Grateful Day 10

Grateful for the challenge of making something new and making someone happy. Wish I'd had a nappy bag like this. This person deserves so much happiness and I hope this year turns out to be all that she hopes for.

Grateful Day 9

Sunday afternoon ice cream vans that deliver the drippiest ice cream ever. I still get excited when I here Greensleves.

Grateful Day 8

This is really yesterday's post but my badly behaved Internet connection wouldn't play nicely. I'm grateful for not the clock (even thought it is cute) but for time. It always seems as if there isn't enough, too much, time goes to fast or it goes to slow. In the end it is just what it is. Enjoy it!

Grateful Day 7

I'm grateful that this chick lives at my house. Her name is Lisa and she was handcrafted by the super talented Made by Maisie. Will lovely dolls, toys and clothes of this nature still be around in the future with the CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act)? I admit I don't know very much about all the issues related to CPSIA. There is a cool post here and another here. I hope there is a solution for all the sellers of handmade children's items in the near future.

There is a swing horse that is under my Mum's house. It was built by the builder who built her Mother and Father's house in Wilston in the 1930's out of scraps left over from the house. This horse has been loved and ridden on by three generations and I'm sure there will be future generations who enjoy it just as much. That's true handmade product testing.

Grateful Day 6

I'm grateful to have these pair of shoes. I'm not really a shoe girl - more a handbag one, fancy that. These are my favourite pair of shoes. They are so comfortable and a little funky. So do you live in Brisbane and are looking for a great pair of shoes? Go and check out Children of the Revolution in Adelaide St. Unreal service and such a fab range of great quality, unique comfortable shoes that last (which is great if like me you don't buy many).

Grateful Day 5

I'm grateful that my girls can see materials as one thing and make them into another. Some of you who do know my little etsy shop know I have a love for Pippijoe's Orchard fabric. When I cut this fabric, I try to use every bit I possibly can. I hate throwing away even the smallest bit. The artwork on this fabric is so unique and engaging it seems such a shame for any of it to go to waste. Recently I did have to cut these small strips to fit the pattern square on a bag. Well they were pounced on by Little Moo. I think she has been just waiting to get her hands on some. So with much excitement with her treasured gift she busily set about creating wrist bands with the left overs and good old Velcro. Sweet. Apparently they even have special powers or so says Little Moo. I wonder if that includes getting children to brush their teeth and eat their vegetables?

Grateful Day 4

Of course back to school. Grateful I caught their funny, cheesy grins. Missed the noise and the chatter but they caught up on all of that as they came in the door. Happy back to school for all the kids and of course all the Mums and Dads.

Grateful Day 3

This little guy came and sat on my deck this morning. What could be nicer on Australia Day. He was even polite enough to sit there while I went and changed my lens so I could get a closer shot. Happy Australia Day everyone. I am grateful that I live in this great country, with such beautiful wildlife.

Grateful Day 2

Today I was grateful to wake up to a wet, rainy morning. It has been so dry that the grass was crackling. This was what it looked like standing on my front veranda. The rain has stopped now but I do hope there is a little more to come (it makes for good sewing weather).

Ho Hum

School holidays are nearly over. I am not a happy camper when getting all the back to school crapola ready. I really should have home schooled the girls except for the fact that a: I am severely lacking in the patience department b: I do have to earn some money from an outside income c: fabric shopping, hanging out at the library, swimming and the likes doesn't count as a full education. The theory of it all is very cool but I know the reality of my limitations.

I know I should be positive and embrace the back to school thing but I am a little over it all. Honestly there has been over 60 books between them! OMG when are they going to bring in laptops for every child and save the likes of me from impending doom under a pile of brown paper and revolting contact. It's not to much to ask is it? Just think of all the trees. Maybe they could go all retro and go back to using a slate. I did have dreams of being well behaved and neatly decorating all their books but now they will have to be happy with their name printed on them.

I thought I would be clever and use so of the wrapping paper that came in an issue of Frankie for my eldest in year 6 to cover some of her note pads. But oops when I had the books all covered I realised that the pictures may be a little inappropriate for the year six preteen age group as the girls on the wrapping paper all have their nipples drawn in. I can see all the giggles and blushing now. Oh bugger it, I'm sure I'll get called to the principals office if there is a problem. I should except the fact that I'm not clever and trying to be is really a recipe for disaster.

The one true bit of coolness I did find in this whole back to school shmozal is these very, very fab free Aunty Cookie bags tags. Go check them out here.

So as part of my minor grumps I've decided it is time to start my 365 days of grateful. Above is my picture for today. I am utterly grateful that I only have this box left to complete of my torture. I promise the next picture will be something much more interesting.

Very Exciting News

I have been so very fortunate through etsy, BrisStyle and blogging to meet some of the most wonderful people, be given some amazing support and I have been exposed to some great opportunities. One extraordinary opportunity I have been given is from the new website Style Collective. This site is just amazing and I'm sure to spend quite a wee while exploring all the great stuff that is on offer here. The amount of work that would of gone into this would have been phenomenal.

You can read my interview here. You can also find me in the Indie Shopping Directory. You will also find a few other BrisStylers there such as Made by Miffy and Ogekko. There are some other wonderful etsy shops in the directory and well worth the time to explore.

Thanks For The Smiles

Thank you for all your lovely comments on my give away post. I came home to three over tired very cranky and just more than a wee bit naughty girls last night. To top it off I had a bit of a crap day at work. So thank you all for putting a smile on my face . Much appreciated. I'm currently having a disagreement with my sewing machine so I'm hoping that a warm cup of tea and some nice company on the crafty blog scene will fix all my woes.

These pictures are of my littlest. They were taken down at the local creek when we were catching tadpoles. They had so much fun. I was sitting a fair distance away with the zoom on so I could catch the excitement and the giggles. These photos are some of my favourite. Looking at them again reminds me that the girls can be so much fun and the grumps do pass.

Take Me Home - GIVE AWAY

In the spirit of all things lovely and nice in the crafty blogosphere here is my first give away. She's a simple tote bag made with a soft red stripped stretchy denim. Inside is lined with a crisp white cotton. The front of the bag features a pocket made from Kokka's Doll fabric. There is a small magnetic clasp in the facing at the top.

I will be drawing a winner randomly on the 23rd of October 2008. All you have to do to be eligible for the draw is to leave a comment about what made you smile today - hopefully something you are grateful for. Please make sure I can contact you through a link when you comment just in case the winner is you.

Ok what made me smile today was a crazy dog I saw when I went to pick up my groceries. He was having a lovely roll in something that was probably very smelly while the poor girl walking him was trying in vain to pull him away. I was grateful that I have one dog who is to lazy to go for a walk and another who is to manic to take out in public because I am sure one of them would of done exactly the same to me.

Grateful

In the latest issue of Frankie I was thoroughly intrigued by the "365 grateful" article. The article featured photographer Hailey Bartholomew's Polaroid photos that she takes everyday of what she is grateful for. Her 365 Day's a Grateful pictures can be found here as well as others from the group. Definitely beautiful viewing and well worth a peek.

I would love to try this kind of project and it is definitely on my list of things to do. I know there is plenty of inspiration out there. Maybe just adding some of by gratefulness to my blog would be at least a start. In the spirit of Blogtoberfest, I am most grateful to the most lovely Big Cat's Emporium for hosting such a fun event. I'm am very much a Blogtoberfest wall flower (story of my life) and I love to sit back at watch and listen. Through Blogtoberfest I am very much grateful to find the following wonderful crafty blogs:

Sparkly Green Knickers (how could you not love a blog with such a fantastic name!)

Poppy Lane

Snailblazer

Leni and Rose