Last Christmas (post).

Well. This will probably be my last post for a bit. Really looking forward to Christmas and New Year and can't wait to do some sewing on the new machine. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season...and here's a Free Book THURSDAY. I'm afraid you won't get it in time for Christmas but here's the deal:

Be the first to post: I WANT THIS BOOK!
Email me an postal address to spindle2@tpg.com.au
I'll mail book to (UK, Asia, US, Australia, Europe) for free.

HO,HO,HO.

White (lie) Christmas

This little winter scene looks nothing like what's really beyond the front door. As the days heat up, the hills behind our house quickly turn from apple green to the colour of almost burnt toast. The local CFA (Country Fire Assoc) is having regular drills - the foreboding siren wails early on Saturday mornings and there's lots of talk about "the worst summer yet"...although people say that every year.

Getting very excited about Christmas now. Shopping is all done but for some strange reason I feel like going into town and checking out Myer windows. I love being organised but there's something thrilling about that crazy mad dash into town - glassy eyed shoppers swarming from shop to shop looking for the very last ipod mini.

Last night we "encouraged" Toby (the best dog in the world) to try on his special Christmas Bell collar! He hates it passionately but he looked so cute. Why do we make the one's we love look ridiculous? Cause it's fun!

eMore Loveliness

It's here! Ever since I spotted this one over at Molly Chicken...I've been waiting for it to arrive. These books are difficult to track down in Australia so I thought I'd share my contact ... if you're interested the lovely Keina Loy at keina_loy@charter.net is quick and reliable & uses paypal.

Christmas Baking

Hmmm. Nothing like a house smelling of ginger and cinnamon. I've been baking my head off with varying degrees of success. I burnt the first batch - something I do every year. The second batch ran out the door while I wasn't looking - then my icing "skills" failed me. No. I wasn't drinking...but probably should have been. Oh well.

Sewing Up Christmas

Last week was a spinning vortex of stuff: life, work, making things, seeing people. Here are a few edited highlights:

Driving Lesson No.4: Did five Three Point Turns and managed not to mount the curb. Still no mention of me driving with anyone other than my instructor. Ahem...any day now, I'm sure.

Bear Two bought me a Sewing Machine for Christmas! I'm so thrilled.

Friday night we tackled a mega shopping complex in search of a Janome store. The shop assistant was very helpful. Her first question was "What do you want to sew?". My reply was something like "I don't know. I want to make cards, more toys - but with clothes and sort of crazy stuff, but with strange stitching. I want to sew fabric onto things: like paper....".
"Righhhhhhhhhht". The computer machines looked snappy but I was scared off by all the bells and whistles. In the end I test drove about five machines and picked a sturdy, no nonsense machine with a front loading bobbin. I'm going take advantage of a few free lessons - then I will UNLEASH myself onto the motorised craft world.
Friday night I actually dreamt about sewing...mad!

Modest christmas tree is up but I couldn't resist creating a Woodland Creature Christmas on the mantlepiece as seen in the December issue of Martha Stewart Living. It's quite strange really; outside it boiling hot, crackling sun bearing down on our little house, while inside polar bears roam and elk ponder a fir tree. Photos soon.

Still making Robins. Molly Chicken's tutorial is great. I made three on the train this morning.

Here is the cover of a wonderful book: WINTER by Aoi Huber-Kono. Deceptively sparse, beautifully illustrated - it's one of my favorites.

PS More pics soon.

The Birds

Just wanted to thank MOLLY CHICKEN for her wonderful bird pattern. So much fun to make. Here are my two. I love their slightly stunned look...

CraftSwap

This is what I made for my CraftSwap person who lives in Canada. Hope she likes it. I made another Denyse Schmidt cat and I called her Kylie because I made her while I was watching a Kylie Minogue concert on TV. You can't see it very well but Kylie Cat is sporting a very ShowGirl glass beaded collar!

Okay, okay. I can't fib. My sister made the lovely draw-string bag on my Mum's sewing machine. Thanks Gel.