as, "Little pickers wear big knickers," and "Pass the lips, onto the hips." 

Join in with other lovely Point + Shoot -ers with FatMumSlim.

This week I'm grateful for... the countdown to school starting!

This week I have to admit I have struggled with the small people.  I have not been a good mummy and mixed with a little bit of of PMT, there have been many and varied bouts of yelling and screaming from everyone big and small.  My favourite today was from my 6 year old - 'You're the worst mummy I've ever had!' - because I would not let him play games on my iphone!  Truly a heinous crime! 

So this week, I am grateful for the fact that school, swimming, kinder and creche are starting up in about 2 weeks.  We operate so much better with schedules and routines and I think the airy-fairyness of lingering in our pjs, meandering about the house and unpacking every toy on the shelf has well and truly worn off.

What are you grateful for this week?  Join in with Maxabella loves...

Also, on a more serious note the auctions for the Queensland Flood Relief end on Monday - so don't forget to put your bid in.  Click on the links below to see my goodies.

Auction 1

Auction 2

Auction 3

Wordless Wednesday: Crochet Bunting

Join in with other Wordless Wednesday's at Faith, Hope & a whole lotta love.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Point + Shoot: Dare me and I'll do it!

Today, just hanging around at the local playground!

This is my friend's little girl Zoe who is a Monkey with a capital M on the bars!  Watch me, she says, bet you cant do this!  Actually, yes I can!  At 35, I've still got it baby!

Now I've got you here - would you like to bid on an online auction to raise funds for the QLD Flood Appeal?  I am running three here - one, two, three (number 3 is my favourite, kinda wishing I could bid and win my own auction!) - and you can find loads more over this way.  All money raised goes directly to the Premier's Flood Relief Appeal.

Oh, and you can check out other people who've joined in with Point + Shoot over here with FatMumSlim.

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QLD Flood Relief Auction 3: Cute Collection

 Cute Collection

 Long sleeve t in size one with sock monkeys

Tank top in size one with cupcake

 Size 1 Pinafore dress

 3 sets of gorgeous hairclips

Sweet birdy decoration

Set of 3 paper bird canvas

Size 10 canvas shoes with some gorgeous bedazzled hearts on the toe

9 square granny rug, perfect for a sweet baby doll 

Birdy hairband decorated with a small wooden bird 

Birdy hairclip holder

What a beautiful collection of lovely handmade things made by some of my wonderful friends and myself (the crochet-ed rug is by me!).

How this auction works:

1.  Bidding will start at $30 (Australian).
2.  You can place a bid by leaving a comment on this blog post with your bid amount and email address.  Please make sure that your bid is higher than the previous bidder.  
3.  Your bid must be in whole dollar increments.
4.  This auction is Australian residents only.  Postage is FREE.
5.  The auction begins NOW and will END at midnight on Monday 24th January 2011.

6.  At the close of the auction, I will contact the winner (please make sure your bid comment includes your email address).  The winner will pay the winning amount directly into the Premier's Flood Relief Appeal and send proof of payment via email.  Once proof of payment has been received, your items will be posted to you.

7.  Thankyou for participating and happy bidding!



QLD Flood Relief Auction 2 - Baby Pack

Gorgeous Baby Pack

includes:

 Beautiful handknitted baby bonnet suitable for

baby 9-12months, 100% wool

One pair of baby socks, 12-24months with added ribbon embellishment

Made by Penni



One gorgeous cashmere/silk bonnet suitable for baby 9-12 months
Pink Paper bag bonnet - pull the knitted string to create a warm baby bonnet
Made by Lise

 00 baby bodysuit embellished with sweet material, matching bib and posset cloth
Made by Shelly

Large bib, small bib and posset cloth in beautiful bird design

Made by Shelly

How this auction works:

1.  Bidding will start at $30 (Australian).
2.  You can place a bid by leaving a comment on this blog post with your bid amount and email address.  Please make sure that your bid is higher than the previous bidder.  
3.  Your bid must be in whole dollar increments.
4.  This auction is Australian residents only.  Postage is FREE.
5.  The auction begins NOW and will END at midnight on Monday 24th January 2011.

6.  At the close of the auction, I will contact the winner (please make sure your bid comment includes your email address).  The winner will pay the winning amount directly into the Premier's Flood Relief Appeal and send proof of payment via email.  Once proof of payment has been received, your items will be posted to you.

7.  Thankyou for participating and happy bidding!



QLD Flood Relief Auction 1 - Coathanger and Card Pack

17 Gorgeous Handmade Cards for a range of occasions

+ 10 Beautifully Decorated Coathangers

Made by my lovely friend Kerryn, these cards are perfect to have in your present cupboard!  How many times have you had to race out out the last minute to buy a card for that birthday or wedding you've forgotten about?  All cards come with an appropriately sized envelope.

The beautiful coathangers, also made by Kerryn, are perfect to hang your gorgeous dresses and other lovely items from.  Made from a range of cotton blends, your dress wont slip off your hanger like it does with the standard wire ones!

How this auction works:

1.  Bidding will start at $10 (Australian).
2.  You can place a bid by leaving a comment on this blog post with your bid amount and email address.  Please make sure that your bid is higher than the previous bidder.  
3.  Your bid must be in whole dollar increments.
4.  This auction is Australian residents only.  Postage is FREE.
5.  The auction begins NOW and will END at midnight on Monday 24th January 2011.

