my piece...

Piece by Wendy Hill..

I treated myself to this gorgeous Wendy Hill dress for Christmas.  It arrived yesterday morning just in time for our paella party!!  I couldn't wait to put it on & I imagine it is going to get a whole lot more wear this summer time..

Wendy makes the most beautiful 'pieces' for ladies & kids, pop on over to her blog and take a look at her shop full of good things!  Thank you Wendy Hill, I adore it!

it's christmas time...

It's an emotional time, always, every year..

I feel so much pride in my beautifully growing boys..

relief that the year is coming to an end, holidays are almost upon us..

anxious about their upcoming year, new teachers & classmates..

sadness that all my babies are about to be school boys..

joy and excitement at the thought of spending time with family & friends..

a bit scared about what happens next for this stay at home mumma..

grateful, forever grateful for this life that I live by the sea with this incredible man that I love..

I wish you all a most wonderful, happy & safe Christmas time, and very much look forward to catching up with you all in the new year...

MERRY CHRISTMAS DEAR FRIENDS!!

xmas accessorising...

 getting into the spirit with festive accessories this xmas season.. 

this ones a custom order, but I'm thinking I might need one too..

 as a little girl I used to love planning my Christmas day outfit..

and it seems nothing has changed..

champagne, good friends, happy kids, pretty outfits &
  smooth sounding carols,

what's not to love!

xmas gifting...

gift wrapping today...

& making deliveries, keeping it simple but sweet...

I feel like Christmas has quite suddenly appeared out of nowhere!  I've been so busy trying to keep up with everyday 'stuff', keeping on top of school & kinder calendars that I haven't really had time to take it all in.

I love this time of year, the craziness, the buzz in the air.  I plan to complete everything on the Christmas 'to do' list today & start enjoying this festive season, beginning this weekend where..wait for this...

OUR CALENDAR IS COMPLETELY EMPTY!! 

Unheard of a week before Christmas, but thank goodness. Happy weekend to you all...x

guest blogger wish list...

I'm super excited to be guest blogger over on the madeit gift guide today!!  Pop over and take a look at all those gorgeous good things..

feeling very lucky...

 and a little bit loved..

I've been doing my xmas shopping online & was very excited to receive a package I ordered from the very clever Wendy with a pressie for my niece (which I can't show, just incase..), but to my surprise & utter joy, I also received this gorgeous keyring just for me!
I cried a tiny bit when I saw it, I just feel so lucky to know these wonderful blogging friends, who do such sweet things just because...

I adore it Wendy, thank you so much!

If you haven't already, you really must pop on over to Wendy's blog, always a fun read & her online store Always Greener is full of beautiful things..

my place & yours..festive cheer

our festive cheer is all about the lights!  Fairy lights all over the place, I just love it! 

and the tree, of course! It's such fun putting it up with Christmas music caroling in the background...

christmas cards are strung up like a garland & gradually fill the mantle, handmade decorations from school & kinder, are proudly displayed all around.  There are so many traditions that make the festive season so cheery & I love every single one.

  

Christmas is a fun, happy, busy & emotional time of year. The winding down & the ramping up, I reflect on the year gone by, my family & my blessings.  Love Christmas time...

Join in the festive cheer over at Vic's!

a little bit wilma...

more gifts finished...

 and one for me...

and even some in the shop..

I love this necklace, it reminds me a little bit of Wilma from the Flintstones & it feels so pretty to wear!  I'll be making more of these in my favourite colours for sure...

my creative space...

little crocheted baubles...

to pretty up our mantle this xmas...

I found myself at home alone yesterday..all day! So I fluffed about with the usual household chores & then settled myself on the couch for some quiet, uninterrupted crochet time. Sometimes that's all a girl needs to feel a little bit re-energised..

More creative spaces here..

the little things..

this morning our boys woke to find this note left by daddy, he's been travelling a bit of late and was dreading to have  to go again this morning..

 home for a day before going again, we made the most of the warm evening at the beach after school..

I love that he leaves these sweet notes, answering random questions asked by little ones half asleep, as he kisses them goodnight..

See you Friday beautiful man..x

love...

it's all about the love... 

we'll be trimming the tree this year with lots of our own handmade love... 

with a seemingly endless supply of doilies and scrap fabrics, I'm having lots of fun putting them to good use making new bits & pieces.. 

to pretty up our place...

