with Thanks

This is a Gratitude Wrap (pattern available at Soul Mama) I made as a thank you present for Erin, at Toby's in Potts Point. A little thank you for all of the wonderful smiles and huge 'Good mornings' the little man and I recieved while we were in Sydney.


We potted these succulents last weekend, which we bought at the St Kilda Botanical Gradens and look out on the each morning when we open our blind. It's amazing the difference a few plants can make to your day.
We're now making plans for our vegie patch which we anticpate having completed towards the end of April. It'll be a big planter box full of delicious fresh vegies for winter stews. Any recommendations for planting will be greatly appreciated.

PS. at the moment I'm loving this blog, Orangette.

The boxes are finally all unpacked and we're settling back into life in Melbourne. I'm even getting through this pile of books and lo and behold....the quilt is coming along. I'm taking great pleasure in hand stitching it together once litlle Ziya is tucked up in bed at night. Pictures to come...... so stay tuned.

Finito

Finally, I have finished Ziya's cross stitch.
Some of you may remember it from these previous posts (If not, you can take a peek over at flickr 1, 2,3 & 4). I was starting to worry that I'd still be dilly dallying around with this come his first birthday. I worried so much that I peeled myself up in the wee hours of the morning to finish it off a couple of nights ago. It's such a great feeling to complete a piece like this, especially seeing that it's been waiting ever so patiently........... for way too long.
Now for the framing!

Missing in Action ....

Ziya's new bedside table and spinning toy bought on a recent trip to Newcastle.

I'm sorry for dropping off like that. I just vanished into the craziness of the last couple of months. To-ing and fro-ing between Sydney, Melbourne, Lorne, Newcastle, Pearl Beach and The Blue Mountains. Each time I returned home it was enough just to regroup, relax, sort out the endless amount of washing and repack. Alas, there was no time for craft. I'm totally out of touch with what's been happening with all the crafting peeps out there.
We've been making the most of our last weeks in Sydney and ticking off all the places we listed as 'must do's' before our return to Melbourne at the end of February. While we pack up here and head home posts could still be a little few and far between but I'm looking forward to picking up blogging momentum once we return.

Given the recent bushfires in Victoria and the enorminty of loss that has occured there I think it's wonderful the Craft Blogging Community are banding together to help the people of Victoria rebuild their lives with hand made treasures a plenty.
Head on over to:
The Toy Society who are asking for people to make and donate toys for children in effected araes and
Meet Me at Mikes who have a full listing of crafty way to get involved and help out.

Finally, my first gocco print

Inspired by Suzy I finally plucked up the courage to try out my gocco printer (embarrassingly, I was given the gocco last year for Christmas) and made some Christmas cards. They are slightly smudged and the first screen was a bit of a fizzer so I think it will take a couple of sessions to master but I'm pretty happy with them.
My crafting has been slowing down here due to Ziya & I having head colds, fractured sleep and planning for our 3 weeks in Melbourne (I feel like there's a lot to plan...with a baby) and then there's the unfinished projects beckoning.....
I can't wait to lie on the beach and drink campari in the afternoon sun.

Here's a snippet of my Flickr favorites. For a closer look and links to the individual artists take a peep here. It's all very inspiring and great motivation for those handmade Chritmas decorations!

Keeping me busy

2 single quilt tops and a cot quilt top.... now ready and waiting to be basted & quilted pre Christmas.



a cross stitch. Hooray, the end is in sight.



and, a couple of pairs of new pants for the Little Fella to kick around in. It was quite a productive week. I hope this week is too, for everyone.