6.  At the close of the auction, I will contact the winner (please make sure your bid comment includes your email address).  The winner will pay the winning amount directly into the Premier's Flood Relief Appeal and send proof of payment via email.  Once proof of payment has been received, your items will be posted to you.

7.  Thankyou for participating and happy bidding!

This week I'm grateful for... Lust!

Ok, so I know this is a completely shallow and pointless grateful post and truly there are some wonderful things I am grateful for this week, especially several friends of mine who have donated some of their lovely handmade goods for me to auction for the Queensland Flood Appeal Auctions.

But after spying these bathers in one of the Saturday morning papers I had to share them here as well.  Lust, pure and simple is coursing through my veins for a pair of these bathers - I dont mind which set, because I don't really have the body for public swimming.  I think I'd just hang them on the wall and glory in the granny square print loveliness!

images and items available for purchase over this way

Join in with other grateful posts with Maxabella loves...

Free Printables

Image and other free printable posters from Make it Perfect

Given how revolting the weather has been everywhere I thought I'd create my own 'sunshine' with this lovely image!  How sweet is it?  You can print this and other lovely wordy images over at Toni's make it perfect blog.

Toni is the lovely lady who has started off the QLD Flood Appeal Auctions.  My auction will go up (hopefully!!!) on Sunday night.  I am very excited as a few of my friends and family have donated some of their own crafty goodness which, with my doll's granny square rug, I will be auctioning off together.  Please make sure you pop back on Sunday night (or perhaps Monday) and bid.

Crochet Bunting Love

Image and tutorial over this way

Image and pattern available for purchase from here

Image and tutorial over here

Image and tutorial right here

image and tutorial right this way

(I have to say that this is one of my favourites!)

image and tutorial from just here

(I like this one for how it's all nicely crocheted together!)

and lordy, how sweet is this one!  Image and an easy tutorial right here

and look how sweetly this one has flowers, pom-poms, beads... so, so pretty!  Image from here

I am sure there are many more of these beautiful buntings.  Feel free to add a link in your comment.

Wordless Wednesday

Join in with Wordless Wednesday here

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

QLD Flood Relief Auctions

I've just added this button to my blog.  I think you should too so we can spread the word.  Can you make something for the auction?  I'm willing to give it a try - although it wont be all that 'professional' I think.  Maybe I can make a wee dolly granny square rug - that only takes 9 squares?!

Here's one I prepared earlier.  Would anyone be willing to bid on something like this?

Thinking about others...

image

This week I have been reading a lot about Lori and the tragedy that has occured this week for her and her family.  I have been astounded by the outpouring of love and support that people have been sending her through their blogs, people that may not have even met her in real life, but feel like they know her anyway through her Random Ramblings. 

Please send your thoughts to Lori.  You can light a candle for her over here.

Point and Shoot: Date Night

Midnightish, Saturday, January 8th.  Slightly drunk, self portrait, iphone shot.

So we escaped this weekend without our children - left them with my sister overnight for the first time ever.  It's taken us this long to do because all of our immediate family live in Tassie and most of our friends in Melbourne have small people themselves so I dont feel it's fair to ask them to have three extra ones for the night. 

I cannot tell you how much fun it was!  At breakfast this morning we worked out that we had not had breakfast on our own, together since before Oscar was born - 6 and half years ago!  We strolled round shops, bought some cheap bathers from Big W so we could swim in the hotel pool, had a spa bath in our room (!!), had a really yummy dinner at this teeny tiny Italian restuarant, managed to sleep in this morning, got the papers delivered to our room and then ate a huge big breakfast before heading home!

All in all, I can highly recommend date nights!

Join in with Point + Shoot with FatMumSlim

This Saturday I'm grateful for...

.... sisters and nieces who have flown in for the week to bond with my children so that I can leave them tonight and go out on an overnight (!!!!!) date with my husband!

Happy 10th Wedding Anniversary

10 years ago today, Darren and I got married!  I have just been going through our wedding photos and my one thought is, gosh we looked young..... and thin!  We'd only been in Melbourne for a year or two so we flew back to Tassie for our wedding with family and friends and then spent 10 days in New Zealand for our honeymoon, bungy jumping and getting food poisoning sooooo bad, Darren thought he was dying! 

10 years later, we have made a sweet little family with our 3 babies, Oscar, Isaac and Matilda.  And on Saturday night, Darren and I are leaving them for the first time ever and going out on a proper date which we haven't had in years.  New dress, new shoes (hello red patent peep toes!!!), dinner and a hotel in the city for the night.

Happy Anniversary Honey!   

My Husbands Mistress

Wordless Wednesday

Join in with Wordless Wednesday over here at Faith Hope & a whole lotta love.

My One-Large-Granny-Square Baby Blanket!

So, this is heading for a new wee baby who is yet to be born! We dont know if it's a girl or a boy yet so I had to go with some a-sexual colours. The red is a nice deep colour and the blue is almost purple. You can see that the only model I could find at this hour of the night was Matilda's wee Cabbage Patch posing in the Baby Bjorn pram. I must direct you to this fabulous ladies blog, Attic24. I have used her wonderful tutorial on how to edge a granny blanket using that lovely scallop look which you can find here. I wasn't sure how big it should be so I just kept crocheting until I was a happy with it.

What do you think? Like the colour? Should it be bigger do you think?