So...I've got a question

Do you other crafty types have tidy houses? or does crafting come before housework? I have to say I really struggle with being good at both...all I want to do is sew, but then the housework doesn't get done does it.

So tell me, how do you all do it?

Bout time I posted I think!

First post for 2010, shocking considering it's already the 17th, how did THAT happen? crazy!

So much has happened since my last post, we spent 2 weeks over Christmas/New Year at the gorgeous Mudjimba Beach Caravan Park, I can't believe it's nearly a month since we checked in there, Christmas didn't turn out so well as my beautiful Nan whom I loved dearly died in her sleep at 5.30 Christmas morning, I'm still trying to come to terms with it and think of her constantly.

On a happier note, we are back in our house, after moving 8 times since May 2009 I am extremely happy about this, the kids are absolutely stoked to be home and I have my sewing room back!

I've tackled a couple of things from my very long list. I finally got around to making Jack a lego sack, basically I used a big square of denim, put a stack of button holes around the edge and threaded cord through it. It works great and he is being very creative now that he can see all his 1000's of pieces.

I had a birthday party for a friends 2 & 3 year olds yesterday so I made them pencil rolls, they loved them and I've decided to make a stack of them for all kids gifts this year.

And I'm planning on doing the Amy Butler Barcelona skirt for this challenge. I was going to sew it today but somehow in all the moving I have lost my bag of zips and the saddest of all, ALL my Ottobre mags :(

Anyhow that's a quick catch up, I'm just so happy to be home I feel like I may burst :)

2009 Advent Blog-A-Long - #18 Over and Out

Tomorrow we move out of my parents for good and head to the caravan park at the beach for two wonderful weeks. I've spent the past couple of days packing (for the 6th time this year) attempting to clean the house with 3 grubs that keep pulling stuff out and getting organised for Christmas. I'm thinking I might not take the laptop with me to the caravan park, I think I need a break to actually read a book and do some quiet embroidery.

So just in case I don't pop back in, have a wonderful Christmas, sorry I failed at the blog a day, I should have known this would be a terrible time of year for me to do it for the first time.

2009 Advent Blog-A-Long #16 So it was another one of 'those' days

I seem to be having those days alot lately, todays drama was the worst yet I think, I decided to start packing the caravan for our little holiday today and opened the fridge door to put some tupperware in there, well omg I have never smelt something more disgusting in my life, seriously there was nothing worse than this, the fridge had stopped working, god knows how long ago and the chicken that I had in the freezer had dissolved into a green sloppy mess, 1kg of chicken breasts and some other unrecognisable 'something'.

I can't seem to get the smell out of my nose and I'm pretty sure I may never eat chicken again.
I've just been to Coles and got a long list of things that may get rid of the smell, vinegar, bicarb, nilodor, vanilla and tomorrow I have to find some coal somewhere as apprently this is the best.

Not sure how I am going to sleep in that caravan in a couple of days time, it smells like someone died in there! Wish me luck!

2009 Advent Blog A Long - #14 Happy 1st Birthday beautiful boy

I know I'm a day early for your birthday wishes but I didn't want to miss this. Thank you for being such a wonderful little baby, you are the happiest little guy and I couldn't wish for better. We had a rough start you and I, my body not behaving itself and you being in a rush to meet your very lucky family. You arrived 2 months early and have been a surprise right from the moment we found out you existed, what a great suprise you were!

Your only a few hours old

Your little tiny beenie, I sat next to your bed when you were one day old making this for you, it is as big as my fist

In your very cute teeny tiny Willow & Moo outfit

A few weeks old

Starting to look like the little pudding that you are

Happy 1st birthday my darling boy you are pure joy to have around

2009 Advent Blog-A-Long - #13 I'm banning myself

I'm banning myself from sewing for the next few days, I have even gone as far as putting the electrical cord from my machine into the Husbands car so I can't be tempted, I have become somewhat addicted and nothing is getting done around here. Not a problem you say? Well this week we have to pack all our stuff up at my Mum & Dads and live in a caravan for two weeks then move back to our house in Coolum, I'm running out of time!

I started making this skirt at 4.10am this morning (see told you I was addicted) Sam woke up then and wouldn't go back to sleep so I sewed. I took this pattern of one of my sisters wrap skirts years ago and had never done anything with it. It turned out perfectly and I just love this Heather Bailey fabric, I didn't want to go and add different colour trim or anything like that just in case it didn't turn out, luckily it did! It's nice to be sewing for myself again, it's been a long long time.

2009 Advent Blog-A-Long - #12 I actually finished a quilt!

Finishing a quilt is a huge deal for me even if it is only a small 100 x 100 knee quilt, it's the first time I have ever finished one and the first time I have ever done binding, which wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. Jack saw me making it yesterday and asked could he have one, he loved it (it's one of his Christmas presents) he will be so happy when he receives it as he often misses out on having things made for him.

2009 Advent Blog-A-Long - #11 A plate to share freak out

Yesterday was a shocker, everything that could go wrong, went wrong. I didn't know it was free dress day at school, I didn't know we had to bring a plate to share (I found this out AFTER I had driven back home and back up to the school to take the clothes!) and I didn't know we were meant to take clothes to get wet in....yes it seems I have missed a note somewhere along the line. And I was still getting over my silly fight with my gorgeous sister :(

I need to add that it was 38 degrees here and I had to cart a very heavy nearly 1 year old in and out of the car and up the hill to the classroom numerous times!

I didn't have time to go to the shop to buy anything for the plate to share, thank god I had some Milk Arrowroots, a tub of good ole Betty Crocker chocolate icing and some 100 & 1000's in the cupboard.

Today I am not leaving the house.

Here are the finished thank you gifts for the lovely teachers who have taught Jack & Zoe this year. I found an old Christmas Noddy book at the book exchange a few weeks back for 20cents and decided to turn it into cute christmas cards. The bookmarks turned out great, and I think they will be appreciated.

Here is the cute little jumpsuit I made my new baby niece for Christmas, I love this fabric...the jumpsuit looks alot better in real life than it does in the photo.

2009 Advent Blog A Long - I haven't forgotten

My computer at home will not let me go into my blog for some strange reason, it's saying something about security??? So I'm at work sneaking in a blog post, very frustrating!

I've been doing a little bit of sewing, getting thank you gifts finished, the 3 quilts are being worked on (not sure I will get them done by Christmas now :( and I've sewn some cute little clothes for my new baby niece.

I had a very silly and embarrasing fight with my sister this morning over our Nan's tin of buttons which it seems I am very attached to, the way I carried on was a little bit ridiculous I must say, hmm am I sentimental or what?! Sorry Sal, you know I am nuts xo

Big news this week is we are moving back to Coolum on the 8th January, our tenants have broken the lease and I just want my house back, I am crazily home sick and our trip will now be cut to only 2 months, but hey I can't have everything can I.

Ok crying baby, gotta go, will come back when I can!

2009 Advent Blog-A-Long - #6 Opps I forgot

I got into bed last night and remembered I didn't post, slack me. I spent the day sewing and playing with the kids, slowly getting through the list and I'm also working on a new pattern, watch this space!

Should have something more exciting later!