I'm sure there'll come a day in this house full of boys, when all the prettiness will not be approved of, though for now it's linens & lace to my hearts content!

More Creative Spaces here...

loving lace...

a little rainy day creating... 

I'm completely in love with this pretty vintage lace garland!  There is something about the ruggedness of the twine teamed with dainty fabrics that just makes me smile, what a gorgeous combination..

You may remember a little while ago I used a thrifted table runner to make this soft & airy springtime scarf, there was still so much of it left that I decided to make some pretty Christmas garland too...

Our computer has been running impossibly slow of late. I've not been able to view anyone's pictures & commenting has been a bit tricky, so just so you know I'm still here, still catching up on your posts and hopefully back to contributing VERY soon!

my creative space...

some therapeutic creating this week...

 cutting up a thrifted table runner to make the prettiest doily brooches...

 I can't decide which one I like most...

I love how they've turned out & I do believe they will make lovely Christmas gifts for the teachers this year. I'll pop some in the shop soon too...

more creative spaces here...

my creative space...

I'm busily spending most days working on all my favourite things to fill the shop shelves...

garlands...

necklaces...

tags...

yesterday, though the kids had the day off school, our first hot day of the season, so we hit the beach... 

The perfect place to take a creative break...

visit more creative places here...

on the shelf...

YAY Vic, Thanks for bringing back an old favourite!  I'm playing along with Vic's My Place & Yours meme today. This weeks topic "On the shelf.." 

this is our spice cabinet made from a gorgeous old meat safe we picked up at a garage sale.  It sits on the kitchen bench & has two shelves full of spices.  We do hope to eventually have all the same jars, at the moment it's a bit hodge-podge, but I like it!  I love the old thrifted scales & the enamel dish on the top shelf, this little corner shelf makes me happy, not to mention the convenience of all our spices being so organised and accessible...

Pop on over here to join in My Place & yours...

my creative space...

..stitching some extra special touches to a thrifty find. 

I'm not one to wear black, I don't own many black items of clothing (3 to be exact), so when we were invited to a black & white wedding it threw me into a spin...

I went shopping for something to wear, and found the perfect dress, except that it was over $400...hhmmm, not in this lifetime!  In despair I was planning a trip into the city to find something when what d' you know, on a routine op-shop venture I stumble upon this... 

the perfect little black dress!! It fits beautifully, and the best bit....$8!! Yep, EIGHT!

I'm thinking I'll add some beading detail to the straps and/or hem, and perhaps I'll shout myself a new pair of shoes to set this little number off nicely... voila, outfit sorted!

I have to mention, Hubby is sighing with relief at the sheer skill of this thrifty Mrs!

More creative spaces here...

grateful for..make believe

the big boy has always had a brilliant imagination, we've had lots of special friends come live with us over the years.  Christopher Robin & the gang moved in with us when the boy was 2, they stayed for a very long time &  had very particular needs & requests over the years...

There was 'Clonsy', a very sweet little thing, he/she just blended right on in with the rest of the gang but didn't overstay his/her welcome...

When the big boy started kinder he told the teacher how I'd happily leave him at home in charge of his little brother's aged 2yrs & newborn while I did the grocery shopping and things...

In prep his teacher was fascinated by our transient lifestyle, travelling the country in a combie until we stopped here & bought the local fish 'n chip shop in town that we decided to live above, just for a little while until we're ready to go on travelling again...

There are loads more stories, probably more than I know.  I've had to explain myself to teachers and other kids parents on several occasions...

Now the big kid is 10, so I wasn't expecting it when one of the school teachers inquired about hubby's current assignment in Russia!  

We'll have a word to him about flat out lying to the teacher.  He has the wackiest sense of humor, and just quietly, I think it's hilarious & really very clever of him, the way he can make things up so randomly & tell these stories so well that people don't even consider it to be untrue.  I LOVE his imagination & on the plus side his teachers are always pretty impressed with his creative writing...

He did have plans on becoming a film director or movie producer one day, and he heard there's good money to be made in acting, perhaps he's just warming up...

more grateful posts over at Maxabella's..,.