the most exciting Christmas Giveaway

Ive just entered the most exciting Christmas giveaway!
A family photo session with the amazingly talented Rachel Richter. Rachel is based in Brisbane, but is doing sessions on selected dates across the country next year...and yes, she is coming to Adelaide as well! Ive been seriously thinking about having some proffesional family portraits done, and if I could choose a photographer whos style I just adore, it would definately be either Rachel or the gorgeous Katie (jumping on that plane yet Katie????) hence my excitement about this. Both these girls manage to catch such natural and beautiful portraits of children and families...the images that you know you will cherish for a lifetime.
In true Christmas spirit Im spreading the word, because if I dont win it, I would be stoked if it was someone I knew that did!!! Go and get your entries in, you know you want to!!!!


Oh and did you notice the new little blog button in the side bar? Ive joined up with Cars Advent blog along - so you will be (hopefully) seeing a post a day from me - 1st - 24th Dec - sharing all that wonderful Christmasssy stuff!!! ahhhhhhhhh I love Christmas! If you want to join up too (the more the merryer!) just click on the button and it will take you to her blog.

food for the soul

As most Mums know, you really dont get much 'me time' when you have kids, especially preschoolers. The little thing that keeps me going is being able to grab a few moments to indulge in some creative pursuit. The last couple of days have had my heart singing with creativity :) Ive had a chance to indulge (all be it amoungst the chatter and chaos of the little ones) in my two current loves - sewing and photography.

Yesterday on our walk to pick up Isaac from kindy, Jazz and I popped into the local op shop. I was after a pillow case to make another little dress, but a cute polka dot skirt grabbed my attention as soon as I walked in. My mind started ticking over....surely it couldnt be too hard to turn a ladies skirt into a very cute little girls dress? With this aim in mind I found a second funky skirt and handed over my $4 (which included three more tupperware tumblers - gotta love a true op shop bargain!)

After a few hours fiddling around, designing, cutting, sewing, unpicking (LOL),
I turned this skirt...

into this pretty little dress...

complete with zip up back

and matching head band

and then I turned this skirt...

into this funky little number...

hehehehe, it reminds me of something out of an Austin Powers movie :)

Today I had the absolute pleasure of getting to take some photos of a gorgeous 38 1/2 week pregnant belly. Here are a couple of quick edits for you Nell.....

thank you so much for letting me take these for you...you really do have a beautiful pregnant glow about you, you look fantastic! I cant wait to meet your precious little one!

Four

To my little man
On Thursday you turned four, it really is a new phase in your life. You started pre entry at Kindy this term, its a two hour session on Monday mornings. You are really loving it. Its nice for you to finally have something just for you, and Im really enjoying being able to spend a little girly time with Jacinta. Next year you will go for two full days a week - and as peaceful as it is, Im sure I will miss your constant chatter, and the funny little conversations we have during our day.

Three was a rather challenging age, you are very head strong,and stubborn, and like to get your own way. You are also really helpful and a good little worker. You like to be kept busy. You really have seemed to settle down since you started kindy though. You are getting time to play with kids your own age, and learn age appropriate behaviours. Your kindy teachers are wonderful and Im really looking forward to being part of the kindy community again next year.

Its lovely that you are still into the things that other kindy kids enjoy, cars, trucks, sandpits, Thomas, Dora, pretend play, singing and stories. I was concerned that you would move past these things too quickly having two much older brothers, but you seem to have found your place and are quite happy to just be four!

We celebrated your birthday with a your choice of breakfast and dinner. Pancakes with strawberries for breakfast, and home made hanburgers for tea. I was planning on making you a birthday cake, but time got away from me, so I got a yummy chocolate cake from the bakery and Nathan personalised it with brightly coloured M&Ms. We your birthday The following day we went to the play cafe with Auntie vic, Georgia & Bailey, and Aunite Jode & Riley. We all had a fun morning!

We love you so much mate - enjoy being 4!!

Mummy xxx

congratulations to....

Angela :) Isaac did the lucky draw for me and you are the winner, please contact me with your postage details and I will get the dress in the mail to you.

angela said...
Oh lovely owl quilt. Is the very thing in scrapbooking papers this year. I just love the red.
The dress is so cute. You should sell them.

My little girl would look very cute in that dress too.

8:28 PM

DQS Opening Day and a Giveaway

Today was official opening day for the Dolls Quilt swap. This morning as soon as soon as Jazz and I were awake, I let her open it...We had to give some guidelines of likes/dislikes etc to help our swap partner with ideas - my only request was an actual dolls quilt (could be dolls quilt or wall hanging) which was predominantly pink and pretty.
Well I think Tania has nailed it. This is the first ever quilt she has made, and she did an awesome job. Thank you so much - Jazz and I think its just perfect.
I love the fabric selections, they are very prety, and the little matching pillow is so cute!

It got the seal of approval...the 'twins' got covered up and kissed goodnight straight away.


My swap partner was Esther (& Beth) After seeing her gorgeous quilts I was SO nervous about making a quilt for her, but I was pretty happy with the way it turned out. The piecing and quilting are a bit wonky in places, but I hope they dont mind too much! After all the sneek peeks Ive shared, here is the quilt I made....
front

back

I really enjoyed being part of this swap and hopefully will join in again next year! Now I have to put the thinking cap on and start making for a couple of Secret Santas Ive signed up for, and for my PIF. Thanks to the three ladies who have joined up for my PIF - please let me know your
postal details at some stage, so I can send a little crafty goodness your way sometime in the next year!

And to finish off Ive decided to have a little give away. The other day I made a little dress for Jacinta using this tutorial. Its made from a pretty sheet I picked up from the op shop and its beautifully soft and cool. Unfortunately she was asleep and I just guessed measurements and it turned out too big! I would say its about a size 2 - 3 dress (would probably fit up to a size 4 as a top)

Instead of trying to adjust this one, I made another one that fits her. So this one needs a new home. To enter into the givaway just leave a comment on this post. You can get an extra entry by blogging about and linkng this give away on your blog - just make sure you leave an extra comment letting me know! Will only post to Australian addresses. I will draw a winner on Monday 15th November (too much happening next weekend!)